Rogers, a Toronto-based wireless carrier and cable television provider, plans to have the frequencies converted for fourth-generation (4G) wireless services.

"We are planning to have it converted to mobile spectrum," said Jan Innis, Rogers Communication's vice-president for communications. She could not say when it would be converted because the Canadian government's Industry department would have to convert the spectrum.

Look, which provides Internet and television using Multipoint Distribution System (MDS) technology, is controlled by Unique Broadband Systems (UBS) Inc., which owns 51.8 per cent of Look's shares.

Rogers plans to use Long Term Evolution (LTE), widely seen as a rival to WiMAX, for its fourth-generation services. The Look frequencies, which are in the range of 2,596 to 2,686 MHz and 2689 to 2690 MHz, are used for WiMAX trials and will be taken over by the Inukshuk Wireless Partnership, of which Rogers and Bell own 50 per cent each.

The spectrum sale to established national carriers does not bode well for anyone hoping for widespread availability of Wireless Interoperability for Microwave Access (WiMAX) in Canada, said Iain Grant, managing director of the Montreal-based SeaBoard Group.