By Ahmad Hathout
The country’s largest telecoms are challenging a decision by Quebec’s highest court allowing a proposed class of plaintiffs to seek punitive damages for device unlocking fees.
Rogers, Bell, Telus and Quebecor are asking the Supreme Court of Canada this week to review the December decision by the Quebec Court of Appeal, which stems from a Fido (Rogers) customer being charged what she called an “abusive” $50 plus tax to unlock her device before going on an overseas trip in 2016.
The telecoms allege the Quebec Court of Appeal incorrectly interpreted parts of the province’s Consumer Protection…
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By Ahmad Hathout
The Federal Court of Appeal on Tuesday turned down Cogeco’s request to argue that the CRTC neglected to consider the editorial impact of allowing Quebecor’s internet station QUB Radio to operate on the traditional FM airwaves.
The court did not provide the reasons.
Cogeco filed the leave to appeal application in November, claiming the CRTC did not adequately weigh the impact of Quebecor’s influence on editorial voices when, in a decision the month prior, it found no issue with a commercial arrangement that allowed QUB Radio to continue operating in the primetime hours,…
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Videotron on Monday announced it is donating an additional $500,000 to support Mission Unitaînés’ expanded plan to build six more residence buildings for low-income seniors in six regions of Quebec.
This is on top of Videotron’s initial $500,000 contribution in 2024, which included a $300,000 cash donation for development and $200,000 in telecommunications services for senior residences in Montreal, Lévis, Longueuil, Terrebonne, St-Jean-sur-Richelieu and Granby.
Videotron’s new $500,000 contribution will support the development and connectivity of six new affordable senior residence buildings being built in Laval, Quebec City, Victoriaville, Saguenay,…
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The CRTC on Wednesday directed Bell and Telus to each provide Quebecor and Rogers with a list of all of the locations where their FTTP services are available by March 13 and after concluding reasonable non-disclosure agreements with the parties.
This decision approves a September 2024 application from Quebecor that asked the CRTC to tell legacy telcos to disclose their lists of FTTP locations in full to Quebecor, after each of the incumbents allegedly informed Quebecor they were willing to disclose their FTTP locations in Quebec if Quebecor identified its own wireline incumbent footprint in…
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Quebecor’s discount wireless brand Fizz announced Monday a multi-year partnership with Metrolinx, the Greater Toronto and Hamilton Area (GTHA)’s transportation agency, making Fizz the presenting partner of GO Transit’s express train service.
As part of the collaboration, Fizz’s brand will be featured across the GO network via branded displays in multiple stations and a distinctive Fizz-themed train to celebrate the start of this partnership, said a Fizz press release.
Fizz said it is rapidly expanding its presence in Ontario and having its brand displayed on these highly visible touchpoints will help it to…
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Quebecor’s discount wireless brand Fizz is currently allowing anyone with an eSIM-compatible phone and a transferable phone number to test drive the telecom’s 5G network with a free trial.
New customers in Ontario, Manitoba, Alberta and British Columbia will receive a free eSIM, a temporary phone number, 3 GB of data, 100 call minutes and 100 texts for 15 days when they sign up with just an email and password — no credit card required and no need to leave their current provider. Customers, however, must have a transferable number, which will be used to port them over to the…
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Proceeding on new mobile reporting standard launched
By Ahmad Hathout
The CRTC said Thursday that it will begin making certain annual telecom coverage data public.
The previously confidential coverage data includes internet and mobile service by provider, technology and speed down to the 250-metre road segment level, which the regulator said will make it easier for Canadians to easily find services available in their area at a more granular level.
The data will be shared with Innovation, Science and Economic Development (ISED), which will use that it to update its national broadband map.
The decision comes in response to a request by British Columbia’s…
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By Ahmad Hathout
The Quebec Court of Appeal ruled last month that a trial court should consider punitive damages in a proposed class action lawsuit involving the reimbursement of phone unlocking fees.
In February 2024, the Quebec Superior Court authorized a class of plaintiffs to sue Rogers, Bell, Telus, and Quebecor for charging phone unlocking fees to Quebec customers between the period of August 14, 2014 and December 1, 2017.
But the court denied a request to allow the class to seek punitive damages, which would go beyond reimbursement, in part because it believed that the telecoms did not act maliciously. The…
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By Ahmad Hathout
Innovation, Science and Economic Development (ISED) has formally made way for a stretch of spectrum to be used for wireless backhaul capacity.
The department last month removed the multipoint communication system (MCS) designation for the 21.2-21.8 GHz and 22.4-23 GHz bands to create a contiguous stretch for fixed point-to-point systems, such as wireless backhaul. The repurposed spectrum will be licensed on a first-come, first-served basis.
“Enhanced backhaul capacity will be required so that the increased data traffic in a mobile network between the base station and a user can be effectively…
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Quebecor and TVA Group announced last week the operations of TVA Films, previously part of TVA Group, are being centralized in a new business unit, Quebecor Films, effective Jan. 1.
“This strategic move will enhance Quebecor’s leadership in the Québec film distribution market by uniting all its expertise within a dedicated entity for the distribution of domestic and international films,” said a Quebecor announcement on Dec. 30.
The TVA Films brand will maintain a high profile within Quebecor Films Inc., Quebecor said.
“The new entity will carry on TVA Films’ work as…
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