Look Communications Inc. vice-chair and CEO Gerald McGoey predicted a consortium of convenience will emerge at the upcoming advanced wireless services spectrum auction.

Regional mobile service providers will likely form "informal arrangements for fully compatible network designs, shared infrastructure and shared back office services resulting in new entrants having a regional footprint with a National presence," read a news release announcing key discussions points from the meeting.

The future of mobile in Canada will be data service, McGoey added. Just as long distance became a commodity in the 1990s, mobile voice will as well as service providers decrease their prices. The majority of wireless growth will come from data services and as a result more spectrum will be needed. "Service providers will need additional spectrum to provide the kind of data and video services currently available in many countries around the world," he said.