Particle.news
Download on the App Store

Quebecor to Build Freedom Mobile Network in Manitoba, Starting in Winnipeg

The expansion advances Quebecor's bid to become a fourth national carrier under MVNO rules facing a seven-year sunset.

Overview

  • Quebecor said construction of Freedom Mobile’s Manitoba network is imminent, with the first phase rolling out in Winnipeg before extending across the province.
  • Freedom has invested more than $35 million in Manitoba spectrum to underpin the build-out.
  • The company has been selling plans in the province as an MVNO and intends to move onto its own infrastructure to limit wholesale access costs.
  • The plan unfolds under a regulatory framework in which mandated MVNO rates expire after seven years, introducing uncertainty over future access and pricing.
  • CEO Pierre Karl Péladeau met Premier Wab Kinew to discuss the build and potential TVA/MELS production collaborations that could bring millions in local film and TV spending.