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TAGGED AS SPECTRUM



Industry committee dissents from ISED spectrum clawback plans

The House of Commons industry committee has endorsed Xplornet Communications Inc.‘s call that the ministry of Innovation, Science and Economic Development (ISED) should not claw back any of the 3.5 GHz spectrum from providers that offer fixed-wireless internet in rural areas. This content is available to wirereport.ca subscribers Already a subscriber? Sign in here LOGIN …

NDP intros affordable telecom plan

The New Democratic Party has unveiled Monday a plan to make telecommunications services more affordable, including imposing price ceilings, eliminating data caps and ending bad sales practices. 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. …

Clawback of 3.5 GHz strikes ‘reasonable’ balance, analyst says

The decision by Innovation Canada to carve-out mobile use licences from the 3.5 GHz band based on incumbents’ proportional holdings of the coveted spectrum hits the right balance for redistribution, one analyst said, as others weighed the significance of the clawback on incumbent holders. This content is available to wirereport.ca subscribers Already a subscriber? Sign …

3.5 GHz auction will mean a level playing field for 5G: ISED

MISSISSAUGA, Ont. — Innovation Canada will give existing holders of 3.5 GHz spectrum an opportunity to apply for flexible use of the spectrum based on their proportional holdings of the frequencies, it said in a new document outlining how the band, said to be crucial for 5G networks, will be handled come next year’s auction. …

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 …

Spectrum licence fees are too high already: big telecoms

An Innovation Canada consultation asking for comment about whether it should begin adjusting spectrum licence fees to keep up with the consumer price index has drawn opposition from BCE Inc., Rogers Communications Inc. and Telus Corp. This content is available to wirereport.ca subscribers Already a subscriber? Sign in here LOGIN Forgot password? Unlock all the …

5G a race between countries, not carriers: Rogers’ Natale

Rogers Communications Inc. CEO Joe Natale emphasized the $1.7 billion the company recently spent on 600 MHz spectrum in a speech to shareholders that effectively doubled as an anti-MVNO message to government on Thursday.  This content is available to wirereport.ca subscribers Already a subscriber? Sign in here LOGIN Forgot password? Unlock all the Canadian telecom, …

Include ‘investment’ in new policy direction: big telecoms

Canada’s four largest wireless providers are asking the government to incorporate references to “investment” and the previous, market-focused policy direction in its proposed new directive, meant to foster affordability and consumer interests. This content is available to wirereport.ca subscribers Already a subscriber? Sign in here LOGIN Forgot password? Unlock all the Canadian telecom, broadcasting and …

Analysts surprised by Bell’s lack of 600 MHz, incumbent spend

BCE Inc. walking away from the 600 MHz spectrum auction with no licences, and the amount the winning incumbents ended up paying for the spectrum, came as a surprise to some financial analysts. This content is available to wirereport.ca subscribers Already a subscriber? Sign in here LOGIN Forgot password? Unlock all the Canadian telecom, broadcasting …

Bell opts out of 600 MHz, Rogers nabs 52 licenses for $1.7B

BCE Inc. was among three prospective applicants who didn’t grab licenses for the coveted 600 MHz spectrum, widely considered to be the last chance to get valuable low-band frequencies. 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 …

Freedom says ads intended to ‘stir the market,’ induce churn

An ad launched over the weekend depicting a fictitious version of the big three incumbent wireless providers gloating about high prices charged to consumers is another effort by Shaw Communications Inc.’s Freedom to rile up the industry, its president said on Tuesday. This content is available to wirereport.ca subscribers Already a subscriber? Sign in here …

Xplornet launching new unlimited data plans

Xplornet Communications Inc. is now offering unlimited internet service plans across the country for customers of its LTE-based fixed wireless service. 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 …

CanWISP asks BTLR for help solving disagreements with incumbents

There should be a mechanism in place to help resolve disputes between small ISPs and incumbents, an organization representing wireless internet service providers told the panel in charge of reviewing Canada’s broadcasting and telecommunications legislation. This content is available to wirereport.ca subscribers Already a subscriber? Sign in here LOGIN Forgot password? Unlock all the Canadian …

‘Real’ 5G coming in 2020: Telus CFO

Parts of Canada will see “real 5G,” as opposed to just trials, by late 2020, Telus Corp.’s chief financial officer Doug French told an investors’ conference 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 …

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? …

Ottawa bans white space tech from parts of 600 MHz band

Fixed ‘white space’ devices will be permitted to operate on 60-72 MHz spectrum, but they will be banned from 600 MHz commercial mobile bands, Innovation, Science and Economic Development Canada announced in a decision Thursday. This content is available to wirereport.ca subscribers Already a subscriber? Sign in here LOGIN Forgot password? Unlock all the Canadian …

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 …

Might be ‘late’ for regional wireless competitors: Cogeco

Cogeco Inc.  is raising caution about the negative impact the government’s existing auction formats could have on regional wireless players after it backed out of a significant 600 MHz spectrum auction it said focused on locations too large for it to compete. This content is available to wirereport.ca subscribers Already a subscriber? Sign in here LOGIN …

Quebecor CFO Pruneau to head Videotron

Jean-François Pruneau, Quebecor Inc.’s chief financial officer, has been appointed the new CEO of its Videotron subsidiary, in a move analysts said Monday was positive for the company. 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 …

ISED won’t free up airline spectrum for mobile use

Innovation, Science and Economic Development Canada (ISED) says it doesn’t plan to reallocate air-to-ground spectrum bands in the 800 MHz range for mobile use or issue them on short-term licenses, rejecting a suggestion from Rogers Communications Inc. — at least for now. This content is available to wirereport.ca subscribers Already a subscriber? Sign in here LOGIN …

Cellular search-and-rescue system RCAF’s domestic priority

The Royal Canadian Air Force (RCAF) is currently testing radio technology mounted on search-and-rescue aircraft that communicates with mobile phones of lost or missing people in areas without cell coverage. 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 …

Small ISPs welcome ISED consults for fifth tier spectrum licensing area

Innovation, Science and Economic Development Canada (ISED) has launched a consultation on a newly proposed category of smaller service areas for spectrum licensing, a moved praised by small wireless providers that have pushed for smaller area sizes at auctions that they can afford. This content is available to wirereport.ca subscribers Already a subscriber? Sign in …

ISED pays Quebec fire station over spectrum issue

Innovation, Science and Economic Development Canada (ISED) paid out a $1,040 settlement to reimburse a Quebec First Nation after radio interference stemming from a spectrum management issue caused it to reprogram its equipment, according to the department and documents tabled in Parliament this fall. This content is available to wirereport.ca subscribers Already a subscriber? Sign …

AG finds flaws in rural connectivity funding, spectrum auction process

OTTAWA — The federal government has been lagging behind on rural broadband deployment despite “significant investments” by the public and private sectors, according to a report by Canada’s auditor general tabled in Parliament Tuesday. This content is available to wirereport.ca subscribers Already a subscriber? Sign in here LOGIN Forgot password? Unlock all the Canadian telecom, …

ISED proposes ‘modernizing’ backhaul spectrum fee system

Innovation Canada is consulting on a proposed new system governing how it sets licence fees for point-to-point systems, which includes wireless backhaul uses, the demand for which is increasing. 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 …

Feds put out call for mobile spectrum performance data

The federal government is looking for a contractor to crowdsource measurements of mobile phone spectrum performance in Canada – results that could affect government licensing strategies. 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 …

5G still in ‘hype cycle,’ WiFi to drive home connectivity for a while: Intel

TORONTO — It will be a long time before the home network is replaced by the dense connectivity that 5G is expected to provide, an Intel Corp. representative said at an industry conference on Wednesday. This content is available to wirereport.ca subscribers Already a subscriber? Sign in here LOGIN Forgot password? Unlock all the Canadian …

ISED seeks mmWave testing after report questions spectrum readiness

Just over a year after a critical internal report raised questions about the technological readiness of millimetre wave frequencies in the wake of a government consultation on using the spectrum for 5G deployment, Innovation Canada on Monday launched a request for proposals to set up a test bed for the spectrum. This content is available …

Combine Heritage and ISED, move spectrum to CRTC: professor

The government should combine the Heritage and Innovation ministries, and give responsibility for spectrum to the CRTC, a Senate committee study into the modernization of Canada’s communications legislation heard Wednesday evening. 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 …

ISED OKs North Bay spectrum transfer to Bell

Innovation, Science and Economic Development Canada (ISED) has approved the transfer of an AWS-1 licence in North Bay, Ont. from Bragg Communications Inc. to 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 …

Iristel buys wireless operator specializing in remote areas

Iristel Inc. has acquired Télécommunications de l’Est (TDE), a small Quebec telecom that provides service to industries operating in remote areas with limited cellular service, such as forestry and mining. 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 …

TeraGo to start GTA 5G fixed wireless trial

TeraGo Inc. will repurpose spectrum it bought nearly a decade ago for a 5G fixed wireless trial in the Greater Toronto Area, the company said 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 need. Take …

Repurpose spectrum used for plane connectivity for mobile: Rogers

Innovation, Science and Economic Development Canada (ISED) should change the spectrum bands allocated to air-to-ground services in order to free up more spectrum for mobile use, according to Rogers 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 …

Andrew Scheer shuffles Heritage, Industry critics

Opposition Conservative leader Andrew Scheer has shuffled his caucus’s shadow cabinet in the lead up to Parliament returning for its fall sitting –- including two MPs with key critic roles tasked with watching communications and cultural policy. This content is available to wirereport.ca subscribers Already a subscriber? Sign in here LOGIN Forgot password? Unlock all …

Xplornet lobby blitz fights 3.5 GHz clawback proposal

Xplornet Communications Inc. will not be able to service thousands of its rural customers with fixed-wireless service if the government follows through on a consultation proposal that recommends taking back the majority of its 3.5 GHz spectrum for its future auction, a company spokesperson said.   This content is available to wirereport.ca subscribers Already a …

ISED approves AWS-1 spectrum lease to Sasktel

Innovation, Science and Economic Development Canada (ISED) has approved the leasing of wireless spectrum from Telus Corp. to crown corporation Saskatchewan Telecommunications Holding Corp. 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 …

26 GHz band critical for early 5G adoption, telecoms say

The 26 GHz band will be one of the most critical and earliest-adopted bands for 5G services, telecoms said in reply to an Innovation Canada consultation on millimetre (mmWave) wave spectrum, but there’s disagreement about when exactly the government should move to auction it. This content is available to wirereport.ca subscribers Already a subscriber? Sign …

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 …

Cogeco buys $8M of additional 2500 MHz spectrum

Cogeco Inc. has bought $8 million worth of the 2500 MHz paired spectrum band from Kian Telecom Inc., according to a Thursday 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 a free …

ISED consulting on timelines for 5G devices, 3.5 GHz for mobile use

Innovation, Science and Economic Development Canada (ISED) is seeking comments, during a consultation on the 3.5 Ghz spectrum, about timelines related to the deployment of the spectrum, including the rollout of 5G equipment and when it should allow for the band’s flexible use for mobile services.   This content is available to wirereport.ca subscribers Already …

Bains says spectrum auction dates to give industry predictability

TORONTO — Innovation Minister Navdeep Bains announced Wednesday the timing of the next three spectrum auctions — including the much talked-about 3.5 GHz — as well as a $10-per-month broadband plan for low-income families that critics say puts incumbents in control. This content is available to wirereport.ca subscribers Already a subscriber? Sign in here LOGIN …

Autonomous cars still many years away: conference panel

TORONTO — The advent of fully autonomous cars on the road is still further away than some may think, according to an executive at a company that supplies small cells. 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 …

Households need more than gig speeds, conference hears

TORONTO — The telecom industry will need to look beyond the gigabit threshold in the home to take advantage of better technologies and enhance customer experience, speakers told a telecom conference on Monday. This content is available to wirereport.ca subscribers Already a subscriber? Sign in here LOGIN Forgot password? Unlock all the Canadian telecom, broadcasting …

ISED won’t rule out using spectrum proceeds for CanCon: Bains

OTTAWA — Innovation Minister Navdeep Bains and Heritage Minister Mélanie Joly had slightly different messages in response to the issue of new recommendations from the CRTC potentially increasing telecom and media service costs for Canadian consumers. This content is available to wirereport.ca subscribers Already a subscriber? Sign in here LOGIN Forgot password? Unlock all the …

Cogeco picks up 2300 MHz, 2500 MHz spectrum

Innovation Canada (ISED) released the results of its 2018 residual spectrum auction Friday, with Cogeco Inc. ending up as the big spender. 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 …

ISED launches new spectrum licence program for short-term testing

Innovation, Science and Economic Development (ISED) Canada announced a developmental license program on Thursday, in a bid to make wireless spectrum use easier for testing purposes. 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 …

Report calls for ‘larger role’ for small rural broadband players

OTTAWA — The House of Commons standing committee on industry, science and technology has released recommendations on how the government should tackle the problem of rural broadband access in Canada that call for intentionally favouring small and non-traditional providers. This content is available to wirereport.ca subscribers Already a subscriber? Sign in here LOGIN Forgot password? …

Cogeco qualifies for wireless auction, CEO says no more

Despite qualifying this week for an auction of wireless spectrum, the head of Cogeco Inc. refused to answer questions about the company’s intentions on wireless going forward. 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. …

Manitoba town launches no-fee internet service

Last week, the city of Morden, Manitoba announced a May start date for a utility-like fixed wireless internet service that will be provided to residents at no monthly cost, according to its website. This content is available to wirereport.ca subscribers Already a subscriber? Sign in here LOGIN Forgot password? Unlock all the Canadian telecom, broadcasting and …

Spectrum auction complexity barrier for fixed wireless providers: Nordicity

OTTAWA — Complex auction and government subsidy application processes are among challenges facing fixed wireless providers looking to obtain spectrum, Nordicity’s Stuart Jack said in a presentation at the CanWISP 2018 conference on Wednesday. This content is available to wirereport.ca subscribers Already a subscriber? Sign in here LOGIN Forgot password? Unlock all the Canadian telecom, …

Few surprises in 600 MHz auction framework: analysts

Innovation Canada has released its framework for the 600 MHz spectrum auction, now scheduled for March 2019, and it will set aside 43 per cent of spectrum for “regional competitors and potential new market entrants,” according to a Wednesday release. This content is available to wirereport.ca subscribers Already a subscriber? Sign in here LOGIN Forgot …

5G project gets $400M for grants, infrastructure and research centres

OTTAWA — A public-private partnership to foster 5G technology research in Ontario and Quebec will receive funding to the tune of $400 million over the next five years, according to an announcement Monday. This content is available to wirereport.ca subscribers Already a subscriber? Sign in here LOGIN Forgot password? Unlock all the Canadian telecom, broadcasting …

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? …

Don’t allow white space devices above 608 MHz, ISED hears

Innovation Canada (ISED) is hearing from both telecoms and broadcasters that it should go ahead with its proposal to limit white space devices to bands below 608 MHz, though for very different reasons. This content is available to wirereport.ca subscribers Already a subscriber? Sign in here LOGIN Forgot password? Unlock all the Canadian telecom, broadcasting …

ISED says no to TerreStar’s bid for more spectrum

Innovation, Science and Economic Development (ISED) Canada has decided against assigning additional unlicenced spectrum to TerreStar Solutions Inc. following opposition from a number of telecoms. 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 …

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 …

5G specifications approved by 3GPP

In a statement on Twitter on Wednesday, the 3rd Generation Partnership Project (3GPP) announced the approval of an implementable 5G new radio (NR) specification. 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 …

Prioritize 3.5 GHz band for 5G: Telus

Telus Corp. said in a press release Friday its ongoing 5G tests have now hit 2 Gbps speeds, using 3.5 GHz spectrum. 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 …

New wireless-extending tech a ‘paradigm shift’ for 5G: federal researchers

OTTAWA — A federal research lab on the outskirts of Canada’s capital has developed a technology that could extend the signals fundamental to ubiquitous wireless connectivity.  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 …

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 …

ISED consulting on wireless microphones, white space devices

Innovation, Science and Economic Development Canada (ISED) is asking for input on how to deal with both wireless devices that previously used some 600 MHz spectrum and new technology that will be using other portions of those airwaves. This content is available to wirereport.ca subscribers Already a subscriber? Sign in here LOGIN Forgot password? Unlock …

ISED names white space administrator

Innovation, Science and Economic Development Canada has chosen a U.S. company, Key Bridge Wireless LLC, as the administrator of TV white space in Canada. 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 …

600 MHz auction needs ‘substantial’ set-aside: Shaw

Shaw Communications Inc. is asking the federal government to use the upcoming 600 MHz spectrum auction to “correct the huge imbalance in spectrum holdings” between it and Canada’s biggest three wireless carriers. This content is available to wirereport.ca subscribers Already a subscriber? Sign in here LOGIN Forgot password? Unlock all the Canadian telecom, broadcasting and …

ISED approves Rogers and Ecotel spectrum sharing

Innovation, Science and Economic Development (ISED) approved on Friday the issuing of four subordinate licences from Rogers Communications Inc. to Ecotel Inc. 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 need. Take a free …

Paul Thompson new ISED associate deputy minister

Paul Thompson has been named the new associate deputy minister of Innovation, Science and Economic Development, as of Nov. 20, the Prime Minister’s Office said in a press release 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 …

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 …

Rogers launches LTE-A service in Manitoba

Rogers Communications Inc. has enabled LTE-Advanced (LTE-A) network access in “many” Manitoban communities, the company announced on 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 …

ISED consulting on spectrum strategy for next five years

Innovation Canada is initiating a consultation on its approach to spectrum over the next five years, looking at future technological developments, the kind of spectrum demand they could generate, and how spectrum bands should be released to meet that demand. This content is available to wirereport.ca subscribers Already a subscriber? Sign in here LOGIN Forgot …

Telus almost hits gig speeds on LTE-A test

Telus Corp. has achieved nearly 1 Gbps speeds on LTE as part of a test, it said in a press release 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 …

Autonomous car drives politicians around the Hill

OTTAWA — Transport Minister Marc Garneau told reporters that the government is working on putting connected car regulations in place, following a ride in a self-driving small bus around Parliament Hill on Wednesday morning. This content is available to wirereport.ca subscribers Already a subscriber? Sign in here LOGIN Forgot password? Unlock all the Canadian telecom, broadcasting and …

Kelly Gillis leaving ISED

Kelly Gillis, the associate deputy minister at Innovation, Science and Economic Development (ISED) Canada, has been appointed as deputy minister at Infrastructure Canada, according to the Prime Minister’s Office. 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 …

Marques out, Cairo in as Bains’ chief of staff

Innovation Minister Navdeep Bains has a new chief of staff following internal personnel shuffles. 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 TRIAL …

Regional players shouldn’t qualify for spectrum set asides: Bell, Rogers

Two of Canada’s largest telecom companies aren’t overly enthusiastic about the government’s proposal to set aside spectrum in the upcoming 600 MHz auction, indicating that the suggested boost for new entrants is being afforded to companies that aren’t all that new. This content is available to wirereport.ca subscribers Already a subscriber? Sign in here LOGIN …

Shaw poised for boost from new iPhones

Apple Inc.’s new iPhone X, iPhone 8 and 8 Plus, announced Tuesday, are compatible with spectrum bands used by Shaw Communications Inc.’s Freedom Mobile, though not extending that capability to older models could dampen the positive effect on the company, according to analysts. This content is available to wirereport.ca subscribers Already a subscriber? Sign in here LOGIN …

Providers cautious as ISED eyes opportunistic spectrum access

Work is underway on technologies that could fundamentally change how spectrum is allocated in the future — and though Innovation Canada is looking at the possibility of opportunistic access to spectrum, wireless providers told the department they have numerous reservations about adopting it. This content is available to wirereport.ca subscribers Already a subscriber? Sign in …

Bernier retakes ISED critic role

Former Industry Minister Maxime Bernier has regained his position as Innovation critic, Opposition leader Andrew Scheer announced 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 Report …

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 …

mmWave ‘new frontier’ as 5G arrives: report

Networks operating on 5G will require much more spectrum than current 4G wireless technology, and part of the solution will be using higher-frequency spectrum, despite its limitations, according to a new 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 …

Spectrum frequency allocations under review

Innovation, Science and Economic Development (ISED) Canada is looking for feedback on proposed changes to the Canadian Table of Frequency Allocations. 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 …

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 …

Telus’ record low wireless churn difficult to sustain: CEO

Telus Corp. took some analysts by surprise when it reported postpaid wireless gains that leapfrogged its rivals in its second-quarter earnings Friday, with a record low 0.79-per-cent churn rate that the company’s president and CEO Darren Entwistle said would be difficult to beat. This content is available to wirereport.ca subscribers Already a subscriber? Sign in here LOGIN …

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 …

ISED mulling set-asides for 600 MHz spectrum

Innovation, Science and Economic Development (ISED) Canada is looking to bolster wireless competition by potentially setting aside spectrum in the 600 MHz auction for a “certain sub-set of entities,” it said in a consultation document released Friday. This content is available to wirereport.ca subscribers Already a subscriber? Sign in here LOGIN Forgot password? Unlock all the …

Telecoms call for 20-year term for AWS-1, no R&D minimum

Canada’s largest wireless providers told Innovation Canada that they support its suggested 20-year term for AWS-1 and G Block Spectrum, but asked the department to eliminate a research and development requirement tied to the licences. This content is available to wirereport.ca subscribers Already a subscriber? Sign in here LOGIN Forgot password? Unlock all the Canadian …

Deny TerreStar ask for more spectrum, telecoms tell ISED

TerreStar Solutions Inc. is asking Innovation, Science and Economic Development (ISED) Canada to hand it more spectrum so it can effectively deploy its current AWS-4 holdings and begin work on a new national fixed wireless and satellite service, a request that some telecoms say would rob other players of an opportunity at the spectrum. This content …

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. …

Prioritize public funding for digitally underserved areas: report

The federal government should focus on funding digital connectivity in rural and remote communities and provide tax incentives to boost private sector infrastructure spending, suggests a new report from the Canadian Chamber of Commerce. This content is available to wirereport.ca subscribers Already a subscriber? Sign in here LOGIN Forgot password? Unlock all the Canadian telecom, …

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 …