06:09 AM EDT, 04/23/2024 (MT Newswires) -- Quebecor (QBR-A.TO, QBR-B.TO) overnight Monday suspended launch plans for the Canadian province of Manitoba due to the Canadian Radio-television and Telecommunications Commission's (CRTC) arbitration decision on the rates the telecommunications company must pay for access to TELUS' ( TU ) (T.TO, TU) wireless network under the mobile virtual network operator (MVNO) "regime".

In summary, the CRTC has selected Telus' ( TU ) proposed rates over that of Quebecor.

Pierre Karl Peladeau, President and Chief Executive Officer of Quebecor, in a statement issued in response to Monday's announcement from the CRTC said: "The MVNO rates set by the CRTC today and the regulated domestic roaming rates, which are among the highest in the world, are far from reflecting current industry realities."

He added: "Since this decision will increase our costs considerably, making our operations unprofitable, we will be forced to reconsider our pricing and our expansion into some regions of Canada. For example, we have no choice but to suspend the launch of data-rich plans in Manitoba, just as we were preparing to offer our services there."

According to a report from MobileSyrup, a news source on technology issues, the CRTC previously took part in similar negotiations between Quebecor and incumbents Rogers and Bell. Between Quebecor and Rogers, the regulator picked Quebecor's rate, it said. But between Quebecor and Bell, the CRTC selected Bell's rate, it added.