BCE gets first regulatory approval to buy Manitoba Telecom
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The CRTC's approval is the first of three approvals required from regulators to complete Montreal-based BCE's acquisition of MTS, which is expected to close in early 2017.
BCE, Canada's largest telecom and media company, said in May it would buy Manitoba Telecom to expand its services in the western Canadian province.
BCE, which operates as Bell Canada, has said it will divest one-third of MTS's post-paid wireless subscribers to Telus Corp (T.TO) after the close of the deal to allay regulatory concerns and reduce acquisition costs. ■