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CALGARY–Shaw Communications Inc.’s chief executive says the company may take a run at entering the wireless business, and the Calgary-based cable, satellite and digital-phone provider has submitted an application to bid in Ottawa’s wireless spectrum auction set to begin on May 27.

But the company will take a cautious approach, chief executive officer Jim Shaw said yesterday.

"Shaw will not deploy if the economic model does not work in the long term. And when we see the economic model on wireless, it looks to us like it works," Shaw said during an analyst conference call.

Earlier yesterday, Shaw said it pulled in an 11 per cent rise in quarterly revenue to $763 million. Profit ballooned to $299 million from $80 million a year earlier, thanks to a $188 million benefit from lower tax rates.

Excluding non-operating items, Shaw earned $113 million in the second quarter ended Feb free credit reports. 29, up from $79 million a year earlier.

Net earnings per share rose to 69 cents from 18 cents. Analysts were on average expecting a profit of 24 cents per share on revenue of $758 million, according to Thomson Financial.

Basic cable subscribers increased during the quarter by about 6,500 to 2.24 million, while digital customers jumped 48,000 to 850,600 and Shaw’s Internet clientele expanded 31,500 to 1.52 million. Digital phone lines grew by 56,500 to 492,200.

Cable service revenue increased 13 per cent to $582 million, “primarily driven by customer growth and rate increases."

Satellite-division revenue was $181 million, up 6 per cent.

The company said it expects operating profit to rise 13 per cent to 15 per cent through the remainder of the financial year.

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