Canadians Stand to “Gain the Most” from Shaw-WIND Mobile Deal: Lacavera

Since Shaw announced its entry into the Canadian wireless market, we’ve all read different comments regarding Wind Mobile’s sale. Wind co-founder Anthony Lacavera has remained silent, however, except to tweet his excitement right after the deal was announced. But Terence Corcoran’s comment on the Shaw–Wind deal claiming “the game is up on the Lacavera idea” prompted Lacavera to break the silence by penning a response presenting Globalive’s perspective on the sale.

From Lacavera’s point of view, Globalive has achieved its goal of creating a viable, long-term fourth wireless player in the mobile markets of B.C., Alberta, and Ontario. To reach that goal, the company brought nearly $2 billion of capital into Canada – money used to secure spectrum licences, create thousands of jobs, and build a wireless network from scratch. That network now serves more than 940,000 subscribers (60,000 short of Wind’s goal of 1 million by the end of 2015).

We have achieved that goal. The planned sale of Wind Mobile is a testament to perseverance in the face of incredible odds and an affirmation of the need for more competition in Canada’s largest markets.

The market Wind entered was dominated by the Big 3, but Globalive was prepared to endure the torture test it underwent during its six years of existence. What motivated the company behind Wind was their “long-term vision of creating an alternative for Canadians,” Lacavera explains.

Now that Shaw is ready to acquire Wind, who stands to gain the most? Lacavera asks, and quickly answers: “Canadians do.” While Canadian wireless rates remain higher than in Europe or Asia, Globalive knows that competition will lower prices; you only have to look at Québec, Manitoba, or Saskatchewan for confirmation, he says.