Search Results for: telus

Cable / Telecom News

DATA CENTRES: Amazon Web Services comes north, wants to partner with telcos

TORONTO – Amazon Web Services (AWS) has been setting up data centres around the world offering a wide range of compute and analytics services in competition and partnership with local service providers and on Thursday it announced it has come to Canada, opening two data centres here – as promised earlier in the year . Now it’s looking to partner with telecommunications firms to resell its services. “If you look around the world there are many telco partners who work with us closely to take our services to market and offer complimentary services to the AWS platform,” AWS Canada director Eric… Continue Reading

Cable / Telecom News

Telus to discontinue Extend service, calling CRTC’s 9-1-1 directive “technically unworkable and cost-prohibitive”

VANCOUVER – Telus is pulling the plug on its nomadic local VoIP service Telus Extend after the CRTC ordered it to add 9-1-1 emergency service by the end of the year. “Enabling 9-1-1 on this service in such a short timeframe would be technically unworkable and cost-prohibitive”, a Telus spokesperson told Cartt.ca via email.  “As a result, we won’t be able to continue the beta trial of Telus Extend, and customers will no longer have the option of making calls via WiFi on their wireless devices.” Telus Extend is a downloadable mobile application available to select Telus mobility customers that allows them to… Continue Reading

Cable / Telecom News

Telus Extend’s non-compliance poses public safety risk, says CRTC

OTTAWA – The CRTC has ordered Telus to add 9-1-1 emergency service to its nomadic local VoIP service Telus Extend by the end of the year. Telus Extend is a downloadable mobile application available to Telus mobility customers that allows them to use their Telus Mobility telephone number to make/receive calls or text messages over Wi-Fi.  The service, launched in 2014, is available by invitation only to select customers with Android and iOS devices. In a letter to the company’s telecom policy and chief regulatory legal counsel Stephen Schmidt, the Commission directed Telus to bring itself into compliance with the nomadic local VoIP… Continue Reading

Cable / Telecom News, Radio / Television News

Hollywood Suite kicks off five week free preview

TORONTO – Hollywood Suite is marking its 5th birthday with a five-week national free preview promising more than 500 movies. Just in time for the holidays, viewers can enjoy the gift of the best movies from the 70s, 80s, 90s, and 2000s, uncut and commercial-free, on four HDTV channels and On Demand.  December titles include the director’s cut of Bad Santa, plus films like 12 Years a Slave, Titanic, The Expendables, The Interview, Raising Arizona, 48 Hours, Beverly Hills Cop, Edward Scissorhands, Sleepy Hollow, Fatal Attraction, American Beauty, Jerry Maguire, and Moneyball. The freeview is available now through January 5, 2107… Continue Reading

Radio / Television News

Licence Renewals: Why broadcasters Cancon spend plans are inadequate and negotiating tactics, questionable

GATINEAU – The large broadcasters’ current Canadian Programming Expenditure (CPE) and Programs of National Interest (PNI) proposals are wholly inadequate, according to the creatives representing actors, performers, writers and directors. The Alliance of Canadian Cinema, Television and Radio Artists (ACTRA) said in its appearance before the CRTC’s large English-language broadcasters’ licence renewal hearing on Wednesday the impact of the proposals would be “devastating” on Canadian programming and the Canadian broadcasting system because they would result in a reduction of nearly $100 million in spending over the next licence term. “In our view, this would be regressive, contrary to the Commission’s objective… Continue Reading

Radio / Television News

TV License Renewal: Opposition to Rogers OMNI proposal mostly about procedure

GATINEAU – The Public Interest Advocacy Centre (PIAC) questioned the appropriateness of the proposed OMNI Regional service in its appearance on Tuesday. Fairchild Television Ltd. noted that it believes a licence renewal hearing isn’t the appropriate forum to consider a new OMNI.  PIAC said the new OMNI doesn’t meets the high bar required for 9(1)(h) carriage. The association said Rogers’ failed to offer a long-term vision for the station indicating how it “would make an exceptional contribution to Canadian expression. Instead, many of its commitments already reflect existing or past conditions of licence and programming.” That Rogers is attempting to get… Continue Reading

Cable / Telecom News

Shane Sabatino returns to Telus as Sourcing Solutions president

EDMONTON – Telus has named Shane Sabatino as president of Telus Sourcing Solutions (TSSI), which supplies human resources, payroll, wellness and employee contact centre technology solutions to the organization’s business customers. With nearly 25 years’ experience in human resources, including 10 years in leadership roles within Telus, Sabatino (pictured) rejoins the organization after most recently serving as SVP of human resources with The Brick. Based in Edmonton, he will grow the human resources solutions business, which supports large organizations across Canada, while also supporting Telus Health’s key projects across Alberta.  He will also join Telus’ Edmonton Community Board in early 2017. “Shane is… Continue Reading

Cable / Telecom News

Telus, TWU ratifies new collective agreement

VANCOUVER – The Telecommunications Workers Union, United Steelworkers Local 1944 (TWU) membership has accepted a new collective agreement negotiated between it and Telus. More than 68% of Telus employees who cast their ballots at ratification meetings across Canada voted to accept the new contract.  The new agreement, covering approximately 10,500 Telus employees nationally, will take effect on November 27, 2016 and expire on December 31, 2021.  "Our team is pleased by this positive outcome, which represents the best interests of Telus, our team members and our customers," said Telus president and CEO Darren Entwistle, in the news release.  "The ratification of… Continue Reading

Cable / Telecom News

Third year of falling telecom complaints seen as “trend”: CCTS report

OTTAWA – The Wireless Code plus customer service improvements by the country’s wireless and Internet providers helped to cut telecom service complaints for a third straight year, the Commissioner for Complaints for Telecommunications Services (CCTS) said Thursday in its annual report. The report, Guidance In A Sea Of Change, showed that the CCTS received 8,197 customer complaints in 2015-16, down 18% from 9,988 in 2014-15, and that it increased its resolution rate two points to 89%.  Wireless services complaints once again topped the list with 50.3% of all complaints, followed by 26.5% for Internet, 19.6% for local telephone service and 3.6%… Continue Reading

Cable / Telecom News

Telus offers low-cost Internet service to Alberta families in need

EDMONTON – Telus has confirmed plans to launch a new pilot program in Alberta offering Internet service for $9.95 a month to single parent families receiving financial support through the Alberta Works Income Support and Assured Income for the Severely Handicapped programs. Starting early next year, approximately 15,000 single-parent families currently receiving assistance through these programs will receive a coupon code in the mail allowing them to activate Telus’ offer.  Participants will have access to up to 25 Mbps download speeds and 350GB of data per month.  They will also have access to Telus Wise, an innovative program dedicated to… Continue Reading