View source for Bell MTS

{{Short description|Canadian telecommunications company}}
{{distinguish|MTS (telecommunications){{!}}MTS|Telekom Srbija{{!}}mts|Mobile Telephone Service|UMTS}}
{{Infobox company|<!-- [[Wikipedia:WikiProject Companies]] template -->
| name = Bell MTS Inc.
| logo = Bell MTS logo.svg
| type = {{ubl | [[Crown corporation]] (1908–1997) | [[Privately held company|Private]] (1997–2017) | [[Subsidiary]] (since 2017)}}
| traded_as = 
| foundation = {{start date and age|1908|7}}
| location = [[Winnipeg]], [[Manitoba]], Canada
| area_served = [[Manitoba]], Canada
| key_people = Paul Norris ([[vice chair]])
| industry = [[Telecommunications]]
| products = 
| former_names = Manitoba Government Telephones (1908–1921) <br/> Manitoba Telephone System (1921–2004) <br/> Manitoba Telecom Services (2004–2017)
| subsid = 
| parent = [[BCE Inc.|BCE]] (2017–present)
| homepage = {{URL|http://bellmts.ca}}
}}

'''Bell MTS Inc.''' (formerly '''Manitoba Telecom Services''') is a subsidiary of [[BCE Inc.]] that operates telecommunications services in [[Manitoba]].

Originally established as '''Manitoba Government Telephones''' after the Government of Manitoba purchased the Manitoba assets of [[Bell Canada]], the corporation was privatized in 1996. On March 17, 2017, Bell regained control of MTS after the Bell Canada group's holding company BCE Inc. closed its $3.9 billion acquisition of the provider and, for regulatory reasons, Bell divested approximately one third of MTS's wireless business (including subscribers and retail outlets) to [[Telus Communications|Telus]], and a smaller portion to the new entrant [[Xplornet]]. Under Bell ownership, Bell MTS will serve as the headquarters of Bell's telecom businesses in western Canada.

==History==
{{No footnotes|section|date=January 2017}}

=== Beginning ===
One of the first two telephone subscribers in Manitoba was Winnipeg businessman [[James Henry Ashdown]] in 1881.<ref name=":0" />

=== Early 20th century ===
MTS is the descendant company of Manitoba Government Telephones, which went into operation in January 1908 after the government of Manitoba bought Bell Canada's Manitoba operations.<ref>{{Cite news|title=The Telephone Deal|date=January 2, 1908|work=The Winnipeg Tribune|page=4}}</ref> The [[Crown corporation]] became Manitoba Telephone System in 1921, and eventually took over all private telephone operations in the province.

=== 1940s ===
MTS announced in late 1947 that it would modernize its long-distance equipment in both Winnipeg and Brandon, using [[Siemens Brothers]] switching equipment,<ref name=":0" /> to better handle routing of automatic dialing of long-distance calls by telephone operators using the currently known [[Telephone numbering plan|Area Code system]].<ref name=":0" /> To accomplish this, MTS needed to expand its Corydon Ave. long-distance switching centre by adding four additional storeys to the building.<ref name=":0">{{Cite news|title=Big Telephone Expansion Plans Now Under Way|date=September 17, 1947|work=Winnipeg Free Press|page=3}}</ref> Initial communities to be set up with the new long-distance hardware included Boissevain, Deloraine, Dauphin, Kenton, Melita, Waskada, Lyleton, Tilston, Portage la Prairie, Pierson.<ref name=":0" />

A trial of [[Mobile Telephone Service|Mobile radio-telephone service]], a technology that was developed by AT&T, took place early in 1948. An earlier trial of wireless telephone service was conducted in northern Manitoba mining towns.{{Which|date=December 2019}}

===1950s===
At midnight on June 21, 1959, Winnipeg was the first urban area in North America to implement the [[999 (emergency telephone number)|9-9-9]] [[emergency telephone number]].<ref>{{cite news|url=http://archives.cbc.ca/IDC-1-75-1139-6261/science_technology/telephones/clip6|title=CBC Archive – 1959 – Winnipeggers call 9-9-9 for help|access-date=2006-09-07 | work=CBC News}}</ref>

Also in the late 1950s, MTS located one of its administrative offices on Empress St. near the newly opened [[Polo Park|Polo Park Shopping Centre]] complex. In 2000 these employees were moved to 333 Main St., commonly known as ''MTS Place'', where 1,500 employees now work.<ref>{{Cite news|last=Lyons|first=John|title=New growth in store for core|date=April 8, 2001|work=Winnipeg Free Press|page=4}}</ref> This formed part of the Province's ''Downtown First'' strategy.<ref>{{Cite news|last=Hirst|first=Nicholas|title=A boost for downtown|date=May 24, 1997|work=Winnipeg Free Press|pages=A1, A4}}</ref>

===1970s===
In the late 1970s, similar to policy changes implemented by [[AT&T]] in the U.S., MTS allowed its customers to purchase their own telephone equipment and with this, provided free installation of [[RJ11, RJ14, RJ25|RJ11]] telephone jacks.

In July 1979, MTS announced that it would be a pioneer in [[Telidon]]-based two-way electronic information services. The trial was called "Project IDA" and ran from 1980 to 1981.<ref>{{Cite news|title='Age of information' near Headingley|last=Purser|first=Richard|date=July 21, 1979|pages=1, 5}}</ref><ref>{{Cite news|title=Telidon: Canada challenged the giants and won|last=Drabble|first=John|date=August 23, 1980|work=The Winnipeg Tribune Magazine|pages=10–14}}</ref><ref>{{Cite news|title=MTS jumps into telecommunications race|last=Meyer|first=Joyce|date=August 23, 1980|work=The Winnipeg Tribune Magazine|pages=15–16}}</ref>

===1980s===
MTS was a pioneer in offering videotex at the commercial level. In 1981, it partnered with [[Infomart (Canada)|Infomart]] (then owned by the Torstar and Southam newspaper chains) to create the [[Grassroots (videotex service)|Grassroots]] service, providing information relevant to farmers on the Canadian prairies. Customers paid $47.50 per month to subscribe to Grassroots, plus connection fees to [[DATAPAC]]. Terminal equipment was manufactured by [[Norpak]].

They opened ''MTS Phone Centre'' stores in shopping malls to sell residential and business phones and services, and in 1984 opened two ''MTS Business Centre'' locations (Commodity Exchange Tower lobby and Empress St. office) to provide sales of business-level equipment.

In the mid-1980s, MTS started a subsidiary known as MTX, which had invested in telecommunications in Saudi Arabia. However MTX was forced to shut down after controversy about the company back in Manitoba after MTX lost $27 million on the venture.<ref>{{Cite news|title=MTS fails to win huge Saudi deal|date=July 22, 1982|work=Winnipeg Free Press|page=5}}</ref><ref>{{Cite news|title=Saudi mail venture taxed Manitoba|last=Mitchell|first=Catherine|date=November 29, 1986|work=Winnipeg Free Press|page=67}}</ref><ref>{{Cite news|title=Bad call: MTS's offshore fiasco|last=Thampi|first=Radha Krishnan|date=November 29, 1986|page=66}}</ref><ref>{{Cite news|title=MTS bows to Saudis|last=Thampi|first=Radha Krishnan|date=July 19, 1986|work=Winnipeg Free Press|page=10}}</ref>

In the late 1980s MTS launched MTS Mobility providing cellular and paging services in Manitoba<ref>{{Cite news|title=Review kills MTS business venture|last=Mitchell|first=Catherine|date=March 26, 1987|page=6}}</ref> after competitor [[Rogers Wireless|Cantel]] was allowed to set up the cellular radio infrastructure and market the service before MTS.<ref>{{Cite news|title=Cantel calls out MTS in cellular phone fight|last=McNeill|first=Murray|date=February 10, 1988|page=32}}</ref>

===1990s===
In 1996, the Provincial government of Premier [[Gary Filmon]] decided to sell the Manitoba Telephone System to private shareholders. The decision to privatize was seen as controversial, as it marked a significant departure from the [[Progressive Conservative Party of Manitoba|Progressive Conservatives']] earlier position that MTS should remain provincially owned.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.publicvalues.ca/ViewArticle.cfm?Ref=004|title=Public Values – Manitoba Telephones, ten years later|access-date=2010-04-13|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110706194045/http://www.publicvalues.ca/ViewArticle.cfm?Ref=004|archive-date=2011-07-06|url-status=dead}}</ref>

In January 1999, MTS partnered with ''Bell Canada'' to form ''Intrigna'', a Competitive Local Exchange Carrier (CLEC) which was created to expand telecommunications options for the business market in Alberta and British Columbia. As part of the deal, ''Bell Canada'' gained 20% ownership of MTS. They set up a jointly operated office in Calgary. By the summer of 1999, fibre optic cable had been laid in [[Edmonton]] and [[Calgary]], and later extended to [[Vancouver]], British Columbia.<ref name="ar2000">{{cite web|url=http://mts.ca/file_source/mts.ca/About_Us/Files/mts_00ar.pdf|title=Manitoba Telecom Services – 2000 Annual Report|access-date=2006-09-07|archive-date=2006-10-15|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20061015210618/http://mts.ca/file_source/mts.ca/About_Us/Files/mts_00ar.pdf|url-status=dead}}</ref>

In August 1999, MTS completed work on a new trunked (digital) radio system known as ''FleetNet 800'', technology licensed from neighbouring [[SaskTel]].<ref name="ar2000" />

In the Fall of 1999, MTS began to offer [[DSL]] high-speed Internet service in Winnipeg and Brandon, which later expanded to other areas of the province.<ref name="ar2000" />

[[File:MTS Technician Van.JPG|thumb|right|MTS Technician van in [[Winnipeg]]]]

===2000s===

The CRTC met with the various telecommunications providers in Canada and required of them to implement a ''[[Service Improvement Plan]]'' (SIP). This meant that MTS had to improve service to northern remote areas that even by the 21st century had poor quality phone service. Customers in northern Manitoba complained that the microwave system could not handle data communications (modem, fax) well. This, as well as the collapse of a microwave relay tower linking [[Churchill, Manitoba|Churchill]] in early January 2000, led MTS to initiate upgrades to the Radisson-[[Churchill, Manitoba|Churchill]] corridor with fibre optics and the [[Lynn Lake, Manitoba|Lynn Lake]]-[[Thompson, Manitoba|Thompson]] corridor with a digital microwave system to replace the outdated equipment.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.crtc.gc.ca/archive/ENG/Decisions/2002/dt2002-63.htm|title=CRTC Decision 2002–63 – Includes upgrades to MTS microwave network|access-date=2006-09-07|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20061110142125/http://crtc.gc.ca/archive/ENG/Decisions/2002/dt2002-63.htm|archive-date=2006-11-10|url-status=dead}}</ref>
Cellular telephone service is currently available to 98% of the population in the province.

In 2003, MTS purchased the naming rights for the True North Centre in downtown Winnipeg, renaming it the [[MTS Centre]]. The 10-year deal between [[True North Sports & Entertainment]] and MTS, which was MTS's single largest advertising expenditure, was extended when the arena became a [[National Hockey League]] venue in 2011.<ref>{{cite news|url=http://www.winnipegfreepress.com/sports/hockey/true-north-mts-forge-long-term-partnership-122927008.html|title=True North, MTS forge long-term partnership|publisher=Winnipeg Free Press|date=2016-06-01}}</ref>

In February 2004, MTS sold its 40% stake in Intrigna to Bell Canada for $230 million.<ref>{{Cite news|url=https://www.cbc.ca/news/business/mts-makes-230-million-on-bell-west-sale-1.467521|title=MTS makes $230 million on Bell West sale|work=CBC News|access-date=2018-09-04|language=en-US}}</ref>

[[File:MTSAllstream.jpg|thumb|MTSAllstream Logo 2004]]
In April 2004, MTS acquired [[AT&T Canada|Allstream]],<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.itworldcanada.com/news/manitoba-telecom-services-to-buy-allstream/114181 |title=Manitoba Telecom Services to Buy Allstream |author=Carly Suppa |date=2004-04-01 |access-date=2013-06-24}}</ref> the successor to the transcontinental railways' telegraph businesses. It renamed the main subsidiary to '''MTS Allstream Inc.''' until 2012, when it was split as '''MTS Inc.''' and '''Allstream Inc.'''

On December 7, 2005, former BCE executive Pierre Blouin was named [[chief executive officer]] of Manitoba Telecom Services and of [[MTS Allstream]], replacing longtime CEO Bill Fraser.{{citation needed|date=May 2016}}

===2010s===
[[File:Manitoba Telecom Services logo.svg|150px|thumb|right|Manitoba Telecom Services logo used until BCE acquisition in 2017.]]
In March 2011, MTS unveiled a new, animated version of their mascot, Morty the Bison. On March 31, 2011 MTS officially launched a HSPA+ wireless network along with the availability Apple's iPhone series of smartphones starting with the [[iPhone 4]]. The wireless network had claims it would provide data speeds up to 21&nbsp;Mbit/s.<ref>[http://www.mts.ca/portal/site/innovations/hspa/?vgnextoid=30656d3806bbd210VgnVCM1000002a040f0aRCRD MTS' new HSPA+ network launches March 31, 2011]</ref> In September 2012, MTS launched LTE, with it initially rolling out in the cities of Winnipeg and Brandon.

MTS' older [[CDMA]] network continues to work with CDMA handsets. According to the MTS website, MTS plans on shutting down its CDMA service by the end of 2016.<ref>{{Cite web |url=https://www3.mts.ca/mts/support/service+bulletins/cdma+network+changes |title=CDMA Network Changes |access-date=2016-03-07 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160308053810/https://www3.mts.ca/mts/support/service+bulletins/cdma+network+changes |archive-date=2016-03-08 |url-status=dead }}</ref>

In May 2013, Allstream was to be sold to Accelero Capital, with the deal expected to close by the end of the year.<ref name="MTS to Sell Allstream">{{cite web|title=MTS to Sell Allstream|url=http://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/manitoba/mts-to-sell-allstream-put-200m-to-pension-and-debt-1.1376747|access-date=24 May 2013}}</ref> However, on October 7, 2013, the Canadian government blocked the sale over national security concerns, declining to mention the specific concerns.<ref name="Canadian Government Blocks sale of Allstream">{{cite web|title=Sale of Allstream Blocked|url=http://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/manitoba/allstream-sale-to-accelero-rejected-over-national-security-1.1929191|access-date=7 Oct 2013}}</ref>

In November 2014, Jay A. Forbes was appointed as CEO effective January 1, 2015.<ref name="MTS Allstream CEO Announcement">{{Cite web |url=http://www.mtsallstream.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/04/2015-MTS-Information-Circular_Sedar.pdf |title=Management Information Circular 2015 |access-date=2015-04-23 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20151231212259/http://www.mtsallstream.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/04/2015-MTS-Information-Circular_Sedar.pdf |archive-date=2015-12-31 |url-status=dead }}</ref><ref name="MTS names Jay Forbes as new CEO, turns focus to Allstream">{{cite news|title=MTS names Jay Forbes as new CEO, turns focus to Allstream|website=[[The Globe and Mail]] |date=17 November 2014 |url=https://www.theglobeandmail.com/report-on-business/mts-names-jay-forbes-as-new-chief/article21610512/|access-date=23 April 2015|last1=Dobby |first1=Christine }}</ref><ref>{{cite web|title=Jay Forbes named as CEO of MTS Allstream|url=http://www.mtsallstream.com/jay-forbes-named-ceo-mts-allstream/|access-date=23 April 2015|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150112000851/http://www.mtsallstream.com/jay-forbes-named-ceo-mts-allstream/|archive-date=12 January 2015|url-status=dead}}</ref>

On November 23, 2015 it was announced that Allstream Inc. would be sold to [[Zayo Group]] in a cash transaction deal worth $465 million.<ref name="fp-bellmts"/>

==== Acquisition by Bell ====
On May 2, 2016, [[BCE Inc.]] announced that it would acquire MTS in a [[Canadian dollar|$]]3.9 billion all-stock deal, paying $40 per share and assuming $800 million in debt. Following the closure of this purchase pending regulatory approval, the company will operate as '''Bell MTS''', a subsidiary of Bell Canada; the acquisition was expected to be closed in late 2016 to early 2017. Bell committed to investing $1 billion over five years into expanding broadband service in Manitoba, and upgrading MTS's infrastructure to support new services, including [[Bell Fibe TV|Bell Fibe]] and [[LTE-Advanced]]. Bell will also base its Western Canadian operations out of Bell MTS in Winnipeg, increasing its staff to 6,900 employees. As a condition of the sale, Bell agreed to divest one-third of MTS Mobility's wireless subscribers and MTS retail locations to [[Telus Communications|Telus]]; the divestment aimed to give the three national carriers (Bell, Rogers, and Telus) a roughly equal market share in Manitoba.<ref name="gandm-reignover"/><ref name="cbc-mtsbell">{{cite web|title=MTS sale to Bell has some Manitobans worried about price hikes|url=http://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/manitoba/manitoba-bce-mts-bell-deal-1.3562070|website=CBC News|access-date=2 May 2016}}</ref><ref name="cbc-bellmtsdeal">{{cite web|title=BCE to buy Manitoba Telecom in friendly deal worth $3.9B|url=http://www.cbc.ca/news/business/bce-buys-manitoba-telecom-1.3561982|website=CBC News|access-date=2 May 2016}}</ref><ref name="fp-bellmts">{{cite news|title=BCE Inc to buy Manitoba Telecom Services in $3.9-billion deal|url=http://business.financialpost.com/investing/market-moves/bce-to-buy-manitoba-telecom-services-in-3-9-billion-deal|website=Financial Post|date=2 May 2016 |access-date=2 May 2016|last1=Brownell |first1=Claire }}</ref>

The deal faced criticism for the possibility that it would result in a higher cost of services. Due to the market positioning of MTS as a fourth major wireless carrier in the region, the three major national carriers have historically offered lower prices in Manitoba to remain competitive. As such, with the removal of a competitor, there would no longer be an incentive to do so.<ref name="gandm-reignover"/><ref name="fp-bellmts"/><ref name="cbc-mtsbell"/> A similar business climate exists in [[Saskatchewan]], where the three national carriers must compete against the dominant, government-owned regional carrier [[SaskTel]].<ref name="gandm-reignover">{{cite news|title=Manitoba's reign of lower wireless prices may be over following Bell, MTS deal|url=https://www.theglobeandmail.com/report-on-business/manitobas-reign-of-lower-wireless-prices-may-be-over-following-bell-mts-deal/article29827933/|website=The Globe and Mail|date=2 May 2016 |access-date=3 May 2016|last1=Blackwell |first1=Richard }}</ref> A survey by the [[Angus Reid Institute]] found that 61% of those surveyed moderately or strongly disapproved of the deal.<ref name="cbc-mtspanned">{{cite web|title=MTS sale to Bell panned by most Manitobans, survey says|url=http://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/manitoba/mts-sale-to-bell-panned-by-manitobans-1.3611499|website=CBC News|access-date=7 June 2016}}</ref>

On December 20, 2016, the CRTC approved the sale of MTS's broadcast distribution undertakings to Bell.<ref name="crtc-tvapproved">{{cite web|title=Broadcasting Decision CRTC 2016-487|date=20 December 2016 |url=http://www.crtc.gc.ca/eng/archive/2016/2016-487.htm|publisher=CRTC|access-date=21 December 2016}}</ref> On February 15, 2017, the deal was approved by the Competition Bureau and [[Innovation, Science and Economic Development Canada]]. To relieve concerns over the reduction of wireless competition in Manitoba post-merger, Bell additionally agreed to divest 24,700 customers, 6 retail locations, and wireless spectrum to [[rural internet]] provider [[Xplornet]] so it may launch its own competing wireless business. Bell will provide Xplornet with "expedited access" to its towers for five years, as well as roaming and handset stock. This aspect of the deal will maintain the presence of four competing wireless providers in Manitoba, with the fourth being a new entrant to the market.<ref name="cbcnews-approved">{{cite web|title=Bell takeover of MTS gets federal approval|url=http://www.cbc.ca/news/business/bell-mts-approval-competition-1.3983774|website=CBC News|access-date=15 February 2017}}</ref><ref name="gandm-xplornetbell">{{cite news|title=Ottawa approves BCE-MTS tie-up; deal to benefit Xplornet|url=https://www.theglobeandmail.com/report-on-business/bce-mts-deal-wins-federal-approval/article34026683/|website=The Globe and Mail|date=15 February 2017 |access-date=15 February 2017|last1=Dobby |first1=Christine }}</ref>

The acquisition closed on March 17, 2017; at this time, Dan McKeen (who led the integration of [[Bell Aliant]] into the company's national operations) was installed as the new head of the division, replacing the outgoing Jay Forbes. Along with the closure of the deal, Bell launched LTE service in [[Churchill, Manitoba]].<ref name="fp-dealcomplete">{{cite news|title=Bell MTS deal closes, kicking off $1-billion investment that brings 4G to Churchill, Manitoba|url=http://business.financialpost.com/fp-tech-desk/bell-mts-deal-closes-kicking-off-1-billion-investment-with-4g-in-churchill-manitoba?__lsa=6e93-21ec|website=Financial Post| date=17 March 2017 |access-date=17 March 2017| last1=Jackson | first1=Emily }}</ref> Bell stated that it intended to maintain MTS's existing wireless pricing structure for at least a year after the closure of the acquisition.<ref name="gandm-xplornetbell" /> Rates for all other Bell MTS services were raised in September 2017.<ref>{{Cite news|url=http://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/manitoba/bell-mts-price-increase-1.4314116|title=Bell MTS customers see prices rise for most services|work=CBC News|access-date=2017-09-30|language=en}}</ref> The MTS Centre was renamed to [[Canada Life Centre|Bell MTS Place]] on May 30, 2017, following [[Bell Canada]]’s acquisition of MTS.<ref>{{Cite web|title=Jets home arena renamed Bell MTS Place|url=https://www.nhl.com/news/winnipeg-home-arena-renamed-bell-mts-place/c-289672910|access-date=2021-06-17|website=NHL.com|language=en-US}}</ref>

In October 2018, Bell MTS began to integrate its wireless subscribers into the national [[Bell Mobility]] business.<ref>{{Cite news|url=https://mobilesyrup.com/2018/10/12/bell-phasing-out-mts-brand-manitoba/|title=Bell phasing out 'Bell MTS' wireless branding, directing customers to 'Bell Mobility'|date=2018-10-12|work=MobileSyrup|access-date=2018-10-13|language=en-US}}</ref>

In late August 2019, Bell MTS announced that it will no longer serve some rural communities with wireless Internet service via the "rural Internet program" because of a decrease in wholesale fees mandated by the CRTC.<ref>{{Cite news|url=https://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/manitoba/bell-mts-internet-highspeed-pallister-merger-wireless-1.5256137|title=Manitoba premier blames CRTC rate change for Bell's cuts to rural internet program|last=Kavanagh|first=Sean|date=August 28, 2019|work=CBC News Manitoba|access-date=August 28, 2019}}</ref>

On June 15, 2021, following the expiration of Bell MTS’ naming rights, [[True North Sports & Entertainment]], the operator of  [[Canada Life Centre|Bell MTS Place]], announced that the naming rights to the arena had been sold to [[Canada Life]] under a 10-year agreement.<ref>{{Cite web|title=The home of the Winnipeg Jets and Manitoba Moose is getting a new name|url=https://globalnews.ca/news/7950573/winnipeg-jets-moose-canada-life-centre/|access-date=2021-06-17|website=CJOB|language=en-US}}</ref>

==Facilities==
The administration offices are located at 333 Main St. in Winnipeg, in the former Bank of Montreal Building. The complex is now known as ''MTS Place''.

The ''MTS Long Distance Gateway'' is located in the J. F. Mills Building on Corydon Avenue near what is locally known as [[Confusion Corner]]. One of its functions is to transmit local television signals from Winnipeg to retransmitters throughout the province. However, since 2011 MTS no longer transmits CBC television and Radio-Canada television signals by satellite and since it no longer performs this function for CTV as satellites and fibre-optic technologies have been replaced. Bell MTS is the former [[naming rights]] holder of a venue in Winnipeg, the [[Bell MTS Iceplex]].

== Services ==
=== Fibe TV ===
Bell MTS operates an [[IPTV]] service, '''Bell MTS [[Fibe TV]]''' (formerly '''MTS Ultimate TV'''), which is available in Brandon, Carberry, Dauphin, Killarney, Minnedosa, Neepawa, Oakbank, Portage la Prairie, Selkirk, Steinbach, The Pas, Thompson, and Winnipeg. The service launched in 2009 and is based on [[Ericsson Mediaroom]] middleware.<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://itvt.com/story/5711/mts-allstream-launches-microsoft-mediaroom-powered-iptv-service-brandon-manitoba|title=MTS Allstream Launches Microsoft Mediaroom-Powered IPTV Service in Brandon, Manitoba|last=tracyswedlow|date=2009-09-28|website=itvt.com|language=en|access-date=2017-09-02|archive-date=2017-09-02|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170902093140/http://itvt.com/story/5711/mts-allstream-launches-microsoft-mediaroom-powered-iptv-service-brandon-manitoba|url-status=dead}}</ref> '''MTS Classic TV''' was the company's legacy digital television service; it was discontinued in 2015 due to its incompatibility with [[Alert Ready]].<ref name=mts-classictvdiscontinued>{{cite web|title=Upgrade from MTS Classic TV service to Ultimate TV today|url=https://www.mts.ca/mts/support/service+bulletins/upgrade+from+mts+classic+tv+service+to+ultimate+tv+today|publisher=Manitoba Telecom Services|access-date=17 August 2015}}{{Dead link|date=June 2019 |bot=InternetArchiveBot |fix-attempted=yes }}</ref><ref name=crtc-exemption>{{cite web|title=Broadcasting Decision CRTC 2015-569|date=21 December 2015 |url=http://crtc.gc.ca/eng/archive/2015/2015-569.htm|publisher=CRTC|access-date=21 December 2015}}</ref> The service was updated and rebranded as Fibe TV in November 2017 (unifying it with the Fibe TV-branded services it offers in the Atlantic and Ontario), adding new features such as "Restart".<ref>{{Cite news|url=https://www.winnipegfreepress.com/business/bell-mts-rolls-out-service-upgrades-454877263.html|title=Bell MTS rolls out service upgrades|last=McNeill|first=Murray|date=2017-11-03|work=Winnipeg Free Press|access-date=2019-07-11}}</ref>

===Cable TV===
Bell MTS also offers [[cable television]] service in Winnipeg, Carman, Holland, Manitou, Miami, Morris, Notre Dame de Lourdes, Plum Coulee, St. Claude, St. Jean Baptiste, Treherne, Altona, Brandon, Morden, and Winkler.<ref>{{Cite web |url=http://www.mts.ca/mts/personal/tv/change+my+location |title=Change My Location &#124; MTS |access-date=2016-12-21 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120505000033/http://www.mts.ca/mts/personal/tv/change+my+location |archive-date=2012-05-05 |url-status=dead }}</ref>

==See also==
* [[Bell Aliant]], a similar subsidiary in Atlantic Canada
* [[Fibe (Bell Aliant)]]

==References==
{{Reflist}}

==Further reading==
* {{cite book
|last=Smith
|first=Doug
|year=2023
|title=For Whom the Bell Tolls: The Privatization of Manitoba Telecom Services and Its Impacts
|url=https://www.policyalternatives.ca/wp-content/uploads/attachments/Bell%20MTS%202023.pdf
|location=Winnipeg, Manitoba
|publisher=Canadian Centre for Policy Alternatives
|isbn=978-1-77125-645-2
}}

==External links==
*{{Official website|http://www.bellmts.ca}}

{{Bell Canada}}
{{Canadian ISP}}
{{CATV Canada}}
{{Telecommunications}}
{{Authority control}}

[[Category:Bell Canada]]
[[Category:Communications in Manitoba]]
[[Category:Telecommunications companies of Canada]]
[[Category:Companies based in Winnipeg]]
[[Category:Former Crown corporations of Manitoba]]
[[Category:1905 establishments in Manitoba]]
[[Category:BCE Inc. acquisitions]]
[[Category:2017 mergers and acquisitions]]
[[Category:Telecommunications companies established in 1905]]
[[Category:Canadian companies established in 1905]]