Xplornet responds to Industry Canada announcement regarding 3500 MHz spectrum allocation

WOODSTOCK, NB, Dec. 18, 2014 /CNW/ - The following is a statement issued by Xplornet Communications Inc. – Canada's leading provider of rural broadband services -  in response to Industry Canada's announcement today of a new approach to the 3500 MHz spectrum band planning, and changes to previous proposals for allocation the 3500 MHz spectrum in rural and urban Canada. Quotes in the statement can be attributed to Mr. Allison Lenehan, President of Xplornet Communications Inc. 

"As a Canadian rural broadband provider, Xplornet is pleased and relieved at the news that Industry Canada and Minister Moore have made significant changes to the previously proposed 3500 MHz spectrum policy.  In adopting the announced approach, the Minister has demonstrated that he understands the critical importance of 3500 MHz spectrum to the provision of fast and affordable high-speed internet to rural Canadians from coast to coast. The Minister has taken a balanced approached that does no harm to the tremendous gains that have been made in the past few years to improve Internet access for rural Canadians and reaffirms his commitment that '[u]nder no circumstances will our government take spectrum licences away from any local Internet service provider that is providing Internet service to rural Canadians'.   The Minister has also held true to the important principle of "use it or lose it" that insures spectrum is being put to use for the benefit of all Canadians. 

The 3500 MHz consultation process worked.  Industry Canada and the Minister have been responsive to the needs of rural Canadians.  By undertaking a comprehensive band-plan review, there will be a proper assessment of the current and future spectrum needed to continue providing Internet services to Canadians in rural areas.  Rural broadband providers look forward to being part of that process." 

About Xplornet Communications Inc.
Xplornet Communications Inc. is Canada's largest rural broadband service provider. We believe everyone should have access to the transformative benefits of broadband Internet, so we make our service available everywhere in Canada, including the hard to reach places. We overcome the challenges of Canada's vast geography through our deployment of our LTE and 4G network, which leverages our hybrid technology network of fixed-wireless towers on the ground and next-generation satellites in space. Our customers live in towns, villages, just outside of major urban centres and in the farthest reaches of the country. Through our coast-to-coast network of local dealers and professional installers we connect our customers to all that the Internet has to offer. Xplornet connects you to what matters.

For more information, please visit www.xplornet.com, or chat with us on Facebook and on Twitter.

SOURCE: Xplornet Communications Inc.

Morten Paulsen, 403.399.3377, [email protected]