GATINEAU – After hearing from a range of Canadians via Facebook in February and March (some who had cogent complaints and arguments, some who, um, did not…), the CRTC this week gathered up final written submissions on its new proposed Internet code of conduct for providers of retail fixed internet services.
Canadian carriers generally support such a code, or at least the idea of one, which would “enhance the transparency of Internet contracts, help consumers, regardless of who their Internet provider is, to better understand their rights and responsibilities under these contracts and enable them to…
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TORONTO – In a ruling issued Tuesday, April 23,2019, the Ontario Superior Court decided to stay a case brought by Iristel/Ice Wireless against Telus which relates to a dispute between the two companies over failed calls to the North.
This is the latest development between the two telcos who have each blamed the other for hundreds of phone calls to northern Canada failing to get through.
While the CRTC issued its interim ruling in November, making sure calls went through properly, it still must determine whether the traffic at issue is wrongly stimulated by Iristel as Telus claims…
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VANCOUVER – Telus is helping customers with disabilities to connect with customized technology and devices.
Assistive Tech for Good is a partnership between Telus and Neil Squire Society. Currently available in British Columbia and Alberta, the program offers Canadians with disabilities specialized support in selecting the right assistive technology based on their diverse needs, plus assistance with selecting a compatible smartphone or tablet, and free set-up and training needed to independently control their mobile device.
“At Telus, we understand that technology is the great equalizer, but only if we all have access to it equally,” said…
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TORONTO – Telus has rolled out the first wave of kiosks for Public Mobile, marking the brand’s entry into the retail space.
Inspired by the commuter bike design, the new kiosks are available now at CF Galeries D’Anjou (Montreal), Edmonton City Centre (Edmonton), Marlborough Mall (Calgary) and CF Richmond Centre (Richmond). Ten additional kiosks are slated to roll out later this year.
The Public Mobile kiosks sell SIM cards and payment vouchers that allow customers to add money to their accounts, though all customer support will continue to be offered online. Customers may also take the kiosk for a spin, which simultaneously charges…
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MONTREAL – Former CRTC chair and Astral Media president André Bureau succumbed to cancer on Friday, April 12. He was 83.
A lawyer and communications business executive, Bureau was the illustration of a generation of smart, ambitious and well-connected young French-Canadian men that emerged after the “Révolution Tranquille”.
Born in 1935, in Trois-Rivières, Quebec, he studied Law at Université Laval in Québec City and was called to the Quebec Bar in 1959. He also received a doctorate in comparative law at the Sorbonne, in France, in 1960.
In private practice from 1960, he practiced in his home town, where Le Nouvelliste (the…
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Industry, others, provide feedback
OTTAWA – On February 26th, the Government of Canada proposed new CRTC Policy direction to put Canadians at the forefront of future telecommunications decisions, as Cartt.ca reported.
By law, this proposed Order must be put for comments for a period of 30 days after being published in the Canada Gazette. April 8th was the deadline for intervenors to make their comments known to the Minister of Innovation, Science and Economic Development.
(Ed note: By law, the federal government doesn’t have to listen to any of the recommendations, if it has already made up its mind,…
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ST. ALBERT, AB – Telus will invest $100 million to connect more than 90% of homes and businesses in the City of St. Albert, including the neighbouring communities in Sturgeon County, directly to its fibre optic network.
The gigabit-enabled Telus PureFibre network will enable connected residents to immediately take advantage of dramatically faster Internet speeds of up to a gigabit, while businesses, schools, healthcare providers and other institutions can access even more speed and capacity, reads the news release. The network offers symmetrical service, meaning that customers can upload just as fast as they download.
Construction work will begin in June, and Telus said…
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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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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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