By Steve Faguy
MONTREAL — Cogeco is launching a wireless service in Canada. Or at least, it’s almost certain. The question now isn’t so much whether it will launch, but how and where.
Speaking to analysts and journalists on Friday ahead of the company’s annual general meeting, Cogeco CEO Philippe Jetté confirmed a dedicated team of 30-40 people is in place working on a wireless network plan, with many other employees contributing to it, and major capital expenditures have been budgeted for the rollout.
The remaining step before the real work begins is to await the CRTC’s determinations on specific rules for…
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Wireless issues top the list with largest share of complaints
By Ahmad Hathout
OTTAWA – A watchdog that fields telecommunications complaints said in a report released today that Canadian complaints about their services have dropped 25% compared to the same period last year, with wireless taking the top spot for issues and with some trending issues that one advocate said are “disturbing.”
All telecommunications services recorded by the Commission for Complaints for Telecom-Television Services reported declines in complaints for the 2021-2022 year compared to the previous 2020-2021 period. The CCTS said it resolved 88% of complaints, often within 30 days.
Wireless topped issues…
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It’s the first residual auction in four years
OTTAWA – Canada’s largest telecoms have applied to be in a sealed-bid auction held by Innovation Canada for left-over spectrum licenses.
Innovation Canada posted on its website Friday the applicants for the residual spectrum in the 600 MHz, 2500 MHz, and 3500 MHz bands, mid-band spectrum that was auctioned in the summer of last year and is used for 5G services. The slices of spectrum went unsold in previous auctions or were returned to the department.
The auction will be in a sealed bid format, meaning telecoms will submit their bids…
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By Ahmad Hathout
TORONTO – The CRTC should look into the existing agreements and structures in place that deal with network reliability issues before it does anything hasty, according to panelists at the Canadian Telecom Summit, after the chairman said yesterday the commission plans to hold proceedings on the matter.
During his keynote speech on the first day of the conference yesterday, CRTC Chairman Ian Scott said the regulator will be planning proceedings that could examine issues related to reporting of major network outages, including enhancing network resiliency, access to emergency services, consumer communication and compensation, and penalties on providers.
But…
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ESSEX COUNTY – The governments of Ontario and Canada announced today that in partnership with Southwestern Integrated Fibre Technology (SWIFT) they are investing over $5.3 million to bring high-speed Internet to over 3,400 homes, farms and businesses in Essex County.
“The federal and provincial governments are each committing $1.4 million to support the construction of broadband infrastructure that will provide access to high-speed internet service for 1,600 homes, farms and businesses in the communities of Edgars, Gesto, Marshfield, Pleasant Valley, Arner, East Harrow, Levergood Beach, Belcreft Beach, Comet, Seymour Beach, Lypps Beach, and Ambassador Beach by June 2023,” a Continue Reading
TORONTO — Organizers of the Canadian Telecom Summit (CTS) announced today details of the regulatory blockbuster panel (above), taking place at the annual conference on Nov. 22 at 4:15 p.m.
Ed Antecol, vice-president of professional services with COMsolve will moderate the panel. Panel participants include:
Stephen Schmidt, vice-president telecom policy and chief regulatory legal counsel, Telus
Samer Bishay, CEO of Iristel and Ice Wireless
Geoff White, executive director and general counsel, with the Competitive Network Operators of Canada
Rob Malcolmson, chief legal and regulatory officer, BCE and Bell Canada
Paul Beaudry, vice-president, regulatory affairs, Cogeco
Ted Woodhead, chief regulatory officer…
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TORONTO — Organizers of the 2022 Canadian Telecom Summit (CTS) announced today the details of an environmental sustainability panel, taking place during the conference on Nov. 21 at 11 a.m.
“Environmental, social and governance issues loom ever larger across the telecommunications sector,” a description of the panel on the conference website says. “The panel of industry experts will delve into the some of the most pressing, including the connections between connectivity and energy efficiency, ensuring sustainability throughout supply chains, accessing capital through green and sustainable financial instruments, navigating evolving rules for ESG disclosure and powering communications with renewable energy.”
The panel…
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CEO calls CRTC decision restricting those qualifying under MVNO framework “unfortunate”
MONTREAL – Cogeco announced its fourth quarter 2022 financial results last night, showing revenue was up 14% year-over-year, while earlier today, on an investor’s call, its president and CEO Philippe Jetté outlined the company’s next steps towards launching wireless.
Financial results
In terms of its Q4 2022 financial results, Cogeco reported revenue of $746.9 million. The company also reported adjusted EBITDA increased 18.7% to $348.5 million.
Cogeco’s Canadian telecommunications revenue alone increased 1.1% and adjusted EBITDA increased 6.4% year-over-year, “mainly resulting from lower marketing expenses and certain year-end adjustments,” a press…
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BRIDGENORTH, Ont. — The governments of Canada and Ontario today announced more than $56 million in combined funding for two projects by Bell and one by Cogeco Connexion to bring high-speed Internet access to more than 16,000 homes in rural communities across eastern Ontario.
The announcement was made by Gudie Hutchings, federal minister of rural economic development, and Amarjot Sandhu, parliamentary assistant to Ontario’s minister of infrastructure, at the Selwyn Public Library’s Bridgenorth Branch in the town of Bridgenorth, Ont., near Peterborough.
A government backgrounder outlines more details about the amount of funding each ISP is receiving for their projects…
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Cogeco said terms are “positive step”
By Ahmad Hathout
OTTAWA – The CRTC has defined the boundaries for regional mobile virtual network operators to lease wireless space from the networks of the large incumbent operators, stipulating carriers wanting to operate such an MVNO must actively be offering services to retail customers, not just have spectrum and facilities.
The regulator earlier today released its long-awaited terms and conditions for an MVNO regime, which emerged out of its April 2021 decision to allow established regional virtual operators with spectrum and existing facilities to lease network space from Rogers, Bell, Telus, and SaskTel.
The terms and…
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