MTS Allstream, CPP Investment Board, Blackstone to jointly bid on Advanced Wireless spectrum

TORONTO – Manitoba Telecom Services Inc. (MTS Allstream) has joined with the Canada Pension Plan Investment Board (CPPIB) and The Blackstone Group L.P. to jointly submit an application to bid as a new entrant in the Advanced Wireless Services (AWS) spectrum auction, it was announced Monday. The consortium stated it had made a $340 million deposit in letters of credit to Industry Canada. MTS Allstream, CPPIB and Blackstone will each own one-third of the new entity. If the consortium is successful in acquiring spectrum licences, it is anticipated that Andre Tremblay, founding CEO of Microcell, will lead a team that...