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TAGGED AS SHAW
BREAKING: 3500 MHz auction nets $8.9B, $7.3B from incumbents
Canadian telecom companies — and wireless service hopefuls — have spent some $8.91 billion on the 3,500 MHz band of spectrum, according to preliminary results released Thursday afternoon by the Department of Innovation, Science, and Economic Development (ISED). The 3,500 MHz band is widely seen as crucial to the roll out of 5G networks. Rogers …
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Federal Court of Appeal dismisses BDUs’ appeal of distant signal tariffs
The Federal Court of Appeal ruled Friday partially in favour of a group that challenged a tariff increase by the Copyright Board of Canada for over-the-air distant signal retransmission while dismissing an appeal of the same decision by six of the country’s largest TV service providers. This content is available to wirereport.ca subscribers Already a …
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Rogers reports spike in wireless subscribers and rise in profit for Q2
The return of the Toronto Blue Jays has caused Rogers Communications Inc.’s media revenues to surge by 84 per cent during its second quarter of the year, contributing to the company’s overall Q2 earnings of $302 million — an eight per cent increase from last year. This content is available to wirereport.ca subscribers Already a …
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High spectrum costs could be driven by competition for set aside: analyst
Industry analysts are declining to speculate too much on what caused the Canadian telecom sector to have so far spent $8 billion on the 3500 MHz auction, more than double what they were predicting, however, they are not surprised to see high spending this year. This content is available to wirereport.ca subscribers Already a subscriber? …
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Shaw reports rise in profits for third quarter
Shaw Communications Inc. reported a large spike in profit for its third quarter of the year on Wednesday. This content is available to wirereport.ca subscribers Already a subscriber? Sign in here LOGIN Forgot password? Unlock all the Canadian telecom, broadcasting and digital media news you need. Take a free trial or subscribe to The Wire …
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ISED approves Freedom spectrum licence subordination in British Columbia
The department of Innovation, Science and Economic Development Canada (ISED) has approved the subordination of two spectrum licences held by Freedom Mobile. 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 …
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62k sign petition against Rogers-Shaw merger
A coalition of four separate advocacy groups Tuesday delivered a 62,000 signature-strong petition to the Competition Bureau, asking the regulator to block Rogers Communications Inc.‘s proposed acquisition of Shaw Communications Inc. This content is available to wirereport.ca subscribers Already a subscriber? Sign in here LOGIN Forgot password? Unlock all the Canadian telecom, broadcasting and digital …
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Telecoms emphasize concerns, support for CRTC’s botnet blocking proposal
Canada’s big-three telecoms are doubling down on their assertions that the CRTC does not need to implement a proposal that would require them to block malicious botnet traffic on their networks. 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 …
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CRTC revokes Shaw Sault Ste. Marie broadcasting licence
The CRTC granted a request by Shaw Cablesystems Ltd. to revoke its broadcasting licence for the Sault Ste. Marie area of Ontario on Wednesday. This content is available to wirereport.ca subscribers Already a subscriber? Sign in here LOGIN Forgot password? Unlock all the Canadian telecom, broadcasting and digital media news you need. Take a free …
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Data on Tap asks Trudeau gov. to review MVNO decision
Data on Tap Inc., one of the country’s hopeful mobile virtual network operators, has filed a petition to the governor in council, asking the government of Justin Trudeau to review the April decision of the CRTC to only mandate access to incumbent mobile networks for a limited number of regional operators. In a Tuesday release, …
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Time to look beyond consumer price increases in M&As, say experts
The competition bureau is “flying blind” when it comes to understanding the cumulative effects of mergers—such as the proposed Rogers Communications Inc. acquisition of Shaw Communications Inc.—according to policy experts who testified before the House of Commons’ Industry committee Thursday as it continued its study on competitiveness in Canada. This content is available to wirereport.ca …
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Shaw reports boost in profit, slight rise in revenue for Q2
Shaw Communications Inc. reported an increase of 1.8 per cent in revenue Wednesday for its second quarter of the year, totalling nearly $1.39 billion for the period ending February 28—not long before it was announced Rogers Communications Inc. intends to acquire the company for $26.2 billion. This content is available to wirereport.ca subscribers Already a …
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Novus wants CRTC to pause access complaint
Novus Entertainment Inc., which is fighting for access to a multi-dwelling unit in Coquitlam, British Columbia, has asked the CRTC to pause its application against the developer while they exchange information and negotiate. This content is available to wirereport.ca subscribers Already a subscriber? Sign in here LOGIN Forgot password? Unlock all the Canadian telecom, broadcasting …
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CRTC rejects incumbent request to expand Internet Code
The CRTC has rejected a request from a number of large facilities-based internet service providers for the regulator to extend the Internet Code to smaller ISPs and resellers. 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 …
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Efficiencies defense is a ‘serious’ exercise of discretion: competition comish
Allowing a merger to proceed on the basis of the so-called “efficiencies defense” is “a very, very serious exercise of enforcement discretion to approve an otherwise anticompetitive merger,” according to the man in charge of enforcing the Competition Act. Competition Bureau commissioner Matthew Boswell made his remarks Wednesday on the final day of the House …
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Without an MVNO mandate, Shaw must divest its spectrum: CNOC
Without a regime for mandated access for mobile virtual network operators (MVNOs), the regulatory authorities in charge of reviewing the proposed merger between Rogers Communications Inc. and Shaw Communications Inc. should force the companies to spin off the Freedom Mobile wireless brand, its customers, and its spectrum. If such an MVNO regime were in place, …
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Accessibility reporting should apply to resellers: Bell, Shaw
BCE Inc. and Shaw Communications Inc. are taking issue with TekSavvy Solutions Inc.‘s assertion that it will be unfairly burdened by regulations that will require companies to make their services more accessible to Canadians with disabilities. This content is available to wirereport.ca subscribers Already a subscriber? Sign in here LOGIN Forgot password? Unlock all the …
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Quebecor would buy Freedom, but only with spectrum: PKP
Quebecor Inc. has indicated that, should the Competition Bureau force Rogers Communications Inc. to spin-off Shaw Communications Inc.‘s wireless assets as part of its regulatory approval of the Rogers-Shaw merger, Quebecor would be open to purchasing it, provided it came with associated spectrum and roaming agreements. Quebecor executives Pierre Karl Péladeau and Jean-François Pruneau made …
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While Rogers and Shaw are merging, we’ll be building: Bell CEO
Rogers Communications Inc.‘s proposed acquisition of Shaw Communications Inc. doesn’t change anything for one of their biggest competitors, according to BCE Inc. CEO Mirko Bibic. 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 …
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Rogers, Shaw execs mum on spectrum at Industry committee
On the opening day Monday of hearings into Roger’s proposed acquisition of Shaw, MPs on the House of Commons Industry Committee sought answers from the companies’ executives on whether or not the two companies seek to hold on to Shaw’s discounted spectrum, and how the merger would affect wireless prices in Canada. On the spectrum …
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Bell not sweating over Rogers-Shaw deal: CFO
Despite the uncertainty surrounding the potential impacts of Rogers Communications Inc. acquiring Shaw Communications Inc., BCE Inc. CFO Glen LeBlanc does not seem incredibly fazed. 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 …
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Smaller broadcasters, telecoms fret over CRTC’s accessibility reporting proposals
Organizations representing smaller Canadian broadcasters and telecoms have expressed concern about the feasibility of the CRTC’s proposed new accessibility reporting requirements, suggesting that they could pose an undue burden. 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 …
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Concerned about Rogers-Shaw deal: Cogeco’s Jetté
After surviving a hostile takeover bid by Rogers Communications Inc. in September, Cogeco Inc. president and CEO Philippe Jetté said Tuesday that Rogers’ acquisition of Shaw Communications Inc. presents a great deal of “uncertainty.” This content is available to wirereport.ca subscribers Already a subscriber? Sign in here LOGIN Forgot password? Unlock all the Canadian telecom, …
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Citizen advocacy group seeks new telecom watchdog
Following the $26.2 billion deal between Rogers Communications Inc. and Shaw Communications Inc. announced last week, citizen advocacy group Democracy Watch says a consumer-run telecom watchdog group should be created to protect the public interest in dealing with telecoms. This content is available to wirereport.ca subscribers Already a subscriber? Sign in here LOGIN Forgot password? …
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New urgency for MVNO hopefuls following Rogers-Shaw deal
Monday’s announcement of a deal for Rogers Communications Inc. to acquire Shaw Communications Inc. has altered the playing field in the Canadian telecommunications, and specifically in the wireless sector. 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 …
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Focus on competition at ‘day of action’ following Rogers-Shaw deal
As news of Roger’s Communications Inc.’s deal to acquire Shaw Communications Inc. sparks discussions on what it may mean for the wireless market in Canada, advocates say competition and other considerations will be important for the public’s best interests in the future. This content is available to wirereport.ca subscribers Already a subscriber? Sign in here …
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Shaw wireline losses are part of a strategy: McAleese
While Shaw Communications Inc. posted a substantial loss in wireline subscribers for the three months ending Nov. 30 of last year, executives encouraged those scrutinizing the numbers to cut the company some slack, and recognize the long-term strategy Shaw is pursuing to compete with Telus Corp. in western Canada. This content is available to wirereport.ca …
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Rogers, Shaw get cableco support in demand for relocation payments
Rogers Communications Inc. and Shaw Communications Inc. have the support of two regional telecom companies in a joint Part 1 that they filed, requesting that the CRTC force the British Columbian government to give compensation for mandatory relocation of their infrastructure in the province. This content is available to wirereport.ca subscribers Already a subscriber? Sign …
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Wireless no longer a growth market: Shaw’s McAleese
The lack of pricing “discipline” in the wireless market could have negative consequences for key economic indicators like service revenue and average billing per user (ARPU), according to Shaw Communications Inc. wireless president Paul McAleese. And it’s not Shaw’s fault, McAleese said. This content is available to wirereport.ca subscribers Already a subscriber? Sign in here …
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Rogers, Shaw want CRTC to force B.C. to pay for infrastructure relocation
Rogers Communications Inc. and Shaw Communications Inc. have asked the CRTC to require British Columbia’s Ministry of Transportation and Infrastructure to either pay half of the costs of mandatory relocation of their telecommunications infrastructure, or the same reimbursement the province gives to Telus Corp., “whichever is greater,” according to a joint Part 1 filed Friday …
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Federal Court dismisses incumbents’ wholesale rates appeal
The Federal Court of Appeal dismissed Thursday the large telecom companies’ appeal of the CRTC’s Aug. 2019 decision lowering wholesale rates. The appeal is part of a long-running dispute between incumbent telecoms including BCE Inc., Rogers Communications Inc., Shaw Communications Inc. and Quebecor Inc., and smaller providers that buy wholesale service from them, like those …
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CRTC presses pause on measures to combat phone porting
The CRTC has asked telecoms to indefinitely refrain from starting or relaunching any measures to block unauthorized SIM swapping or porting, after Quebecor Inc. and Shaw Communications Inc. reported issues with a process created by members of the Canadian Wireless Technology Association’s wireless number portability (WNP) council. This content is available to wirereport.ca subscribers Already …
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Shaw Mobile’s early gains to come at expense of Rogers, Bell: analyst
Shaw Communications Inc.’s new wireless brand is likely to initially attract customers from BCE Inc. and Rogers Communications Inc. due to the overlap between their wireless subscribers and Shaw’s wireline base, Canaccord Genuity analyst Aravinda Galappatthige said in a Thursday briefing note. This content is available to wirereport.ca subscribers Already a subscriber? Sign in here …
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Shaw bundles internet and wireless in new mobile offering
Shaw Communications Inc.’s first Shaw-branded wireless service has launched in Alberta and British Columbia, giving the company’s internet customers up to six lines of unlimited talk and text, as well as two data plan options. This content is available to wirereport.ca subscribers Already a subscriber? Sign in here LOGIN Forgot password? Unlock all the Canadian …
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UBF should focus on both backbone, last mile, ISPs told ISED
At a discussion about Ottawa’s now-delayed Universal Broadband Fund with stakeholders in January, the federal government heard it shouldn’t require funding from other levels of government and focus on both backbone and last-mile projects, according to documents obtained through access to information. This content is available to wirereport.ca subscribers Already a subscriber? Sign in here …
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Shaw’s subscriber additions dampened by COVID lockdowns
Shaw Communications Inc. president Paul McAleese said that while there has not been a big shift in customer behavior during the COVID-19 pandemic, the company is still nervous about the months ahead, given the economic impact of the pandemic. This content is available to wirereport.ca subscribers Already a subscriber? Sign in here LOGIN Forgot password? …
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Telecoms not obligated to give rights-of-way to Calgary: Alberta court
Telecom companies operating in Calgary will not have to abide by a municipal bylaw granting the city rights-of-way, the Alberta Court of Appeal has decided. 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 …
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Shaw to lay off about 100 British Columbia field technicians
Shaw Communications Inc. plans to permanently lay off about 100 field technicians in British Columbia’s Lower Mainland, stating the COVID-19 pandemic had “only accelerated” the company’s two-year pivot towards a self-connect service model. This content is available to wirereport.ca subscribers Already a subscriber? Sign in here LOGIN Forgot password? Unlock all the Canadian telecom, broadcasting …
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‘Work together,’ CRTC tells wholesale-based ISPs, incumbents
The CRTC has responded to a letter from The Canadian Network Operators Consortium (CNOC) and TekSavvy Solutions Inc. taking issue with changes to incumbent installation and repair procedures, saying it won’t require the filing of additional information in response to the complaint. This content is available to wirereport.ca subscribers Already a subscriber? Sign in here …
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Shaw lays off ten per cent of workforce due to COVID-19
Shaw Communications Inc. will temporarily lay off about ten per cent of its workforce due to the “extraordinary and unpredictable conditions created by the COVID-19 pandemic,” the company announced in a press release on Tuesday. This content is available to wirereport.ca subscribers Already a subscriber? Sign in here LOGIN Forgot password? Unlock all the Canadian …
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Canadian wireless sub adds down slightly from 2018
Canada’s publicly-traded wireless service providers added just under 1.29 million wireless subscribers in 2019, a year many executives described as one of the most intensely competitive in recent memory. 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 …
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Telecoms close stores, offer free channels in response to COVID-19
Telecommunication providers are closing retail stores, offering complimentary TV channels and continuing to waive overage fees on home internet plans as they respond to COVID-19. This content is available to wirereport.ca subscribers Already a subscriber? Sign in here LOGIN Forgot password? Unlock all the Canadian telecom, broadcasting and digital media news you need. Take a …
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COVID-19 prompts multiple ISPs to suspend data caps
Multiple Canadian internet providers have suspended caps on data usage as they prepare for a huge increase in the amount of customers working from home in an attempt to limit the spread of COVID-19. This content is available to wirereport.ca subscribers Already a subscriber? Sign in here LOGIN Forgot password? Unlock all the Canadian telecom, …
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Broad MVNO access too risky, Competition Bureau tells CRTC
GATINEAU, Que. — The CRTC’s two-week wireless policy review kicked off with a detailed questioning of one of the few parties to promote a middle-of-the-road solution for mandating MVNO access to incumbent infrastructure. This content is available to wirereport.ca subscribers Already a subscriber? Sign in here LOGIN Forgot password? Unlock all the Canadian telecom, broadcasting …
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Incumbents, small telecoms pan Competition Bureau MVNO proposal
Telecom providers both big and small have unanimously rejected a Competition Bureau proposal to allow strictly-regulated mobile virtual network operator (MVNO) access to the Big Three’s networks for five years, but for vastly different reasons. This content is available to wirereport.ca subscribers Already a subscriber? Sign in here LOGIN Forgot password? Unlock all the Canadian …
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Big Three pricing has been ‘erratic’: Shaw’s McAleese
After taking credit over the summer for the reduction in wireless pricing in the Canadian market, Shaw Communications Inc. is now blaming the incumbents for driving down the market with “erratic” pricing competition over the summer and through to the holiday period. This content is available to wirereport.ca subscribers Already a subscriber? Sign in here …
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Telecoms deadlocked ahead of 5G rollout: analyst
No major wireless provider stands out as most likely to benefit from Canada’s looming 5G network rollout, despite two players’ extensive combined wireline footline placing them on the “front foot”, RBC Capital Markets analyst Drew McReynolds says. This content is available to wirereport.ca subscribers Already a subscriber? Sign in here LOGIN Forgot password? Unlock all …
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Telecoms find silver lining in unprecedented number of CCTS complaints
Despite improvements in customer service that have lowered customer defections, the country’s telecom complaints watchdog said it still accepted 35 per cent more issues from subscribers over the year — but the telecoms are pointing to improved figures. This content is available to wirereport.ca subscribers Already a subscriber? Sign in here LOGIN Forgot password? Unlock all …
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TekSavvy files appeal against site-blocking order
Internet service provider TekSavvy Solutions Inc. has appealed a Federal Court order requiring ISPs to block a pair of websites selling allegedly pirated content. This content is available to wirereport.ca subscribers Already a subscriber? Sign in here LOGIN Forgot password? Unlock all the Canadian telecom, broadcasting and digital media news you need. Take a free …
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Cell data tracking company continues lobby push, despite tough reception
A company that says its privacy-focused software app can tell employers exactly how their employees are using their phones at work said it hasn’t received support for its product in the country it was born in. This content is available to wirereport.ca subscribers Already a subscriber? Sign in here LOGIN Forgot password? Unlock all the …
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In an unstable week for wireless, steady Q4 for Shaw
In a conference call with analysts Friday, Shaw Communications Inc. executives declared that the company is in a good place to weather what one analyst has called a “storm” in the wireless sector. This content is available to wirereport.ca subscribers Already a subscriber? Sign in here LOGIN Forgot password? Unlock all the Canadian telecom, broadcasting …
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Telecoms say oral hearing on wholesale rate not necessary
After an urgent plea by BCE Inc. requesting the Federal Court hold an oral hearing on the deadline of a CRTC order to implement new wholesale internet rates that it is protesting, Bell and other telecoms are saying such a process is not necessary to grant a stay of the decision. This content is available to …
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Japanese comics publisher wants info on alleged infringer from ISPs
Shueisha Inc., a Japanese publisher of comic books, has filed an application in Federal Court to compel two Canadian internet service providers to fork over the personal information of subscribers they allege have infringed on their copyright. This content is available to wirereport.ca subscribers Already a subscriber? Sign in here LOGIN Forgot password? Unlock all …
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Fido gets in on no-overage plans by capping data
Rogers Communications Inc. said its flanker brand Fido would begin offering what the company is calling data overage protection, joining the flagship brands that have all launched some level of plan doing away with overage charges in recent months. This content is available to wirereport.ca subscribers Already a subscriber? Sign in here LOGIN Forgot password? Unlock …
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CRTC commissioning report about market impact of online BDUs
The CRTC wants to know more about the potential for the Canadian broadcasting market to absorb virtual broadcasting distribution undertakings (vBDUs). 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 …
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Telecom prices down, household spending up: CRTC
Prices for communications services are on a downward trend, according to new data from the CRTC, but spending on those goods are also on the rise. 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 …
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Some consumers uncertain about wholesale competitor quality: Comp Bureau
Despite being “impressed” by the competitive presence of wholesale-based internet competitors, the Competition Bureau said there’s still a bit of uncertainty about how far that competitive dynamic will go into the future, according to its study on residential broadband internet services. This content is available to wirereport.ca subscribers Already a subscriber? Sign in here LOGIN …
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Telecoms must hand over more detailed info to Comp Bureau
The CRTC has directed telecom companies to disclose an additional set of information to the Competition Bureau ahead of the regulator’s review of Canada’s mobile wireless market next year. This content is available to wirereport.ca subscribers Already a subscriber? Sign in here LOGIN Forgot password? Unlock all the Canadian telecom, broadcasting and digital media news you …
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Freedom plans could drive big three back to subsidies: analysts
The launch of new plans from Shaw Communications Inc.’s Freedom will drive more competition in the wireless market, analysts said after the new $0 phone plans were unveiled — warning the new offerings could lead incumbents to reconsider their new equipment financing plans. This content is available to wirereport.ca subscribers Already a subscriber? Sign in …
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Freedom answers to ‘unlimited’, offers $0 phones on select plans
Shaw Communications Inc.’s Freedom is responding to the wireless industry’s recent moves toward removing data caps and offering $0 upfront financing plans by throwing-in select devices at absolutely no charge on certain plans. This content is available to wirereport.ca subscribers Already a subscriber? Sign in here LOGIN Forgot password? Unlock all the Canadian telecom, broadcasting …
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Emergency services affected by service outage, Rogers confirms
The wireless service outage that began on Sunday and affected the country’s four major carriers impacted 911 emergency services for nearly eight hours, Rogers Communications Inc. confirmed. This content is available to wirereport.ca subscribers Already a subscriber? Sign in here LOGIN Forgot password? Unlock all the Canadian telecom, broadcasting and digital media news you need. Take a free trial …
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CRTC asks wireless providers to justify post-data cap throttling
The CRTC has asked several telecoms to explain how their throttling of wireless speeds once customers exceed their data allotments doesn’t violate the commission’s regulatory policy on internet traffic management practices (ITMPs). This content is available to wirereport.ca subscribers Already a subscriber? Sign in here LOGIN Forgot password? Unlock all the Canadian telecom, broadcasting and …
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Bigger, cheaper data plans thanks to us: Shaw
The price of data is coming down and the size of data packages is going up, all thanks to market pressure introduced by Shaw Communications Inc.’s Freedom Mobile wireless brand, according to Shaw. This content is available to wirereport.ca subscribers Already a subscriber? Sign in here LOGIN Forgot password? Unlock all the Canadian telecom, broadcasting …
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Corus asked BTLR to immediately change foreign ownership rules
Corus Entertainment Inc., the only major Canadian broadcaster refusing to make public its submission to the ongoing review of Canada’s communications laws, asked the government to move quickly to loosen restrictions on foreign ownership of broadcast assets. This content is available to wirereport.ca subscribers Already a subscriber? Sign in here LOGIN Forgot password? Unlock all the Canadian …
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Freedom open to network-sharing with Rogers, president says
As Shaw Communications Inc. continues to expand its Freedom Mobile brand, a top executive said the company would like to enter into a network sharing arrangement with Rogers Communications Inc. at some point, a desire not shared with the bigger telecom. This content is available to wirereport.ca subscribers Already a subscriber? Sign in here LOGIN …
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CRTC sticks with OMNI for multi-ethnic must-carry spot
Rogers Communications Inc.‘s OMNI will continue to benefit from the sole licence to operate its multi-ethnic channel on basic TV packages as a result of a CRTC decision on Thursday. This content is available to wirereport.ca subscribers Already a subscriber? Sign in here LOGIN Forgot password? Unlock all the Canadian telecom, broadcasting and digital media news you …
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CRTC denies PIAC clarity on phone unlocking
The CRTC has denied a request by the Public Interest Advocacy Centre (PIAC) to state that CRTC policy requires wireless providers to unlock devices for anyone who asks, regardless of whether they are customers of that company. This content is available to wirereport.ca subscribers Already a subscriber? Sign in here LOGIN Forgot password? Unlock all …
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Shaw says patience, not regulation, required to see organic MVNO market
Shaw Communications Inc.’s Freedom, the country’s major fourth wireless player, says it is most susceptible to harm if the CRTC decides to mandate MVNO access to incumbent facilities, and that time and encouraging network investment are needed for the CRTC to see an organic wholesale market for MVNOs to emerge. This content is available to …
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Keep satellite OTA replacement program in place, CRTC hears
Users of a program that provides free access to conventional TV stations in areas where they’re not available over-the-air are asking the CRTC not to allow Shaw Communications Inc. to shut down the program. This content is available to wirereport.ca subscribers Already a subscriber? Sign in here LOGIN Forgot password? Unlock all the Canadian telecom, …
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$10 fees on customer service tasks don’t violate Wireless Code: Bell, Telus
BCE Inc., Rogers Communications Inc., Telus Corp., and Shaw Communications Inc. have responded to the CRTC’s questions about $10 fees they charge for some customer service tasks. 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. …
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Federal Court won’t hear Calgary bylaw case
The Federal Court of Appeal has rejected an application by the City of Calgary asking the court to review a CRTC decision the city said didn’t address whether a new bylaw could govern telecom access to infrastructure. This content is available to wirereport.ca subscribers Already a subscriber? Sign in here LOGIN Forgot password? Unlock all …
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Telecoms say Calgary has no grounds to appeal bylaw case
The country’s largest telecoms are telling the Federal Court that the City of Calgary shouldn’t be allowed to appeal a CRTC decision on whether the city’s new bylaw binds the carriers on infrastructure builds, while the city is arguing that the telecoms are still getting the issues wrong. This content is available to wirereport.ca subscribers …
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Complaints to CCTS increase again, TV issues up 500%
Complaints about TV service to the Commissioner for Complaints for Telecommunications Services (CCTS) skyrocketed to 18 per cent of all complaints in CCTS’ latest 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 media news you need. Take a …
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Expect industry pushback on new CRTC directive, MVNOs: experts
The Liberal government should expect some amount of industry opposition against the wording of the government’s new, consumer-focused CRTC policy direction and the regulator’s new pro-MVNO stance, according to some industry-watchers and insiders. This content is available to wirereport.ca subscribers Already a subscriber? Sign in here LOGIN Forgot password? Unlock all the Canadian telecom, broadcasting …
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Rural broadband, new tax rules among industry pre-budget asks
As the Liberal government unveils its last budget before the upcoming federal election, companies and industry groups will be watching to see if this is the year they’re finally granted some of the requests they’ve been making for years. This content is available to wirereport.ca subscribers Already a subscriber? Sign in here LOGIN Forgot password? …
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ACORN asks review panel for low-income $10 internet
All Canadians whose earnings fall below the government’s low-income measure should have access to internet service for $10, an advocacy group is telling the panel reviewing the broadcasting and telecom acts. 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 …
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Telecoms added over 1.4 million new wireless subs in 2018
Canada’s publicly traded telecom companies added more than one million total wireless customers last year, putting an exclamation point on a year of explosive growth in the sector. 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 …
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Calgary asking to appeal CRTC decision in bylaw case
The CRTC misunderstood the scope of the issues when it denied an application by Calgary to formally require telecoms to go through its new bylaw — and get the city’s consent — to access municipal infrastructure, the city said in new court documents. This content is available to wirereport.ca subscribers Already a subscriber? Sign in here LOGIN …
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Radio interference, 5G delays raised in new spectrum tier consult
BCE Inc., Shaw Communications Inc., and Quebecor Inc. are warning against a proposed new smaller spectrum licensing tier, while smaller players and other interested groups cheer on the idea and pitch their own ideas on how to draw up the new area sizes. This content is available to wirereport.ca subscribers Already a subscriber? Sign in …
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Shaw calls for removal of 5% BDU content contribution
Shaw Communications Inc. is asking the government to drop the five per cent revenue contribution TV service providers make to Canadian content, but says if CanCon needs a subsidy then it should be a direct one from government coffers. This content is available to wirereport.ca subscribers Already a subscriber? Sign in here LOGIN Forgot …
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Freedom says data strategy attracting higher-value customers
Shaw Communications Inc. says its wireless business has reaped the fruits of a strategy — in the form of a sub base that pays more — that focused its efforts on making data-related issues a thing of the past. This content is available to wirereport.ca subscribers Already a subscriber? Sign in here LOGIN Forgot password? …
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Don’t lift 100 Mbps wholesale speed cap: big telecoms
Canada’s large internet service providers say granting the Canadian Network Operators Consortium (CNOC) request to lift the CRTC’s speed cap of 100 Mbps for wholesale internet would eliminate the motivation for providers to adopt its disaggregated wholesale regime. This content is available to wirereport.ca subscribers Already a subscriber? Sign in here LOGIN Forgot password? Unlock …
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CRTC tells wireless providers to offer message relay services
Wireless operators will have to begin offering message relay services (MRS) by June 2019, the CRTC said Friday. This content is available to wirereport.ca subscribers Already a subscriber? Sign in here LOGIN Forgot password? Unlock all the Canadian telecom, broadcasting and digital media news you need. Take a free trial or subscribe to The Wire …
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ISPs can resell wholesale service to other providers: CRTC
The CRTC has sided with a small telecom that was reselling wholesale internet service from Bragg Communications Inc.’s Eastlink to other internet service providers, despite Eastlink’s objections. 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. …
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