Cogeco announces acquisition of Oxio

Cogeco Inc. announced it is acquiring independent internet service provider (ISP) Oxio. In a Tuesday release issued by Cogeco, the company stated that Oxio will continue to operate independently and serve customers under its brand. Oxio in the past has tried to position itself as an independent ISP which would destabilize the big telecoms providers. In an April 2022 press release the company stated that it was tired of the big telecom’s hogwash (it opted to use a more expletive word.) It called itself a “radically transparent, customer obsessed company that's here to change the way Canadians think about the internet.” In the release Oxio co-founder and CE0 Marc-André Campagna stated that his company is “making the strategic shift to focus exclusively on the growth of our software business.” “Cogeco presented itself as the best home for our Internet customers. As a Quebec-based company with a human scale and an entrepreneurial culture, we believe that Cogeco is best-positioned to enable Oxio to reach new heights." In the past year at least five independent ISPs have been snapped up by incumbents. BCE Inc. bought EBox and purchased Distributel; Quebecor Inc. has taken over VMedia. Last month Telus Corp. acquired independent ISPs Start.ca and at the same time revealed that it had acquired Altima Telecom in June 2022. Oxio is a member of the Competitive Network Operators of Canada (CNOC). Geoff White, the organization’s executive director, told the Wire Report that the acquisition is an “inevitable consequence” as a result of the current wholesale rates and lack of “meaningful access” to fiber. “We as an industry association are going to need to adapt to this new reality. Job number one for us and the CRTC has to be an immediate and urgent reset to the framework. That’s our number one priority right now,” he said. Last week, Industry Minister François-Philippe Champagne revealed the finalized policy direction for the CRTC. There are seven basic objectives for the commission to follow, which are immediately in effect. It should encourage competition and investment and should promote affordability and lower prices. It should ensure that high-quality services are available throughout the country, including in rural and remote areas. It should enhance the consumer rights and reduce barriers to entry by new telecom service providers (TSPs). The regulator should encourage innovation and stimulate investment in research and development (R&D).

Cogeco announces acquisition of Oxio

Brief | February 21, 2023

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Cogeco announces acquisition of Oxio

Brief | February 21, 2023

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