Earlier in the month, I mentioned a story from Mobile Syrup predicting a “soft launch” for Public Mobile this week.
In fact, at 10:00 this morning, Public Mobile will be releasing new information about its launch date, its customer offers and its advertising campaign plans.
No word yet from the CRTC on the Public Mobile ownership review file. Under the Telecom Act, Public Mobile would not be able to offer “telecommunications services to the public for compensation” until after it has CRTC approval. [Theoretically, under the Telecom Act, a spectrum license holder could give its services away for free without the need for Commission approval. Of course, one might want to ask if selling a handset and then giving away airtime is considered to be offering a telecommunications service to the public for compensation.]
The CRTC had written to Public Mobile (and the other new mobile entrants) in December of 2008 – in advance of Industry Canada granting the first licenses, inviting the companies to begin the process of examination of the ownership and control requirements of the Telecom Act.
The store on the Danforth in Toronto is ready and other retail outlets are being builtout. We’ll learn later this morning if the wait for CRTC approval is what is standing in the way of service getting launched?