As Cogeco continues preparations to launch wireless services in Ontario and Quebec, the Montreal-based cable company announced Monday strategic partnerships with an undisclosed national wireless network operator and Eastlink to facilitate the development of Cogeco’s wireless service in Canada.
Cogeco has signed a five-year mobile virtual network operator (MVNO) agreement with the national wireless network operator, giving Cogeco access to its wireless network. The agreement prevents Cogeco from disclosing the name of this network partner, said a Cogeco spokesperson when contacted via email by Cartt.
In addition, Cogeco has entered into a separate five-year agreement with Eastlink for the delivery of Cogeco’s wireless technology platforms, including business support systems, core network, and operations systems, according to a Cogeco press release.
“Cogeco remains independent from these partners and will retain all wireless client relationships including sales, marketing, and customer service activities,” the company’s release says.
These agreements signify an “[i]mportant milestone in Cogeco’s plan to offer wireless services to more than 4.2 million Canadians residing within its cable footprint in Ontario and Quebec,” the release adds.
“Today’s partnerships represent a huge milestone in our wireless journey,” Frédéric Perron, president and CEO of Cogeco, said in the release. “We are thrilled to have secured agreements with both a national wireless network operator and Eastlink and are looking forward to bringing even more competitive solutions to Canadians. These commercial agreements will enable us to offer a broader range of bundled offers to better serve our customers, and do so in a capital-efficient manner. Our relentless efforts to provide a fast and reliable wireless service for our customers have culminated in this lean and innovative partnership model.”
Cogeco said it will provide further details and expected wireless service rollout timelines for Canada at a later date.
Cogeco’s U.S. telecom business Breezeline, operating as an MVNO, has already launched wireless services in most of the 13 U.S. states in which it operates broadband services.
