Verizon Wirelesshas put the brakes on its move to acquire a pair of smaller Canadian carriers, Wind and Mobilicity. Verizon had reportedly already made a $700 million bid for Wind and had signed a non-disclosure agreement with Mobilicity. 

The Globe and Mail, citing sources familiar with the situation, reports that Verizon will delay its pursuit of Wind Mobile, as well as Mobilicity, until January, after the Candadian  government has had a chance to auction off a number of spectrum licenses. 

Verizon is apparently using the time to decide whether it will actually particpate in Canada’s auction of spectrum in the 700 MHz band. The report claims that if Verizon were to win the spectrum, it would then look to acquire the two carriers. 

Verizon declined to comment on the matter.  

By entering Canada, Verizon would be going up against the country’s three biggest carriers–Telus, Rogers Communications, and BCE–which together control about 90 percent of Canada’s wireless market. 

Toronto-based Wind Mobile has over 600,000 subscribers. VimpelCom owns 65 percent of Wind. Mobilicty has about 250,000 subscribers.