Bell Canada to Distribute MCI Services

MCI WorldCom Inc. and Bell Canada said they formed an alliance that makes Bell Canada the exclusive distributor of MCI WorldCom’s voice and data services throughout Canada. Under the agreement, Bell Canada will offer the No. 2 U.S. long-distance phone company’s On-Net services throughout Canada. Montreal-based Bell Canada will pay an undisclosed licensing fee to MCI, said Robin Halter, media relations manager at MCI WorldCom. Both Bell Canada, the largest Canadian telecommunications operating company, and MCI will be able to offer customers access to the other’s services as well, the companies said. The partnership allows Jackson, Miss.-based MCI WorldCom to further expand in Canada, while Bell Canada expands the kinds of services it can offer. “MCI can work through Bell Canada to have a seamless offering of products throughout Canada and the U.S.,” Bell Canada spokesman Jean-Charles Robillard said. The companies expect the new alliance to become effective in the first quarter of 2000.