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More devices moving Internet usage beyond home computers: Sandvine

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PGA Tour broadcasts coming to Twitter, Facebook

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Amazon looking at cheaper music service: report

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Ice Wireless boosting northern LTE network

Ice Wireless, a subsidiary of Iristel Inc., said it is rolling out a HSPA/LTE network in 14 northern Quebec communities.

Tuesday press release from Tecore Networks, which supplies mobile network infrastructure, said the U.S.-based company’s Network-in-a-Box platform was picked by Iristel for the rollout.

Lessons to be learned from Ashley Madison breach: privacy commish

The company behind Ashley Madison, a website aimed at adulterous interactions that suffered a massive customer data breach last year, had “inadequate security safeguards and policies,” according to an investigation conducted by the federal privacy commissioner’s office.

Luc Noiseux named Cogeco chief technology officer

Cogeco Inc. said Monday it appointed Luc Noiseux as the company’s new senior vice president and chief technology and strategy officer.

Appeal may follow dismissal of suit over Wind confidentiality breach: Catalyst

The Ontario Superior Court last week threw out a lawsuit involving allegations that an analyst tipped off a competing fund manager about the strategy behind its Wind Mobile acquisition.

On Thursday, Justice Frank Newbould dismissed “in its entirety” Catalyst Capital Group Inc.’s breach of confidential information suit against West Face Capital Inc. and its former junior analyst Brandon Moyse.

Shomi boasts 143M video streams

Rogers Communications Inc.’s and Shaw Communications Inc.’s Shomi has had more than 143 million video plays since Aug.

Jennifer Hollett joins Twitter Canada

Twitter Inc.’s Canadian division announced Monday it had hired Jennifer Hollett as the company’s new head of news and government.

10% confused over definition of OTT: MTM

Confusion over what qualifies as watching TV online has led Media Technology Monitor to revise some previously reported data about over-the-top (OTT) services.

In a Thursday report, the CBC/Radio-Canada research project said about 10 per cent of English-speaking Canadians, especially those over the age of 50, “still stated they don’t watch online TV during our survey, even after being prompted that OTT services are a form of online television.”

CRTC consulting on disconnection practices

The CRTC is requesting comment on whether regulatory measures are required to prevent service interruptions after a dispute between two telecommunications providers in January.

30M tuning in to Olympics: CBC

The first 10 days of Olympic coverage were watched by about 30.4 million Canadians “across all networks and platforms,” CBC/Radio-Canada said Tuesday.

The ongoing Summer Games in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, garnered peak eyeballs on Sunday, when 20.4 million Canadians tuned in, CBC said in a press release, with seven million alone tuning in for the men’s 100-metre running final.

Canada in top 10 for mobile networks: OpenSignal

Canadian wireless users have access to 3G or 4G networks 93.16 per cent of the time, placing the country in the 10th spot for 3G/4G availability, according to a new OpenSignal report.

In its Global State of Mobile Networks report, the U.K.-based company that analyzes mobile performance built upon the previous six editions of its Global LTE Report –which tracks 4G performance internationally – by including 3G since “dozens of countries have yet to launch their first 4G service and many others are only in the infancy of their LTE rollouts.”

Password disclosure law up for ‘public discussion’: Goodale

OTTAWA — The federal minister of public safety indicated Wednesday a willingness to engage with a freshly passed resolution from the Canadian Association of Chiefs of Police (CACP) calling for a law to compel people to hand over passwords to devices seized under a search warrant.

Virgin Mobile launches home Internet in Ontario

BCE Inc. flanker brand Virgin Mobile is rolling out home Internet in Ontario, the company announced Tuesday.

In a press release, Virgin said eligible Ontario residents can sign up for one of two plans: a $50-per-month, 300GB plan or a $65 monthly unlimited plan, both of which offer download speeds of up to 25 Mbps and upload speeds of up to 10 Mbps.

FTTH rollout crucial for affordability in long-term: report

The deployment of fibre-to-the-premises (FTTP) and fibre-to-the-home (FTTH) networks will be an important step for improving affordability of communications services in the long-term, according to a report commissioned by the CRTC.

“In the longer term, technological and business process innovations that reduce costs and improve quality appear to be critical for enhancing affordability of access to products and services that are now considered necessities,” the report read.

Cyber security consultations begin

The federal government has launched public consultations in support of its review of cyber security, Public Safety Canada announced Tuesday.

TV still golden in multi-platform Olympic coverage: experts

While digital and mobile options for watching the Summer Olympics are gaining in popularity and engagement, television continues to own the podium for the Canadian outlet broadcasting the two-week multi-sport tournament happening now in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil.

Toronto telecom wins access in condo dispute

A Toronto condominium complex already served by three telecom service providers has to make room for one more, the CRTC has ruled.

In a decision posted Monday, the commission said the owners of the three subject multi-dwelling units in Liberty Village have to allow the local exchange carrier Beanfield Technologies Inc. access to its condos, which are already served by BCE Inc.Rogers Communications Inc. and Coextro.

Canada outranks peers in wireless prices: report

Canadians continue to pay among the highest prices internationally for wireless and broadband Internet services, according to a new report comparing telecom service prices released Thursday by the CRTC.

The ninth annual study was completed in January and February of this year by Nordicity and ranks Canadian prices among those offered by carriers in the G7 countries (United States, United Kingdom, Australia, Japan, Italy, Germany and France) and Australia.

Facebook desktop users lose ability to block ads

Facebook Inc. said Tuesday that users of the desktop version of its social network will no longer be able to circumvent advertising through ad-blocking software.

In a blog post from Andrew Bosworth, vice-president of ads and business platform, the company announced it was tweaking its ad settings controlled by users to “address the underlying reasons people have turned to ad blocking software.”

ISED watching Australian cyber security overhaul

The Canadian government is keeping an eye on how its Australian counterpart is handling security risks to the country’s telecom networks.

“Canada can learn from Australia’s experience” in reforming its telecommunications security policies, said a February briefing note prepared for Innovation, Science and Economic Development deputy minister John Knubley, obtained by The Wire Report under Access to Information legislation.

CRTC suspends deadlines in PIAC’s Bill 74 complaint

The CRTC has suspended all deadlines in a Part 1 application by the Public Interest Advocacy Centre (PIAC) that challenges the constitutionality of a Quebec law forcing Internet Service Providers (ISPs) to block some online gambling websites.

The commission said in a letter dated Aug. 5 that it was suspending the deadlines and asked interested parties “not to file any further comments at this time.”

“Further procedural direction regarding PIAC’s application will be provided by the Commission in the near future,” the letter added.

Bell buys Q9 amidst increasing data centre competition: analysts

BCE Inc. announced Monday it is buying out its fellow investors in Q9 Networks Inc., a data centre operator in which it currently holds a 35.4-per-cent stake, in a move that analysts said comes as investment and competition in the data centre space increases.

Bell said in a press release it will acquire the stakes “in a transaction valued at approximately $675 million, including Q9 net debt but excluding Bell's existing ownership interest.”  

Competition Bureau warns fans about sports streaming fine print

The Competition Bureau said in a press release Monday that customers signing up for sports streaming websites should make sure they understand what they’re getting when they subscribe to such services.

Customers “should be aware that important information about the availability of some games may not be adequately disclosed, or may be buried in fine print disclaimers that are easy to miss,” it said.

Axsit sold, gives in to CCTS refund demand

The Commissioner for Complaints for Telecommunications Services (CCTS) said in a press release Friday that Axsit Corp. has been sold and has addressed the non-compliance issues CCTS made public in recent weeks.

In July, CCTS twice called out Axsit for its failure to refund a customer.

Telus reports higher revenues despite Alberta challenges

Telus Corp.’s revenues in the three months ended June 30 were up 1.5 per cent to $3.15 billion, compared to $3.1 billion a year earlier, the company reported Friday.

It said in a press release the increase was “driven by continued higher data revenue and subscriber additions in both wireless and wireline operations.”

Some Internet tier upgrades due to bandwidth, not speed: Cope

Some subscribers are climbing Internet service tiers not necessarily for increased speed, but to obtain unlimited bandwidth, George Cope, BCE Inc.’s president and chief executive officer, said Thursday on a second-quarter earnings conference call with analysts.

Cope made the comments while fielding a question on what speeds Bell’s new subscribers are taking.

MTS improves wireless churn, but still feeling double-cohort effect

Manitoba Telecom Services Inc. said it made improvements to its post-paid wireless churn for the third consecutive quarter, though its total wireless subscribers were still down from a year ago, as it reported higher earnings numbers Wednesday evening.

SaskTel sale to Telus ‘logical’: Barclays

Telus Corp. would be the “logical buyer” of Saskatchewan Telecommunications Holding Corp., according to Barclays Capital.

Ahead of Telus’s second-quarter earnings report Friday, analyst Phillip Huang said in a Wednesday note that “while we expect an auction would draw significant interest, we believe it would make financial/strategic sense for Telus to acquire the asset, given its adjacent footprint.”

SaskTel gets $7.42M from Connecting Canadians for northern broadband

Saskatchewan Telecommunications Holding Corp. is upgrading its high speed Internet service in northern Saskatchewan.

The provincial government-owned telecom provider is partnering with the federal government to bring download speeds of 5 Mbps to nearly 2,700 homes across 26 communities in the northern part of the province and expects to complete the project by the end of the year, it announced in a Wednesday press release.

Ehealth is growing, but market size still unknown

MONTREAL — In recent years, Canadians have gained the ability to keep track of data contributing to their health — from steps walked to their heart rate to calories burned — in a way that would have been impossible before the emergence of fitness trackers and smartphone apps.

7.4% of Canadian Internet connections are FTTP or similar: OECD

Canada is still at the bottom of the Organization for Co-operation and Economic Development (OECD) countries with fibre connections, but among those making the greatest strides to close the gap.

December 2015 numbers released Tuesday show that the percentage of such connections in total broadband subscriptions in Canada grew to 7.4 per cent from 4.7 per cent in the same period a year earlier. The numbers for "fibre" connections are the combined totals for fibre-to-the-premises (FTTP), fibre-to-the-home (FTTH), and fibre-to-the-building (FTTB) connections.

In business, landlines are going mobile

Over the course of the past year, several Canadian telecoms have introduced systems that allow small businesses to use their mobile phones with landline functionality, a move that highlights a shift away from landline services in the office.

Net neutrality, rural broadband raised during Bains chat

Innovation, Science and Economic Development Minister Navdeep Bains took questions from Twitter Inc.’s Toronto office Friday afternoon, in

Telecom groups launch new opposition to FCC net neutrality rules

An American association representing wireless service providers is asking for the United States federal court to rehear and re-evaluate June’s decision upholding the Federal Communication Commission’s net neutrality rules.

Court OKs disclosure of customer info in Voltage case

Rogers Communications Inc. must disclose the personal information of a customer accused by Voltage Pictures LLC of violating its copyright, according to a court decision that experts said clarifies the notice-and-notice system isn’t a good vehicle for such disclosures.

Federal gov’t supporting Manitoba high-speed Internet project

The federal government is spending $4.2 million to bring high-speed Internet to Manitoba’s First Nations communities.

In a Thursday press release, Carolyn Bennett, Minister of Indigenous and Northern Affairs, announced the funding as part of the ongoing Building the Manitoba First Nations Network of the Future project.

SaskTel connects Estevan to FTTH

Saskatchewan Telecommunications Holding Corp. announced Thursday its fibre-to-the-home (FTTH) service is now available in some residential areas of the southeastern city of Estevan.

The new connections will give residents the ability to sign up for SaskTel’s InfiNet service, the company said in a press release, which offers download speeds of up to 260 Mbps.

Second challenge to Bill 74 begins as CWTA goes to court

The Canadian Wireless Telecommunications Association (CWTA) has filed a court challenge to a Quebec law that would force telecoms to block some illegal gambling websites, telling the court the legislation puts companies in an “untenable position.”

In a French-language document filed Wednesday, the industry group asked Quebec’s Superior Court to determine the law is unconstitutional, given that it contravenes federal jurisdiction of both telecommunications and criminal law.

Ontario fibre project gets federal-provincial boost

The federal and Ontario governments are investing up to $180 million into a new fibre-to-the-home (FTTH) network designed to connect about 300 southwestern Ontario communities to high-speed Internet, officials announced Tuesday, bolstering a municipally driven project to bridge the region’s broadband gap.

Twitter to live-stream out-of-market MLB games

Canadians will be able to watch some Major League Baseball (MLB) games on Twitter Inc.’s social media service.

The company said in a press release Monday that it would live-stream out-of-market games from the MLB and the National Hockey League (NHL) in the United States.

Music Canada settles with isoHunt

Music Canada has reached a settlement with isoHunt Web Technologies Inc. in a copyright infringement lawsuit, years after the isoHunt website shut down.

The organization, which represents major record companies in Canada, said in a press release Monday that under the settlement, isoHunt and its founder, Gary Fung, are liable for a total of $65 million in damages.

Rogers expanding affordable Internet program to NB

Rogers Communications Inc. is expanding a program that provides affordable Internet service to residents of non-profit housing in New Brunswick.

Yahoo sells to Verizon

Verizon Communications Inc. will acquire Yahoo Inc.’s core Internet business, roughly seven months after initial reports hinted at Verizon’s interest in the company.

Ontario Chamber of Commerce calls for provincial action on broadband

The Ontario government should be playing a major role in developing the province’s broadband infrastructure, according to the Ontario Chamber of Commerce.

In an open letter to Premier Kathleen Wynne Thursday, chamber president and CEO Allan O’Dette called for the provincial government to take three steps to bring infrastructure up to the same level as roads, bridges and electricity.

Cable could make turnaround in 2017: Canaccord

Rogers Communications Inc.’s second-quarter earnings may have foreshadowed a turnaround for cable in 2017, after the company reported its best second-quarter for Internet subscribers in eight years, according to Canaccord Genuity.

Set-top box retailer involved in software development, BDUs claim

A trio of telecom companies are doubling down on their assertion that preloaded set-top box retailers are complicit in TV piracy, according to new court documents filed in their ongoing fight to permanently end the sale of the devices loaded with software they say allows users to access their content for free.

SOCAN purchases Audiam

The Society of Composers, Authors and Music Publishers of Canada (SOCAN) has acquired a New York-based company specializing in tracking data of music released on streaming websites.

SaskTel to improve Internet service in 7 communities

Saskatchewan Telecommunications Holding Corp. said Wednesday that it’s installing additional equipment on towers in rural areas around seven Saskatchewan communities that will relieve congestion for customers of its High Speed Fusion Internet service, as well as offer added capacity.

The work will take place in the Baildon, Buffalo Pound, Cochin, Edenwold, Estevan, Lanigan, and Melville, Sask. areas, the company said in a press release.

Laura Tribe taking helm at OpenMedia

OpenMedia announced Tuesday the appointment of Laura Tribe as its new executive director.

According a letter posted on the advocacy group’s website from board chair Phillip Djwa, Tribe was selected to helm the organization “after a long and fruitful search” and a pool of 50 candidates to replace OpenMedia founder Steve Anderson.

Telus rolls out 4K out west

Telus Corp. will begin offering 4K programming for its Optik TV customers, the company announced Tuesday.

In a press release, Telus said it is the “first and currently, the only carrier in Western Canada to offer” the ultra-high-definition programming.

The service is launching with TSN 4K, broadcasts of On Demand adrenaline sports (such as snowboarding, surfing and dirt biking), Stingray Ambiance and On Demand movies and Optik Local productions, the release said.

CRTC says not issuing decision yet in wholesale rate dispute

Two large wholesale Internet service providers (ISPs) are asking the CRTC to dismiss the Canadian Network Operators Consortium’s (CNOC) request to decline interim approval of wholesale rate increases and order telecoms to submit revised cost studies, though the CRTC has said it will take more time before coming to a decision.

Pokémon Go not augmenting wireless data reality

Though the success of Nintendo Co. Ltd.’s Pokémon Go mobile game could be the tip of the iceberg for augmented-reality applications, experts said they don’t expect wireless companies to make any major shifts in the way they offer data.

“In terms of the wireless data, it’s still video that’s driving most of the growth and consumption,” Desmond Lau, an analyst with Veritas, said in a phone interview.

Wind hits 1M subscribers in first quarterly report since 2014

On Friday, Shaw Communications Inc. released Wind Mobile’s first quarterly results since it acquired the wireless company earlier this year, which showed revenues of $132 million for the quarter, as the company assured analysts and shareholders on a conference call that its wireless strategy will take off as it launches an LTE network and obtains low-band spectrum in the future.

MTS to offer Netflix on set-top box

Manitoba Telecommunications Services Inc. will begin offering Netflix Inc.’s streaming service directly on its set-top box.

The company said in a press release Thursday that the move “removes the hassle of having to switch video inputs or purchase additional hardware.”

It added that it was the “only Manitoba television provider to offer direct access to Netflix.”

CCTS singles out Axsit refund breach, again

The Commissioner for Complaints for Telecommunications Services (CCTS) has issued a second press release in as many weeks regarding Axsit Corp.’s failure to refund a customer.

Michael Garbe new head of CNOC

Michael Garbe is taking over as chairman and CEO of the Canadian Network Operators Consortium (CNOC), while former president and chairman Bill Sandiford and former treasurer Kevin Blumberg will stay with the organization in different capacities.

Infrastructure, spectrum among obstacles for connected cars

Traffic on the Internet of Things (IoT) is forecast to skyrocket over the coming years, and though vehicles will be part of that network, there are still a number of challenges, including infrastructure, security and spectrum, that have to be addressed before true “connected” cars can take to Canadian roads.

Quebec online gambling law unconstitutional: PIAC

The Public Interest Advocacy Centre (PIAC) is asking the CRTC to deem as unconstitutional a Quebec law compelling Internet service providers (ISPs) to block certain online gambling websites.

In a new Part 1 application filed Friday, the advocacy group said that the legislation passed by Quebec’s national assembly in May, “is in direct conflict with s. 36 of the Telecommunication Act.”

Cogeco reports higher revenues, takes a hit from Peer 1

Cogeco Inc. reported higher overall revenues for the third quarter, but a write-down on its Peer 1 business pulled on the reins.

Rogers launches new cloud storage service

Rogers Communications Inc. has introduced a new data cloud storage service for businesses, the company said in a press release Thursday.

The Rogers Public Cloud “gives customers access to computing and storage space in a shared cloud environment,” the release said.

“Customers manage this virtual IT environment through a single web portal and have access to 24 x 7 support,” it said, noting that data will be stored in Canada.  

Live-stream of Wimbledon available on Twitter

ESPN is streaming live coverage of the Wimbledon tennis tournament on Twitter Inc.’s social media service.

The website states the live feed is brought to viewers by Wimbeldon and ESPN. It appears to have been made available without an official press release or announcement.

Bell, MTS promote investment ahead of acquisition approval

BCE Inc. and Manitoba Telecom Services Inc. announced another feature of their proposed merger Thursday morning in Manitoba.

As part of the promised $1 billion investment Bell has said it will make in the province as a result of the $3.9-billion acquisition of MTS, the new company will pump funds into Northern Manitoba, the companies said in a press release.

CCSA sued for wrongful dismissal after Townsend departure

The Canadian Cable Systems Alliance (CCSA) is facing a lawsuit from former president and CEO Alyson Townsend, who is accusing the organization of wrongful dismissal.

In a statement of claim filed in a New Brunswick court on June 30, Townsend is identified as the CCSA’s first employee, who incorporated the company in 1993. It now represents more than 115 independent cable, telephone and Internet television companies across the country.

CNOC asks CRTC to refuse ‘very high’ wholesale rate increases

Small Internet Service Providers (ISPs) are asking the CRTC not to approve wholesale rates proposed by large telecoms, given that many of them “are subject to very high and unjustifiable increases relative to interim and final rates currently in force.”

SaskTel phasing out CDMA network next summer

Saskatchewan Telecommunications Holding Corp. announced Tuesday that its Code division multiple access (CDMA) network is entering its last year.

In a press release, SaskTel said CDMA-reliant devices would no longer function after July 5, 2017, and that it would be transitioning existing customers to its 4G and 4G LTE network.

Public WiFi users take risks with personal info: Norton

Canadians are some of the heaviest users of public WiFi, according to a new study by Symantec Corp.’s Norton, which also suggests that most public WiFi users “exhibit risky public WiFi behaviours.”

According to results published June 28 in Norton’s WiFi Risk Report, 89 per cent of Canadian respondents indicate they use public connections, trailing 93 per cent of Brazilians and 97 per cent of Mexicans.

More set-top box providers added to legal action

Eleven more set-top box retailers will have to make their case to the Federal Court after being named as defendants in a legal fight against set-top boxes that can be used to circumvent paid TV subscriptions.

On June 20, lawyers for BCE Inc.Rogers Communications Inc. and Quebecor Inc.’s Videotron filed an amended statement of claim, adding the companies to the five originally named in the legal action, which started in May.

Orange is the New Black premiere had 6.7M viewers: Nielsen

Nielsen Co. says the season premiere of Netflix Inc.’s Orange is the New Black drew 6.7 million viewers in the United States in its first two days.

Netflix doesn’t release its audience numbers, but at a client presentation last week Nielsen disclosed ratings data about specific programs, according the Wall Street Journal.

Canada ‘falling behind’ countries with Netflix tax: think tank

The Canadian Centre for Policy Alternatives says Canada should follow the example of the European Union and countries like New Zealand and Australia in requiring over-the-top (OTT) services to pay taxes in Canada.

If Netflix Inc. were to pay a 13-per-cent HST tax, that would amount to “some $62.4 to $90.48 million per year in value-added taxes,” the centre’s June 21 report said.

SaskTel flipping switch on FTTH in Weyburn

Saskatchewan Telecommunications Holding Corp. said Monday is ready to start connecting customers to its InfiNet fibre-to-the-home (FTTH) network in Weyburn.

Some residential areas of the city, located south of Regina, will be able to connect to SaskTel’s highest-speed Internet offering once their neighbourhood is connected, the company said in a press release.

Facebook, AT&T defend differential pricing in CRTC review

Facebook Inc. and AT&T Inc. have waded into the CRTC’s review of differential pricing practices, arguing that the commission should allow carriers to offer zero-rated services and sponsored data.

BBC to open Toronto bureau, Canadian version of website

The BBC will launch a new Toronto bureau and a Canadian edition of BBC.com, the British public service broadcaster announced Thursday.

The dedicated site will launch later this year, according to a notice on the BBC website. In the meantime, the broadcaster will be looking to hire a video journalist, an online journalist and a social media producer for its Toronto office, said the press release.

The Shopping Channel appoints new president

Rogers Communications Inc. announced Wednesday that it has appointed Anne Martin-Vachon as president of The Shopping Channel, effective August 16.

She succeeds Steven Goldsmith, who spent four years at the helm between 2012 and June 2016, according to a press release.

Advocacy groups take aim at data caps in zero-rating review

Questions around telecoms’ usage of data caps should be at the centre of the CRTC’s proceeding on differential pricing practices, advocacy groups said in interventions, calling for the commission to impose limits on their use.

Data caps are “un-necessary evil,” said the Equitable Internet Coalition, whose members include the Public Interest Advocacy Centre (PIAC), which asked the CRTC to focus the proceeding on data caps and not differential pricing.

Videotron to begin offering gigabit service

Quebecor Inc.’s Videotron said it will begin offering Internet download speeds of up to 940 Mbps to consumers and business costumers on July 13.

Telecom, media ‘safe haven’ after Brexit: Barclays

Minimal exposure to the United Kingdom and Europe will leave the Canadian telecom and media industries relatively unscathed following the U.K.’s vote to exit the European Union last week, according to Barclays Capital.

Analyst Phillip Huang said in a research note on Tuesday that given “no/minimal exposure to [U.K]/Europe, we see them as relative safe havens in an environment of heightened macro uncertainty.”

 

CanCon review panel announcement draws mixed reaction

Heritage Canada’s announcement of an expert advisory panel for its review of Canadian content in a digital age, which includes representatives from a number of broadcasters, was met with both praise and criticism Tuesday.

The panel will “provide advice and ongoing feedback” to the Heritage Minister during the consultations and review, the heritage department said in a press release Tuesday.

Bains in favour of ‘private sector leadership’ on Internet governance

Innovation Minister Navdeep Bains told international counterparts at the OECD’s 2016 Digital Economy Ministerial Meeting that Canada “supports private sector leadership in the governance of the Internet, which has allowed it to develop into a powerful technology,” according to a press release.

OECD members commit to new digital initiatives

Ministers from 41 countries and the EU have committed to upholding certain initiatives to adjust to the new realities of a digital economy.

Members at the OECD’s 2016 Digital Economy Ministerial Meeting held in Cancun, Mexico, vowed to “preserve an open Internet, close digital divides [and] promote digital skills,” according to a Thursday press release.

Shaw launches security service for small businesses

Shaw Communications Inc. is now offering a network security service aimed at small and medium businesses.

The company said in a press release Wednesday the SmartSecurity service will give businesses “the ability to protect themselves from a variety of online threats.”

‘Separate silo’ approach to regulation wrong-footed in Internet age: report

Adjusting the existing legislation governing the telecommunications and broadcasting industries and putting more power in the hands of the CRTC could help address issues in Canada’s concentrated TV industry, according to a new Canadian Media Concentration Research Project report.

MTS shareholders back Bell acquisition

The shareholders of Manitoba Telecom Services Inc. have nearly unanimously approved its acquisition by BCE Inc.

Of the just over 43 million votes cast, 99.66 per cent were in favour of the acquisition, according to a Thursday press release.

Mobile ads, music streaming to be a force in 2020: PwC

Mobile advertising revenue and music streaming activity will see dramatic increases over the next four years, as technological innovation takes hold over traditional methods of media consumption, according to a new report from PWC.

Netflix hold on network traffic shrinks, but remains dominant: report

Netflix Inc.’s over-the-top (OTT) service continued to lead peak period network traffic, but the percentage of traffic has declined since late 2015, according to a new Global Internet Phenomena report by Sandvine Inc.

Axia looks south for fibre expansion

Axia NetMedia Corp. said it is looking to see if there is enough interest in the United States to extend its fibre network south.

The Calgary-based company said in a Monday press release that it’s gathering expressions of interest to determine which American cities are “interested in a 100% privately funded, Gbps enabled FTTP network,” with the potential for gigabit downloads speeds and unlimited data usage.

Bell-MTS deal could pose regulatory risk for SaskTel: report

The biggest risk to Saskatchewan Telecommunications Holding Corp. in the wake of BCE Inc.’s proposed $3.9-billion takeover of Manitoba Telecom Services Inc. is the potential changing of the regulatory landscape, according to a provincially-commissioned analysis.