Telecom has been teasing launch for months
By Ahmad Hathout
Cogeco executives said Wednesday the telecom will fully launch its much-anticipated wireless services as a mobile virtual network operator (MVNO) this fall.
The declaration comes after years of inquiries and after it opened pre-registrations earlier this year for its existing internet customers that executives said yielded demand that exceeded their expectations.
“We already have an initial cohort of users on the service and will broaden sales in 12 markets over the coming weeks, ahead of a full commercial launch later this fall,” Cogeco CEO Frederic Perron said…
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By Ahmad Hathout
Cogeco representatives on Tuesday implored a panel of CRTC commissioners to carefully examine the cost-benefit analysis of implementing a broadband label that they say has been largely ineffective in the purchasing decisions of their American customers.
The regional cable company, which has a division called Breezeline in the United States, says such a proposed label – which would resemble a nutrition label on foods and include information beyond just download and upload speeds – would just serve to confuse customers.
“The reality is that we already provide consumers with the information they need to make informed purchasing decisions –…
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By Ahmad Hathout
Cogeco is launching in certain service areas an internet package with theoretical download speeds of up to 2 Gbps for its customers and wholesalers, according to a submission to the CRTC and confirmed to us by the company.
A Cogeco spokesperson told Cartt that an official announcement for the introduction has yet to be made, so there are no details as to where the package may be available. Per speed matching rules, Cogeco will also introduce the speeds for wholsalers, who will get upload speeds of up to 140 Mbps available on an aggregated basis on its hybrid…
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By Ahmad Hathout
Cogeco CEO Frederic Perron said Thursday that subscriber demand for its upcoming Canadian wireless service has exceeded the company’s expectations.
“We’ve now opened pre-registrations for our existing Canadian wireline customers as part of our wireless pre-launch lead generation campaign and demand has exceeded our expectations so far,” Perron said during the company’s second-quarter earnings call, adding the wireless launch is “progressing well.”
Last quarter, Perron said the company was “on track to launch wireless in Canada over the coming quarters.” The comment followed agreements it made with Canadian network operators to ride on their wireless infrastructure…
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Telecom said Canadian wireless on track for “coming quarters”
By Ahmad Hathout
Cogeco executives said Tuesday the telecom will bump up the price of at least some of its internet services in Canada in March.
President and CEO Frederic Perron said during a fiscal first quarter conference call the increase would be similar to past ones, but didn’t elaborate beyond that.
The comments came in response to a question about competitors looking into increasing their prices and therefore their average-revenue-per-user (ARPU) metrics. Quebecor, for example, announced in November that it would be increasing the price of its internet plans in…
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Cogeco Inc. announced Wednesday the appointment of Caroline Jamet as president of Cogeco Media, effective Feb. 3, 2025.
Most recently, Jamet served as executive director of Radio-Canada’s radio and audio services, “where she increased market share and spearheaded the development of its successful digital strategy,” according to a Cogeco press release announcing her hiring. Prior to that, at publishing company Gesca, then owner of La Presse, Jamet assumed business leadership for two publishing divisions and was deeply involved in the digital transformation of the newspaper, Cogeco’s announcement says.
“Caroline’s breadth of experience and engaging leadership will be invaluable as…
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By Ahmad Hathout
Cogeco last month filed its first trademarks for mobile wireless services after announcing it had secured agreements to launch its mobile virtual network operator (MVNO) business.
The trademark applications cover services including the selling of phone plans, device financing, device accessories, device warranties, insurance, returns, repair and trade-ins under the names Cogeco Mobile, Cogeco Financing, Cogeco Protection, Cogeco Trade-In, and Cogeco Exchange, according to the federal trademarks database.
A request for comment was not returned as to when the services are expected to launch.
The Montreal-based telecom announced in August that it signed a five-year mobile virtual…
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Cogeco announced Tuesday the hiring of a chief commercial officer, who started last week Monday.
Mike Henry is responsible for “leading the sales and marketing, digital, brand, product and community relations teams” of both of Cogeco’s telecom business across both Canada and the United States.
“Henry brings 30 years of leadership experience from the financial sector, where he has led pivotal transformations and overseen value creation, while keeping customer experience at the forefront of the organizations he has served,” a Tuesday press release said. “Henry most recently held the position of Executive Vice-President, Consumer Banking, Digital and Strategy at Home Trust….
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By Connie Thiessen
Cogeco has reportedly withdrawn its offer of employment to Montreal radio veteran Martin Spalding, who was to assume the helm of Cogeco Media as its president.
His appointment was announced to employees on Wednesday, however La Presse now reports that in a subsequent follow-up memo on Friday, Cogeco President Frédéric Perron relayed to staff that the former Bell Media and Astral Radio veteran would not be joining the company after all.
Spalding was to set to take over from Caroline Paquet, who had held the role since July 2021. The former longtime Quebecor executive parted ways with Cogeco earlier in the week.
Spalding had been working in Montreal media for most of…
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By Connie Thiessen
Martin Spalding has been named the new president of Cogeco Media.
Spalding succeeds Caroline Paquet, who had held the role since July 2021. Paquet came into the job after almost two decades with Quebecor, with her most recent title there being vice president of marketing and content at Vidéotron.
A former Bell and Astral executive, Spalding has been in the Montreal market for more than 30 years. Up until 2021, he served as Bell Media’s regional vice president and general manager of local radio and television for eight years, overseeing 10 general managers in the day-to-day operations of…
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