CRTC requiring next-day status of service reports to TPIA subscribers

Five months after ushering the internet into the quality of service regime, the CRTC said Friday it is directing cable incumbents to provide status of service reports to customers of wholesale clients within a reasonable time. This content is available to wirereport.ca subscribers Already a subscriber? Sign in here LOGIN Forgot password? Unlock all the …

ISED OKs Shaw, Bell spectrum transfer in the North

Innovation, Science and Economic Development Canada (ISED) has approved a number of spectrum licence transfers between Shaw Communications Inc. and BCE 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 media news you need. Take a free trial or …

Freedom’s new ad campaign focuses on sharing, data overages

Shaw Communications Inc.’s Freedom Mobile will highlight its lack of overage fees and large individual data caps of its plans in its new advertising campaign. 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 …

CRTC asks carriers for lower-priced data-only plan proposals

The CRTC wants the Big Three to submit options for lower-priced data plans than those they suggested themselves, and is asking for opinions about changing its policy on wireless retail rate regulation. This content is available to wirereport.ca subscribers Already a subscriber? Sign in here LOGIN Forgot password? Unlock all the Canadian telecom, broadcasting and …

Union representing Shaw workers votes to strike

The members of a union at Shaw Communications Inc. in British Columbia have voted to strike due to issues including job security, wages and making employees pay for work devices. 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 …

Freedom launches its own low-cost data plans

Shaw Communications Inc. has launched low-cost wireless data plans that trump offers proposed by its competitors to the CRTC, after the telecoms told the regulator that it should accept no substitutes what they proposed. This content is available to wirereport.ca subscribers Already a subscriber? Sign in here LOGIN Forgot password? Unlock all the Canadian telecom, …

CRTC to hold sales practices hearing in October

The CRTC will question telecoms about their sales practices at an October hearing in Gatineau, Que., the regulator said Monday as it launched a consultation. 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 …

Shaw doubles top residential internet speed

Shaw Communications Inc. said Tuesday the company is offering a residential internet plan  with 300 Mbps download speeds, more than double its current highest-speed offering. 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 …

We have no obligation to offer paper bills: telecoms

There is no legal or regulatory obligation on telecoms to offer paper bills, BCE Inc. said in a filing to the CRTC, responding to an application asking the regulator to ensure companies must provide a paper bill to customers who ask for one. This content is available to wirereport.ca subscribers Already a subscriber? Sign in …

Cogeco hires lobbyist with wireless spectrum expertise

Amir Bigloo, who has a history of successful spectrum purchases as CEO of Corridor Communications Inc. (CCI), recently began lobbying on behalf of Cogeco Inc. during a period that saw the telecom vie for more wireless spectrum. This content is available to wirereport.ca subscribers Already a subscriber? Sign in here LOGIN Forgot password? Unlock all …

Christy Clark joins Shaw board of directors

Former British Columbia premier Christy Clark has joined Shaw Communications Inc.’s board of directors, according to a press release on 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 …

Shaw cites broadband pricing, packaging as areas to improve

Shaw Communications Inc. blamed a third quarter of soft consumer internet performance more on its own execution than on hyper-competitive activity during a conference call with analysts 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 …

Bell tops broadband speed tests, but falls in customer satisfaction survey

In a pair of studies measuring home internet service this week, BCE Inc. was positioned at the two ends of the spectrum, topping out the list of fastest connections in Canada, but falling to near the bottom of the pack in customer satisfaction. This content is available to wirereport.ca subscribers Already a subscriber? Sign in …

Cogeco could opt for ‘hybrid’ arrangement with new spectrum: Canaccord

An announcement Thursday that Cogeco Inc. has bought more spectrum makes it clear the company is “exploring a viable economic model for a wireless service,” Canaccord Genuity analyst Aravinda Galappatthige said in a Friday note. This content is available to wirereport.ca subscribers Already a subscriber? Sign in here LOGIN Forgot password? Unlock all the Canadian …

Freedom expands WiFi calling availability

Shaw Communications Inc.’s Freedom Mobile said more phones with Apple Inc.’s iOS and Alphabet Inc.’s Android platform can make WiFi calls on its network in a post on Twitter Inc.’s platform 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 …

Solve repackaging tiff yourselves: CRTC to Bell, Shaw

Shaw Communications Inc. can repackage BCE Inc.’s Investigation Discovery and there is no need for the regulator to get involved in the disagreement between the two, the CRTC told the two companies. This content is available to wirereport.ca subscribers Already a subscriber? Sign in here LOGIN Forgot password? Unlock all the Canadian telecom, broadcasting and …

Shaw touts 5G trial success

Shaw Communications Inc. said in a press release Tuesday that it has successfully completed its first 5G trial. 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 …

New numbers emerge in mandatory carriage renewal consultation

The CRTC has issued a call for comments after correcting the data it used to determine wholesale rates during the regulator’s look at mandatory carriage renewals, according to a Friday letter.  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 …

It’s not ‘notice-and-Norwich,’ SCC to hear in disclosure costs case

The notice-and-notice regime requires internet service providers (ISPs) to forward copyright infringement notices, not to identify customers to rightsholders for free, a coalition of ISPs and the Samuelson-Glushko Canadian Internet Policy and Public Interest Clinic (CIPPIC) are arguing at the Supreme Court of Canada. This content is available to wirereport.ca subscribers Already a subscriber? Sign …

Freedom on new, ‘sustainable’ trajectory after record sub adds: Shaw

On the heels of record wireless subscriber growth in its second quarter, Shaw Communication Inc.’s Freedom is on a path to steady growth, its president said on a conference call Thursday, emboldened by migrations to higher-priced data plans and stronger retention of existing customers. This content is available to wirereport.ca subscribers Already a subscriber? Sign …

Spike in complaints causing delays at CCTS, mid-year report outlines

Complaints by Canadians about their telecom services increased so much in the second half of 2017 that the Commissioner for Complaints for Telecommunications Services (CCTS) is experiencing delays in handling some of the files as a result of the increased workload. This content is available to wirereport.ca subscribers Already a subscriber? Sign in here LOGIN Forgot …

ISP coalition stands up to proposed hydro pole price

A coalition of internet service providers (ISPs) is taking the Ontario Energy Board (OEB) to task over a proposal to significantly raise the cost of hydro pole installation across the province, which they say will inevitably lead to a higher cost of internet service pushed on customers. This content is available to wirereport.ca subscribers Already …

In telecoms’ year-end, cord-cutting slows, wireline grows

Canada’s publicly-traded telecoms lost fewer TV subscribers in 2017 than in each of the previous two years, while they added enough wireless customers to beat last year’s record high of new wireless adds. This content is available to wirereport.ca subscribers Already a subscriber? Sign in here LOGIN Forgot password? Unlock all the Canadian telecom, broadcasting …

Fibre backbone, last mile projects in rural B.C. getting $38M in funding

Innovation, Science and Economic Development (ISED) Canada announced an additional $38 million of funding for rural broadband in British Columbia in a release on Tuesday. 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 …

CRTC starts next steps on disaggregated regime expansion

The CRTC is asking telecoms to provide information about demand for high-speed internet as the next step toward implementing the disaggregated wholesale regime in regions outside Ontario and Quebec. 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 …

Telecoms point to growing WiFi, IoT spectrum demand in ISED consultation

Canada’s telecoms are taking sides on how Innovation Canada should approach the release of more licence-exempt spectrum, including whether more should be allocated for WiFi use, as it prepares for the proliferation of connected devices in a 5G world. This content is available to wirereport.ca subscribers Already a subscriber? Sign in here LOGIN Forgot password? …

ISED expands AWS-1 coverage requirements, licence terms

Innovation Canada is extending both licence terms and coverage requirements following a consultation on AWS-1 spectrum renewals, it said in a decision 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 …

25% of Shaw workforce takes voluntary buyout, CFO leaving

Shaw Communications Inc. has revealed that 3,300 employees, or a quarter of its total staff, will take the company up on its offer of voluntary buyouts in a move that will cost $450 million next quarter, but then save it an expected $225 million a year. This content is available to wirereport.ca subscribers Already a …

High fees, lack of understanding limit personal info access: Citizen Lab

Financial barriers and complex responses still deter individuals from accessing their information held by companies, including telecoms, in Canada, according to a report by Toronto-based privacy advocates Citizen Lab. 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 …

Shaw’s wireless ambitions will hit big three unevenly: Barclays

Shaw Communications Inc.’s moves to take a larger share of Canada’s wireless market will affect some of the big carriers more than others, Barclays Capital analyst Phillip Huang said in a Wednesday note. This content is available to wirereport.ca subscribers Already a subscriber? Sign in here LOGIN Forgot password? Unlock all the Canadian telecom, broadcasting …

Bell, Telus report wireless sub gains from December promos

BCE Inc. and Telus Corp. both reported quarterly results for the three months ending on Dec. 31 Wednesday, and while both had significant increases in wireless customer additions, Bell especially appeared to benefit from December’s week of heightened competition. This content is available to wirereport.ca subscribers Already a subscriber? Sign in here LOGIN Forgot password? …

Shaw offering buyouts to 6,500 employees

Shaw Communications Inc. said Tuesday it is offering voluntary buyouts to 6,500 of its employees and expects 10 per cent to take it up on the offer. 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. …

Cross-industry coalition calls for website-blocking

A broad coalition made up of Canada’s largest telecoms and broadcasters, as well as groups representing content creators, is asking the CRTC to put in place a system to block 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 …

Bell, Telus sign on to Ericsson’s TV platform

BCE Inc. said Thursday it has signed a deal with Ericsson AB to use its TV platform, following a similar announcement from Telus Corp. in December. 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 …

With the iPhone, Freedom like a ‘new business’: Mehr

Shaw Communications Inc.’s wireless brand may see its strongest quarter yet following the introduction of the iPhone to its roster, the impact of which, the company’s president Jay Mehr said on a conference call with analysts Thursday, has transformed the business. This content is available to wirereport.ca subscribers Already a subscriber? Sign in here LOGIN …

As its TV ad revenue drops, Corus says ad tech is the future

Corus Entertainment Inc. executives emphasized their optimism about future plans in the advertising technology and programmatic ad space as the company reported quarterly results Wednesday that showed its television advertising revenues fell to the tune of four per cent in the first quarter of 2018. This content is available to wirereport.ca subscribers Already a subscriber? …

Analysts expect Freedom subscriber boost in Q1

After a rollicking December, analysts say Shaw Communications Inc.’s Freedom Mobile has potential to continue its 2017 momentum, though the full impact of its aggressive wireless offers may not be apparent in this week’s quarterly results. This content is available to wirereport.ca subscribers Already a subscriber? Sign in here LOGIN Forgot password? Unlock all the …

Sidewalk Labs, civil liberties group register to lobby

Alphabet Inc.’s Sidewalk Labs kicked off the new year by registering to lobby the federal government, while telecom and broadcasting communications in November grew significantly from the month before. 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 …

Jim Shaw, former Shaw CEO, dies at 60

Shaw Communications Inc. said on Wednesday evening that its former CEO, Jim Shaw, has died. This content is available to wirereport.ca subscribers Already a subscriber? Sign in here LOGIN Forgot password? Unlock all the Canadian telecom, broadcasting and digital media news you need. Take a free trial or subscribe to The Wire Report now. FREE …

Rogers’ flinch potential source of the $60/10 GB plan standoff: analyst

Rogers Communications Inc. appears to have blinked — which caused a cascade of $60 for 10 GB bring-your-own-device wireless plans — in its ongoing battle for Toronto-based wireless subscribers, according to Canaccord Genuity analyst Aravinda Galappatthige. This content is available to wirereport.ca subscribers Already a subscriber? Sign in here LOGIN Forgot password? Unlock all the …

BPF registers to lobby amidst consumer group funding concerns

A few months after the emergence of a proposal asking the CRTC to shift funding away from the Broadcast Participation Fund (BPF), the organization that helps bring consumer interests in front of the commission has filed its first registrations to lobby the regulator and the government. This content is available to wirereport.ca subscribers Already a …

Scheer mum on net neutrality as CPC MPs take opposing sides

Opposition leader Andrew Scheer isn’t going public with his position on the issue of net neutrality, even as two members of his caucus — both former Industry ministers — are publicly disagreeing on the question. This content is available to wirereport.ca subscribers Already a subscriber? Sign in here LOGIN Forgot password? Unlock all the Canadian …

Shaw launches security video service for smaller businesses

Shaw Communications Inc. is now offering a video surveillance service aimed at small and medium businesses, the company said in a press release Monday. 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 …

Millimetre wave spectrum set-asides harmful to 5G potential: telcos

The issue of set-asides has resurfaced in replies to a consultation on millimetre wave spectrum (mmWave) for 5G, with telcos suggesting the technology is a new playground in which auction participants of all types are starting from an equal position, therefore making set-asides unnecessary. This content is available to wirereport.ca subscribers Already a subscriber? Sign in …

Don’t count on Freedom’s $0 iPhone X offer for long: analyst

Shaw Communications Inc.’s Freedom Mobile announced in a press release Wednesday it will offer the entire 2017 line of Apple Inc.’s iPhone for $0 up front. 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 …

Over 300 Mbps speed adoption ‘accelerating’ in Toronto: Barclays

More customers in Toronto are adopting internet speeds over 300 Mbps, and the trend looks to be picking up pace as competition heats up in that market, according to Barclays Capital. 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 …

Size of 600 MHz set-aside, licence areas points of contention

While much of the debate around the upcoming 600 MHz spectrum auction has centered on implementing spectrum set-asides, issues like imposing a spectrum cap and the size of any set-aside, the ability of small providers to participate, and compensation for TV stations are also being hammered out in the lead-up to the action. This content …

Freedom set to support older iPhones with spectrum rejig, deployment

Shaw Communications Inc. announced Thursday that it would move to redeploy existing spectrum in addition to deploying new spectrum to allow it to support older Apple Inc. iPhones — addressing a shortcoming analysts have pointed to as a limiting factor for the company. This content is available to wirereport.ca subscribers Already a subscriber? Sign in …

Broadcast lobbying jumped ahead of Creative Canada release

Creative organizations stepped up and added to a surge in lobbying activity in the broadcast sector leading up to the release of the results in the Heritage Minister’s review of Canadian content in the digital age last month. This content is available to wirereport.ca subscribers Already a subscriber? Sign in here LOGIN Forgot password? Unlock …

Rogers, Shaw indicate different plans for IPTV, internet bundling

On the final day of the CRTC’s broadcast distribution licence hearing, Shaw Communications Inc. told commissioners it’s not planning to sell its IPTV service without a subscription to its internet service, while Rogers Communications Inc. said it would eventually be willing to do so. This content is available to wirereport.ca subscribers Already a subscriber? Sign …

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

Shaw Communications Inc.’s Freedom Mobile has announced a new set of wireless offerings in what the company is dubbing a “Big Gig” marketing campaign to begin Oct. 19. This content is available to wirereport.ca subscribers Already a subscriber? Sign in here LOGIN Forgot password? Unlock all the Canadian telecom, broadcasting and digital media news you …

Corus focuses on content over broadcast with Historia, Séries+ sale

Corus Entertainment Inc. announced Tuesday it is selling two French-language specialty channels, Historia and Séries+, to BCE Inc.’s Bell Media in a deal valued at approximately $200 million that prompted favourable reactions from financial analysts.  This content is available to wirereport.ca subscribers Already a subscriber? Sign in here LOGIN Forgot password? Unlock all the Canadian …

Look at high cost of à la carte channels, PIAC tells CRTC

GATINEAU, Que. — There are still some problems with the implementation of the CRTC’s skinny basic and pick-and-pay rules, consumer groups told the regulator during the second day of a licence hearing Tuesday. 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 …

NFL Sunday Ticket returns to broadcast TV with Dazn partnership

Perform Group’s over-the-top (OTT) sports service Dazn is partnering with Shaw Communications Inc. and Saskatchewan Telecommunications Holding Co. to broadcast some of its football content previously available exclusively online. 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 …

How big a threat are OTT sports services?

Sports remains one of the last bastions of defence for traditional TV against a wave of over-the-top (OTT) services that continue to push audiences toward cord-cutting, though for now at least, they appear to form a stronger barrier in Canada than south of the border. This content is available to wirereport.ca subscribers Already a subscriber? …

Telus leads in end-of-summer lobbying activity

Telus Corp. was far and away the busiest industry stakeholder when it came to reportable lobbying activity with the federal government last month, filing a total of 16 communication reports in August — twice as many as lobbying runner-up Rogers Communications Inc. This content is available to wirereport.ca subscribers Already a subscriber? Sign in here LOGIN Forgot password? Unlock all the …

CRTC OK’s dropping dual OMNI obligation ahead of Sept. 1 launch

Applications by Shaw Communications Inc. and Quebecor Inc.’s Videotron to allow them to drop duplicate OMNI feeds once the OMNI Regional service begins broadcasting have been approved. 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 …

Telecoms at odds on mandatory-roaming licence conditions

The CRTC’s 2015 decision to regulate wholesale wireless roaming has made an Innovation Canada condition of licence unnecessary, BCE Inc. and Telus Corp. told the department — an argument refuted by their competitors, large and small, as companies weigh in on the process for renewing AWS-1 and other spectrum licences. This content is available to wirereport.ca subscribers Already a …

BlueSky patent infringement suit dropped

A Swiss corporation and its subsidiaries have dropped a patent infringement case against 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 media news you need. Take a free trial or subscribe to The Wire Report now. FREE …

New OTT offerings pose threat to BDUs, opportunity for producers

A proliferation of new streaming TV competition in Canada is set to benefit content producers even as it causes problems for the country’s broadcasters and TV service providers through fragmented audiences and higher content costs — though it doesn’t yet signal an existential crisis for linear TV, experts said. This content is available to wirereport.ca …

Telecom, broadcasting lobbying hits July lag

July lobbying activity was affected by the expected summer slowdown that comes with Parliament not sitting and politicians being spread out across the country in their ridings — but that didn’t mean groups weren’t active. This content is available to wirereport.ca subscribers Already a subscriber? Sign in here LOGIN Forgot password? Unlock all the Canadian …

Cord-cutting trend slows in first half of year: Boon Dog

Fewer people cut their TV subscriptions in the first half of this year compared to the same period last year, according to new research by research and consulting firm Boon Dog Professional Services Inc., effectively “bucking the trend of accelerating TV cord-cutting in recent years.” This content is available to wirereport.ca subscribers Already a subscriber? …

Quebecor, Shaw to benefit from 600 MHz set-asides: analysts

Quebecor Inc.’s Videotron and Shaw Communications Inc.’s Freedom Mobile will be the big winners if Innovation Canada goes ahead with its plans to set aside spectrum for smaller players in the upcoming 600 MHz auction, financial analysts said. This content is available to wirereport.ca subscribers Already a subscriber? Sign in here LOGIN Forgot password? Unlock all …

Shaw adds unlimited option to most-popular internet plan

Shaw Communications Inc. is adding an unlimited usage option to its WideOpen Internet 150 package, which it said in a press release Tuesday is its most popular internet plan. 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 …

Transparency reporting in Canada: still opaque?

Without an Edward Snowden-like scandal, exposing inappropriate government access of citizens’ personal information, the current landscape may be as good as it gets for transparency reporting in Canada, a privacy expert says. This content is available to wirereport.ca subscribers Already a subscriber? Sign in here LOGIN Forgot password? Unlock all the Canadian telecom, broadcasting and …

Videotron-Freedom spectrum sale complete

Quebecor Inc.’s Videotron has closed its spectrum sale to Shaw Communications Inc.’s Freedom Mobile, the company announced Monday. This content is available to wirereport.ca subscribers Already a subscriber? Sign in here LOGIN Forgot password? Unlock all the Canadian telecom, broadcasting and digital media news you need. Take a free trial or subscribe to The Wire Report now. …

ISED approves Videotron spectrum transfer to Freedom

Innovation, Science and Economic Development (ISED) has approved the transfer of spectrum licences from Quebecor Inc.’s Videotron to Shaw Communications Inc.’s 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 subscribe …

Iristel brings another traffic pumping dispute to CRTC

Shaw Communications Inc.’s Freedom Mobile is refusing to pay Iristel Inc. for some services in a move that relates to an ongoing proceeding in front of the CRTC over traffic stimulation, Iristel said in a filing with the regulator. This content is available to wirereport.ca subscribers Already a subscriber? Sign in here LOGIN Forgot password? Unlock all …

No wholesale obligations for new broadband fund projects: telcos

Mandating wholesale access as a condition of funding for projects under the CRTC’s new broadband funding regime will increase costs while effectively discouraging investment, two of the country’s largest telcos said. 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 …

Shaw, Quebecor OMNI applications expedited

The deadline for interventions in a pair of Part 1 applications to the CRTC from Shaw Communications Inc. and Quebecor Inc. has been changed from July 31 to July 14. 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 …

STB data measurement complex task, group says

Activity by a working group tasked with studying the implementation of an audience measurement system via set-top boxes is slow, but steady, TV providers told the CRTC, with user privacy coming to bear as a top concern for those involved. This content is available to wirereport.ca subscribers Already a subscriber? Sign in here LOGIN Forgot …

Shaw, Quebecor ask CRTC to drop dual OMNI obligation

Shaw Communications Inc. is asking the CRTC to allow it to take OMNI’s over-the-air (OTA) station out of its basic service package once OMNI Regional begins broadcasting. 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 …

Plan comes together for TV subs boost in Shaw Q3: Mehr

Shaw Communications Inc.’s increased TV and Internet subscription numbers in the year’s third fiscal quarter reflect a team effort to increase the company’s wireline business, president and chief operating officer Jay Mehr said Wednesday. This content is available to wirereport.ca subscribers Already a subscriber? Sign in here LOGIN Forgot password? Unlock all the Canadian telecom, broadcasting …

Wireless promos up compared to last year: Barclays

Leading up to Canada’s 150th anniversary, wireless promotions from incumbents and their flanker brands have increased noticeably compared to last year, according to Barclays Capital analyst Phillip Huang. 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 …

CCSA leads lobbying after Hill visit

Last month’s deluge of Canadian Cable Systems Alliance (CCSA) members on Parliament Hill for the group’s third annual lobby day pushed the organization to the top of the telecom lobbying list for the second month this year, logging 49 communication reports in May. This content is available to wirereport.ca subscribers Already a subscriber? Sign in …

CRTC eliminates locked phones in Canada by December

As part of a decision on its review of the Wireless Code, the CRTC has eliminated unlocking fees for smartphones and mandated that all newly purchased devices must be provided unlocked as of Dec. 1, 2017. This content is available to wirereport.ca subscribers Already a subscriber? Sign in here LOGIN Forgot password? Unlock all the Canadian …

Spectrum buy to improve Shaw network, but benefits will take time: analysts

Shaw Communications Inc. announced Tuesday that it has purchased 700MHz and 2500MHz spectrum from Quebecor Inc. for $430 million, in what Shaw described as  “a significant milestone towards improving network coverage and quality across Alberta, British Columbia and Ontario.” This content is available to wirereport.ca subscribers Already a subscriber? Sign in here LOGIN Forgot password? Unlock all the Canadian telecom, …

AWS-1 sale unlikely to set precedent for 700MHz: Canaccord

The sale last week of Videotron’s AWS-1 spectrum by Quebecor Inc. to Rogers Communications Inc. isn’t likely to have implications for the company’s 700MHz spectrum, according to Canaccord Genuity analyst Aravinda Galappatthige. 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 …

Incumbents defend wireless prices after Bains criticism

TORONTO — Representatives from the big three were on the defense a day after the innovation minister publicly took issue with wireless prices, pointing to investments they’ve made in their networks and the quality of service that’s available to Canadians. This content is available to wirereport.ca subscribers Already a subscriber? Sign in here LOGIN Forgot …

Shaw selling fleet management branch

Shaw Communications Inc. is selling its fleet management arm to an American company looking to increase its Canadian presence, it said in a Friday press release. 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 …

Telecoms pooh-pooh affordability fund

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

CBC, Netflix jump in brand trust ranking

Both CBC/Radio-Canada and Netflix Inc. saw dramatic improvements in how Canadians view their brands over the past year, according to the latest edition of the Gustavson Brand Trust Index. 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 …

ISED PS Lametti hot property for April lobbying

The parliamentary secretary to the innovation minister was a popular target for lobbyists last month, as representatives from major telecom and Internet companies sought him out, according to the latest statistics from the office of the lobbying commissioner. This content is available to wirereport.ca subscribers Already a subscriber? Sign in here LOGIN Forgot password? Unlock …

CRTC to review pick-and-pay rollout in Oct.

The CRTC will hold a hearing on a number of broadcast distribution undertakings’ [BDUs] licence renewal applications starting on Oct. 16, which will include looking at how those providers put their pick-and-pay rules in place. This content is available to wirereport.ca subscribers Already a subscriber? Sign in here LOGIN Forgot password? Unlock all the Canadian …

Bell touts good relationship with PMO: Barclays

BCE Inc. believes the company currently has a “good working relationship” with the Prime Minister’s Office (PMO), according to a note from Barclays Capital analyst Phillip Huang, written following meetings last week between CEO George Cope and head of investor relations Thane Fotopoulos in New York.

Partial sale would bring benefits to SaskTel: Desjardins

The sale of a stake in Saskatchewan Telecommunications Holding Corp. would help the crown corporation when it comes to adopting new technologies, according to Desjardins Capital Markets analyst Maher Yaghi.

“The scale of a large telecom player could help SaskTel implement upcoming technologies, such as 5G, more easily,” Yaghi said in a Friday note, pointing to the “technological insight and purchasing power of a potential partner.”

Shaw looking to sell ViaWest: report

Shaw Communications Inc. wants to sell its ViaWest data centre division, according to a Reuters report, a move analysts had been predicting would help it focus on its wireless business.

Shaw, Corus closing 3 community TV stations, shifting to Global

Shaw Communications Inc. and Corus Entertainment Inc. will close three Shaw local TV stations in Vancouver, Edmonton and Calgary, and redistribute the annual funding to Global News stations in the same cities, the companies announced Wednesday.