Calls for fair, transparent process to sale
By Amanda OYE
TORONTO – Canadians are stressed – even more than usual – about their cell phone bills, a new survey conducted by Pollara Strategic Insights says.
A little over half of Canadians reported “being more stressed than usual about their cell phone bill because of inflation,” a press release announcing the survey results yesterday explains. “When asked about the biggest issues that they have with the telecommunications market, Canadians continued to cite high prices compared to other countries (87%) and the lack of competition in the market (73%).”
This survey was commissioned…
Continue Reading
Experience still varies by carrier
LONDON, U.K. – U.K.-based mobile analytics company Opensignal released a new report today, which shows “users at NHL venues in both Canada and the U.S. had a significantly better experience when connected to 5G compared to the overall experience of all users at those arenas.”
The report, authored by Francesco Rizzato, provides analysis of data collected from Opensignal users at and around the 32 NHL arenas (seven in Canada, 25 in the U.S.) from Oct. 1, 2021, to March 29, 2022.
Among the findings highlighted in the report is that experience varied depending on the carrier.
At the…
Continue Reading
TORONTO – A proposal for the sale of Freedom Mobile has been presented to the federal government in an effort to ensure Rogers Communications’ acquisition of Shaw Communications is approved.
The Globe and Mail is reporting two unnamed sources confirmed the proposal presented was put forward by rural Internet provider Xplornet Communications.
Multiple proposals for Freedom’s sale have been put to Rogers since Minister of Innovation, Science and Industry François-Philippe Champagne released a statement at the beginning of last month saying he would not permit Rogers to acquire all of Shaw’s wireless assets.
Rogers needs approval from ISED, the…
Continue Reading
Updated with comment from petitioner, dotmobile.
OTTAWA — The federal cabinet has denied a petition today to overturn a decision by the CRTC that only allowed a limited group of wireless service providers to force negotiations to use national telecom facilities, saying it believes the decision will provide consumers with greater choice and bring down prices.
Mobile virtual network operator Data on Tap (dotmobile) filed the petition in May 2021 to reverse the part of the CRTC’s decision that excludes full MVNOs like itself from participating in those mandatory negotiations. The decision by the regulator…
Continue Reading
Canada’s women’s national team will play Nigeria’s Super Falcons
TORONTO – Mediapro Canada announced today OneSoccer, its dedicated soccer channel, will air live coverage of Canada Soccer’s women’s national team playing a series of two friendly matches against Nigeria’s Super Falcons.
The first match will take place at BC Place in Vancouver, tonight at 7:30 p.m., and the second will take place at Starlight Stadium in Victoria on Monday April 11 at 7:30 p.m.
The series is part of the celebration tour launched by Canada Soccer in 2021 to commemorate the Canadian women’s victory at the 2020 Olympic Games and represents “the…
Continue Reading
WIND MOBILE FOUNDER Anthony Lacavera (above) wants Canadians (and the federal government) to know he knows they deserve better.
In an open letter posted to his website, Lacavera argues Canada now has the “opportunity to permanently solve our decades-old mobile competition problem.”
That opportunity, of course, is centred around the sale of Freedom Mobile.
Early last month, Minister of Innovation, Science and Industry François-Philippe Champagne issued a statement saying he would not allow Rogers Communications to acquire all of Shaw Communications’ wireless licences.
Rogers’ acquisition of Shaw requires approval from ISED, the Competition Bureau and the CRTC. (The CRTC is the…
Continue Reading
OTTAWA – The CRTC yesterday initiated a show cause proceeding and call for comments on the use of the term “manufacturer’s suggested retail price” (MSRP) in the Wireless Code.
The CRTC is examining the term after Quebecor submitted a letter to the Commission last March, which claimed it had observed Bell, Rogers (RCCI) and Telus “appear to be inflating the retail price of their mobile devices,” the CRTC’s notice of consultation says.
The retail price of mobile devices is relevant to the fees consumers are on the hook for if they terminate their wireless contracts early.
Termination costs are limited “to the…
Continue Reading
OTTAWA – Canadian consumer complaints made to the Commission for Complaints for Telecom-television Services (CCTS) are down 26%, according to CCTS’s mid-year report, which covers the timeframe between Aug. 1, 2021, and Jan. 31, 2022.
During this period there were 6,682 complaints accepted and 6,655 complaints concluded, according to the report. Of the complaints concluded, 797 were closed, 5,857 were resolved and 1 recommendation was accepted.
“We continue to observe problems with service providers failing to disclose important information to their customers when signing up for a new phone, internet or TV service,” said CCTS Commissioner and CEO, Howard Maker, in…
Continue Reading
OTTAWA – The Government of Canada announced today is supporting affordable high-speed Internet in Canada through a second phase of the Connecting Families initiative.
“In partnership with 14 participating ISPs across the country that are voluntarily contributing to the initiative by offering $20 a month high-speed Internet services, the Government of Canada will help connect hundreds of thousands of low-income families and seniors to affordable high-speed Internet,” a press release explains.
The second phase of Connecting Families, which was originally announced last August, is introducing faster speeds, in line with the government’s connectivity strategy, which aims to ensure all Canadians…
Continue Reading
SEVERAL CANADIAN TELECOMS have decided to continue waiving fees for Canadians connecting to loved ones in Ukraine.
As Cartt.ca reported last month, many Canadian telecoms chose to waive fees for calls and texts from Canada to Ukraine, with several stating they intended to do so until the end of this month. Most, however, have now extended this deadline.
SaskTel announced last Friday it will continue to waive long-distance charges for wireless, landline and business calls from Canada to Ukraine, international text messages from Canada to Ukraine and roaming charges for calls, texts and data overages for customers currently in…
Continue Reading
