The people of Kelowna now have one more choice for cellphone plans with the opening of Freedom Mobile at Orchard Park Shopping Centre on Wednesday.
Special guests came to celebrate the opening of the low-cost provider, including Kelowna-Lake Country MLA Norm Letnick, City of Kelowna Coun. Ryan Donn, Central Okanagan MP Dan Albas and Freedom Mobilesa国际传媒檚 vice-president of western operations Dean Price.
Shaw Communicationsa国际传媒檚 Freedom Mobile will bring to Kelowna Canadasa国际传媒檚 most affordable unlimited data plans, the company said.
sa国际传媒淔or too long, the people of Kelowna have been starved for choice and affordability in their wireless providerssa国际传媒攁nd that ends today with the arrival of Freedom Mobile,sa国际传媒� Shaw Communications president Paul McAlesse said.
Price said the turnout to todaysa国际传媒檚 opening was exceptional.
sa国际传媒淭here were people sitting in camp chairs at 7 a.m. this morning,sa国际传媒� he said. sa国际传媒淜elowna has been very warm and gracious in their welcoming.sa国际传媒�
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The opening of not just the store, but the network, wouldnsa国际传媒檛 have been possible without partnerships with all levels of government, Price said.
sa国际传媒淲e needed the co-operation of all levels of government,sa国际传媒� he said, noting the dignitaries were great co-hosts. sa国际传媒淭hey were generally excited about what Freedom was bringing to the region and their constituents.sa国际传媒�
Coun. Ryan Donn said more than 50 people were lined up out the door at the storesa国际传媒檚 opening event on Wednesday morning.
sa国际传媒淧eople are saying across the board that life is getting more expensive,sa国际传媒� Coun. Donn said. sa国际传媒淲e hear about rent, we talk about all the costs that are going up, we talk about gas prices.sa国际传媒�
sa国际传媒淜elowna seems to be attracting low costs, whether itsa国际传媒檚 air carriers (West Jetsa国际传媒檚 Swoop) or cellphone providers,sa国际传媒� Donn said. sa国际传媒淭here is excitement about that. People want to lower their monthly costs.sa国际传媒�
MP Albas said the launch of Freedom Mobile in the Okanagan is a welcomed opportunity to boost choice in the sector.
sa国际传媒淐ompetition in the mobile phone sector is essential to make sure Canadians have the choice and lower prices they deserve,sa国际传媒� he said. sa国际传媒淲e all know that the more companies there are competing for the customer, the better off everyone will be.sa国际传媒�
Kelownians can sign up at the store in Orchard Park Shopping Centre, Mission Park Shopping Centre, Walmart on Banks Road and Loblawssa国际传媒� Mobile Shop on Baron Road. To celebrate the Okanagan launch, residents can get a special introductory offer on .
Coun. Donn said he was surprised by the low-cost plans and said he will be signing his daughter up.
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sa国际传媒淢y daughter is going into middle school and shesa国际传媒檚 been pestering me about getting a phone,sa国际传媒� he said. sa国际传媒淚 was going to do it today, but it was just so busy. Isa国际传媒檒l have to go back.sa国际传媒�
Freedom Mobile started with Canadasa国际传媒檚 main centres and now, as part of their expansion plan, it is opening networks in mid-sized cities, such as Kelowna, Red Deer and Lethbridge, Alta.
sa国际传媒淏y adding all these new markets, it adds to the footprint coverage,sa国际传媒� Price said. sa国际传媒淚t offers more geographical opportunities to use your Freedom allotment data instead of Nationwide.sa国际传媒�
He said itsa国际传媒檚 flattering to see other phone companies following suit and looking to Freedom Mobile for ideas.
sa国际传媒淚sa国际传媒檓 proud and excited for the rest of Canadians because even their carriers are starting to look at the most egregious practices like data overages,sa国际传媒� he said.
Freedom Mobilesa国际传媒檚 Kelowna entrance follows its expansion into Victoria earlier this year and its Nanaimo launch last week.
Next up on the Freedom Mobilesa国际传媒檚 docket: Penticton, Vernon and Kamloops.
Caitlin.clow@kelownacapnews.com
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