Canada unveils major wireless spectrum plan

The Canadian government unveiled a major update to its wireless airwave policy as it seeks to lower cellphone bills and bolster its coffers ahead of a federal election in 2015.

The plan calls for making more of the invisible infrastructure available includes an auction of high-frequency AWS-3 spectrum beginning on March 3, 2015. The same frequency of airwaves is being auctioned in the United States -- raising $44 billion so far -- which should encourage device makers to produce compatible gadgets. The plan, which includes blocking the three largest national wireless providers from bidding on some airwaves, should stimulate competition in wireless "through support of new entrants and ensuring that they will have access to the spectral resources they need," telecom analyst Iain Grant, of Seaboard Group, said.