Telus begins transitioning 100,000 customers from Bell MTS in Manitoba

WINNIPEG — The transition has begun for Bell MTS customers who will soon be switched over to Telus.

As of last week, letters started going out to customers who will be receiving packages in the mail with information about the process.

It’s expected to take about two months to reach all 100,000 customers who will be affected, as the letters are going out in waves.

READ MORE: Telus to add 100,000 Manitobans to its wireless business under deal with Bell

The transition is part of Bell’s $3.9-billion acquisition of MTS that was finalized in March. Bell agreed to sell 100,000 wireless customers and well 15 stores to Telus.

“We want to reassure any migrating customers that we are going to match or improve their existing MTS plan for the same price. No one will lose any feature and they may get additional ones with their plan,” Telus Spokesperson Liz Sauve said. “All customers are going to get to keep their existing phone number. They can keep their existing plan for as long as they want.”

Tweet This Click to share quote on Twitter: "We want to reassure any migrating customers that we are going to match or improve their existing MTS plan for the same price. No one will lose any feature and they may get additional ones with their plan," Telus Spokesperson Liz Sauve said. "All customers are going to get to keep their existing phone number. They can keep their existing plan for as long as they want."

The first letter customers will get should be from Bell MTS and explains that Telus will be in contact soon and “your current rate plan is matched with an equivalent plan.”

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In the second letter from Telus, customers are told they can keep their current number and in most cases their current phone, or upgrade to a new smartphone.

RELATED: Cellphone plan prices in Manitoba: Bell versus MTS

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The welcome package will include a booklet walking customers through the transition, a new SIM card that is synced to their existing phone number. It will also include the Telus help line phone number, website address and retail locations where further assistance can be obtained.

Sauve said the company is making improvements with their service around the province and have signed a long term deal with MTS to use their towers, which will also improve service.

“It’s a long term agreement that is enhancing upon an agreement we had in place in other provinces,” Sauve said. “The only change they can expect are improvements as we continue to invest and enhance the speed and reach of the network across the province.”

The company said they hope new customers will give them a chance but ultimately the choice will be up to the consumer and there will be no penalties for people who choose to cancel their existing contract.

Telus issued a statement Monday evening on how the customers were chosen to transition.

Wanted to follow-up on how customers were selected to transition to TELUS. The majority of selected customers are those with wireless contracts only (i.e. no MTS home services such as Internet), but to ensure a balanced marketplace, some MTS customers with home services were also selected to transition to TELUS.

Tweet This Click to share quote on Twitter: Wanted to follow-up on how customers were selected to transition to TELUS. The majority of selected customers are those with wireless contracts only (i.e. no MTS home services such as Internet), but to ensure a balanced marketplace, some MTS customers with home services were also selected to transition to TELUS.