By Denis Carmel
OTTAWA – When the members of the Committee on Industry, Science and Technology (INDU) began talking about studying the proposed acquisition of Shaw by Rogers, one member suggested that they should not bother inviting the Minister of Innovation, Science and Economic Development since he would not be able to say anything but instead then invite the chairman of the CRTC, the commissioner of competition and top representatives from the Department of Industry.
They all were the witnesses on Wednesday, April 7 and… they could not share anything useful because they are prohibited from prejudging the issue.
The Minister, François-Philippe…
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Funding coming from Connecting British Columbia program, UBF and Rogers
TORONTO — Rogers Communications announced today it is expanding its wireless network, including 5G coverage, in British Columbia by building new cell towers along Highways 14 and 16 (known as the Highway of Tears) to provide reliable connectivity on these critical routes.
For Highway 16, Rogers along with its 5G partner Ericsson will build 12 new towers to close key gaps and provide 252 kms of new cell coverage along the corridor between Prince Rupert and Prince George, so there will be continuous coverage along all 720 kms of this northern…
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TORONTO — Rogers Sports and Media’s Sportsnet announced today its Pinty’s Grand Slam of Curling is returning to action after a prolonged hiatus due to the global pandemic, with the first event in the series scheduled for broadcast on Sportsnet’s TV and streaming platforms starting April 15.
Owned and operated by Sportsnet since 2012, the Pinty’s Grand Slam of Curling is an elite series featuring the best men’s and women’s curling teams from around the world. This year’s condensed Grand Slam circuit will feature 12 men’s and 12 women’s teams competing in two back-to-back events: Humpty’s Champions Cup (April 14-18)…
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By Robert Brehl
Long-time former president of Rogers Cable, Colin Delacourt Watson, died from acute leukemia this week. He was 79. Mr. Watson had been in Florida for the winter with his wife, Barbara. Less than two weeks before his passing, he had been playing golf and posting on Instagram (right).
“The Rogers family and Rogers Communications are deeply saddened by the passing of Colin Watson,” RCI chair Edward Rogers said. “Colin was a key figure in the building of the cable industry in Canada over three decades. He was instrumental to building Rogers Cable into what it is today. He…
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By Ahmad Hathout
OTTAWA – Between losing a fourth wireless player in a merger and difficulty negotiating with big telecoms on leasing wireless network capacity, smaller carriers and their representatives told members of the industry committee Tuesday that the one-two punch of divesting Freedom Mobile in a Rogers-Shaw combination and mandating wireless negotiations with service-based operators could spell the last vestige of hope for a competitive telecom environment.
Appearing before the committee studying the Rogers-Shaw merger proposal, Matt Stein, who is head of the Competitive Network Operators of Canada, an industry group representing smaller internet service providers (as well as president…
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OTTAWA — The next webinar in the Canadian Wireless Telecommunications Association’s (CWTA) “5G Canada: What’s Next” monthly series will take place Wednesday, April 28 from 12 p.m. to 1 p.m. ET.
Presented by CWTA and its 5G Canada Council, the free webinar will feature the following speakers:
Eric Bruno, senior vice-president of 5G, content and connected home products at Rogers Communications
Jefferson Wang, co-author of the book The Future Home in the 5G Era and managing director of global 5G strategy and go-to-market lead at Accenture
The two speakers will discuss the future of the connected home and the hyper-connected…
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By Ahmad Hathout
OTTAWA – Underlying witness testimony at Wednesday’s Standing Committee on Industry, Science and Technology meeting into the proposed merger between Rogers and Shaw was the message that there are things the government can control in the event the massive cable and wireless combination gets regulatory approval.
That includes policies on requiring facilities-based telecoms to negotiate with service-based mobile virtual network operators (MVNOs), which the CRTC is still reviewing, and which federal cabinet can send back if it doesn’t like the Commission’s call; spectrum transfers and radio wave restrictions on the merging entities; open access to towers and backhaul…
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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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