GATINEAU – Although the CRTC proceeding on lower-cost data-only plans or skinny wireless was not supposed to be targeted towards a means-tested subset of low-income households, the deaf, deaf-blind or hard of hearing Canadians (DDBHH), seem to have scored a victory.
In its final reply, Bell Mobility (BCE) indicated that they would extend an existing promotion for people with disability. “In order to ensure that new lower-cost data-only plans accommodate the needs of persons with disabilities, we would extend our 2 GB data add-on to our customers with disabilities in conjunction with our proposed plans. This means that persons with…
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RICHMOND, B.C. – Telus will invest $110 million to connect more than 90% of homes and businesses in Richmond and Steveston 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 150 Mbps, 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 is currently underway, and Telus said that it anticipates connecting the majority of homes and businesses by…
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TORONTO – EnStream and digital identity authentication company Payfone are teaming up to stamp out passwords with a new global mobile-based federated digital identity platform.
The new Mobile ID service, to be available initially in Canada, will allow consumers to log into accounts or verify transactions with any participating online service using a single mobile app on their phone. Backed by participating mobile network operators, the service will bring together EnStream's Mobile Connect solution with Payfone's Trust Score identity and fraud analytics solution, which is currently used by Fortune 100 banks, retailers, and health insurance companies, among others.
According to…
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Videotron, SaskTel ranked tops again
TORONTO – Canadians with smart home devices are willing to pay more for their internet but are quick to switch internet providers, according to new data from J.D. Power.
The 2018 Canada Internet Service Provider Customer Satisfaction Study measures overall satisfaction with internet service providers and is based on five factors (in order of importance): performance and reliability; cost of service; communication; billing; and customer service. The 2018 Canada Television Provider Customer Satisfaction Study is based on six factors (in order of importance): performance and reliability; cost of service; programming; communication; billing; and customer service. Continue Reading
GATINEAU – The communications needs of most Canadians are met with land-line telephones (still) and wireless plans. But if you’re a deaf, deaf-blind or hard of hearing Canadian (DDBHH), wireless video is essential. It offers mobility and efficiency, but of course video consumes a lot more data than voice.
So, when the CRTC determined the gap in the wireless service market was low-cost data-only service, or skinny wireless, and asked the big wireless companies to file new prices and capacities, the deaf community paid attention.
First, for them, the voice portion of any package is hardly useful, neither is voicemail service….
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Competition Bureau invokes Sugar Wireless as a model to follow
GATINEAU – “Generally, the Bureau does not favour price controls. However, the presence of market power in this industry; the natural experiment offered by Sugar Mobile’s attempted entry into the wireless services industry; and the fact that similar LCDO Plans have arisen without government intervention in some foreign jurisdictions informs the Bureau’s view that LCDO Plans can increase economic welfare and consumer choice in Canada’s wireless industry.”
So says the Competition Bureau of Canada’s submission to the CRTC about the low-cost data only wireless plans submitted to…
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TORONTO and VANCOUVER – Telus is taking a hard stance to combat cyberbulling.
In addition to a new campaign to raise awareness of cyberbullying in Canada, Telus is calling on Canadians to take the Telus Wise Digital Pledge, an online movement to help create a safer, friendlier digital world. For every pledge made, the company is contributing $1 to support #EndBullying programs for youth in Canada, with the goal of achieving one-million pledges.
The campaign includes a 30-second commercial, supported by eight social extension videos that explore the lives of those impacted by cyberbullying; as well as digital display, social,…
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Stingray pledges to investment profits in local music video production
MONTREAL – Stingray is teaming up with the Association québécoise de l’industrie du disque, du spectacle et de la vidéo (ADISQ) on a new music video TV channel spotlighting French-language Quebec and Canadian music videos.
PalmarèsADISQ par Stingray is already available to Videotron’s customers and will soon roll out to Bell Fibe TV, Telus, and Cogeco subscribers.
Programmed by Stingray’s team of in-house curators with the support of ADISQ experts, PalmarèsADISQ par Stingray presents themed blocks, exclusive countdowns, and best-of lists. The companies said Friday that the channel was born from a…
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TORONTO – As the Canadian wireless landscape continues to feel competitive heat from the likes of Shaw’s Freedom Mobile, Rogers CFO Tony Staffieri remains confident any impact is manageable.
“We’ve competed with Freedom, and the prior names of Freedom for upwards of 10 years now,” Staffieri said, speaking Wednesday at Scotiabank’s Telecom, Media and Technology Conference. “We compete not only on price, but also on network quality and points of distribution, among other factors. Getting the customer is one thing, but keep the customer is something else.”
Despite the Q4 2017 price war which saw Freedom disrupt…
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OTTAWA – The Federal Government has ordered a public inquiry into the alleged high-pressure sales tactics used by the country’s biggest telecommunication companies.
Navdeep Bains, Minister of Innovation, Science and Economic Development, said Thursday that the Feds have directed the CRTC to conduct the inquiry and ensure that “Canadians have an opportunity to be heard and these issues are carefully considered”. The Commission will have until February 28, 2019 to complete the inquiry and file a report that must contain potential solutions to ensure Canadian consumers are treated fairly.
The Minister Bains also asked the Competition Bureau to assist the…
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