Telus outlined Thursday what it is doing to tackle the harmful effects of climate change.
The telecom said it is deploying generators and solar-powered cell towers to help high-risk communities stay connected and clearing brush to prevent fires from burning vital infrastructure; building out its fibre network because the cable is more energy efficient and resistant to environmental factors; enhancing wildfire safety and response by providing real-time alerts, customizable emergency protocols and satellite-enabled communications for workers in remote areas; and investing in network redundancies, including with portable cell towers that generate their own power and connect via…
Continue Reading
A day after Innovation, Science and Economic Development Canada (ISED) launched a consultation on a proposed new spectrum policy that would open up certain mobile spectrum bands for use by satellite service providers to expand wireless services in unserved areas of Canada, Montreal-based mobile satellite operator Terrestar Solutions is calling on the country’s regulators and industry stakeholders to support and collaborate on its rollout of a national direct-to-mobile satellite service network.
As part of its proposed new policy, ISED is considering issuing supplemental mobile coverage by satellite (SMCS) licences to both Canadian and foreign satellite operators seeking…
Continue Reading
The federal government in partnership with the governments of Alberta and British Columbia last week announced more than $190 million in combined federal and provincial funding for projects to bring high-speed internet access to underserved households in rural and remote communities across Alberta and in the B.C. Interior.
The governments of Canada and Alberta are providing more than $153 million in combined funding for 24 projects to deliver high-speed internet access to more than 14,400 households in 120 rural and remote communities across the province, including over 800 indigenous households, according to a Continue Reading
Corus Entertainment announced Monday the early retirement of its president and CEO, Doug Murphy, effective immediately.
The media company’s board has appointed Corus executives Troy Reeb and John Gossling as co-chief executive officers.
“These appointments are effective immediately and reflect the strength of Corus’ leadership bench and a forward focus on managing through a challenging environment,” reads a Corus press release announcing the changes.
Murphy had been with Corus for 21 years, first joining the company in 2003 as executive vice president of business development and holding successively more senior positions until 2015 when he was promoted to president and CEO.
“During his…
Continue Reading
By Howard Law, author of Canada vs. California, and MediaPolicy.ca
Last week the CRTC released its anticipated “Phase One” ruling on the implementation of the Online Streaming Act, Bill C-11. The headline was the $200 million price tag put on Canadian content contributions assessed by the commission on large foreign online audio and audio-visual streamers operating in Canada.
Following the commission’s decision, many industry players and public policy commentators were quick to declare victory or disaster, something we can expect in a regulatory drama that never quits.
This drama is chronicled in my book, Canada vs California: How…
Continue Reading
By Ahmad Hathout
The Supreme Court of Canada has approved late last month the applications of four organizations to submit interventions in its hearing on whether the CRTC has jurisdiction over wireless access to municipal infrastructure.
The Canadian Telecommunications Association, the attorney general of Quebec, the Business Council of Canada, and the Canadian Chamber of Commerce will have the opportunity to submit arguments in the case that could hold significant consequences for the roll-out of 5G technology – or at least that’s what the large telecoms have argued.
Telus is the telecom that won the appeal to the country’s…
Continue Reading
Quebecor announced Wednesday it has filed a complaint with the Competition Bureau against a partnership agreement between Loblaw Companies Limited and wireless carriers Bell and Rogers, through their joint venture Glentel, that would give them exclusive selling rights at the grocery retailer’s The Mobile Shop locations.
The agreement would shut Quebecor’s Freedom Mobile out of 180 Loblaw-owned grocery stores, the Montreal-based telecom says in a press release.
“The agreement between Loblaw and Glentel cloaks yet another attempt by the dominant players in the telecommunications market to thwart competition,” Pierre Karl Péladeau, president and CEO of Quebecor, said in…
Continue Reading
Telus announced Monday it will invest nearly $33 million in Montreal in 2024 as it deploys and updates its 5G networks and connects businesses to thousands of kilometres of fibre.
As part of its multi-year sponsorship agreement with Major League Soccer’s CF Montréal, Telus will invest $1.2 million to improve wireless connectivity at Stade Saputo, the team’s home stadium, giving fans “dedicated access to the 5G network for fast and reliable communications during games,” a Telus press release said.
“As a CF Montréal partner, it was critical to put cutting-edge wireless network infrastructure in place at Stade Saputo…
Continue Reading
By Ahmad Hathout
If the CRTC raises the revenue threshold for contributions to the regulator’s administration of telecom matters, it will effectively concentrate the burden on fewer providers, which is the opposite of what it has been trying to do with changes to broadcasting fees that an application to raise the threshold is partially relying upon, Bell argues.
The Independent Telecommunications Providers Association filed a Part 1 application in late April calling for the increase in the revenue threshold from $10 million to $25 million to contribute to the CRTC’s administration of the telecom regime, with an annual…
Continue Reading
By Ahmad Hathout
The CRTC on Wednesday ordered Telus to include in its support structure tariff a provision allowing third parties to be compensated directly from the telco in the event the structure is forced to move by a government entity.
The interim ruling comes after Telus was ordered to file a tariff proposal that would outline how it would provide for such compensation to the third parties, an issue that was triggered by a Rogers and Shaw application before the former acquired the latter. The issue was that while Telus was being compensated for the move ordered by British…
Continue Reading
