Three telcos riding the technology wave

Article Excerpt

All three of these telecom firms are using their steady cash flows to upgrade their networks with the latest technology. That’s letting them launch profitable new services, such as Internet TV and video calling, that are cutting their reliance on their shrinking telephone (or land line) businesses. These popular services are also helping all three companies maintain their high dividends. BCE INC. $44 (Toronto symbol BCE; Conservative Growth Portfolio, Utilities sector; Shares outstanding: 773.9 million; Market cap: $34.1 billion; Priceto- sales ratio: 1.6; Dividend yield: 5.2%; TSINetwork Rating: Above Average; www.bce.ca) has 5.9 million telephone customers in Ontario and Quebec, as well as 2.1 million high-speed Internet subscribers and 2.1 million TV clients. In addition, the company’s wireless business now has 7.5 million subscribers across Canada. BCE continues to expand its media division, which includes the 28-station CTV Television Network, 30 specialty channels and 33 radio stations. The company recently agreed to buy Astral Media (Toronto symbols ACM.A and ACM.B), which owns…