By Ken Kelley
OTTAWA – An exchange between a Telus executive and a Calgary MP got a little heated late Thursday during a virtual meeting of the Standing Committee on Industry, Science and Technology
The bulk of the tension stemmed from a line of questioning directed at Telus EVP and chief customer officer Tony Geheran by Conservative MP Michelle Rempel-Garner (Calgary Nose Hill).
After asking the executive for the company’s cost per gigabyte when it comes to serving its customers (something Geheran said he didn’t have at hand and offered to send after the meeting) and noting that the figure doesn’t seem…
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OTTAWA — The Commission for Complaints for Telecom-television Services (CCTS) reported early Tuesday a 12% decrease in the number of complaints it received from Canadian telecom and TV customers between August 1, 2019 and January 31, 2020, following a 44% increase for that same six-month period last year.
The CCTS accepted a total of 8,621 complaints in the time frame and resolved 90% of all complaints. There were 46 confirmed wireless code breaches, five TV service provider code breaches and three deposit and disconnection code breaches.
The main contributors to the decline were Cogeco and Bell, with Cogeco recording a 75%…
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By Greg O’Brien
“THERE’S A WASTE OF two hours,” was my thought after listening to the Standing Committee on Industry, Science and Technology on Thursday evening.
Not just my own time. Everyone’s.
The meeting notice said only that the INDU committee was looking at the Canadian response to the Covid-19 pandemic, but with a witness list of Jay Thomson, CEO of the Canadian Communication Systems Alliance; Ian Stevens, CEO of independent broadband provider Execulink; Andy Kaplan-Myrth, vice-president, regulatory and carrier affairs at TekSavvy; two rural politicians – Steve Arnold, mayor of St. Clair Township and Rob Gay, the board chair of the…
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TORONTO — Aptum Technologies (formerly Cogeco Peer 1) announced today it has completed a transaction with Beanfield Metroconnect for the acquisition of Aptum’s WAN (wide area network) business. Both companies are owned by global digital infrastructure investor Digital Colony.
The agreement between the two companies allows Aptum to focus on growing its data centre and hybrid multi-cloud solution offerings, while the addition of Aptum’s metro networks in Toronto and Montreal enhances Beanfield’s connectivity and fibre solutions, says the news release.
“We are confident that sharpening our long-term focus by investing more time and resources into the growth and enhancement…
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By Ahmad Hathout
THE CANADIAN NETWORK OPERATORS Consortium (CNOC) is facing fresh denials from some incumbents to a request by the organization to lift certain network restrictions during the Covid-19 crisis.
The three-part ask from CNOC, which represents smaller third party internet access operators that rent part of the network of the larger providers, includes a lifting of capacity restraints free-of-charge, expedited network augmentations through more physical interconnections, and wholesale payment term flexibility of 60 additional days to help support customers who are unable to pay on time.
The letter was sent over the course of the past couple of weeks to…
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Quarterly results reporting begins this week
By Greg O’Brien
TORONTO – Both Cogeco Inc. and Shaw Communications will release their fiscal 2020 second quarter results this week, but since their quarters ended February 29th, those numbers will resemble more of a time capsule than an account of what is going on in the market right now and the real news will be what the companies have to say about what’s happened since with the Covid-19 crisis.
“We believe Canadian telcos and cablecos remain structurally sound and even after our target price revisions, we believe the sector will provide investors attractive potential total…
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By Steve Faguy
MONTREAL — What’s an all-traffic radio station to do when there’s no traffic? Don’t bother.
Cogeco Media’s Radio Circulation 730 AM in Montreal, which has been running all-day traffic updates since 2011, has replaced its programming with a rebroadcast of sister talk station 98.5 FM this week, as Quebecers stay home to help fight the Covid-19 pandemic.
“It’s a temporary situation caused by the absence of traffic,” explained Cogeco Media communications director Christine Dicaire. “Everything will be back to normal once people are back on the roads.”
With schools and non-essential businesses closed, international travel prohibited and even travel between…
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TORONTO — With Rogers Media’s free preview of its FX specialty channel now extended until May 11, the broadcaster announced the new Mrs. America limited series starring Cate Blanchett will premiere in Canada on FX and online on FX Now starting April 15.
The nine-part miniseries, featuring Blanchett as conservative firebrand Phyliss Schlafly, tells the story of the movement to ratify the Equal Rights Amendment (ERA), and the unexpected backlash it brought about. Portraying some of the most iconic women of the era, the cast also includes Rose Byrne (Bridesmaids) as Gloria Steinem, Margo Martindale (American Crime Story) as Bella…
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OTTAWA – CBC/Radio-Canada has announced it is delivering special access to content across all of its platforms, including news, educational resources for kids and parents, and a wide variety of programming to keep Canadians entertained when they need a break.
“The situation continues to change each day. Canadians need to know what’s happening and to understand what it means for them and for their family and friends. Our news teams are working around the clock to keep all Canadians on top of the latest developments here in Canada and around the world,” said CBC CEO Catherine Tait in a statement.
“We’re…
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Canadian communications giant dead at 85
CALGARY – Shaw Communications founder, executive chair and former CEO JR Shaw is being remembered not only as a pioneering cable and telecom builder, but a family man, philanthropist, and a one-of-a-kind gentleman who inspired deep loyalty and unity.
Known throughout the North American communications industry simply as JR, Shaw was a pioneer in Canadian business and a Canadian telecommunications sector visionary. He passed away in his sleep Tuesday at the age of 85.
“My family and I are at a loss for words and are deeply saddened at JR’s passing,” said Brad Shaw, CEO of…
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