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In an unstable week for wireless, steady Q4 for Shaw
In a conference call with analysts Friday, Shaw Communications Inc. executives declared that the company is in a good place to weather what one analyst has called a “storm” in the wireless sector. This content is available to wirereport.ca subscribers Already a subscriber? Sign in here LOGIN Forgot password? Unlock all the Canadian telecom, broadcasting …
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Mixed analyst response to Wednesday’s telecom stock sell-off
Following the release of the Rogers Communications Inc. quarterly results Wednesday that were accompanied by falling stock prices, Desjardins analyst Maher Yaghi asked in a research note if the impact of the shift toward no-data-overage wireless plans indicated a period of significant instability in the wireless sector. This content is available to wirereport.ca subscribers Already …
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ENCQOR mmWave 5G service now available at Ottawa site
The public-private partnership known as ENCQOR 5G has now made mmWave spectrum available to participants. 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 …
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New no-data-overage plans drive down Rogers Q3
Wireless revenue for Rogers Communications Inc. struggled over the summer, primarily due to a larger-than-expected migration to the company’s new unlimited data plans, according to Rogers management in a third-quarter earnings call Wednesday morning. This content is available to wirereport.ca subscribers Already a subscriber? Sign in here LOGIN Forgot password? Unlock all the Canadian telecom, …
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Bureau says three-year device financing will harm competition
In its intervention to the CRTC’s consultation on the emergence of three-year device financing plans, the Competition Bureau has cautioned the regulator against the new financing schemes. This content is available to wirereport.ca subscribers Already a subscriber? Sign in here LOGIN Forgot password? Unlock all the Canadian telecom, broadcasting and digital media news you need. …
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CPC plans for Netflix, rural broadband still unclear days ahead of vote
Despite Conservative leader Andrew Scheer indicating throughout this fall’s election campaign that he would make sure Netflix Inc. pays its “fair share,” his party is refusing to clarify whether he actually plans to introduce any new obligations on the streaming giant. This content is available to wirereport.ca subscribers Already a subscriber? Sign in here LOGIN …
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Conservatives propose three-per-cent tax on tech giant revenue
The Conservative Party has now specified its plan to make web giants “pay their fair share,” which consists of a three-per-cent tax on revenues of the largest digital companies. This content is available to wirereport.ca subscribers Already a subscriber? Sign in here LOGIN Forgot password? Unlock all the Canadian telecom, broadcasting and digital media news …
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Scheer refuses to specify if he’ll take action on wireless prices
GATINEAU — Conservative leader Andrew Scheer refused to say whether he has any intent to tackle telecom affordability in the ongoing federal election campaign, following the English-language debate Monday 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 media news …
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With telecom affordability, political parties wade into fierce debate
As politicians take aim at telecom affordability in this fall’s election campaign, they join a perennial dispute in which industry has taken issue with various reports showing high Canadian prices — and which played a part in why one telecom research firm is, for now, quietly phasing Canada out of its study. This content is …
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Liberals, Conservatives promise new rules for Netflix
The Liberal Party platform, released Sunday, includes promises of new regulations for Canadian content on streaming services — while the Conservatives gear up to announce new taxes affecting foreign digital giants, the specifics of which are still unclear. This content is available to wirereport.ca subscribers Already a subscriber? Sign in here LOGIN Forgot password? Unlock all …
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Unlimited plans ‘premature,’ will hurt ARPU: Bell CFO
For BCE Inc. the industry-wide lurch toward unlimited data plans in the mobile wireless market was “premature,” because it will cut the amount of revenue generated from data overages in the short term. This content is available to wirereport.ca subscribers Already a subscriber? Sign in here LOGIN Forgot password? Unlock all the Canadian telecom, broadcasting …
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Liberals promise access for ‘qualified’ MVNOs, spectrum auction changes
In this fall’s election campaign, the Liberal Party is setting the goal of lowering cellphone prices by 25 per cent within four years — and they plan to make that happen by mandating access by some MVNOs to incumbent networks and changing auction rules. This content is available to wirereport.ca subscribers Already a subscriber? Sign …
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Investors too focused on Rogers wireless division: analyst
Investors are overly preoccupied with the wireless divisions of telecom companies, and as such have been overly punitive toward Rogers Communications Inc. this summer, according to a look in on the telecom industry published Thursday by National Bank Financial Markets analyst Adam Shine. This content is available to wirereport.ca subscribers Already a subscriber? Sign in …
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Green Party platform: no anonymous social media, 5G rollout on hold
The Green Party election platform includes promises to ensure only individuals whose identities have been verified can set up social media accounts and indicates a Green government would require Parliamentary approval to continue the rollout of 5G. This content is available to wirereport.ca subscribers Already a subscriber? Sign in here LOGIN Forgot password? Unlock all …
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WSP customer service reps lacking accessibility knowledge: CRTC
The country’s largest wireless service providers have “significant room for improvement” when it comes to providing important and timely information to customers who are elderly or live with disabilities, a new CRTC-commissioned report said. This content is available to wirereport.ca subscribers Already a subscriber? Sign in here LOGIN Forgot password? Unlock all the Canadian telecom, …
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NDP price caps would apply to all wireless plans, be set by the CRTC
The NDP’s promised telecom service price caps would apply to all wireless plans and the CRTC would be the body charged with setting up the regime, an NDP source confirmed following a press conference held in Toronto Friday to reiterate the party’s election promises to lower cellphone and internet service bills. This content is available …
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Bell and Rogers execs say change to MVNO rules unlikely
Whatever the outcome of next month’s federal election, there will be no mandated access by mobile virtual network operators (MVNOs) to incumbent wireless networks, BCE Inc.’s outgoing CEO George Cope predicted while speaking to investors Tuesday at the BMO Media and Telecom Conference in Toronto. This content is available to wirereport.ca subscribers Already a subscriber? …
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Election 2019: watch for price caps, Netflix regs, Huawei ban
Even before the federal election campaign officially kicked off, telecom price caps already emerged as a proposal that, if implemented, would reverse a decades-long policy trend in Canada and diverge from international norms. This content is available to wirereport.ca subscribers Already a subscriber? Sign in here LOGIN Forgot password? Unlock all the Canadian telecom, broadcasting …
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CRTC says Bell cannot cut roaming service to Videotron customers
In the latest development in the months-long conflict between BCE Inc. and Quebecor Inc., the CRTC has decided that Bell cannot suspend its wholesale roaming service to Quebecor subsidiary Videotron, until the regulator decides on Bell’s Part 1 application. This content is available to wirereport.ca subscribers Already a subscriber? Sign in here LOGIN Forgot password? …
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PIAC says 3-year device plan review could force Wireless Code change
If the CRTC finds that device financing options beyond two years do not violate the Wireless Code, it could end up causing an amendment to those rules, the Public Interest Advocacy Centre has said. This content is available to wirereport.ca subscribers Already a subscriber? Sign in here LOGIN Forgot password? Unlock all the Canadian telecom, …
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Government seeking crowdsourced spectrum usage data
As major spectrum auctions considered important for 5G networks grow nearer, Innovation, Science, and Economic Development (ISED) wants to know more about how spectrum is used in Canada, and is looking at Victoria, B.C.-based Tutela Technologies to gather crowd-sourced information for it. This content is available to wirereport.ca subscribers Already a subscriber? Sign in here …
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Telus warned gov’t of Huawei ban’s ‘far-reaching impacts’: secret docs
Telus Corp. told the federal government that prohibiting Huawei Technologies Co. Ltd.’s equipment from next-generation networks would significantly delay the deployment of 5G — a week before its CEO reassured investors that a ban would be manageable. The company urged the Liberal government not to put in place any additional bans on Huawei equipment for …
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Wireless service prices dipped with ‘unlimited’ plans: StatCan
The price of wireless plans is going down slightly, but the price of phones is skyrocketing, according to Consumer Price Index data released last week by Statistics 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 …
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Telus considering challenge of court ruling on cancellation fees
Telus Corp. is contemplating asking the Supreme Court of Canada to review a June decision by Quebec’s highest court that ordered the telecom to pay back customers who years ago forked over what the court called excessive early cancellation fees. This content is available to wirereport.ca subscribers Already a subscriber? Sign in here LOGIN Forgot …
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Eastlink says it consulted community on opposed Moncton tower build
Bragg Communications Inc.’s Eastlink followed public consultation protocol when it advised New Brunswick residents that it was planning to build a cell tower in a residential area, according to court documents. This content is available to wirereport.ca subscribers Already a subscriber? Sign in here LOGIN Forgot password? Unlock all the Canadian telecom, broadcasting and digital …
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Bell cuts rural broadband investment in response to new wholesale rates
BCE Inc. has responded to lower wholesale rates for internet service announced by the CRTC last week by reducing its fixed wireless rollout in rural areas by 20 per cent. 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 …
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Fido gets in on no-overage plans by capping data
Rogers Communications Inc. said its flanker brand Fido would begin offering what the company is calling data overage protection, joining the flagship brands that have all launched some level of plan doing away with overage charges in recent months. This content is available to wirereport.ca subscribers Already a subscriber? Sign in here LOGIN Forgot password? Unlock …
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Telecom prices down, household spending up: CRTC
Prices for communications services are on a downward trend, according to new data from the CRTC, but spending on those goods are also on the rise. This content is available to wirereport.ca subscribers Already a subscriber? Sign in here LOGIN Forgot password? Unlock all the Canadian telecom, broadcasting and digital media news you need. Take …
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Telecoms must hand over more detailed info to Comp Bureau
The CRTC has directed telecom companies to disclose an additional set of information to the Competition Bureau ahead of the regulator’s review of Canada’s mobile wireless market next year. This content is available to wirereport.ca subscribers Already a subscriber? Sign in here LOGIN Forgot password? Unlock all the Canadian telecom, broadcasting and digital media news you …
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Telecoms say speed throttling doesn’t violate net neutrality
The big three telecoms are telling the CRTC that their practice of slowing data speeds down on the new “unlimited” plans after customers reach their data cap is not a violation of the regulator’s policy on internet traffic management practices (ITMPs). This content is available to wirereport.ca subscribers Already a subscriber? Sign in here LOGIN …
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CRTC reviewing 36-month device financing plans
The CRTC said Friday afternoon that it thinks the 36-month smartphone financing plans that have entered the market in recent weeks may be out of line with the wireless code. This content is available to wirereport.ca subscribers Already a subscriber? Sign in here LOGIN Forgot password? Unlock all the Canadian telecom, broadcasting and digital media news …
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Three-year financing an ‘affront’ to Wireless Code, Shaw says
Shaw Communications Inc. is blasting the move by the wireless industry’s titans to provide customers with a three-year device financing option, claiming the plan locks customers out of the market for longer than the rules allow. This content is available to wirereport.ca subscribers Already a subscriber? Sign in here LOGIN Forgot password? Unlock all the …
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Internet code will indirectly tackle poor sales practices, CRTC chairman says
CRTC chairman Ian Scott said the new internet code will address many of the underlying issues that have resulted in complaints about the industry’s poor sales practices, which is outside the mandate of the code and its administrator, the Commission for Complaints for Telecom-television Services (CCTS). This content is available to wirereport.ca subscribers Already a …
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Telus now offering 36-month device financing
Telus Corp. has followed in the footsteps of rival Rogers Communications Inc. in making its device financing plans available with a three-year term option. This content is available to wirereport.ca subscribers Already a subscriber? Sign in here LOGIN Forgot password? Unlock all the Canadian telecom, broadcasting and digital media news you need. Take a free …
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Freedom plans could drive big three back to subsidies: analysts
The launch of new plans from Shaw Communications Inc.’s Freedom will drive more competition in the wireless market, analysts said after the new $0 phone plans were unveiled — warning the new offerings could lead incumbents to reconsider their new equipment financing plans. This content is available to wirereport.ca subscribers Already a subscriber? Sign in …
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Freedom answers to ‘unlimited’, offers $0 phones on select plans
Shaw Communications Inc.’s Freedom is responding to the wireless industry’s recent moves toward removing data caps and offering $0 upfront financing plans by throwing-in select devices at absolutely no charge on certain plans. This content is available to wirereport.ca subscribers Already a subscriber? Sign in here LOGIN Forgot password? Unlock all the Canadian telecom, broadcasting …
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CCSA lauds Ontario gov’t promise to review hydro rates
The Ontario government’s $315-million plan to improve connectivity in the province includes a promise to review hydro pole attachment rates, which was praised by the Canadian Communication Systems Alliance (CCSA) 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 …
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‘Unlimited’ plans leading to 50% more data use, Rogers says
Rogers Communications Inc.’s CEO Joe Natale said there has been a 50 per cent increase in data use among the 365,000 customers who’ve adopted its “unlimited” data plans in the six weeks they have been in the market. This content is available to wirereport.ca subscribers Already a subscriber? Sign in here LOGIN Forgot password? Unlock …
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‘Unlimited’ deals give Freedom price advantage: analyst
Canaccord Genuity analyst Aravinda Galappatthige said the wireless frenzy unleashed by the new no-overage plans will negatively impact Rogers Communications Inc. and Telus Corp., while benefiting Shaw Communications Inc.’s Freedom. 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 …
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Any gov’t ban unlikely to affect Huawei partnership: Iristel
OTTAWA — With the federal government’s decision on whether to ban Huawei Technologies Co. Ltd equipment from 5G networks still looming, the company and Iristel Inc.’s Ice Wireless held a press conference in Ottawa Monday to announce they’re partnering up to connect 70 of some of Canada’s most remote communities. This content is available to …
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CRTC asks for info on device financing plans
The CRTC has asked the country’s wireless providers for information about new device financing plans that have appeared on the market in the last few weeks. This content is available to wirereport.ca subscribers Already a subscriber? Sign in here LOGIN Forgot password? Unlock all the Canadian telecom, broadcasting and digital media news you need. Take …
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Eastlink intros device switching after one year
Bragg Communications Inc.’s Eastlink is bringing in a program that encourages customers to upgrade their phones after 12 months — bucking an industry trend of switching at the end of the standard two-year contract term. This content is available to wirereport.ca subscribers Already a subscriber? Sign in here LOGIN Forgot password? Unlock all the Canadian …
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CRTC asks if incumbent networks should have MVNO set-asides
Ahead of its wireless review hearing, the CRTC is asking Canadian telecoms to answer a long list of questions related to the government’s new policy directive to the regulator to enhance competition and affordability. This content is available to wirereport.ca subscribers Already a subscriber? Sign in here LOGIN Forgot password? Unlock all the Canadian telecom, …
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StatCan data shows higher telecom spending than CRTC pricing numbers
The average Canadian household spent $233 a month on communication services in 2017, a $10.17 or 4.6 per cent increase from a year earlier, according to data from Statistics Canada released late last year. This content is available to wirereport.ca subscribers Already a subscriber? Sign in here LOGIN Forgot password? Unlock all the Canadian telecom, …
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Telus plans could also ‘interfere’ with customer churn: PIAC
The same week that concerns were raised about new device financing plans from Rogers Communications Inc. potentially running afoul of the Wireless Code, John Lawford, executive director of the Public Interest Advocacy Centre (PIAC), said that financing plans from Telus Corp. could also run contrary to the code. This content is available to wirereport.ca subscribers …
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Rogers’ financing plans ‘might be seen as a problem’: CCTS
The Commission for Complaints for Telecom-television Services (CCTS) said Wednesday that new phone financing plans introduced by Rogers Communications Inc. may run afoul of the Wireless Code. This content is available to wirereport.ca subscribers Already a subscriber? Sign in here LOGIN Forgot password? Unlock all the Canadian telecom, broadcasting and digital media news you need. …
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Emergency services affected by service outage, Rogers confirms
The wireless service outage that began on Sunday and affected the country’s four major carriers impacted 911 emergency services for nearly eight hours, Rogers Communications Inc. confirmed. This content is available to wirereport.ca subscribers Already a subscriber? Sign in here LOGIN Forgot password? Unlock all the Canadian telecom, broadcasting and digital media news you need. Take a free trial …
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EORN funding to improve cell service in 102 communities
The federal government will contribute $71 million to a project from the Eastern Ontario Regional Network (EORN) that aims to improve mobile connectivity in the region. This content is available to wirereport.ca subscribers Already a subscriber? Sign in here LOGIN Forgot password? Unlock all the Canadian telecom, broadcasting and digital media news you need. Take …
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CRTC asks wireless providers to justify post-data cap throttling
The CRTC has asked several telecoms to explain how their throttling of wireless speeds once customers exceed their data allotments doesn’t violate the commission’s regulatory policy on internet traffic management practices (ITMPs). This content is available to wirereport.ca subscribers Already a subscriber? Sign in here LOGIN Forgot password? Unlock all the Canadian telecom, broadcasting and …
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Bigger, cheaper data plans thanks to us: Shaw
The price of data is coming down and the size of data packages is going up, all thanks to market pressure introduced by Shaw Communications Inc.’s Freedom Mobile wireless brand, according to Shaw. This content is available to wirereport.ca subscribers Already a subscriber? Sign in here LOGIN Forgot password? Unlock all the Canadian telecom, broadcasting …
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‘Unlimited’ plans could negatively impact industry: analyst
Rogers Communications Inc.’s decision to introduce “no overage” plans will likely negatively impact all wireless carriers, Scotiabank’s Jeff Fan said in 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 digital media news you need. Take a free …
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Few surprises in BTLR ‘what we heard’ report
The blue ribbon panel in charge of reviewing Canada’s communications legislation has released its interim report, which — as expected — offers no indication of what policy positions the seven members might take in their final recommendations. This content is available to wirereport.ca subscribers Already a subscriber? Sign in here LOGIN Forgot password? Unlock all …
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Cogeco creates new VP wireless position, hires Stingray exec
Cogeco Inc. said it has hired Marie Ginette Lepage as its new vice-president of wireless solutions and innovation, a newly-created position in which she will take on the responsibility for Cogeco’s wireless service strategy. This content is available to wirereport.ca subscribers Already a subscriber? Sign in here LOGIN Forgot password? Unlock all the Canadian telecom, …
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ISED missed internal CTI deadline despite ‘considerable pressure’: docs
The federal government failed to meet an internal goal by which it aimed to have nearly all of the contribution agreements signed for its Connect to Innovate (CTI) rural broadband funding program. “There is considerable pressure by Ministers, provinces, media and Canadians to show progress — both in negotiations, and in getting ‘shovels in the …
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Rogers’ no-overage plan about data use, churn, 5G: analyst
Rogers Communications Inc.’s reasons for launching a no-overage-fee wireless plan last week — quickly copied across the industry — included driving up data use by its customers and improving its churn and average revenue per user in the future, according to National Bank analyst Adam Shine. This content is available to wirereport.ca subscribers Already a …
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Final CRTC policy direction references rural connectivity, investment
The government’s new policy direction to the CRTC — first proposed in March and focusing on affordability and consumers — is now in force. This content is available to wirereport.ca subscribers Already a subscriber? Sign in here LOGIN Forgot password? Unlock all the Canadian telecom, broadcasting and digital media news you need. Take a free …
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Bell-Videotron fight widens to permanent roaming
The conflict between BCE Inc. and Quebecor Inc. that has been simmering since April has again reached the CRTC, this time with the threat of Bell cutting off some Videotron wireless customers. This content is available to wirereport.ca subscribers Already a subscriber? Sign in here LOGIN Forgot password? Unlock all the Canadian telecom, broadcasting and …
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Effect of 3.5 GHz clawback on rural broadband to vary across Canada
In recent weeks, telecom issues haven’t escaped the increased rhetoric that comes with pre-election periods, with topics including rural broadband — and the clawback of 3.5 GHz spectrum — generating discussion in committee meetings and on the floor of the House of Commons. This content is available to wirereport.ca subscribers Already a subscriber? Sign in …
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Ultimate impact of new ‘unlimited’ plans unclear: industry-watchers
As BCE Inc. and Telus Corp. reacted to Rogers Communications Inc.’s offer of a new wireless data plan with no data overage charges, analysts and experts had difficulty predicting how the new plans could affect the industry. This content is available to wirereport.ca subscribers Already a subscriber? Sign in here LOGIN Forgot password? Unlock all …
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Rogers’ new no-data-overage plan a ‘necessary’ development: analyst
Rogers Communications Inc.’s launch of a wireless plan that won’t charge customers for exceeding their data buckets is part of an inevitable move to more affordable telecom pricing in Canada, according to RBC Capital Markets analyst Drew McReynolds. This content is available to wirereport.ca subscribers Already a subscriber? Sign in here LOGIN Forgot password? Unlock …
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Ericsson forecasts faster 5G rollout in updated report
A new report by Ericsson AB suggests an accelerated timeline for the roll-out of 5G, as it now expects the next generation network to reach 1.9 billion consumers in 2024, a 27 per cent increase on its November forecast. This content is available to wirereport.ca subscribers Already a subscriber? Sign in here LOGIN Forgot password? Unlock all …
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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 …
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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. …
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No issue with Canadian wireless pricing: telecom execs
TORONTO — Executives from Canada’s biggest carriers defended the country’s wireless prices during a panel discussion Tuesday, saying there is no problem with how much service costs in Canada, despite both the federal government and the CRTC zoning in on affordability as an issue. This content is available to wirereport.ca subscribers Already a subscriber? Sign …
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Shaw’s McAleese says no ‘use case’ for MVNOs in Canada
TORONTO — Paul McAleese, president of wireless at Shaw Communications Inc. said at an industry conference he doesn’t see MVNOs being successful in Canada — a somewhat different message than what the company recently told the CRTC. This content is available to wirereport.ca subscribers Already a subscriber? Sign in here LOGIN Forgot password? Unlock all …
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CRTC chairman fires warning shot about customer service issues
TORONTO — During a speech at an industry conference Monday, CRTC chairman Ian Scott told telecom companies they must “do better” when it comes to customer sales, following a CRTC report in February that found there is an unacceptable degree of misleading and aggressive retail sales practices. This content is available to wirereport.ca subscribers Already …
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No broadcaster compensation for 600 MHz move, ISED confirms
Broadcasters have lobbied the government for years to reimburse them for having to switch channels when the 600 MHz spectrum is repurposed for mobile wireless use, but all such requests have so-far been rebuffed, The Wire Report has learned. This content is available to wirereport.ca subscribers Already a subscriber? Sign in here LOGIN Forgot …
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Freedom open to network-sharing with Rogers, president says
As Shaw Communications Inc. continues to expand its Freedom Mobile brand, a top executive said the company would like to enter into a network sharing arrangement with Rogers Communications Inc. at some point, a desire not shared with the bigger telecom. This content is available to wirereport.ca subscribers Already a subscriber? Sign in here LOGIN …
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CRTC accepts Comp Bureau’s narrowed request for wireless data
After the CRTC in April denied the Competition Bureau’s request for more specific telecom data for its wireless review, the commission Friday changed course and said it will go ahead and ask wireless service providers to provide more granular information. This content is available to wirereport.ca subscribers Already a subscriber? Sign in here LOGIN Forgot …
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CRTC denies PIAC clarity on phone unlocking
The CRTC has denied a request by the Public Interest Advocacy Centre (PIAC) to state that CRTC policy requires wireless providers to unlock devices for anyone who asks, regardless of whether they are customers of that company. This content is available to wirereport.ca subscribers Already a subscriber? Sign in here LOGIN Forgot password? Unlock all …
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Shaw says patience, not regulation, required to see organic MVNO market
Shaw Communications Inc.’s Freedom, the country’s major fourth wireless player, says it is most susceptible to harm if the CRTC decides to mandate MVNO access to incumbent facilities, and that time and encouraging network investment are needed for the CRTC to see an organic wholesale market for MVNOs to emerge. This content is available to …
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Fizz still ‘minimal’ part of wireless for Videotron: CEO
The new Fizz flanker brand launched by Quebecor Inc.’s Videotron is still too small a part of the company’s business to significantly affect its average billing per user (ABPU), Videotron’s CEO 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 …
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Telus begins separating ‘quality’ wireless subs in financial reports
One year after claiming it registers similar smartphone-specific new subscribers compared to its major competitors, Telus Corp. has separated out what it traditionally considers less lucrative wireless additions in its financial statements. This content is available to wirereport.ca subscribers Already a subscriber? Sign in here LOGIN Forgot password? Unlock all the Canadian telecom, broadcasting and …
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Competition Bureau asks CRTC to reconsider requests for info
Competition commissioner Matthew Boswell has told the CRTC he needs more location-specific data about Canada’s wireless market to be able to contribute to the upcoming review of the CRTC’s mobile wireless wholesale framework. This content is available to wirereport.ca subscribers Already a subscriber? Sign in here LOGIN Forgot password? Unlock all the Canadian telecom, broadcasting …
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Bell-branded wireless hits sub-1% churn, continuing industry trend
The expected focus by the country’s largest wireless service providers this year to keep the spoils of last year’s record postpaid wireless subscribers has so-far propelled two of those companies to a milestone achievement: a postpaid wireless churn of under one-per cent. This content is available to wirereport.ca subscribers Already a subscriber? Sign in here …
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Resistance to tower builds shows need to ‘rethink’ consultations: MP
Residents of a New Brunswick town are asking the Federal Court to review the government’s approval of a proposed telecommunications tower by Bragg Communications Inc.’s Eastlink, a development that is punctuating opposition to cell towers in neighbourhoods across the country. This content is available to wirereport.ca subscribers Already a subscriber? Sign in here LOGIN Forgot …
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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 …
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Ahead of next alert test, cities group says texts lack specificity
Before a second wireless emergency alert test went out in November, a group consisting of major emergency management agencies across Canada sent a letter to Public Safety asking for the messages to include more specific details about the events and their location. This content is available to wirereport.ca subscribers Already a subscriber? Sign in here …
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Ontario court presses pause on Iristel-Telus case
The Ontario Superior Court has put a lawsuit launched by Iristel Inc. against Telus Corp. on hold while the CRTC settles a related dispute. This content is available to wirereport.ca subscribers Already a subscriber? Sign in here LOGIN Forgot password? Unlock all the Canadian telecom, broadcasting and digital media news you need. Take a free …
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Small telecoms call for more forceful language in policy direction
The CRTC’s new, consumer-focused policy direction doesn’t go far enough, according to smaller companies and advocacy groups, who told the government the proposed language is too flimsy, too open to interpretation by the commission, and is liable to be superceded in moments of ambiguity by its 2006 predecessor. This content is available to wirereport.ca subscribers …
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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 …
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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 …
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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 …
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Cogeco offering no details on MVNO strategy
Cogeco Inc. has long been a vocal proponent of mandated mobile virtual operators in Canada, so it’s no surprise CEO Philippe Jetté indicated the company plans to take advantage of the CRTC’s new position regarding MVNOs on a call with analysts Wednesday, though he declined to elaborate on how the company might take advantage of …
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