Canadian Wireless Policy in Flux: Telus Goes to Court Over Verizon Entry

On July 30, 2013, the second largest wireless network incumbent in Canada, Telus Corp, upped the ante in the current spectrum auction debate by launching a judicial review application in the Federal Court of Canada. In that application, Telus contends that the Canadian government has recently extended indefinitely what was supposed to be a limited, five-year ban on major carriers purchasing spectrum that the industry assumed was to be set aside for new entrants. According to the news story, Telus alleges in its material filed in Federal Court that the Industry Minister has unilaterally changed rules granted to investors in the 2008 auction. The change, according to industry representatives, would grant preferential treatment to a large foreign firm such as Verizon, reputed to be studying a possible entry into the Canadian market. For recent press coverage on several aspects of the growing debate, click here, here, and here and for a previous E-TIPS® mini-article on the topic, click here. Summary by: Richard Potter