Application
1. In April 2021, Innovation, Science and Economic Development Canada (ISED) received an application for the transfer of all 61 spectrum licences held by Shaw Communications Inc. (Shaw), in the name of its subsidiary Freedom Mobile Inc., to Rogers Communications Inc. (Rogers). The licences are described in the annex.
2. The application was assessed against the policy objectives and criteria set out in section 5.6 of Client Procedures Circular CPC-2-1-23, Licensing Procedure for Spectrum Licences for Terrestrial Services.
3. Terms not defined in this decision have the meaning set out in CPC-2-1-23.
Decision
4. The application described above is refused.
Rationale
5. Of Shaw’s 61 licences, 22 are ineligible for transfer to Rogers based on their conditions of licence.
6. The proposed transfer of the licences that are eligible for transfer to Rogers raised substantial concerns that the resulting concentration of spectrum would impede the ability of future mobile competitors to provide wireless services and effectively compete.
7. As such, the proposed transfer is contrary to ISED’s policy objective for spectrum management.
Annex
| Licence number | Expiry date (YYYY-MM-DD) |
Frequency range (MHz) | Tier number and geographic area of the licence |
|---|---|---|---|
| 010282393-002 | 2039-03-12 | 1735-1740/ 2135-2140 |
3-023 Peterborough |
| 010282397-002 | 2039-09-01 | 1735-1740/ 2135-2140 |
3-054 Nanaimo |
| 010282399-002 | 2039-09-01 | 1735-1740/ 2135-2140 |
3-056 Thompson/Cariboo |
| 010282401-002 | 2039-02-10 | 1735-1740/ 2135-2140 |
3-053 Victoria |
| 010282403-002 | 2039-02-10 | 1735-1740/ 2135-2140 |
3-044 Edmonton |
| 010282447-002 | 2035-06-23 | 2540-2550/ 2660-2670 |
3-025 Toronto |
| 010282459-002 | 2039-03-12 | 1735-1740/ 2135-2140 |
3-015 Ottawa |
| 010282461-002 | 2039-03-12 | 1735-1740/ 2135-2140 |
3-021 Belleville |
| 010282465-002 | 2039-02-10 | 1735-1740/ 2135-2140 |
3-032 Windsor/Leamington |
| 010282629-001 | 2035-04-20 | 1755-1770/ 2155-2170 |
2-008 Southern Ontario |
| 010282631-001 | 2035-04-20 | 1755-1770/ 2155-2170 |
2-012 Alberta |
| 010282785-002 | 2039-09-01 | 1735-1740/ 2135-2140 |
3-045 Medicine Hat/Brooks |
| 010282787-002 | 2039-09-01 | 1735-1740/ 2135-2140 |
3-055 Courtenay |
| 010282789-002 | 2039-09-01 | 1735-1740/ 2135-2140 |
3-057 Prince George |
| 010282791-002 | 2039-02-10 | 1735-1740/ 2135-2140 |
3-052 Vancouver |
| 010282885-002 | 2039-03-12 | 1735-1740/ 2135-2140 |
3-022 Cobourg |
| 010282987-002 | 2034-04-02 | 746-751/ 777-782 |
2-008 Southern Ontario |
| 010282989-002 | 2034-04-02 | 746-751/ 777-782 |
2-018 Province of Alberta |
| 010283001-002 | 2039-03-12 | 1730-1735/ 2130-2135 |
2-012 Alberta |
| 010283005-002 | 2039-03-12 | 1735-1740/ 2135-2140 |
3-020 Kingston |
| 010283015-002 | 2039-02-10 | 1730-1735/ 2130-2135 |
2-006 Eastern Ontario & Outaouais |
| 010283017-002 | 2039-03-12 | 1725-1730/ 2125-2130 |
2-008 Southern Ontario |
| 010283281-001 | 2035-04-20 | 1755-1770/ 2155-2170 |
2-013 British Columbia |
| 010283445-002 | 2039-09-01 | 1735-1740/ 2135-2140 |
3-046 Lethbridge |
| 010283447-002 | 2039-09-01 | 1735-1740/ 2135-2140 |
3-050 Kootenays |
| 010283471-002 | 2034-04-02 | 746-751/ 777-782 |
2-013 British Columbia |
| 010283481-002 | 2039-03-12 | 1730-1735/ 2130-2135 |
2-013 British Columbia |
| 010283485-002 | 2039-03-12 | 1735-1740/ 2135-2140 |
3-016 Pembroke |
| 010283487-002 | 2039-03-12 | 1735-1740/ 2135-2140 |
3-019 Brockville |
| 010283495-002 | 2039-02-10 | 1735-1740/ 2135-2140 |
3-027 Guelph/Kitchener |
| 010283497-002 | 2039-02-10 | 1735-1740/ 2135-2140 |
3-029 Niagara-St. Catharines |
| 010283991-002 | 2035-06-23 | 2540-2550/ 2660-2670 |
3-052 Vancouver |
| 010284017-002 | 2039-03-12 | 1735-1740/ 2135-2140 |
3-018 Cornwall |
| 010284023-002 | 2039-09-01 | 1735-1740/ 2135-2140 |
3-051 Okanagan/Columbia |
| 010284025-002 | 2039-02-10 | 1730-1735/ 2130-2135 |
2-008 Southern Ontario |
| 010284027-002 | 2039-02-10 | 1735-1740/ 2135-2140 |
3-047 Calgary |
| 010284029-002 | 2039-02-10 | 1735-1740/ 2135-2140 |
3-048 Red Deer |
| 010284777-003 | 2035-03-31 | 2500-2510/ 2620-2630 |
3-047 Calgary |
| 010286887-003 | 2035-03-31 | 2500-2510/ 2620-2630 |
3-044-010 Outside of Lloydminster SK |
| 010776040-001 | 2038-06-29 | 2585-2595 | 3-055 Courtenay |
| 010776041-001 | 2038-06-29 | 2585-2595 | 3-050 Kootenays |
| 010776042-001 | 2038-06-29 | 2585-2595 | 3-054 Nanaimo |
| 010776043-001 | 2038-06-29 | 2585-2595 | 3-056 Thompson/Cariboo |
| 010776044-001 | 2038-06-29 | 2500-2510/ 2620-2630 |
3-050 Kootenays |
| 010776045-001 | 2038-06-29 | 2500-2510/ 2620-2630 |
3-054 Nanaimo |
| 010776046-001 | 2038-06-29 | 2500-2510/ 2620-2630 |
3-055 Courtenay |
| 010776047-001 | 2038-06-29 | 2500-2510/ 2620-2630 |
3-056 Thompson/Cariboo |
| 010776048-001 | 2038-06-29 | 2500-2510/ 2620-2630 |
3-057 Prince George |
| 010776049-001 | 2038-06-29 | 2500-2510/ 2620-2630 |
3-058 Dawson Creek |
| 010776050-001 | 2038-06-29 | 2595-2620 | 3-044 Edmonton |
| 010809035-001 | 2039-05-26 | 647-652/ 693-698 |
2-006 Eastern Ontario & Outaouais |
| 010809036-001 | 2039-05-26 | 647-652/ 693-698 |
2-012 Alberta |
| 010809037-001 | 2039-05-26 | 642-647/ 688-693 |
2-006 Eastern Ontario & Outaouais |
| 010809038-001 | 2039-05-26 | 637-642/ 683-688 |
2-012 Alberta |
| 010809039-001 | 2039-05-26 | 637-642/ 683-688 |
2-008 Southern Ontario |
| 010809040-001 | 2039-05-26 | 642-647/ 688-693 |
2-008 Southern Ontario |
| 010809041-001 | 2039-05-26 | 647-652/ 693-698 |
2-008 Southern Ontario |
| 010809042-001 | 2039-05-26 | 642-647/ 688-693 |
2-012 Alberta |
| 010809043-001 | 2039-05-26 | 637-642/ 683-688 |
2-013 British Columbia |
| 010809044-001 | 2039-05-26 | 642-647/ 688-693 |
2-013 British Columbia |
| 010809045-001 | 2039-05-26 | 647-652/ 693-698 |
2-013 British Columbia |