Glentel

Glentel Inc.

Type| Joint venture
Industry|

* Wireless
* Retail

Founded| 1963; 63 years ago (1963)
Headquarters|

Burnaby, British Columbia

Canada

Number of locations

| 350+

Area served

| Canada

Key people

| Ravi Nookala (CEO & president)
Owners| BCE Inc. (50%)
Rogers Communications (50%)

Number of employees

| 2,000+
Website| glentel.com

Glentel Inc. is a Canadian telecommunications retailer based in Burnaby, British Columbia, jointly owned by BCE Inc. and Rogers Communications.

In Canada, the company operates over 350 wireless outlets under the Tbooth Wireless (La cabine T sans-fil in Quebec, formerly The Telephone Booth) and WirelessWave (Wave sans fil in Quebec) brands, particularly in mall kiosks. The company operates store-within-a-store kiosks at Canadian Costco locations under the Wireless etc. banner. Glentel outlets sell services from Bell Mobility and Rogers Wireless, their respective subsidiary brands (such as Chatr Wireless, Fido, Lucky Mobile, and Virgin Plus), and SaskTel in Saskatchewan.

For a time, it operated the Target Mobile kiosks at Target Canada locations until the chain's closure in 2015, and owned the Australian wireless retail chain Allphones, and U.S. Verizon retailers Diamond Wireless and Wireless Zone.

On November 28, 2014, BCE Inc. announced that it would acquire Glentel for $670 million, pending regulatory approval, in an effort to boost its retail presence.[1] After a dispute with Rogers, who argued that due to supply agreements it was contractually required to consent to any change in ownership of the company, Bell announced that it would divest a 50% stake in Glentel to Rogers upon the closure of the acquisition, turning the company into a joint venture between them.

## Contents

* 1 History
* 1.1 Acquisition by Bell and Rogers
* 2 References
* 3 External links

## History

The company has its origins in Speedy Celtel, the company founded by Alan and Tom Skidmore as a retailer of Cantel, the country's first cellular carrier. In 1989, the company bought Glenayre, that was provider of business wireless hardware, and was re-named Glenayre Technologies. In 1992, the company's retail arm was spun-out as Glentel, and in 1997, it opened a Rogers dealer at Metropolis in Burnaby known as WirelessWave.[2] WirelessWave subsequently grew into a larger chain.[2]

In 2005, Glentel acquired its Montreal-based rival Cabtel Corp., which operated as La Cabine Telephonique in Quebec, and The Telephone Booth in Alberta and Ontario. The deal added 49 stores to its holdings.[3][4] In 2007, Glentel reached a multi-year agreement with Costco Canada to operate wireless kiosks, branded as "Wireless, etc." at its locations.[2][5]

In 2010, the company first expanded into the United States with its acquisition of Diamond Wireless, a chain of Verizon Wireless retailers.[6] In 2012, it acquired an 83% majority stake in AMT Group, an Australian operator of mobile retailers under the Allphones and Virgin Mobile brands.[7] That year, Glentel acquired the U.S. firm Automotive Technologies Inc., doing business as Wireless Zone, which operated 421 Verizon Wireless retailers, for $83.3 million.[8] Glentel also reached a deal to operate Target Mobile kiosks at the short-lived Target Canada chain.[9]

### Acquisition by Bell and Rogers

On November 28, 2014, Bell Canada announced that it would acquire Glentel for $670 million, pending regulatory and shareholder approval, in an effort to boost its retail presence. Bell also operates first-party retail outlets for its services, and owns The Source, a Canadian electronics store chain that also sells Bell services. The company planned to continue serving as a retailer for non-Bell brands after the acquisition was completed.[1]

On December 17, 2014, Rogers Communications filed for an injunction against Glentel in the Ontario Superior Court, seeking to have the acquisition blocked. It argued that pursuant to Glentel's supply agreements with the company, Rogers had to consent to any change in company ownership. The company also foresaw the possibility of Glentel's retailers showing favouritism towards Bell brands following the merger. Glentel CEO Tom Skidmore disputed Rogers' complaint, stating that "Rogers has the right to remove their products from our Canadian stores if they choose to terminate its agreement with us, but has no right under its agreement to block the acquisition of Glentel."[10]

On December 24, 2014, Bell announced that it had agreed to divest a 50% stake in Glentel to Rogers upon its completion of the acquisition.[11] The acquisition was completed on May 6, 2015.[12]

In 2016, Wireless Zone was sold to Round Room, LLC.[13] Diamond Wireless was also sold to A Wireless.[14] In February 2017, Allphones went into receivership after being sold to a "Canadian shareholder" in May 2016.[15]

## References

1. ↑ 1.0 1.1 "BCE to buy wireless retailer Glentel for $594-million". The Globe and Mail. 28 November 2014. https://www.theglobeandmail.com/report-on-business/bce-to-buy-its-mobile-products-distributor-for-594-million/article21824828/.
2. ↑ 2.0 2.1 2.2 "Glenayre, Wireless Survivor". January 6, 2010. http://www.bcbusinessonline.ca/bcb/business-sense/2010/01/06/glenayre-wireless-survivor.
3. ↑ "Burnaby firm takes mall business model to the bank". https://www.biv.com/article/2014/12/burnaby-firm-takes-mall-business-model-bank/.
4. ↑ "Glentel opens new stores". https://www.theglobeandmail.com/technology/glentel-opens-new-stores/article20425337/.
5. ↑ "Glentel to sell cellular products in Costco stores across Canada" (in en). Business In Vancouver. https://www.biv.com/article/2007/8/glentel-to-sell-cellular-products-in-costco-stores/.
6. ↑ "Glentel looks south, snaps up U.S. chain". The Globe and Mail. https://www.theglobeandmail.com/report-on-business/glentel-looks-south-snaps-up-us-chain/article1213032/.
7. ↑ Tan, Gillian (2012-09-26). "Canada’s Glentel Buys Majority Stake In AMT Group". https://blogs.wsj.com/dealjournalaustralia/2012/09/26/canadas-glentel-buys-majority-stake-in-amt-group/.
8. ↑ "Wireless Zone Acquired; Will Keep Name, Headquarters". https://www.courant.com/2012/12/04/wireless-zone-acquired-will-keep-name-headquarters/.
9. ↑ "Glentel to handle Target’s wireless offerings in Canada". Canadian Press. https://www.theglobeandmail.com/globe-investor/glentel-to-handle-targets-wireless-offerings-in-canada/article4588873/.
10. ↑ "Rogers turns to courts in attempt to block Glentel sale to BCE". The Globe and Mail. 17 December 2014. https://www.theglobeandmail.com/report-on-business/rogers-attempts-to-block-glentel-sale-to-bce/article22126154/.
11. ↑ "Rogers, BCE to form joint venture for control of Glentel Inc.". Canadian Press. 24 December 2014. https://www.theglobeandmail.com/report-on-business/rogers-bce-to-form-joint-venture-for-control-of-glentel-inc/article22206001/.
12. ↑ "Bell completes acquisition of mobile phone distributor GLENTEL and will later today divest 50% of GLENTEL to Rogers". http://www.broadcastermagazine.com/press-releases/story.aspx?id=1003634807&er=NA.
13. ↑ "Round Room Snaps Up Wireless Zone". Wireless Week. 2016-11-10. https://www.wirelessweek.com/news/2016/11/round-room-snaps-wireless-zone.
14. ↑ "Round Room Snaps Up Wireless Zone" (in en-US). 2016-11-10. https://www.eeworldonline.com/round-room-snaps-up-wireless-zone/.
15. ↑ Battersby, Lucy (2017-02-07). "18 stores closed and 70 staff sacked as Allphones goes into administration" (in en-US). The Sydney Morning Herald. http://www.smh.com.au/business/18-stores-closed-and-70-staff-sacked-as-allphones-goes-into-administration-20170206-gu6lo2.html.

## External links

* No URL found. Please specify a URL here or add one to Wikidata.

Template:Bell Canada

* v
* t
* e

Rogers Communications

People|

* Edward S. Rogers Sr.
* Ted Rogers

* Corporate directors: Bonnie Brooks
* David Peterson
* Edward S. Rogers III
* Loretta Anne Rogers

Fixed-line
telecommunications|

* Rogers Cable
* Rogers Hi-Speed Internet
* Rogers Telecom

Mobile
telecommunications|

* Chatr
* Cityfone
* Fido Solutions
* Rogers Wireless

Magazines|

* Canadian Business
* Chatelaine (English)
* Châtelaine (French)
* Flare
* Hello! Canada
* LOU LOU
* Maclean's
* Profit
* Sportsnet Magazine
* Today's Parent

Television|

| Conventional
television|

| Citytv|

Stations

CITY-DT
CHMI-DT
CJNT-DT
CKAL-DT
CKEM-DT
CKVU-DT

|

Omni Television|

Stations

CFMT-DT
CHNM-DT
CJCO-DT
CJEO-DT
CJMT-DT

Other|

Hockey Night in Canada5

Cable
television|

| Citytv|

* Citytv Saskatchewan

|

Omni Television|

* Omni Regional

Sportsnet|

* Sportsnet 360
* Sportsnet regional channels
* East
* Ontario
* West
* Pacific
* Sportsnet One
* Sportsnet PPV
* WWE Network
* Sportsnet World

MLSE|

* Leafs Nation Network
* NBA TV Canada

Other channels|

* Cable 141
* CPAC
* FX
* FXX
* OLN
* Rogers TV1
* TV Rogers (French)1
* The Shopping Channel

Radio stations|

| AM|

* CFAC
* CFFR
* CFTR
* CIRS
* CISL
* CIWW
* CJCL
* CKAT
* CKGL
* CKWX

|

FM|

* CFGP-FM
* CFLT-FM
* CFRV-FM
* CHAS-FM
* CHBN-FM
* CHST-FM
* CHDI-FM
* CHEZ-FM
* CHFI-FM
* CHFM-FM
* CHMN-FM
* CHTT-FM
* CHUR-FM
* CHYM-FM
* CIKR-FM
* CIKZ-FM
* CIOC-FM
* CISQ-FM
* CISS-FM
* CITI-FM
* CJAQ-FM
* CJAX-FM
* CJET-FM
* CJMX-FM
* CJNI-FM
* CJOK-FM
* CJQM-FM
* CJQQ-FM
* CJRQ-FM
* CJRX-FM
* CKBY-FM
* CKER-FM
* CKFX-FM
* CKGB-FM
* CKIS-FM
* CKIZ-FM
* CKKS-FM
* CKMH-FM
* CKQC-FM
* CKSR-FM
* CKXC-FM
* CKY-FM
* CKYX-FM
* WLYK2

Networks|

* Jack FM (most Canadian stations)
* Sportsnet Radio

Other assets|

* Glentel (50%)
* Hockey Night in Canada3
* Maple Leaf Sports & Entertainment (37.5%)
* Rogers Bank
* Rogers Media
* Spring Fishing Show
* Texture (partial)
* Toronto Blue Jays
* Vuguru

Facilities|

| Owned|

* 33 Dundas Street East
* 545 Lake Shore Boulevard West
* Rogers Building
* Rogers Centre
* Rogers Park

|

Sponsored|

* Rogers Arena
* Rogers Place

Leased|

* Canadian Broadcasting Centre4

Acquisitions and
historic brands|

| Direct acquisitions|

* Aurora Cable Internet
* Cable Atlantic
* CHUM Limited (Citytv only)
* Maclean-Hunter
* Mobilicity
* Moffat Communications (CKY-FM & CITI-FM)
* Selkirk Communications
* Newton Cable
* Score Media
* Sprint Canada

|

Systems resold by Shaw|

* Classicomm
* Fundy Cable
* Graham Cable
* Mountain Cablevision
* Trillium Cable

Defunct channels and brands|

* CityNews Channel
* Viewers Choice
* MSNBC Canada
* G4
* GolTV
* Rogers Plus
* Shomi
* Viceland

Some assets listed above are only partially owned by Rogers Communications. Refer to each individual article for detailed information.

* 1Community channels owned (or part-owned) by Rogers Cable
* 2U.S. border station operated by Rogers under a local marketing agreement
* 3Brand used under license from the CBC.
* 4Studio 41 and its eighth floor offices are leased from the CBC for its NHL coverage.
* 5Part-time network broadcast over the same stations as CBC Television

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