Comments on: Rogers wants to help Globalive… by buying their spectrum licences

By: daguia

daguia — Fri, 27 Nov 2009 22:16:08 +0000

This is wishful thinking… Sawiris is too smart for that – he would not sell the spectrum at a loss. IMHO he will try to find someone like Quebecor to dilute his share and that would be great because it will create a large 4th operator and this is what the big 3 fear the most. We have to thank them for this oligopoly that they gave us for all these years, high prices, crappy service and we became the laughing stock of countries (70% wireless penetration – give me a break!)

By: John C

John C — Fri, 27 Nov 2009 21:36:41 +0000

Well, there were actually recommendations to get rid of stringent and archaic foreign ownership laws in Canada.

I’m not saying Globalive is correct, but it is high time that people realize the law is not an infallible document given to us by a higher power. Law is fallible and can become outdated.

Moreover, I cannot understand how people can let IC off the hook here. If they allow a company to buy spectrum it should be able to meet telecom rules from the get go. It’s a problem when to bodies of government essentially disagree over the issue.

How can IC, with a clear conscience, take money from a company only to say that IC messed up and now Globalive/Orascom has to foot the bill and likely lose a lot of money. This does not bode well for foreign competition when the rules finally change.

By: DS

DS — Mon, 16 Nov 2009 16:32:03 +0000

“Guidelines” of foreign ownership and control. To provide basis for stopping malicious intent in business.

By: Jimbo

Jimbo — Sun, 15 Nov 2009 13:54:28 +0000

This whole situation just seems crazy. I have friends who left great positions with Koodo and others who are now crying and asking for their jobs back. How could a company hire people without knowing they could operate? Management have no answers just dumb looks on their faces,the district managers are useless and have no info, everybody feels sick while everyone is figuring out that Canadians do not even want an Egyptian phone company. They have been blocked, Globalive money has been traced back to Yasser Arafat….what else could possibly go wrong here? I think they should make a movie about it to raise the money needed. Rogers will never get the spectrum. I think they guy in Egypt would rather hold it and do nothing with it then sell it to any of the big 3.

By: brandon lacavera

brandon lacavera — Sun, 15 Nov 2009 11:01:27 +0000

this is very obvious they have a problem with global live
they try to stop global live then say well. can u sell us ur air space
rubbish man pure rubbish from rogers .

By: beavertail2

beavertail2 — Sun, 15 Nov 2009 01:35:31 +0000

So called approved behind closed door with Industry Canada. Who knows what went on? May be Harper pushed strings.
The rule is up to the bidder to declare that they are qualified.

By: beavertail2

beavertail2 — Sun, 15 Nov 2009 01:32:33 +0000

So very true about that Globalive Lasavera didn’t follow the rule. He thought he can play fast and loose, all in the name of competition. Well, his gamble is a loss.
According to the rule, the spectrum would be forfeited. Not sure if there is money back?

By: Travis b.

Travis b. — Sun, 15 Nov 2009 00:46:46 +0000

Exactly.
Globalive didn’t follow the law, that’s why they aren’t aloud to launch.
You can’t just come walking into Canada, buying spectrum, knowing well the forin ownership laws, and cry to the CRTC and expect them to let you go because you made the CRTC feel bad.

By: DaveD

DaveD — Sun, 15 Nov 2009 00:26:11 +0000

Buying spectrum and being granted a licence to operate a telecom company are two very different things; Globalive (Orascom) failed at the latter because they didn’t adhere to the rules.

To answer your question, No, it’s not good enough that Industry Canada allowed Orascom (fronting as Globalive) to buy spectrum; IC does not enforce the Telecom Act, they simply review the most basic elements of corporate structure and capacity to pay for the spectrum. In short, IC held the auction and collected the money.

It should come as absolutely no surprise to Globalive/Orascom that they are in this mess now… They tried to push the boundaries of the law and failed.

In terms of the other new entrants, if they meet the guidelines around foreign ownership they will have no problem getting licences to operate; to my knowledge, they all do.

By: joe

joe — Sat, 14 Nov 2009 23:31:37 +0000

You 850/1900 N900 will never come. Nokia has stated that they won’t made another version… at least not in its current form. You’ll probably have to wait another year for a N910 or 920.