Last month, I asked if we were witnessing the beginning of the end of utility based telcos when various media outlets began to report that Ottawa’s electric utility is selling Telecom Ottawa. At the time, I asked if Ottawa Hydro’s desire to focus on its core business was going to be something to watch in other jurisdictions?
Now, there is a news release from Toronto Hydro that it is seeking expressions of interest with respect to a possible sale of Toronto Hydro Telecom.
Again, I ask:
- Who will be the most likely bidders?
- To what extent would utelcos operate differently in major centres versus those markets with fewer competitive alternatives?
How should municipalities exercise political strategies through ownership of infrastructure versus strategic purchasing of services from private sector service providers?