Canadian cable MSO Videotron says it has signed an agreement to purchase fellow cable operator Télédistribution Amos inc. (Cable Amos) and its network. Financial terms of the deal were not disclosed. Videotron says it expects to complete the acquisition during the Spring of 2020.
Cable Amos serves residents of Abitibi-Témiscamingue, an administrative region in western Quebec that includes such communities as Amos, Senneterre, Barraute, Lebel-sur-Quévillon, Belcourt, Ste-Gertrude-Manneville, Launay, Trécesson, Berry, Champneuf, La Motte, Landrienne, La Corne, Preissac, St-Felix-de-Dalquier, St-Mathieu-d'Harricana, St-Marc-de-Figuery, La Morandière, Rochebeaucourt, Guyenne, St-Dominique-du-Rosaire, Pikogan, and Rivière-Héva. The acquisition dovetails with Videotron’s plans to serve the rest of the region via interconnecting to the network of fellow cable operator Cablevision.
"We're serious about establishing ourselves in Abitibi-Témiscamingue, as the transaction we are announcing today shows," said Jean-François Pruneau, president and CEO of Videotron. "As we have been saying, we are evaluating growth opportunities in the region and will seize those that are promising. We are excited about offering our services to local residents."
"We are proud to pass the torch to Videotron," said Cable Amos management in a statement. "This was not a random choice. We are convinced that Videotron is the company best able to create healthy competition in the region. Customer needs are changing, and only Videotron is in a position to respond to the new realities."
The acquisition is subject to approval by Innovation, Science and Economic Development Canada and to customary conditions.
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Stephen Hardy | Editorial Director and Associate Publisher, Lightwave
Stephen Hardy is editorial director and associate publisher of Lightwave and Broadband Technology Report, part of the Lighting & Technology Group at Endeavor Business Media. Stephen is responsible for establishing and executing editorial strategy across the both brands’ websites, email newsletters, events, and other information products. He has covered the fiber-optics space for more than 20 years, and communications and technology for more than 35 years. During his tenure, Lightwave has received awards from Folio: and the American Society of Business Press Editors (ASBPE) for editorial excellence. Prior to joining Lightwave in 1997, Stephen worked for Telecommunications magazine and the Journal of Electronic Defense.
Stephen has moderated panels at numerous events, including the Optica Executive Forum, ECOC, and SCTE Cable-Tec Expo. He also is program director for the Lightwave Innovation Reviews and the Diamond Technology Reviews.
He has written numerous articles in all aspects of optical communications and fiber-optic networks, including fiber to the home (FTTH), PON, optical components, DWDM, fiber cables, packet optical transport, optical transceivers, lasers, fiber optic testing, and more.
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