List of 2008 Spectrum Auction Bidders

Industry Canada released the list of companies that will bid for available airwaves earlier today and the early leader surprisingly is a little-known outfit called Niagara Networks.

Niagara, run by someone named Douglas S. Evashkow could very well become a national wireless carrier; the company put an $881-million deposit down with Industry Canada before the list was released earlier today.

The deposits made by Niagara are more than enough to allow it bid on licenses in virtually every part of the country if it so chooses.

Niagara will be up against Rogers, which put the second-largest deposit down, as well as Bell, Videotron, Shaw, MTS Allstream and Telus. As well, there are a slew of regional carriers as well as smaller (mysterious) wireless upstarts that will compete for spectrum when the auction begins on May 27.

The deposits are in effect a sign of good faith on the part of the prospective buyer.

The source or sources of its funding are a mystery and the company is mum on the topic. Google, T-Mobile and various other international sources come to mind though foreign sources of funding can’t equal more than 47%.

More to come tomorrow. Thanks to wirelessnorth.ca for the chart.

March 15, 2008 | Filed Under News Items and Commentary

Comments

3 Responses to “List of 2008 Spectrum Auction Bidders”

Sarah on March 18th, 2008 3:16 pm

http://www.angustel.ca/update/up208.html

Who is Evashkow? Apparently, he was part of the bid back in 1999. The company has no web site. Incepta that was an investment firm, no longer exists. Where is his money coming from?
Kevin Restivo on March 18th, 2008 3:38 pm

Hey Sarah,

Thanks for the comment.

Lots of speculation with respect to his background (see CBC.ca comments). It will be interesting to see how far Niagara can take its bid.

Kevin
Lycia. E on March 30th, 2008 2:29 am

gee i wish i knew him