Analysts surprised by Bell’s lack of 600 MHz, incumbent spend

BCE Inc. walking away from the 600 MHz spectrum auction with no licences, and the amount the winning incumbents ended up paying for the spectrum, came as a surprise to some financial analysts. This content is available to wirereport.ca subscribers Already a subscriber? Sign in here LOGIN Forgot password? Unlock all the Canadian telecom, broadcasting …

Bell opts out of 600 MHz, Rogers nabs 52 licenses for $1.7B

BCE Inc. was among three prospective applicants who didn’t grab licenses for the coveted 600 MHz spectrum, widely considered to be the last chance to get valuable low-band frequencies. This content is available to wirereport.ca subscribers Already a subscriber? Sign in here LOGIN Forgot password? Unlock all the Canadian telecom, broadcasting and digital media news you …

Freedom says ads intended to ‘stir the market,’ induce churn

An ad launched over the weekend depicting a fictitious version of the big three incumbent wireless providers gloating about high prices charged to consumers is another effort by Shaw Communications Inc.’s Freedom to rile up the industry, its president said on Tuesday. This content is available to wirereport.ca subscribers Already a subscriber? Sign in here …

BTLR commissioned research on passive infrastructure, video games

The panel in charge of reviewing Canada’s communications laws has hired consultants to produce research papers on six topics, most of which have an international focus, according to a document obtained by The Wire Report through an Access to Information request. This content is available to wirereport.ca subscribers Already a subscriber? Sign in here LOGIN …

Gov’t should encourage Canadian 5G equipment: Public Safety notes

Amid security reviews of Canada’s 5G infrastructure lays an ‘opportunity’ for Canadian companies to enter the space and for the government to incentivize that emergence, according to briefing notes for Public Safety. This content is available to wirereport.ca subscribers Already a subscriber? Sign in here LOGIN Forgot password? Unlock all the Canadian telecom, broadcasting and …

Expect industry pushback on new CRTC directive, MVNOs: experts

The Liberal government should expect some amount of industry opposition against the wording of the government’s new, consumer-focused CRTC policy direction and the regulator’s new pro-MVNO stance, according to some industry-watchers and insiders. This content is available to wirereport.ca subscribers Already a subscriber? Sign in here LOGIN Forgot password? Unlock all the Canadian telecom, broadcasting …

‘Real’ 5G coming in 2020: Telus CFO

Parts of Canada will see “real 5G,” as opposed to just trials, by late 2020, Telus Corp.’s chief financial officer Doug French told an investors’ conference Wednesday. This content is available to wirereport.ca subscribers Already a subscriber? Sign in here LOGIN Forgot password? Unlock all the Canadian telecom, broadcasting and digital media news you need. Take a …

All Canadian households will have 50/10 speeds by 2030: Morneau

OTTAWA — The Liberal government is announcing $1.7 billion in new rural broadband funding over the next 13 years, aimed at closing the speed gap between rural and urban Canada. This content is available to wirereport.ca subscribers Already a subscriber? Sign in here LOGIN Forgot password? Unlock all the Canadian telecom, broadcasting and digital media …

Rural broadband, new tax rules among industry pre-budget asks

As the Liberal government unveils its last budget before the upcoming federal election, companies and industry groups will be watching to see if this is the year they’re finally granted some of the requests they’ve been making for years. This content is available to wirereport.ca subscribers Already a subscriber? Sign in here LOGIN Forgot password? …

ENCQOR posts 5G project call for 5 GHz whitespace tech

A public-private partnership has posted a call for project proposals to develop equipment that can make use of an inactive 5 GHz band for 5G technology. This content is available to wirereport.ca subscribers Already a subscriber? Sign in here LOGIN Forgot password? Unlock all the Canadian telecom, broadcasting and digital media news you need. Take a …

Goodale hasn’t heard talk about telco compensation in event of Huawei ban

OTTAWA — Public Safety Minister Ralph Goodale says compensation to Canadian telcos in the event of a Huawei Technologies Co. Ltd. equipment ban from Canada’s 5G networks hasn’t come up in government discussions about network security — or at least in none of the conversations he’s been part of so far. This content is available to wirereport.ca …

Samsung readying 5G PR blitz in Canada: internal comms

Samsung Electronics Co. Ltd. is embarking this year on a massive information and marketing campaign to promote its leadership on, and rollout of, 5G in Canada, according to a high level presentation seen by The Wire Report on Wednesday.   This content is available to wirereport.ca subscribers Already a subscriber? Sign in here LOGIN Forgot …

Samsung to lobby on 5G ahead of Huawei decision

Samsung Electronics Co. Ltd. has updated its lobby files to include discussions on 5G deployment following a reported push to grow its network equipment business this year, a move that comes ahead of a government decision on a potential ban of Huawei Technologies Co. Ltd. equipment from the country’s next generation networks. This content is …

Telus says it can manage a Huawei 5G ban after warning of costs, delay

The head of Telus Corp. says the company would be able to “adeptly” financially manage a change in supplier dynamics if the federal government moves to ban Huawei Technologies Co. Ltd. from Canada’s 5G networks. This content is available to wirereport.ca subscribers Already a subscriber? Sign in here LOGIN Forgot password? Unlock all the Canadian …

Financial hit of a Huawei 5G ban likely ‘non-material’ to Bell, Telus: Desjardins

If the Canadian government eventually decides to ban Huawei Technologies Co. Ltd. from Canada’s 5G networks, the financial consequences suffered by Canada’s big telecom companies would likely be negligible, according to a Desjardins analyst. This content is available to wirereport.ca subscribers Already a subscriber? Sign in here LOGIN Forgot password? Unlock all the Canadian telecom, …

Huawei ban wouldn’t delay BCE’s 5G rollout: Cope

The head of BCE Inc. says he doesn’t expect that a ban on Huawei Technologies Co. Ltd.’s equipment from Canada’s 5G networks would hamper or delay Bell’s 5G rollout. This content is available to wirereport.ca subscribers Already a subscriber? Sign in here LOGIN Forgot password? Unlock all the Canadian telecom, broadcasting and digital media news …

Maxime Bernier supports Huawei 5G ban ‘as soon as possible’

OTTAWA — Maxime Bernier, the leader of the People’s Party of Canada and former industry minister in the Harper government, says Justin Trudeau’s Liberal government should listen to Canada’s allies and ban Huawei Technologies Co. Ltd. from Canada’s next generation networks. This content is available to wirereport.ca subscribers Already a subscriber? Sign in here LOGIN …

Odds of Huawei ban have increased in recent months: analyst

The likelihood Canada will ban Huawei Technologies Co. Ltd. equipment from the country’s 5G networks has gone up in recent months, and if that happens, the deployment of those networks will be delayed, National Bank analyst Adam Shine said in a research note. This content is available to wirereport.ca subscribers Already a subscriber? Sign in …

Majority of Canadians for banning Chinese investment in telecom amid Huawei row

A strong majority of Canadians say the country should ban Chinese investment in “sensitive industries” like telecommunications, according to a new poll by the Angus Reid Institute that focuses on the diplomatic spat stirred up between Canada and China over the arrest of Huawei Technologies Co. Ltd CFO Meng Wanzhou and detention of Canadians in China. …

Devices ‘no less important’ in Huawei debate: computing professor

OTTAWA — Debate about whether or not to ban Chinese telecom giant Huawei Technologies Co. Ltd. from Canada’s future 5G networks has focused largely on backbone infrastructure, but a professor of computer science said consumer devices are also part of the risk equation. This content is available to wirereport.ca subscribers Already a subscriber? Sign in …

Huawei 5G decision ‘beyond weeks’ away: Goodale

The federal government’s sweeping security review that’s examining whether to ban Chinese telecom giant Huawei Technologies Co. Ltd.’s equipment from the country’s next generation telecom networks will take much longer than a matter of weeks before it’s finished and a decision is reached, Public Safety Minister Ralph Goodale said Tuesday. This content is available to …

House of Commons could face Huawei debate next week

The Official Opposition may be gearing up to force a debate and vote in the House of Commons on a motion that says the government should ban Chinese-based telecom equipment manufacturer Huawei Technologies Co. Ltd. from Canada’s 5G networks. This content is available to wirereport.ca subscribers Already a subscriber? Sign in here LOGIN Forgot password? …

Canada investing $40M in Nokia partnership

The federal government will give Nokia Corp. up to $40 million for a number of the company’s projects in Canada. This content is available to wirereport.ca subscribers Already a subscriber? Sign in here LOGIN Forgot password? Unlock all the Canadian telecom, broadcasting and digital media news you need. Take a free trial or subscribe to …

Telecoms look to overcome passive problems at 5G conference

OTTAWA — Conflicting municipal 5G policies. Bureaucratic exhaustion from telecom companies’ next generation deployment sales pitches. ‘Backlash’ against carriers from tearing up city streets. This content is available to wirereport.ca subscribers Already a subscriber? Sign in here LOGIN Forgot password? Unlock all the Canadian telecom, broadcasting and digital media news you need. Take a free …

Utilities, cities clash with telecoms over infrastructure jurisdiction

Electrical utilities and municipalities have arched their backs over various proposals to streamline or adjust regulatory jurisdiction when it comes to resolving disputes over use of “passive infrastructure” in Canada. This content is available to wirereport.ca subscribers Already a subscriber? Sign in here LOGIN Forgot password? Unlock all the Canadian telecom, broadcasting and digital media …

CRTC asks Ottawa for single regulator on passive infrastructure

The CRTC is formally asking the federal government to make one regulatory body the ultimate decider on disputes over access to infrastructure like utility poles and water towers, expressing worries that overlapping jurisdictions and a “growing resistance” from communities who think certain installations are a blight could lead to delays in telecom build-outs. This content …

Most Canadians would support a Huawei 5G ban: poll

Roughly half of Canadians support banning Huawei Technologies Co. Ltd from Canada’s 5G networks but more than a quarter have yet to make up their minds on the issue, according to a Globe and Mail/Nanos Research poll. This content is available to wirereport.ca subscribers Already a subscriber? Sign in here LOGIN Forgot password? Unlock all …

Huawei 5G ban likely ‘manageable’ for telecoms: analyst

A ban on technology from Huawei Technologies Co. Ltd. in Canada’s networks would likely only affect future build outs for 5G, and as such wouldn’t be the billion-dollar financial hit some are predicting, according to Desjardins analyst Maher Yaghi. This content is available to wirereport.ca subscribers Already a subscriber? Sign in here LOGIN Forgot password? …

Huawei CFO’s arrest renews political criticisms about 5G access

The Opposition Conservatives are re-upping calls for a ban on Huawei Technologies Co. Ltd.‘s participation in the buildout of Canada’s 5G networks, following news that Canada arrested the company’s CFO Meng Wanzhou in Vancouver Saturday as the U.S. seeks her extradition. This content is available to wirereport.ca subscribers Already a subscriber? Sign in here LOGIN Forgot …

Verizon to offer Samsung 5G phones in U.S. next year

U.S. telecom Verizon Communications Inc. plans to have device manufacturer Samsung Electronics Co.’s 5G-compatible smartphones in the U.S. market within the first half of next year, the two companies announced Monday. This content is available to wirereport.ca subscribers Already a subscriber? Sign in here LOGIN Forgot password? Unlock all the Canadian telecom, broadcasting and digital …

By 2024, 1.5 billion people worldwide will have 5G subscriptions: Ericsson

A new report by Ericsson AB projects that by the end of 2024, some 1.5 billion people worldwide will have 5G wireless internet subscriptions and about 40 per cent of the world’s population could have network coverage.   This content is available to wirereport.ca subscribers Already a subscriber? Sign in here LOGIN Forgot password? Unlock …

ISED announces signing of first supercluster funding agreement

Innovation Minister Navdeep Bains announced the federal government has signed a funding agreement with the group constituting its “advanced manufacturing” supercluster Tuesday, showing that Ottawa is ready to start handing out funding for its supercluster initiative. This content is available to wirereport.ca subscribers Already a subscriber? Sign in here LOGIN Forgot password? Unlock all the …

Rural 5G coverage could hamper impact of connected vehicles: Juniper

If 5G is to disrupt the automotive industry with its ability to connect to infrastructure, the rollout of the next generation of networks will need to reach rural areas, according to a study by Juniper Research. This content is available to wirereport.ca subscribers Already a subscriber? Sign in here LOGIN Forgot password? Unlock all the …

5G still in ‘hype cycle,’ WiFi to drive home connectivity for a while: Intel

TORONTO — It will be a long time before the home network is replaced by the dense connectivity that 5G is expected to provide, an Intel Corp. representative said at an industry conference on Wednesday. This content is available to wirereport.ca subscribers Already a subscriber? Sign in here LOGIN Forgot password? Unlock all the Canadian …

CSE has worked with nearly all wireless providers on cybersecurity

The Canadian Security Establishment (CSE) says it has worked with 31 Canadian wireless providers “to help mitigate the risk of cyber espionage and network disruption through the exploitation of supply chain vulnerabilities in the current 3G/4G/LTE environment.” This content is available to wirereport.ca subscribers Already a subscriber? Sign in here LOGIN Forgot password? Unlock all …

Rogers’ network ‘our contribution’ to content ecosystem: VP

OTTAWA — The billions of dollars Rogers Communications Inc. says it’s plowing into developing networks of the future are its contribution to the country’s struggling Canadian content system, the company’s vice-president of regulatory affairs said Wednesday. This content is available to wirereport.ca subscribers Already a subscriber? Sign in here LOGIN Forgot password? Unlock all the …

CRTC needs clarity over who can resolve 5G rollout disputes: Scott

OTTAWA — The head of Canada’s telecom regulator says clarity on where it stands when it comes to resolving disagreements over the rollout of 5G infrastructure is one question the Senate should consider in its review of Canada’s communications laws. This content is available to wirereport.ca subscribers Already a subscriber? Sign in here LOGIN Forgot …

ISED seeks mmWave testing after report questions spectrum readiness

Just over a year after a critical internal report raised questions about the technological readiness of millimetre wave frequencies in the wake of a government consultation on using the spectrum for 5G deployment, Innovation Canada on Monday launched a request for proposals to set up a test bed for the spectrum. This content is available …

CRTC should have oversight over utility poles: telecoms

Rogers Communications Inc. and Shaw Communications Inc. are both asking the federal government to make it easier for telecoms to access infrastructure such as roads and utility poles as they deploy 5G networks. This content is available to wirereport.ca subscribers Already a subscriber? Sign in here LOGIN Forgot password? Unlock all the Canadian telecom, broadcasting …

‘Narrow window’ to make new comms laws with USMCA: Nordicity

OTTAWA — There is an “urgent need” for Canadian lawmakers to set out a new communications framework now that Canada has hammered out a new trilateral agreement on trade to replace the North American Free Trade Agreement (NAFTA) so that Canadian industry isn’t put at a disadvantage, according to a Canadian telecom consultant. This content …

CSE defends network security as Tories press on Huawei concerns

OTTAWA — Officials from Canada’s cyber-spy agency defended the security of Canada’s telecommunications systems and allowing Huawei Technologies Co. Ltd equipment to operate on them, as MPs pressed whether Canada should follow other Five Eyes allies and restrict the Chinese company’s technology. This content is available to wirereport.ca subscribers Already a subscriber? Sign in here …

Rogers setting up 5G hub with UBC

Rogers Communications Inc. and the University of British Columbia are joining forces on a multi-million dollar venture to build out a 5G hub on the university’s campus over the next three years. This content is available to wirereport.ca subscribers Already a subscriber? Sign in here LOGIN Forgot password? Unlock all the Canadian telecom, broadcasting and …

Bell standing by Huawei amidst security concerns

BCE Inc. head George Cope said Wednesday that his company is aware of concerns involving Huawei Technologies Co. Ltd., though he didn’t indicate Bell has any plans to alter its use of technology from the Chinese telecom equipment maker. This content is available to wirereport.ca subscribers Already a subscriber? Sign in here LOGIN Forgot password? …

Bell targeting more rural markets with fixed wireless expansion

BCE Inc. will grow its presence in the fixed wireless space to 30 additional rural communities after a successful trial earlier this year, CEO George Cope said Thursday in a call with analysts. This content is available to wirereport.ca subscribers Already a subscriber? Sign in here LOGIN Forgot password? Unlock all the Canadian telecom, broadcasting …

LEO projects promise rural, remote broadband in just a few years

Three years after a number of big companies first announced they would launch global low-earth-orbit (LEO) systems that would provide internet connectivity to remote areas around the world, that space is getting crowded — including with some Canadian competition. This content is available to wirereport.ca subscribers Already a subscriber? Sign in here LOGIN Forgot password? …

Xplornet lobby blitz fights 3.5 GHz clawback proposal

Xplornet Communications Inc. will not be able to service thousands of its rural customers with fixed-wireless service if the government follows through on a consultation proposal that recommends taking back the majority of its 3.5 GHz spectrum for its future auction, a company spokesperson said.   This content is available to wirereport.ca subscribers Already a …

26 GHz band critical for early 5G adoption, telecoms say

The 26 GHz band will be one of the most critical and earliest-adopted bands for 5G services, telecoms said in reply to an Innovation Canada consultation on millimetre (mmWave) wave spectrum, but there’s disagreement about when exactly the government should move to auction it. This content is available to wirereport.ca subscribers Already a subscriber? Sign …

ENCQOR 5G project announces centres in Montreal, Quebec City

A public-private partnership on 5G technology research offered more details Friday about where its “innovation hubs,” or research centres, will be located, outlining locations at Montreal’s École de technologie supérieure (ÉTS) and Quebec City’s Metro High Tech Park. This content is available to wirereport.ca subscribers Already a subscriber? Sign in here LOGIN Forgot password? Unlock …

5G to make up nearly 50% of Canadian mobile connects by 2026: Accenture

Nearly half of the Canadian mobile connections by 2026 will be on a 5G connection, according to new research commissioned by the Canadian Wireless Telecommunications Association (CWTA). This content is available to wirereport.ca subscribers Already a subscriber? Sign in here LOGIN Forgot password? Unlock all the Canadian telecom, broadcasting and digital media news you need. …

Bains says spectrum auction dates to give industry predictability

TORONTO — Innovation Minister Navdeep Bains announced Wednesday the timing of the next three spectrum auctions — including the much talked-about 3.5 GHz — as well as a $10-per-month broadband plan for low-income families that critics say puts incumbents in control. This content is available to wirereport.ca subscribers Already a subscriber? Sign in here LOGIN …

CENGN announces new CEO

The Centre of Excellence in Next Generation Networks (CENGN) will have a new CEO as Jean-Charles Fahmy takes over the role, according to a release on Tuesday. This content is available to wirereport.ca subscribers Already a subscriber? Sign in here LOGIN Forgot password? Unlock all the Canadian telecom, broadcasting and digital media news you need. …

Shaw touts 5G trial success

Shaw Communications Inc. said in a press release Tuesday that it has successfully completed its first 5G trial. This content is available to wirereport.ca subscribers Already a subscriber? Sign in here LOGIN Forgot password? Unlock all the Canadian telecom, broadcasting and digital media news you need. Take a free trial or subscribe to The Wire …

Rogers hints at gigabit LTE network availability

Rogers Communications Inc. estimates its gigabit-speed LTE network will be available later this, or early next, year following 5G demonstrations at the Rogers Centre in Toronto on Monday, according to an email from a company spokesperson. This content is available to wirereport.ca subscribers Already a subscriber? Sign in here LOGIN Forgot password? Unlock all the …

No slow-down for increases in data usage: telecoms

Executives from Rogers Communications Inc. and Telus Corp. don’t see demand for wireless data slowing down, they told an investors conference earlier this week. This content is available to wirereport.ca subscribers Already a subscriber? Sign in here LOGIN Forgot password? Unlock all the Canadian telecom, broadcasting and digital media news you need. Take a free …

5G project gets $400M for grants, infrastructure and research centres

OTTAWA — A public-private partnership to foster 5G technology research in Ontario and Quebec will receive funding to the tune of $400 million over the next five years, according to an announcement Monday. This content is available to wirereport.ca subscribers Already a subscriber? Sign in here LOGIN Forgot password? Unlock all the Canadian telecom, broadcasting …

Citing nat’l security, Trump blocks attempted Qualcomm takeover

Microchip producer Broadcom Ltd.’s proposed takeover of chipmaker Qualcomm Inc. was blocked Monday via an executive order by United States president Donald Trump. This content is available to wirereport.ca subscribers Already a subscriber? Sign in here LOGIN Forgot password? Unlock all the Canadian telecom, broadcasting and digital media news you need. Take a free trial …

4G will continue to dominate global connects in 2025: GSMA

Despite indications deployment of 5G is being accelerated, a report from GSMA says 4G connections will still dwarf those of 5G into 2025. This content is available to wirereport.ca subscribers Already a subscriber? Sign in here LOGIN Forgot password? Unlock all the Canadian telecom, broadcasting and digital media news you need. Take a free trial …

Telecoms point to growing WiFi, IoT spectrum demand in ISED consultation

Canada’s telecoms are taking sides on how Innovation Canada should approach the release of more licence-exempt spectrum, including whether more should be allocated for WiFi use, as it prepares for the proliferation of connected devices in a 5G world. This content is available to wirereport.ca subscribers Already a subscriber? Sign in here LOGIN Forgot password? …

FCC’s Pai slams U.S. nationalized 5G proposal

Following reports that the United States government was considering building its own 5G network, Ajit Pai, the chairman of the Federal Communications Commission (FCC), has publicly come out against the proposal. This content is available to wirereport.ca subscribers Already a subscriber? Sign in here LOGIN Forgot password? Unlock all the Canadian telecom, broadcasting and digital …

5G specifications approved by 3GPP

In a statement on Twitter on Wednesday, the 3rd Generation Partnership Project (3GPP) announced the approval of an implementable 5G new radio (NR) specification. This content is available to wirereport.ca subscribers Already a subscriber? Sign in here LOGIN Forgot password? Unlock all the Canadian telecom, broadcasting and digital media news you need. Take a free …

Prioritize 3.5 GHz band for 5G: Telus

Telus Corp. said in a press release Friday its ongoing 5G tests have now hit 2 Gbps speeds, using 3.5 GHz spectrum. This content is available to wirereport.ca subscribers Already a subscriber? Sign in here LOGIN Forgot password? Unlock all the Canadian telecom, broadcasting and digital media news you need. Take a free trial or …

Canadian ‘tale of two internets,’ as 25% get online wirelessly: Deloitte

The number of Canadians who get their internet access wirelessly — either through mobile connections or fixed wireless service — will reach 25 per cent in 2018, according to Deloitte Touche Tohmatsu Ltd.’s predictions for the upcoming year, released Tuesday. This content is available to wirereport.ca subscribers Already a subscriber? Sign in here LOGIN Forgot …

Huawei to join CENGN

Kanata-based Centre of Excellence in Next Generation Networks (CENGN) has announced that Huawei Technologies Co. Ltd. is the newest member of the research group, according to a release on Friday. This content is available to wirereport.ca subscribers Already a subscriber? Sign in here LOGIN Forgot password? Unlock all the Canadian telecom, broadcasting and digital media news …

New wireless-extending tech a ‘paradigm shift’ for 5G: federal researchers

OTTAWA — A federal research lab on the outskirts of Canada’s capital has developed a technology that could extend the signals fundamental to ubiquitous wireless connectivity.  This content is available to wirereport.ca subscribers Already a subscriber? Sign in here LOGIN Forgot password? Unlock all the Canadian telecom, broadcasting and digital media news you need. Take …

Telus hits gig speeds in Vancouver small-cell demo

Huawei Technologies Co. Ltd. and Telus Corp. said in a press release Thursday they achieved over 1 Gbps of throughput during indoor and outdoor tests at their TechCity 5G Living Lab in downtown Vancouver using small-cell technologies. This content is available to wirereport.ca subscribers Already a subscriber? Sign in here LOGIN Forgot password? Unlock all …

Huawei to invest $2.5 million in UBC research

In an announcement on Friday, Huawei Technologies Co. Ltd. said it is partnering with the University of British Columbia (UBC) on the development of next generation communication technologies, including 5G. This content is available to wirereport.ca subscribers Already a subscriber? Sign in here LOGIN Forgot password? Unlock all the Canadian telecom, broadcasting and digital media …

Regulatory rejigs, cultural changes in store as Parliament resumes

Everything old is new again when it comes to telecom and media issues percolating in Ottawa this fall, from reviews and renegotiations of old legislation and trade agreements, to court battles litigating long-simmering personnel disputes and CRTC decisions. This content is available to wirereport.ca subscribers Already a subscriber? Sign in here LOGIN Forgot password? Unlock …

N. America to be fast 5G adopter: GSMA

North American adoption of 5G will be as swift as 4G adoption, with about 100 million 5G connections predicted on the continent by 2023, four years after it launches, according to a recent GSMA report. This content is available to wirereport.ca subscribers Already a subscriber? Sign in here LOGIN Forgot password? Unlock all the Canadian …

Recent LTE advances could affect demand for 5G: experts

Even with an accelerated arrival date for the next generation of wireless technology, companies haven’t stopped working on wringing out more from the current 4G standard, and the unexpected advances they’ve made could lessen the appeal of 5G, according to some experts. This content is available to wirereport.ca subscribers Already a subscriber? Sign in here …

mmWave ‘new frontier’ as 5G arrives: report

Networks operating on 5G will require much more spectrum than current 4G wireless technology, and part of the solution will be using higher-frequency spectrum, despite its limitations, according to a new report. This content is available to wirereport.ca subscribers Already a subscriber? Sign in here LOGIN Forgot password? Unlock all the Canadian telecom, broadcasting and …

Non-profit gives tech leg up to telecoms, smaller businesses

Canada’s big three wireless providers are now cooperating on a not-for-profit initiative that offers small- and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) a networking test bed to experiment with new technologies, such as 5G communications. This content is available to wirereport.ca subscribers Already a subscriber? Sign in here LOGIN Forgot password? Unlock all the Canadian telecom, broadcasting and …

CWTA starting 5G group

A new group focusing on 5G technology in Canada held its first meeting Wednesday. This content is available to wirereport.ca subscribers Already a subscriber? Sign in here LOGIN Forgot password? Unlock all the Canadian telecom, broadcasting and digital media news you need. Take a free trial or subscribe to The Wire Report now. FREE TRIAL Two …

5G consultation extended

Those interested in providing feedback to Innovation, Science and Economic Development (ISED) Canada’s consultation on releasing spectrum to support 5G wireless networks will have more time to do so. This content is available to wirereport.ca subscribers Already a subscriber? Sign in here LOGIN Forgot password? Unlock all the Canadian telecom, broadcasting and digital media news you need. …

LTE still has ‘untapped potential’: Desjardins

While 5G is expected to arrive in a couple of years, the LTE standard still has some room for growth, according to Desjardins Capital Markets analyst Maher Yaghi. This content is available to wirereport.ca subscribers Already a subscriber? Sign in here LOGIN Forgot password? Unlock all the Canadian telecom, broadcasting and digital media news you …

Telus successfully tests 5G connection

Telus Corp. and Huawei Technologies Co. Ltd. said in a Friday press release they have accomplished a 5G wireless connection using the global 3GPP technology standards platform. This content is available to wirereport.ca subscribers Already a subscriber? Sign in here LOGIN Forgot password? Unlock all the Canadian telecom, broadcasting and digital media news you need. Take a free trial or …

New IoT network launched in Quebec

Quebec-based X-Telia has deployed a network dedicated to the Internet of Things (IoT) in Montreal, the company said in a press release Thursday. This content is available to wirereport.ca subscribers Already a subscriber? Sign in here LOGIN Forgot password? Unlock all the Canadian telecom, broadcasting and digital media news you need. Take a free trial or subscribe to …

Videotron to open up 5G trial project to proposals

MONTREAL — Quebecor Inc.’s Videotron gave an update on the progress of a partnership focused on testing 5G-related technology Wednesday, and announced the project will start accepting submissions from businesses, researchers and the public in the fall. This content is available to wirereport.ca subscribers Already a subscriber? Sign in here LOGIN Forgot password? Unlock all the Canadian …

Spectrum buy to improve Shaw network, but benefits will take time: analysts

Shaw Communications Inc. announced Tuesday that it has purchased 700MHz and 2500MHz spectrum from Quebecor Inc. for $430 million, in what Shaw described as  “a significant milestone towards improving network coverage and quality across Alberta, British Columbia and Ontario.” This content is available to wirereport.ca subscribers Already a subscriber? Sign in here LOGIN Forgot password? Unlock all the Canadian telecom, …

Telus injecting $8.9B in B.C., Alta. through 2020

Telus Corp. is building new fibre-to-the-home (FTTH) infrastructure across British Columbia and Alberta through 2020. This content is available to wirereport.ca subscribers Already a subscriber? Sign in here LOGIN Forgot password? Unlock all the Canadian telecom, broadcasting and digital media news you need. Take a free trial or subscribe to The Wire Report now. FREE TRIAL …

ISED lays out 5G consultation paper

Innovation Canada has opened its consultation on releasing spectrum to support 5G wireless networks, Minister Navdeep Bains  announced in Toronto on Monday. This content is available to wirereport.ca subscribers Already a subscriber? Sign in here LOGIN Forgot password? Unlock all the Canadian telecom, broadcasting and digital media news you need. Take a free trial or …

ISED to consult on 5G, 600 MHz process to launch in ‘weeks’

TORONTO — Innovation Minister Navdeep Bains said Monday the government would launch a public consultation on “releasing spectrum to support the development and deployment of 5G mobile networks.” This content is available to wirereport.ca subscribers Already a subscriber? Sign in here LOGIN Forgot password? Unlock all the Canadian telecom, broadcasting and digital media news you need. Take …

Regulations could help IoT device security, privacy: experts

GATINEAU, Que. — The advent of 5G networks and the accompanying rise in Internet of Things (IoT) devices will bring different and heightened security and privacy risks, experts told a conference focusing on the next generation of wireless networks. This content is available to wirereport.ca subscribers Already a subscriber? Sign in here LOGIN Forgot password? …

5G to be ‘crowded playground,’ conference hears

GATINEAU, Que. — New entrants and existing service providers that haven’t traditionally delved into the mobile wireless market could find opportunities to take advantage of 5G and available spectrum, participants of the Wireless World Research Forum’s 5G Huddle were told Wednesday. This content is available to wirereport.ca subscribers Already a subscriber? Sign in here LOGIN Forgot …

Partial sale would bring benefits to SaskTel: Desjardins

The sale of a stake in Saskatchewan Telecommunications Holding Corp. would help the crown corporation when it comes to adopting new technologies, according to Desjardins Capital Markets analyst Maher Yaghi.

“The scale of a large telecom player could help SaskTel implement upcoming technologies, such as 5G, more easily,” Yaghi said in a Friday note, pointing to the “technological insight and purchasing power of a potential partner.”

Use of AI will bring benefits to telecoms, but also risks

Artificial intelligence is a tool telecoms will increasingly use to manage networks and enhance various products, but its susceptibility to hacking will also pose big security-related concerns, especially if used for critical infrastructure, according to experts.

AI, which is software programmed to think and operate like humans, is a fast-growing technology that will help automate functions in the economy previously done by humans. It’s also a technology that’s been drawing government attention.

AI, 5G, rural broadband funding in Ont., N.S. budgets

The Ontario government said it will support the latest technologies in the coming years, with funding for artificial intelligence and 5G networks included in its 2017 budget.

CCSA leads March lobbying pack

The Canadian Cable Systems Alliance (CCSA) led the telecom field for lobbying the federal government in March, logging 15 communication reports for the month, according to the federal lobbyists’ registry.

Those reports were split between organization president and CEO Jay Thomson and long-time consultant Harris Boyd, as they communicated with a variety of MPs, such as Opposition heritage critic Peter Van Loan, Liberal finance committee chair Wayne Easter and an Innovation Canada policy advisor.

5G wireless substitution ‘not in the cards,’ says Cogeco’s Audet

Cogeco Inc. CEO Louis Audet said Friday that he’s not concerned about customers substituting wireline Internet service with wireless with the advent of 5G, and that the company has no significant plans to integrate 5G into its services.

It’s a technology that will be “extremely expensive to deploy,” he said in a conference call with analysts discussing the company’s second-quarter results.