Globalive says it remains committed to Peterborough call centre
CRTC rules that new cellphone company's ownership structure doesn't meet Canadian ownership requirements
Posted By BRENDAN WEDLEY/Examiner Staff Writer
Posted 3 months ago
“The real loser in this whole thing is the Canadian consumer and communities like Peterborough. These agencies are supposed to be protecting and promoting the public interest.… I can’t imagine a country not wanting a committed investor like Globalive.”
Michael O’Connor, Globalive co-chairman
Globalive, which planned to open a call centre and create 200 jobs in Peterborough, remains committed to the city, a co-chairman of the company said Friday.
The Canadian Radio-television and Telecommunications Commission (CRTC) ruled on Thursday that the Toronto-based company doesn't meet the Canadian ownership and control requirements to operate as a telecommunications carrier.
Globalive announced in September that its subsidiary, Wind Wireless, would open a call centre at 364 Water St., the former Bell Canada building, and create 200 jobs within the next year.
Industry Canada held a wireless spectrum auction last year, selling licences for airwaves to Globalive for $442 million.
The CRTC decision goes against the federal government's objective of creating competition to lower cellphone service prices and improving mobile phone service, Globalive co-chairman Michael O'Connor said.
"The real loser in this whole thing is the Canadian consumer and communities like Peterborough," he said. "These agencies are supposed to be protecting and promoting the public interest.… I can't imagine a country not wanting a committed investor like Globalive."
Industry Ministry Tony Clement said Friday the federal cabinet will review the CRTC decision.
"I'm hopeful that the government stands by its original intent, which was to introduce competition to telecom in Canada," O'Connor said.
The goal of the wireless spectrum auction was to bring more companies into the cellphone industry to encourage competition, Peterborough MP Dean Del Mastro said.
"Ultimately we hope it results in lower bills for consumers," he said, adding the CRTC decision is about a complex issue that the cabinet will review.
Globalive remains committed to Peterborough as part of its overall plan, O'Connor said.
"We're committed to Peterborough but in the face of the (CRTC) decision (Thursday) we're in a position where we just have to sit back and evaluate what our options are," he said.
O'Connor was raised in Peterborough and keeps a home in the city. He is a graduate of Crestwood Secondary School.
He moved to Cairo when he joined Orascom Telecom in Egypt in 1999 and returned to Canada about 20 months ago.
Wind Mobile would be Canada's fourth major wireless carrier. It plans to eventually have service across the country, except in Quebec.
bwedley@peterboroughexaminer.com
