Montreal-based mobile satellite operator Terrestar Solutions announced Tuesday it has selected Etiya, a global software company with offices in Montreal, to “help bridge the connectivity gap for all Canadians”, it said in a press release.
Terrestar is currently working on bringing to Canadians “seamless, affordable direct-to-mobile satellite communication services”, which would connect “everyday devices, including smartphones and Internet of Things (IoT) devices, everywhere in Canada as a complement to cellular networks”, the company explained in its release.
“We are excited to support Terrestar’s bold vision. Together, we will build a future that enhances the lives of Canadians and…
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Foreign streamers say base contribution will make collaborations more difficult
By Ahmad Hathout
Foreign and standalone online streamers that make $25 million or more will be required to contribute five per cent of their previous year’s Canadian revenues into the system, an amount the CRTC said Tuesday would draw $200 million per year into supporting Canadian content.
The regulator said it is prioritizing certain categories of content to the receive funds, including the expensive-to-produce local news on radio and television, and content catering to French-language, indigenous and minority communities.
Of the five per cent, two per cent will go toward the Canada Media…
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Disconnections are expected June 4, TekSavvy said
By Ahmad Hathout
TekSavvy is again asking the CRTC to intervene in a case where its internet customers are at risk of losing service because the cable network from which it leases capacity is being migrated to pure fibre.
In a Part 1 application dated Wednesday that has yet to be posted at the time of this story’s publishing, Teksavvy said 29 customers at two buildings – 191 and 201 Sherbourne Street – in Toronto are at risk of disconnection because Rogers told the Chatham-based company that it is migrating those hybrid fibre-coax facilities to…
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By Ahmad Hathout
Rogers wants to know why Bell and Telus have such drastic differences in proposed surcharges for a new service that will allow Android phones to more accurately communicate their locations with emergency responders under the next-generation 911 system.
The Emergency Location Service (ELS) is a Google location service that allows Android-based devices – relying heavily on Wi-Fi sensors, but also using GPS and cell towers – to provide enhanced location data directly from the device to the public safety answering point (PSAP) where 911 calls are received. The result, it is said, is accuracy, speed and reliability of…
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Rogers is the leading fixed broadband provider in Canada for overall experience, according to a new report from U.K.-based mobile analytics firm Opensignal.
“Rogers, which now includes Shaw customers, is recognized for the best overall experience more frequently than any other provider in our report,” Opensignal says.
When compared to other national fixed broadband providers including Bell, Telus and Starlink, Rogers secured three outright national wins for consistent quality, download speed and video experience, according to the report. In addition, it achieved 21 wins (11 outright wins and 10 joint wins) across various…
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The percentage of telecom and TV service providers who are compliant with the Commission for Complaints for Telecom-television Services (CCTS) rules for providing information about the CCTS on their websites has increased over the last few years, according to the organization’s 2023 Compliance Report Cards, published early Thursday morning.
Internet, phone and licensed TV service providers in Canada are required by the CRTC to participate in the CCTS and its ombudsman complaint-resolution program.
In 2023, 35 per cent of 51 audited participating service providers (PSPs) were fully compliant with the requirements to…
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By Ahmad Hathout
The city of Ottawa is arguing before the CRTC that Videotron is relying on the wrong agreement in its request for the regulator to force the city to reimburse the carrier for having to move its transmission lines for the construction of city projects.
Videotron filed a Part 1 application last month alleging the city has refused to compensate it $300,000 for the move to make way for projects at Montreal Road and Woodroffe Avenue because it was made at the request of its subsidiary Hydro Ottawa, which the telecom argued doesn’t make sense because…
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By Ahmad Hathout
As the three largest carriers saw higher wireless customer turnover in the first quarter, the presumptive fourth carrier is doing a victory lap over what it said is its relatively stable churn.
“Our churn is stable, whereas our competition is increasing,” said Hugues Simard, Quebecor’s Chief Financial Officer on a quarterly conference call Thursday. “I think that continues to be a very encouraging .”
Rogers, Bell, and Telus all reported higher churn in the first quarter this year compared to the same period last year. The higher figure was met with concern, but one for which they…
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Regulator says it is aiming for wholesale internet decision by end of summer
By Ahmad Hathout
The CRTC said Friday it will not immediately decide whether the three largest telecommunications companies should be banned from accessing the large telcos’ bundled middle- and last-mile fibre facilities, effectively greenlighting Bell, Rogers, and Telus to ride on those networks in the interim.
A consortium made up of Bell, Cogeco, Eastlink, TekSavvy, and the indie rep the Competitive Network Operators of Canada filed a late March request for the CRTC to rule that the Big 3 are banned from accessing Bell’s and Telus’s fibre facilities…
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By Ahmad Hathout
Bell CEO Mirko Bibic said Thursday that the higher rate of customers switching to other carriers is “concerning,” but that the telco is mitigating that with bundled offers.
Last week, Rogers CEO Tony Staffieri blamed competition from aggressively priced mobile wireless offers in the market and ease of switching for its postpaid churn rate rising to 1.1 per cent in the quarter compared to the same period last year. While Staffieri said he expects the trend to continue, he added the company isn’t worried about it.
Bell’s postpaid churn rate for the first quarter that ended…
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