Thoughts on why Canadian prices are so high
THE CRTC'S RECENT REPORT on Canadian telecom prices (prepared by Nordicity) shows that we pay some of the highest rates in the world.
According to the National Post:
“Canada won gold for the most expensive low-end wireless telephone service and landed silver for premium mobile phone services that include more minutes and data, according to the ninth-annual international telecom price comparison study commissioned by the Canadian Radio-television and Telecommunications Commission.
It also landed in the Top Three for the most expensive broadband Internet, bundled services and mobile data, which…
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TORONTO – Independent broadcaster and producer Stornoway Communications has exited the broadcasting business after pulling the plug on its remaining linear channel, the public policy-focused iChannel, earlier this week.
The Toronto-based company applied to the CRTC on June 15, 2016 to revoke the broadcasting licence for the specialty Category A service, a request that the Commission granted on Tuesday.
“Due to the inability to secure sustainable packaging by Canadian BDU’s, the channel will cease operating on August 15, 2016”, reads the letter to the CRTC signed by Stornoway’s CEO Sandy Baptist.
Stornoway shuttered its Pet Network in April and the…
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OTTAWA – The CRTC has found in favour of Toronto-based local exchange carrier Beanfield Technologies Inc. after it claimed that it was denied timely access on reasonable terms and conditions to provide services in certain multi-dwelling units in that city.
Beanfield filed a complaint with the Commission dated December 22, 2015 alleging that Toronto Standard Condominium Corporation No. 2322 denied it access to the multi-dwelling unit (MDU) buildings located at 65, 75, and 85 East Liberty Street (the East Liberty Street MDUs) in downtown Toronto.
Noting that Bell Canada, Coextro, and Rogers Communications are permitted to offer services to residents at those…
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MONTREAL – Stingray Digital Group has wrapped up the acquisition of three of the four music channels that it is buying from Bell Media.
Effective immediately, MuchVibe, MuchLoud, and Juicebox have been rebranded as Stingray Vibe, Stingray Loud and Stingray Juicebox, respectively (see logos to right, and below. Click to enlarge). The deal for the fourth channel, MuchRetro, is expected to follow shortly, the company said Monday.
“We are very pleased to complete this highly synergistic acquisition,” said Stingray president, co-founder and CEO Eric Boyko, in the news release. “We believe that the addition of Stingray Vibe, Stingray Loud, and Stingray…
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OTTAWA — The CRTC today helped clear the way for Evanov Communications Inc. (ECI) to consolidate its radio broadcasting assets in Quebec under the operations of Evanov Radio Group, as part of the company’s corporate reorganization.
In Broadcasting Decision CRTC 2016-323 issued August 12, the CRTC announced it has approved Evanov Radio’s application to acquire the licences of its parent company’s three Quebec-based radio stations, subject to being in compliance with certain conditions of licence requiring Evanov Radio Group to fulfil outstanding commitments to Canadian content development.
The French-language AM radio station CHRF Montréal and the English-language FM station CHSV-FM…
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OTTAWA — Not that this will come as too much of a surprise for Canadian wireless subscribers, but a new study commissioned by the CRTC and prepared by Nordicity Group, has found mobile phone and wireless Internet prices tend to be higher in Canada than in the other seven countries studied in the report. Canada also ranks more expensive generally speaking in the category of bundled services pricing.
On the upside, fixed telephony prices in Canada are among the least expensive when compared to the other countries. In the fixed broadband Internet category, Canadians tend to pay prices that are…
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Combined entity still requires regulatory approval
WINNIPEG — Seemingly in anticipation of regulatory approval of BCE’s proposed $3.9 billion acquisition of Manitoba Telecom Services (MTS), the two companies are presenting a united front as they saddle up together for this weekend’s Interstellar Rodeo at The Forks in downtown Winnipeg. Bell and MTS are sponsors of the three-day music festival.
In a press release issued Thursday, the two companies invited festival attendees to drop by the co-branded Bell MTS Box for a hands-on look at what the companies have to offer customers, including a virtual-reality experience and displays showcasing Bell’s Fibe…
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OTTAWA — The Commissioner of Complaints for Telecommunications Services (CCTS) announced Thursday it has terminated the participation of VOIS in CCTS, having found the Calgary-based telecom service provider to be in default on its obligations, subsequent to the investigation of several customer complaints.
“The ejection of VOIS from participation was based on its failure to honour the fundamental rules of our process. CCTS investigated six separate customer complaints, and each one concluded with a binding decision requiring VOIS to compensate the customers and take other action. VOIS failed to take any of the steps required of it in these six…
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Still waiting on regulatory approvals
WINNIPEG — With the release of its second quarter 2016 financial results late Wednesday afternoon, Manitoba Telecom Services (MTS) took the opportunity to update the investment community about its pending acquisition by BCE Inc. and its ongoing transformation efforts.
Since the announcement on May 2 that BCE intended to purchase MTS, the Manitoba telco received almost unanimous shareholder approval for the acquisition at a special MTS shareholder meeting held on June 23, and subsequently received approval from the Manitoba Court of Queen’s Bench on June 29.
“The overwhelming support shown by our shareholders in voting for the…
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OTTAWA – The Canadian Association of Community Television Users and Stations (CACTUS) said today it has received a letter from the CRTC indicating the Commission is deferring consideration of almost 60 complaints filed against community TV channels until their cable licence renewals this fall.
The complaints were filed by CACTUS in partnership with community groups earlier this year, and were concerned with cable community TV channels operated by Eastlink, Cogeco, Shaw and Rogers. According to CACTUS, the channels either fail to air adequate local content (generally 60% of the program schedule) or adequate citizen-generated content (generally 50% of the schedule)…
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