MTS Allstream
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
MTS Allstream is a telecommunications company and Internet service provider in Canada.
Previously known as Allstream, the company was bought by Manitoba Telecom Services (MTS) of Manitoba. Before that the company was known as AT&T Canada, which was previously known as Unitel. Unitel made the application in 1990 to the CRTC that opened the Canadian telephone market to long distance competition in 1992, a successful application that superseded the attempt by its predecessor CNCP Telecommunications in 1983.
Unitel was formed by CNCP Telecommunications. CNCP was formed by a joint venture of CN Telegraphs and CP Telegraphs when the telegraph and telex businesses went into decline and a joint venture would make it more profitable than each company going it alone. The two companies were established by their respective national railway companies. The telegraph service in Canada is now operated by Telegrams Canada.
Note that there is no relationship between Allstream/AT&T Canada/Unitel, and Rogers Wireless (formerly Rogers/AT&T). Rogers had a branding/marketing relationship with AT&T Wireless, allowing themselves to be called Cantel AT&T, and then Rogers AT&T. Meanwhile, whoever owned what is now Allstream had a branding relationship with AT&T allowing themselves to be called AT&T Canada. However, AT&T Canada (now Allstream) and Rogers AT&T (now Rogers Wireless) were never related companies, although Rogers Communications (the parent company of Rogers Cantel Inc, later Rogers Wireless Inc, operators of Cantel AT&T and Rogers AT&T) did own a portion of AT&T Canada at one point, under the brand name of Unitel.
