Northern Canada's telecom services to expand

Private telecom companies Ice Wireless and Iristel are partnering to expand cellular and Internet services in Canada's Northwest Territories, Yukon and Nunavut.

Ice Wireless and Iristel say they will bring competition to Northwestel, a subsidiary of BCE Inc.'s Bell Canadathat serves the North.

The Canadian Radio-television and Telecommunications Commission recently ordered that other competitive telephone companies be allowed to enter the three territories starting this May.

Ice Wireless and Iristel will provide bundled communications to Canada's northern communities for a range of services, including local and long-distance and Internet services, and expanded cellular coverage.

Northwestel has been the telephone provider for residents of Northern Canada.