THUNDER BAY — Tbaytel has successfully bid for additional radio band capacity that will support the rollout of its new 5G wireless service across Northern Ontario.
Innovation, Science and Economic Development Canada recently conducted an auction of dozens of licenses available across the country in various frequency bands.
In an announcement Monday, Tbaytel said it's been awarded two licenses for 600 MHz, which triples its holdings in the highly sought-after spectrum and bolsters the 5G project it unveiled in December.
The company told TBnewswatch it paid $6.2 million for the licenses. In a previous auction, it paid $2.8 million for its first 600 MHz license.
"This is integral to Tbaytel's current and future expansion of 5G services throughout challenging Northern Ontario terrain by providing deep indoor and rural coverage," the company's statement said.
A spokesperson explained that deep indoor refers to facilities such as arenas, office buildings and basements where radio signals must pass through multiple walls.
5G service operates over both traditional and new frequency bands in the low, mid and millimetre-wave ranges, and provides increased speed and capacity.
"Spectrum is essential for providing a modern wireless communication network with varying bands required in order to address coverage, capacity and latency across Tbaytel's serving territory," president and CEO Dan Topatigh said.
"Coupled with the [license for] 3500 MHz won in past auctions, which is ideal for urban and suburban demands, Tbaytel's latest success continues to strengthen its position and future-proof its network."
Topatigh said the company is proud to have been able to win valuable spectrum that strengthens its wireless network in the competitive Canadian telecommunications landscape.
