Rogers secures 52 spectrum licenses in auction for wireless networks

The auction of this year was for the 600-megahertz band of frequencies which can help in covering large areas and facilitate easy penetration of buildings

Canada’s Rogers Communications has reportedly acquired 52 spectrum licences from the federal government and will spend a total of $1.72 billion, making it the largest spender in a hard-fought auction that saw wireless companies of Canada compete against each other.

If sources are to be believed, the Canadian treasury will receive approximately $3.47 billion in total from auctioning 104 licences to wireless networks of Canada, which are getting ready for the fifth-generation technology to be rolled out over the coming decade.

Apparently, the auction of this year was for the 600-megahertz band of frequencies which can help in covering large areas and facilitate easy penetration of buildings. The auction next year will consist of licences for 3,500 MHz, which are of even more value as they are broadly used in the fifth-generation networks globally.

Sources added that the three national carriers of Canada were allowed to bid only on 64 of the available licences in this year’s auction due to the restrictions imposed by the Department of Innovation, Science and Economic Development.

In total 52 of the licenses were won by Rogers for which it was eligible to bid on, covering regional blocks in northern and southern Ontario, Manitoba, Atlantic Canada, northern Quebec, and remaining three territories.

According to the chief executive of Rogers, Joe Natale, this spectrum is important for deploying 5G in Canada and the company is well-placed to bring the best advantages of 5G to Canadians.  The firm’s plan for entering this auction was clear, disciplined, and was able to seize the opportunity for the benefit of their shareholders and customers, he said.

The 600 MHz low brand spectrum will widely improve the current LTE service and will also serve as a foundational element of 5G strategy for a company, by providing affordable and innovative wireless services to Canadians for many years, sources commented.