Three of Canada’s smaller mobile phone carriers are withdrawing from the industry’s main lobby group, claiming it is biased against their interests in favour of their main rivals.
Wind Mobile, Public Mobile and Mobilicity accuse the Canadian Wireless Telecommunications Association of consistently taking positions that favour Canada’s three older, bigger carriers – Rogers , Bell and Telus.
Wind Mobile, Public Mobile and Mobilicity emerged after the federal government moved to increase competition in 2008 by reserving some wireless spectrum for new entrants.
Ottawa is preparing to hold another auction of spectrum that will allow carriers to build faster networks that will cover more area.