By Denis Carmel
GATINEAU – Late in 2019, in following up its universal service objective decision, the CRTC decided to study the barriers to building new facilities or to accessing or interconnecting with existing facilities in order to extend broadband networks more efficiently into underserved areas, including areas where, due to a lack of such networks, speeds don’t meet the service objectives.
Of course, in March 2020, the pandemic hit, and a vast number of Canadians went home to work, becoming completely dependent on their home’s high-speed Internet to continue work and school. Access to high-speed Internet rapidly became a political…
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WATERLOO – Five projects announced today by Southwestern Integrated Fibre Technology (SWIFT) will deliver broadband service down 130 kilometres of roads within the region of Waterloo, bringing better connectivity to more than 1,000 homes and businesses.
Including the investments from the companies and SWIFT (whose money comes from the federal, Ontario and local governments), over $11.6 million will be spent on these upgrades, says a SWIFT release.
SWIFT will cover $7.8 million of the costs of the five fibre-to-the-home projects.
The projects are:
North Frontenac Telephone Corporation has been awarded funding to support two FTTH projects which will collectively service 103…
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Feds again being asked to compensate for transitions
By Ahmad Hathout
OTTAWA – The federal government has historically not compensated companies that must relocate their services to different spectrum bands to make room for emerging technologies. But companies with a vested interest in the repurposing of the C-band spectrum for 5G technology are urging the a change to that position.
Over the air (OTA) broadcasters had to absorb the cost of moving off the 700 MHz band for broadband use years ago. Broadcasters were told more recently by Innovation Canada (ISED) that they wouldn’t be financially covered for the millions of dollars…
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Adds 26 more towns to existing 5G footprint
TORONTO — Rogers Communications is starting to roll out Canada’s first 5G standalone core network, powered by Ericsson, in Montreal, Ottawa, Toronto and Vancouver, the company announced today.
Rogers also gave an update on the expansion of its existing 5G network footprint, saying it has added 26 new cities and towns in Alberta, British Columbia, Ontario, Quebec and New Brunswick, bringing its 5G coverage to a total of 160 communities across the country. (Please see the individual press releases for a list of communities in each province. Rogers’…
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$4.3-million Grey County broadband project now underway
SIMCOE and GREY COUNTY, Ont. — In two separate announcements last week, Southwestern Integrated Fibre Technology (SWIFT) announced the awarding of funding to support $41.1 million in broadband upgrades for Simcoe County and $4.3 million in upgrades for Grey County, both located in southwestern Ontario.
In Simcoe County, six fibre-to-the-home projects (three by Bell, and one each by Vianet, Cogeco and Rogers) will expand broadband services to 12,700 households and businesses. SWIFT has awarded more than $18.6 million in federal and provincial funding to service 500 kilometres of underserved roadway to connect more than…
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BURBANK – There may be millions fewer people in their theme parks right now, but The Walt Disney Company said Friday it now has more than 137 million streaming subscribers – and it’s about to kick growth of its direct-to-consumer business into overdrive.
“The tremendous success we’ve achieved across our unique portfolio of streaming services, with more than 137 million subscriptions worldwide, has bolstered our confidence in our acceleration toward a DTC-first business model,” said CEO Bob Chapek (pictured), during the company’s investor day. That number includes Disney+ (86.8 million subscribers), ESPN+ (11.5 million) and Hulu (38.8 million) subscribers as…
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By Greg O’Brien
WHILE RADIO IS NOWHERE near the big media dog it was years ago, having the mic on a morning show somewhere is still considered a sign you’ve “made it” as a host and personality.
And while the radio business in Canada has shrunk, leading radio companies to cut costs over the years by syndicating late nights, evening and mid-day shows, and voice-tracking weekends, most stuck with local, loved, live hosts in the morning and afternoon “drive-time” slots, even in small markets.
That era, too, is now drawing to a close, due mostly to the Covid-19 pandemic and the Continue Reading
WOODSTOCK, N.B. — Xplornet Communications says it’s getting ready to deliver rural 5G wireless broadband in summer 2021 and today announced it has selected Ericsson as its technology supplier.
“Xplornet is taking a major step towards delivering the next generation of wireless connectivity in rural Canada,” said Allison Lenehan, president and CEO of Xplornet, in a press release. “Our agreement with Ericsson will provide Xplornet’s robust national network with 5G equipment to revolutionize the rural broadband experience across our country.”
Ericsson is supplying Xplornet with its 5G Ericsson Radio System, an end-to-end, integrated solution which will provide the rural-focused broadband…
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By Peter Nowak
IMAGINE, FOR A SECOND, someone making fun of you for being too skinny. Then they take all your food away.
Got that image in your mind? Okay, good. You’ve just pictured what trying to grow a telecom business in Canada is like.
For years, that’s essentially what big companies such as Bell, Rogers and Shaw and their armies of lawyers, lobbyists and hangers-on have been doing to TekSavvy and other independent service providers.
They’ve argued that the only good telecom company in Canada is one that builds its own networks head-to-toe, from the poles that hold the wires in the…
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TORONTO – Rogers Communications announced Thursday a new partnership with the National Aboriginal Circle Against Family Violence (NACAFV), to provide free phones and data plans to women’s shelters across the country that support Indigenous women and children.
“It’s unfathomable to imagine the dual crises of domestic violence and physical isolation brought on by Covid-19. We are well into a second wave, and the need is urgent,” said Sevaun Palvetzian, chief communications officer and lead for corporate social responsibility at Rogers.
“For women and children escaping violence and abuse, phones and connectivity provide an essential digital lifeline. We’re proud to work with…
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