Ottawa blocks sale of NextWave spectrum licences to Bell-Rogers joint venture

OTTAWA – Industry Minister James Moore has turned down the sale of 83 wireless spectrum licences by NextWave to a joint venture between Rogers Communications (TSX:RCI.B) and Bell Canada (TSX:BCE).

The joint venture, Inukshuk Wireless, was formed to build and manage a Canada-wide wireless broadband network.

Moore said the proposed licence transfer would have led to unacceptable levels of concentration of spectrum in the hands of incumbent carriers.

“We will not approve any spectrum transfer request that results in excessive spectrum concentration for Canada’s largest wireless companies, which negatively affects competition in the telecommunications sector,” Moore said in a statement.