Telecom competition can come to Yukon, NWT and Nunavut, says Commission; rate increase denied

OTTAWA-GATINEAU – Canadians in many parts of the Yukon, Northwest Territories and Nunavut may soon have the option to choose from competing telephone service providers for the first time starting next May, the CRTC said Wednesday. In its ruling approving the far north for telecommunications competition, the Commission also denied incumbent Northwestel's request to raise the rates for residential and business local telephone service, noting that an increase “is not justified at this time and is inconsistent with the current regulatory regime”. The CRTC said that Northwestel has insufficiently invested in its network despite its strong financial performance during the past...