It looks like faster speeds are coming to Wind Mobile’s over 1 million wireless subscribers by the end of the year.
Wind Mobile first unveiled plans for a cross-Canada network upgrade last December, noting it was “dedicated to doing what is necessary to improve our network.” The carrier, which is now owned by Shaw, recently improved network speeds and coverage to customers in Vancouver, Calgary, and Edmonton.
Wind’s larger goal is to launch LTE service across its coverage areas. To make LTE on Wind a reality, the carrier received $425 million in funding from TD Securities, BMO Capital Markets, and CIBC, with help from Nokia Networks in order to build the network out. Wind will also use the AWS-3 spectrum it purchased during the 2015 wireless spectrum auction.
In terms of finer details, according to an internal document obtained by MobileSyrup, Wind is “scheduled to start rolling out LTE at the end of 2016.” The launch will initially go dow in select markets (which are currently unknown), then gradually to all customers.
In addition, Wind will be launching Voice over LTE (VoLTE) and Voice over Wi-Fi (VoWiFi). The Voice over Wi-Fi feature will be available first and will most likely hop onto Shaw’s WiFi network.
As for devices, Wind notes it will “have a list of available phones closer to launch and will provide updates closer to the launch date.”
Wind Mobile operates its wireless service across Ontario, British Columbia and Alberta.
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