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$43.7M in Connect to Innovate funds allocated for Manitoba

The federal government will spend $38.5 million of its $500 million of Connect to Innovate funding to build backbone networks in rural Manitoba, according to a Tuesday press release. 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 …

Sidewalk Labs, civil liberties group register to lobby

Alphabet Inc.’s Sidewalk Labs kicked off the new year by registering to lobby the federal government, while telecom and broadcasting communications in November grew significantly from the month before. 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 …

Bell and Bloomberg in bed for business network rebrand

BCE Inc.’s Bell Media and Bloomberg LP have announced a joint effort to resuscitate the American financial brand’s Canadian TV presence, with a release on Monday outlining the details of a rebrand of Bell’s business channel, BNN, to BNN Bloomberg. This content is available to wirereport.ca subscribers Already a subscriber? Sign in here LOGIN Forgot …

As Bell deal closes, Telus buys western Alarmforce assets

In a press release on Friday, Telus Corp. announced its acquisition of AlarmForce Industries Inc.’s western operations in Canada, the same day as BCE Inc. closed its purchase of the home-security company. This content is available to wirereport.ca subscribers Already a subscriber? Sign in here LOGIN Forgot password? Unlock all the Canadian telecom, broadcasting and …

Court denies Bell Super Bowl SimSub appeal

The Federal Court of Appeal dismissed a case brought forward by BCE Inc. challenging the CRTC’s rule forbidding simultaneous substitution for the Super Bowl on Monday, putting an end to a nearly three-year court challenge — though the company indicated Tuesday it is still hoping the regulator will rescind the decision. This content is available …

Rogers’ flinch potential source of the $60/10 GB plan standoff: analyst

Rogers Communications Inc. appears to have blinked — which caused a cascade of $60 for 10 GB bring-your-own-device wireless plans — in its ongoing battle for Toronto-based wireless subscribers, according to Canaccord Genuity analyst Aravinda Galappatthige. This content is available to wirereport.ca subscribers Already a subscriber? Sign in here LOGIN Forgot password? Unlock all the …

Big Three launch $60, 10 GB plans in Freedom territory

Following the launch of a 10 GB wireless plan for $50 by Shaw Communications Inc.’s Freedom Mobile this fall, Canada’s biggest telecoms have introduced similarly priced plans in Freedom’s operating territory. 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 …

BPF registers to lobby amidst consumer group funding concerns

A few months after the emergence of a proposal asking the CRTC to shift funding away from the Broadcast Participation Fund (BPF), the organization that helps bring consumer interests in front of the commission has filed its first registrations to lobby the regulator and the government. This content is available to wirereport.ca subscribers Already a …

Scheer mum on net neutrality as CPC MPs take opposing sides

Opposition leader Andrew Scheer isn’t going public with his position on the issue of net neutrality, even as two members of his caucus — both former Industry ministers — are publicly disagreeing on the question. This content is available to wirereport.ca subscribers Already a subscriber? Sign in here LOGIN Forgot password? Unlock all the Canadian …

Radio app iHeartRadio grows number of stations

A partnership between BCE Inc. and iHeartMedia Inc., iHeartRadio Canada announced Monday an update to its app that will allow listeners to access over 1,000 live North American radio stations and content like podcasts. This content is available to wirereport.ca subscribers Already a subscriber? Sign in here LOGIN Forgot password? Unlock all the Canadian telecom, …

Bell’s low-cost Lucky Mobile a hit with government

BCE Inc’s move to open a low-cost, prepaid carrier is “well-timed” and positioned to support the government’s direction for consumer-friendly mobile options, according to analysts. 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 …

Over $24M in internet funding allocated to 26 Que. communities

Innovation, Science and Economic Development (ISED) Canada announced the allocation of funding to connect over 12,000 homes across 26 communities in Quebec with high-speed internet infrastructure, it said in two releases last week. This content is available to wirereport.ca subscribers Already a subscriber? Sign in here LOGIN Forgot password? Unlock all the Canadian telecom, broadcasting …

CCTS report shows overage compliance concerns

The struggle for some wireless service providers to get up to speed on managing data overage caps was quantified in a telecom watchdog report Tuesday, which showed results related to certain Wireless Code rules that elicited two providers to ask the CRTC for more time to implement.  This content is available to wirereport.ca subscribers Already …

Millimetre wave spectrum set-asides harmful to 5G potential: telcos

The issue of set-asides has resurfaced in replies to a consultation on millimetre wave spectrum (mmWave) for 5G, with telcos suggesting the technology is a new playground in which auction participants of all types are starting from an equal position, therefore making set-asides unnecessary. This content is available to wirereport.ca subscribers Already a subscriber? Sign in …

Bell announces eSIM support

BCE Inc. will make embedded SIM (eSIM) technology available to its customers, the company said in a press release 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 …

Over 300 Mbps speed adoption ‘accelerating’ in Toronto: Barclays

More customers in Toronto are adopting internet speeds over 300 Mbps, and the trend looks to be picking up pace as competition heats up in that market, according to Barclays Capital. 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 …

Size of 600 MHz set-aside, licence areas points of contention

While much of the debate around the upcoming 600 MHz spectrum auction has centered on implementing spectrum set-asides, issues like imposing a spectrum cap and the size of any set-aside, the ability of small providers to participate, and compensation for TV stations are also being hammered out in the lead-up to the action. This content …

Bell Media layoffs ‘directly caused’ by the CRTC: Unifor

The union representing employees at 17 local TV and radio stations owned by BCE Inc.’s media division is blaming the telecom for “penny-pinching” and the CRTC for lax licensing conditions after a round of Canada-wide job cuts this week. This content is available to wirereport.ca subscribers Already a subscriber? Sign in here LOGIN Forgot password? …

Bell mulling advantages in prepaid wireless segment: CFO

When it comes to the wireless industry’s torrid run of late, much of the focus has been on postpaid plans, though BCE Inc. is looking to turn the discussion to the relatively underlooked prepaid segment, which executive vice-president and chief financial officer Glen LeBlanc said could potentially bolster the company’s postpaid sub base in the …

Website blocking has potential to combat piracy, conference hears

OTTAWA — If BCE Inc.’s suggestion in September that the federal government should consider blocking websites that host infringing material to fight content piracy was outlandish for some, it wasn’t for some presenters at a communications lawyers’ conference Tuesday, as the issue came up throughout the day. This content is available to wirereport.ca subscribers Already …

Canadian classics released on YouTube

The Canada Media Fund (CMF) last week announced the release of hundreds of Canadian television and feature films to the Encore+ channel on Alphabet Inc.’s YouTube. 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 …

Bell launches first pilot project on LTE-M network

BCE Inc.’s first pilot project to run on its recently-announced LTE-M network will power the internet of things (IoT) for the monitoring of a vineyard in Ontario, in what the company is calling an “important step forward” for the development of the technology in agriculture. This content is available to wirereport.ca subscribers Already a subscriber? …

Need to be proactive, can’t be reactive on radio trends: Bell, Rogers

TORONTO — If there’s one thing radio players can do to be successful in an industry that has faced new competition in recent years, it is to start putting more time and energy into discovering how audiences will consume radio, especially on digital, in the future, according to representatives from some of Canada’s largest broadcasters. …

Bell’s $166M AlarmForce acquisition small but strategic buy: analysts

BCE Inc. is making a bigger play for the home-security arena with the $166 million acquisition of security company AlarmForce Industries Inc. 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 …

Bell needs to do more with ad tech, CEO says

BCE Inc. CEO George Cope said the company needs to do a better job of finding opportunities in emerging advertising technology, as the company seeks additional revenue growth for its media division. 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 ordered to provide vertical coordinates to Hamilton, Ont.

The CRTC has told BCE Inc. it has to provide the city of Hamilton, Ont. with vertical coordinates of its underground facilities on request, though only when it’s been determined to be “reasonably necessary.” This content is available to wirereport.ca subscribers Already a subscriber? Sign in here LOGIN Forgot password? Unlock all the Canadian telecom, …

CRTC to hold Jan. hearing on radio licence applications

The CRTC said Wednesday that it will consider renewals of new and existing radio licences at a hearing early next year. 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 …

Broadcast lobbying jumped ahead of Creative Canada release

Creative organizations stepped up and added to a surge in lobbying activity in the broadcast sector leading up to the release of the results in the Heritage Minister’s review of Canadian content in the digital age last month. This content is available to wirereport.ca subscribers Already a subscriber? Sign in here LOGIN Forgot password? Unlock …

Xplornet increases stake in Manitoba with NetSet buy

Rural internet service provider Xplornet Communications Inc. has announced the purchase of Brandon, Man.’s NetSet Communications, in a release 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 subscribe …

57% of anglophones subscribe to OTT services: MTM

Fifty-seven per cent of Canadian anglophones subscribe to over-the-top (OTT) streaming services, with Netflix Inc. as the strong leader, according to the latest report from Media Technology Monitor (MTM), a project of CBC/Radio-Canada. This content is available to wirereport.ca subscribers Already a subscriber? Sign in here LOGIN Forgot password? Unlock all the Canadian telecom, broadcasting …

Telcos eye agri-food, digital tech, AI in supercluster initiative

Canada’s two largest telcos are part of three groups vying to be chosen for the final phase of the federal government’s Innovation Superclusters Initiative, with BCE Inc. participating in an artificial intelligence-focused group in Montreal and Telus Corp. involved in two separate bids, a digital technology group in British Columbia and an agriculture-focused group based …

Corus focuses on content over broadcast with Historia, Séries+ sale

Corus Entertainment Inc. announced Tuesday it is selling two French-language specialty channels, Historia and Séries+, to BCE Inc.’s Bell Media in a deal valued at approximately $200 million that prompted favourable reactions from financial analysts.  This content is available to wirereport.ca subscribers Already a subscriber? Sign in here LOGIN Forgot password? Unlock all the Canadian …

Bell beefs up security, web performance with Akamai deal

BCE Inc. is looking to strengthen cybersecurity and web performance for its business clients by partnering with cloud delivery company Akamai Technologies Inc. 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 …

Look at high cost of à la carte channels, PIAC tells CRTC

GATINEAU, Que. — There are still some problems with the implementation of the CRTC’s skinny basic and pick-and-pay rules, consumer groups told the regulator during the second day of a licence hearing 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 …

Connect to Innovate allocates another $4M for Northern Ontario

Six Northern Ontario communities will receive $4.03 million under the federal government’s Connect to Innovate fund, according to a Tuesday press release. 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 …

How big a threat are OTT sports services?

Sports remains one of the last bastions of defence for traditional TV against a wave of over-the-top (OTT) services that continue to push audiences toward cord-cutting, though for now at least, they appear to form a stronger barrier in Canada than south of the border. This content is available to wirereport.ca subscribers Already a subscriber? …

Gatineau access agreement case continues

The Attorney General of Quebec is appealing an August decision which ruled that a municipal access agreement between the city of Gatineau and telecom providers is invalid. 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. …

Bell ARPU to drop after winning gov’t cellphone contract: Barclays

BCE Inc. could see its average revenue per user (ARPU) fall after winning a $432.1 million contract for mobile services with the federal government, according to an estimate by Barclays Capital analyst Phillip Huang. This content is available to wirereport.ca subscribers Already a subscriber? Sign in here LOGIN Forgot password? Unlock all the Canadian telecom, …

Government signs $432.1M deal for mobile services with Bell, Rogers

Shared Services Canada (SSC) announced a $432.1 million, six-year deal with BCE Inc. and Rogers Communications Inc. for mobile devices and service contracts in a press 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 …

Joly’s cultural policy continues drawing mixed reaction

Various groups praised the promised investment in production and promotion included in the federal government’s new cultural strategy, while opposition MPs criticized it in question period and financial analysts pointed out the new strategy won’t affect the declining traditional TV sector. This content is available to wirereport.ca subscribers Already a subscriber? Sign in here LOGIN …

Bell Media cuts video production funds

After three decades in existence, MuchFact and BravoFact, funds of BCE Inc.’s media division, have been discontinued, the company confirmed in an email. 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 …

Bell ‘heartened’ by CRTC chair statements, CEO says

BCE Inc.’s top man George Cope said the company likes new CRTC head Ian Scott’s approach to balancing consumer and business interests. 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 …

EBox files Part 1 over carriage disagreement with Bell

Independent internet service provider (ISP) EBox Inc. wants the CRTC to help solve a carriage dispute with BCE Inc., which it says is refusing to allow EBox to carry its TV channels. 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 …

Bell copyright ask draws criticism, as others point to precedent

BCE Inc. has said it thinks Canada can tackle piracy by mandating that internet service providers (ISP) block websites with pirated material from being seen by subscribers through an administrative agency. 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 …

Bell warns about some Apple Watch 911 capabilities

BCE Inc. issued a press release Friday to let customers with Apple Inc.’s new Apple Watch know that “their longitude and latitude location may not be supplied to 9-1-1 operators when the device is not paired with their iPhone via Bluetooth.” This content is available to wirereport.ca subscribers Already a subscriber? Sign in here LOGIN Forgot password? Unlock …

Bell buys rights to Vice News Tonight

BCE Inc.’s media division has obtained the exclusive rights to a Vice Media Inc. property. 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 …

Bell Apple Watch advantage unknown: experts

Wearable use in Canada and around the world is trending up, but the numbers for smartwatches are still too low to suggest BCE Inc. can see any real gain as it prepares to be the first Canadian carrier to deliver Apple Inc.’s first cellular-enabled watch. This content is available to wirereport.ca subscribers Already a subscriber? Sign in here …

Connect to Innovate funding announced for Nunavut

Twenty-five Nunavut communities are the targeted beneficiaries of the latest round of Connect to Innovate funding, Innovation Minister Navdeep Bains announced 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 …

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 …

Regional players shouldn’t qualify for spectrum set asides: Bell, Rogers

Two of Canada’s largest telecom companies aren’t overly enthusiastic about the government’s proposal to set aside spectrum in the upcoming 600 MHz auction, indicating that the suggested boost for new entrants is being afforded to companies that aren’t all that new. This content is available to wirereport.ca subscribers Already a subscriber? Sign in here LOGIN …

Bell partners with GroupM to create original series

BCE Inc.’s Bell Media Studios is partnering with media agency holding company GroupM’s Motion Content Group (MCG) to create original programming aimed at an international market. 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 …

Telus outpaces Bell in PCMag speed ranking

Telus Corp. has the fastest national wireless network in Canada, according to PCMag.com’s annual study. 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 …

Bell Media promotes Stewart Johnston as Stuart Garvie departs

BCE Inc.’s media division announced Thursday three of its executives have been named to new positions, as well as the departure of Stuart Garvie. 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 …

Ex-CRTC vice-chair makes Super Bowl simsub reversal prediction

Former CRTC vice-chairman of telecom Peter Menzies is predicting that new chairman Ian Scott will bow to the calls to reverse his predecessors’ decision banning simultaneous substitution of advertising for the Super Bowl on Canadian networks. This content is available to wirereport.ca subscribers Already a subscriber? Sign in here LOGIN Forgot password? Unlock all the …

High interim tariffs, logistics still mire disaggregated system

The CRTC’s goal of fuelling wireline competition by jumpstarting the industry’s rollout of the disaggregated wholesale regime Tuesday will be constrained if interim access fees remain high and if the issue of how small providers will connect to fibre facilities is not addressed, representatives of small providers say. This content is available to wirereport.ca subscribers Already …

Small ISPs welcome rollout of disaggregated wholesale regime

The CRTC kickstarted the industry’s move to a disaggregated wholesale wireline regime Tuesday, setting interim rates and giving wholesale fibre-to-the-home (FTTH) access to smaller providers in Ontario and Quebec, a decision that those companies say will allow them to keep pace with bigger competitors and increasing consumer demands. This content is available to wirereport.ca subscribers Already a …

Changes ahead for ‘use-it-or-lose-it’ as terms of trade expires

While online discussion forums are rife with debate — and more often, complaints — about why Canadians can’t access popular American television shows legally online, Canadian content producers are navigating how to ensure their work continues to be seen on digital platforms. This content is available to wirereport.ca subscribers Already a subscriber? Sign in here …

Bell restores internet service in Labrador after outage

BCE Inc.’s internet service is back up and running in Labrador after an internet service outage Friday, Bell spokesman Marc Choma confirmed. 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 …

No immediate impact on Bell, Rogers from decision review: Desjardins

The government’s move to order the CRTC to reconsider its May licence decision should have a neutral effect on BCE Inc. and Rogers Communications Inc. in the short to medium term, 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? …

Telecoms at odds on mandatory-roaming licence conditions

The CRTC’s 2015 decision to regulate wholesale wireless roaming has made an Innovation Canada condition of licence unnecessary, BCE Inc. and Telus Corp. told the department — an argument refuted by their competitors, large and small, as companies weigh in on the process for renewing AWS-1 and other spectrum licences. This content is available to wirereport.ca subscribers Already a …

New OTT offerings pose threat to BDUs, opportunity for producers

A proliferation of new streaming TV competition in Canada is set to benefit content producers even as it causes problems for the country’s broadcasters and TV service providers through fragmented audiences and higher content costs — though it doesn’t yet signal an existential crisis for linear TV, experts said. This content is available to wirereport.ca …

CRTC denies Northwestel Wholesale Connect application

The CRTC won’t be reviewing its decision that set rates for Northwestel’s Wholesale Connect service, it said in a Thursday decision responding to the BCE Inc. subsidiary’s application that opponents said was an attempt to “gam[e] the regulatory system.” This content is available to wirereport.ca subscribers Already a subscriber? Sign in here LOGIN Forgot password? Unlock all the Canadian …

Telecom, broadcasting lobbying hits July lag

July lobbying activity was affected by the expected summer slowdown that comes with Parliament not sitting and politicians being spread out across the country in their ridings — but that didn’t mean groups weren’t active. This content is available to wirereport.ca subscribers Already a subscriber? Sign in here LOGIN Forgot password? Unlock all the Canadian …

Martin Tremblay promoted at Bell Media

BCE Inc.’s media division has named Martin Tremblay its regional programming director for Bell Media radio in Quebec. 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 …

CRTC licence decision sent back to drawing board

A controversial CRTC decision that creative groups said would negatively affect the production of Canadian content will be sent back to the CRTC for reconsideration by the federal cabinet, Heritage Minister Mélanie Joly announced Monday. This content is available to wirereport.ca subscribers Already a subscriber? Sign in here LOGIN Forgot password? Unlock all the Canadian telecom, …

Bell Media to buy four FM radio stations

BCE Inc.’s media division said Wednesday it will buy four FM radio stations in Ontario from Larche Communications Inc., bolstering the company’s iHeartRadio offering. 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 …

Court rules in favour of telecoms in Gatineau access agreement dispute

The Quebec Superior Court has ruled that aspects of municipal access agreements between telecom providers and Gatineau, Que., are invalid because they impose on Parliament’s jurisdiction over telecommunications. 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 …

Service restored after cut cable cripples Bell, Telus network

A cut cable crippled the shared network of BCE Inc. and Telus Corp. in Atlantic Canada Friday, according to the carriers, whose customers across eastern portions of the country were left without wireless services for roughly five hours. This content is available to wirereport.ca subscribers Already a subscriber? Sign in here LOGIN Forgot password? Unlock all the Canadian telecom, broadcasting …

Bell subs feel impact of ‘aggressive’ cable competition in Q2

BCE Inc. is hoping the second half of the year results in a boost for its internet business, after a second quarter that analysts called “surprisingly weak” and “softer than expected.” 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 …

Broadcasters need mandated contributions: CMPA

The Canadian Media Producers Association (CMPA) is disputing arguments made in an open letter published by three of Canada’s biggest private broadcasters that urged the CRTC not to reconsider its decision on Canadian program spending, This content is available to wirereport.ca subscribers Already a subscriber? Sign in here LOGIN Forgot password? Unlock all the Canadian …

Kodi add-on host prepping for legal battle

A Montreal man connected to a popular repository for Kodi add-ons, who was ordered by the Federal Court to submit to the search and seizure of his property following a claim by a group of telecoms, is fundraising to fight the lawsuit. This content is available to wirereport.ca subscribers Already a subscriber? Sign in here …

Bell files Part 1 against Super Bowl simsub order

With six months until kick off, BCE Inc. and its supporters are asking the CRTC to put a freeze on its decision to ban simultaneous substitution of American commercials on Canadian feeds of the National Football League’s championship game. This content is available to wirereport.ca subscribers Already a subscriber? Sign in here LOGIN Forgot password? Unlock all …

Transparency reporting in Canada: still opaque?

Without an Edward Snowden-like scandal, exposing inappropriate government access of citizens’ personal information, the current landscape may be as good as it gets for transparency reporting in Canada, a privacy expert says. 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 …

Bell providing customers energy management through IoT

Business customers of BCE Inc.’s network will be able to use an energy management tool from Twenty First Century Utilities LLC’s GridPoint, after the two companies agreed to a partnership 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 …

Quebec class action over Bell rate increases to proceed

The Quebec Superior Court has approved a class-action lawsuit against BCE Inc. for unilaterally changing the terms of contracts for its internet, landline, wireless and telephone services. 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 …

Bell Fund can’t boost limit for interactive content: CRTC

The CRTC has turned down a request by the Bell Fund to be allowed to devote more than 10 per cent of its funding to interactive digital content. 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 …

Bell quad-band LTE-A network live in nearly 40 cities

BCE Inc.’s new quad band LTE-advanced (LTE-A) service is now live in nearly 40 cities in eight provinces, the company announced 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 …

Bell to broadcast VR concert footage

BCE Inc.’s media subsidiary said in a press release Friday that Bell will broadcast part of a concert in virtual reality. 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 …

Rogers increases data overage fees

Rogers Communications Inc. has increased its mobile data overage rates to a cost per gigabyte of $70 for new plans. 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 …

Bell launches HD radio signals in Toronto

BCE Inc.’s media division announced that high-definition signals for its four Toronto radio stations are now available. 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 …

No wholesale obligations for new broadband fund projects: telcos

Mandating wholesale access as a condition of funding for projects under the CRTC’s new broadband funding regime will increase costs while effectively discouraging investment, two of the country’s largest telcos said. 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 …

TNW Wireless files Part 1 over roaming agreements

A Northern mobile wireless provider is asking the CRTC to compel a pair of incumbents to strike roaming agreements with it, arguing that its proposed national Wi-Fi based service is substantially different from one kiboshed by the regulator earlier this year. This content is available to wirereport.ca subscribers Already a subscriber? Sign in here LOGIN …

TMN Go to offer downloads

TMN Go, the TV-everywhere service from BCE Inc.’s media division, will begin allowing viewers to download content for offline viewing. 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 …

Wireless promos up compared to last year: Barclays

Leading up to Canada’s 150th anniversary, wireless promotions from incumbents and their flanker brands have increased noticeably compared to last year, according to Barclays Capital analyst Phillip Huang. 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 …

CCSA leads lobbying after Hill visit

Last month’s deluge of Canadian Cable Systems Alliance (CCSA) members on Parliament Hill for the group’s third annual lobby day pushed the organization to the top of the telecom lobbying list for the second month this year, logging 49 communication reports in May. This content is available to wirereport.ca subscribers Already a subscriber? Sign in …

Bell’s wireless network to power Hyundai connected cars

BCE Inc. and a Hyundai Motor Group subsidiary have come to an agreement that will see Bell provide the wireless network for the Asian car maker’s connected cars beginning this summer. 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 …

Bell to sell specialty channel to Wow in ‘strategic partnership’

BCE Inc.’s media division said Wednesday that it’s entered into an agreement with Wow Unlimited Media Inc. that will see Bell Media sell one of its specialty channels to Wow in return for $6.9 million of equity in the company. This content is available to wirereport.ca subscribers Already a subscriber? Sign in here LOGIN Forgot password? Unlock all the …