GATINEAU – It took a lot of asking and there was a lot of complaining along the way (as we reported), but the Competition Bureau is getting what it says it needs from Canada’s wireless carriers as the CRTC reviews the mobile market, which will culminate with a public proceeding coming in January.
On Friday, the CRTC directed wireless carriers to disclose to the Commissioner of Competition most information filed in confidence on the record of the mobile wireless review proceeding.
“The information to be disclosed comprises all responses filed in confidence in relation to the Commission’s requests for information dated…
Continue Reading
GATINEAU – Canada’s three largest wireless carriers aren’t going to meekly back away from the CRTC on this issue.
While they often grit their teeth and accept the cards the Commission deals, it seems Rogers, Telus and Bell are going to double down when it comes to 36-month device financing plans.
Friday, the Regulator told the carriers to pull those offers from the market and Rogers and Telus have told us they will comply for now (and also that it’s going to take a couple of days at least to do so). However, they are spoiling for…
Continue Reading
GATINEAU – While saying it acknowledges some Canadian consumers might want to pay for a new smartphone over three years instead of two, making their monthly payments lower, the CRTC told Canadian wireless carriers this afternoon to stop offering 36-month payment plans.
The CRTC today said that the new 36-month device financing plans first launched by Rogers (since followed in a more limited way by Telus and Bell) “may not be compliant with the Wireless Code since customers may have to pay fees to switch service providers, even after 24 months,” reads the CRTC press release today.
“The Wireless Code was…
Continue Reading
VANCOUVER – Telus saw consolidated operating revenue increase 4.2% to $3.6 billion in the second quarter, ended June 30th, thanks to strong growth on the wired and wireless sides of the business.
Earnings before interest, taxes, depreciation and amortization (EBITDA) increased by 9.8% as compared to the second quarter of 2018 to $1.4 billion. The company noted in its press release that growth was partly offset by declines in wireline legacy voice and legacy data services.
For the quarter, net income of $520 million increased by 31% over the same period a year ago due to EBITDA growth and lower income…
Continue Reading
GATINEAU – All large internet service providers will have to abide by the CRTC’s new Internet Code of conduct as of January 31, 2020.
The new code, which will apply to Bell, Cogeco, Eastlink, Northwestel, Rogers, Shaw, Sasktel, Telus, Vidéotron, and Xplornet has been created to try to ensure consumers receive easier-to-understand contracts, documentation and policies surrounding service calls, outages, security deposits and disconnections, reads the release. It’s worth noting here this new code does not apply to mobile wireless internet providers. (Correction: An earlier version of this story mentioned the code will apply to small…
Continue Reading
GATINEAU – Last summer Cloudwifi, a Kitchener-based ISP that operates mostly in the apartment and condo space, filed an application with the CRTC requesting an order stating Bell Canada can’t interfere with a customer’s use of the inside wire.
The CRTC agreed with the independent ISP but Bell appealed saying because Cloudwifi was not a local exchange carrier (LEC) or a BDU, it had no legal, regulatory, or other rights of use or access to the facilities at issue. On July 17, 2019, the Commission asked interested parties for applications on the review of CRTC decision…
Continue Reading
Back-to-school promo offers the latest phones, Big Gig Unlimited, starting at $50/month
CALGARY – Shaw Communications’ Freedom Mobile has dropped wireless pricing again by reducing the cost of wireless for Canadians with its Big Gig Unlimited plans and Absolute Zero promotions.
Both are featured in a new national advertising campaign marking the return of the notorious “Monolithic Wireless” and highlighting “unfair treatment of Canadian wireless customers,” reads the Freedom press release.
Top-end handsets such as the latest iPhones can be had for a $75/month Big Gig plan for 10GB of unlimited data (slowed after the monthly benchmark is reached), with no extra…
Continue Reading
GATINEAU – On Tuesday, the CRTC sent a letter to all parties to its ongoing review of the wireless industry asking what they think of newly announced device financing plans.
Over the past two weeks, both Rogers and Telus have decided to separate the cost of the device from the costs of the service on their bills, to consumers who want that, allowing them to pay for new handsets separately. While Telus has limited such contracts to 24 months, Rogers is now letting customers pay for devices over 36 months, if they like.
“The Wireless Code (the Code) is…
Continue Reading
OTTAWA – According to a Reuters report, the federal government has decided to delay its decision on whether or not Huawei technology can be used by Canadian wireless providers until after the October federal election.
Click here for the story.
The report quoted anonymous sources and cited political reasons for the potential delay. Originally, the federal government said the decision would come prior to the election.
When it comes to the Canadian wireless carriers, the decision will certainly affect Telus, Bell and SaskTel, who are waiting on the federal government’s decision before determining who their primary 5G technology…
Continue Reading
TORONTO – Ethnic Channels Group announced today it has signed a distribution deal for two Ukrainian channels, 5 Kanal and First National, with Telus’ Optik TV.
Since its inception in 2003, 5 Kanal has positioned itself as the "Honest News Channel." Distinctive features of the channel are hourly news and analytical talk shows. The programming is exclusively informational content: news, documentaries, analytical and editorial programs, says the ECG press release.
First National is Ukraine's state broadcaster. Its programming focus is on almost all segments of Ukrainian society, including ethnic minorities, and features informative, scientific, cultural, entertainment and sports programming.
“These are…
Continue Reading
