Wind - Canada

Wind (Canada) uses 1 UMTS band. Find out if your unlocked phone or mobile device will work with Wind (Canada). See the tables below for details.

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Carrier website: https://www.windmobile.ca/

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Wind Mobile, now known as Freedom Mobile, was a Canadian wireless telecommunications provider founded in 2008 by Globalive. The company was primarily financed by the Egyptian corporation Orascom Telecom Holding and managed by Wind Telecom S.p.A., which owns several other "Wind" brand telecommunications companies.

Early Challenges and Launch

Wind Mobile faced significant regulatory hurdles. Initially, the Canadian Radio-television and Telecommunications Commission (CRTC) questioned whether Globalive met Canadian ownership requirements due to its reliance on Orascom for debt, amounting to CAD $508 million. However, after a public ownership review, the Governor-in-Council deemed Globalive to meet the ownership requirements, allowing Wind Mobile to enter the Canadian market in December 2009.

Network Expansion

Wind Mobile launched its service in Toronto on December 16, 2009, and expanded to Calgary on December 18, 2009. The company continued to expand its network, reaching 100,000 subscribers by early July 2010. It launched in Edmonton on February 25, 2010, Ottawa on March 26, 2010, and Vancouver on June 3, 2010.

Rebranding and Acquisition

In 2016, Shaw Communications acquired Wind Mobile's parent company, Mid-Bowline Group, for approximately CAD $1.6 billion. As part of the acquisition, Wind Mobile was rebranded as Freedom Mobile on November 21, 2016. The rebranding aimed to shed the "baggage" associated with the Wind name and signify new ownership under Shaw Communications.

LTE Network Rollout

Freedom Mobile launched its LTE network in Toronto and Vancouver in November 2016, with plans to expand to other markets in 2017. The LTE network utilized the AWS-3 spectrum band, enabling faster data speeds and a better smartphone experience.

Current Operations

Freedom Mobile continues to operate as a budget-friendly mobile carrier, focusing on value, transparency, and fairness. It offers affordable 5G plans starting at $5/month with Digital Discount and provides coverage to 99% of Canadians. The company also offers a Price Freeze Promise, ensuring that wireless plan prices will not increase, and a Money Back Guarantee for 15 days.

Overall, Wind Mobile, now known as Freedom Mobile, has navigated significant regulatory challenges and market competition to become a prominent player in the Canadian wireless market.

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