The last few days Wind Mobile has been top of mind for many in the Canadian wireless sector and even more for those not in wireless. The main reason is the ownership structure and recent 2009 decision that allowed Wind Mobile to start selling their wireless service “was based on errors of law and must be quashed”.
Both Globlive Chairman Anthony Lacavera and CEO Ken Campbell took to their company blog to directly connect to their customers and let then know that it’s “business as usual”. Campbell stated that “We will not be deterred by our competitors efforts to slow down our business. We have our actions to take to continue to bring competitive choice to Canadians… In word and in deed, it is clear that we are investing for the long-haul, which makes us a target for regulatory and legal shenanigans by incumbents whose cushy market position is threatened or by other new carriers who muse more about a short-term payday rather than bringing real change to the Canadian wireless marketplace.”
Today Anthony Lacavera wrote that “To maintain that choice, competition is key. There will not be true competition until there is clear direction on how much foreign influence is acceptable in Canada. Business and government must work together to overhaul the antiquated control and ownership regime in Canada and we will continue to pay a leadership role and lead the charge. Those that profit most from the current situation are the carriers that have been able to charge some of the highest wireless fees in the world. With so much at stake, they will inevitably fight our proposition at every opportunity but we will not compromise what we stand for and we will continue to fight for true competition in Canada. We hope you will continue to fight with us!”
Some financial analysts believe the outcome of this case will lead towards a change in the Canadian foreign ownership rules, or that Globalive (Wind Mobile parent company) will look for other investors to appease the Court and even the possibly a “new-entrant consolidation”.
