THOMPSON, MB – Bell and MTS have announced plans to expand mobile and wireline broadband communications networks in northern regions of the province, including full LTE and HSPA+ wireless coverage for the Highway 6 corridor to Thompson, Manitoba's Hub of the North.
The two companies said Thursday that the plans also include new wireless and wireline broadband services for the indigenous communities of Easterville, Gods Lake Narrows, Gods River, Grand Rapids and Red Sucker Lake, plus enhanced broadband service for key mining centre Flin Flon.
“The Bell MTS broadband service improvements unveiled today will be the largest capital investment in wireless and wireline networks in Northern Manitoba in many years," said MTS SVP network and field services Patricia Solman, in the news release. "This announcement is another example of how critical Bell's scale, resources and experience are to ensuring Manitobans everywhere can benefit from the economic and social opportunities offered by investment in state-of-the art broadband communications."
"The creation of Bell MTS will deliver the benefits of Bell's transformational broadband investment strategy to Manitobans throughout the province”, added Bell Group president and chief brand officer Wade Oosterman. “That includes enabling small and remote communities to fully engage in the digital economy and the economic growth ahead for Manitoba.”
The expansion plans are part of Bell’s five-year, $1 billion commitment to expand broadband wireless and fibre services in Manitoba following the closing of its proposed $3.9B acquisition of MTS, expected in late 2016 or early 2017.
In photo, from left to right: Cliff Cullen, Minister of Growth, Enterprise and Trade, Member of the Legislative Assembly (Spruce Woods); Dennis Fenske, Mayor, City of Thompson; Wade Oosterman, Group President and Chief Brand Officer, Bell Canada; Patricia Solman, Senior Vice President, Network and Field Services, MTS; and Kelly Bindle, Thompson MLA
