A newspaper reports that Lycamobile, a mobile virtual operator that rents spectrum from European carriers, plans to start service in Canada. The company’s target market is ethnic communities who often call long-distance to their home countries. That’s a market that has been targeted by Mobilicity since its launch in 2010.
By leasing spectrum Lycamobile gets around foreign telecom ownership restrictions and won’t be participating in the upcoming 700 MHz spectrum auction. While the Harper government will welcome more competition, it might also wish a foreign carrier would sink deeper roots here.
