ISED approves Bell, Telus, spectrum licence swap

The Department of Innovation, Science and Economic Development Canada (ISED) approved several subordination of spectrum licence applications between BCE Inc. and Telus Corp. Bell will subordinate spectrum licences in the cellular band in southern Quebec to Telus and licences in the 3500 MHz band in various regions of Canada. Telus in turn will subordinate various 3500 MHz band licences to Bell along with licences in the personal communications service (PCS) band in four provinces. “ISED has determined that the subordinate licences will not affect the ability of existing or future competitors to provide services in the relevant areas,” the department wrote in its three decisions, released Monday. In the 3,500 MHz band swap, Telus subordinated 24 licences to Bell. The areas include the urban core of London-Woodstock-St. Thomas; the urban core of Ottawa; the urban core of Guelph-Kitchener; Toronto; Montreal and Quebec. Bell subordinated 36 licences covering Vancouver; Kelowna; Edmonton – including the St. Albert and Fort Saskatchewan area; Calgary; High River; Windsor-Leamington; Ottawa; Montreal; Trois-Rivieres; and Quebec. The subordination of six licences from Bell to Telus in the cellular band cover the areas of Sainte-Rosalie, Notre-Dame-du-Bon-Conseil; St-Éphrem; and St. Victor – all in southern Quebec. The seven PCS band licences Telus subordinated to Bell cover the 1910-1915/ 1990-1995 MHz frequency range in British Columbia; eastern Ontario and Outaouais; northern Ontario; southern Ontario; southern Quebec; eastern Quebec; and New Brunswick. The agreements are all set to expire in Oct. 2028. The primary licence terms for the 3,500 MHz bands are set to expire in 2041; the cellular band terms are set to expire in 2031; and the PCS band will expire in 2039. As the primary licensees, the companys will each retain control of its original spectrum licences. Monday, ISED also approved the transfer of licences to Bell . BH Telecom Québec Corp. is transferring licences to Groupe Maskatel Québec L.P. in the cellular band in southern Quebec.. Maskatel received a total of four licences covering Acton, St-Victor, St-Éphrem, and the Sainte-Rosalie, Notre-Dame-du-Bon-Conseil area. Maskatel subsequently transferred those licences to Bell Mobility. Its licence term will expire in 2031.

ISED approves Bell, Telus, spectrum licence swap

Brief | July 19, 2022

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ISED approves Bell, Telus, spectrum licence swap

Brief | July 19, 2022

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