Canada’s fourth largest wireless operator WIND Mobile on Monday announced a name change and the rollout of LTE service in two major Canadian cities.
According to a company press release, the provider will now be known as Freedom Mobile and will renew its promise to deliver affordable wireless service to its customers.
“As WIND Mobile, we built a strong foundation of more than a million customers,” CEO Alek Krstajic said in a statement. “As Freedom Mobile, we are reaffirming our commitment to them and to the core principles of our business – value, transparency, and fairness.”
Like T-Mobile’s Un-carrier makeover some years back, Freedom Mobile said its new name will come alongside a new look, tone, and “for-the-people” approach. Existing WIND Mobile customer accounts – including pre-authorized payments and other transactions – will be transitioned to the new brand with no user action required, the company said.
But the name change also comes with a significant technology boost: the launch of LTE services in Toronto and Vancouver, with additional markets to be added in 2017.
LTE services are expected to go live on Sunday, Nov. 27, and will be initially available in the Toronto and Vancouver proper. Service will expand to include the greater Toronto and Vancouver areas by Spring 2017, with LTE service in Ottawa, Calgary, and Edmonton to follow by summer 2017. Freedom Mobile’s remaining 3G coverage areas in southwestern Ontario, the Hamilton-Niagara corridor, Barrie, Kingston, and Petersborough will be lit up with LTE by fall 2017, the carrier said. LTE roaming will be available in the United States and Canada in early 2017, it added.
“We are extremely proud and excited to be launching LTE and giving our customers a service everyone can be proud of,” Krstajic said. “We owe a debt of gratitude to our one million customers who have stood by us. We will continue on our journey to keep improving our offering and remain the most competitively priced wireless service.”
The carrier said its inaugural LTE rate plan will run $45 per month and will include unlimited calling to Canada and the United States, unlimited global messaging from within the carrier’s 3G and LTe coverage areas, and 3GB of data each month. An additional 3GB of bonus data will be offered through the end of January 2018 for a total of 6 GB of monthly data, the carrier said.
