Shaw hasn’t slowed down their wireless plans… they’ve come to a “complete halt”

Earlier this week Shaw reported their Q2 financial and operating results and unfortunately their wireless business had another setback. Shaw purchased a massive amount of spectrum in Western Canada and Norther Ontario to the tune of $189 million for 18 licenses. Plans to officially launch were scheduled for “late 2010″, then was pushed back to early 2011. This week Shaw executives stated they’ll “slow our wireless build activities” to ” focus heavily on the strength of our core business”.

We let you know in January that the Vancouver and Edmonton network build-out stopped (confirmed earlier this week to be true) and now it seems the same is ringing true for their Calgary build out. Although Shaw said they’ll “slow” their wireless activities we are now hearing that an internal memo was sent to employees that a “complete halt” to its Calgary wireless build out has happened, along with acquiring any new cell sites. Apparently getting into the wireless game is a bit tougher than expected. Here’s something else we are hearing too: Shaw may be in talks with one of the other new/existing wireless carrier to merge or take over (possibly with Mobilicity or Rogers, but that’s unconfirmed).

Very interesting development.
More soon.

(Thanks tipster!)