Analysts say Mobilicity deal is a win for Telus, "messy" for government

TORONTO – While analysts view today’s announcement that Telus has agreed to purchase floundering wireless newcomer Mobilicity for $380 million as a win for both companies, the bigger, as-yet unanswered question is whether or not Industry Canada and the Competition Bureau will allow the incumbent telco to buy a new entrant, a move that flies in the face of Industry Canada’s plan to have four wireless players in each region of the country. “The situation is getting messier for the government,” says Scotia Capital analyst Jeff Fan. “The bottom line is this makes it less likely that a strategic investor...