Microcell, a Canadian company in partnership with others with really deep pockets is building a Canada-wide broadband wireless network. The company has enough spectrum and has recently attracted the affection of wireless super hero, Craig McCaw who has pumped in about $150 million into the company.
bq. Microcell announced it was teaming up with Allstream Inc., formerly AT&T Canada, and a U.S.-based investment firm headed by Canadian wireless guru Nick Kauser, a former Rogers Cantel executive. The purpose of this coming-together was to unlock the potential of Inukshuk’s wireless spectrum, and each partner offered to contribute in a way that played up its own strengths.
bq. Microcell, meanwhile, has attracted a sugardaddy of its own. Four weeks ago, the company announced it was proceeding with a $150-million financing deal, with a third of the funds coming from wireless pioneer and multi-billionaire Craig McCaw. McCaw’s investment company Eagle River Investments LLC, based in Washington, D.C., has since become the financial driver behind a number of major telecommunications ventures in the United States — some successful, such as Nextel, and others a flop, such as satellite venture Teledesic.
The payoff I guess will be twinfold for Craig McCaw – Microcell’s project is a success he makes money; and while that is happening, one of his other investments, Next Net, will make a ton of money selling equipment to this new Canadian network. See how billions become mega billions!
bq. The payoff I guess will be twinfold for Craig McCaw – Microcell’s project is a success he makes money; and while that is happening, one of his other investments, Next Net, will make a ton of money selling equipment to this new Canadian network. See how billions become mega billions!
Source: The Toronto Star
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