WHITEHORSE – Northwestel is ready for local competition and has already made “significant changes”, the Yukon-based telco said Friday.
Responding to Wednesday’s decision by the CRTC to open parts of the Yukon, Northwest Territories and Nunavut to local telephone competition, and to deny the incumbent’s request for a rate increase, Northwestel said it is committed to its customers’ needs and that it will find ways to offer more products and services at competitive prices. It also pledged to provide affordable telephone services to remote, higher cost communities in its operating area, notwithstanding the lack of a rate increase.
The company also took issue with the Commission’s depiction that its capital spending on infrastructure was insufficient, noting that the CRTC has rejected its capital investment proposals three times in the last decade.
“We are confused and disappointed with portions of the decision”, said president and CEO Paul Flaherty, in the statement. “We have invested extensively in our network. In fact, in the last 10 years, Northwestel has spent $435 million dollars in northern Canada on its infrastructure, which is far above industry standards on a per customer basis. We continue to review this decision carefully as we decide our next course of action.”
