Stentor Alliance
Encyclopedia
The Stentor Alliance is a formal alliance of Canada
's major telecommunications companies, specifically its incumbent local exchange carrier
s. It derives its name from the Greek mythological
figure Stentor
.
Formed in 1992 to succeed Telecom Canada (which was previously known as the Trans-Canada Telephone System, and before that as the Telephone Association of Canada), the alliance comprised the following companies at the time of inception:
The Trans-Canada and Telecom Canada alliances were allegedly formed to provide for the standardization of local and long-distance telephone services across Canada as well as provide for consistency in lobbying
efforts with provincial and federal governments. By the time Stentor replaced Telecom Canada, internet service was part of the alliance's objectives.
In practice, Stentor was also a marketing unit, coordinating national advertising and sponsorships (such as sponsorship of the Olympic Games
). The nine full member companies also participated in revenue pooling, and could quickly introduce new services to all nine members. Other telephone companies had to negotiate with Stentor or its predecessors to offer such services as 800 and 900 service.
The alliance controlled the following organizations:
On January 1, 1999, SRCI and SSC were disbanded and their roles reassumed by their parent organizations, with SCNM remaining in place in a modified form. The status of STPI is unknown but its role has also diminished as the companies take divergent paths.
Many of the Stentor companies have since become competitors, with several joining with Stentor's former competitors (Sprint, Rogers). Bell - the parent of Aliant, NorthwesTel, Télébec
and Northern Telephone - almost immediately entered competition with Telus; Bell's ties with MTS and SaskTel have also weakened since then.
Canada
Canada is a North American country consisting of ten provinces and three territories. Located in the northern part of the continent, it extends from the Atlantic Ocean in the east to the Pacific Ocean in the west, and northward into the Arctic Ocean...
's major telecommunications companies, specifically its incumbent local exchange carrier
Incumbent local exchange carrier
An ILEC, short for incumbent local exchange carrier, is a local telephone company in the United States that was in existence at the time of the breakup of AT&T into the Regional Bell Operating Companies , also known as the "Baby Bells." The ILEC is the former Bell System or Independent Telephone...
s. It derives its name from the Greek mythological
Greek mythology
Greek mythology is the body of myths and legends belonging to the ancient Greeks, concerning their gods and heroes, the nature of the world, and the origins and significance of their own cult and ritual practices. They were a part of religion in ancient Greece...
figure Stentor
Stentor
In Greek mythology, Stentor was a herald of the Greek forces during the Trojan War. Although he is mentioned only briefly in Homer's Iliad, in which Hera takes Stentor's character to encourage the Greeks to fight, his name has been living in the term "stentorian" voice, meaning loud-voiced, for...
.
Formed in 1992 to succeed Telecom Canada (which was previously known as the Trans-Canada Telephone System, and before that as the Telephone Association of Canada), the alliance comprised the following companies at the time of inception:
- Alberta Government TelephonesAlberta Government TelephonesAlberta Government Telephones was formed by the Liberal government of Alexander Cameron Rutherford in 1906 following the acquisitions by the government of several independent telephone companies...
, now TelusTELUSTelus is a national telecommunications company in Canada that provides a wide range of telecommunications products and services including internet access, voice, entertainment, video, and satellite television. The company is based in Burnaby, British Columbia, part of Greater Vancouver... - BCTelBCTelBC Telephone and later BC Tel was the legal operating name for the province wide telephone company operating throughout the province of British Columbia, Canada....
, now part of Telus - Bell CanadaBell CanadaBell Canada is a major Canadian telecommunications company. Including its subsidiaries such as Bell Aliant, Northwestel, Télébec, and NorthernTel, it is the incumbent local exchange carrier for telephone and DSL Internet services in most of Canada east of Manitoba and in the northern territories,...
- Island TelIsland TelecomIsland Telecom was a telephone service provider in Prince Edward Island.Founded in 1885 as the Prince Edward Island Telephone Company , the company formed a formal alliance with Nova Scotia-based MT&T early on, which resulted in the agreement to share the 902 area code...
, now part of Bell Aliant - Manitoba Telephone System, now Manitoba Telecom ServicesManitoba Telecom ServicesManitoba Telecom Services Inc. , or MTS , formerly Manitoba Telephone System, is the primary telecommunications carrier in the Canadian province of Manitoba and the fourth largest telecommunications provider in Canada with 7000 employees...
- Maritime Telegraph & Telephone Company, now part of Bell Aliant
- NBTelNBTelNBTel was founded as the New Brunswick Telephone Company in 1888 after Bell Telephone Company of Canada's attempt to establish telephone service in the Maritime provinces failed. The company purchased the assets in New Brunswick, Canada from Bell Canada in 1889...
, now part of Bell Aliant - Newfoundland TelephoneNewTel CommunicationsNewTel Communications was a telephone, internet and cellular service provider in the Canadian province of Newfoundland and Labrador. Originally, as the Avalon Telephone Company, it served the Avalon Peninsula; it became the Newfoundland Telephone Company, also serving southwestern Newfoundland ,...
, now part of Bell Aliant - NorthwestelNorthwestelNorthwestel Inc. is the incumbent local exchange carrier and long distance carrier in Northern Canada. The company name is a portmanteau, sometimes spelled NorthwesTel, for Northwest Telecommunications.-Modern corporate history:...
(associate member) - Québec Téléphone, now part of Telus (associate member)
- SaskTelSaskTelSaskatchewan Telecommunications is a provincial Crown Corporation operating under the authority of the Saskatchewan Telecommunications Act. It is the only remaining Crown Corporation in the Canadian telecommunications industry....
(Saskatchewan Telecommunications)
The Trans-Canada and Telecom Canada alliances were allegedly formed to provide for the standardization of local and long-distance telephone services across Canada as well as provide for consistency in lobbying
Lobbying
Lobbying is the act of attempting to influence decisions made by officials in the government, most often legislators or members of regulatory agencies. Lobbying is done by various people or groups, from private-sector individuals or corporations, fellow legislators or government officials, or...
efforts with provincial and federal governments. By the time Stentor replaced Telecom Canada, internet service was part of the alliance's objectives.
In practice, Stentor was also a marketing unit, coordinating national advertising and sponsorships (such as sponsorship of the Olympic Games
Olympic Games
The Olympic Games is a major international event featuring summer and winter sports, in which thousands of athletes participate in a variety of competitions. The Olympic Games have come to be regarded as the world’s foremost sports competition where more than 200 nations participate...
). The nine full member companies also participated in revenue pooling, and could quickly introduce new services to all nine members. Other telephone companies had to negotiate with Stentor or its predecessors to offer such services as 800 and 900 service.
The alliance controlled the following organizations:
- Stentor Resource Centre Inc. (SRCI)
- Stentor Telecom Policy Inc. (STPI)
- Stentor Canadian Network Management (SCNM)
- Signature Service Centre (SSC)
On January 1, 1999, SRCI and SSC were disbanded and their roles reassumed by their parent organizations, with SCNM remaining in place in a modified form. The status of STPI is unknown but its role has also diminished as the companies take divergent paths.
Many of the Stentor companies have since become competitors, with several joining with Stentor's former competitors (Sprint, Rogers). Bell - the parent of Aliant, NorthwesTel, Télébec
Télébec
Télébec is a telephone company located in the province of Quebec in Canada. It serves various sectors like the James Bay territory area, the Abitibi-Témiscamingue region, parts of central and southern Quebec and parts of the Outaouais region....
and Northern Telephone - almost immediately entered competition with Telus; Bell's ties with MTS and SaskTel have also weakened since then.