AT&T Canada
Encyclopedia
AT&T Canada was a Canadian long-distance telephone service provider, the Canadian subsidiary of American telecommunications company AT&T Communications
between the early 1990s and 2003. It was then renamed Allstream, as a result of AT&T's declining participation in the company. AT&T sold its remaining interests in the Canadian company in 2004. AT&T continues to do business in Canada from the United States
operations. AT&T Canada was based in Toronto
, Ontario
.
, to operate the telegraph and telex business more profitably than going it alone. CNCP applied in 1983 to operate a long distance network in competition with the incumbent local telephone companies' long distance services. The application was rejected by the Canadian Radio-television and Telecommunications Commission.
CNCP later changed its name to Unitel Communications Incorporated, under which name in 1990 it made a second bid to compete in the long distance markets of Bell Canada, BC Tel and the four Atlantic telephone companies. At the time, only these four companies, and Northwestel
, were under federal regulation. The bid was successful, and the Canadian Radio-television and Telecommunications Commission (CRTC) opened the Canadian
telephone market to long distance competition. By the time of the decision, Alberta's AGT
(later known as Telus
) also had come under federal regulation, and all other Canadian carriers followed before the end of the 1990s. Each, at a different time, was opened to competition.
Unitel, unable to compete successfully in the environment it had instigated, was then sold to Rogers Communications
where the company attempted to enter the long distance competition. Following that it was sold to a consortium of Canadian banks, with AT&T US owning 33% share, but more than any one of the banks, giving them operational control.
For a time in the '90's there were Canadian TV spots for Unitel starring Steven Weber
of "Wings" fame.
AT&T Communications
AT&T Communications - East, Inc. was a holding company for the 23 subsidiaries that provide interexchange carrier and long distance telephone services owned by AT&T.-AT&T Long Lines:...
between the early 1990s and 2003. It was then renamed Allstream, as a result of AT&T's declining participation in the company. AT&T sold its remaining interests in the Canadian company in 2004. AT&T continues to do business in Canada from the United States
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
operations. AT&T Canada was based in Toronto
Toronto
Toronto is the provincial capital of Ontario and the largest city in Canada. It is located in Southern Ontario on the northwestern shore of Lake Ontario. A relatively modern city, Toronto's history dates back to the late-18th century, when its land was first purchased by the British monarchy from...
, Ontario
Ontario
Ontario is a province of Canada, located in east-central Canada. It is Canada's most populous province and second largest in total area. It is home to the nation's most populous city, Toronto, and the nation's capital, Ottawa....
.
History
When the telegraph and telex businesses went into decline, CN Telegraphs and CP Telegraphs, aligned with their respective railways, formed a joint venture, CNCP TelecommunicationsCNCP Telecommunications
CNCP Telecommunications was an electrical telegraph operator and later as a telecom company...
, to operate the telegraph and telex business more profitably than going it alone. CNCP applied in 1983 to operate a long distance network in competition with the incumbent local telephone companies' long distance services. The application was rejected by the Canadian Radio-television and Telecommunications Commission.
CNCP later changed its name to Unitel Communications Incorporated, under which name in 1990 it made a second bid to compete in the long distance markets of Bell Canada, BC Tel and the four Atlantic telephone companies. At the time, only these four companies, and Northwestel
Northwestel
Northwestel Inc. is the incumbent local exchange carrier and long distance carrier in Northern Canada. The company name is a portmanteau, sometimes spelled NorthwesTel, for Northwest Telecommunications.-Modern corporate history:...
, were under federal regulation. The bid was successful, and the Canadian Radio-television and Telecommunications Commission (CRTC) opened the Canadian
Canada
Canada is a North American country consisting of ten provinces and three territories. Located in the northern part of the continent, it extends from the Atlantic Ocean in the east to the Pacific Ocean in the west, and northward into the Arctic Ocean...
telephone market to long distance competition. By the time of the decision, Alberta's AGT
Alberta Government Telephones
Alberta Government Telephones was formed by the Liberal government of Alexander Cameron Rutherford in 1906 following the acquisitions by the government of several independent telephone companies...
(later known as Telus
TELUS
Telus is a national telecommunications company in Canada that provides a wide range of telecommunications products and services including internet access, voice, entertainment, video, and satellite television. The company is based in Burnaby, British Columbia, part of Greater Vancouver...
) also had come under federal regulation, and all other Canadian carriers followed before the end of the 1990s. Each, at a different time, was opened to competition.
Unitel, unable to compete successfully in the environment it had instigated, was then sold to Rogers Communications
Rogers Communications
Rogers Communications Inc. is one of Canada's largest communications companies, particularly in the field of wireless communications, cable television, home phone and internet with additional telecommunications and mass media assets...
where the company attempted to enter the long distance competition. Following that it was sold to a consortium of Canadian banks, with AT&T US owning 33% share, but more than any one of the banks, giving them operational control.
For a time in the '90's there were Canadian TV spots for Unitel starring Steven Weber
Steven Weber (actor)
Steven Robert Weber is an American actor. He is best known for his role in the television show Wings which aired throughout the 1990s on NBC.-Early life:...
of "Wings" fame.