UPDATED: Bell and Northwestel unveil $273 million Internet and wireless upgrade plan for north

WHITEHORSE – Bell Canada and Northwestel said last week the companies would upgrade all 96 communities served by Northwestel in northern Canada with high-speed Internet and next-generation wireless over a five-year period. Northwestel, a direct subsidiary of Bell, maintains the plan will not result in increased service prices, and is partially contingent on the CRTC approving the Astral public benefits package that is part of Bell’s $3.38 billion takeover of Astral Media. According to sources, the CRTC will make public the Bell application to purchase Astral Media this week, along with timelines for comment and a hearing date. “We have a...