Freedom Mobile Coverage “Closing the Gap” vs Big 3 Says Shaw CEO; Q4 Adds 85,000 Subscribers

Shaw announced its Q4 earnings today, which included details about its wireless division, Freedom Mobile, which saw significant gains in the three-month period.

According to Shaw, Freedom Mobile gained 85,000 wireless postpaid net additions, while average revenue per unit (ARPU) saw growth of 9 percent, year-over-year, led by consumer demand for higher data plans. Freedom Mobile now has over 1 million postpaid subscribers, with its total wireless count at 1.4 million.

Shaw says during the quarter it also started deploying small cell wireless transmitters with a range of 100m to 200m, to increase wireless coverage in smaller areas.

With the deployment of the company’s LTE network has seen their data traffic move from 92% using 3G to now 80% on their LTE network, which is now offered in AWS-1, AWS-3 and 2500 MHz bands, improving wireless coverage.

Chief Executive Officer, Brad Shaw said in a statement, “Our impressive Wireless results in the quarter and throughout 2018 reflect our ongoing Wireless investments (including spectrum deployment), device parity, data-centric Big Gig plans, and a significantly expanded retail distribution network.”

With the recently ongoing rollout of Voice over LTE (VoLTE), Shaw says it expects over 800,000 Freedom Mobile customers to utilize VoLTE before the end of the year. Apple iPhone users are expected to gain VoLTE support by the end of October, according to Freedom Mobile.

“Wireless network investments remain our top priority and in the fourth quarter we increased spending related to the deployment of our 700 MHz spectrum, which was recently enabled in Calgary, and deployment will continue through fiscal 2019. This spectrum materially improves network coverage and provides customers with enhanced indoor LTE coverage and combined with VoLTE capability, we are closing the gap between our wireless network and the incumbents’,” added Shaw.

Freedom Mobile currently offers Apple’s iPhone XR, iPhone XS and iPhone XS Max for $0 upfront on a two-year contract.

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