Subordinate Spectrum Licences Held by Rogers Communications Canada Inc. to Ice Wireless Inc.

Decision regarding the subordinate licences

Application

1. On October 24, 2017, Innovation, Science and Economic Development Canada (ISED) received a joint application from Rogers Communications Canada Inc. (Rogers) and Ice Wireless Inc. (Ice Wireless) for the issuance of subordinate licences in a portion of the cellular band for various communities in Northern Quebec as well as Yukon, the Northwest Territories and Nunavut. 

2. The request to issue subordinate licences from Rogers to Ice Wireless is further to their current Agreement. The subordinate licences are for an additional 10 MHz (5 + 5 MHz) that was not part of the original Agreement. The primary licences are described in annex A. The application was reviewed under the relevant provisions of Client Procedures Circular CPC-2-1-23, Licensing Procedure for Spectrum Licences for Terrestrial Services.

3. Terms not defined in this decision have the meaning set out in CPC-2-1-23.

Decision

4. The subordinate licence application from Rogers to Ice Wireless described above is approved.

Rationale

5. The application was assessed against the policy objectives and criteria set out in section 5.6 of CPC-2-1-23.

6. ISED has reviewed the Agreement between Rogers and Ice Wireless and notes that for the subordinate licences requested, the primary licensee retains control of its spectrum licences.

7. Approval of the subordinate licences does not change the overall distribution of spectrum holdings in the relevant licence areas, and allows Ice Wireless, a wireless service provider in remote areas of Northern Canada, access to additional commercial mobile spectrum. The Department has determined that the subordinate licences would not impact the ability of existing or future competitors to provide services in the relevant areas.

Annex A