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EastLink launching a “world-class wireless network” in 2012

By on July 23, 2011 at 8:53am in Mobile News


During the 2008 Advanced Wireless Spectrum (AWS) auction Halifax-based Bragg Communications paid $25 million and won 19 licences (located in Atlantic Canada, Northern and Southern Ontario and Grand Prairie). Their plan was to eventually expand their EastLink cable business and build out wireless services.

After the auction, Lee Bragg, co-CEO EastLink, stated that “EastLink’s goal throughout the auction was to secure spectrum so we can serve our customers and launch a competitive mobile phone service. We were successful… We will finalize our plans on when the service will be available over the next couple months and hope to be in market within the next year”.

Well, it took a bit longer than expected but the competition will be dramatically increasing out East next year. EastLink has officially announced they’ll launch their wireless service in Nova Scotia and Prince Edward Island, putting the pressure on Rogers, Bell and TELUS and their sub-brands (Virgin, Koodo and Fido).

Jill Laing, EastLink spokesperson, stated that they plan to build a “world-class wireless network… We feel we’ll have a very compelling product at launch… The public has indicated strong support for EastLink providing a competitive choice for wireless services. One of the most compelling benefits of EastLink getting into the wireless business is the competitive choice it will bring to the market…We fully expect it will have the same positive impact on the market as our launch of telephone years ago”. No other details were given about timing, towers, plans or distribution.

It’s also expected that WIND Mobile will be opening up in Atlantic Canada. Past Wind CEO Ken Campbell recently said  that it’s “safe to bet we’ll be there” in 2012.

Source: The Chronicle

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Discussion

30 comments for “EastLink launching a “world-class wireless network” in 2012”

  1. Hidden due to low comment rating. Click here to see.

    Like or Dislike: Thumb up 9 Thumb down 49

    Posted by Jake | July 23, 2011, 8:59 am
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  2. Sounds a lot like the Atlantic version of Vidéotron…

    Like or Dislike: Thumb up 24 Thumb down 0

    Posted by Alex Perrier | July 23, 2011, 9:15 am
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  3. No New Brunswick? Thought they got licenses here too…

    Like or Dislike: Thumb up 14 Thumb down 0

    Posted by RO | July 23, 2011, 9:18 am
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  4. As far as being a cable and ISP go, I have really enjoyed having Eastlink. Yea they have their problems, but so does everyone (they’re a lot better than the company that they bought in my area Amtelecom). If they put the same effort into their wireless service as they do the cable end of things, They should meet with a good degree of success and have happy customers.

    Like or Dislike: Thumb up 16 Thumb down 0

    Posted by AwesomeP | July 23, 2011, 9:29 am
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  5. Eastlink coming to market will be a great asset in atalantic Canada due to we have no competive market here. The big 3 and their sub brands all offer the same thing at the same prices with just enough changes to say we are different.
    With Wind and Eastlink in the market we will finaly get the same choices as ontario and Quebec.

    Like or Dislike: Thumb up 26 Thumb down 3

    Posted by scotiaguy | July 23, 2011, 9:39 am
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  6. Competition is always good.
    The big three will eventually have their prices coming down.

    Like or Dislike: Thumb up 14 Thumb down 0

    Posted by XER | July 23, 2011, 12:07 pm
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  7. They better not launch a AWS network! Terrible selection of phones!!

    Like or Dislike: Thumb up 8 Thumb down 15

    Posted by MARS | July 23, 2011, 12:41 pm
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    • There is a very good selection of AWS phones in the pipe. I reckon that by the time they start service you’ll see an AWS iPhone on the market.

      Like or Dislike: Thumb up 13 Thumb down 1

      Posted by koko | July 23, 2011, 12:44 pm

    • As long as it’s not AWS + CDMA we’re fine.

      Yes I’m looking at you, Public Mobile.

      Like or Dislike: Thumb up 2 Thumb down 3

      Posted by ToniCipriani | July 24, 2011, 8:56 am

    • public is PCS, not AWS

      Like or Dislike: Thumb up 1 Thumb down 0

      Posted by bob | July 25, 2011, 8:52 am

  8. Hopefully, soon they’ll expand to Ontario too…
    The more *real* choices == customer wins!~

    Like or Dislike: Thumb up 9 Thumb down 2

    Posted by koko | July 23, 2011, 12:41 pm
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  9. Long long way to go……what I think.

    Like or Dislike: Thumb up 8 Thumb down 0

    Posted by Joe | July 23, 2011, 2:16 pm
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  10. Hidden due to low comment rating. Click here to see.

    Like or Dislike: Thumb up 6 Thumb down 25

    Posted by Jason | July 23, 2011, 2:44 pm
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    • Really now. lets see you built a mobile company from scratch like they are? Lets see you try. At least they are trying to built one & make a few things.

      Like or Dislike: Thumb up 17 Thumb down 2

      Posted by Dimitri | July 23, 2011, 3:06 pm

  11. Hidden due to low comment rating. Click here to see.

    Like or Dislike: Thumb up 7 Thumb down 24

    Posted by edouard | July 23, 2011, 3:10 pm
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  12. anyone that says s**t about the calling zones are morons…PM for example has one of the biggest calling zones…if your with the big 3 your calling zone is your city…you live in toronto and have a toronto number guess what the GTA is your zone…you surely couldnt go out of the GTA or to Durham and use your phone unlimited…So understand the zones before you knock em genius.

    Like or Dislike: Thumb up 16 Thumb down 1

    Posted by phoneguy | July 23, 2011, 3:33 pm
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  13. As long as competition exists its good for the consumer,it’s bad they couldn’t set up shop in Toronto oh well.

    Like or Dislike: Thumb up 2 Thumb down 0

    Posted by john | July 23, 2011, 7:28 pm
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  14. I have a 416 number, my “zone” spans from oakville to ajax and north to vaughn, that’s pretty damn big

    Like or Dislike: Thumb up 5 Thumb down 3

    Posted by SilverPhoenix | July 23, 2011, 9:00 pm
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    • ya that is a big zone but still not near as big as the new 3 and the new 3 just got started for eff sakes the big 3 have been out for yeeeeaarrs PM for example has turned on all of 20% if that of there towers…wait til the province is your zone then what big 3?

      Like or Dislike: Thumb up 1 Thumb down 3

      Posted by phoneguy | July 24, 2011, 11:24 am

  15. My parents live on PEI, so I know they’ll enjoy this. Now hopefully Eastlink would implement roaming agreements with the other AWS providers.

    So far, my experiences with Eastlink are entirely positive.

    Like or Dislike: Thumb up 9 Thumb down 0

    Posted by Ryan | July 23, 2011, 9:46 pm
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  16. I think Dimitri works for Eastlink

    Like or Dislike: Thumb up 0 Thumb down 4

    Posted by Sunny | July 23, 2011, 9:52 pm
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    • Lol what? I do not even work for any cellphone company nor a service provider. I work for another company. I just said he is a troll. How does that make me look like I work for them? Please do explain.

      Like or Dislike: Thumb up 1 Thumb down 0

      Posted by Dimitri | July 23, 2011, 10:42 pm

  17. No surprise that the windy employees are not criticizing this company since they are not competing.

    Like or Dislike: Thumb up 2 Thumb down 2

    Posted by tbr | July 23, 2011, 9:57 pm
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  18. really don’t get it when some one says about the coverage being in few cities for new entrants?? I am with Mobilicity and do get coverage outside home zone and pay only 20 cents/min (taxes included). how much do you pay with big 3 for roaming and long distance with their so called big coverage area??

    Like or Dislike: Thumb up 3 Thumb down 2

    Posted by Zia | July 23, 2011, 11:42 pm
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  19. @Zia – When you travel anywhere in Canada on the Big3, your outgoing call is local wherever you are. There are no roaming charges. You do pay for receiving phone calls being delivered to you by way of your LD per minute rate, but you can get unlimited LD add-ons for less than $1.50/day.

    Like or Dislike: Thumb up 2 Thumb down 2

    Posted by aka | July 24, 2011, 2:59 am
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  20. Its good to finally see that eastlink finally made the announcement. When I worked there wireless was just a pipedream and updates were kept as a secret. I knew it was coming, however I’m glad they did some r&d andare not rushing the product and service. I’m excited to see which handset manufactures will be around for launch. I’ve had eastlink home service as Long as I can remmeber and hope to switch my cell service someday too! (I’m not going to be an early adopter on this one, wireless service is really important to me so I want to see how it goes for others before I attempt the switch)

    Like or Dislike: Thumb up 1 Thumb down 0

    Posted by ex employee | July 24, 2011, 7:22 am
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  21. @Koko Sorry but as soon as the the T-Mobile buyout is completed by AT&T, AWS is a wrap!

    You mentioned that there are some great AWS phones coming down the pipe, can you list them for us please?

    Like or Dislike: Thumb up 1 Thumb down 0

    Posted by THE MAN | July 24, 2011, 7:45 am
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    • Exactly. After the AT&T takeover, there will be a total of about 300,000 AWS subscribers IN THE WORLD. Manufacturers aren’t going to make great devices for a tiny market like that. North America is the only place that uses AWS, TMo obviously being the biggest carrier. Once they’re gone, Wind, Mobi, Videotron and Eastlink will not have the pull to get devices.

      Like or Dislike: Thumb up 0 Thumb down 2

      Posted by Adam | July 24, 2011, 11:19 am

  22. I would never use eastlink wireless as eastlink is now acting like Rogers. I will be using Globalive Wind Mobile when they come out as Wind Mobile knows the values and beliefs of consumer rights. I’m also thinking of switching my ISP from Eastlink to Teksavvy as we all know that the price of bandwidth just went down yet my bill just went up $5.00 a month bringing my bill to $72.00 a month. If the price just went down for bandwidth why they h3ll is my bill $5.00 extra??

    Like or Dislike: Thumb up 0 Thumb down 6

    Posted by Notgoingtoeastlinkwireless | July 24, 2011, 4:12 pm
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