Canadian wireless provider WIND Mobile announced Wednesday that it has entered into a $1.6 billion deal with Shaw Communications in which the latter will acquire 100 percent interest in WIND and its parent company, Mid-Bowline Group.

Through the new transition, WIND will retain its CEO Alek Krstajic and his team. The transaction is expected to close in the first half of 2016 pending regulatory approvals.

On Wednesday, Krstajic said in a statement that the deal will help WIND provide more benefits to its customers.

“We believe the combination of Shaw and WIND creates a wireless leader with immediate benefits for our customers and employees, giving them more choice, capabilities and opportunities to stay connected,” Krstajic said. “With Shaw’s long-term commitment, this transaction enables us to enter into a new phase of growth in the Canadian wireless sector.”

The announcement comes less thank two weeks after WIND announced it was partnering with Nokia to upgrade its wireless infrastructure to support LTE service. To facilitate the LTE buildout, WIND also recently announced it had secured a $304 million debt facility to complete the upgrades.

Earlier this week, WIND announced it has already started making improvements in the greater Vancouver area.