Telecoms pooh-pooh affordability fund

Establishing a dedicated fund to tackle service affordability for low-income Canadians as part of the CRTC’s basic telecom services objective is not the right way to handle the issue, according to the majority of service providers who responded to an application to review and vary the regulator’s December decision. This content is available to wirereport.ca …

Quebecor has tools to combat Bell fibre push: Pruneau

Jean-Francois Pruneau, Quebecor Inc.’s senior vice-president and chief financial officer, told an investor’s conference Thursday that his company’s quad-play strategy in Quebec will limit the impact of BCE Inc.’s recently-announced fibre-to-the-home (FTTH) build out in Montreal. This content is available to wirereport.ca subscribers Already a subscriber? Sign in here LOGIN Forgot password? Unlock all the Canadian telecom, broadcasting and …

Rogers targets gamers with new e-sports content, peering deals

Rogers Communications Inc. has begun marketing itself as the Internet service provider (ISP) of choice for gamers, acquiring exclusive e-sports content for its Sportsnet streaming service and entering into peering agreements with gaming platforms. This content is available to wirereport.ca subscribers Already a subscriber? Sign in here LOGIN Forgot password? Unlock all the Canadian telecom, broadcasting …

Videotron asks for extension on Unlimited Music finale

Quebecor Inc.’s Videotron is asking the CRTC for more time to comply with the decision killing its Unlimited Music service last month, when it was found to be out of step with the concurrent decision on differential pricing practices that essentially banned zero-rating. This content is available to wirereport.ca subscribers Already a subscriber? Sign in …

Canadian cyber security spending lagging: survey

Investments in cyber security are not keeping up with the pace of potential future hacking attempts at Canadian companies, according to a new survey. 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 …

Cable no substitute in wholesale service gap areas: CNOC

The presence of cable infrastructure in locations where there is no telco option for wholesale Internet service is not a sufficient alternative, small Internet service providers (ISPS) are arguing in a proceeding in front of the CRTC. This content is available to wirereport.ca subscribers Already a subscriber? Sign in here LOGIN Forgot password? Unlock all …

Canadians becoming more lax about security updates: Ekos

Fewer Canadians kept their security software up-to-date in 2016 compared to five years ago, according to a recent report by Ekos Research Associates Inc., while a little over half of small-and-medium businesses said their business software security is updated on time. This content is available to wirereport.ca subscribers Already a subscriber? Sign in here LOGIN …

Terrebonne asks CRTC for help with access agreement

Another Canadian municipality is turning to the CRTC after failing to agree on a municipal access agreement with telecoms. 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 …

Two per cent of Canadians have a VR headset: MTM

While about a tenth of Canadians have used a virtual reality (VR) headset, only about two per cent of them actually own one, according to a new Media Technology Monitor 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 digital …

Hospitals, companies subject to global cyber attack: report

More than 200,000 computers in at least 150 countries were subject to a cyber attack by extortionists seeking cash over the weekend. 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 …

Former Videotron customers returning from Bell: Brouillette

Manon Brouillette, president of Quebecor Inc.’s Videotron, downplayed the effect that BCE Inc.’s recent move to deploy fibre-to-the-home (FTTH) to all of Montreal’s homes and businesses would have on the company 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 …

IPv6 adoption markedly improved in 2016: CIRA

Canada has made significant strides in improving its network infrastructure as Internet service providers (ISPs) increased their adoption of the IPv6 protocol in 2016, according to a new report by the Canadian Internet Registration Authority. This content is available to wirereport.ca subscribers Already a subscriber? Sign in here LOGIN Forgot password? Unlock all the Canadian …

Appeal court rules ISPs can’t charge for disclosing customer info

The Federal Court of Appeal has granted Voltage Pictures LLC its appeal challenging the costs Rogers Communications Inc. was asking for to disclose customer information in a copyright infringement case, which could increase the incentive copyright holders have for these kinds of cases.

Telus to support e-prescription platform

Telus Corp.’s ehealth division will develop and operate a Canada-wide tool for doctors to send prescriptions electronically, the digital health-care organization behind the service announced Thursday.

Cable sufficient alternative in wholesale service area gaps: incumbents

There is little evidence to suggest there is a lack of competition in so-called wholesale wireline service area gaps, given that cable facilities already exist in those areas, incumbents argued in comments to the CRTC.

CBC privatization bill dies in House

A private member’s bill to privatize CBC/Radio-Canada met a decisive defeat Wednesday night, after members of Parliament voted 260-6 to send it to the legislation graveyard.

Net neutrality issues will re-emerge with IoT: MEI

The growth of the Internet of Things (IoT) will force a new perspective on net neutrality and zero-rating, a report from the Montreal Economic Institute argues.

“The development of the Internet of Things will bring to the fore a whole new set of situations in which it may be necessary to treat customers, devices, applications or platforms differently,” the report, released Wednesday, said.

Twitter to host 24/7 Bloomberg stream

Twitter Inc. and Bloomberg LP have come to an agreement that will see the financial news outlet provide round-the-clock streaming content for the social media platform as part of 12 streaming deals announced Monday night.

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.

Digital platforms open to cultural diversity message: Joly

OTTAWA — Heritage Minister Mélanie Joly said she found a receptive audience for her message of cultural diversity on digital platforms among the executives of the digital media giants she met on her recent trip to California.

Quality of service regime needed for wholesale Internet: CNOC

Small Internet service providers (ISPs) and advocacy groups are asking the CRTC to put in place protections regarding the quality of service they and their customers receive when buying wholesale Internet service from bigger providers, while those large telecoms are arguing such measures aren’t necessary.

FCC head outlines plans for Open Internet rejig

The Federal Communications Commission (FCC) will introduce a proposal next month for a new plan to replace the existing Open Internet order, also referred to as Title II, Chairman Ajit Pai said Wednesday.

11th domestic Internet exchange point opens in Moncton

Atlantic Canada is gaining a second Internet exchange point (IXP), in Moncton, N.B., the Canadian Internet Registration Authority (CIRA) announced in a Wednesday press release.

The Moncton hub, “where independent networks can interconnect directly to one another, providing high-bandwidth and low-latency access at a lower cost than traditional transit,” is the 11th in Canada, joining the Halifax, N.S., location on the east coast.

Cyber security costs to outpace spending by 2022: Juniper

Global cyber security spending is expected to reach almost $135 billion by 2022, but that will be dwarfed by losses due to security and data breaches, according to a new report by Juniper Research.

Spending will increase on a compound annual growth rate of 7.5 per cent from $93 billion this year, Juniper predicted. However, by 2022, that $135 billion in spending will be a fraction of the $8 trillion in fines, lost business and other costs associated with security breaches, Juniper said in the Tuesday report.

CRTC consulting on broadband funding regime

The CRTC is asking for input on the $750-million fund for improving broadband service it first announced in December as part of its basic service decision.

Telus investing $80 million in Quebec fibre network

Telus Corp. announced Monday a new investment of $80 million in its fibre-to-the-home (FTTH) network in Quebec.

It said in a French-language press release that the investment would affect almost 20 communities in the Quebec City region.

Canadian, int’l satellite providers at odds on NGSO licensing

Canadian satellite companies are asking Innovation, Science and Economic Development Canada (ISED) to ensure a level playing field with their international competition when it comes to the licensing of non-geostationary satellite orbit systems (NGSO), while foreign companies argue cumbersome licence requirements could rob Canadians of the benefits of the new services.

CRTC effectively bans most zero-rating in differential pricing decision

As the CRTC banned most forms of differential pricing practices Thursday — including declaring that telecoms can’t pick and chose Internet content to zero-rate and ordering Quebecor Inc.’s Videotron to stop offering its Unlimited Music service — Chairman Jean-Pierre Blais suggested the move levels the playing field between small and large telecoms and content providers and their customers.

Sandvine warns about zero-rating ‘fraud’

A new report from broadband equipment maker Sandvine Corp. says that some Internet users are avoiding data charges by disguising Internet traffic to look like zero-rated content.

“Enticed by the potential of receiving unlimited data for minimal (or no) cost, subscribers have a strong incentive to engage in circumventing behaviour,” the company said in its Global Internet Phenomena Spotlight report, released Wednesday. Sandvine sells services that allow telecoms to identify such circumvention, it said in the report and in a press release.

Telecoms shouldn’t be gatekeepers, Blais says ahead of differential pricing decision

The CRTC may very well complete the record on net neutrality policy in Canada when it releases its decision Thursday afternoon on differential pricing practices, chairman Jean-Pierre Blais told a Harvard University audience Tuesday.

Digital ads only in their infancy, Google’s Gingras says

MONTREAL — Digital advertising will continue to evolve into new forms we can’t yet predict, Richard Gingras, vice-president of Alphabet Inc.’s Google News, said Thursday as he spoke about criticisms by media outlets that Google is taking ad revenue away from their platforms.

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.”

Twitch asks for court order to identify Shaw customer

Amazon.com Inc.’s Twitch is asking the Supreme Court of British Columbia to order five companies, including Shaw Communications Inc., to identify a customer Twitch is accusing of “malicious spambot flooding.”

In a March 31 petition, Twitch also asked the court to require PayPal Holdings Inc., web performance and security company Cloudflare Inc., and privacy protection companies Whois Privacy Corp., and Whoisguard Inc. to identify the individual.

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.

10 web series get $2M from CMF

Canada Media Fund (CMF) is providing $2 million for 10 web series as part of a pilot project.

The organization said in a press release Thursday the funding is “the result of the pilot program the CMF had put in place to exclusively finance Canadian web series in their second or subsequent season.”

All of the 10 series are in the drama genre, and six are in English and four in French.

The press release said the pilot project “was developed to meet the needs in the marketplace for linear content created for online consumption.”

Consumer advocates request basic services rejig for affordability fund

A trio of consumer advocacy groups are asking the CRTC to revise December’s basic telecom services decision, stating in a review-and-vary application filed Wednesday that the regulator should have included a tool by which to fund making telecom services affordable for low-income households.

CNOC asks for CRTC action on growing wholesale wireline ‘service gaps’

As large Internet Service Providers (ISPs) push on with the build of fibre-to-the-home (FTTH) networks, small providers say they are encountering an increasing number of areas where they have no access to wholesale Internet service from telcos.

Such service gaps are “becoming increasingly large and prevalent,” the Canadian Network Operators Consortium (CNOC) said in a Part 1 application dated Thursday, in which it asked the regulator to provide expedited wholesale access to fibre-to-the-premises (FTTP) facilities.

Rogers pilots 1GB Internet in Toronto schools

Rogers Communications Inc. is making its gigabit Internet service available in 20 Toronto-area schools as part of a pilot project.

“This pilot program will deliver top Internet speeds up to 55 times faster than those currently in these [Toronto District School Board] locations, allowing students access to leading digital programs and classroom technologies,” the company said in a press release Thursday.

U.S. House votes to repeal ISP privacy measures

The United States House of Representatives has voted to repeal the Federal Communications Commission (FCC)’s privacy measures for Internet Service Providers (ISPs).

Privacy commish funding work on rules for connected cars

OTTAWA — The federal privacy commissioner will be working with stakeholders to develop a “code of practice” to help address privacy concerns around connected and autonomous vehicles, a Senate committee heard Tuesday.

OPC, CIRA-supported initiative maps out Canadians’ Internet traffic

A tool that allows users to see exactly where their Internet traffic is travelling, backed partially by the Office of the Privacy Commissioner of Canada, has received a facelift make it easier to use for Canadians.

Bell accelerates FTTH deployment with $854M plan for Montreal

MONTREAL — BCE Inc. will invest $854 million to bring fibre-to-the-home (FTTH) to all of Montreal’s homes and businesses within five years, the company said Monday.

“By the end of the year, 40 per cent of the entire province will actually have fibre, which will make it the most-connected province in the country in terms of fibre penetration today,” Bell CEO George Cope said at an event announcing the investment.

Class-action lawsuit proposed against Amazon over sales tax

A Canadian class-action lawsuit is being filed against Amazon.com Inc. for the collection of sales tax on tax-exempt products, the Consumer Law Group announced Monday.

Sundance Now launches in Canada

AMC Networks Inc. is making its Sundance Now over-the-top (OTT) service available in Canada.

“Sundance Now launches with hand-selected and award-winning documentary, art-house and independent films from around the globe,” the U.S. company said in a press release Thursday.

The service costs $6.99 a month, or $4.99 a month with a year’s subscription, according to its website.

Mixed reaction to budget viewed as long on potential, short on details

For all the focus on the digital economy, there was little in Wednesday’s budget for digital content creators, broadband infrastructure enthusiasts or fans of long-term planning, according to consultants and advocacy groups.

“There’s a lot of potential there. But what is lacking right now is the policy and funding framework in the longer term,” Stuart Jack, a partner at Nordicity’s Ottawa office, said in phone interview.

U.S. Senate votes to repeal ISP privacy rules

The United States Senate voted Thursday to repeal broadband privacy rules the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) put in place last year, Reuters reported Thursday.

Affordable Internet carrot, legislation review in federal budget

OTTAWA — With a focus on the digital economy, the federal government will start looking beyond geography to bridge the digital divide in Canada, adding new funding to encourage Internet Service Providers (ISPs) to offer affordable Internet packages, to improve digital literacy, and by announcing its intention to modernize the Telecom and Broadcasting Acts in Budget 2017.

Kepler and Iristel partner on IoT devices

Iristel Inc. is partnering with satellite company Kepler Communications Inc. to help Internet of Things (IoT) devices seamlessly connect between cellular networks on the ground and satellites in the sky.

NAFTA renegotiation could affect privacy rules on Canadian data: Geist

The upcoming renegotiation of the North American Free Trade Agreement (NAFTA) could include pressure to change rules requiring some information to stay in Canada, University of Ottawa law professor Michael Geist told a Parliamentary committee.

Google to change ad policy after U.K. controversy

Alphabet Inc.’s Google will give companies that advertise on its platforms more control over where their ads are placed, the company said in a blog post Tuesday.

“Recently, we had a number of cases where brands’ ads appeared on content that was not aligned with their values. For this, we deeply apologize,” chief business officer Philipp Schindler said in the post.

Facebook beefs up lobbying squad

Facebook Inc. is increasing its government relations presence in Ottawa, with three new registrations filed with the lobbying commissioner’s office last month.

According to the federal lobbyists’ registry, the social media giant has contracted the services of U.K.-based consulting firm AA Access Partnership Ltd., bringing the number of consultants registered to lobby on behalf of Facebook to nine.

5G to arrive sooner after standards approval: AT&T

The rollout of 5G services will come sooner than expected after a wireless standards body agreed to accelerate the process for the deployment of the next-generation technology, according to AT&T Inc.

With signatories from 47 global operators and vendors, the 3rd Generation Partnership Project (3GPP) wireless standards body signed off earlier this month on a new proposal to bring 5G services to consumers as early as late next year, the March 14 blog post said.

Are provinces filling the federal broadband strategy gap?

Nova Scotia may not be formulating its provincial broadband plan as a direct response to federal inaction, but that doesn’t mean the provincial government isn’t acting out of a need to fill a void affecting its residents.

“It’s like a lot of things in that the provincial government is closer to the people than the federal government is, in certain respects,” David MacNeil, senior advisor in the Nova Scotia department of business, said in a phone interview.

Bell-MTS acquisition completed

The purchase of Manitoba Telecom Services Inc. by BCE Inc. has officially closed, Bell said in a press release Friday.

“Uniting the local and national strengths of MTS and Bell Canada, the new Bell MTS will bring unprecedented investment and innovation in broadband communications to Manitoba, including the rollout of next-generation Fibe services and Canada's fastest-ranked wireless network,” the release said.

YouTube signs exclusive deal for e-sports content

In another deal that highlights the value of e-sports, Alphabet Inc.’s YouTube has signed a multi-year partnership with competitive gaming company FaceIt to be the exclusive hub for its content.

FaceIt, creators of the Esports Championship Series (ECS), describes itself as a “leading competitive platform for online multiplayer games, with more than 6 million users logging in a total of over 12 million online game sessions each month,” according to the Thursday press release.  

Lacrosse games to stream on Twitter

Twitter Inc. and the National Lacrosse League (NLL) have teamed up to live-stream games in the U.S. and Canada, the men’s indoor professional league announced Wednesday.

In a press release, the league said its game of the week would be streamed on the social media platform for the rest of the 2017 season (through April 29) and for all of the 2018 season.

Rogers launches social-media cyber security tool

Rogers Communications Inc. has rolled out a security tool aimed at helping businesses safeguard their social media accounts, the company said in a Wednesday press release.

Social Media Security “monitors, identifies and takes fast action against potential threats or hacks to profiles on a business' social media channels,” in partnership with U.S.-based social-media security company ZeroFox, the release said.

Iristel asks CRTC to deny Northwestel’s review-and-vary

The arguments made by BCE Inc. subsidiary Northwestel in its request to the CRTC to review and vary a decision setting rates for Northwestel’s Wholesale Connect service have already been put to the commission in the past and rejected, according to Iristel Inc.

Facebook says its data can’t be used for surveillance

Facebook Inc. has updated its policies to state that developers cannot use data obtained from its social media networks “to provide tools that are used for surveillance.”

While the change was prompted by events that took place in the United States, Facebook spokesman Jay Nancarrow said in an email Tuesday that the policy applies globally.

Video game streaming revenue to double by 2021: Juniper

Global revenue from streaming e-sports and video game content will nearly double four years from now, according to Juniper Research, which projected total revenues from video game streaming content will increase to $3.5 billion US by 2021, compared to $1.8 billion US in 2017. 

StatsCan, CRA outages ‘preventative’ measure: gov’t officials

OTTAWA — A known software vulnerability led the federal government to pull Statistics Canada and Canada Revenue Agency websites offline late last week, officials said Monday, calling the exercise a proactive approach to ensuring the safety of citizen’s information.

“What we’re facing today is a worldwide issue with this version of the Apache Struts software,” John Glowacki, chief operating officer of Shared Service Canada, said during a press briefing.

Notice-and-notice effect on piracy unclear ahead of copyright review

As the federal government gears up to review the Copyright Act later this year, information about the rate of piracy in Canada remains elusive, two full years since the implementation of the notice-and-notice regime to combat copyright infringement.

The Wire Report reached out to experts to see whether the regime has had a tangible effect on piracy rates in Canada ahead of the review, but few could provide a way to measure the notice system's effectiveness.

Privacy commish asks Canadian gov’t to push for U.S. privacy protection

The federal privacy watchdog is asking the government to petition its counterparts in the United States to include Canada in a list of countries whose citizens are afforded protection for their personal information.

In a Tuesday letter to the ministers of public safety, foreign affairs, national defence and justice, privacy commissioner Daniel Therrien said he “strongly urged the Government of Canada to ask the United States to add Canada” to the list of countries designated under legislation that expands privacy protection to non-U.S. citizens.

CPC leadership contenders outline views on media, telecom issues

On May 27, members of the Conservative Party of Canada will select who will succeed former prime minister Stephen Harper as permanent leader of the party, relieving interim Opposition leader Rona Ambrose of her caretaker duties.

Supreme Court to consider jurisdiction for online libel

The Supreme Court of Canada said Thursday it will hear a case centering on whether an Ontario court has jurisdiction over an Israel-based website that a Canadian is accusing of libel.

Mitchell Goldhar, who owns a soccer club based in Tel Aviv, Israel, brought a defamation case against Israeli newspaper Haaretz in Ontario. The newspaper asked for a stay, arguing that “Ontario courts lack jurisdiction simpliciter or, alternatively, that Israel is a clearly more appropriate forum,” according to a summary on the Supreme Court website.

VoLTE to overtake OTT voice apps by 2021: Juniper

The number of Voice over LTE (VoLTE) subscribers on 4G LTE mobile connections is expected to increase significantly and overtake over-the-top (OTT) applications over the next four years, according to Juniper Research.

The expected number of VoLTE users worldwide will increase to three billion in 2021 from 488 million in 2016 to, “as operators reap the benefits from widespread 4G infrastructure roll-outs,” according to a white paper examining how operators can use voice to retain market share and make new revenues, published Tuesday.

Imposing taxes on foreign OTT could bring in $1B: report

Taxing foreign digital services such as Facebook Inc., Amazon.com Inc.’s Prime service, Alphabet Inc.’s YouTube and Netflix Inc. could provide the federal government with up to $1 billion per year, according to the Canadian Centre for Policy Alternatives (CCPA).

The recommendation was included in the progressive think tank’s alternative federal budget, released Thursday.

Rogers moves to ‘rapid price deflation’ of 1GB Internet: Barclays

Rogers Communications Inc. is offering a cable and Internet package that includes speeds of 1 Gbps at a heavily discounted price in what Barclays Capital says is a surprising move.

Government consulting on non-geostationary satellite systems

Innovation, Science and Economic Development (ISED) is consulting on licence requirements for non-geostationary satellite orbit systems (NGSO).

In a consultation document released Thursday, ISED said existing licensing rules were “not developed for the types of commercial ‘mega’ constellations” that are being proposed and developed, which include these NGSO systems. These systems have the potential to provide “ubiquitous Internet connectivity,” it said in the document. 

Canadian fibre could be up for grabs if Zayo sold: analyst

An American acquisition could create an opening in the Canadian fibre market, according to Desjardins Capital Markets.

In a Thursday note, analyst Maher Yaghi highlighted the recent acquisition of a fibre network company in the U.S. and the overall activity of the mergers and acquisition market south of the border.

FCC stays data security provisions in ISP privacy rules

The United States’ telecom regulator is holding off on elements of privacy rules for Internet service providers (ISPs) adopted last year.

Lack of national broadband strategy pulls down Canadian ‘Internet inclusion’ ranking: study

Canada ranks first for Internet affordability, but closer to the middle of the pack when it comes to individuals’ capacity to use the Internet, according to a new study assessing the international digital divide.

Hub for Canadian radio launches

More than 400 Canadian radio stations across the country are now available on a newly launched app featuring both public and private broadcasters.

The free Radioplayer app launched Wednesday “gives radio listeners access to nearly every style of music, news, talk, and entertainment content, in both official languages, on any connected device, at any time of day, from anywhere,” a press release said.

CBC ‘dimmer star’ in media landscape, conservative event hears

OTTAWA — When talking about CBC/Radio-Canada’s role in the media landscape, the public broadcaster is a “pygmy amongst giants,” and more focus should be aimed at large telecom companies, Dwayne Winseck argued Saturday during a debate about whether to “pull the plug” on the CBC.

Northwestel ‘gaming’ regulatory system with Part 1: SSi Micro

SSi Micro Ltd. is claiming a BCE Inc. subsidiary is engaging in delay tactics with its recent request for the CRTC to revise a decision setting rates for its Wholesale Connect service, while Northwestel is arguing the CRTC’s decision last fall was based on faulty information.

In a Wednesday press release, SSi said it asked the CRTC “to end Northwestel’s ongoing attempts to delay complying with Commission orders” and that “these delays thwart competition and cause consumers harm.”

‘Level playing field’ for digital services: C.D. Howe

The federal government should require foreign providers of digital services to remit tax on sales in the jurisdiction where the final customer is located, the C.D. Howe Institute said.

In a report released Thursday containing suggestions for the federal government ahead of the release of the 2017 budget, C.D. Howe said the measure would increase annual revenue by about $200 million and “level the playing field for domestic and foreign providers of digital products and services in Canada.”

Iristel to launch VoLTE

Iristel Inc. plans to launch Voice over LTE (VoLTE) service in about two months, Iristel president Samer Bishay said in an email.

The company will use technology from software company Metaswitch Networks Ltd., Metaswitch said in a press release Wednesday.

Larger fines needed to deter privacy breaches: B.C. privacy commish

OTTAWA — Fines levied against companies who breach privacy rules in Canada need to be increased to help prevent breaches in the future and to come in line with European Union data protection rules, British Columbia’s privacy commissioner told a Parliamentary committee Tuesday.

Iristel, EBox, DHX among new lobby registrations

The start of the new year was marked by new registrations for new and not-so-new companies and groups in the federal lobbyists’ registry.

Iristel Inc. registered to lobby the federal government as of Jan. 13 with consultant Eric Rothschild, who, according to the registry filing “will discuss with CRTC staff & Commissioners and staff at Innovation, Science and Economic Development potential funding available for telecommunications infrastructure.”

TVO cancels plan to shut down OTA transmitters

Ontario public broadcaster TVO has decided to keep broadcasting over-the-air (OTA), after the provincial government moved to provide $1 million in funding to keep the transmitters operational.

Canada needs a flexible federal smart city strategy, committee hears

Canada is years behind other jurisdictions when it comes to government attention on the development of smart cities, Bill Hutchison, president of the i-Canada Alliance, an organization focused on the development of intelligent communities, told a Parliamentary committee Thursday.

Canada should consider ‘right to be forgotten’: former privacy commish

OTTAWA — Privacy experts raised the idea of a Canadian “right to be forgotten” in front of a House of Commons committee studying the Personal Information Protection and Electronic Documents Act (PIPEDA) Tuesday, though they disagreed about the incorporation of the concept into Canadian law.

Amazon launches new unified communications service

Amazon.com Inc. announced Wednesday a new service that provides video, voice, chat and screen sharing for meetings, called Amazon Chime.

Ontario interactive media companies set to expand: report

Interactive digital media companies in Ontario are set for “significant growth” within the next two years, according to a report commissioned by industry trade association Interactive Ontario.

Interactive digital media [IDM] companies create digital content that engages users in a “rich interactive” experience, such as video games and apps. There are 877 such companies in Ontario, 86 per cent of which were founded since 2000 and 46 per cent since 2010, according to the report.

Bell-MTS deal receives final approval, includes Xplornet in ‘surprise twist’

The introduction of Xplornet Communications Inc. into Manitoba’s wireless market was a “surprise twist” to the story of BCE Inc.’s $3.9-billion acquisition of Manitoba Telecom Services Inc., analysts said Wednesday in reaction to the proposal receiving final regulatory approval from Innovation, Science and Economic Development Canada and the Competition Bureau.

Facebook, Google not ‘arbiters of truth,’ committee hears

OTTAWA — Facebook Inc. and Alphabet Inc.’s Google Canada told members of Parliament Tuesday they don’t see themselves as “arbiters of truth” in the ongoing challenge to address the problem of false news stories being shared via their respective platforms, but that they are increasing the measures they take to stem the flow.

SaskTel says it’s ‘concerned’ by end of local voice subsidy

Saskatchewan Telecommunications Holding Corp. said Monday that it is concerned about the CRTC’s December decision to eliminate the local voice subsidy in favour of a broadband fund.

“The reduction in subsidy could potentially result in rate increases for SaskTel’s rural telephone customers, less investment by the Corporation in infrastructure as a result of the lost subsidy and a reduced net income affecting dividends to the Government of Saskatchewan,” SaskTel said in a press release.

Connected for Success reaches 13,000 households

More than 13,000 Canadian households have signed up for Rogers Communications Inc.’s Internet service for low-income housing residents, the company said Friday, in announcing a new community housing partner in Ottawa.