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…
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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…
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Three-year handset plans popular; new TV option coming, too
TORONTO – Rogers Communications CEO Joe Natale admitted Tuesday morning he was happily surprised by the early numbers coming in from its new Rogers Infinite wireless plans.
On June 12th, readers will recall, Rogers junked overage fees and many of its old wireless plans in favour of three simpler unlimited data plans, starting at $75/month. Company executives crossed their fingers hoping the price point and “unlimited” data would make sense to people (even though the unlimited data is slowed after 10GB/month on the lowest cost plan) and that…
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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…
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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…
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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…
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Many customers may want it, but is it contrary to the CRTC’s Code?
TORONTO – Rogers Communications today said it will now offer customers the ability to pay for new devices over 24- or 36-month time frames, at $0 down with no interest.
Wireless policy watchers will say immediately, of course, that the CRTC’s 2013 Wireless Code only effectively allows carriers to offer a maximum two-year contract to their customers. Telus wireless chief Jim Senko told Cartt.ca last week he believes the company can’t go any longer than the two-year financing offer it just launched – even though he’d like…
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Slowed speeds after 10 GB might be against the rules
GATINEAU – Who would have thought a routine process of monitoring Internet pricing to make sure Internet Traffic Management Practices (ITMPs) don’t violate consumer rights would bump up against the much ballyhooed new $75 wireless data pricing plans?
The CRTC has long been concerned about some differential pricing practices that could be viewed as unfair, so it decided two years ago to “closely monitor the retail prices and data caps for both wireless and fixed-line Internet services, which will enable it to assess the degree to which…
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TORONTO – Rogers Communications today announced its new device financing options mentioned last month when it debuted its new pricing are officially on the way next week.
These new device purchasing options, launching July 10 and called Edge Financing, will give customers more choice and flexibility “to purchase any device, anytime, at $0 down and 0% interest,” reads its press release (which was sent about two hours after Telus launched its own repricing and device financing, just like Bell and Telus responded within hours to Rogers’ new pricing last month. Who says the…
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Family discounts and easier device payment plans launch, too
VANCOUVER – The day after its three-week, $75/month with no overage charges wireless promotion officially ended, Telus has decided to make the lower price permanent – and to add some new wrinkles.
Today, the company launched what it’s calling “Peace of Mind” rate plans, which begin at $75/month for 10GB of high speed data with any overage delivered at 512 Kbps. There are also plans at $95 for 20GB and $125 for 50GB. Speeds are slowed for users who cross their limits in those plans, too. While Rogers – when it Continue Reading
