Eliminate locked phones in Canada, Freedom Mobile tells CRTC

In a departure from the positions of its fellow wireless providers, Shaw Communications Inc.’s Freedom Mobile suggested Wednesday the CRTC should forbid carriers from charging fees for unlocking phones, and direct them to stop ordering locked devices from equipment manufacturers.

Telecoms to challenge Calgary bylaw in court

BCE Inc., Rogers Communications Inc., Shaw Communications Inc., Telus Corp., and Zayo Group Holdings Inc. plan to challenge the constitutional validity of Calgary’s municipal rights-of-way bylaw.

Trump raising concerns about Internet traffic passing U.S.: advocates

In November 2016, a group of Internet experts met in Toronto to discuss how to address the issue of Canadian Internet traffic travelling to the United States, which some say raises data privacy concerns that have now been amplified with the election of U.S. president Donald Trump.

CRTC sides with Shaw in conduit billing dispute with Telus

Telus Corp. can’t charge Shaw Communications Inc. or any other telecom for access to its service entrance conduit, the CRTC said in a decision Friday.

It said that if Telus is “providing access to service entrance conduit, because such service is a telecommunications service, it must file and obtain Commission approval for a tariff specific to that service.”

Freedom to at least quadruple handset offering by mid-2017: Shaw

As Shaw Communications Inc. released its first quarterly earnings report since rebranding its wireless segment to Freedom Mobile, CEO Brad Shaw said the company is looking to have a double-digit number of handsets available by mid-year, after some analysts pegged the company’s small handset roster as a potential limiting factor to its appeal.

“I think when you look at the new network, one of the key things is handsets and handset availability,” Shaw said on a conference call with media Thursday.

Shaw launches IPTV platform

Shaw Communications Inc. has made its IPTV service, called BlueSky, available in Calgary, and plans to launch it in additional markets “in the coming months.”

As online video, data transmissions grow, need for CDNs expanding

Last month, Amazon.com Inc. announced that its data centre business was expanding into Canada, a move that illustrates what some say is the need for more data points as an increasing amount of digital content is consumed and emerging technologies like 4K and virtual reality grow.

Amazon little threat to Netflix, Crave for now: analyst

A tepid launch of Amazon.com Inc.’s Prime video streaming service in Canada doesn’t seem likely to pose a challenge to existing players in the Canadian streaming market — for the time being, at least, given Amazon’s global clout could make it a formidable challenger in the future.

Shaw loses bid to write off paper invoice expenses

Shaw Communications Inc. can’t claim paper bills sent to its British Columbian customers as a tax-exempt expense, the B.C. Supreme Court ruled last month.

Avoid ISP tax, tweak CanCon rules, companies say in Heritage review

There isn’t much disagreement between some of the country’s biggest media and telecom service providers over whether foreign entities, such as over-the-top providers like Netflix Inc., should be making a contribution to the country’s cultural sector.

Rogers killing of in-house IPTV good move in long term, analysts say

Rogers Communications Inc. has abandoned the development of its own IPTV platform and will instead launch an IPTV service using a platform from Comcast Corp., a plan analysts said Friday would benefit BCE Inc. in the short term but is a good decision for Rogers down the road.

Amazon Prime streaming service officially available in Canada

Amazon.com Inc.’s Amazon Prime Video has entered the Canadian market, as part of a worldwide launch for the streaming service, the company announced in a press release Wednesday.

The service, which is bundled with its Amazon Prime priority shipping service, costs $79 a year, according to Amazon’s website.

Shaw connects Freedom Mobile to WiFi hotspots

Shaw Communications Inc. is allowing customers of its Freedom Mobile to connect to its network of Wi-Fi hotspots.

Freedom Mobile subscribers will have access to more than 65,000 hot spots in Western Canada, Shaw said in a press release Wednesday.

Pick-and-pay still has many ‘pitfalls’ for consumers: PIAC

As the CRTC’s rules requiring all TV providers to allow customers to sign up for channels individually came into effect Thursday, the regulator emphasized that consumers have to take responsibility to ensure they’re getting a good deal — a process the head of the Public Interest Advocacy Centre (PIAC) said is a significant amount of work for the average person.

PIAC executive director John Lawford said in a phone interview “there’s a lot of pitfalls if you don’t, quote-unquote, do it right, and all the work is up to you.”

Quebec court dismisses call centre case against Shaw

The Quebec Superior Court has dismissed a case against Shaw Communications Inc.’s satellite business in the province related to the termination of a third-party contract for call centre services.

Skinny basic best practices not enough to ‘scare’ BDUs: PIAC

The best practices for TV service providers offering skinny-basic cable packages announced by the CRTC Monday don’t amount to much more than lip service, with no real consequences for providers who don’t align themselves with the regulator’s preferred behaviour, according to a consumer advocate.

Limited handsets a concern as Wind rebrands: analyst

Shaw Communications Inc.’s Wind Mobile will be rebranded as Freedom Mobile and its LTE roll-out will come sooner than expected in two cities, the company’s CEO said Monday. The move comes despite some analyst concern about the availability of handsets compatible with its spectrum.  

Videotron goes on defence as differential pricing hearing wraps

GATINEAU, Que. — Those who innovate shouldn’t be penalized because their competitors can’t keep up, the CRTC heard Friday from representatives of the telecom company partially responsible for this week’s public hearing on differential pricing practices.

Telus Q3 continues industry-wide trend of strong wireless

Telus Corp. reported strong wireless revenues and subscriber additions Friday, as data helped propel overall revenues up to $3.23 billion.   

For the three months ended September 30, the company’s overall revenues were slightly higher, with a 2.6 per cent increase, than the $3.15 billion it earned in the same quarter last year. Net income, however, was down slightly by 2.7 per cent to $355 million against the comparable period last year.

Wind won’t be as disruptive as T-Mobile, Krstajic says

Shaw Communications Inc. reported revenues of $1.31 billion for the three months ended Aug. 31, an increase from $1.13 billion from the same quarter a year earlier, due to the addition of wireless revenues following its acquisition of Wind Mobile.

Blais can name panels: Federal Court of Appeal

TORONTO — A panel of Federal Court of Appeal justices dismissed an application from former CRTC commissioner Raj Shoan challenging the authority of chairman Jean-Pierre Blais to name commissioners to panels.

AT&T, Time Warner deal shows VI trending in opposite directions: analyst

A potential merger between AT&T Inc. and Time Warner Cable Inc. highlights a move by United States-based companies toward vertical integration, just as developments in Canada suggest the opposite is happening north of the border, according to an analyst.

“While the U.S. is becoming more vertically integrated, Canada is moving in the other direction,” Jeff Fan, an analyst at Scotiabank, said in a note Monday.

Wind’s reduced Ont. focus message to government: Huang

Shaw Communications Inc. is putting less emphasis on growing subscribers for Wind in Ontario in favour of boosting its wireless network in Western Canada, according to Barclays analyst Phillip Huang.

Analysts optimistic about Natale at Rogers after Laurence’s surprise exit

In an unexpected move, Rogers Communications Inc. has announced Guy Laurence is no longer CEO of the company and will be replaced by former Telus Corp. CEO Joe Natale, a choice analysts responded to positively Monday.

CRTC’s lowering of HSA rates means small ISPs ‘free to innovate’: CNOC

The CRTC has set revised interim wholesale rates for high-speed access (HSA) services, criticizing large Internet Service Providers (ISPs) for proposing “unreasonable” rates that were too high, in a move small ISPs say leaves them “free to innovate.”

CraveTV profitability still uncertain after Shomi exit: Desjardins

While CraveTV should have an easier time competing in the over-the-top (OTT) space now that Shomi will cease operation, Netflix Inc.’s offering still leaves doubt about the profitability of BCE Inc.’s service, says a Desjardins analyst.

Shomi had 900,000 subs, company says

As Shomi shuts down, experts point to strong competition in OTT

Shomi, the joint Rogers Communications Inc. and Shaw Communications Inc. over-the-top (OTT) video service, will shut down on Nov. 30, the service announced Monday afternoon, in a move some industry experts said wasn’t completely out of the blue.

Shaw best-positioned carrier, regardless of Liberal policy: Barclays

Shaw Communications Inc. is “the one player in the industry who is very well positioned” regardless of the direction the Liberal government takes on wireless policy, Barclays Capital analyst Phillip Huang said in a research note Monday.

Telecoms among least-trusted Canadian companies: report

In a University of Victoria study ranking Canadians’ trust of various brands, all the telecom providers included were at the bottom of the list.

The Gustavson Brand Trust Index, released Thursday, measured opinions regarding 276 brands among 6,384 Canadian consumers.

Differing opinions on how to guide differential pricing, interventions show

Even among those who support differential pricing practices such as zero rating and sponsoring data, there isn’t a consensus as to how they should be regulated by CRTC, according to additional comments filed with the commission in its proceeding on the issue.

Supplemental interventions were published on the CRTC’s website on Thursday, ahead of the five-day public hearing, which begins Oct. 31 in Gatineau, Que. During the week-long hearing, the CRTC panel will hear from 31 groups, companies and individuals.

Class action targets automatic service price adjustment

Lawyers are asking a Quebec court to allow a class action lawsuit against companies that they allege are violating the province’s consumer protection laws by requiring customers to take the initiative to cancel services after fixed promotional periods.

Quebecor in ‘no rush’ to get rid of 700MHz spectrum: Pruneau

Quebecor Inc.’s chief financial officer Jean-François Pruneau said Thursday the company is content to wait to sell the 700 MHz spectrum it picked up in 2014 and never deployed, given its value continues to grow with time.

Shaw primed for Western success with Wind: RBC

Shaw Communications Inc.’s acquisition of Wind has potential for wireless success in Western Canada similar to that of Quebecor Inc.’s Videotron in Quebec, according to RBC Capital Markets’ Drew McReynolds.

In a research note published Friday, McReynolds used the Quebec-based company’s wireless efforts since 2010 as a benchmark against which Shaw might find room to thrive as a wireless carrier.

CRTC skinny basic hearing ‘premature,’ telecoms say

As the CRTC is set to look into the implementation of its skinny basic TV package rules by industry, telecoms are arguing the proceeding is largely premature, given that the commission’s skinny basic regime still hasn’t been fully implemented.

Cable providers readying for full pick-and-pay with theme packs

Some companies are adding more selection to their cable TV packages by going the theme-pack route in preparation for the mandatory full pick-and-pay rules coming into effect this winter. 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 …

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

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

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

Shomi boasts 143M video streams

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

10% confused over definition of OTT: MTM

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

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

Dan Beer named You.i TV COO

Burgeoning Ottawa-based TV app maker You.i TV has hired its first chief operating officer, the company announced this week.

In a Tuesday press release, the company said Dan Beer’s appointment was made “in order to fuel the company’s continued rapid growth and global adoption of its enabling technology for transformative user interfaces and applications.”

Rogers’ OMNI application a ‘band-aid’ solution, critics say

Rogers Communications Inc.’s proposal for a new national ethnic programming service is neither innovative nor appropriate in today’s TV environment aimed at providing consumers more choice, critics of the application said in interventions filed with the CRTC.

CRTC allowing off-tariff GSM agreements, for now

The CRTC has determined that a hands-off approach to regulating roaming rates on GSM networks until it approves a final set of guidelines would not put smaller carriers in a negotiating disadvantage with larger ones.

The regulator drew that conclusion in a decision on Friday, stating that negotiations on GSM roaming pricing are optional and if a smaller carrier does not agree with the terms, “ it can use a Commission-approved default tariff that contains rates, terms, and conditions that are just and reasonable.”

Federal gov’t facing second legal battle over wireless wipeout

The Canadian government could end up fighting a war on two fronts over the previous government’s drive to have four national wireless carriers.

According to a notice on the Global Affairs Canada website, on June 6 the International Centre for Settlement of Investment Disputes registered an arbitration request from Egyptian telecom company Global Telecom Holdings S.A.E. (GTH) that “concerns GTH’s investment in Wind Mobile, over the period of 2008-2014.”

Community TV complaints deferred: CACTUS

The Canadian Association of Community Television Users and Stations (CACTUS) said Wednesday it’s unhappy with the CRTC’s decision to put off complaints about alleged broadcast distribution undertakings’ (BDUs) compliance issues until later this fall.

In a press release, the association said almost 60 complaints made by CACTUS and community partners in early 2016 won’t be considered until the licence renewal proceedings later this year.

In business, landlines are going mobile

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

Wind hits 1M subscribers in first quarterly report since 2014

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

Impact of Alberta fires on Shaw, Telus $5M-$10M: Barclays

Barclays analyst Phillip Huang said in a research note Friday that he estimates Shaw Communications Inc. and Telus Corp. lost about one month of cable revenues as a result of wildfires in Alberta earlier this year, with an overall impact of between $5 million and $10 million.

Facebook, AT&T defend differential pricing in CRTC review

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

Shaw launches security service for small businesses

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

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

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

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

Anglophone TV subs fall to 73%: MTM

The number of anglophones subscribing to TV service continues to fall, according to a new report by Media Technology Monitor (MTM), a project of CBC/Radio-Canada.

Shomi, Crave in fewer than 1M households: SRG

Solutions Research Group Consultants Inc. estimates fewer than one million Canadian households are currently subscribers to BCE Inc.’s CraveTV and Rogers Communications Inc.’s and Shaw Communications Inc.’s Shomi.

Shaw launches community TV channel for Fort McMurray

Shaw Communications Inc. has introduced a TV channel to keep Fort McMurray, Alta., residents informed as they return to the city following an evacuation due to wildfires.

The community channel will broadcast, in a 30-minute loop, interviews, “stories and important information Fort McMurray residents need to know as they return and begin rebuilding,” Shaw said in a Thursday press release.

Shaw readies for network enhancements with price hike

Shaw Communications Inc. will raise its rates starting Aug. 1, which will affect “select residential Internet, TV and phone plans,” the company said in a customer bulletin posted to its website.

Four telecoms singled out for skinny-basic hearing

The CRTC said Tuesday it will hold a hearing on the implementation of skinny basic TV packages, though it only asked four companies — BCE Inc., Rogers Communications Inc., Shaw Communications Inc., and Quebecor Inc.’s Videotron — to appear at the Sept. 7 proceeding.

Since they became available in March, 100,000 Canadians have signed up for the new packages, the commission said in a press release.

What does the future hold for WiFi calling?

Despite the fact that large wireless carriers have been offering WiFi calling for months, the emergence of WiFi calling provider Sugar Mobile, and hinted-at-plans by Shaw Communications Inc. to integrate Wind with its WiFi network, experts say the technology is unlikely to take centre stage in the Canadian wireless market.

Shaw boosted lobbying activity in April: report

Shaw Communications Inc. topped the list of telecommunications players lobbying federal politicians and policymakers in April, according to The Lobby Monitor.

Shaw offering credit to Fort McMurray evacuees

Shaw Communications Inc. customers in Fort McMurray and other wildfire-affected areas in the region are getting a one-month service credit, the company announced in a Saturday press release.

The credit, retroactive to the city’s mandatory evacuation date of May 3, will ensure all affected customers continue to have access to Shaw Go WiFi, FreeRange TV” and their Shaw domain email accounts, “without needing to worry about their account’s status,” the release said.

Free Shaw WiFi available in Saskatoon

Shaw Communications Inc. has rolled out free Wi-Fi access at municipal facilities in Saskatoon.

The complimentary Shaw Go WiFi was made possible through collaboration with the Saskatchewan city’s new Service Saskatoon citizen-service model, Shaw said in a press release Wednesday.

No charging after cancellation, CRTC reminds service providers

The CRTC issued a clarification Thursday reminding telecommunications service providers that they can’t charge for services once they’ve been cancelled.

“Furthermore, service providers must offer individuals and small business customers a refund upon cancellation, based on the number of days remaining in the billing cycle, if the service fees are billed in advance,” the commission said in a press release.

Wind upgrades Calgary network

Wind Mobile has completed a Calgary-area network infrastructure upgrade, the Shaw Communications Inc.-owned company said in a Wednesday press release.

Shaw recommends industry contribution to rural broadband

Shaw Communications Inc. broke rank with most of its industry colleagues Tuesday, stating its support for an industry-funded subsidy to help enhance broadband transport.

CRTC revokes unused Shaw licences

The CRTC granted Tuesday Shaw Communications Inc.’s request to revoke broadcasting licences for Fox Sports World Canada and Global Reality Channel.

Cogeco open to Shaw partnership: Audet

Cogeco Inc. CEO Louis Audet said his company would be “delighted” to partner with Shaw Communications Inc. on its newly acquired wireless business, Wind Mobile.

Shaw posts 3% revenue rise in Q2

Shaw Communications Inc. reported Thursday a three-per-cent rise in revenue to $1.15 billion in its second quarter, up from $1.12 billion in the same period a year earlier.

Corus closes Shaw Media deal, announces new exec slate

Corus Entertainment Inc. has closed its $2.65-billion acquisition of Shaw Communications Inc.’s media division and appointed a team of executive vice-presidents for the combined company.

Barbara Williams, formerly president of Shaw Media, is now chief revenue officer at Corus and will “oversee all strategic and operational aspects of generating audience growth and engagement across Corus’ platforms,” the company said in a press release Friday.

New executive team at Shaw, Jay Mehr named president

Shaw Communications Inc. announced Wednesday a restructuring of its executive team and has appointed Jay Mehr, Shaw’s chief operating officer, as its new president, replacing Peter Bissonnette.

The press release said Mehr has been with the company for almost 20 years and in his new role he will “be responsible for overseeing operational and customer-facing areas of the business, including Shaw consumer, Shaw business, Wind, and supply chain.”

Catalyst opposition unlikely to affect Shaw Media sale: analyst

The pressure Catalyst Capital Group Inc. has been applying on Corus Entertainment Inc. shareholders to vote down a proposal to purchase the media division of Shaw Communications Inc. isn't likely to have an effect on the remaining steps in the acquisition process.

"If the shareholders vote yes, it is what it is. The deal's going to be exactly as stipulated," Aravinda Galappatthige, an analyst with Canaccord Genuity, said in a phone interview Monday.

CRTC says BC News 1 doesn’t have to broadcast news

The CRTC Thursday gave Shaw Communications Inc.’s BC News 1 channel more flexibility in the kind of programming it can broadcast than the company had asked for.

Telecom policy should focus on innovation, not competition: report

Shaw Communications Inc.'s acquisition of Wind Mobile has fulfilled the previous federal government's push for four national carriers, which means the new government has the chance to hit the reset button on telecommunications policy, according to a new report by the Macdonald-Laurier Institute.

"Federal telecommunications policy has treated the industry like a public utility for more than 100 years," said the analysis, authored by Paul Beaudry and Sean Speer.

Shaw partners with Bell to offer CraveTV discount

Shaw Communications Inc. has partnered with BCE Inc. to provide Bell’s over-the-top (OTT) streaming service, CraveTV, at a discount to its cable and satellite customers.

The companies said in a joint press release that “greatly expands the distribution reach of CraveTV and enhances the value of television services available to Shaw customers.”

Shaw-Wind close deal

Shaw Communications Inc. confirmed Tuesday that it has closed the deal to purchase Wind Mobile.

The $1.6 billion transaction brings Shaw into the wireless market, with the acquisition of Wind's 940,000 subscribers.

As skinny basic arrives, experts doubt consumer appeal

On the day Canadian TV providers were required to make their skinny basic options available to consumers, experts expressed skepticism about how many Canadians will sign up for the new offers and their ability to improve the trend toward cord-cutting.

Drew McReynolds, an analyst with RBC Dominion Securities, said in a research note Tuesday that the new options launched by the TV providers “are designed to protect profitability and/or incentivize households to largely stick with existing channel bundles, which in some cases have been improved.”

CMPA asks for ‘competitive safeguards’ in Shaw-Corus deal

The Canadian Media Producers Association (CMPA) asked the CRTC to put in place “competitive safeguards” as part of its approval of Shaw Communications Inc.’s sale of its media division to Corus Entertainment Inc.

The CMPA argued that “requiring Corus to agree to such safeguards is the only way to mitigate the substantial harm that a merged [Corus-Shaw Media] would inevitably have on the Canadian independent production sector and, ultimately, on the range and quality of content available to Canadian audiences.”

Shaw-Wind deal gets closing date

Shaw Communications Inc. will close the $1.6 billion deal to purchase Wind Mobile by March 1, the company said Friday in a press release.

CRTC denies request for public hearing on Shaw-Corus sale