Allstream Inc.
Parent Zayo Group | |
Allstream is a business communications provider based in
The company traces its history to
Allstream emerged in its current form in 2012 when its latest owners
History
When the
CNCP later changed its name to Unitel Communications Inc., and 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 under that name. At the time, only these four companies and Northwestel, another telecommunications company, 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. At 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 was opened to competition at different time.
Unitel, unable to compete successfully in the environment it had created, was then sold to Rogers Communications, where the company attempted to enter the competition for long-distance communication. Later, the company was sold to a consortium of Canadian banks, with AT&T Communications owning 33% share, but more than any one of the banks, giving them operational control.
For a time during the 1990s, there were Canadian TV spots for Unitel starring
Unitel underwent turnaround management by CEO Bill Catucci, allowing it to be renamed AT&T Canada Long Distance Services.[4] AT&T Canada was a Canadian long-distance telephone service provider, the Canadian subsidiary of AT&T Communications. In 1999, the company also merged with Metronet Communications of Calgary, Alberta. In 2003, the company was 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.
The company was subsequently acquired by
Allstream was sold to US fibre optic provider Zayo Group on 15 January 2016, for CA$465 million.[7] In 2017, Zayo acquired Electric Lightwave/Integra Telecom,[8] and integrated the voice and small business assets of Allstream and Electric Lightwave/Integra Telecom under the Allstream brand and established Allstream as a separate operating subsidiary. Following Zayo Group’s privatization in 2020,[9] led by EQT and Digital Colony, a new board of directors was established for Allstream.
From 2009 until 2017, Allstream held the naming rights to the Allstream Centre convention facility in Toronto, Ontario, Canada, housed in the heritage Automotive Building.
References
- ^ Strople, Michael. "Michael Strople, President". Allstream.
- ^ "A history of all-business innovation — About Allstream". Allstream - About Us.
- ^ https://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/manitoba/manitoba-telecom-services-sells-allstream-business-for-465m-1.3330947
- ^ "AT&T Canada: A New Strategic Governance System Quadruples Market Value" Harvard Business School Publishing, Article Reprint No. B0001B
- ^ "MTS to Sell Allstream". CBC News. Retrieved 24 May 2013.
- ^ "Sale of Allstream Blocked". CBC News. Retrieved 7 October 2013.
- ^ Bonifacic, Igor. "It's a done deal: MTS has completed the sale of Allstream for $465-million". MobileSyrup. Retrieved 16 January 2016.
- ^ "A history of all-business innovation — About Allstream". Allstream - About Us.
- ^ "Digital Colony, EQT to take Zayo private for $8.2 billion in cash". Reuters. 8 May 2019.