Search Results for: telus

Cable / Telecom News

Telus will sink $670M into B.C. expansion this year

VANCOUVER – Telus will invest $670 million in its wireless and wireline networks across British Columbia in 2011. The telco said that it will continue to invest in its Optik TV and high-speed Internet services by laying thousands of kilometers of fibre optic lines to support growing demand in the province, install 76 new cell sites to further support its wireless broadband services, and, will introduce the Dual Cell upgrade to its HSPA+ network, doubling the manufacturer-rated peak wireless Internet speeds to up to 42 megabits per second. Telus also pledged to contribute $10 million to charitable organizations and community initiatives… Continue Reading

Cable / Telecom News

Telus earmarks $650M for Alberta expansion

EDMONTON and CALGARY – Telus will invest $650 million across Alberta this year to further expand and enhance its wireless and wireline networks, the company announced Monday. The telco will continue to invest in its Optik TV and high-speed Internet services by laying thousands of kilometers of fibre optic lines to support growing demand in the province, install 80 new cell sites to further expand its 4G wireless network, and, will introduce the Dual Cell upgrade to its HSPA+ network, doubling the manufacturer-rated peak wireless Internet speeds to up to 42 megabits per second. "Our planned $650 million investment this year in… Continue Reading

Cable / Telecom News

Telus adds 11 South Asian channels to Optik TV

TORONTO – Telus is adding 11 more channels from Asian Television Network (ATN) to its Optik TV lineup. The new channels, available now on free preview through March 21, will provide an even broader selection of channels in languages including Hindi, Punjabi, Urdu, Tamil, and English.  Programming spans news, sports, music, movies and more. "At Telus we are committed to providing a broad range of TV channels that reflect the diversity of our customers," said Blair Miller, VP of content solutions, in the announcement. "The South Asian community is a large and dynamic part of Canada and we’re thrilled that we will… Continue Reading

Cable / Telecom News

Telus brings 4G to Winnipeg

WINNIPEG – Telus debuted its new 4G mobile network with Dual Cell HSPA+ network access to its customers in Winnipeg on Tuesday, weeks before it plans to roll out Dual Cell HSPA+ technology in the city. The Dual Cell upgrade doubles the manufacturers rated speed of HSPA+ from 21.1 Mbps to 42.2 Mbps. An industry-recognized 4G technology, HSPA+ provides an interim step towards the deployment of Long Term Evolution (LTE) wireless network technology.  The telco also began stocking new devices such as the iPhone 4, BlackBerry Torch and 4G Mobile Internet keys in its stores across the city. "Telus is pleased to bring Winnipeggers… Continue Reading

Cable / Telecom News

Prime Time 2011: Vertical integration on trial; Telus prosecutes, Rogers defends

OTTAWA – Opponents and supporters of vertical integration faced off in a feisty debate during a session at the Canadian Media Production Association’s (CMPA) annual Prime Time conference in Ottawa on Thursday. Representing the “prosecution” in the session, titled Vertical Integration on Trial, Telus argued that producers and independent broadcasters are going to be disadvantaged by having fewer outlets for distribution. As well, broadcasters would have to fight the vertically integrated company on issues such as channel placement. A critical issue, according to Michael Hennessey, senior VP of government and regulatory affairs at Telus, is one of access where… Continue Reading

Cable / Telecom News

Canaccord Genuity urges wireless investors to switch from Rogers to Telus

TORONTO – Rogers Communications falling share of new post-paid customers, thanks in part to new competition from a shared network Bell and Telus launched in November, 2009, has led Canaccord Genuity to recommend that wireless investors switch from Rogers to Telus. Rogers gained only 49,000 of such customers (a much more lucrative lot compared to less valuable “pre-paid” top-up card customers) in the quarter compared to 109,000 the year before. In comparison, Bell gained about 157,000 of those customers and Telus scooped up 109,000 last quarter, noted Canaccord Genuity analysts Dvai Ghose and Sanford Lee. As a result, Rogers accounted for… Continue Reading

Cable / Telecom News

BMO downgrades Shaw due to “accelerating” threat from Telus’ Optik TV

TORONTO – BMO Capital Markets has downgraded its investment rating on Shaw Communications from outperform to market perform, based on the growing competitive threat from Telus, which could eventually capture one third of the B.C.-Alberta TV subscription market, says the bank. “We are growing increasingly concerned with Shaw’s ability to withstand competitive pressures from Telus, specifically its Optik TV service,” writes Tim Casey, cable and media analyst at BMO Capital Markets, in his note to clients. He cautions that Telus has the financial scale and strategic incentive to remain aggressive with marketing promotions this year and next, particularly since Shaw is… Continue Reading

Cable / Telecom News

Revenue, EPS, EBITDA, ARPU, subscribers (TV passes 314,000) all rise at Telus

VANCOUVER – Fourth quarter revenue at Telus rose 4% to $2.55 billion, the company reported today, driven by a 9% growth in wireless revenue and 7% in wireline data revenues. Wireless average revenue per unit (ARPU) increased 1.9% this quarter, the first year-over-year increase in 14 quarters. Smartphones represented 46% of post-paid gross additions in the fourth quarter, as compared to 25% in same period last year. Higher revenue smartphone subscribers now represent 33% of total post-paid subscribers compared to 20% a year ago. However, the cost of acquisition per gross addition increased year-over-year by 2.1% to $388, reflecting a… Continue Reading

Cable / Telecom News

Telus shifts into 4G next month

TORONTO – Telus customers could have faster mobile Internet access speeds come March as the telco rolls out a new Dual Cell upgrade to HSPA+ (DC-HSPA+) in select markets. This new network capability supports manufacturer’s rated peak download speeds of up to 42 Mbps and upload speeds of up to 11 Mbps, Telus said Tuesday.  It will initially offer Dual Cell in the greater Vancouver area, Edmonton, Calgary, Fort McMurray, Whistler, Camrose, Winnipeg and the greater Toronto area. “Dual Cell is just the latest example of our commitment to offer our clients the latest and greatest available technology,” said Eros Spadotto,… Continue Reading

Cable / Telecom News

Telus to start unlocking cell phones next week

TORONTO – Telus has joined Rogers in unlocking its customers’ cell phones.  In an announcement on Monday, the telco said that it would introduce the policy on February 15. "Wireless devices are far more sophisticated and powerful than they were even five years ago and our customers are asking us now to give them the freedom and flexibility to use these devices as they wish”, said chief marketing officer, David Fuller, in a statement. “We are listening and responding to their needs, through services like device unlocking. It’s all part of our commitment to continue to drive flexibility, simplicity and… Continue Reading