Bell Mobility takes over Northwestel wireless services

Northwestelhas announced it is transferring its cellphone business to Bell Mobility early next year.

"We're moving out of the cellular business and letting Bell Mobility take more of a leadership role in northern Canada," saidCurtis Shaw, vice-president of marketing atNorthwestel.

This past summerTelusMobility announced it would be entering the cellphonemarket in Whitehorse and Yellowknife.

InYukon, Northwestel owns Latitude Wireless in partnership withDakwakadaDevelopment Corporation, the development arm of the Champagne andAishihikFirst Nation.

"There was a change in economic conditions in terms of the business that we had," said PaulGruner, Dakwakada'sgeneral manager. "We evaluated that at the board level and we felt that this time was the appropriate time to exit from the wireless space."

Shaw says Northwesteland Latitude Wirelessmobile customers will keep their current price plans and phone numbers under Bell Mobility.

Northwestel says it has no plans to transfer its other services landlines, internet and cable TV to Bell.