LOCAL CALLING WARS HEAT UP
By Adnews Staff
Bell Canada is getting more competition in the local calling market. MetroNet Communications of Sainte-Foy, Que. recently added the Quebec City region to its list of cities where it now offers local telephone service to businesses and government. The service is available only to the business and government market because MetroNet is building its fibre optic networks in downtown cores. The service, which offers voice, data and Internet, is also available in Edmonton, Vancouver, Calgary, Winnipeg, Toronto, Montreal, Ottawa and Southwestern Ontario. MetroNet promotes its local telephone service using direct sales and direct marketing. Direct marketing is handled in-house with the help of Capital C Communications of Toronto.
Last week, Cogeco Cable of Montreal announced its plans to launch local and long distance calling services in Ontario and Quebec by the end of 1999.