WINNIPEG – MTS Allstream has filed evidence with the CRTC saying that it has met the requisite Quality of Service ("QoS") criteria for deregulation of the residential local telephone market in Winnipeg.
The QoS evidence is the last benchmark incumbent telcos are required to meet in order to obtain forbearance or deregulation in local markets.
The ILECs must provide adequate service to their new competition when the newcomers require interconnection to the PSTN, for example.
"We think the current requirements for QoS are fair and achievable," said Chris Peirce, chief regulatory officer, MTS Allstream, in the company’s press release. "These requirements provide competitors with a minimal QoS that is an essential ingredient to a healthy competitive market, and is necessary to ensure that customers are well served in a deregulated environment. With this filing, we believe we have proven that the assertions by other incumbent players that QoS requirements cannot be met are false, and that respect for competitive rules can indeed play a role in streamlined deregulation. We look forward to proceeding with our application for forbearance in the Winnipeg marketplace."
MTS Allstream filed its forbearance application for the Winnipeg market on May 8, 2007. With the evidence it has filed today, MTS Allstream becomes the first incumbent local exchange carrier to fully meet all the requirements for deregulation, says the company.
