TORONTO – TBayTel is set to upgrade its wireless infrastructure with a high speed network overlay.
The independent telco has chosen Ericsson to overlay its CDMA mobile network with HSPA+ technology, a move that it says will "significantly improve" mobile users’ broadband experience by offering data rates up to 21 Mbps.
"TBayTel remains focused on providing Northern Ontario residents with advanced telecom solutions in an increasingly competitive and demanding marketplace”, said president and CEO Don Campbell, in the announcement. “Our unique ability to forge a critical national link with our new HSPA network has led to new strategic relationships. Now Northern…
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TORONTO and GATINEAU – Rogers Communications wants to know why the CRTC hasn’t included wireless in its look at regulatory symmetry in the telecom world when it comes to the handling of customer cancellations and transfers.
In a letter dated June 30th, the communications giant told the Commission it didn’t make any sense to be looking into so-called regulatory symmetry for broadcasting, telecom and Internet while skipping wireless – and it wants the notice of consultation amended to include the handling of wireless customer transfer requests, too.
Bell Canada made an application to the Commission in May demanding the same…
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TORONTO – When Rogers Communications comes to market with its new low-cost brand Chatr (which it says it will, soon), it can expect some legal haranguing from one of its wireless competitors.
Mobilicity chairman John Bitove told Cartt.ca on Friday that since the new brand from the big red machine is aimed solely at killing new competitors like his, he will file a complaint with the Competition Bureau when Chatr launches.
“If they were building a whole new company, a whole new network on their own, that’s one thing, but they’re obviously going to use all the leverage they can…
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OTTAWA – The CRTC has released an approximate schedule for its upcoming television license renewals.
First up will be the renewal of Vide-on-Demand undertakings which will be handled via paper processes this Fall. This will be followed by private English-language groups CTV, CanWest, Rogers, Corus, and CJBN-TV Kenora in the Spring of 2011.
Private French-language groups services Quebecor, V interactions, Astral, TV5 Quebec Canada, and Canal Evasion will be considered in early Fall 2011, while all other conventional, specialty, pay, PPV, and community television undertakings whose licences expire in the next two years will be scheduled for Spring 2012.
CBC/Radio…
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MONTREAL – Rogers has thrown its sponsorship weight behind Quebec-based Cirque du Soleil, becoming the official wireless services provider of the group’s 2010-2011 Canadian tour.
“This is a partnership between two leading innovators in the Canadian market dedicated to enhancing consumer experiences”, said Rob Bruce, Rogers’ president of communications, in the announcement. “We are delighted to accompany Cirque du Soleil on their 2010-2011 Canadian tour and we look forward to providing them with the most innovative wireless solutions available.”
Rogers said that it intends to leverage the partnership by organizing several exclusive events for its customers, and in fact is hosting an exclusive showing of…
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OTTAWA – The Outdoor Life Network can add comedy and cartoons to its programming schedule, but still can’t include “stick and ball” sports.
In a decision on Friday, the CRTC approved Rogers’ request that it add categories 7(b) Ongoing comedy series (sitcoms), 7(e) Animated television programs and films, and 7(f) Programs of comedy sketches, improvisation, unscripted works, and stand-up comedy to the list of program categories that may be broadcast by the service. It also okayed an increase the amount of programming that may be drawn from category 7 Drama and comedy, as a whole from 5% of the…
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TORONTO – Many of the details of the new low-cost Rogers Communications wireless brand, Chatr, were seemingly leaked this week.
Mobile blog Mobile Syrup is featuring several very real-looking slides and pricing data sent to them by someone who attended a training session on Toronto. It’s said the new brand launch is imminent.
Click here for a look at the new brand which takes dead aim at the likes of newcomers Wind Mobile, Public Mobile and Mobilicity.
With Rogers’ strong network – and huge marketing capability – Chatr could be positioned as a loss leader brand under the big red umbrella…
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TORONTO – Rogers’ sportsnet.ca is the title sponsor of the premier bicycle race known as the 2010 Queen’s Park Grand Prix.
The event, scheduled for September 19, 2010, aims to attract top professional and amateur teams from Canada and the U.S. The sportsnet.ca Queen’s Park Grand Prix will feature three distinct races on the roads circling Queen’s Park in Toronto: the first race will be a 45 minute Master’s Open Race for amateur men, followed by a 60 km Women’s Elite Race, and the 85 km Men’s Pro Am Race, featuring world class cyclists by invitation only.
"We are proud to be…
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VANCOUVER – The NHL’s Vancouver Canucks will play at the Rogers Arena starting this Fall.
Rogers Communications signed a ten year deal with Canucks Sports & Entertainment Tuesday, becoming the first sponsor in the team’s 40-year history to have both the arena naming and telecommunications sponsorship rights. Financial terms of the agreement were not made public.
"This is an important strategic alliance and we’re thrilled to partner with an outstanding organization like the Canucks," said Rogers’ president and CEO Nadir Mohamed, in a statement. "B.C. is a critical market for Rogers and this announcement further enhances our investment in the province…
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TORONTO – Set to “focus on the growing unlimited talk and text category,” Rogers Communications confirmed the impending launch of a new wireless brand, Chatr.
The new division is “the first in the category to offer unlimited talk and text to customers with the reach and reliability of a proven network,” reads the press release.
The news was officially broken last week by The Boy Genius report, as we noted here, and was followed up by a Scotia Capital report analyzing such a move for the communications giant this week.
"We’ve been watching this niche but growing category closely and it’s…
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