The Conservative government has unveiled new guidelines for companies that want to sell their wireless spectrum licences.

Any company that wants to transfer its wireless spectrum licence will now have to ask Industry Canada to do a review within 15 days of signing an agreement that could lead to a prospective change.

The department will then give the proposed deal a thumbs up or down.

The new policy framework comes after the federal government blocked a plan by Telus to buy struggling wireless upstart Mobilicity in a deal worth $380 million. The government said at the time that the deal would violate a condition imposed at the time spectrum was auctioned off that prohibited new entrants from selling their licences to incumbents for five years.

The government says it will prohibit spectrum transfers that would limit competition in the Canadian wireless market.

Industry Minister Christian Paradis says the government will use all tools at its disposal to ensure there are at least four wireless competitors in every region of Canada.

The government has long sought to increase competition in the wireless sector that has been dominated by Bell, Rogers and Telus.

During a 2008 sale of wireless spectrum, Ottawa set aside a portion for new entrants in an effort to create a new national carrier and strong regional providers.

While the policy attracted several new players, most of the independent carriers — operating the Wind, Mobilicity and Public Mobile networks — have struggled to make money.