MONTREAL – By fixating on promoting the emergence of a fourth wireless carrier in each of Canada's regional markets, the federal government has lost sight of the ultimate goal of promoting the development of a dynamic, efficient telecommunications industry, says a new research paper released Tuesday by the Montreal Economic Institute (MEI).
The paper, The State of Competition in Canada's Telecommunications Industry – 2014, says that the current government has committed itself to relying on market forces as much as possible to achieve its telecom policy objectives. But this orientation has been contradicted by set-asides, spectrum caps, mandatory network…
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OTTAWA – “Combined, the new entrants spent about $3 billion to acquire spectrum, build networks and go after subscribers,” said John Bitove, the chairman of foundering wireless company Mobilicity – as well as the yet-to-launch Feenix Wireless, which purchased spectrum in this year’s 700 MHz spectrum auction.
He was speaking to delegates at the Law Society of Upper Canada’s Biennial National Conference on New Developments in Communications Law and Policy held in Ottawa last week in a session on the success, or failure, of Canadian wireless policy. Panellists, which also included economist Steven Globerman, Rogers’ Ken Engelhart, and lawyer George…
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TORONTO and GATINEAU – Ethnic Channels Group Ltd. has lobbed pretty serious accusations at VMedia Inc., alleging the company is using the public Internet to deliver TV services and that it’s distributing unauthorized foreign services to its subscribers. VMedia says ECGL has all it all wrong.
Now though, the CRTC has decided to hear more fully from both parties. In a letter posted on its website on May 5, the Commission has removed VMedia’s applications for additional BDU services in several Atlantic Canadian markets as well some in Quebec, Alberta and Saskatchewan, as well as a national video on…
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TORONTO – Can court-ordered mediation help pave the way to a deal between and Telus and Mobilicity?
The struggling wireless carrier said late Friday that Industry Canada has agreed to participate in talks “to mediate any outstanding issues relating to the successful completion” of issues related to Mobilicity's CCAA proceedings, which include Telus’ latest $350 million purchase offer.
“If needed, Mobilicity expects that mediation would proceed over the next few weeks”, reads the statement. Those meetings would be mediated by Warren Winkler, a former chief justice of Ontario who was also involved with Nortel Networks and the CanWest/Shaw Cable restructuring.
In addition…
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VANCOUVER – Telus is equipping taxis in Toronto, Montreal, Calgary and Vancouver with device charging stations to keep Canadians connected while they're on-the-go.
In partnership with Play Taxi Media, the first-ever fleet of taxis in Canada featuring cell phone and tablet chargers will roll out over the coming months in 1,000 vehicles, allowing riders to power up their devices free of charge.
The cabs will be equipped with a power docking station located on the backside of the passenger seat headrest and will work with any phone or tablet, plus be equipped with a note on the window to remind customers…
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TORONTO – Telus really wants to buy Mobilicity and has made another bid for the company, despite the knowledge the federal government really doesn’t want to see this deal happen.
Late Thursday, Data & Audio-Visual Enterprises Holdings and its affiliates (collectively, Mobilicity) announced Telus would acquire it for $350 million. The proposed transaction will move forward under the Companies' Creditors Arrangement Act rules. Mobilicity has been under creditor protection since September.
"The transaction is a good outcome from Mobilicity's restructuring efforts and extensive sales process," said William Aziz, Mobilicity's chief restructuring officer, in the press release. "I am confident the transaction…
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MONTREAL – Telus may appeal a Quebec court decision ordering it to reimburse customers more than $2.6 million for text messaging fees that it collected between 2008 and 2011.
According to a Canadian Press report, the Quebec Superior Court ruled in favour of a class-action suit against Telus that alleges that the Vancouver-based carrier unilaterally changed the terms of contracts for 177,425 customers in Quebec and began to charge 15 cents per incoming text message. If the ruling stands, each customer would be reimbursed about $15.
The company says it notified customers of the price change “well in advance” and offered…
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REGINA – Despite increased competition in the province, SaskTel ended 2013 with net income of $90.1 million and operating revenues of $1.2 billion, up $22.7 million from 2012.
But according to president and CEO Ron Styles, that amount could drop to $59.2 million next year due to unintended consequences of new federal regulations that encourage the presence of four wireless companies in all regions of the country. Styles is scheduled to meet with federal government officials this week to express concern over prices in provinces with four carriers, such as Saskatchewan, which he says are much lower than in provinces where…
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OTTAWA – Various parties continued to question the level to which Rogers Media will use its recently acquired NHL hockey content as a component of its Canadian programming expenditures (CPE) commitments at the company’s licence renewal hearing before the CRTC while Rogers said they need not worry.
The Canadian Media Production Association (CMPA), in its opening remarks on Wednesday fretted that Canadian content will suffer because Rogers will use the NHL to account for its CPE commitments, particularly if the Commission approves Rogers request to be treated under the group licensing framework (GLF).
“We have to wonder if hockey fans will…
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TORONTO – Reducing churn through much-improved customer service should be the top priority for newly minted Rogers Communications CEO Guy Laurence, according to a recent analysts report circulated on Bay Street.
“We believe improving customer service is an important strategic priority at Rogers, perhaps the most important priority,” wrote BMO Capital Markets telecom and media analyst Tim Casey. “Among the national wireless incumbents, Rogers’ operating metrics have been underwhelming. Specifically, it has the highest churn rates and a declining ARPU profile. Combined, they translate to deteriorating customer lifetime revenues and value at Rogers. We expect new CEO Guy Laurence will…
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