QUEBEC CITY and BRUCE COUNTY — On Tuesday and Wednesday, the governments of Canada, Quebec and Ontario announced more rural broadband projects, funded through either the Canada-Quebec Operation High Speed program or Ontario’s Southwestern Integrated Fibre Technology (SWIFT) initiative, with a total value of $58.85 million, including $51.43 million in government funding.
The Quebec projects include:
$31.7 million in Canada-Quebec joint funding for Cogeco to deploy high-speed Internet services to 4,340 homes in 22 communities in the Haut-Saint-François regional county municipality (RCM) and the Val-Saint-François RCM in the Estrie region by September 2022. The total value of the project is…
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TORONTO — Anthem Sports and Entertainment’s AXS TV announced today the popular music-themed channel is now available on Cogeco in Ontario and Quebec, as of today.
The channel is being offered as part of Cogeco’s MyMix/Selectif packages and as a standalone option. AXS TV can be added to MyMix selections and pre-assembled channel packages for $3 a month, according to AXS TV’s press release.
However, beginning today, Cogeco customers can watch the channel for two months as a free preview. Cogeco subscribers can find AXS TV on Epico (channel 444 in both provinces), 878 (Ontario) and 709 (Quebec).
Some of the…
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MONTREAL — Cogeco Inc. announced today it has hired Caroline Paquet (above) as the new president of its radio subsidiary, Cogeco Media. Her appointment takes effect July 5.
Paquet joins Cogeco Media from Quebecor’s Videotron division, where she held the position of vice-president of marketing and content since 2017. She first joined Quebecor in 2005. Her work at Videotron included the development of the Club Illico business plan and its launch in 2013.
“We are delighted to welcome Caroline to the Cogeco family. Her extensive media and marketing expertise will help strengthen Cogeco Media’s already enviable position on Québec’s radio landscape,”…
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By Ahmad Hathout
GATINEAU – Like deja vu, the immediate impact of a major decision by the CRTC has unfurled in the days immediately following — but the reactions are the reverse of what happened in August 2019.
When the CRTC that summer decided to slash the bulk internet rates smaller providers pay for large network access – and make the rates retroactive so some serious back pay was supposed to go to those independents – the large telecoms announced cuts to investments, including in rural areas. Smaller providers, rejoicing, immediately slashed retail internet prices.
Following Thursday’s decision to go back…
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OTTAWA – The federal government announced five more rural broadband projects, all from the Universal Broadband Fund’s rapid response stream, on Thursday and Friday, valued at $11.2 million.
The projects are:
$3.2 million for Tbaytel to build broadband to 689 more homes in the communities of Lappe and Toimela, outside of Thunder Bay.
$700,000 to help Cogeco and Bell bring high-speed Internet to 1,111 more homes in Bancroft, Carrying Place and Mountain View. Cogeco will also be investing $324,000 and Bell Canada $1.7 million in filling these opportunities.
$196,000 to help Aldera Communications connect 339 more homes in the remote…
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GATINEAU – After nearly two years since the CRTC set lower rates which the incumbent wired telecom carriers such as Bell and Rogers were to charge third party internet access providers like TekSavvy and Start.ca for access to those wired networks, the CRTC has decided to backtrack.
In its decision today on a review and vary filed by the incumbents (after they had appealed to both cabinet and the courts, too) the Commission today said it will make the interim wholesale rates which have been in place since 2016 the new permanent rates, except for a supplementary…
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OTTAWA — The federal government announced today more than $6 million in funding is being provided through the Universal Broadband Fund’s (UBF) Rapid Response Stream to Bell, Cogeco Connexion and Lakeland Networks to bring high-speed Internet to 2,374 underserved homes in central and eastern Ontario.
In total, 15 communities in the regions of Clarington, Lake of Bays Township, Leeds and Grenville, Merrickville-Wolford, Northumberland County, Spencerville, Newtonville, Newcastle, West Guilford, Baysville, the Municipality of Dysart et al, and Wasauksing First Nation will benefit from the investments.
UBF funding will be distributed as follows:
Bell: $2,637,164
Cogeco Connexion: $2,855,180
Lakeland Networks: $701,055
Receiving funding…
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CEO Péladeau has already said he is interested in Freedom Mobile
By Ahmad Hathout
MONTREAL – Quebecor CEO Pierre Karl Péladeau has been making headlines in recent weeks by suggesting he is interested in acquiring Freedom Mobile in the event that condition is forced by regulators as part of a Rogers-Shaw merger. Now, he’s sending lobbyists west to familiarize the brand.
During a conference call related to his company’s first quarter earnings report this month, Péladeau expressed interest in taking Videotron’s brand nationwide. He said regulatory conditions are better now, following the CRTC’s decision to give regional carriers access to the wireless…
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Says facilities-based is best
By Ken Kelley
TORONTO – When CRTC Chairperson and CEO Ian Scott looks back on all that has transpired in the last 15 months, he is especially proud of the way Canada’s ISPs rose to the unprecedented technological demands and other challenges posed by the pandemic. Speaking yesterday during a virtual event hosted by Canadian Club Toronto, Scott told Android Central’s Shruti Shekar industry players both big and small deserved a proverbial tip of the hat.
“Both large and small players navigated network management during an incredibly transformative period without a lot of disruption,” he told Shekar. “The…
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OTTAWA – Through the federal government’s Universal Broadband Fund (UBF) Rapid Response Stream, the Government of Canada announced $7.7 million will go to five telecom operators to bring high-speed Internet to over 2,800 more homes in southwestern Ontario
Bell Canada, Cogeco Connexion, GBTEL Inc., Quadro Communications and Vianet will build out 11 projects to connect over 2,800 underserved households to high-speed Internet in the communities of Allenford, Camlachie, Campbells Cross, Cedarhurst Park, Colchester, Connor, Deerbrook, Everett, Lucan, Marthaville, Oxley, Rosemont, Sauble Beach, St. Joachim, Tara, Thamesford and Wyoming.
The rapid response stream funding means the projects must be completed before the…
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