New Developments in Spectrum Auction

[cablewithaview]

Microsoft co-founder and billionaire Paul Allen is backing John Bitove's bid to gain a significant foothold in the Canadian wireless industry.

Investment partnership known as 'DAVE', Data & Audio-Visual Enterprises Wireless Inc., headed by Bitove, has joined the spectrum auction, held by Industry Canada.

The firm has put down a $106 million deposit and will have the financial backing of Quadrangle, a private equity fund, and Vulcan Inc., which is run by Allen.

"We are excited to participate in this auction. We strongly believe that Canadian consumers deserve the best and most innovative wireless technology," Bitove, Chariman of DAVE Wireless, said in a release announcing the partnership. "We look forward to competing in
the AWS auction and to building a new wireless provider that will meet Canada's rapidly evolving wireless communications needs."

DAVE Wireless is a partnership between an investment vehicle controlled by John Bitove; Quadrangle Group, a New York-based private investment firm with over $6 billion in assets under management; and Vulcan Capital, headquartered in Seattle, WA. Vulcan Capital serves as the investment arm of Vulcan Inc., the organization founded by Paul G. Allen, co-founder of Microsoft, in its bid to participate in the upcoming spectrum auction.

DAVE Wireless says it does not intend to provide further comment on its application until the wireless spectrum auction is complete. The auction begins May 27.

Bitove is also a major force behind Canadian Satellite Radio Holdings Inc. and the XM Canada subscription-radio.

Industry Canada had released a list of some 30 spectrum bidders, including numbered companies that industry observers say represent Quebecor Media Inc., Shaw Communications Inc., and Manitoba Telecom Services. Major telecom players such as Rogers Communications, Telus Corp. and BCE Inc. are included.

A list of bidders released by Industry Canada on Monday revealed three potential bidders have withdrawn.

Niagara Networks, a little-known surprise participant, has announced it is pulling out of the competition; it had planned to spend some $800-million gathering spectrum for cell phones and other portable devices.

One hundred and five megahertz of radio spectrum, including 40 MHz set-aside for new entrants, will be auctioned off in an effort to increase competition in the market.


mediacastermagazine.com - Mediacaster - 4/1/2008

[dbrown]

Thanks Jonathan,

Hi Guys, thanks for allowing me to join the community. I work with the Spectrum Management Authority (Spectrum Regulator) here in Jamaica. At present we are looking at the available DTV systems worldwide in an effort to implement/adopt our own free-to-air policy/standards. In addition we are desirous of awarding a wireless "cableTV" licence in the 700 MHz band. However we are faced with the challenge of locating operating systems to benchmark. What is the situation in Canada?