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 …

Rogers unfazed by Freedom ‘Big Gig’ offer: CEO

Joe Natale isn’t worried about Shaw Communications Inc.’s move to offer its Freedom customers 10 gigabytes for $50, effectively turning away the idea that the move is a game changer in the industry. This content is available to wirereport.ca subscribers Already a subscriber? Sign in here LOGIN Forgot password? Unlock all the Canadian telecom, broadcasting …

Freedom Mobile launches 10 GB for $50 ‘intro offer’

Shaw Communications Inc.’s Freedom Mobile has announced a new set of wireless offerings in what the company is dubbing a “Big Gig” marketing campaign to begin Oct. 19. 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 …

Shaw poised for boost from new iPhones

Apple Inc.’s new iPhone X, iPhone 8 and 8 Plus, announced Tuesday, are compatible with spectrum bands used by Shaw Communications Inc.’s Freedom Mobile, though not extending that capability to older models could dampen the positive effect on the company, according to analysts. This content is available to wirereport.ca subscribers Already a subscriber? Sign in here LOGIN …

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 …

Freedom cites ‘suspicious patterns’ in Iristel traffic pumping case

Shaw Communications Inc.’s Freedom Mobile says that its decision not to pay some traffic termination charges to Iristel Inc. is based on “suspicious patterns” indicating traffic stimulation, which include “aberrantly high traffic volumes” terminating on Iristel’s network in the 867 area code, ever since the two parties revised their interconnection agreement in 2016. This content is available …

Guy Laurence joins Veon board

The former CEO of Rogers Communications Inc., Guy Laurence, has been elected to the supervisory board of Veon Ltd., formerly known as VimpelCom. 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 …

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, …

Freedom debuts LTE in Calgary and Edmonton

Shaw Communications Inc.’s Freedom Mobile has expanded its LTE network into Calgary and Edmonton, 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 to The Wire Report …

Shaw promises more integration with Freedom under new COO

Shaw Communications Inc. said Wednesday that its Freedom Mobile division will have a new chief operating officer, as Paul McAleese takes over from Alek Krstajic.

CEO Brad Shaw said in a call with analysts that McAleese would “guide Freedom’s operations in continued growth going forward, and will be instrumental regarding the integration of our wireless operations within Shaw.”

Big three say conditions for strong wireless continue: Desjardins

BCE Inc., Telus Corp., and Rogers Communications Inc. believe the conditions supporting the wireless growth they have seen in recent quarters will stay in place in 2017, according to a research note from Desjardins Capital Markets analyst Maher Yaghi.

Telecoms bond over stirring proposals to shake up call spoofing

Technologies identified by the CRTC as potential tools to combat spoofed and nuisance calls have promise, but barriers to their deployment mean they’re not likely to be put in place any time soon, companies told the regulator.

Carriers made $37.7M from phone unlocking last year: CRTC

The CRTC has released aggregate data that shows wireless service providers earned $37.7 million in revenue by unlocking phones last year.

That’s up from $28.5 million in 2015 and $21.6 million in 2014, the commission said in a March 1 letter issued as part of its review of the Wireless Code.

The number of devices they unlocked also grew to 943,363 in 2016 from 922,931 the previous year and 734,595 in 2014.

85% say account holder should approve wireless overages: survey

Nearly 85 per cent of Canadians believe approval for additional costs in family phone plans should be made by those who pay the bills, not those who use the phone, according to a survey commissioned by the Forum for Research and Policy in Communications (FRPC).

Results from the survey, conducted by Access Research, were released Friday and highlights answers to areas of concern with the Wireless Code, established in 2013, and the focus of a recent CRTC review.

Eliminate locked phones in Canada, Freedom Mobile tells CRTC

In a departure from the positions of its fellow wireless providers, Shaw Communications Inc.’s Freedom Mobile suggested Wednesday the CRTC should forbid carriers from charging fees for unlocking phones, and direct them to stop ordering locked devices from equipment manufacturers.

Build voice and data support at same time in NG911 system: Freedom

GATINEAU, Que. — There are unique considerations for wireless carriers when contemplating the switch to next-generation 911 (NG911) services, a CRTC panel was told on the penultimate day of a public hearing on improvements to the 911 network, including the fact they can offer more services for 911 users more quickly.

Shaw connects Freedom Mobile to WiFi hotspots

Shaw Communications Inc. is allowing customers of its Freedom Mobile to connect to its network of Wi-Fi hotspots.

Freedom Mobile subscribers will have access to more than 65,000 hot spots in Western Canada, Shaw said in a press release Wednesday.

Limited handsets a concern as Wind rebrands: analyst

Shaw Communications Inc.’s Wind Mobile will be rebranded as Freedom Mobile and its LTE roll-out will come sooner than expected in two cities, the company’s CEO said Monday. The move comes despite some analyst concern about the availability of handsets compatible with its spectrum.