Surtees added the biggest advantage for both carriers is the ability to offer additional handsets.

"It gets them to be able to contemplate devices like iPhone if (Apple CEO) Steve Jobs is willing to provide it to them," Surtees said.

Howe said although Bell Mobility currently offers some dual mode handsets that use both EVDO and HSPA, the national HSPA network would let them offer more handsets.

The companies plan to use equipment from both Nokia Siemens Network and Chinese manufacturer Huawei.

"This is a huge contract win for Nokia Siemens in Canada" Surtees said. "Siemens has been trying to make a big carrier win in Canada for decades. Now they finally got a large national and wireless network."