OTTAWA – Wireless services once again topped the list of complaints made to Canada's Commissioner for Complaints for Telecommunications Services (CCTS) for the fifth straight year, according to its 2012-2013 Annual Report ‘When You Need Help’ released Wednesday.
The CCTS handled 14,036 customer complaints in 2012-2013, well up from 10,678 in the previous year, which is not surprising as more and more Canadians ditch feature phones for rich smartphones. Wireless services complaints comprised 60.4% of all complaints, followed by 19.5% for Internet access, 16.4% for local telephone service and 3.7% for long distance.
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BELLEVUE, WA – Canada’s ‘Big Three’ wireless providers all offer strong performance, fast data speeds, and outstanding coverage in the country’s three biggest markets, according to tests done by an independent mobile analytics firm.
U.S.-based RootMetrics released its first set of reports on Canada's mobile experience on Tuesday, which share results from testing done last August in Vancouver, Montreal and Toronto on the performance of Bell, Rogers and Telus.
According to 47,495 data, call and text tests designed to replicate real-world consumer behavior, Bell, Rogers and Telus showed strong and similar performances in each market.
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GATINEAU – Corus Entertainment was on the hot seat today, defending its proposed $400 million purchase of specialty services Teletoon, Historia and Series+ in front of the CRTC. The company is buying the assets from Bell Media as part of the latter’s requirement to divest assets resulting from its purchase of Astral.
“We are here today to convince you that we are not only the best possible home for these assets but that our acquisition of these services is in the public interest. Allowing Corus to continue to grow will translate into more spending on Canadian programming and healthy competition…
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TORONTO – Al Jazeera English launched on SaskTel this week, making it available to over 97,000 SaskTel maxTV subscribers through channel 58.
The international news channel, which launched in Canada in 2010, is now available through Telus, Bell TV, Rogers, Cogeco, Shaw Cable, Videotron, MTS Allstream and CCSA member cable systems. Al Jazeera already reaches more than 250 million homes in over 130 countries around the world.
“Subscribers to SaskTel maxTV service now have access to Al Jazeera English’s comprehensive offering of news, documentaries and programmes from over seventy bureaus worldwide,” said Kimeran Daley, head…
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OTTAWA – The CRTC cleared up confusion around how the new Wireless Code applies to wireless services with tab billing models (tab contracts) in response to queries from Rogers and Telus.
Under a tab contract, the customer obtains a device at a reduced upfront cost and the amount of the device subsidy goes onto the customer’s “tab.” Thereafter, a percentage of the customer’s monthly bill is used to “pay down” their tab.
In its response, the Commission also provided clarification on how the maximum early cancellation fee may be calculated for tab contracts, and what…
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OTTAWA – The federal government has quashed another try by Mobilicity to sell itself to Telus.
According to a Globe and Mail report on Wednesday, Industry Canada confirmed late Tuesday that it provided a confidential answer to Mobilicity about a potential transaction that the small carrier was trying to complete while under court protection from its creditors. Although IC declined to comment on the substance of its response, the story says that sources confirmed that government officials turned down the proposed sale.
Telecom analyst Dvai Ghose, Managing Director/Head of Research for Canaccord Genuity,…
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TORONTO – Telus may still have an opportunity to buy Mobilicity after an Ontario court awarded the struggling wireless carrier more time to restructure its business and complete a potential sale.
According to a Globe and Mail report on Friday, the Ontario Superior Court of Justice has extended the “stay period” during which the small carrier is shielded from any new or existing legal actions from October 30 until December 20, 2013.
Mobilicity had asked for additional time to secure the federal government’s approval for a proposed sale, though declined to identify its potential buyer. …
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VANCOUVER – Telus announced Wednesday evening it will buy Public Mobile.
“Following our review of strategic options for our organization, Telus stood out as the company most committed to strong customer service and innovation. We are confident this is the right decision for our customers, our company, our employees and our investors,” said Alek Krstajic, Public Mobile CEO, in a joint press release. “This transaction is the best option to guarantee continued quality service for our customers and to maximize the opportunity for our employees and investors.”
Pending approval from the Competition Bureau following today’s approval by Industry…
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CALGARY – Alberta Flood Aid’s concert held last August at McMahon Stadium in Calgary raised nearly $2.2 million for flood recovery after the devastating southern Alberta floods of June 2013.
Hosted by Brent Butt, the evening featured Canadian artists including Nickelback, Jann Arden, Randy Bachman, Tom Cochrane, Matthew Good, Colin James, Loverboy, Corb Lund, Johnny Reid, The Sadies, The Sheepdogs and Ian Tyson who donated their time and services to contribute to the effort. Telus funded the live, online broadcast of the concert for viewers across Canada free of charge.
"We couldn't have hoped for a more perfect evening or a…
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TORONTO – Don’t miss Telecom 2013, the annual telecom showcase and forum for telecom, IT, and contact centre managers.
Scheduled for October 29 – 30 at the Old Mill Toronto, the event offers a unique chance to meet and exchange with key industry suppliers and independent experts. The event is organized by Neotelis and industry partners include Bell, Avaya, HP, Microsoft, Cisco, Genesys, Rogers, Telus, and many others.
For registration and more information, click here
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