Canadian telecom operator MTS, based in Manitoba, has acquired 15 MHz of paired AWS-1 spectrum in Manitoba from Wind Mobile. The deal will allow MTS to significantly increase the speed and customer experience on the MTS network, it said. MTS will pay USD 45 million to Wind for the spectrum, financed using existing credit facilities which it plans to repay following the sale of Allstream. The sale proceeds, including the recent spectrum acquisitions from Rogers as well as the AWS-3 spectrum auction, will be used towards network expansion and quality improvements including the LTE rollout.
SaskTel, an operator based in Saskatchewan, also announced that Industry Canada has the transfer of two blocks of AWS-1 spectrum from Wind Mobile to SaskTel. This spectrum will allow SaskTel to increase the capacity and speed of its LTE network in the nine major urban centres in Saskatchewan. After the sale, Wind Mobile will focus on the regions Ontario, British Columbia and Alberta.
