Press releases
Public Mobile has been in the news a few times recently.
Here’s what we have been up to.
Public Mobile Challenges Government Decision on Globalive
Government Urged to Treat All Wireless Providers Equally
TORONTO — January 8th, 2010
Public Mobile is applying to the Federal Court (Canada) asking it to overturn the Government’s decision allowing Globalive Wireless to operate while being backed entirely by Egyptian billionaire Naguib Sawiris. Public Mobile believes the Government has in essence thrown out the foreign ownership laws of Canada and must therefore review foreign ownership restrictions and provide all wireless providers equal access to foreign capital. The Federal Court is Canada's national trial court which hears and decides legal disputes, including claims against the Government of Canada.
Last fall, after a lengthy and thorough investigation, the CRTC provided a detailed ruling concluding that Globalive was not Canadian owned and controlled. But Industry Minister Tony Clement and the federal cabinet over-ruled the CRTC and gave Egyptian-backed Globalive the green light to operate, essentially ignoring laws that can only be changed by Parliament.
“We believe Cabinet’s decision is unfair to other wireless carriers, especially new entrants like Public Mobile that have played by the rules and secured substantial Canadian investment,” said Alek Krstajic, Chief Executive Officer of Public Mobile. “Furthermore, while we respect the Government’s authority we believe what it has done amounts to a change in law, and only Parliament can change Canadian law.”
“We agree entirely that there should be more wireless competition in Canada,” Krstajic added. “And we want to be very clear that we are not opposed to Globalive’s presence in the marketplace so long as the same rules are applied to everyone. But the government’s decision does not create a level playing field. It has made two sets of rules – one for Globalive and its Egyptian owners and one for everyone else. We are simply asking that all wireless providers be treated equally and given the same access to capital.”
Public Mobile filed its application with the Federal Court late today. The company is in the process of building a wireless network across Ontario and Quebec that will provide unlimited talk and text for $40 month. Public Mobile is backed by numerous Canadian investors and its largest investor is the Ontario Municipal Employees Retirement System (OMERS) which represents the pensions of 400,000 firefighters, police officers, transit and hydro workers across the province.
About Public Mobile:
Formed in 2008, Public Mobile is a new wireless entrant that received its license to provide talk and text services to 19 million Canadians across Ontario and Quebec. Public Mobile expects to launch service in the first half of 2010.
For more information, please contact: Public Mobile Lisa Papas Director/ Corporate Communications media@publicmobile.ca