Manitoba is set to get a fourth wireless player this fall, as rural Internet provider Xplornet has announced it will launch the Xplore Mobile brand in the province later this year.
“Xplore Mobile wants to be a different kind of mobile company by simplifying the process and making it easier for customers to understand the product they’re buying,” director of communications Sébastien Bouchard said in an interview with The Financial Post.
No details on pricing were announced, but Bouchard said it will have a “competitive” offering to take on incumbents Rogers, Telus and Bell.
Xplornet is set to invest $100 million to build its network in Manitoba, which is expected to be ready by mid-fall. It has launched two retail stores dubbed “X”, to test its new company with consumers and to also sell mobile accessories. Earlier this spring, Xplornet job postings hinted a wireless launch was imminent by the Internet company.
The previous fourth wireless player in Manitoba was MTS, but the latter was acquired by Bell in a $3.9 billion deal, which required the latter to sell 24,700 wireless subscribers, half a dozen stores and 40 MHz of spectrum to Xplornet, to appease concerns of the Competition Bureau. Xplornet will also gain access to the Bell MTS network during the transition period.
Bell MTS promised to retain existing pricing for at least 12 months in the province, but 16 months later the company axed its unlimited flat rate data plan for new customers and hike prices by $5 per month.
