Expect a pressure-packed, high-demand, 3500 MHz auction in 2020
BAY STREET’S TELECOM industry analysts were a little surprised at the $3.47 billion collectively shelled out by Canada’s wireless carriers for 600 MHz spectrum (except for Bell, which shelled out nothing for no 600 spectrum) in the federal government’s just-completed auction.
“(I)t appears the competition amongst (the big three) was far fiercer than expected, driving the price up to $1.89/MHz-pop and leading to a total spend of $2.65B,” wrote Canaccord Genuity’s Aravinda Galappatthige in a note to investors, which said he had expected the trio of Rogers, Bell…
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Auction raises $3.47 billion
OTTAWA – The results of Canada’s 600 MHz spectrum auction were announced after the markets closed Wednesday afternoon.
Rogers Communications acquired the most licences, 52, for a whopping $1.725 billion. “We are proud to make leading and meaningful investments to build the 5G ecosystem in Canada and to help drive our country’s global competitive advantage,” said Joe Natale, president and CEO, in the company press release. “This 5G spectrum is a precious and scarce resource that will benefit Canadians and Canadian businesses across the country.” Rogers was awarded licences in the A and…
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SQUAMISH, BC – Squamish Cable TV founder Lloyd Ingraham passed away on March 24 at the age of 102.
Born September 5, 1916 in Vegreville, Alberta, Ingraham arrived in Squamish in 1919 and worked in a pulp mill in Woodfibre before becoming an electrician. He returned to Squamish in 1955 as an electrical contractor and started the Squamish Cable TV system two years later.
“At that time I believe, there were three TV sets in the valley” wrote Ingraham in Stan Thomas’ 1992 anthology ‘Cable, Vision of the Pioneers’.
“The next level of nonsense was achieved when I purchased a set. The…
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CALGARY – Despite adding fewer wireless customers than this time last year, Shaw Communications saw second quarter profits return to the black.
For the three month period ended February 28, 2019, the company posted net income of $155 million up from the $175 million net loss posted in the same period last year. Consolidated revenue dipped 1.0% to $1.32 billion year-over-year, and operating income before restructuring costs and amortization increased 13.7% to $549 million due to continued growth in its Wireline and Wireless segments.
Shaw said Tuesday that it added approximately 47,800 net Wireless revenue generating units (RGUs) in the quarter, consisting of 64,700 postpaid additions and…
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CALGARY – Shaw Communications CEO Brad Shaw today affirmed his company’s stance against the federal government’s and CRTC’s desire to see new, non facilities-based wireless competition in Canada.
In February, as readers will recall, the CRTC launched a new review into the wireless market and noted its view was to mandate mobile virtual network operators (MVNOs – or third party carriers who lease space on incumbent networks) to operate in Canada since few have launched under the existing regs. Those who would like to launch an MVNO in Canada have said the wholesale rates proposed by…
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GATINEAU – During the final regular season game of the NHL season aired on TVA Sports this past weekend, the Quebecor-owned broadcaster warned viewers they were going to lose access to the channel when the NHL playoffs begin – and that it’s all Bell’s fault.
Currently, Quebecor CEO Pierre Karl Péladeau is leading a one-man public campaign decrying the state of affairs when it comes to specialty TV and the wholesale rates his TVA channels receive from carriers (please see our feature interview published here), since they are so much lower than Bell Media channels…
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Reiterates push for “granular data”
GATINEAU – The Canadian wireless market reaps $24.5 billion in annual retail sales, accounts for 155,000 jobs and 31.7 million subscribers (2017 figures*) so the stakes are rather high when it comes to another regulatory review of that market.
Old ways (facilities-based competition) may be thrown out with new ones mandated (MVNOs). The questions surrounding the CRTC’s latest review of the wireless market has created much unease and uncertainty inside Canada’s wireless carriers (and a glimmer of hope among those who want to launch new MVNO-based brands and…
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Le président de Québecor sent qu’il est le seul pour se battre pour la culture
C’EST UN PIERRE KARL PÉLADEAU en grande forme à qui nous avons parlé cette semaine lors d’une conversation téléphonique, mardi après-midi. Il venait de prononcer une conférence au CORIM (Conseil des relations internationales de Montréal) dans le cadre de sa dernière campagne d’information sur l’avenir du système de radiodiffusion canadien.
Cette fois, le président et chef de la direction de Québecor, monte aux barricades pour s’attaquer à Netflix, au système de redevances des canaux spécialisés, au CRTC, à Radio-Canada, à Bell et…
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CEO says he feels alone fighting for our culture
IT WAS A PIERRE KARL PÉLADEAU in fine form with whom we had a phone conversation on Tuesday after a speech he gave at the Montreal Council on Foreign Relation. That speech was part of public relations campaign he is leading on the future of the Canadian broadcasting system.
This time the Quebecor CEO is attacking Netflix, the specialty channel affiliation regime, the CRTC, the CBC, Bell and the apathy he feels from so many. While the system is crumbling nobody is being spared, and not enough Canadians…
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New branding reflects a "digital-first, connectivity company"
CALGARY – Shaw Communications is helping customers to manage all aspects of their home WiFi network through new technology known as Shaw BlueCurve.
Available only with the BlueCurve Gateway modem, the Shaw BlueCurve Home app promises total control of the home WiFi, including the ability to control network access, create user profiles, monitor usage, and block content to one device while maintaining connectivity to another.
Thursday’s announcement said that both new and existing customers with the Shaw BlueCurve Gateway modem can download the Shaw BlueCurve Home app for iOS (10.0 or later) and Android (5…
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