WHILE VARIOUS wireless executives received e-mails this week from Industry Canada officials cautioning them on speaking with the media about the 700 MHz wireless spectrum auction, both EastLink and Wind mobile confirmed Monday they will take part.
Initial deposits from any company interested in bidding on the spectrum during the auction which will kick off January 14th, are due Tuesday at noon. While speculation will likely rage on for days now, it is hoped that Industry Canada will release a public list of participants by September 25th. While it’s a lock that the likes of Rogers, Telus, Bell, Videotron, SaskTel,…
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TORONTO – Current Vodafone UK CEO Guy Laurence will succeed Nadir Mohamed atop Rogers Communications, the company announced Thursday morning, after a months-long process which saw many candidates interviewed.
Laurence, 51, brings 30 years of global experience in telecommunications, pay television and media to the role, including senior leadership positions at international media companies including MGM Studios, United Cinemas and Chrysalis Records. He will become Rogers president and CEO effective December 2nd.
After joining Vodafone in 2000, Laurence (pictured) was named CEO…
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GATINEAU – Broadcasters, distributors and special interests all took predictable stances on the CRTC's proposed framework for the distribution of national news services in interventions published this week.
The comment period for the framework, which launched from the Commission's August decision to deny mandatory distribution to Sun News Network, ended on Monday night. Last-minute submissions were posted to the CRTC site Tuesday and Wednesday. The Regulator’s proposals include rules on carriage, packaging and channel placement for national news services licensed as Category C, which would categorize all such services – new and…
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OTTAWA – There simply is not a wireless services competition problem in Canada, according to a report released today by the University of Calgary’s School of Public Policy.
Wireless Competition in Canada: An Assessment argues that it’s too simplistic to draw conclusions about the state of competition by comparing Canada’s high average revenue per user (APRU) and lower penetration rates with international carriers. For instance, many countries tend to have significantly higher prepaid subscribers than in Canada and have a calling-party-pays protocol, “both of which encourage inflated user counts.”
During a press conference on Parliament Hill Thursday morning, one of the…
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TORONTO – City original comedy series Seed has been picked up by The CW Network (The CW) for broadcast in the U.S.
The deal was brokered by Entertainment One. With production scheduled to begin this fall, City has ordered an additional 13 episodes from Vancouver-based Force Four Entertainment.
“City has always believed in Seed, and the partnership with eOne and The CW is a true testament to the incredibly talented creators, crew, and performers who bring this series to life,” said Claire Freeland, Rogers Media’s director of original programming, in the announcement. “We’re excited to introduce the hilarious and original stories of…
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TORONTO – There’s only a few weeks left to register for the Canadian Wireless Trade Show scheduled for September 25 – 26 at the Toronto Congress Centre in Toronto.
Now in its third year, the B2B tech, telecom, and wireless networking event will feature over 120 exhibitors from the U.S. and Canada. This year’s lineup of live talks includes Google executive Richard Trinder on the wireless shopper; Samsung Business Division VP Paul Brannen on security and BYOD devices; plus presentations from representatives of Rogers, Bell, Telus and Microsoft. A new addition to the show this year is iHub, an interactive and informative…
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TORONTO – Rogers has unveiled a new wireless share plan that lets customers and small businesses share wireless data, voice and features across any 10 wireless devices.
The ‘Share Everything’ plans allow individuals, families and small businesses to connect up to 10 wireless devices – including smartphones, talk and text phones, tablets, the Rocket stick, hub and mobile hotspot – to a single plan. Customers choose the data bucket that suits their needs and share that data across devices for greater flexibility and savings.
"A surge in data consumption means Canadians are looking for ways to more easily manage and share…
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MISSISSAUGA, ON – Rogers Media has outfitted The Shopping Channel with a new look.
The makeover includes a new logo an on-air graphics; an updated website; new mobile platforms that include an app for iPhone and iPad; and new studio sets and programming segments.
“Our brand evolution enhances this unique shopping advantage by reflecting changing online retail habits and desires, allowing for superior accessibility, and ultimately enabling our customers to discover more of what they want”, said president said Steven Goldsmith, in the…
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MISSISSAUGA – The SCTE Ontario Chapter is seeking papers for presentations to be conducted at its Fall Meeting and Vendor Show scheduled for November 4, 2013.
As part of the organization’s ongoing effort to spearhead HFC best practices, the call for papers requests the submission of abstracts for presentation on the following topics :
– Sweep in the new environment;
– Stability – Network soft tools and hard tools;
– Leakage best practices;
– Battery theft and network security;
– Quality assurance of contracted work force – network maintenance;
– Contractor workforce management (NIKA) – manage money, workforce , and escalations;
– Network maintenance training for contractors;
-…
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AMID THE SWIRLING STORM surrounding the impending 700 MHz spectrum auction, a certain fact is often cited – followed closely by often obtuse, naïve assumptions which have served to warp the spectrum debate.
The fact we’re talking about is how Rogers, Bell and Telus own 85% of the existing spectrum licensed for wireless services in Canada. It’s a big number. It’s the correct number. When you put it in a pie chart (as the Industry Canada web site has), it looks daunting and very important. However, those who use that number to say the big three…
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