B.C.’s major telecommunications companies are set to become satellite internet providers in the province.BC Hydro is also in the process of acquiring a new telecom company, but the company’s CEO says it will not become a satellite internet provider.BC Telecom and Bell, which are currently negotiating terms of the merger, have each been trying to gain the approval of the province to buy another telecom company.BC Premier Christy Clark said Wednesday that her government is “committed” to finding a new communications provider for the province, but it will take time to get to that point.
“It’s a very complicated process, and it’s not something that will happen overnight,” she said.
“It’s not easy to do, and we have to be patient.
But I do know we’re committed to finding the right communications provider to meet our needs and we’re very confident that we will be able to do that.”
B.C. Telecommunications Commission chair Bruce Anderson says the BC Liberal government is in the midst of the process and that it will have the final say on whether the merger goes ahead.
“The Commission has been working hard over the past six months to finalize the final terms of this transaction,” he said in a statement.
“We are hopeful that the merger will be approved by the Province of British Columbia as soon as possible.”
In order to make the deal work, Bell has to agree to sell the spectrum it has been acquiring for the two companies, but BC Hydro’s board of directors and the BC Utilities Commission have been working to convince BC Hydro that it should do so.
Anderson said BC Hydro has already agreed to sell its spectrum, and the two sides are close to finalizing the deal.
“BC Hydro has indicated that it is ready to complete the transaction and has already made a significant investment in spectrum, so there is a very good chance that this transaction will be completed in the near future,” he added.
Anderson also noted that Bell’s purchase of spectrum was approved by B.A.
C’s public utilities board.