Back in July we reported on the Canadian wireless spectrum auction, where the biggest investor (aside from the big three: Rogers, Bell, and Telus) was Quebecor Media, spending $554M for spectrum rights in Quebec. Today, Quebecor announced their plans to make use of that spectrum "space", deploying a HSPA/3G network under the Vidéotron brand, a Quebecor Media subsidiary. Currently Vidéotron's wireless service piggybacks on Rogers' network. Quebecor President and CEO Pierre Karl Péladeau bills it as a major shift for Quebecor's business:
“This project is of more than technical interest; it is a watershed event in the history of Quebecor Media and Videotron...what we are announcing is not just the building of a new telecommunications network; with this network, we are laying the foundations of a new business model for Quebecor Media and all its subsidiaries."
Vidéotron claims that this $800M investment will create 1,000 jobs, though the price includes the $554M spent just on spectrum rights. Nokia Siemens Networks will supply the hardware for the upgrade. The new network will be launched in 12-18 months, around the same time Globalive plans to launch in other provinces.
Greg Andrews
Greg Andrews is a Writer and Web Developer and for Techvibes. Born and raised in Edmonton, Greg was blogging about his high school drama long before it was fashionable. In the Spring of 2007, half a year out of school, Greg moved to Vancouver in search of interesting technology and the Canadian dream. His personal sites are gregcorp.com and miscellani.ca.
Photo by kk+
