VANCOUVER – Telus let go 125 managers from its business solutions group earlier this week as part of its on-going “efficiency programs” to redeploy staff within the company.
A Telus spokesperson confirmed to Cartt.ca that the move was planned earlier this year, as the company seeks to staff up in growth areas such as Telus TV and emerging small business markets, and trim in others.
www.telus.com
Continue Reading
VANCOUVER – Telus has issued $1 billion senior unsecured notes priced at $99.42 per $100 principal amount for an effective yield of 5.125% per annum. They will mature on December 4, 2019.
The company also announced the redemption on December 31, 2009 of US$583.5 million principal amount of its US$ 8% notes due June 1, 2011.
The bulk of the new issue proceeds will be used to refinance debt and related derivative obligations maturing in 2011, with any excess applied to “general corporate purposes”, including increasing working capital.
Moody’s Investors Service assigned a Baa1 rating to the senior unsecured note issue, the…
Continue Reading
TORONTO – As stakeholders ponder Canada’s national digital strategy, Telus took the process a step further.
In a white paper presented earlier this week at the nextMedia conference in Toronto, the telco suggested that the broadband networks could be the “building blocks to support a digital media ecosystem”.
It proposed the following ten principles to help guide the on-going debate:
– Noting that the government cannot afford to fund the next generation of broadband infrastructure, Telus said that Canada should “trust the market” to do so by encouraging private sector investment.
– It proposed that government find “smart ways”, such as through revenues from the…
Continue Reading
BURNABY – Telus has invested over $70 million in upgrades to its wireless and broadband infrastructure in cities across B.C. for its 3G+ wireless network.
In a flurry of press releases on Friday, the B.C.-based telco announced that the new network is now available in Delta, the tri-cities of Coquitlam, Port Coquitlam and Port Moody, Burnaby and New Westminster, North Vancouver and West Vancouver, Pitt Meadows and Maple Ridge, Richmond, Vancouver, Surrey and White Rock, Whistler and Pemberton, Squamish and along the Sea-to-Sky highway corridor.
Covering 1.1 million square kilometres, the network also extends high-speed Internet service to about 2,100 locations in…
Continue Reading
CAMPBELL RIVER, BC – Telus TV has arrived to challenge the television provider incumbents in more five more communities in British Columbia and Alberta.
Over the last week, the telco has launched its IP-based TV product in Campbell River, Mission and Chilliwack BC, and in Medicine Hat, and Lethbridge, AB. The service offers more than 390 channels, including 35 in HD, as well as an HD PVR, video-on-demand and pay-per-view.
As an added incentive, Telus is pledging to donate $100 for every new subscriber to various local charities such as a park restoration or the local YMCA/YWCA. On Vancouver Island, its donations…
Continue Reading
GATINEAU – The sale of advertising time on American cable channels, by a new third-party company, is now back on the industry’s agenda.
In its presentation to the CRTC this morning Telus advocated an approach by Mediadenovo which would see the new company (Italian for “media of the new”, we’re told) – which is headed by former Canadian Association of Broadcasters president and CEO Glenn O’Farrell – sell the two minutes per hour of local availability ad time to national advertisers.
American cable channels like CNN, A&E, Golf Channel and others make that time available to distributors to sell into local…
Continue Reading
OTTAWA – Telus’ Michael Hennessy says that it all comes down to priorities.
In advance of his company’s presentation in front of the CRTC on Tuesday, the SVP of regulatory and government affairs said that the current fee-for-carriage discussions are “doing everything backwards” because they failed to set priorities, and to recognize consumer sovereignty in today’s digital world.
“Our fundamental position is that what we’re talking about now is a tremendous waste of our time and resources because we’re not giving consumers enough credit, and listening to how they want to define the television world, or the entertainment and informational world…
Continue Reading
VANCOUVER – A week after the launch of its new HSPA wireless network, Telus launched a lawsuit in the Supreme Court of British Columbia against Rogers Communications over the latter’s continuing claim to the “fastest network.”
“(S)ince November 5, 2009, Telus has been using a newer HSPA/HSPA+ network than the HSPA/HSPA+ part of the Rogers… network,” reads Telus’ statement of claim. “The Rogers… Network is not more reliable than the Telus… network.”
The claim also notes that Rogers claim to be the fastest also no longer stands and that Telus’ new net – which is built along with Bell Canada –…
Continue Reading
TORONTO and CALGARY – With Industry Canada’s review of the CRTC decision on Globalive still on-going, it’s hurry up and wait for the potential new wireless entrant.
With nothing but time on its hands, the company has sent 400 of their newly trained employees out in Calgary and the Greater Toronto Area to commit ‘random acts of kindness’ such as distributing hand sanitizer and pumping gas, or helping with charities such as the Salvation Army and local food banks.
In the meantime, incumbent telcos and even Globalive itself have been busy compiling their submissions for Industry Minister Tony Clement to aid in the review process. All…
Continue Reading
VANCOUVER – In celebration of National Philanthropy Day this Sunday, Telus said that it will donate $7.1 million to more than 2,900 charities in Canada this year through its employee charitable giving program.
The program matches member contributions to eligible charities dollar for dollar. Team members and retirees can choose to make a donation through payroll or pension deduction, and the company covers all administration costs.
"At Telus, we give where we live," said Josh Blair, EVP of human resources, in the press release. "Many members of our communities are facing difficult times and it’s important for Telus to support the…
Continue Reading
