Rogers announced Thursday that customers can now use its satellite-to-mobile feature in the United States, thanks to a partnership with T-Mobile’s T-Satellite.
The service is included in the Popular or Ultimate plans with U.S. coverage, Roam Like Home, and select Travel Passes at no extra cost, according to a press release.
“Canadians want to stay connected wherever they are, even when they’re travelling,” Mark Kennedy, Rogers’s chief technology officer, said the release. “By expanding satellite-to-mobile technology, our customers can get more coverage and roam effortlessly throughout the U.S.”
The service supports text messaging, including text-to-911 and public safety alerts, as well as…
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Telecoms welcome report, but say more coordinated action is needed
By Ahmad Hathout
The Senate committee on transport and communications has heeded the recommendations of the telecommunications industry and is urging the federal government to amend the Criminal Code to impose harsher penalties for copper theft.
The report, titled Stolen Signal: The Costly Consequences of Copper Theft in Canada and released Tuesday, is also recommending the federal government create a task force on metal theft to promote information sharing among law enforcement agencies and encourage its provincial and territorial counterparts to regulate the sale of scrap metal, including by keeping a record…
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By Ahmad Hathout
The Cable Public Affairs Channel (CPAC) has been approved Monday for a three-cent increase in the price broadcasters must pay to carry the service, despite the CRTC suspending that application months earlier until after it implemented changes to the regulatory system.
Broadcasters will now pay 16 cents per subscriber, per month to carry the channel, which is required of them under the Broadcasting Act’s 9.1(1)(h) rule. The new rate, which is what the not-for-profit asked for, will take effect on September 1, which is the start of the new broadcasting year.
“The Commission is of the…
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Ontario’s public broadcaster, TVO Media Education Group (TVO), announced Monday the appointment of Jeremy Dupuis as its vice president of growth, effective immediately.
In this newly created role, Dupuis “will be the executive steward of TVO’s growth and self-generated revenue strategy, with accountability for delivering measurable, sustainable growth aligned with TVO’s mandate, values and risk profile,” according to a TVO press release announcing his appointment.
TVO said the creation of this new position “reflects TVO’s focus on long-term financial sustainability in a complex media environment, while continuing to safeguard the organization’s public mandate,…
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Rogers and Toronto Pearson Airport announced last week a new multi-year agreement renewing Rogers as the exclusive telecom partner of the airport.
The renewed partnership promises to deliver new technology, connectivity and passenger experiences across Toronto Pearson’s terminals, with enhancements rolling out in phases beginning later this year.
Those enhancements include new sports, entertainment and branded experiences, “reimagined” business pods powered with the latest technology to support productivity and comfort, and next-generation portable charging solutions to keep passengers connected throughout their travel journey, according to a Rogers press release.
“We’re building on…
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By Connie Thiessen
Colette Watson is set to retire as president of Rogers Sports & Media.
Watson will depart the company in mid-May, but will continue to serve in an advisory capacity through this fall.
She had been in the role since 2022, following Jordan Bank’s exit from the company.
“Colette has been a part of the Rogers fabric for over 35 years,” said Sarah Schmidt, vice president of communications, in a statement supplied to Cartt’s sister publication Broadcast Dialogue. “She has helped shape everything from content and channel line-up to the policies that govern them. She’s led Rogers Sports & Media making blockbuster deals…
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TekSavvy says regulator lacking teeth on the matter
By Ahmad Hathout
Despite CRTC letters asking them to maintain access, Cogeco and Eastlink have told the regulator they intend to move forward with decommissioning legacy facilities that will affect their wholesale customers.
In two recent letters, CRTC staff had asked Cogeco and Eastlink, who are converting their coaxial networks to fibre, to maintain those older facilities for TekSavvy and Fibernetics, respectively, and that it will embark on a review of decommissioning practices. The CRTC staff had asked the cablecos to confirm that access will be preserved.
But the…
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By Ahmad Hathout
Innovation, Science and Economic Development (ISED) approved Thursday the extended use of the extended Ku (xKu) band for direct-to-home satellite broadcasting service (DTH) for at least another decade.
The department will allow Telesat to continue providing the service to Shaw Direct, which parent company Rogers uses to provide television services to some consumers and other broadcasters, until November 2039. In 2010, ISED forbade Telesat from continuing to carry DTH services in the band after January 1, 2028.
Telesat had requested the extension in December and, in filing the supporting intervention, Rogers warned about the negative impact…
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Rogers announced Wednesday its satellite-to-mobile service Rogers Satellite now supports Messenger and outdoor mapping apps from onX.
“Canadians should be able to stay connected no matter where their travels take them,” said Mark Kennedy, chief technology officer of Rogers, in a press release. “With Rogers Satellite now powering these apps, customers can stay on top of weather, find their way on remote highways and trails, and check in with family when they’re beyond the reach of traditional cell towers.”
Rogers Satellite customers will be able…
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By Ahmad Hathout
The CRTC is mandating that all service providers report the origin of nuisance or spam calls, rejecting a request by some smaller service providers to be spared from the new condition of service.
“The Commission considers that excluding specific types of TSPs could leave a loophole for nuisance calls to enter Canada through TSPs excluded from the traceback process,” the CRTC said in a decision Friday.
“Requiring all TSPs that provide voice telecommunications services to participate in the traceback process would enable Commission staff to respond to complaints from customers of any TSP” and “prevent a TSP from ignoring…
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