Canada’s Iristel seals dual operator acquisition
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Canada’s Iristel seals dual operator acquisition

Iristel, a Canadian competitive local exchange carrier (CLEC), has announced the dual acquisition of telecommunications firms Trutel in Toronto and Montreal-based Exelia.

Although terms of the deals have not been disclosed, Trutel president Frank Auciello will be joining Iristel as VP of networks and infrastructure, and Exelia founders Dimitri Stathis and Harry Villeneuve come on board as VP of enterprise strategy and operations, and VP of enterprise sales, respectively. 

"Iristel is committed to providing Canadians with the most advanced internet-based solutions that deliver reliable and cost-effective voice and data services and both Trutel's suite of products and services and Exelia's excellence in serving the SMB market enhance our ability to do so," said Iristel president Samer Bishay.

"Our culture is not one filled with 'old phone guys' and neither is Trutel's or Exelia's. These two companies are strong strategic fits."

Auciello added: “My team and I are excited to be joining such a forward-looking organisation that is the only carrier in Canada with facilities stretching from the Atlantic to Pacific to Arctic oceans. Trutel opened its doors in January 2000 and we've evolved over the years from a professional services firm to a managed services provider to a CRTC-licensed, facilities-based CLEC. Joining Iristel is the next phase of the evolution in getting to the next level and leveraging the latest technologies to benefit customers."

Stathis, who will also be responsible for managing Iristel's Montreal office, said: “We're excited to be teaming up with Iristel, a rapid-growing entrepreneurial company that understands the needs of SMB owners and managers. Throughout our careers, both Harry and I have delivered services to tens of thousands of small businesses in Canada and found they need more than just service providers. They need responsive partners offering real enterprise solutions to their business challenges. Iristel understands this and if the big, stodgy telco incumbents aren't already looking over their shoulders, they should be.”

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