WIND Mobile customers in the Calgary area should soon notice better call quality and faster data speeds as WIND completes its second major network upgrade in that region. WIND just finished a major coverage update in Greater Vancouver and has just now finished work to get Calgary the additional wireless spectrum it needs for a better network coverage and faster data speeds for WIND mobile customers along with improved call quality. From there, WIND is moving on to upgrade the Edmonton network. Alek Krstajic, President and CEO, WIND Mobile said, “We are really pleased to have completed the second Western market in our continuing network upgrade journey. It is so exciting to hear customers tell us that they are experiencing a noticeable improvement in their service.” Although it has no LTE service as of yet, WIND says that it “will continue to expand capacity and enhance its network, including bringing LTE service to the markets it serves across Canada.”
A little less than a year ago, WIND Mobile hired their new Chief Commercial Officer, Glen Campbell, who came by way of Bank of America’s Merrill Lynch. Campbell said at the time – “I am really pleased to be joining WIND Mobile at this exciting stage in its development. WIND has carved out an important position within the Canadian wireless marketplace providing affordable, unlimited wireless service to consumers.”
WIND was also in the news because of Rogers’ buyout of Mobilicity, because part of the buyout agreement included Rogers having to sell off some spectrum to WIND. For being one of smaller, regional carriers, WIND has reached out to expand and improve their business. Last year, they partnered with the Toronto Transit Commission (TTC) and BIA Canada and received a $25 million contract to install wireless services in each of Toronto’s subway stations. This now allows WIND mobile customers to make calls, text and use data in 15 TTC subway stops.
As WIND continues its goal to be a strong fourth place contender in Canada’s wireless market, in December it signed a five-year agreement with Nokia Corporation to be its sole provider of network infrastructure and equipment to help WIND rollout LTE services for its customers. This deal had the backing of three major Canadian banks – this arrangement is expected to double its network capacity and speed and allow WIND to start its LTE network. Mr. Krstajic said these were just more proof that “WIND is here to stay.” He also said, “This new partnership with Nokia Networks as our sole source LTE network provider allows Wind to bring the most advanced technologies available to our customers.”