Industry Minister Fran莽ois-Philippe Champagne said he will not approve the proposed deal between Rogers Communications Inc. and Shaw Communications Inc., though he left the door open to a revised agreement.
The $26-billion proposed merger would have meant the wholesale transfer of wireless spectrum licences from Shaw to Rogers, which requires Champagne91裸聊视频檚 approval.
91裸聊视频淭oday, I officially denied that request,91裸聊视频� he said Tuesday evening. 91裸聊视频淢y decision formally closes that chapter of the original proposed transaction.91裸聊视频�
Shaw91裸聊视频檚 ownership of Freedom Mobile has widely been seen as the main obstacle to the deal91裸聊视频檚 approval, and Montreal-based Videotron earlier this year agreed to buy it for $2.85 billion.
But Champagne says before he would approve the Videotron deal, he needs two specific concessions.
He says Videotron would have to agree to keep the Freedom wireless licences for at least 10 years.
91裸聊视频淲e don91裸聊视频檛 want someone to flip these licences, we want them to be in it for the long term,91裸聊视频� he said.
Secondly, he said he would 91裸聊视频渆xpect to see91裸聊视频� wireless prices in Ontario and Western Canada lowered by about 20 per cent, putting them in line with Videotron91裸聊视频檚 current Quebec offerings.
Champagne did not make clear whether a successful sale of Freedom Mobile would mean the Rogers-Shaw deal might still be approved. He said his conditions for Freedom91裸聊视频檚 licence transfer were clear.
91裸聊视频淭here is a chapter that is closed 91裸聊视频� Shaw-Rogers, that91裸聊视频檚 closed. There91裸聊视频檚 a new chapter opening.91裸聊视频�
As well as Champagne91裸聊视频檚 approval, the Rogers-Shaw deal required a green light from the Competition Commissioner and the CRTC.
The Canadian Radio-television and Telecommunications Commission offered its conditional approval for the broadcasting portion of the deal in March.
A mediation is scheduled for later this week between the Competition Commissioner and Rogers and Shaw. The Competition Bureau is attempting to block the merger, saying that the sale of Freedom Mobile does not go far enough to eliminate its concerns that telecom bills would increase amid reduced competition.
Champagne91裸聊视频檚 approval is required for any spectrum licence transfer.
