MONTREAL, Canada-In comments filed with the Canadian Radio-Television and Telecommunications Commission, Microcell Telecommunications Inc. has offered unrestricted access to its personal communications services infrastructure and has allowed third-party access to the components and products of its PCS network.
Microcell said it filed these comments in response to Telecom Public Notice CRTC 96-18 concerning applications for third-party interconnection to the networks of the cellular and PCS operators.
One of the highest priorities in Canadian telecommunications policy is to establish an interconnected and interoperable network of networks, said Microcell. Microcell is deploying a national PCS network using an open network architecture. The company said it will be a wholesaler of network components, products and services, making these available, pursuant to negotiated agreements, to any service provider that wants to offer retail PCS to consumers.
“Offering third-party access to our network and network components is an integral part of our plans for PCS,” said Andre Tremblay, president and chief executive officer of Microcell. “We see Microcell as a catalyst of competition. Our open network will add brand names to the limited choice of telecommunications service providers currently in the market. This added choice will clearly benefit consumers. At the same time, we see it as a good business, helping to drive traffic across our network.”
