CEO calls CRTC decision restricting those qualifying under MVNO framework “unfortunate”
MONTREAL – Cogeco announced its fourth quarter 2022 financial results last night, showing revenue was up 14% year-over-year, while earlier today, on an investor’s call, its president and CEO Philippe Jetté outlined the company’s next steps towards launching wireless.
Financial results
In terms of its Q4 2022 financial results, Cogeco reported revenue of $746.9 million. The company also reported adjusted EBITDA increased 18.7% to $348.5 million.
Cogeco’s Canadian telecommunications revenue alone increased 1.1% and adjusted EBITDA increased 6.4% year-over-year, “mainly resulting from lower marketing expenses and certain year-end adjustments,” a press…
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OTTAWA – Canada’s telecommunications sector contributed nearly $75 billion to the country’s GDP in 2021 and supported over 650,000 Canadian jobs, according to a report from PricewaterhouseCoopers (PwC), commissioned by the Canadian Wireless Telecommunications Association (CTWA), which represents wireless sector companies including Bell, Rogers, Videotron and Xplornet, and released yesterday.
This includes a direct contribution to the GDP of $24.7 billion and support of nearly 130,000 jobs. “This direct impact resulted in increased business-to-business activity, creating indirect contributions of $12.1B to GDP and supporting an additional 119,000 jobs,” the report says, adding, “Both the direct and indirect effects created an…
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Internet, cable/TV subscriptions are lesser priorities
TORONTO — More than 80% of newcomers sign up for a wireless account within a month of arriving in Canada, according to consumer research firm Solutions Research Group’s (SRG) Newcomers to Canada 2022 study, released today.
Getting a wireless account is as much of a priority for newcomers as opening a bank account and finding a place to live, according to the study, which was based on interviews conducted in late spring/early summer 2022 with 970 newcomers and 531 Canadian “general population” respondents.
In comparison, 65% of newcomers to Canada signed up with an Internet provider…
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TORONTO — Organizers of the 2022 Canadian Telecom Summit (CTS) announced today details of the panel discussion “5G Edge and Cloud Innovation for Government, Enterprise, and SMB” that will take place during this year’s conference.
Scheduled for Tuesday, Nov. 22 from 1:30 p.m.-2:30 p.m. ET, the panel will be moderated by Vanessa Little, global chief technology officer of Interdynamix.
Panellists include Marshall Berkin, vice-president of industry solutions at Telus, Yasir Hussain, chief technology officer of Ericsson Canada, Manish Mangal, global business head of network services and 5G at Tech Mahindra, and Roger Perryman, senior business industry advisor, communications and media, to…
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Cogeco said terms are “positive step”
By Ahmad Hathout
OTTAWA – The CRTC has defined the boundaries for regional mobile virtual network operators to lease wireless space from the networks of the large incumbent operators, stipulating carriers wanting to operate such an MVNO must actively be offering services to retail customers, not just have spectrum and facilities.
The regulator earlier today released its long-awaited terms and conditions for an MVNO regime, which emerged out of its April 2021 decision to allow established regional virtual operators with spectrum and existing facilities to lease network space from Rogers, Bell, Telus, and SaskTel.
The terms and…
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TORONTO — OneSoccer, the dedicated soccer channel operated by Mediapro Canada, announced today it has acquired the exclusive rights in Canada to Manchester City TV, the Netherlands’ Eredivisie, and the Chinese Super League.
These new rights deals are “a first step in expanding the broadcaster’s portfolio of international leagues and tournaments,” says a press release.
Manchester City TV is the English Premier League club’s premium TV programming, the release explains.
“OneSoccer will carry Manchester City TV’s International Programming Block (IPB), comprising a full replay of every Man City match in the Premier League, the FA Cup and the League Cup as well…
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Globalive (and Wind Mobile) founder adamant national wireless only player the solution
TORONTO – Canadians are more fed up with the nation’s telecommunications industry than they are with airline delays and real estate prices, according to the 2022 Canadian Telecom Sentiment Report, released late last month.
The survey, conducted by Pollara Strategic Insights and commissioned by Globalive, shows 59% of Canadians “are angry or annoyed when they think of telecom companies, the highest of all major Canadian industries surveyed,” a press release announcing the report says.
Furthermore, 71% of Canadians “are angry about telecom bills specifically, the third highest of 13 cost-of-living…
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SEVERAL CANADIAN TELECOMS are currently waiving fees to help their customers stay connected to their loved ones in Iran.
Xplore posted on Twitter today to say it is waiving all home phone long-distance calls to Iran from now until the end of the month.
Telus announced on Sept. 27 it (and Koodo) would be waiving all long-distance calling and text messaging to Iran until Oct. 14.
On Sept. 28, several more companies including Rogers (and Fido and Chatr), Bell (and Virgin Plus) and Shaw (and Freedom Mobile) announced they would be waiving long-distance fees for calls and texts…
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OTTAWA – While telecommunications service providers continue to deal with the aftermath of Hurricane Fiona, the CRTC is seeking more information on how they prepared for and responded to the storm.
The Commission sent a request for information last week to Bell, Eastlink, Rogers and Telus. By Oct. 7, the companies are expected to submit information including “a high-level estimate of the number of customers affected by service outages of 24 hours or more caused by the hurricane, for each of the phone, mobile wireless, and Internet access services,” as well as “The status to date of any…
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IT HAS BEEN nearly two weeks since Hurricane Fiona devastated Canada’s east coast, despite which some Canadians continue to be without telecommunications services.
This is not because service providers failed to plan ahead or because restoring service was not prioritized. Rather, it goes to show just how bad the storm was when it hit.
“Hurricane Fiona was the biggest storm ever to hit anywhere in Canada,” a Bell spokesperson told Cartt.ca via email. “Our preparations ensured our core networks remained largely operational throughout, but the damage to our infrastructure in the field is the worst we have ever seen in this…
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