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Canada’s wireless industry finally has a date for a long-awaited auction of prime airwaves that the government hopes will foster increased competition and better prices for consumers.

Industry Minister Christian Paradis said during an announcement in Ottawa Thursday that an auction for spectrum on the 700-megahertz band will start Nov. 19.

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“Today our government is implementing a series of measures to ensure that Canadian consumers continue to benefit from more choice in the wireless sector and faster wireless speeds at better prices,” Mr. Paradis said in prepared remarks.

While the industry has long waited for clarity on the timeline for the auction, much of the accompanying news around the date was not surprising.

The finalized framework for the auction, which the minister said would ensure at least four providers in every region could acquire spectrum, is largely similar to a version released a year ago.