FACTBOX: Canada launches wireless spectrum auction

(Reuters) - The Canadian government on Tuesday launched a wireless spectrum auction aimed at fostering competition and lowering prices for cellular phone users.

Here are key facts about the auction:

* 105 megahertz (MHz) of radio frequency spectrum will be auctioned.

* 40 MHz of the total spectrum to be auctioned is set aside for new entrants.

* 24 bidders qualified to participate

* 292 blocks of spectrum to be auctioned.

* 14 licenses will be awarded in "Tier 2" service areas, large geographical regions that roughly coincide with provincial boundaries. The remainder are "Tier 3" service areas, which are smaller areas such as Toronto or Moose Jaw.

* The three incumbents are Rogers Communications Inc, Telus and BCE. These control about 95 percent of the wireless market in terms of revenues.

* Newcomers that pre-qualified for bidding include Quebecor Inc, Manitoba Telecom Services (MTS), Shaw Communications Inc and Data & Audio-Visual Enterprises Wireless,