COMMENTARY: Auction means Bell, Telus, face costly decision

AS THE ADVANCED wireless spectrum auction gets under way today, there are a couple of things that are clear. First, Canadian consumers will see several new wireless operators (one or two national, some more regional) inside of 18 months after the auction’s end in three to five weeks, driving down retail prices and increasing competition for their business. Second, thanks to the new rules favoring any newcomers to Canadian wireless that demand mandated roaming on the existing incumbents’ networks, Rogers Communications is going to take on most of that burden. It will tax the company’s system somewhat, but will also...