Rogers wins roaming battle with Ice Wireless
Canada’s telecom regulator quashed an attempt by Northern wireless carrier Ice Wireless Inc. to let customers of its affiliate network Sugar Mobile permanently roam on Rogers Communications Inc.’s network.
In two decisions released Wednesday that reaffirm federal preference for wireless carriers that own their own networks, the Canadian Radio-television and Telecommunications Commission determined Ice Wireless “improperly” allowed Sugar users permanent, not incidental, access to Rogers’ network.
If Ice Wireless doesn’t stop Sugar Mobile customers from using Rogers’ network within 50 days, the CRTC granted Rogers permission to kick off all Ice Wireless customers from roaming on its network.
The standoff between Ice Wireless and Rogers began when Sugar launched in early 2016. Sugar, which offers wireless services starting at $19 per month through a combination of Wi-Fi and cellular networks, described itself as a mobile virtual network operator that used Ice’s network as a home network. Ice Wireless, which owns network facilities in three territories and Quebec, already had a contract with Rogers that lets its customers roam on the wireless giant’s cellular network when travelling, for example, from Yellowknife to Toronto. But Rogers was chagrined to learn that Ice also let Sugar Mobile customers — who were not necessarily based in the North — roam on its network. It told Ice it would terminate their roaming agreement unless it stopped Sugar customers from using the network.
Ice asked the CRTC for relief and received it on an interim basis. It argued Sugar users only used Rogers’ network on an incidental basis since most Sugar service is provided over Wi-Fi. Ice noted that Sugar customers still rely on Ice Wireless’ backbone network regardless of their physical location.
Rogers countered that Wi-Fi isn’t a part of the cellular framework and shouldn’t be considered a home network. The CRTC agreed.
The regulator noted that Sugar marketed its services to customers across the country and there was no indication these customers were required to use the Ice home network at all. The CRTC will give Ice until the end of the month to confirm Sugar will stop its unauthorized use of the Rogers network.