Mobile data traffic to jump six-fold by 2020: Cisco

A rise in the number of wireless devices accessing mobile networks will lead to six times more mobile data traffic by 2020 in North America, according to new projections from Cisco Systems Inc.

In its 10th annual Visual Networking Index focusing on consumer and business mobile data traffic and its key drivers released Wednesday, Cisco said North America will see an increase from 557,237 terabytes of mobile data traffic per month in 2015 to 3,208,203 terabytes per month in 2020.

Rogers extends Roam Like Home to China, Russia, India

Rogers Communications Inc. announced Wednesday that it has added more than a dozen countries to its Roam Like Home service including Russia, China, India, South Africa, Australia, Israel and Japan.

Rogers spokesman Andrew Garas said in an email the expansion also includes New Zealand, Hong Kong, South Korea, Taiwan, Pakistan, Sri Lanka, Cambodia, Bangladesh, Armenia and the islands of Jersey and Guernsey in the English Channel.

BlackBerry launches new mobile security software

BlackBerry Ltd. announced Tuesday the release of a new suite of mobile security software for businesses.

It said in a press release that the new software, called Good Secure EMM Suites, is "a comprehensive set of mobile security, management, productivity and collaboration offerings."

CRTC opens consultation on Shaw-Corus deal

The CRTC on Thursday acknowledged receipt of an application from Shaw Communications Inc. to sell its media division to Corus Entertainment Inc., and said interested parties have until Feb. 15 to file submissions on the matter.

Dependence on landline-phone services put Primus in creditor protection: CEO

Too much reliance on landline-phone-service revenue, combined with a heavy debt load, has resulted in Primus Telecommunications Canada Inc. being placed in creditor protection and awaiting court approval of a sale to a U.S.-based service provider, according to its CEO.

On Tuesday, Primus applied for and was granted protection by the Ontario Superior Court of Justice, under the Companies' Creditors Arrangement Act. 

Court hears mobile-TV case

BCE Inc.'s appeal against a CRTC decision banning the provision of mobile-TV services that are not subject to regular data charges was heard by the Federal Court of Appeal in Toronto on Tuesday, and the court is expected to render a decision some time in the coming months.

As CBC’s funding increases, will it have to change course?

Following last fall’s election, the government is set to boost CBC/Radio-Canada's funding, but when that will happen and under what conditions is unclear. It also remains to be seen whether the public broadcaster will continue the long-term plan it began under the former Conservative government.

The new Liberal government plans to hold a consultation prior to making additional funding available, though it’s not disclosing when it will happen, how comprehensive that consultation will be or how it might affect CBC’s current plans.

CRTC working to resolve Iristel, NetTalk connection issue

Iristel Inc., a Markham, Ont.- based telecom company, announced Tuesday it is working with the CRTC to resolve an ongoing dispute with Florida-based VoIP provider NetTalk.com Inc., in order to reinstate connections to customers who have been disconnected from their VoIP service.

Verizon allows companies to cover data costs for consumer access

Verizon Communication Inc. announced Tuesday it is introducing a new sponsored data service, called FreeBee Data, to help businesses drive better consumer engagement without cutting into customers' mobile data allotments. 

Mobile prices on the rise

All major mobile carriers in Canada are raising their prices, according to analysts.

Drew McReynolds, an analyst with RBC Dominion Security, detailed in a research note last week how BCE Inc. had recently raised its prices on share plans for premium smartphones by $5 to $65 a month, its plans for other smartphones by $5 to $55 and bring-your-own device plans by $10 to $55. Those rates are before data plans are added.

MTS completes sale of Allstream to Zayo

Manitoba Telecom Services Inc. announced Friday it has completed the sale of Allstream, its business communication division, to Boulder, Colo.-based Zayo Group Holdings Inc.

Cogeco looking to expand in the U.S. cable market: Audet

MONTREAL — Cogeco Inc. CEO Louis Audet said Wednesday that the company will prioritize its U.S. cable and Internet business over a potential wireless initiative in Canada.

Speaking to reporters in Montreal ahead of the company’s annual general meeting, Audet said Cogeco would like to make other cable acquisitions in the U.S. following a positive experience with its Atlantic Broadband subsidiary.

Sugar Mobile releases WiFi mobile service

Sugar Mobile, a Toronto-area based company owned by Iristel Inc., announced Wednesday a new mobile service that's based on WiFi.

It said in a press release that the service operates through an app that is paired with a SIM card that customers can purchase at Shoppers Drug Mart or 7-Eleven outlets. It added that customers are also required to have an unlocked cell phone in order to use this SIM card.

Gigabit Internet in 3% of Canadian homes by end of 2016: Deloitte

The availability and adoption of gigabit Internet in Canada is expected to grow this year, with almost three per cent of Canadians subscribing to the service by the end of 2016, according to Deloitte Touche Tohmatsu Ltd.’s annual predictions of technology trends.

Cisco opens Toronto innovation centre

Cisco Systems Inc. on Tuesday announced the opening of its new innovation centre in Toronto.

It said in a press release that it's one of nine Cisco Innovation Centres around the world, and it will focus on accelerating and showcasing technology developments that help to solve "real world problems," such as issues related to cities, health care and financial services.

Cisco said the innovation centre will be a place of collaboration with other companies, schools and government.

Bell top in wireless speeds, Rogers in LTE: OpenSignal

A new report analyzing wireless network performance among Canada’s biggest three players says BCE Inc. has the fastest speeds, while Rogers Communications Inc. has the best LTE coverage.

OpenSignal, a U.K.-based company that analyzes mobile performance, said in a report released Monday that Rogers had LTE coverage 80.25 per cent of the time, compared to Bell’s 70.38 per cent and Telus Corp.’s 71.84.

Bell’s claim FTTH investment at risk is ‘fear-mongering’: CNOC

Small Internet service providers (ISPs) are asking the government to reject an appeal, filed by BCE Inc., of a CRTC decision that mandated access by smaller competitors to fibre-to-the-home (FTTH) networks, stating Bell’s arguments in the case contradict statements it has made to investors.

Nokia gains control of Alcatel-Lucent

Nokia Corp. said Monday that it has won control of telecom-equipment maker Alcatel-Lucent SA with almost 80 per cent of the company's outstanding shares tendered in response to Nokia's acquisition offer.

Nokia said in a press release that this figure was based on results published by the Autorité des Marchés Financiers, France's stock-market regulator, and that it had "declared the offer successful."

Toronto telecom provider seeks condo access

Beanfield Technologies Inc., an independent provider of fibre-based Internet, TV and phone services in Toronto, is asking the CRTC to help it gain access to one of the few condominium buildings it isn't already connected to in the city's Liberty Village neighbourhood.

Competition Bureau says Telus will pay $7.3M in premium texting case

The Competition Bureau said Wednesday that it had reached an agreement with Telus Corp. to end legal proceedings in relation to premium texting services that former and current customers have paid for.

The Competition Bureau said in a press release that Telus would issue up to $7.3 million in refunds to customers after it found Telus made “false or misleading representations in advertisements for premium text messages in pop-up ads, apps and on social media,” and added that this was the largest consumer rebate obtained under a bureau agreement.

BlackBerry mum on quarterly smartphone sales

BlackBerry Ltd. did not provide figures on smartphone sales for its third fiscal quarter, leaving it undisclosed how well its first smartphones to run on Android software are selling.

The Canadian smartphone-maker and mobile-services provider said in a press release Friday that revenue in the three months ended on Nov. 28 was $548 million US, down 30.9 per cent from $793 million US a year earlier.

Its net loss for the quarter was $89 million US, down from $148 million US one year earlier.

Shaw-Wind deal means no Rogers merger on horizon: analysts

Financial analysts said Thursday that the surprising move by Shaw Communications Inc. to buy Wind Mobile means any potential merger between Shaw and Rogers Communications Inc. won’t happen any time soon, though some maintained it’s possible in the longer term if the government is on board.

Shaw says timing, current market dynamics made Wind deal attractive

The economics of entering Canada’s wireless market through the acquisition of Wind Mobile today are better than past opportunities Shaw Communications Inc. has had to enter the mobile sector, officials said during a conference call Thursday morning.

“By acquiring a company that already has a solid foundation, including spectrum, management expertise and scale, we have significantly lowered our risk of entry, and have done so in a disciplined and prudent manner,” Brad Shaw, CEO of Shaw Communications, said during the call.

Shaw looks to enter wireless market with $1.6B deal for Wind

The Big Three may have just become the Big Four, as Shaw Communications Inc. announced Wednesday it is attempting to become a wireless provider by acquiring Wind Mobile.

Shaw said in a press release the deal means Shaw will acquire Canada's largest non-incumbent wireless provider, which currently has 940,000 subscribers in Ontario, British Columbia and Alberta, along with 50 MHz of spectrum in each province.

CRTC consults on off-tariff roaming agreements

The CRTC on Wednesday started a consultation that asks whether it should refrain from regulating some arrangements between incumbent wireless carriers and smaller operators regarding domestic roaming where the terms or conditions might differ from regulations that are in place.

Wind Mobile upgrades Vancouver area coverage

Wind Mobile announced Tuesday that it is adding antennas and deploying new spectrum in the Vancouver area as an initial step in a cross-Canada network upgrade.

"Wind customers in the greater Vancouver area are already noticing better performance as we upgrade every aspect of our network components," Dean Price, Wind's general manager for the West, said in a press release. "We expect to have our greater Vancouver coverage area completed by the end of January 2016."

Relevance trumps affordability in reasons to forgo Internet: Ipsos

Newly released survey results show that almost 10 per cent of Canadians still do not have Internet access at home, and more people cite its relevance to their personal lives than affordability as a reason why.

Data released by Ipsos Public Affairs on Friday showed that 91 per cent of respondents to a survey reported getting the Internet at home. Among the nine per cent without home Internet, two per cent said they had it on a mobile subscription only, another two per cent used it outside of their homes and five per cent did not use it at all.

Walmart announces mobile payment function for U.S.

Wal-Mart Stores Inc. announced Thursday that it is launching a mobile-payment function for stores in the United States.

It said in a press release that certain stores will start accepting mobile payments from the Walmart app this month, and this service will be available across the U.S. within the first half of 2016.

Walmart said the function is added to the existing Walmart app, which already allowed customers to check in when picking up online orders, refill pharmacy prescriptions and locate particular items in stories.

Wind to launch LTE by end of 2016 with new financing

Wind Mobile is looking to make LTE service available to at least some of its customers by the end of next year, after announcing it has borrowed $425 million to help it do so.

On Thursday, Wind issued a press release that indicated it has secured a new financing package worth $425 million that involves backing from Toronto-Dominion Bank, Bank of Montreal and Canadian Imperial Bank of Commerce. Also involved is Finnverva, the export credit agency of Finland, where the technology provider for Wind's network upgrade, Nokia Corp., is based.

Telus expands wireless coverage along B.C. highway

Telus Corp. said in a press release Thursday that it has spent $5 million on five new wireless sites in B.C. along Highway 3.

The move will bring “wireless service to approximately 105 kilometers of highway and the communities of Kitchener, Yahk, Lumberton, Bridesville and Curzon,” Telus said.

The expansion is part of a 10-year agreement Telus signed with the provincial government in 2011, under which the company will bring wireless service to 1,700 miles of currently-unconnected highways, it noted.

Bell ranked highest in mobile network performance

BCE Inc. was tops in RootMetric’s 2015 Canadian mobile network performance review that was released Wednesday, with Rogers Communications Inc. and Telus Corp. not far behind.

Old domestic roaming charges still being worked out

The CRTC has asked Canadian wireless carriers that provided roaming access to other domestic carriers — when legislation was in effect that capped domestic roaming prices to retail rates — to file new information, based on a number of clarifications about the legislation, to ensure proper amounts of money were paid.

Power struggle at company headed by ex-BlackBerry boss: report

Three board members of Powermat Technologies Ltd., a maker of wireless mobile-device chargers, are suing the company and CEO Thorsten Heins, accusing them of unauthorized operations that threaten the operation's viability, according to a report.

The website CNet reported Wednesday, based on court documents filed in Israel, where Powermat has an office, that these board members accuse Heins, a former CEO of Canada's BlackBerry Ltd., and the company of operating without an approved budget and pushing the company toward financial ruin.

Otono to launch prepaid wireless service for parents in U.S.

Otono Networks Inc. announced Wednesday it is launching next year in the U.S. a new prepaid wireless mobile service specifically for parents that will include two free lines for their kids.

It said in a press release that the service, called Krew Mobile, will include one main line designated to the parent that will be in charge of the two separate lines, all costing $39 US per month.

Verizon would consider buying core Yahoo business: report

Verizon Communications Inc. would consider buying Yahoo Inc.'s core Internet business, which includes its email, news and sports sites, as well as its advertising technology, according to a report by Reuters.

Samsung to pay Apple damages for iPhone infringement: report

Samsung Electronics Co. Ltd. has agreed to pay Apple Inc. more than $548 million US as determined in a court decision earlier this year related to an earlier ruling that Samsung infringed certain Apple patents for the iPhone in the design of its own smartphones, Reuters reported.

Roam Mobility offers SIM cards for vistors to Canada

Otono Networks Inc.’s Roam Mobility, a provider of SIM cards for out-of-Canada mobile usage, announced Friday it is launching a new SIM card for visitors to Canada.

The Vancouver-based company said in a press release that the Canada Travel SIM card can be inserted into any unlocked phone and customers can start using the plan as soon as they arrive into the country.

Final domestic-roaming tariffs approved, for now

The CRTC has accepted, for the time being, tariffs proposed by the wireless incumbents for what smaller carriers in Canada have to pay to have their customers roam on the bigger companies' networks.

Smartphone shipment growth slowed this year: IDC

Worldwide smartphone shipments in 2015 are expected to be 9.8 per cent more than last year for a total of 1.43 billion units, marking the first time that percentage growth for this product has been less than double digits, International Data Corp. said Thursday.

Nokia shareholders approve Alcatel-Lucent acquisition

Nokia Corp. said Wednesday that its shareholders have approved the company's proposed acquisition of Alcatel-Lucent SA.

Nokia said in a press release that it has also received all necessary regulatory approvals earlier than expected and that the transaction is expected to close within the first three months of 2016.

"We are delighted that the vast majority of Nokia's shareholders recognize the long-term value creation opportunity that this proposed combination represents," Nokia CEO Rajeev Suri said in the release.

Rogers to continue providing wireless services for Quebec government

Rogers Communications Inc. announced Wednesday it has signed an agreement with the Centre de services partagés du Quebec (CSPQ) to continue its wireless services for up to 10 years with the government of Quebec.

Rogers said in the press release that it will provide wireless technologies, including voice and data services, and connectivity for the Internet of Things (IoT) at the provincial and municipal levels.

Wind responsible for 72.5% of code breaches last year: CCTS

Wind Mobile had 422 confirmed breaches of the CRTC’s wireless code last year, or 72.5 per cent of the total compiled by the Commission for Complaints for Telecommunications Services (CCTS) in its annual report, and the carrier said it's mostly due to issues involving its unlimited U.S. roaming feature.

Tablet shipments to be down 8.1% this year: IDC

Global tablet shipments will be down 8.1 per cent for 2015 overall, though tablets with detachable keyboards are expected to see strong growth for this year and in 2016, according to International Data Corp.

The technology research company said in a press release Tuesday that tablet shipments will total 211.3 million this year.

Wind donating phones, wireless service to refugees

Wind Mobile announced Tuesday it is partnering with Lifeline Syria, a non-profit organization that helps Syrian refugees with the relocation process in Canada, to provide incoming refugees with mobile phones and wireless service for free.

Rogers acquires Internetworking Atlantic

Rogers Communications Inc. announced Tuesday it has acquired Internetworking Atlantic Inc., a Halifax based communications technology company that offers a range of IT products and solutions to government agencies, institutions and businesses.

It said in the press release that the acquisition will help Rogers offer local expertise in areas such as cloud computing, data centre services, fibre networking and professional services, such as IT and network solutions.

CRTC says incumbents can’t change terms in interim roaming rates

The CRTC has told Rogers Communications Inc., BCE Inc., and Telus Corp. that the terms and conditions in interim tariffs the incumbents filed following the CRTC’s move in May to regulate some roaming rates must be consistent with the agreements in place at the time the decision was made.

Major mobile providers offer extra gigabyte

The three incumbent mobile-service providers and their flanker brands were all offering Black Friday specials, lasting until the Sunday, Nov. 30, that included an extra gigabyte per month on select plans.

BCE Inc., Rogers Communications Inc., Telus Corp and their discount arms — Virgin Mobile, Fido and Koodo, respectively — all said on their websites Friday certain wireless plans would feature this bonus for new customers and those upgrading before the end of the weekend.

Nicholas Kyonka joins CWTA

Nicholas Kyonka, a former reporter with The Wire Report, has been appointed as the project manager for the structure, tower and antenna council of the Canadian Wireless Telecommunications Association (CWTA).

Kyonka said in an email Friday that the position relates to a new arm of the CWTA and is meant to be a resource for stakeholders within the wireless industry with information on best practices, standards and regulations about transmission equipment for the wireless industry.   

Kyonka was a reporter with The Wire Report between 2011 and 2014.

James Moore named UNBC chancellor

The University of Northern British Columbia said Thursday that former industry minister James Moore has been named its next chancellor.

Incumbents seek little change in domestic data roaming tariffs

The domestic roaming rates for voice and text services BCE Inc., Rogers Communications Inc. and Telus Corp. have asked the CRTC to implement are significantly lower than what they currently charge smaller carriers, while the prices the incumbents suggested for data roaming are largely in line with tariffs that are already in effect, and even slightly higher in the case of Bell and Rogers.

SaskTel reduces roaming rates

Saskatchewan Telecommunications Holding Corp. announced Tuesday it is introducing new roaming rates and five new roaming add-on plans for customers traveling outside of Canada.

It said in a press release that the new rates, part of the Roam and Relax Travel plan, will take effect Nov. 26 and will automatically be added to customers’ plans when they travel across the border.

Forbes downplays potential MTS selloff after Allstream deal

Manitoba Telecom Services Inc. CEO Jay Forbes on Monday downplayed the likelihood that the whole company could be sold in the wake of a deal to unload its business communications division, Allstream.

MTS announced Monday that it has an agreement in place to sell Allstream to Boulder, Colo.-based Zayo Group Holdings Inc. for $465 million in cash.

3Macs telecom analyst Troy Crandall said the deal is positive for MTS, as Allstream has been "an albatross around the neck of Manitoba Tel every since it was acquired."

FCC chairman praises zero-rating service

Tom Wheeler, the chairman of the U.S. Federal Communications Commission (FCC), told reporters Tuesday a service that exempts some video from wireless data caps is “highly innovative and highly competitive,” Bloomberg reported Thursday.

Wind launches referral reward program

Wind Mobile announced the launch of “Refer a Friend” Thursday, a program that rewards customers for recommending the company to friends.

It said in a press release that customers who use the program to refer friends will receive a $10 credit, while the individual they referred will also receive a $10 credit.

“The more friends referred, the more rewards earned,” the release said.

Rogers launches Fido Internet service

Rogers Communications Inc. announced on Thursday a new Internet service for Ontario under its Fido brand.

Information provided by the company by email said customers of its discount mobile service Fido have been asking for "quality home Internet at a great price."

Telus, Cogeco challenge Bell appeal of wholesale code

Telus Corp. and Cogeco Cable Inc. have filed their opposition to BCE Inc.'s attempt to fight, before the Federal Court of Appeal, the CRTC's wholesale code governing relationships between television stations and TV-service providers.

Wind adds 3rd domestic roaming partner

Wind Mobile said Tuesday it has added "a third major roaming partner" in Canada.

It did not disclose which company is the new partner, though given that Wind's operating territory is Ontario, Alberta and British Columbia, having three "major" roaming partners indicates it is now working with all three national incumbents, BCE Inc., Telus Corp. and Roger Communications Inc.

Apple Pay launches in Canada

American Express Co. announced Tuesday that Apple Inc.’s Apple Pay is now available for its eligible customers and small businesses in Canada.

American Express said that once customers add their American Express card to their Apple Pay account they will be able to pay at select participating merchcants.

It added that customers will also have access to real-time notifications of details on all purchases made and easy connection to the American Express mobile app to have more detailed account monitoring.

Pandora to acquire assets of Rdio for $75M US

Pandora Media Inc. announced Monday it will be acquiring key assets from music streaming service Rdio Inc. for $75 million US.

It said in a press release that it will be acquiring technology and intellectual property, as well as hiring some employees, from Rdio and plans to expand Pandora’s listening experience by late 2016.

Cellular data to grow 10 times by 2021: Ericsson

The amount of data flowing through cellular networks, both in North America and around the world, will increase almost 10 times over the next six years as growth in smartphone adoption continues and video consumption becomes more popular, according to reports released by Ericsson AB on Tuesday.

Ericsson said global mobile data this year is expected to average 5.3 exabytes a month and rise to 51 EB by 2021, as it increases by an average of 45 per cent a year over that time. (One exabyte is equal to about one billion gigabytes.)

Jive Communications acquires Easy Office Phone

Jive Communications Inc., a Utah-based VoIP service provider, announced Monday it has bought Easy Office Phone, a cloud-based phone service company located in Burlington, Ont.

It said in a press release that Easy Office Phone has been renamed to Jive Canada.

Trudeau tells Bains to boost broadband coverage

Prime Minister Justin Trudeau has directed Innovation, Science and Economic Development Minister Navdeep Bains to increase “high-speed broadband coverage and work to support competition, choice and availability of services,” according to a mandate letter released Friday.

He also said Bains should “foster a strong investment environment for telecommunications services to keep Canada at the leading edge of the digital economy.”

MTS to offer CTV, TSN TV-everywhere apps

Manitoba Telecom Services Inc. said Thursday that all of its TV customers will have access to BCE Inc.’s TSN GO and CTV GO mobile apps for free.

MTS said in a press release that the apps are available through Apple Inc.’s iTunes or Google Inc.’s Google Play Store, and said that its customers can also log in through a web browser to get access.

CRTC says Toronto IPTV provider can broadcast U.S. channels

The CRTC granted Atop Broadband Corp., an IPTV provider serving most of the Greater Toronto Area, the authorization to carry WNLO-TV and WNYO-TV, based in Buffalo, N.Y.

Verizon launches $2 US daily roaming in Canada

Verizon Communications Inc. said Thursday it has introduced a new roaming service plan for U.S. subscribers that allows them to use their existing talk, messaging and data plans in Canada and Mexico for an extra $2 US a day.

It said in a press release that customers can sign up for the service, called TravelPass, and activate it either on their online account or via their Verizon app.

Liberals’ infrastructure plans could extend to telecom: lawyer

TORONTO — The newly elected Liberal government has indicated infrastructure will be a priority, and that could include telecom infrastructure, said lawyer Chris Tacit during a panel discussion at the Canadian ISP Summit in Toronto on Wednesday.

Tacit, a lawyer for the Canadian Network Operators’ Consortium (CNOC), which organized the conference, said that “there is a likelihood, with this government’s focus on infrastructure, that they might actually turn their focus in a much more meaningful way to broadband infrastructure.”

Shoan tells radio operators to focus on smartphones

CRTC commissioner Raj Shoan told a group of broadcasting professionals this week that radio operators should look at how they can become a bigger presence on smartphones in order to hold their own against an increasing number of new options for audio consumption, such as online streaming.

Cisco gives $1.8M for IoT research at Carleton University

Cisco Systems Inc. announced Tuesday it is partnering with Carleton University and providing a $1.8-million grant over the next nine years to establish a research chair in sensor technology for the Internet of Things (IoT).

It said in a press release that Mohamed Ibnkahla, an engineering professor in the department of systems and computer engineering at Carleton, has been appointed to the position and will focus on research to develop sensor networks and other technologies for the IoT.

T-Mobile gives users unlimited video from select services

T-Mobile US Inc. announced Tuesday it will be launching a new service for its Simple Choice mobile plan customers that allows free video streaming from several services without it cutting into their LTE-data limits.

Apple Music available on Android

Apple Inc. has made its music-streaming app available for Android devices.

The Apple Music website now includes a link, that takes users to the Google Play store, to download what it calls a "beta" version of the app for Google Inc.'s Android operating system.

Market has adjusted to 2-year wireless contracts: analyst

Third-quarter results indicate the mobile market has adjusted to the higher-priced, two-year contracts that became the norm after the CRTC implemented the wireless code in 2013, says Scotia Capital telecom analyst Jeff Fan.

In a research note issued Monday evening, Fan said this assertion is based on data showing that, for the first time in three years, all the publicly traded wireless carriers in Canada combined reported higher net gains for postpaid customers than a year earlier.

IPTV, Netflix adoption lower in Ontario: MTM

Ontario residents are not moving as fast toward newer ways of getting TV content, such as IPTV and Netflix, as other parts of the Canada, according to newly released figures.

CCTS shouldn’t be consumer advocate: Bell

Officials from BCE Inc. told a CRTC panel Friday that the mandate of the Commission for Complaints for Telecommunications Services (CCTS) shouldn’t be expanded to allow it to become a consumer advocacy body.

Industry Canada changes name

Industry Canada will be known as Innovation, Science and Economic Development Canada under the new Liberal government, a notice on the Privy Council Office website indicates.

Huawei, Telus to create 5G lab in Vancouver

Huawei Technologies Co. Ltd. said Friday that it has partnered with Telus Corp. to create a lab to help develop 5G technology.

It said in a press release that the project, called the 5G Living Lab, will design, test and deploy new technology in order to “deliver a next-generation converged fibre-wireless network in downtown Vancouver.”

Telus revenue up due to wireless, wireline data usage

Telus Corp. increased its revenues by 4.2 per cent from a year earlier to $3.15 billion in the third quarter, the company said Thursday.

It said in a press release the revenue growth was “a result of higher data revenue in both wireless and wireline operations. Wireless data revenue increased 12 per cent from a year ago, leading to overall network revenue growth of four per cent, while wireline data revenue increased 11 per cent to generate 3.3 per cent growth in external wireline revenue.”

Quebecor reports big gains in mobile, OTT

Quebecor Inc.'s third-quarter financial report showed the company is seeing strong gains in the areas of mobile service and its over-the-top streaming service, Club Ilico.

The company said in a press release Thursday that revenue for three months ended Sept. 30 was $971.7 million, up 9.5 per cent from a year earlier. That included a gain of six per cent from telecommunications operations, 21.3 per cent from media, and 33.9 per cent from its sports and entertainment activities.

No more industry minister, Bains becomes innovation minister

Navdeep Bains, MP for the Ontario riding of Mississauga-Malton, was named minister of innovation, science and economic development on Wednesday, a post intended to replace what was previously the position of industry minister.

Prime Minister Justin Trudeau and his cabinet were sworn in Wednesday, following the election of a Liberal government on Oct. 19.

MTS revenue, profits down in Q3

Manitoba Telecom Services Inc. on Wednesday reported lower revenue and profits compared to a year earlier.

It said in a press release that revenue was down one per cent to $398.4 million for the three months ended Sept. 30. Net earnings came in at $26.7 million, down from $36.8 million one year earlier.

MTS said revenue was down due to declines in wireless-voice and long-distance revenue, partially offset by gains in wireless-data, Internet, "information solutions" and IPTV revenues.

CCTS asks CRTC to keep membership mandatory for telecoms

Representatives from the Commission for Complaints for Telecommunications Services (CCTS) told the CRTC Tuesday that making telecom companies' participation in the CCTS voluntary would affect the independence and effectiveness of the commission.

Are stars aligning for Shaw sale to Rogers?

The idea of a merger between Canada's two biggest cable providers — Shaw Communications Inc. and Rogers Communications Inc. — is on the radar again, with at least two market analysts saying the conditions are right for such a move.

CRTC creates online public forum as part of CCTS review

The CRTC announced Monday it has created an online public forum as part of its review of the Commissioner for Complaints for Telecommunications Services (CCTS) and is inviting Canadians to participate in it.

Napster launches music subscription service to Canadians

Rhapsody International Inc.’s music subscription service, Napster, announced Monday that its subscription service is now available in Canada.

It said in a press release that, for a limited time, Canadians can subscribe to the service and get the first three months for $1, after which it will be $9.99 per month.

VoLTE connections to reach 2 billion by 2020: Juniper

Voice-over-LTE (VoLTE) connections are anticipated to reach two billion by 2020, rising from about 123 million connections this year, according to a new report released Monday from Juniper Research Ltd.

It said the opportunity for monetizing VoLTE will initially be limited as “network operators will initially focus on experience and quality of service, rather than monetization, with failure to deliver a high-quality offering at the outset potentially resulting in churn to rival operators.”

CRTC denies application to implement wireless alerting system

The CRTC denied Wednesday an application from Bruce Power requesting the immediate implementation of an emergency alerting system by wireless service providers, but announced that it will launch a public proceeding regarding the issue next year.

Telecom-revenue growth trails consumer-spending increase: CRTC

Revenue from telecommunications services in Canada grew 2.4 per cent in 2014, the CRTC said Tuesday, falling short of the six per cent hike in average spending on communications services that year.

In the second part of its annual communications monitoring report, the CRTC said telecommunications services revenue was in 2014 was $45.9 billion, up from $44.8 billion in 2013.

Bell Media launches Discovery GO

BCE Inc.’s media division has launched a TV-everywhere app for five Discovery Canada channels, and said Discovery GO would soon begin offering 4K content.

The company said in a press release Monday that programming from Discovery, Animal Planet, Investigation Discovery, Discovery Science, and Discovery Velocity will be available “live and on demand on smartphones, tablets, computers, and television set-top boxes.”

Shoan asks court to limit Blais’ ability to name CRTC panels

Commissioner Raj Shoan has brought another case against the CRTC to court, asking the Federal Court of Appeal to limit the ability of the CRTC chairman to assign commissioners to panels that make decisions on issues before the regulator.