Telecommunications

"Canada’s Competition Tribunal is dismissing the Commissioner of Competition’s application to block Rogers Communications Inc.’s takeover of Shaw Communications Inc. The tribunal released its summary decision late-Thursday evening, removing the last barrier in the $26 billion deal."

"Canada's merger court ruled in favor of Rogers Communications Inc. and Shaw Communications Inc. in a key antitrust case, clearing one of the final hurdles to the union of two of the nation's largest telecommunications firms."

"Shares in both Rogers Communications Inc. and Shaw Communications Inc. rose Friday after a challenge to the merger of the two telecom rivals was dismissed by the Competition Tribunal."

"If Vidéotron becomes the proud new owner of Shaw’s wireless business, the Quebec company will actually be in an “unprecedented relationship of dependence” on Rogers, according to lawyers for the Competition Bureau."

"They’re the most hated companies in the country. And yet, they’re unavoidable. 

The telecom oligopoly seems to rule Canada’s economy with an iron fist. Canadians are paying more and more for our cell phones, cable and internet." 

"One of the biggest corporate mergers in Canada’s history is about to face its hardest test, as antitrust lawyers square off in court to decide the fate of a deal between two billionaire cable families."