GATINEAU – The question of whether incumbent carriers should continue leading 911 development or if a new CRTC-run entity should drive it, was in the spotlight on the first day of the CRTC’s hearing on the subject.
Some groups argued a national entity with oversight from the Commission would be more effective at rolling out the next iteration of emergency telecommunication services nationally. Telus suggested, on the other hand during its appearance in front of commissioners, this would only create headaches.
The NG911 Coalition of the Willing kicked off the hearing, noting that a national entity is ideally suited to…
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QUISPAMSIS, NB – Canadian Cable Systems Alliance has named industry veteran Jay Thomson as its new CEO, effective February 1, 2017.
Thomson (pictured) is currently broadcasting policy & regulatory affairs VP for the Canadian Media Producers Association (CMPA). He was also previously president of the Canadian Association of Internet Providers (CAIP), plus held senior regulatory and policy positions with the Canadian Association of Broadcasters (CAB), Telus Communications and the now defunct Canadian Cable Television Association (CCTA).
After beginning his career in the communications industry as a lawyer and policy analyst at the CRTC, Thomson has gained deep expertise in strategic policy…
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VICTORIA, BC and WOODSTOCK, NB – Xplornet Communications has acquired YourLink’s Internet services operations in Saskatchewan from Vecima Networks in an all-cash deal valued at $28.75 million.
YourLink, which provides high-speed wireless Internet to rural and remote communities, will continue to operate and deliver services in Saskatchewan while integrating operations into Xplornet’s regional and national delivery teams, reads Monday’s news release.
Rural-focused Internet service provider Xplornet said that the deal accelerates its ongoing expansion in that province.
"This acquisition will increase our fixed wireless broadband footprint in Saskatchewan and support Xplornet's mission to make affordable, fast and reliable broadband Internet services available to…
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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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