Ice Wireless

Northern Canadian telecommunications company

Ice Wireless

Company type| Private
Industry| Mobile network operator
Founded| September 2005
Headquarters| Markham, Ontario, Canada

Areas served

| Yukon, Northwest Territories, Nunavut

Key people

| Samer Bishay - President & CEO, Cameron Zubko \- Chief Operating Officer
Products| 4G/LTE mobility services, mobile broadband Internet, fixed line telephone

Number of employees

| 150
Parent| Iristel
Website| www.icewireless.ca
Ice Wireless Building 3G HSPA+ base station Former Ice Wireless Retail Store in Whitehorse, Yukon

Ice Wireless is a Canadian mobile network operator and telecommunications company that provides 4G/LTE mobility services, mobile broadband Internet, and fixed line telephone in Canada's northern territories: Yukon, the Northwest Territories, Nunavut, and Nunavik, Quebec. The company's corporate headquarters are located in Markham, Ontario.

## History

[edit]

Ice Wireless was launched in 2005 to serve rural and remote communities in Northern Canada. The network was first developed in the community of Inuvik, Northwest Territories, a base for oil and gas exploration located approximately 100 km (62 mi) from the Arctic Ocean and 200 km (120 mi) north of the Arctic Circle. The network was the first GSM system in Northern Canada, originally designed as a "small cell" system that could be scaled down and economically deployed to rural and remote communities. Due to the scalability of its technology, Ice Wireless could offer mobility service in locations that could not be economically reached by larger telecommunications companies. Ice Wireless was the first to launch mobility service in Inuvik, Aklavik and Behchoko (Rae-Edzo) in the Northwest Territories. As customers increased, Ice Wireless expanded service to include Yellowknife, Northwest Territories.[1]

In 2012, Ice Wireless announced a $12.4 million network upgrade to roll out 3G/4G Evolved High Speed Packet Access (HSPA+) across the three Canadian territories.[2]

In 2013, Ice Wireless became the first mobile network operator to launch 3G/4G services to Iqaluit, Nunavut. These services were launched using SES’ AMC-9 satellite.[3] In 2017, Ice Wireless became the first mobile operator to launch LTE service to Iqaluit, Nunavut.[4]

In 2019, Ice Wireless launched 3G LTE service in Kuujjuaq, Quebec and Quaqtaq, Quebec as part of a larger roll-out to all 14 communities of the Nunavik region of Northern Quebec.[5]

The Ice Wireless network now extends across Canada's North and includes areas in the Yukon, Northwest Territories, Nunavut and the Nunavik region of Northern Quebec.[6]

## Services

[edit]

* 4G/LTE Mobility Services[7]
* Mobile Broadband Internet[8]
* Fixed Line Telephone[8]

## Retail stores

[edit]

Ice Wireless operates its own corporate retail stores, and also conducts business through a network of agents that operate in each local market. Ice Wireless provides 24/7 customer care and technical support for its customers, as well as 9-1-1 service.[8] [9]

## Network

[edit]

As a Mobile Network Operator (MNO) Ice Wireless owns and operates communication towers, facilities and radio access network equipment in all three Canadian territories.[10][7]

Ice Wireless is a member of the GSM Association (GSMA).[11]

## Coverage

[edit]

Ice Wireless offers 4G LTE network coverage in Yukon, Northwest Territories, Nunavut, and Northern Quebec.[7][12]

City or Town  | Territory  | Service

|
|

4G/LTE  | Internet
Whitehorse | Yukon | Yes  | Yes
Inuvik | Northwest Territories | Yes  | Yes
Tuktoyaktuk | Northwest Territories | Yes  | Yes
Norman Wells | Northwest Territories | Yes  | Yes
Yellowknife | Northwest Territories | Yes  | Yes
Dettah | Northwest Territories | Yes  | Yes
Behchoko | Northwest Territories | Yes  | Yes
Hay River | Northwest Territories | Yes  | Yes
Fort Smith | Northwest Territories | No  | No
Iqaluit | Nunavut | Yes  | Yes
Kuujjuaq | Quebec | Yes  | No
Quaqtaq | Quebec | Yes  | No

## Roaming

[edit]

Ice Wireless customers may use smartphones and devices across Canada, the United States and internationally through the company's network of roaming partnerships, including Bell, Rogers Wireless, Telus, Vidéotron Mobile, and AT&T.[13]

## Smartphones

[edit]

As of 2020 Ice Wireless offers the following smartphones for use on its network.[14]

* Apple iPhone (several models)
* Samsung Galaxy (several models)

## ICE home phone services

[edit]

Ice Wireless offers the ICE home phone service, which provides customers with a home telephone line.[15]

## Mobile Broadband Services

[edit]

Ice Wireless offers two mobile broadband products that provide high speed internet service, wireless and home Internet. The wireless service comes with either an Aircard 763S that allows up to 10 Wi-Fi devices or a BEC 6300 modem, both with 4G/LTE download speeds. Ice Wireless also offers home Internet plans.[16]

## Relationship with Iristel

[edit]

In 2012, Ice Wireless established a strategic partnership with Iristel, Canada's largest CLEC and VoIP service provider.[17][18]

## See also

[edit]

* Bell Canada
* Northwestel
* List of Canadian mobile phone companies

## References

[edit]

1. ^ About Us, Ice Wireless Corporate Website. Retrieved February 27, 2014.
2. ^ Corporate Overview, Ice Wireless Corporate Website. Retrieved February 27, 2014.
3. ^ "CBC News- Smartphones Come to Iqaluit", www.cbc.ca, November 23, 2013. Retrieved February 27, 2014.
4. ^ "Fierce Wireless-Ice Wireless deploys Parallel Wireless gear to connect unconnected Canadians", Fierce Wireless, August 3, 2017.
5. ^ "Ice Wireless Launches 3G Service in First Nunavik Community", Nunatsiaq News, March 22, 2019. Retrieved March 16, 2020.
6. ^ "Globe and Mail - Ice Wireless Ramps Up in Far North", www.theglobeandmail.com, June 25, 2013. Retrieved February 27, 2014.
7. ^ a b c [1], Ice Wireless Corporate Website. Retrieved March 16, 2020.
8. ^ a b c [2], Ice Wireless Corporate Website. Retrieved June 9, 2016.
9. ^ [3], Ice Wireless Corporate Website. Retrieved June 9, 2016.
10. ^ [4], Ice Wireless Corporate Website. Retrieved June 9, 2016.
11. ^ [5], GSMA Website. Retrieved June 9, 2016.
12. ^ [6], Mobilesyrup. Retrieved March 16, 2020.
13. ^ Ice Wireless Signs Agreement with Videotron to Expand Roaming Coverage to Quebec’s and Canada’s North. Retrieved June 1, 2017.
14. ^ Devices. Retrieved March 16, 2020.
15. ^ Home Phone. Retrieved June 1, 2017.
16. ^ Internet. Retrieved March 16, 2020.
17. ^ About Ice Wireless. Retrieved June 1, 2017.
18. ^ [7], Globe and Mail. Retrieved June 9, 2016.

## External links

[edit]

* Official website

* v
* t
* e

Canadian mobile phone companies

Network
operators|

| National|

* Bell Mobility
* Rogers Wireless
* Telus Mobility

|

Regional|

* Eastlink Wireless
* Ice Wireless
* SaskTel Mobility
* Tbaytel Mobility
* Vidéotron Mobile
* Freedom Mobile
* Xplore Mobile

MVNOs|

| Bell|

* Lucky Mobile
* PC Mobile
* Virgin Plus

|

Rogers|

* Chatr
* Cityfone
* Primus
* Zoomer
* SimplyConnect
* Fido
* Shaw Mobile
* Ztar
* 7-Eleven SpeakOut
* Petro-Canada

Telus|

* Koodo Mobile
* Public Mobile

Vidéotron|

* Fizz Mobile

Defunct|

* Amp'd Mobile
* CityWest Mobility
* Clearnet Communications (1984-2000)
* Clearnet (2011-2012)
* Dryden Mobility
* Inukshuk Wireless
* Latitude Wireless
* Mike
* Mobilicity
* NorthernTel Mobility
* Solo Mobile
* Sprint Canada
* Télébec Mobilité

Related|

* System access fee

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