INDUSTRIES CONSOLIDATE. All industries. That’s the natural growth path. The big get bigger. If you doubt that, check the retail, mining, automotive, heck, any sector. Shareholders decide to divest, or need to divest and sell to the highest bidder. Sometimes they go bust. That’s our global economy.
So at this point, we have to accept the fact that unless we are going to slap some mighty regulations on wireless, all but nationalize the networks and force-feed Canadians many carriers (all of whom would then be undercapitalized weaklings), our market is not going to develop any more telecom companies. It’s too…
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OTTAWA – In tersely worded letters, the CRTC has made it loud and clear it’s losing patience with Telus and three local TV providers for failing to comply with new rules that limit the loudness of TV commercials they broadcast. The companies have all failed to meet new distribution regulations that ensure commercial messages and regular programming are broadcast at an even volume. The amendments came into force September 1, 2012 and the Commission has now set new deadlines for the companies to prove they are in fact moving towards compliance.
The letters, from Andrea Rosen, Chief Compliance…
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IT SEEMS OBVIOUS NOW that the federal government’s attempt at building more competition into the Canadian wireless market has been a failure.
With the benefit of hindsight, looking back at how the Canadian wireless market has evolved since the 2008 advanced wireless spectrum auction, I keep wondering: “what did the federal government think was going to happen?” Back then, in an ill-advised attempt to foster more competition to the burgeoning wireless market in Canada, the federal government offered any Canadian-led wireless newcomer a leg-up in that auction, setting aside spectrum that was just for newbies willing to gamble on becoming…
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OTTAWA – The CRTC has agreed to extend the submission deadline for the hearing into the must-carry of cable and satellite channels as outlined in section 9(1)(h) of the Broadcasting Act after receiving requests for an extension from Shaw, Rogers, Cogeco and the Canadian Cable Systems Alliance (jointly), Telus and the Public Interest Advocacy Centre.
The deadline for the submission of interventions, comments and answers has been extended to February 27, 2013 and the deadline for the submission of replies has been extended to March 11 2013.
In addition, the preamble and the following item…
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VANCOUVER – Following court approval and months of delay, the exchange of Telus' non-voting shares for common shares on a one-for-one basis became effective at 12:01 a.m. PT today.
Telus’ non-voting shares were delisted from the New York Stock Exchange (NYSE) before the market opened and its common shares commenced trading under the symbol "TU" at the start of trading today. The carrier currently anticipates its non-voting shares will be delisted from the Toronto Stock Exchange (TSX) at the close of business on or about February 8, 2013 and the common shares issued today in exchange…
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TORONTO – Telus has added digital forensics capabilities to its security solutions with the acquisition of Digital Wyzdom Inc. The carrier says the acquisition complements its existing security solutions portfolio and will allow it to better serve customers with their forensics and security needs. Financial terms of the agreement were not disclosed.
Telus Security Solutions says it selected Digital Wyzdom based on its people, technology, and a shared vision of putting customers first for their security and forensic needs. Digital Wyzdom provides digital forensics, network security, E-discovery, intellectual property, and fraud advisory services to organizations…
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TORONTO – Seven outstanding women in the communications, broadcasting and information technology sectors are being honoured by Canadian Women in Communications for their contribution to their companies and as role models of leadership with its prestigious Annual Awards.
The presentations will be made at CWC’s 2013 Annual Awards Gala at the Fairmont Chateau Laurier in Ottawa on April 16th. The event, which is known for attracting hundreds of top business and government leaders, will be hosted by Juno-award-winning R&B singer/songwriter Jully Black.
“This year’s award recipients are singular contributors to the industry,” said Judith Campbell,…
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OTTAWA – Telelatino Network (TLN) has lodged a complaint with the CRTC regarding Telus’ Optik TV service urging it to force Telus to add at least one Canadian Italian third-language service.
It contends that since Optik TV now carries Italian foreign service Rai Italia, to comply with section 27(4) of the Broadcasting Distribution Regulations it needs to add at least one Canadian third-language service offering at least 90% Italian language programming. In its complaint TLN notes that Telus does not distribute either Mediaset Canada or Sky Tg24 (Canada) which are the only two…
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WATERLOO, NEW YORK – RIM, newly renamed as BlackBerry, today unveiled their long-awaited BB10 smartphones and demonstrated the completely overhauled user interface with one-finger gesture controls and new business-friendly features at launch events across the world.
BlackBerry will offer two new smartphones running on its BB10 platform, the touch-screen BlackBerry Z10, and the Q10 with a physical keyboard. CEO Thorsten Heins also announced numerous high-profile app partners and was later joined on stage by U.S. musician Alicia Keys, the company’s newly named global creative director.
In Canada the Z10 will be available on February…
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GATINEAU – Wind Mobile has some pretty harsh words for the CRTC’s attempt at creating a wireless code of conduct for mobile service providers. The upstart carrier says the Commission completely missed the boat in not addressing three-year contracts and the de-linking of handset subsidies and service terms.
Simon Lockie, chief regulatory officer at Wind, lauds the CRTC for taking this necessary step to listen to consumers concerns and try to implement a wireless code of conduct, but by not dealing with three-year term contracts or exploring ways to separate handset subsidization from service pricing, the Commission is missing a…
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