Shaw’s Freedom Mobile inks deal with Apple, no details on pricing

TORONTO — Shaw Communications Inc. said its upgraded Freedom Mobile wireless network will handle a broader range of devices including Apple’s iPhone, which hasn’t been previously compatible with Canada’s fourth-largest wireless network.

The Calgary-based company — which acquired Wind Mobile and renamed it Freedom Mobile last year — has been working to bring its network data capabilities and device offerings in line with its three biggest rivals.

Chief executive Brad Shaw told analysts Thursday that his company’s investments in network capability will allow millions of Canadians to bring their current devices to the Freedom network if the smartphones can use the AWS-1 frequency.

“We’re also happy to announce that we have finalized an agreement with Apple to bring the iPhone to our wireless customers and we look forward to future announcements on Apple iPhone availability and pricing,” Shaw said.

The company didn’t provide details about what’s covered by the Apple agreement.

But Shaw president Jay Mehr said Freedom’s updated network will handle Apple’s older iPhones, including the SE, 6 and 7 models, and compatible LTE devices from other manufacturers, by late 2017 or early 2018 depending on the market.

“I think you can appreciate that’s a major shift for us as we build out our LTE network,” Mehr said.

Shaw’s wireless division, anchored by the former Wind Mobile business, added more than 103,000 subscribers in the fiscal year ended Aug. 31. That included 41,000 in its fourth quarter, which brought Freedom’s subscriber base to 1.1 million — still a small customer base compared with Rogers, Telus or Bell.

It wasn’t clear when Shaw’s Freedom will begin to offer the latest Apple devices through its retail channels.

The three bigger Canadian networks are poised to begin taking orders this week for the newest Apple smartphone, the iPhone X, which is scheduled to be in Canada starting on Nov. 3.

They have had the iPhone 8 and 8 Plus since September.

Also Thursday, Shaw announced that it more than tripled its fourth-quarter profit compared with a year ago, boosted by the sale of its U.S.-based ViaWest Inc. business.

The company said it earned $481 million or 96 cents per diluted share in the quarter ended Aug. 31, up from $154 million or 31 cents per diluted share a year ago.

Profit from continuing operations totalled $149 million or 30 cents per diluted share, up from $145 million or 29 cents per diluted share a year ago.

Revenue totalled $1.24 billion, up from $1.21 billion.