GATINEAU – In a long-awaited decision, the CRTC today set final rates for wholesale access to the high speed wired networks of Bell, Cogeco, Eastlink, Rogers, SaskTel, Shaw, Telus, and Vidéotron.
The process had started in May 2015 and interim decision was rendered in October 2016. That said, this is a fight that has been going on for more than a decade.
The rates released today (which are paid by independent third party ISPs like TekSavvy and Distributel) are lower than the interim rates and retroactive to 2016. The monthly capacity rates are 15% to 43% lower…
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Telus has the overall edge among the Big Three
MOBILE ANALYTICS COMPANY Opensignal this morning released its latest study of the Canadian wireless market, work which reveals some hard numbers to support the claims often made by Canadian carriers about how their networks are fast and world-class.
Let’s start with download speeds. “Opensignal recorded big surges in download speeds for all of Canada's major operators,” reads its report. “Telus and Bell both boosted their Download Speed Experience scores beyond 50 Mbps, and all three operators now provide our users with 4G Download Speeds faster than 50 Mbps. And these rapid increases…
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However, content deals are something of a struggle
TORONTO – Iristel plays in many sandboxes in Canadian telecom.
As a national voice over IP CLEC, it’s a wholesale voice and broadband data supplier (with clients such as TekSavvy, Distributel and Magic Jack). It’s a retail voice and broadband provider to residential and business customers and also a wireless provider.
However, there has been a missing component to the bundle it offers retail customers: Television. Soon, however, that missing bit will be ready for launch, as soon as it can get more content deals signed, that is.
The look and feel of Iristel TV’s…
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TORONTO – Today, Rogers’ low-cost brand chatr launched a new contest giving customers the chance to win a whole bunch of prizes.
From August 13-September 30, chatr is giving away a total of 294 daily prizes, and plus three grand prizes including:
Three Tuesday Cruiser Bikes per day (approximate retail value of $250)
Three Google Home Mini per day (approximate retail value of $70)
Three 2020 Nissan Rogue SUVs at the end of the contest period (approximate retail value of $25,000)
All new customers and existing customers who sign up/upgrade to a $40/month or higher plan and register at www.chatrmobile.com/contest have the…
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GATINEAU – When the CRTC awarded a national, multilingual multiethnic discretionary service with mandatory carriage on basic to Rogers in May 2019, it surely knew its decision would not be met with unanimous agreement.
So, nobody was surprised when CORRCAN Media Group, Ethnic Channels Group, Independent Community Television Montreal and TLN Media Group each appealed the decision to the Federal Cabinet, an option which is provided for in the Broadcasting Act.
On August 9th, the Public Interest Advocacy Centre (PIAC) filed with the Clerk of the Privy Council comments in support of the four petitions asking…
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NEW YORK – Dome Productions senior vice-president and general manager Mary Ellen Carlyle will be one of 10 inducted into the Sports Broadcasting Hall of Fame this December in New York.
“Each of this year’s inductees exemplifies the leadership, vision, and professionalism that make the sports-TV and -production community so important to the rest of the sports industry,” said Hall of Fame chairman Ken Aagaard, in a press release.
Carlyle (pictured) has been with Dome Productions for 30 years, first producing sports – and has been instrumental in a number of innovations, including the move to HD, UHD, 4K and the…
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Extra data price beats Koodo, Virgin
TORONTO – Rogers Communications today announced its Fido brand is eliminating data overage fees with the launch of Data Overage Protection, a new feature which will be included in new Fido data, talk and text plans starting today.
Customers will receive an SMS notification when they reach 90% of their limit and another at 100% when their data is paused. If customers want more data, they can immediately buy 1GB for $15 right from their smartphone. The maximum any carrier can charge in terms of overage fees, inside Canada is $50/month, a limit which is…
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TORONTO – Rogers Media’s OMNI Television is asking its stakeholders, partners and supporters to lend their voices of support as the federal cabinet considers three appeals of the CRTC decision granting the TV channel a license renewal.
TLN Media, as we reported yesterday, has launched its own campaign seeking support.
OMNI supporters can click-send a letter to their local MP through www.supportomnitv.ca and can also share positive messages of support on social media with the suggested hashtag #SupportOMNITV. The company launched the campaign July 25.
The website also includes key points on why the CRTC decided in…
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GATINEAU – It took a lot of asking and there was a lot of complaining along the way (as we reported), but the Competition Bureau is getting what it says it needs from Canada’s wireless carriers as the CRTC reviews the mobile market, which will culminate with a public proceeding coming in January.
On Friday, the CRTC directed wireless carriers to disclose to the Commissioner of Competition most information filed in confidence on the record of the mobile wireless review proceeding.
“The information to be disclosed comprises all responses filed in confidence in relation to the Commission’s requests for information dated…
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MONTREAL – Music service Stingray today announced that it has reached a new long-term agreement with Rogers Communications which will offer more flexibility and choice for viewers with options to choose services based on music preferences.
As part of the agreement, says the Stingray release, Rogers television customers (cable and IPTV) will have access to Stingray Music audio channels and also enjoy the Stingray Music mobile app and web player for free. Stingray 4K channels will continue to be available including Stingray Festival 4K, and Stingray Now 4K. The deal also provides Rogers with rights to distribute new Stingray products,…
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