Long awaited decision comes years after allies made the same call
OTTAWA – Minister of Innovation, Science and Industry François-Philippe Champagne (above) today announced the federal government is banning the use of Huawei and ZTE products and services in the country’s telecommunications systems.
“This follows a thorough review by our independent security agencies and in consultation with our closest allies,” Champagne said, in a press release. “Our government will always protect the safety and security of Canadians and will take any actions necessary to safeguard our critical telecommunications infrastructure.”
A policy statement from Innovation, Science and Economic Development Canada (ISED)…
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OTTAWA – Canada needs a stable regulatory environment to support investment in digital networks, argued Robert Ghiz (above), president and CEO of the Canadian Wireless Telecommunications Association (CWTA), during his keynote speech at the International Institute of Communications Canada’s annual conference yesterday.
Ghiz pointed out how during the pandemic, when suddenly people became more reliant on the Internet and mobile communications, there was concern about “whether our digital networks would buckle under the strain.” This did not happen – “Canada’s digital networks rose to the occasion,” he said.
Ghiz attributed this to Canadian network operators having “invested heavily and consistently” in…
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CEO says they are looking with “increasing favour” on expanding their wireless business
MONTREAL – Quebecor today reported its first quarter 2022 financial results, showing revenues fell by 0.3% to $1.1 billion, compared to the first quarter of 2021.
Adjusted EBITDA was also down, with the company reporting it decreased by 2.3% to $442.1 million.
Quebecor’s telecommunications segment reported revenues declined to $903.4 million in Q1 2022, compared to $914 million in Q1 2021 and adjusted EBITDA for the segment was reported to be $460 million in Q1 2022, compared to $450.9 million in the same quarter last year.
Videotron reported an 8.7%…
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CRTC called out for “vague”, “unenforceable” safeguards
OTTAWA – Telus, Bell, Independent Broadcast Group (IBG), and the Canadian Communication Systems Alliance Inc. (CCSA) have each filed separate comments in support of the National Pensioners Federation and Public Interest Advocacy Centre’s (NPF-PIAC) petition to the Governor-In-Council, asking for the CRTC’s recent decision to approve Rogers Communications’ acquisition of Shaw Communications’ broadcasting assets to be set aside or referred back to the Commission.
(Cartt.ca obtained copies of the submissions from PIAC and Bell.)
Whittled down to its core, the argument put forth in NPF-PIAC’s petition and the submissions made in support of…
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OTTAWA — CBC/Radio-Canada’s Media Technology Monitor (MTM) today released a new report that shows the number of Canadians, both English and French-speaking, who subscribe to paid TV services is still relatively high.
“Although paid TV subscriptions have been in decline for over a decade, they still remain fairly high with 69% of anglophone households having a paid TV service,” reads a press release highlighting MTM’s findings for the English Canadian paid TV market.
For French-speaking Canada, the percentage of households that subscribe to paid TV services is approximately 75% (three out of four), according to MTM’s research on the French market.
In…
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TORONTO — Mediapro Canada announced today its dedicated soccer streaming service OneSoccer will air exclusive live coverage of the 2022 Canadian Championship, the country’s highest domestic club competition, starting with the preliminary round matches being played tonight and tomorrow.
Round one matches feature HFX Wanderers, Atlético Ottawa, York United, Cavalry FC, FC Edmonton, Forge FC and Valour FC from the Canadian Premier League (CPL), Vancouver Whitecaps from Major League Soccer (MLS), and semi-professional teams Guelph United FC and CS Mont-Royal Outremont.
Organized by Canada Soccer, the Canadian Championship currently involves 13 clubs from across Canada — the eight CPL teams, the…
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AHMAD HATHOUT’S ARTICLE in the 27 April 2022 edition of Cartt.ca reports on the Commission’s proceeding looking into the possibility of subsidizing 9-1-1 services in Canada, more specifically the latest evolution of 9-1-1: NG9-1-1 service.
In 2017, five years ago, the Commission determined that Canada should migrate from E9-1-1 to NG9-1-1. In its landmark decision on the matter Telecom Regulatory Policy 2017-182, the Commission designated all Incumbent Local Exchange Carriers – small and large ILECs alike – as NG9-1-1 network providers. These companies are under no less than a condition of service, imposed via section 24 of the…
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By Peter Menzies
THIRTY-SIX YEARS AGO last week, the Calgary Flames scored one of their most famous triumphs – a 3-2 Game 7 playoff victory over the defending Stanley Cup champion Edmonton Oilers.
Back then I was sports editor of the Calgary Sun and that playoff run to the finals (Calgary lost to Montreal in 5) dominated my days. But by night I was secretly just as excited that by June I’d be in Mexico covering Canada’s debut at World Cup ’86.
In Canada, being a proper football fan has been a pretty lonely, often mocked, existence. Sports departments considered soccer merely…
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By Ahmad Hathout
LARGE TELCOS ARE recommending the CRTC avoid subsidizing next-generation 9-1-1 (NG9-1-1) networks through a large fund subsidized by the carriers and dedicated to basic telecommunications services, with one large telco fearing such a move would increase the cost of operation with less oversight.
The Commission is currently putting in place the funding mechanism to allow for the installation and upkeep of networks that will drive NG9-1-1 service, which will allow distressed callers to submit texts, photos and videos to first responders. The Commission expects the cost of funding the networks will be $55 million annually over five years.
But in a proceeding…
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By Denis Carmel
GATINEAU – Following three complaints made by Teksavvy, a competitive telecommunications provider, the Information Commissioner ruled the CRTC did not respect the timelines of the service provider’s requests for information as required by the Access to Information Act.
The rulings – one of which was issued in March and two in April 2022 – were posted on Teksavvy’s blog.
“The time extension was claimed within the initial thirty-day deadline, however, while CRTC successfully demonstrated that an extension under 9(1)(c) could be justified, CRTC failed to respond to the request not only by the statutory due date, but…
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