DAVE enters roaming agreement with Rogers

Canadian start-up cellco Data & Audio Visual Enterprises Wireless (DAVE Wireless) has entered into a multi-year voice and data roaming agreement with nationwide GSM/3G operator Rogers Communications. ‘DAVE Wireless is building our own 3G network in major metropolitan areas,’ said the company’s president Dave Dobbin, who continued, ‘As part of our promise to deliver value, simplicity and flexibility to our customers, we needed a high-quality partner to provide our customers voice and data roaming services when they travel outside our coverage areas. That is why, when securing a national roaming partner, we chose Rogers – their network is compatible with our 3G network and will allow us to offer the attractive services and innovative mobile technologies that our customers will want.’ CommsUpdate reported last month that DAVE signed a cell site sharing agreement with another nationwide Canadian operator, Bell Mobility, whilst the newcomer now also has roaming agreements in place to cover the whole of North America. DAVE Wireless is a Canadian wireless company led by Obelysk, a diversified Canadian holding company, and Quadrangle Capital Partners, a global investor in the telecoms and media sectors. According to TeleGeography’s GlobalComms Database, DAVE won 3G mobile spectrum worth CAD243.2 million (USD227 million) covering ten of Canada’s largest urban areas in the frequency auction of July 2008, and was awarded its operating licence in February 2009. It announced a rollout contract awarded to Ericsson in early August 2009 to build a network including 3.5G HSPA+ technology, set for launch in early 2010.