Navigate this market better. Subscribe for FREE stock alerts and information.

Thursday, February 5, 2015

Canada telecoms line up for airwaves, Mobilicity hampered, (TSE: MBT.TO), (NYSE: RCI)

Canada's biggest telecom companies and most of its smaller ones have lined up to bid in two upcoming auctions of airwaves, the federal government said on Thursday, with struggling startup Mobilicity able to stump up only enough cash to participate in more enticing of the two. The Conservative government, eager to balance its budget ahead of a general election in October, while also trumpeting consumer-friendly moves to increase wireless competition, has made large amounts of spectrum available for auction this year.But large chunks of the newly available airwaves, a finite resource phone companies rely on, have been marked off-limits for the three largest players: BCE Inc's Bell, Rogers Communications Inc, and Telus Corp. The three have long held most of Canada's spectrum and dominate the market.An auction of high frequency AWS-3 will begin on March 3. Bidding on similar airwaves just concluded in the United States, raising a record $44.9 billion.Participants will include Bell, Rogers and Telus, as well as regional operators Manitoba Telecom Services, SaskTel, Bragg (Eastlink), Quebecor Inc's Videotron, and Tbaytel, plus recent market entrants Wind Mobile and Mobilicity.

Manitoba Telecom Services Inc. (MTS) is a Canada- based communications provider. Shares of MBT fell by 6.28% or $-1.57/share to $23.44. In the past year, the shares have traded as low as $25.00 and as high as $33.10. On average, 270911 shares of MBT.TO exchange hands on a given day and today's volume is recorded at 1675519.

Rogers Communications Inc. (RCI) is a diversified public communications and media company. Shares of RCI traded higher by 0.98% or $0.35/share to $36.21. In the past year, the shares have traded as low as $35.00 and as high as $42.46. On average, 375898 shares of RCI exchange hands on a given day and today's volume is recorded at 447182.



Source