Merger presents a great opportunity for Minister Champagne
By Konrad von Finckenstein
ROGERS COMMUNICATIONS ANNOUNCED on March 15th its intention to buy Shaw Communications for $26 billion, and of course the transaction must be approved by the CRTC, the Competition Bureau and the Minister of Industry, Science, and Innovation.
The three entities will undoubtedly consult with each other and co-operate. Logically the Competition Bureau would go first, the CRTC second and the Minister last.
The CRTC approval should be relatively routine. Shaw is a BDU but has no broadcasting assets, having divested them to Corus. Thus, there are no benefits payable under CRTC…
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OTTAWA — Ericsson announced today it has established the Ericsson Open Lab, a new space located in Ottawa, to enable collaboration and innovation with its Cloud RAN customers and ecosystem partners to drive virtualized 5G radio access network (RAN) technologies.
Ericsson Open Lab (above) is co-located with the company’s Cloud RAN expertise at Ericsson’s R&D site in Ottawa, and is also accessible virtually to customers globally.
The launch of Open Lab follows Ericsson’s announcement of its Cloud RAN product portfolio development. It will enable further development of Ericsson Cloud RAN solutions on commercial off-the-shelf (COTS) hardware, says the company’s press release….
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TORONTO — Rogers Communications today announced the launch of a new fundraising campaign in support of Jays Care Foundation’s Rookie League program which brings mentorship to more than 14,000 kids across Canada.
In partnership with Boys and Girls Clubs, Indigenous organizations and Toronto Community Housing, Rookie League summer camp programs (in-person or held virtually for the second year in a row) are delivered by teen and adult staff trained by Jays Care Foundation and offered to youth who may not otherwise have the opportunity to participate in camps or sport due to socio-economic or geographical barriers.
As Jays Care Foundation’s largest…
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By Ken Kelley
TORONTO – Bell Canada CEO Mirko Bibic insists his company isn’t the least bit troubled about the potential tie-up between Rogers and Shaw. While the jury – namely the CRTC, the Competition Bureau and ISED – considers the ramifications of such a deal upon the Canadian competitive landscape, Bibic says Bell plans to continue pushing forward and won’t let the merger distract from its normal course of business.
“ doesn’t change our strategy at all. In fact, I think it reinforces that we’re on the right track,” Bibic said during his appearance at Scotiabank’s 24th annual…
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Trying to make 2+2=5
By Greg O’Brien
OTTAWA – There’s essentially nothing the politicians can do directly about the proposed purchase of Shaw Communications by Rogers Communications because the arbiters are the CRTC, Competition Bureau and ISED. But that would never stop them from extracting their pound of flesh from powerful CEOs, if they so desire. And they desired.
So it was on Monday when Joe Natale, president and CEO of Rogers Communications, and Brad Shaw, CEO of Shaw Communications (along with other senior executives) faced the Standing Committee on Industry, Science and Technology and attempted to explain to mostly dubious MPs…
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By Catherine Edwards
IN THE LEAD UP TO the Broadcasting Act review, Canada’s five associations representing the community element (two TV, three radio) were dismayed the Creative Canada Policy Framework, the Shattered Mirror, and the Broadcast and Telecom Legislative Review reports barely mention community broadcasting, despite it being one of the three pillars of the system.
This omission was significant. The community element is uniquely positioned to address the most pressing issues that face our broadcasting system:
the lack of local programming outside major population centres
the lack of programming made by and for minorities, especially Indigenous communities
…
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OTTAWA — The number of Canadian consumer complaints to the Commission for Complaints for Telecom-television Services (CCTS) increased by 6% during the six-month period from August 1, 2020 to January 31, 2021 compared to the same period of the previous year, according to the CCTS’s 2020-21 mid-year report, released this morning.
During the six months ended January 31, the CCTS accepted 9,121 complaints from Canadian telecom and TV customers and resolved 88% of all complaints. There were 28 confirmed Wireless Code breaches, five Television Service Provider Code breaches, four Internet Code breaches and one Deposit and Disconnection Code breach.
The CCTS…
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By Ahmad Hathout
OTTAWA – Independent internet service provider TekSavvy said this week a lower court made an error when, for the first time, it ordered Canada’s ISPs to block the websites of an alleged copyright infringer.
That’s because the Federal Court, in ordering the blocking of websites associated with alleged IPTV infringer GoldTV, leaned too much toward the rights of the copyright holders at the possible expense of free expression and the impact it could have on legitimate content, it alleged in a two-day hearing at the Federal Court of Appeal this week.
TekSavvy is challenging the first site-blocking order…
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TORONTO – Rogers for Business announced Thursday the launch of a managed solution for wireless private networks (WPN) that provides large businesses with a dedicated on-site wireless network platform to securely connect devices to their network, prioritize network traffic, control sensitive data, and run business applications.
The scalable solution delivers high performance with low latency and is suited for businesses in industries including mining, oil and gas, utilities and manufacturing, says the press release. Manufacturers can now connect more sensors, machines, and devices through a single private network, resulting in end-to-end visibility from product order through shipment and delivery, for…
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VANCOUVER – Starting Monday, March 29, Rogers Sports and Media’s Sportsnet 650 Vancouver will go to air with new weekday programming, featuring familiar names and new voices.
“Since its inception, Sportsnet 650 has always strived to provide listeners with a front-row seat to the news, interviews and commentary from around the world of sports, but with a distinctly Vancouver flavour,” said Craig MacEwen, program director, in a press release. “By refreshing our lineup with a combination of familiar voices and long-time fan-favourites, we look forward to serving up the entertaining content listeners have come to expect of Sportsnet 650, while…
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