“Rogers may continue making all the investments it wishes in Quebec but it doesn’t need Cogeco to do so,” Cogeco spokesperson Nancy Bouffard told The Logic. “If Rogers fails to invest, their competitors will take away its mobile customers, regardless of 5G.” (The Logic)

Talking point: Bouffard’s comments follow a Friday announcement from Rogers that it would invest $1.5 billion in network improvements in the province, but only if Cogeco accepted its $10.3-billion takeover offer that it made with U.S. firm Altice. Rogers is trying to make the economic case that it would be better for the province if it bought Cogeco. Rogers also offered to partner with the Quebec government to offer high-speed internet to 100,000 people in the province; create “hundreds of highly skilled jobs”; and make sure 95 per cent of Quebec has 5G access in the next five years. The move comes after both the provincial government and Cogeco shot down Rogers and Altice’s $10.3-billion takeover offer. The Quebec government didn’t immediately respond to a request for comment. Rogers initially tried a financial incentive just for the Audet family, which controls Cogeco, with an offer of an $800-million premium if it took the deal. Rogers CEO Joe Natale praised the Audets on Friday, a tone shift from last week, when he said the Cogeco board had “failed to fulfill their most basic duties.”