MONTREAL – Videotron’s illico set top box platform does not violate patented technology claimed by a subsidiary of U.S.-based Xperi, a Federal Court judge ruled in a decision released yesterday.
Xperi is the parent company of digital entertainment technology company Rovi, which has for years brought lawsuits against Canada’s big broadcasters for alleged infringement of technology in their viewing devices. Rovi has previously had licensing agreements with the major television service providers, including Bell, Rogers, Shaw and Videotron. The patented technology at issue involves the software that displays television program listings for a user to navigate, called an “interactive television…
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GATINEAU – The CRTC said today that telecommunications service providers will have to adhere to a regime that will set a minimum standard for blocking botnet traffic, which it said constitutes a “significant issue for cyber security, both in terms of volume and severity of harm.”
Botnets are networks of malware-infected devices that are controlled from a central location and used to do things like steal data and/or send an overwhelming number of communications to a server, which causes it to fail (denial-of-service attack). The increasing number of internet-connected devices coming to market, a lot largely with flimsy security measures, are…
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OTTAWA – In response to a report from the industry committee urging the federal government to block Rogers’s proposed takeover of Shaw Communications, Industry Minister Francois-Philippe Champagne declined to comment on the matter specifically but pointed to a number of policy developments that he says will help alleviate concerns about telecom competition and prices.
In March, the committee recommended that the government block the proposed deal on the grounds that it allegedly would stunt competition. If ISED – which is reviewing the spectrum licensing portion of the deal – permits the merger, the committee urged the government…
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TORONTO, CALGARY and MONTREAL – Rogers Communications, Shaw Communications and Quebecor Inc. announced late Friday night they have reached an agreement for the sale of Freedom Mobile to Quebecor in a deal valued at $2.85 billion, subject to regulatory approval.
Rogers initiated a process of selling Freedom several months ago, after the Minister of Innovation, Science and Industry François-Philippe Champagne released a statement saying he would not permit Rogers to acquire all of Shaw’s wireless assets.
The sale of Freedom to Quebecor “will ensure the presence of a strong and sustainable fourth wireless carrier across Canada,” a press release says. “The…
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Tribunal releases scheduling order putting hearing in November
COMMISSIONER OF COMPETITION Matthew Boswell is pushing back against claims Rogers Communications and Shaw Communications have made about the competitive impact of their proposed merger and the proposed divestiture of Freedom Mobile, arguing that selling Freedom is not enough to outweigh the negative effects he claims the deal will have on competition.
In replies to Rogers’ and Shaw’s responses to the commissioner’s application to the Competition Tribunal seeking to have the proposed merger blocked, which were made public by the tribunal today, the Commissioner of Competition reiterated that he does not…
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OAKVILLE – The Weather Network announced today it will air a weekly documentary series Power to the People on Fridays (at 7 p.m., 10 p.m., and 1 a.m.), starting tonight.
The series, consisting of six episodes with more to follow in the Fall, “explores the renewable energy revolution empowering Indigenous communities across Canada,” a press release says. “Each week, host Melina Laboucan-Massimo uncovers fascinating renewable energy or sustainable living projects driven by Indigenous Peoples.”
“It’s not just about renewable energy and climate solutions, but it’s also about addressing the wrongs of the past and moving towards true reconciliation. I think it’s…
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VANCOUVER – Telus announced today it is deploying its new 3500 MHz spectrum on its next-generation 5G wireless network, bringing faster speeds to Toronto, Montreal, Ottawa, Edmonton and Victoria.
“With the rollout of the 3500 MHz spectrum, businesses, industry innovators, entrepreneurs, academic researchers, and Telus customers alike will have access to Telus’ ultrafast and reliable 5G network,” a press release says.
“As Telus continues to deploy its new spectrum through 2022 and 2023, more regions will gain access to its increasingly responsive network and faster speeds enabling the next wave of 5G capability, driving further innovation and growth within Canada’s digital…
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OTTAWA and GATINEAU — Having determined last year Bell Canada violated the Telecommunications Act by denying Videotron access to Bell’s support structures such as telephone poles, the CRTC announced today it has imposed a total of $7.5 million in penalties on Bell for three violations of the act.
“The CRTC found that Bell Canada denied permit applications for access to its telephone poles from Videotron, its main competitor in Quebec. As a result, Videotron was not able to access Bell Canada’s poles, which delayed its network deployment and created a competitive advantage for Bell Canada,” reads a CRTC Continue Reading
Initial deployment in Nanaimo to be followed by launches in major urban centres
TORONTO — Rogers Communications announced today it has started to deploy its 5G 3500 MHz spectrum on its wireless network.
The first location went live this morning in Nanaimo, B.C., according to a press release.
Rogers says it will continue its deployment across Canada, including in the major urban centres of Calgary, Edmonton, Montreal, Ottawa, Toronto and Vancouver, as well as multiple rural areas.
“More regions will follow as they are released according to the ISED timetable,” the release reads.
Rogers acquired the most 3500 MHz spectrum licences of all other…
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MONTREAL — Bell Canada says it’s rolling out the next evolution of 5G, announcing today the network readiness of 5G+ as the company prepares to deploy 3500 MHz wireless spectrum it secured during the federal government’s spectrum auction last year.
Bell’s 3500 MHz spectrum adds “high-capacity airwaves critical to the evolution of Bell 5G on its network,” according to a press release. “Bell is now poised to deploy 3500 MHz wireless spectrum and unleash the next phase of 5G advancement.”
Offering “unprecedented mobile data speeds” and optimized for demanding apps and services, “5G+ is the fastest mobile technology yet in Canada….
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