In an announcement by Allstream Inc., formerly AT&T Canada on Wednesday, the company said it has completed a network support agreement with AT&T Corp. that will give customers the same services that were offered by the former Canadian division of AT&T.
The agreement – which will allow for the continued use of network service features and related technology from the Bedminster, N.J. telco – is part of Allstream’s and AT&T’s original restructuring agreement.
“In terms of the announcement today, this is really a confirmation of what we announced we were undertaking to negotiate with AT&T on Jan 17. So I think it’s good news that we have dotted all the I’s and crossed all the T’s and our customers will continue to enjoy the same voice [service], both [on the] toll-free and calling card platforms that they have historically,” said Brock Robertson, senior vice-president of treasury and investor relations at Allstream.
Robertson added that Allstream is currently in talks with AT&T to extend its agreement with the American telecom provider past 2005, when it was originally supposed to end.
“So, again, I think that’s further good news for our customers. So, as it stands it will be the same people servicing our customers, the same products, the same network, the same technology,” he added.
According to Toronto-based Allstream – which changed its name last month – the original commercial agreement includes enabling Allstream and AT&T to continue their business relationship on a non-exclusive basis and for the Canadian company to realize that AT&T is planning to continue to serve Canadian customers directly, meaning that the companies will be in direct competition. [Please see AT&T Canada gets a new name].
Also according to the terms of the agreement, Allstream will have to stop using the AT&T brand by no later than Dec. 31, 2003. Allstream can be found online at www.allstream.com.