The Toronto Star reports that Globalive’s chairman, in a speech today, urged for a review of Canada’s existing telecommunications foreign control restrictions and preferential spectrum auction bidding rules, among other things.
In his speech to industry members at the Canadian Telecom Summit in Toronto, Anthony Lacavera said that Canada’s “existing telecommunications foreign control restrictions [were in his view] an overly broad and inefficient regulatory tool” and that the “government should create rules allowing [new entrants] a chance to bid for access to spectrum in upcoming auctions to ensure incumbents do not acquire it at any price to stave off further competition.” Lacavera also said that abuse of market power or dominance by incumbents must be dealt with harshly and swiftly.”
For Lacavera’s complete speech see:
Canadian Telecom Summit Keynote Speech
Globalive’s chief’s speech closely follows remarks by Canada’s new Minister of industry to maintain and increase competition in the telecommunications sector in Canada.
Earlier this week, Christian Paradis, in a speech to the 2011 Canadian Telecom Summit, announced that the Canadian Government would be auctioning off further 700 megahertz and 2,500 megahertz spectrum, in addition to wireless spectrum that had been set aside to allow the entry of new entrants including Mobilicity, Globalive and Videotron.
With respect to the new spectrum auction, the Minister said that the Government had “concluded [its] consultations on policy issues, band structure and spectrum requirements”, which is to be “followed by consultations on auction design and conditions of licence … later this year.” The Minister also indicated that more frequencies may be made available in the next few years.
With respect to existing foreign ownership restrictions, which has been a significant issue with Globalive (and the subject of court proceedings challenging its existence) and other new entrants, the Minister was more circumspect, saying only that “foreign ownership … remains an important piece of the puzzle, and one that [he] was personally committed to getting right.”
For the Minister’s full speech see:
Minister Paradis Reaffirms Commitment to Canada’s Digital Economy
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