The British Columbia Telephone Inc group of companies in Vancouver and Northern Telecom Ltd have joined forces to create a new British Columbia-based company to serve the global telecommunications market. Under the agreement, Northern Telecom will also buy the switching business of British Columbia Telephone’s Microtel manufacturing subsidiary. The new company, as yet unnamed, will be owned 51% by Northern Telecom, 49% by British Columbia Telephone, and will offer advanced network systems, including transmission and network management products. Although its main targets will be Canada and the US, it will market its products internationally, making use of the sales and marketing outlets of its two parents. It will start life with 350 employees.
