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Clement on wireless foreign ownership: “I don’t want this to drag on forever”

By on March 11, 2010 at 8:51am in Asides, Mobile News, Various News

There was much talk since Governor General Michaëlle Jean stated “Our government will open Canada’s doors further to venture capital and to foreign investment in key sectors, including the satellite and telecommunications industries, giving Canadian firms access to the funds and expertise they need.”

No insight was given yet on wireless foreign ownership but yesterday Industry Minister Tony Clement said “I am conscious of the fact that by mentioning it in the Speech from the Throne it’s become a matter of commentary and that affects marketplaces and so on. So I don’t want this to drag on forever. I do want to allow the industry a bit of time to breathe on it. But at the same time we will be coming to a conclusion and acting on it.”

The whole goal is to provide more competition and hopefully give us customers lower wireless rates. If and when foreign investors come into Canada how do you think the wireless market will look like? Big players from other countries like Verizon, T-Mobile? Will Bell and TELUS then merge to for a big Canadian player?

More here at the Globe

Related posts:

  1. Globalive launch delayed, CRTC looking into foreign ownership
  2. CRTC releases October 1st agenda for Globalive foreign ownership hearings
  3. Government to open doors to wireless foreign investment
  4. Government to clarify telecom foreign investment “in the coming weeks”

Discussion

4 comments for “Clement on wireless foreign ownership: “I don’t want this to drag on forever””

  1. The Govt can prevent any merger to happen.

    BTW T-Mobile is German. And T-Mobile is the one that tried to invest in MicroCell (Fido) and had to withdraw due to these ownership rules. Instead the Govt (that was the Libs at the time) preferred to let Rogers buy them out.

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    Posted by Hub | March 11, 2010, 10:55 am
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  2. If a big player or two comes (TMobile seems to be on everyone’s mind) in, BELUS will rise.

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    Posted by Andrew Pederson | March 11, 2010, 11:31 am
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  3. T-Mobile wasn’t forced out of Microcell because of ownership limitations. They were wiped out when Microcell went bankrupt and all their equity was given over to debt holders.

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    Posted by TNSF | March 11, 2010, 11:59 am
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  4. I think Bell and Telus will partner up with foreign investors rather than each other. New cash injection plus the appearance of better roaming.

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    Posted by cass_m | March 11, 2010, 1:22 pm
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