Quebecor targeting both MVNOs and Shaw assets for wireless roll out

Quebecor Inc. CEO Pierre Karl Péladeau said that while his company is waiting on the CRTC to "hurry up" and finish determining the framework for mobile virtual network operator agreements, he is not giving up on the idea of purchasing Shaw Communications Inc.'s wireless assets should they come up for sale. "We got everything," he said, referencing Quebecor's spectrum assets, expertise, billing systems, and so on needed for a national roll out. "The missing piece is the regulatory framework. We look forward to the price. Obviously everything will depend on the price that we will need to pay for this transition from MVNO situation to a full facility operator," Péladeau said. "We look forward to the CRTC to try to hurry up this exercise which is, as you can imagine, being slowed down by the incumbents that do not want to see competition." But at the same time, Péladeau said, the other route of acquiring Shaw's assets is not off the table. "Both work in the same direction where Canadians need competition." "On one side, we have the assets to start," Péladeau said, referring to the MVNO route in a national roll out. "Overall, it's a win-win situation. Both perspectives are favorable to Quebecor." Telus Inc. and BCE Inc. are both currently in federal court attempting to block Quebecor's spectrum acquisitions. Cogeco Inc. CEO Philippe Jetté recently said that his company was more interested in the MVNO option than acquiring Shaw's Freedom Mobile. For the three months that ended on Dec. 31 representing the fourth quarter, Quebecor reported overall revenues of $1.18 billion, up from $1.15 billion for the corresponding quarter last year. Its profit fell slightly to $164.4 million, down from $168.5 million a year ago. In wireless, the company added 30,600 subscribers, for a total of 1.6 million. Wireless revenues were up 8.9 per cent to 189.4 million from 170.2 million a year ago. Average billing per user (ABPU) dropped to $48.57 from $50.52 this time last year. Asked about roaming revenues for wireless subscribers in the fourth quarter, Péladeau joked that the amount of Quebecers who caught COVID-19 in Florida over the holidays meant they stayed longer and paid more in roaming fees. Quebecor added 8,100 internet subscribers in the quarter, climbing to a total of 1.84 million. Internet revenue climbed 3.2 per cent to $301.6 million from $292.3 million a year ago. Quebecor lost 9,400 television subscribers in the quarter, and now reports a total of 1.42 million television subscribers, while the company added 36,200 over-the-top subscribers for a total of 503,400. Television revenue dropped 7.4 per cent, down to 203.8 million from 220 million in the fourth quarter of 2020. — Reporting by Michael Lee-Murphy at mleemurphy@thewirereport.ca and editing by Jenna Cocullo at jcocullo@thewirereport.ca

Quebecor targeting both MVNOs and Shaw assets for wireless roll out

News | February 24, 2022

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Quebecor targeting both MVNOs and Shaw assets for wireless roll out

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