GATINEU – The CRTC today declared that broadband access is now considered a basic telecommunications service for all Canadians, that it is setting new speed targets while also creating a new fund that will invest up to $750 million over and above existing government programs.
Further to its legislative mandate, the Commission has set the following targets for the basic telecommunications services that Canadians need to participate in the digital economy:
speeds of 50 megabits per second (Mbps) download/10 Mbps upload for fixed broadband Internet access services. In 2015, 82% of Canadians already had access to speeds of 50 Mbps download/10…
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Carriers shouldn’t be forced to hold customer data
OTTAWA – Communications service providers shouldn’t be forced to hold onto subscriber metadata for police access for lengthy periods of time, Rogers Communications has told the federal government.
The company made that submission last week to Public Safety Canada’s public consultation on creating a new national security framework, which is looking at a number of issues sensitive to police including mandatory rules for data retention and installing interception gear to help investigations, help with unscrambling encrypted communications and giving police more power to access basic subscriber information.
Also meeting the December 15th deadline…
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OTTAWA – The CRTC has given MTS the go ahead to transfer ownership and effective control of its licensed terrestrial broadcasting distribution undertakings operating in Winnipeg and surrounding areas to Bell Canada.
The Commission’s decision is the first of three regulatory approvals required to complete the closing of BCE's proposed $3.9 billion acquisition of MTS. The Competition Bureau, which is still reviewing the deal as part of a merger review, must also give its thumbs up, as does Innovation, Science and Economic Development Canada.
The CRTC stressed that it exclusively reviewed the change in ownership of the licensed BDU, and reiterated…
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TORONTO – The rumour mill in the TV business was spinning overtime on this one lately, but today Rogers Communications made it official – it is killing its long-awaited IPTV solution in favour of Comcast’s X1 platform.
The move means the company will take a pre-tax non-cash asset impairment charge in the range of C$475-$525 million in its fourth quarter.
Friday morning’s press saw Rogers tout a new “long-term strategic partnership” with Comcast to bring Rogers customers Comcast's X1 IP-based video platform. However, it will not launch until 2018.
As we have reported, Rogers was hoping to have its IPTV solution (built…
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TORONTO — Bloomberg TV Canada’s first year of operation has been one of growth and expansion, with distribution and advertising levels increasing monthly, the first of several news bureaus across the country coming online, and an “A-list” of newsmakers having appeared on the channel.
Despite not having carriage on Bell TV nor Bell Fibe, Bloomberg TV Canada executives say it has achieved distribution parity with its main business channel competitor, Bell-owned Business News Network (BNN). “We’re very happy, 12 months in, with the progress that we’ve made and the expansion that we’ve seen,” said Chris Fuoco, vice-president of sales and…
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REGINA – SaskTel on Monday offered its official response to the risk assessment report of BCE’s proposed $3.9 billion acquisition of MTS.
That report, commissioned in May and released June 20, was conducted by independent third party Mark H. Goldberg & Associates Inc. and grouped the risks under the major categories of regulatory, competitive and financial.
SaskTel said in its response that it agreed with the report’s assessment that potential regulatory changes resulting from the deal “represent the most fundamental set of risks”.
“SaskTel has been materially impacted (often negatively but on occasion positively) by regulatory changes and policy…
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VANCOUVER – Wireless upstart TNW Networks last week announced plans to launch a data-only smartphone-over-IP (SoIP) mobile service in Canada, billed as a high quality, low cost alternative to existing mobile services.
The CLEC said Friday that it will utilize Internet Personal Communication System (iPCS), its proprietary, patented, login-based mobile connectivity access technology, that provides Internet connectivity with voice and text services. The mobile service will be operated through its new subsidiary RuralCom Communications, acquired by TNW Networks Corp's parent company Investel Capital Corporation last week. Once that acquisition receives regulatory approved, RuralCom will operate as TNW…
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TORONTO – Amazon Web Services (AWS) has been setting up data centres around the world offering a wide range of compute and analytics services in competition and partnership with local service providers and on Thursday it announced it has come to Canada, opening two data centres here – as promised earlier in the year .
Now it’s looking to partner with telecommunications firms to resell its services.
“If you look around the world there are many telco partners who work with us closely to take our services to market and offer complimentary services to the AWS platform,” AWS Canada director Eric…
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TORONTO – Hollywood Suite is marking its 5th birthday with a five-week national free preview promising more than 500 movies.
Just in time for the holidays, viewers can enjoy the gift of the best movies from the 70s, 80s, 90s, and 2000s, uncut and commercial-free, on four HDTV channels and On Demand. December titles include the director’s cut of Bad Santa, plus films like 12 Years a Slave, Titanic, The Expendables, The Interview, Raising Arizona, 48 Hours, Beverly Hills Cop, Edward Scissorhands, Sleepy Hollow, Fatal Attraction, American Beauty, Jerry Maguire, and Moneyball.
The freeview is available now through January 5, 2107…
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GATINEAU – The large broadcasters’ current Canadian Programming Expenditure (CPE) and Programs of National Interest (PNI) proposals are wholly inadequate, according to the creatives representing actors, performers, writers and directors.
The Alliance of Canadian Cinema, Television and Radio Artists (ACTRA) said in its appearance before the CRTC’s large English-language broadcasters’ licence renewal hearing on Wednesday the impact of the proposals would be “devastating” on Canadian programming and the Canadian broadcasting system because they would result in a reduction of nearly $100 million in spending over the next licence term.
“In our view, this would be regressive, contrary to the Commission’s objective…
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