By Denis Carmel
GATINEAU, TORONTO and ALBERTA – At the end of the day today, the Competition Bureau announced it had come to an agreement with Rogers and Shaw.
The companies have agreed not to close on their proposed merger until the Competition Tribunal has ruled on the bureau’s application to the tribunal seeking to block their merger.
“Rogers has also agreed not to enforce any condition in its agreement with Shaw… that limits Shaw’s ability to operate, maintain, enhance or expand its wireless business,” the bureau’s news release reads.
The companies and the bureau have also agreed to request an expedited…
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By Howard Law
HERITAGE MINISTER PABLO RODRIGUEZ has promised a policy directive to the CRTC with cabinet instructions on implementing Bill C-11.
Point number one in the new directive should be making the certification of Canadian content more relevant to the Canadian experience by including qualitative judgments of national subject matter in the video content. I posted about this recently, as have others. The signal from the minister is that he has an open mind to it.
Point number two is to direct the CRTC to reappraise the existing regulatory supports for the money-losing local news industry.
Point number three is what to do…
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Also disappointed wholesale rates will not be reversed
By Ahmad Hathout
INDEPENDENT INTERNET SERVICE providers said they are “encouraged” by the direction the federal government is taking in its proposal Thursday for a new policy direction to the telecom regulator, despite the government also denying a request to overturn the Internet access costs on which the direction focuses.
“They’re going to have a very clear roadmap for how the government expects them to regulate this industry,” Matt Stein, CEO of Distributel and the Competitive Network Operators of Canada, a trade group for independent ISPs, said in an interview, adding he…
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Bell was not consulted on Globalive/Telus network sharing agreement, CFO said
By Ken Kelley
TORONTO – Executives from each of Canada’s major telecoms, along with their counterparts from some of the country’s smaller players, gathered in Toronto on Wednesday for the first in-person edition of the TD Securities Telecom and Media Conference since the Covid pandemic began.
BCE executive vice-president and chief financial officer Glen LeBlanc kicked off the day’s proceedings, with discussion around the company’s recent financial performance as well as the implications of the sale of Shaw’s wireless assets, Freedom Mobile, in order to settle anti-competitive concerns brought on…
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TORONTO – CTAM Canada announced it is holding its annual Toronto Blue Jays Game event on June 16, 2022 when the Blue Jays play the Baltimore Orioles.
The event, which is CTAM Canada’s first in person event in two years, is taking place at Rogers Centre in the Summit Suite. Doors will open at 1:30 and the game will start at 3:07.
Tickets are $125 plus tax and are for current members only. A game ticket, two drink tickets, food and an opportunity to win prizes are included.
Vaccinations and face coverings are not required but are strongly encouraged by CTAM Canada.
For…
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Contingent on Globalive acquiring Freedom Mobile
By Amanda OYE
TORONTO – Globalive announced yesterday it has signed a network and spectrum sharing agreement with Telus, contingent on Globalive acquiring Shaw Communications’ Freedom Mobile.
“It’s a transformational agreement – it’s the first of its kind,” said Globalive’s founder and chair Anthony Lacavera in an interview with Cartt.ca.
The agreement, which would span a minimum of 20 years, “marks the first time that a Canadian carrier has entered into a network and spectrum sharing agreement with a pure-play independent wireless competitor,” according to a Globalive press release.
Globalive is the founder of Wind Mobile, which…
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By Denis Carmel
TORONTO – After failing to get an injunction to prevent the Department of Innovation, Science and Economic Development Canada (ISED) from issuing 3500 MHz spectrum licences to Videotron, Telus was denied yesterday a judicial review of ISED’s decision to deem Videotron eligible to bid on set-aside spectrum in the 2021 auction.
Although it is not a surprising decision, the Federal Court offers some harsh language towards Telus’ application.
“The Decision, which permitted Vidéotron to bid on and obtain set-aside spectrum in British Columbia, Alberta and Manitoba on…
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OTTAWA – Canada needs a stable regulatory environment to support investment in digital networks, argued Robert Ghiz (above), president and CEO of the Canadian Wireless Telecommunications Association (CWTA), during his keynote speech at the International Institute of Communications Canada’s annual conference yesterday.
Ghiz pointed out how during the pandemic, when suddenly people became more reliant on the Internet and mobile communications, there was concern about “whether our digital networks would buckle under the strain.” This did not happen – “Canada’s digital networks rose to the occasion,” he said.
Ghiz attributed this to Canadian network operators having “invested heavily and consistently” in…
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TORONTO — During a virtual celebration last night, Rogers Communications awarded Ted Rogers Scholarships to 350 Canadian youth graduating high school to support them in their post-secondary education and in recognition of their community leadership and volunteerism.
“We are proud to invest in these hard-working and dedicated young Canadians whose ideas and education will continue to strengthen our country for years to come,” said Tony Staffieri, president and CEO of Rogers Communications, in a press release.
“Rogers is committed to helping youth, particularly those from equity-deserving and underserved communities, to discover and reach their highest potential by helping to remove financial…
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By Denis Carmel
OTTAWA – In a keynote speech at the International Institute of Communications’ annual conference in Ottawa on May 16, Pierre-Karl Péladeau, CEO of Québecor, in his usual frank manner urged Parliament to pass Bill C-11 and Bill C-18. As well, he wants to see more competition in wireless. (Péladeau gave his speech in a combination of English and French.)
Wireless
“Our legislative and regulatory system has to ensure a healthy competition in the market, to benefit consumers but also to ensure the perennity of the Canadian broadcasting and telecommunications systems,” he said.
Péladeau mentioned the Competition Bureau indicated…
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