TORONTO – The fact that ARPU is trending downwards and churn is rising among the big three wireless providers shows that facilities-based competition brought by the likes of Videotron, Freedom and Eastlink is working – and mandated MVNOs would be a bad move for Canada.
So says a report published this week by Scotiabank’s telecom analyst Jeff Fan.
“Quebecor has been a wireless facilities-based competitor in Quebec for a decade. Is that not sustainable enough? We estimate the company has now captured approximately 19% market share in the province, and, with its new Fizz brand, the momentum has actually accelerated. We…
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GATINEAU – Canada’s major cable carriers (Eastlink, Cogeco, Rogers, Shaw and Videotron) Wednesday made the point to federal cabinet that all the CRTC decision on new third party internet access aggregated wholesale rates does is disincentivize needed investment in high-speed networks, which is contrary to public interest.
November 13th was the deadline to file petitions to Cabinet (technically to the Governor-in-Council with cabinet) on the August CRTC decision to set lower final rates for TPIA – and force the incumbents to pay three years of retroactive overpayments to independent ISP resellers – and as the cable carriers argue, “by reducing…
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Incumbents ask for two more months to file their R&V of the wholesale rates decision
GATINEAU – Following the August CRTC decision on final rates for aggregated wholesale high-speed internet access services (CRTC Telecom Order 2019-288), it was obvious by their collective reaction that the incumbent ISPs would challenge the decision, by any and all means necessary.
They went to the Federal Court of Appeal already and were granted a stay, as we reported, and the next step is to ask the CRTC to review, rescind or vary its own decision, as provided…
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OTTAWA – Reactions were quick after the Federal Court’s Friday announcement to grant a temporary stay of the CRTC’s third party internet access rates decision.
On September 13, the cable companies (Rogers, Shaw, Cogeco, Vidéotron and Eastlink) filed a leave to appeal CRTC Telecom Order 2019-288, which lowered the rates independent ISPs must pay to access incumbent networks and forced those incumbents to reimburse the independents hundreds of millions of retroactive fees. They also requested an interim stay of the CRTC Order, request that was granted on September 27.
“We’re disappointed that the…
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OTTAWA – On Friday, the Federal Court of Appeal granted a temporary stay of CRTC Telecom Order 2019-288, the decision which set new, lower, wholesale rates for third party internet access providers and also forced the incumbent network operators to pay hundreds of millions of dollars in retroactive fees to the independent resellers.
Cable companies Rogers, Shaw, Cogeco, Videoton and Eastlink were the first to file for a stay as well as for leave to appeal the CRTC decision, as we reported here. Bell Canada has also filed its own appeal application…
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TORONTO – Bell Media’s Discovery will be on a month-long free preview from October 10 to November 7.
Along with the free preview release, Discovery announced new seasons of two of its marquee Canadian series. Season nine of Highway Thru Hell will begin production this fall and Mighty Trains is already in production on season four, with filming taking place in Peru, Japan, Serbia, and other regions.
The free preview is available via participating television service providers including Bell, Cogeco, Eastlink, Rogers, Telus, Shaw, SaskTel, and others.
www.discovery.ca
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OTTAWA – As part of its campaign pledge to “make life affordable for Canadian families,” the federal Liberal Party says that if it remains in power following next month’s election, it will “take strong action” to have cellphone bills reduced by 25% within four years and save a family of four nearly $1,000 a year.
To reach that target, the Liberals say they will “work with telecom companies to offer plans comparable to global prices,” along with an unlimited family plan, according to their party’s platform on cellphone bills released Sunday.
The governing party also targets…
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OTTAWA — In the aftermath of Hurricane Dorian’s assault of Atlantic Canada earlier this month, which caused widespread telecom service outages throughout the region, the CRTC has a number of questions regarding the steps taken by carriers to restore service and improve network resiliency.
In a letter sent to Bell, Telus, Eastlink and Rogers on September 13, the CRTC requested the carriers provide detailed information regarding the major telecom disruptions their customers experienced as a result of Dorian’s path through Atlantic Canada.
“In recent days, various media outlets have reported on service outages affecting your customers after hurricane Dorian swept…
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Free preview for Bell Fibe & Alt TV customers until December 12
FORT WORTH, TX — Ride Television Network (RIDE TV), the only TV network dedicated exclusively to the horse and rural lifestyle, is now available to Bell Fibe TV and Bell Alt TV customers during a free preview period until December 12.
Offering unparalleled equestrian programming, RIDE TV is the first network of its kind to be distributed in Canada. It produces more than 90% original programming and offers exclusive coverage of top equestrian events, including bull riding, around the United States. Previously, RIDE TV has been available to Telus…
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OTTAWA – Saying the CRTC has erred in law and jurisdiction five different ways, Canada’s incumbent cable operators have filed for leave to appeal the recent CRTC decision on aggregated wholesale internet rates. The companies have also filed for a stay of that Commission decision (Telecom Order 2019-288), as well, until a decision on the appeal is set.
Having spent billions of dollars over the years on their networks, Rogers, Shaw, Vidéotron, Cogeco and Eastlink say the rates the Commission has set are below their costs – and the retroactive amount to be paid back…
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