Broadband alternative to New Zealand

Canadian wireless operator Craig Wireless is promising to bring a broadband alternative to New Zealand following the purchase of spectrum rights last month.

Craig Wireless chief executive Boyd Craig said for competitive reasons he could not disclose specific details of the company's plans, but the intention was to build a wireless broadband network using WiMAX technology throughout New Zealand.

At the Government auction of spectrum in the 2.3 and 2.5 GHz bands last month Craig Wireless paid $1.05 million for 40MHz of spectrum in two separate lots.

The spectrum becomes available from 2009 and has "use it or lose it" rules. Companies do have the option of trading the spectrum when the 40MHz acquisition limit expires in 2012.

"We can't do anything immediately," said Craig. "But once we do we'll have great spectrum. We're going to have a bunch of deployments behind us in terms of that technology."

"I think we're going to kick arse in New Zealand actually," said Craig.

Originally a family-owned broadcasting business, brothers Drew and Boyd sold out in 2004 for C$264 million ($332.7 million) after a disastrous expansion into the Toronto television market, retaining a small telecommunications business.

Craig Wireless listed on the Toronto Stock Exchange last September via a reverse takeover having raised C$40 million from a private placement.

It's not the first time Craig Wireless has been in the New Zealand market.

Boyd Craig was a director and shareholder of wireless operator Woosh up until five years ago.

In 2000, Woosh - then Walker Wireless - paid $6.5 million for spectrum in the 2.3GHz band from Craig Communications. Craig had purchased the spectrum several years earlier for $1 million.

Craig said he was still in regular contact with Woosh chairman Rod Inglis and let Inglis know he was bidding on spectrum in opposition to him.

He described being back in the New Zealand market as "a dream come true".

Woosh also bid in the auction, securing 35MHz of spectrum for $650,000 which it will use for WiMAX deployment, beginning in Hamilton.