WHITEHORSE – Northwestel competitors Ice Wireless and Iristel have upped the ante in their opposition to the incumbent’s proposal to tie its infrastructure upgrade to benefits stemming from Bell’s pending acquisition of Astral Media.
Earlier this week, the wireless upstarts denounced Northwestel's attempt to direct $40 million from its parent company Bell Canada to build infrastructure, and encouraged the CRTC to reject the proposal. But on Thursday, Ice and Iristel said that if that proposal is approved, the funds should be made available to all telcos building infrastructure and innovation in Canada’s North.
"If this $40 million public benefits is allowed, the North can benefit far more by the CRTC administering the fund and awarding the money to those with innovative ideas and firm commitments to improve infrastructure and service," said Cameron Zubko, Ice’s VP of corporate development, in a statement. "Northwestel is already receiving $20 million a year from the CRTC's National Contribution Fund to help bring the North's telecommunications standards up to the rest of Canada and we all know that has not happened."
