The federal government is taking more steps to ensure rural parts of the country won’t be left behind urban centres that are getting high-speed Internet services.

Industry Minister James Moore issued a warning to fixed wireless carriers that own spectrum in the 2300 MHz and 3500 MHz bands their licences will not be renewed in the coming years if the haven’t met all licence conditions.

“Those that have not used the spectrum will lose it,” he said. Instead, the frequencies will be returned to the government and possibly auctioned off again.

On the other hand carriers that have fulfilled all conditions of the licence are eligible for them to be renewed.

The decision could affect BCE Inc.’s Bell Canada and Rogers Communications, who share some of that spectrum in a partnership called Inukshuk and