BCE accuses condo developer of overcharging for access

BCE Inc. is having more problems with a condominium developer operating in Toronto that it has previously filed complaints about.

Regulating Netflix the least of CRTC’s concerns: Blais

The CRTC is concerned with “much bigger issues with greater ramifications down the road” than the question of whether it will regulate over-the-top (OTT) services like Netflix, CRTC Chairman Jean-Pierre Blais said Thursday.

As the CRTC makes decisions on issues raised at the Let’s Talk TV hearing earlier this fall, “‘regulating’ Netflix is the least of our concerns,” Blais told the Vancouver Board of Trade in a speech, according to speaking notes provided by the CRTC.

Bell wireless data revenue jumps 24%

BCE Inc. on Thursday reported higher revenue and profit numbers for the third quarter as it added subscribers to its its wireless, Internet and TV businesses and saw a jump in mobile-data revenue.

The company said in a press release that overall revenue was up 1.9 per cent from a year earlier to $5.2 billion in the quarter, which ended Sept. 30. Net earnings were $600 million, up from $343 million in the third quarter of 2013.

Telus quarterly revenue tops $3B for first time

Telus Corp. on Thursday reported quarterly revenue that topped $3 billion for the first time.

MTS financial numbers down despite more subs

Manitoba Telecom Services Inc. on Wednesday reported lower third-quarter earnings and revenue, despite adding subscribers to its main retail categories.

The company said in a press release that its revenue in the quarter was down 1.5 per cent from a year earlier to $402.4 million. MTS attributed the decline largely to falling revenue in its Allstream phone services for businesses, as well as lower voice and wholesale revenue in its wireless division.

Net earnings came in at $36.5 million, down from $42 million a year earlier.

Wireless code still a hurdle for carriers: CCTS

Some carriers are having more difficulty than others adjusting to life under the CRTC’s wireless code, according to the latest annual report from the Commissioner for Complaints for Telecommunications Services (CCTS).

Mary Ann Turcke to head Bell Media sales

BCE Inc.'s Bell Media said Monday that Mary Ann Turcke was appointed group president of its media sales division for local TV and radio.

BCE completes acquisition of Bell Aliant

BCE Inc. said Monday that its acquisition of Bell Aliant Inc. is complete.

It said that on Friday, it gained control through compulsory acquisition of the last 12 million shares of Bell Aliant that had not been tendered.

Wireline wholesale hearing to put focus on ISP access

The CRTC faces another major policy hearing next month, and this one has the potential to affect independent Internet service providers that depend on major telecom companies to connect them to customers.

In September, the commission held separate hearings on the future of the television industry and wholesale wireless access. On Nov. 24, the CRTC begins up to nine days of public proceedings into wireline wholesale services.

Wireless data, faster Internet driving consumer spending: CRTC

Canadian telecom service providers got more money from their customers last year largely as a result of increased wireless data usage and demand for faster Internet, the CRTC said Thursday.

Overall spending on communications services in Canada rose 3.2 per cent in 2013, increasing to $191 per household each month from $185 in 2012, the CRTC said in its annual Communications Monitoring Report, the full version of which it released Thursday.

Shaw gets naming rights to Ottawa Convention Centre

Shaw Communications Inc. has reached a sponsorship deal with the operators of the Ottawa Convention Centre, resulting in the venue being renamed the Shaw Centre, effective immediately.

Shaw said in a press release that the arrangement is for 10 years. No financial terms were disclosed. The facility is owned by the Ontario government.

"The Shaw Centre reflects our commitment to strengthening our presence with our customers, communities, regulatory and government stakeholders in the nation's capital," Shaw CEO Brad Shaw said in the release.

Jacob Glick to join Rogers

Rogers Communications Inc. said Tuesday that Jacob Glick will start work next month in the newly created position of chief corporate affairs officer.

Previously, Glick headed Google Inc.'s global public policy and government relations team, and before that took on the same responsibilities specific to Canada, Rogers said in a press release.

MTS opens new network monitoring facility

Manitoba Telecom Services Inc. has opened a new Winnipeg facility for monitoring and managing its network infrastructure, the company said in a press release Thursday.

The Manitoba Network Operations Centre will also “act as a hub for innovation, knowledge and communications for MTS’s network operations personnel,” it said, adding that about 50 staff will work on the site.

The facility will monitor network components including cellular sites, backbone fibre networks and routers, servers and firewalls, it said.

Rogers launches second-screen hockey app

Rogers Communications Inc. announced it is releasing a new hockey app that will give customers access to new camera angles and additional content like interviews and analysis.

“Exclusive to Rogers’ customers, and it is the ultimate second-screen experience,” said Rogers Media president Keith Pelley at the launch event in Toronto on Monday. “It allows our customers to select replays, to pick camera angles, to be the producer, to be the director.”

BCE says most Aliant common shares tendered

BCE Inc. and Bell Aliant Inc. said Friday that a vast majority of the common shares of the latter have been tendered to the former, and that the whole deal should be completed on or around the end of this month.

The companies said in joint press release that as of Thursday, which was the deadline for the offer on publicly traded common shares of Bell Aliant not yet owned by BCE, more than 90 per cent of stock sought had been tendered.

Bell Aliant makes concession on Ontera purchase

The Competition Bureau said Wednesday that Bell Aliant Inc. has responded to the bureau's concerns surrounding its purchase of an Ontario-government-owned telecommunications provider.

The bureau said in a press release Bell Aliant has agreed to lease a "significant portion" of Ontera's fibre network in northern Ontario to Eastlink.

SaskTel releases transparency report

Saskatchewan Telecommunications Holding Corp. on Wednesday joined other telecom providers in releasing a transparency report, which showed that it received 11,857 requests for information last year from government agencies and emergency service providers.

SaskTel said it refused to provide information for 247 of these requests.

"Except for court orders, SaskTel will refuse to provide the information if we believe the request is vague or not supported by statute," it said in its report.

MTS announces agreement on pensions

Manitoba Telecom Services Inc. said Wednesday it has reached an agreement with its unions and retirees regarding a pension plan that was in dispute following its 1997 privatization and was subject to a Supreme Court decision early this year.

PIAC awarded $20K in costs by CRTC

The CRTC on Wednesday said it was awarding the Public Interest Advocacy Centre (PIAC) almost $20,000 in costs for expenses incurred in three different proceedings, to be covered by various telecommunications companies.

Bell Aliant brings fibre-to-the-home to Quebec

Bell Aliant Inc. said Monday that fibre-to-the-home connections are now available in Quebec, with three communities on its FibreOP network immediately and four more to be connected before the end of the year.

Bell Aliant said in a press release that its FibreOP service, which it uses to deliver Internet download speeds of up to 250 Mbps, along with TV and home-phone services, is now available in Alma, Saguenay and Victoriaville.

Boynton, Stoneham find jobs after Rogers

John Boynton and Shelagh Stoneham, two Rogers Communications Inc. executives who left in the wake of its corporate overhaul this year, have both found other jobs.

Boynton, formerly the chief marketing officer at Rogers, is now the chief marketing officer for Canada at Aimia Inc., a customer loyalty company that owns and operates the Aeroplan loyalty program, Aimia said in a press release earlier this month.

Paper billing issue small potatoes for telecom sector: analysts

Much has been made this week about the practice of levying extra fees for the privilege of getting a physical bill for telecommunications services, and some industry watchers are downplaying the issue's importance.

Moore promises to outlaw ‘pay-to-pay’ billing

Hours after a meeting between telecommunications companies and CRTC officials regarding paper-billing charges that failed to end in a result satisfactory to policy-makers, Industry Minister James Moore said via social media he'll solve the issue with legislation.

“Our Government will introduce legislation to end pay-to-pay billing practices for telecom industry #ConsumersFirst,” Moore said on Twitter late Thursday evening.

CRTC process for establishing video relay delayed

The CRTC is still trying to establish the structure and mandate for an administrator that would oversee its planned video-relay system to help hearing-impaired people make phone calls, with a deadline for a proposal and associated information pushed back more than three months from its initial date.

Eastlink no longer buying Bruce Telecom

Bragg Communications Inc., which operates Eastlink, won’t be buying Bruce Telecom, the Competition Bureau said Friday.

The bureau said in a press release that it reviewed the proposed acquisition and concluded that had it “proceeded as proposed, it would have likely resulted in a substantial lessening or prevention of competition in the towns of Port Elgin and Paisley, [Ont.], where the two firms are the only providers of wireline telecommunications services.”

Northwestel allowed to dismantle radio-phone service

Northwestel Inc. has been given permission to dismantle most of its "manual mobile service" sites in the North due to declining usage and increasing difficulty in maintaining the infrastructure.

CEO Pierre Blouin to retire from MTS

Manitoba Telecom Services Inc. said on Tuesday its chief executive officer, Pierre Blouin, will retire this year.

The company said in a press release that its board of directors has started looking for a new CEO, and a new chief will likely be announced before Blouin's departure.

Blouin has been CEO of MTS since 2005 after spending several years in an array of executive roles at BCE Inc.

PIAC says up to $600M annually at stake in paper-billing issue

The Public Interest Advocacy Centre (PIAC) says up to $600 million a year is at stake as the CRTC gets set to meet with telecommunications companies to discuss the practice of charging customers to receive paper bills.

John Lawford, PIAC’s executive director, said in a phone interview that PIAC has put together estimates for a report, which will come out in the coming weeks.

Savings, simplification cited in BCE takeover of Bell Aliant

Saving money, simplifying operations and creating a stronger telecom competitor in Atlantic Canada were among the reasons cited for why BCE Inc. is seeking ownership of all parts of Bell Aliant Inc. it does not already own.

Rogers cuts VP positions, middle management

Rogers Communications Inc. has cut "several hundred middle management positions" and reduced the number of people working at the level of vice-president and above by 15 per cent, a company spokeswoman said Tuesday.

Northwestel allowed to charge extra for standalone Internet

The CRTC said Monday it has granted Northwestel Inc. permission to charge extra to customers who subscribe to its Internet service without its landline phone service.

The commission added that it has yet to determine whether Northwestel's proposed surcharges — $20 for residences and $30 for businesses — are appropriate.

Lower-end telecom plans get biggest rate hikes: report

Telecommunications companies increased prices most, proportionally, over the last year for those subscribing to the lowest-end wireless, broadband-Internet and home-phone plans, according to a report released by the CRTC on Monday.

More than 40% of households in U.S. wireless-only

About 41 per cent of households in the United States had access to only mobile phone services with no landline connection in the second half of 2013, according to a new government report.

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention said the number was 2.8 percentage points more than a year earlier. It said the proportion of wireless-only households grew 4.2 percentage points between 2011 and 2012, 4.3 percentage points between 2010 and 2011, and 5.2 percentage points between 2009 and 2010.

Bell Labs creates 10-Gbps connection on copper lines

Bell Labs, the research arm of French telecom hardware maker Alcatel-Lucent, announced on Wednesday that it has set a new broadband speed record of 10 gigabits per second over traditional copper telephone lines.

In a press release, the company said its technology, XG-Fast, could allow existing copper networks to attain speeds previously only possible on fibre-optic lines.

Primus Canada names new slate of VPs

Primus Telecommunications Canada Inc. on Thursday named four new vice-presidents that it said will help lead "the transformation of Canada's largest alternative telecommunications service provider."

It said in a press release that Walter Andri is the new senior vice-president of sales, following his time in different executive functions at Telus Corp. and its Koodo discount brand, as well as helping to launch BCE Inc.'s Virgin Mobile in Canada.

Telecoms owe money for CRTC proceeding on cancellation notice

The CRTC said on Thursday both the Public Interest Advocacy Centre (PIAC) and the DiversityCanada Foundation are owed costs they incurred to make submissions in a CRTC proceeding on whether wireline telecommunications providers should be allowed to require 30 days notice for cancellations.

The CRTC said PIAC is owed its claimed cost of $9,283.92 in legal fees and DiversityCanada is due $1,759.41 in consulting fees.

David McLennan joins CMF board

Sierra Wireless Inc. chief financial officer David McLennan has been named to the board of the Canadian Media Fund (CMF), a public-private parternship that provides money for Canadian media producers, the group said in a press release Monday.

McLennan has been chief financial officer with Vancouver-based Sierra Wireless Inc. since 2004, according to his biography on the company's website. It said he spent 10 years before that in a variety of senior management positions with BCE Inc.

Rogers wireless home phone not subject to local-exchange rules: CRTC

The CRTC said Wednesday that it has denied a request from Wightman Telecom Ltd. for Rogers Communications Inc.'s wireless home-phone service to be classified as a competitive local exchange carrier.

The commission said in an online notice that it "has not established a rule that a service that is a close substitute for a wireline local exchange service should be offered by a service provider only as a CLEC."

Bell asks CRTC to push Cogeco on customer-transfer system

BCE Inc. has asked the CRTC to force Cogeco Cable Inc. to implement an automated system for facilitating the transfer of customers between different telecommunications companies by the start of next year.

Shaw sees earnings decline in Q3

Shaw Communications Inc. said Thursday its third-quarter earnings took a hit as its television subscriber base continued to decline and its media division took in less money.

The company said in a press release that net income for the three months ending May 31 was $228 million, down from $250 million a year earlier. Revenue was up 1.2 per cent to $1.34 billion, the company said.

CRTC makes do-not-call registrations permanent

The CRTC said Wednesday that registrations on Canada's do-not-call list will now be permanent.

Previously, those that registered phone numbers with this database would have had to register again after six years.

Telemarketers are legally forbidden from calling numbers on the do-not-call list. The CRTC said since the list was introduced in 2008, it has imposed fines of almost $4 million for infractions.

1 in 5 households using cellphones only: StatsCan

The proportion of Canadian households using cellphones exclusively for their telephone service was 21 per cent last year, and a clear majority of households where all members are younger than 35 were using mobile only, Statistics Canada said Monday.

The overall proportion of cellphone-exclusive households was up from 12.8 per cent in 2010 and eight per cent in 2008, the federal agency said in a report.

New Ontario area code delayed by a year

The CRTC said Friday that the implementation date for a new area code in southwestern Ontario has been pushed back a year as new information indicates numbers within existing area codes there will not run out as quickly as previously thought.

It said in an online notice that adding the area code 548 in areas currently covered by 519 and 226 will happen by June 4, 2016, instead of the same date in 2015. The CRTC said its latest projection shows numbers in these areas will run out in May 2018, not September 2015.

Senate committee fails to pass S-4 amendment on disclosure

The Senate committee dealing with the Digital Privacy Act failed to pass an amendment, on a tie vote, that would have required companies to inform individuals if their personal information was being shared with another party, according to an official with the senator that proposed the amendment.

International coalition gets hyper about voice

You’d be forgiven for thinking that voice calling is becoming less important to the telecommunications industry.

MTS squeezes more profit out of less revenue

Manitoba Telecom Services Inc. said Tuesday that its first-quarter earnings were up as expenses declined in the face of lower revenue.

The company’s financial statements indicated it had net income of $41.9 million in the three months ended March 31, up from $30.9 million a year before. Its revenue was $401.5 million for the period, down 1.3 per cent from the previous year. Operating expenses, combined with depreciation and amortization costs, fell to $327.4 million from $343.3 million in the first quarter of 2013.

BCE earnings up as wireless, media divisions boost revenue

BCE Inc. improved its bottom line in this year’s first quarter as wireless data revenue surged and last year’s purchase of Astral Media contributed to its overall revenue.

Revenue was up 3.7 per cent from a year earlier to $5.1 billion, the company said in a press release. Net earnings rose to $615 million from $566 million in last year’s first quarter.

Bell Aliant first-quarter financials dip

Bell Aliant Inc. on Tuesday reported declines in both first-quarter revenue and profit.

The company’s financial records indicated that revenue came in at $675.7 million, down 1.2 per cent from the previous year. Net earnings for the quarter were $76.7 million, down from $89.3 million in the first quarter of 2013.

Verizon numbers up on wireless growth

Verizon Communications Inc. said earnings and revenue were up in the first quarter largely on strength from the wireless side of the business.

The company’s financial figures released Thursday showed revenue was up 4.8 per cent from a year earlier to $30.82 billion US for the three months ended March 31. Net income was $6 billion US for that period, up from $4.86 billion US a year earlier.

Verizon said in a press release the results included the impact of taking full ownership of Verizon Wireless in February.

AT&T reports fastest revenue growth in years

AT&T on Tuesday said its first quarter featured its strongest year-to-year revenue growth in more than two years.

The U.S. telecommunications company said in a press release that revenue in the three months ended March 31 was $32.5 billion US, up 3.6 per cent from a year earlier. It said it now expects full-year revenue growth of four per cent or more.

Net income for the quarter stayed the same as a year earlier, at $3.7 billion US.

TV, basic services, payphones among CRTC’s upcoming priorities

For the coming year, CRTC has prioritized issues including the ongoing review of Canada’s television-broadcasting system and looking into what telecommunications services should be accessible to all as well as determining how important a role payphones still play in people’s lives.

CRTC establishes video relay service

The CRTC said Tuesday that it will establish a video relay service for users of American Sign Language and Langue des signes québécoise.

CRTC approves new telco-service subsidy procedures

The CRTC on Wednesday said it had approved new procedures in the operation of the National Contribution Fund, including a provision that requires recipients to file monthly reports.

The fund was established in the 1990s. It collects money from telecommunications service providers to subsidize residential phone service in rural and remote areas to maintain what the CRTC calls “just and reasonable” rates for service in those areas.

Telus looking to fill 360 jobs

Telus Corp. said on Twitter Tuesday it is hiring for 360 jobs.

Shaw reorganizes with units for consumers, businesses

Shaw Communications Inc. said Monday it is reorganizing the company’s telecommunications businesses into two units that will focus on either consumer or business services.

It said in a press release it would consolidate its residential cable, satellite, Internet and home-phone services into a single consumer unit. Meanwhile, its enterprise cable, phone, satellite and tracking services will be merged into a unit for business services. Its media division will remain as a stand-alone unit, Shaw added.

Acquisition helps boost Cogeco Cable numbers

Cogeco Cable Inc. on Wednesday reported higher second-quarter numbers for both profit and revenue, helped along by an acquisition that took effect about a year earlier.

The company said in a press release that revenue for the period ended Feb. 28 was up 13.1 per cent from a year earlier to $486 million. It credited the acquisition of Peer 1 Network Enterprises Inc. in January 2013, a favourable effect of foreign-exchange fluctuations and organic growth in all units.

Bell Aliant, Bell exempted from wireline services regulation

The CRTC will exempt BCE Inc. and Bell Aliant Inc. (in which BCE Inc. has 44 per cent stake) from regulation of its local residential wireline services in its territories in Ontario, Quebec and Atlantic Canada.

Darren Entwistle leaves Telus ‘in good hands’

The man who led Telus Corp.’s evolution from a Western Canada-focused home-phone services provider to what one analyst called “arguably the most successful wireless carrier in North America” is stepping down as CEO.

The company said in a press release Monday that Darren Entwistle will leave his post as president and CEO of Telus on May 8, the date of Telus’ annual general meeting, and be replaced by Joe Natale, who is currently chief commercial officer and executive vice-president.

Telecoms offer few details on info disclosure

A group of academics has received responses from most of the telecommunications companies they questioned about practices and policies relating to sharing customer information with government authorities, though these responses did not go far in answering the questions posed to them.

Telus working on Public Mobile integration

Telus Corp. is “assessing” the pricing plans it makes available to Public Mobile subscribers as it works to migrate those customers onto its LTE network this year, the company’s chief commercial officer said.

“We are assessing Public Mobile pricing right now and looking at product offerings,” Joe Natale, Telus’ executive vice-president and chief commercial officer, said Thursday in a conference call with analysts to discuss the company’s fourth quarter results.

Cogeco expands home-phone service in Quebec

Cogeco Cable Inc. said Wednesday that it has launched home-phone service in three Quebec communities.

It said the service is now available in St-Simon-les-Mines, Roxton Falls and Notre-Dame-des-Pins.

The company announced introductory packages costing $4.99 a month for a basic line and $16.99 for a “Freedom Package” that includes, among other features, unlimited long-distance calling to locations in Canada and the United States.

Wireline data gains ‘highlight’ of Q4: BCE’s Cope

BCE Inc. CEO George Cope called the company’s wireline data revenue growth the “highlight” of its fourth-quarter results, released Thursday.

“From my perspective, the highlight of the quarter is the data revenue growth in wireline of four per cent,” Cope said in a conference call with analysts.

Wireline data revenue came in at $1.51 billion during the quarter, BCE said in a press release, driven by services to businesses and higher residential revenue from Internet and television customers. 

More households went mobile-only in 2012: StatsCan

The percentage of Canadian households saying they use just a cellphone and no landline rose to 15.7 per cent in 2012, according to Statistics Canada’s survey of household spending for that year, which was released Wednesday

That was up from 12.8 per cent 2011, the federal agency said in a release.

The data showed that 81.4 per cent of households reported having at least one cellphone. The previous year’s release put that figure at 79.4 per cent.

Cellphone-only users are younger, lower-income: MTM

People who use cellphones and not home phones spend more time on the Internet and watch more online TV, Media Technology Monitor said in a new report.

MTM, a joint research project between CBC/Radio-Canada and BBM Analytics, said in a report released this week that cellphone-only users “report spending more time using the Internet each week than landline subscribers with cell phones, but they are less likely to have an Internet connection at home."