Canada: Telco giant BCE confident that rule changes will prevent Verizon dominance

The head of telecommunications giant BCE stated Thursday that he is confident Canadian regulators will rethink a policy he says places Verizon Communications at an unfair advantage in the country ahead of its market entrance. The policy currently prevents some of Canada’s largest telco operators from acquiring smaller rivals; BCE has joined forces with fellow major companies Rogers and Telus against the rules, as foreign entrants are still allowed to buy the smaller competitors. Recent reports claim Verizon Communications is now exploring the Canadian market through the acquisition of smaller companies Mobilicity or Wind Mobile. The two carriers entered the market only a few years ago. Now, BCE chief executive George Cope said he is “hopeful” that regulators will see “the unfairness to our shareholders, customers and Canadians in this policy.” Further, Cope vowed to use “every avenue we can in a professional way” to fight the policy before Verizon enters the market.

Full Content: Montreal Gazette

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