Formerly | Wind Mobile (2009–2016) |
---|---|
Company type | Subsidiary |
Industry | Mobile network operator |
Founded | December 16, 2009 |
Founder | Anthony Lacavera |
Headquarters | Toronto, Ontario, Canada |
Area served | |
Key people | |
Products |
|
Number of employees | 12,000 (2023, including Québecor) |
Parent | Shaw Communications (2016-2023) Vidéotron (2023–present) |
Website | www |
Freedom Mobile, a Canadian wireless telecommunications provider owned by Québecor, holds a 6% market share of the Canadian wireless market, primarily concentrated in urban areas of Ontario, British Columbia, Alberta, and Manitoba. As the fourth-largest wireless carrier in Canada, Freedom Mobile serves 2,290,497 subscribers as of November 30, 2022. In addition to mobile phone plans, Freedom also offers home internet and TV services.[1]
Founded in 2008 as Wind Mobile by the telecommunications company Globalive, Freedom Mobile emerged as one of several new mobile carriers launched in Canada that year under a government initiative to foster competition in the wireless sector. Alongside Mobilicity (later acquired by Rogers Communications) and Public Mobile (later acquired by Telus Communications), Freedom Mobile initially introduced mobile data and voice services in Toronto, Ontario, on December 16, 2009, and Calgary, Alberta, on December 18, 2009.[2][3]
In 2016, Shaw Communications acquired Wind Mobile, and subsequently rebranded it as Freedom Mobile.[4][5] On June 17, 2022, Shaw Communications, Rogers Communications, and Québecor jointly announced an agreement for the sale of Freedom Mobile to Vidéotron, a subsidiary of Québecor, pending approval from the Competition Bureau and the Minister of Innovation, Science and Economic Development. The sale received approval on March 31, 2023, and was finalized on April 3, 2023.[6]