Calling it a “major milestone,” Bell announced Wednesday the completion of construction of its first sovereign direct-to-device satellite ground station, located in Quebec.
Testing has begun at the facility, which connects with AST SpaceMobile’s growing constellation of satellites, Bell said in a press release.
“Once operational, the site will form part of the Canadian infrastructure supporting direct-to-device satellite service, enabling the integration of AST SpaceMobile’s space-based cellular broadband network with Bell’s terrestrial network,” reads Bell’s press release.
Building on Bell and AST SpaceMobile’s successful demonstrations announced last October, Bell recently completed integration testing, including…
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The CRTC is asking the major telecoms to provide updates on their subscriber numbers, both in and out of their operating territories, as well any network upgrades they have made — part of the regulator’s monitoring of market conditions following the final wholesale internet access framework from August 2024.
In a July 10 letter sent to incumbent local exchange carriers (ILECs) Bell, Telus and SaskTel and cable carriers Rogers, Videotron, Cogeco and Eastlink, the CRTC asks for by-province summaries of the carriers’ total retail residential wireline internet subscribers — including standalone, those bundling a…
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By Ahmad Hathout
Telus said in an application to the CRTC that it intends to temporarily lock all of its devices for a 60-day period beginning July 30 to stop what it claims is increasing incidents of theft.
“Given the magnitude of the ongoing public safety crisis and the unrecoverable financial harm being sustained daily, TELUS advises the Commission that it intends to implement a temporary 60-day device lock on all new device activations on July 30, 2026,” the Vancouver-based telecom said in a Part 1 application, made public Wednesday.
The temporary move is intended to last as long as the CRTC…
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Telus, Scotiabank, Sun Life and AI technology firm Lightworks on Tuesday announced the launch of the AI Consortium, bringing together some of Canada’s largest regulated organizations to build shared capabilities to develop, govern and scale AI safely and responsibly.
Open to qualifying organizations, the consortium “enables members to pool hands-on engineering, conduct deep research and align interests to jointly build and govern mission-critical AI control systems and intellectual property they would otherwise develop independently, with resulting IP deployed individually and available to members through perpetual-use and ownership rights,” reads a Tuesday press release.
The…
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The CRTC on Tuesday launched a proceeding requiring Bell, Telus and Rogers to show cause why fees they have introduced recently are not in violation of the telecom regulator’s prohibition on activation and modification fees, which came into effect on June 12.
The proceeding, open to comments from the public, is being launched following CRTC warnings to Bell over its new $40 device handling fee, to Telus over its $15 SIM purchase fee, and to Rogers over its $40 device setup fee — charges…
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By Connie Thiessen
As excitement around the FIFA World Cup continues to grip audiences, Stingray is attempting to unite global soccer fans with the launch of a new pop-up music channel dedicated to the world’s biggest sport.
Running through July 31, with launch dates varying by platform, Stingray Soccer Anthems features “the world’s most iconic stadium songs, global hits, and fan-fueled chants that define the spirit of the game.”
Tailored to local audiences, outside Canada and the U.S., the channel will be branded as Stingray Himnos del Fútbol in Mexico and Spain, and Stingray Hinos de futebol in Brazil.
Musical selections will span…
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A week after questioning Rogers about its new device setup fee and other charges to customers, the CRTC has sent the wireless giant a new letter asking about its intention to add a $5 monthly charge to its customers’ bills starting next month.
“I have been informed today that Rogers Communications Canada Inc. (Rogers) informed its mobile wireless customers through a note on their billing statement that it intends to add a $5 monthly charge to their mobile wireless customers’ bills as of 15 July 2026, calling it…
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The Telus Friendly Future Foundation announced Monday its third annual Together for Tomorrow Gala on June 18 in Toronto raised a record-breaking $3 million to support underserved youth across Canada through post-secondary bursaries and community programs.
More than 800 guests gathered for an evening headlined by four-time Grammy winner Lionel Richie, whose exclusive performance “underscored the urgency of supporting youth facing unprecedented mental health challenges, employment barriers and financial hardship,” Telus said in an emailed announcement. The gala brought together hundreds of leaders from Canada’s business, philanthropic, technology and arts communities, Telus said.
The funds…
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By Ahmad Hathout
A paper published in the Canadian Bar Review last spring that called federal jurisdiction over online streamers “suspect” was studied by Canadian Heritage, according to heavily redacted briefing material obtained by Cartt, and the author believes the Online Streaming Act is “inevitably going to be challenged” on that basis.
Michael Ryan, a lawyer specializing in Canadian telecommunications and broadcasting law and regulation, told Cartt in an interview that he was “expecting, frankly, somebody to come forward and challenge this law before now they inevitably will.
“It’ll be an American streaming company or somebody else who feels that they’d…
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Outgoing Telus CEO Darren Entwistle has been appointed to the Order of Quebec in a ceremony on Wednesday.
The appointment recognizes “individuals whose achievements have profoundly shaped Québec’s development and influence,” according to a press release announcing the news.
Entwistle has spent over 25 years at the telco, which has blossomed from a regional telecom to a national and international player with tentacles in businesses as diverse as health and AI.
Entwistle was appointed an officer in the order, meaning his work is recognized as having major repercussions with international scope in one or more fields.
“Throughout…
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