MTS sale to Bell has some Manitobans worried about price hikes

"You would expect, I think, the market to continue to be as competitive as it [has been], and if not maybe even more as a result."

Cope said he thinks the deal will take nine to 12 months to get through the regulatory process before it's complete. Agencies thatmust approve the deal include the Competition Bureau.

Jay Forbes, president and CEO of MTS,said he doesn't anticipate any big changes to market forces in Manitoba as a consequence of the deal.

"We've had a very competitive marketplace here in Manitoba, and I don't see that changing," he said.

Deal developed 'very quickly'

Forbes said while rumours have been swirling for some time about the purchase of his company,sale talks with Bell came up "very quickly" two weeks ago.

Prices are bound to increase to levels more commonly found in the rest of the country.- MichaelGeist

Consumers are likely to enjoy better-quality services once the deal is done, he said.

"What I do see changing is that level of technology that our customers are going to have access to," he said. "By virtue of being part of that larger Bell organization, they will enjoy access to better technologies, better internet access, better data."

Forbes added MTS has a devoted customer base that Bell will work to keep satisfied.

"I think they will be taking a long, hard look at what we have done well and looking to preserve as much of that as they can," Forbes said.

Prices 'bound to increase,' lawyer says

Now that Bell and Telushave divied up MTS between themselves, competition could be reduced further still, according to one expert.

"With MTS out of the way and Bell and Telus sharing the same wireless network prices are bound to increase to levels more commonly found in the rest of the country," lawyer Michael Geist wrote inhis blog.

As for whether specific rate changes are on the way, aspokesperson with Bell said "it's early to talk about pricing."

"We'll bring better broadband services to Manitobans, like Gigabit Fibe Internet, Fibe TV and mobile LTE Advanced, and we look forward to competinghead on with the other communications service providers in the province," the spokesperson said.

"We have a five-year, $1-billioninvestment planthat will bring new broadband coverage and services to Manitobans in cities, towns and rural locations alike."

The move will see 2,700 workers move from MTS to Bell's phone business. Bell's western workforce, headquartered in Winnipeg,will almost double in size to 6,900 employees.

Worry about price hikes