THE CANADIAN cable, broadcast and telecommunications industries have been quick to mobilize support of relief efforts in Haiti.
We at Cartt.ca are awed by the collective level of compassion and generosity, and offer our sincere congratulations to the companies who have pledged to aid the people of the tiny island ravaged by last week’s earthquake.
In addition to the efforts by Rogers and by Cogeco and Quebecor, below are some other initiatives that we have learned of:
– Telecom equipment supplier Ericsson is sending volunteers, all telecom experts, to set up a container-based mini GSM-system to enable mobile communication for aid workers…
Continue Reading
TORONTO – After marking its 17th consecutive quarter of revenue growth, XM Radio was able to shrink its net loss by almost $30 million.
Net loss decreased by $29.8 million to $1.7 million, due in part to a foreign exchange change of $20.4 million and a gain of $7.1 million through debt repurchase, the company announced.
Revenue increased 10% to $13.7 million from $12.5 million for the first quarter of 2010 and 2009, respectively, which the digital audio entertainment company attributed to a growing subscriber base.
ARPU declined from $11.94 to $11.26 in the first quarter of 2010 compared to…
Continue Reading
OTTAWA – Canada’s Privacy Commissioner has announced a series of public consultations on privacy issues related to the on-line tracking, profiling and targeting of consumers by marketers and other businesses.
The consultation process kicked off on Monday with a call for participation by interested parties. It is asking for written submissions, due March 15, and is also seeking individuals wishing to take part in formal discussion panels to be held in Toronto in April and Montreal in May.
The intent is to canvass a range of views from business, government, academics, consumer associations and civil society to assist the Office in the…
Continue Reading
CALGARY – Despite hinting at its future wireless service, Shaw was short on details around when and how it may eventually introduce a mobile offering.
“During fiscal 2010 we also plan to take initial steps to commence wireless activities, with build out planned over the next several years", said CEO and vice chair Jim Shaw, in a press release Thursday morning that detailed the company’s first quarter results.
However, when asked about wireless during a conference call with media and industry analysts on Thursday afternoon, Shaw would only confirm that the company is focused on “fundamental issues” around the project…
Continue Reading
TORONTO – New wireless entrant Public Mobile has filed a suit against Industry Canada’s decision to allow rival Globalive Wireless to launch, citing concerns over foreign ownership.
Public Mobile said that the decision has essentially “thrown out” Canadian foreign ownership laws, and that the Government must undertake a review of foreign ownership restrictions in order to provide all wireless providers equal access to foreign capital.
“We believe Cabinet’s decision is unfair to other wireless carriers, especially new entrants like Public Mobile that have played by the rules and secured substantial Canadian investment,” said CEO Alek Krstajic, in a statement. “Furthermore, while we…
Continue Reading
VANCOUVER – Most Canadians expect that cell phone prices will drop this year now that the country has a fourth major wireless company, a new Angus Reid Public Opinion poll has found.
More than half of respondents (53%) say that Canada is one of the most expensive countries to use a cell phone – including more than 60% of those in British Columbia and Alberta, while one-in-four (24%) believe the country is “slightly” more expensive than others.
In an on-line survey of a representative national sample Canadian adults, 72% of respondents said that the decision to allow Globalive’s Wind Mobile to operate in Canada…
Continue Reading
MONTREAL – Videotron ended 2009 on a high note, with more than 1 million digital cable customers and cable telephone customers.
As of December 31, 2009, the company reported 1,777,000 subscribers to its cable television service, including 1,084,100 subscribers to its illico Digital TV, and 1,014,000 residential and business subscribers to its cable telephone service, compared with 852,000 one year earlier.
“We have every reason to be pleased with our string of successes in 2009,” said president and CEO Robert Dépatie, in a statement. “I am proud of our people, who have solidified Videotron’s leadership in Canada’s telecom industry.”
As it prepares for the…
Continue Reading
OTTAWA – Industry Minister Tony Clement has approved Ciena’s acquisition of Nortel’s metro Ethernet networks (MEN) division, saying the deal “is likely to be of net benefit to Canada”.
"Ciena’s investment will ensure the continued operation and substantial research and development (R&D) presence of the optical and carrier Ethernet portions of Nortel’s MEN business”, Minister Clement said in a statement. “Ciena has committed to make Canada a focal centre for its global R&D operations and to maintain significant technology investment and principal R&D functions in Canada.”
At least 2,000 Nortel employees were to receive job offers from Ciena, who purchased the division…
Continue Reading
OTTAWA – Glenn O’Farrell’s plan to sell ad time on US specialty channels’ local avails in Canada is one step closer to fruition.
The former CAB president and CEO’s new company, Mediadenovo, learned Wednesday that its application will be considered as part of a CRTC public hearing scheduled for February 22, 2010. If approved, Mediadenovo would become a new programming undertaking that would sell the two minutes per hour of local availability ad time to national advertisers, and in turn, direct the majority of the revenues to Canadian programming.
In a move designed to further demonstrate its public policy credentials, the…
Continue Reading
TORONTO – Canada’s on-going recession, the swine flu, the Afghan mission, and the collapse of the car industry topped the list of Canadian news stories this year according to CTV News.
Selected by a panel of journalists led by its chief anchor and senior editor Lloyd Robertson, the network will features in-depth reports on each of the 10 stories every night from December 23 through New Year’s Day.
The complete list of CTV’s top 10 Canadian news stories is:
1. The recession 2. H1N1 / the swine flu 3. The Afghan mission 4. The Newfoundland chopper crash 5….
Continue Reading
