Opening Date of the Auction and Applicants' Current Status

This is to advise that the opening date of the auction is scheduled for February 9, 2004. The auction is expected to last several weeks.

The auction will be conducted over the Internet and will employ Canadian encryption and digital signature technology to ensure that the electronic transactions are secure and confidential. Industry Canada will soon send detailed information to all qualified bidders on how to participate online in the 2300 MHz and 3500 MHz auction, and will also provide a round by round schedule for the first week of the auction.

A list of applicants and their current status is now available on the Spectrum Management and Telecommunications Web Site at http://www.ic.gc.ca/eic/site/smt-gst.nsf/eng/sf08107.html