OTTAWA – Lower wireless infrastructure investments could be the result of Industry Canada’s proposals to adopt indefinite roaming and eliminating the difference between in-territory and out-of-territory roaming, warn some mobile carriers.
The cautionary notes come from Bell Canada, SaskTel and Telus Corp. in comments to the department’s consultation on changes to mandated roaming and tower site sharing. They urge Industry Canada to think hard before making these changes because they could have the unintended consequence of decreasing overall wireless network investment in both urban and rural areas across the country.
SaskTel is particularly concerned that if the…
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I DARE ANYONE TO disagree with this statement: “A child without access to the Internet will find life increasingly difficult in the information age.”
National Cable and Telecommunications Association president and CEO Michael Powell said it Monday morning during his keynote speech to delegates in the standing-room-only opening general session at the 2012 Cable Show here in Boston. He was singing the praises of the U.S. industry’s Connect to Compete initiative where all of the major American cable companies have teamed up with the Federal Communications Commission and a large number of other corporations to push…
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OTTAWA – The CRTC renewed a number of national and regional video-on-demand licences Thursday.
Bell ExpressVu, Cogeco Cable, Rogers Communications, Telus Communications, and Videon Cablesystems had their licences extended through August 31, 2016, while MTS and SaskTel had theirs renewed through August 31, 2015.
Videotron received a short term renewal to August 31, 2014. In addition, it must provide the Commission with proof that it is in compliance with its requirements relating to its English-language feature film inventory by July 16, 2012, and file quarterly compliance reports going forward.
SaskTel and MTS were directed to inform the Commission that they are…
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TORONTO – Following in the steps of Telus and Shaw, Rogers opened the doors on its new retail store concept Thursday in Toronto, a concept that it says puts the emphasis on service and community.
Customers will now receive more tailored one-on-one service, more of the latest technology and products, and more ways to stay connected and entertained than ever before, in a friendly and interactive retail environment, according to the press release.
"This store opening is part of a larger retail transformation to enhance how we service and sell to our customers”, said retail VP Sian Doyle, in the release. …
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TORONTO – Telus’ Koodo Mobile and SaskTel ranked highest in customer satisfaction with wireless providers in their respective regions for a second year in a row, according to the J.D. Power and Associates 2012 Canadian Wireless Customer Satisfaction Study.
The study, based on responses from 14,000 mobile phone users between October 2011 and March 2012, examines the perceptions of wireless customers with their service, mobile phone (for both traditional mobile phones and smart phone devices) and retail experience. Satisfaction is measured across network quality, cost of service, account management, offerings and promotions, customer service, handset, and sales process. Carriers are…
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VANCOUVER – Telus withdrew its share conversion proposal just hours before the plan was to be put to a vote at its annual general meeting of shareholders on Wednesday morning.
The company said in a statement that it decided against the move in large part because of a campaign led by the U.S.-based hedge fund Mason Capital Management which it accused of using empty voting trading tactics designed to defeat the plan. Empty voting is buying shares to vote them while simultaneously short selling shares in the same company, a practice that Telus called “troubling” noting that it gives a fund more…
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EDMONTON – Telus has announced plans to spend $2 billion in Alberta over the next three years to further expand its wireless and wireline broadband networks.
In addition to hiring 750 people across the province this year, the investment will also help to extend its 4G LTE wireless network to seven new communities, connect 18 remote and geographically challenging communities to its broadband Internet, and further extend its Optik TV service to reach almost 70% of Alberta households by the end of this year.
"We will continue to expand wireline broadband access to rural and remote communities and deliver 4G LTE, the…
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OTTAWA – Canada’s biggest telecom companies have joined forces in calling for a national set of standards to regulate wireless contracts.
In a shared position statement submitted to the CRTC on Thursday, the regulatory heads of Bell, Rogers, Telus as well as the Public Interest Advocacy Center (PIAC), on behalf of the Consumers’ Association of Canada and Canada without Poverty, said that there is “a clear need” for the Commission to “lead an initiative involving all stakeholders with the ultimate objective of bringing cohesion and uniformity to this area for the benefit of consumers and the industry alike”.
Noting that five…
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OTTAWA – The use of a package-based auction bidding format could benefit all participants, says the head of Wind Mobile, but he still has questions about whether Bell Canada and Telus Corp. will be allowed to bid separately under Industry Canada's proposed new 700 MHz wireless spectrum auction rules announced last week.
In an interview with Cartt.ca on Friday, Anthony Lacavera, chairman and CEO of Wind Mobile, notes based on the definition of associated entities contained in the consultation, it’s still not clear whether Bell and Telus will be considered one bidder or two. “This is…
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VANCOUVER – Telus is giving TV viewers more to ‘Tweet’ about with a free Twitter app on its Optik TV service.
The app wraps around part of the perimeter of the television screen, allowing users to Tweet while simultaneously watching TV programming and even follow what others are saying about their favourite show through 'TV Tweets'. Offered free as part of the Optik TV subscription, the Twitter app uses the standard Optik remote control.
“We are committed to enabling a truly connected home, offering new ways for our Optik TV customers to stay connected with their friends while still enjoying television," said chief marketing officer David Fuller, in the…
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