Globalive Capital – chaired by Anthony Lacavera – has signed a 20-year nationwide mobile network and spectrum sharing agreement with Telus Communications, effective only in the event that Globalive is successful in its bid to buy Canada's fourth largest cellco Freedom Mobile – the company originally founded by Lacavera and currently a subsidiary of Shaw Communications. Freedom is up for sale as a condition of the proposed merger of Shaw with Rogers Communications, with Globalive facing bidding competition from the likes of Videotron/Quebecor and Xplornet.
As reported by MobileSyrup, Globalive says the agreement with Telus will allow Freedom to deliver services with lower pricing and a quality network, 'establishing a vigorously competitive environment for decades to come,' while also claiming that the partnership will eliminate any possibility of Rogers reacquiring Freedom. Lacavera stated: 'Canada needs a truly independent fourth carrier to ensure consumers have the benefits of a competitive market and a level playing field. We're excited to bring Canadians closer to that reality with this transformational announcement.'
Thanks to TeleGeography for this industry update.