OTTAWA — As part of the federal government’s stated commitment to help reduce the cost of some wireless plans by 25% over the next two years, Minister of Innovation, Science and Economic Development Canada Navdeep Bains today released data showing how prices have not yet declined for the data plans the department has chosen to study.
Over the next two years, the federal government expects the three major wireless providers and their flanker brands, which together represent 90% of the national market, to offer data plans in the 2 GB to 6 GB range that are 25% cheaper than they…
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Rogers in favour of transport subsidies for rural fund
By Ahmad Hathout
OTTAWA – Rogers and Bell are among those in favour of a “flexible” approach for the use of the Federal government’s yet-to-be-announced $1 billion Universal Broadband Fund (UBF) to support rural backbone, transport and last-mile projects, according to Rogers and a briefing note prepared for the rural economic development minister.
In a stakeholder page on its website, ISED asks those providing feedback on the program’s design to answer questions including: “In situations where government is only funding backbone investments, how could last-mile investments be facilitated?” And, “Are there particular…
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By Ahmad Hathout
GATINEAU – For the first time in five years, private conventional TV revenues increased nationwide in 2019, according to CRTC data released earlier this month.
The accumulated broadcasting data from the Regulator for the year ended August 31, 2019, show an increase to $1.55 billion from $1.54 billion in 2018 for all Canadian OTA TV revenue streams, including local and national time sales, network payments, infomercials, syndication, small market and independent local programming funds and government grants. National ad sales grew a healthy 2.5% to $1.05 billion. The 2019 revenue increase effectively stopped a continued revenue slide since…
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VANCOUVER – Shaw Communications and Rogers Communications are both stepping up their support for women and individuals facing gender-based violence throughout B.C. by providing complimentary cellular phones along with voice and data plans to the Ending Violence Association of British Columbia.
The handsets will provide essential lifelines for those experiencing domestic abuse. Throughout the Covid-19 pandemic, anti-violence service providers across B.C. have reported an increase in demand for help and an increase in severity of the types of violence, says the EVA BC press release.
“The social distancing required during the pandemic has made it difficult for those facing violence…
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TORONTO — Saying it’s the first national carrier to offer wireless accessory financing, Rogers announced today customers will now be able to get headphones, smartwatches, cases and such for $0 down, 0% interest and no taxes paid upfront.
Accessories available with Rogers’ new financing option include AirPods and AirPods Pro, Beats, Google Nest products, phone cases, screen protectors, chargers, smartwatches and smart bulbs. (Telus is offering customers the option to finance its new Track+ tracker device, which it launched Wednesday.)
“By extending our financing option to accessories, we’re offering an affordable one-stop destination for our customers to finance the smartwatches, phone…
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However, people are starting to return to stores and advertisers are coming back
TORONTO — Rogers Communications this morning reported second quarter 2020 results which reflected a full-quarter impact of the Covid-19 economic shutdown. (Expect Bell Canada, Telus and Quebecor to report similar impacts when they file Q2 results in the coming days.)
RCI’s revenue was impacted by the pandemic across the board, decreasing overall by 17% to $3.2 billion in Q2 2020, ended June 30, compared to the second quarter of 2019. The revenue decline was largely driven by 13% and 17% decreases in wireless service and equipment revenue, respectively,…
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By Denis Carmel
JULY 15 WAS THE DEADLINE for intervenors to provide the CRTC with their final submissions in the Wireless Policy Review proceeding.
It has been a long process and it is far from over. Technically, it started with an announcement on February 28, 2019.
However, back in 2015, the CRTC was saying: “When the Commission established the current wholesale mobile wireless service regulatory framework in Telecom Regulatory Policy 2015-177, it determined that the framework would remain in place for a minimum of five years, to allow for the development of sustainable competition and to encourage continued innovation and investment…
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TORONTO — Rogers Communications has begun rolling out a new streaming platform called Ignite SmartStream for its broadband subscribers, with select customers getting a first look last week.
Ignite SmartStream integrates popular streaming apps such as Netflix, Amazon Prime Video, hayu, YouTube, Rogers’ Sportsnet Now and more, with voice search. Live TV is not currently available on the streaming platform as Ignite TV remains the place for that.
That said, SmartStream users can get a suite of Corus Entertainment TV channels if they also subscribe to the broadcaster’s StackTV package within Amazon Prime Video.
The new platform is equivalent to Comcast’s Continue Reading
Sportsnet, TSN, TVA Sports announce broadcast schedules
LIVE MAJOR LEAGUE SPORTS action is returning to television and Sportsnet, TSN and TVA Sports all announced their broadcast schedules today.
With its exclusive national coverage of the resumption of the NHL season and the start of the Toronto Blue Jays’ 2020 regular season, along with its shared broadcast responsibilities for Toronto Raptors games, Rogers’ Sportsnet is offering Canadian fans the most major league sports on TV, radio and streaming platforms this summer, starting this week.
In the first of 60 Blue Jays games available only on Sportsnet, the Jays open their regular season on…
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TORONTO – Telus today was named the fastest internet service provider (ISP) in Canada by PCMag.
The publication recognized Telus as the fastest among the major ISPs. Rogers placed second and Bell, third, among the six large ISPs PCMag recognizes in Canada. The magazine used results from 33,782 tests in Canada taken between June 1, 2019, and June 2, 2020.
“We take 80 percent of the download speed, 20 percent of the upload speed, and add those numbers to generate a PCMag Speed Index (PSI). That number makes it easy to perform an at-a-glance determination of exactly which ISP is the…
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