MTS: Telecom service provider's highlights, history in Manitoba

Bell's acquisition ofMTSmarks theend of an era for the Manitoba-based company.

Bell Canada Enterprisesannounced Monday it has agreed to buyManitoba Telecom Services in a whopping $3.9-billion deal, which the organization estimates will take the next nine to 12 months to wrap up.

• MTS sale to Bell has someManitobansworried about price hikes

MTS (previously known as the Manitoba Telephone System)has been in the Manitoba telecommunications business formore than 100 years. The organizationevolved from a Crown corporation and telephone service provider in the early 1900s tothe publicly tradedtelevision, wireless andinternet service provider it is today.

MTS went through a series of notable change over the years.

In 1959, the company launched North America's first emergency hotline.

• From the CBC archives:Winnipeggers call 999 for help

Winnipeggers call 999 for help in 1959

65 years ago

Duration 15:20

North America's first emergency hotline speeds response times for fire, police and ambulance service. Aired on CBC Winnipeg's Eye to Eye on Dec. 8, 1959.

In the winter of 1996, then-premierGary Filmonand the Progressive Conservative government voted to privatize the company. The dealwas controversial but was finalized in 1997.

Following a series of complaints about poor internetconnections, in 2002 the company began replacing dated technology to improve the quality of networkservices offered innorthern Manitoba.

In December of 2003, the company secured the rights to name what would becomethe home of the Winnipeg Jets the MTS Centre.

In 2004, MTS acquired Allstream, whichprovidesinternetservices to business and governments. The Winnipeg company tried to sell Allstream to theEgyptian investment group Accelero Capital Holdings in 2013, but the deal was blocked by the federal government, which cited"unspecified national security concerns."

MTS eventuallysoldAllstreamin 2015to U.S.-listedZayoGroup Holdings Inc.for $465 million cash.

In January 2014, the Supreme Court of Canadaupheld a lower court ruling that a pension surplus of $43.3-million that existed when the former Manitoba Telephone System was privatized in 1997 "belonged to the workers and retirees and must be repaid," according to union leaders.

In March of 2016, MTS and other cable providers launched "reasonably priced" television packs.

The CRTC mandated MTS and Shaw offer cheaper cable packages after consulting with the public, many of whom said the current options were too expensive and large.

On May 2, 2016, Bell agreed to buy MTS for $3.9 billion.