Search Results for: telus

Cable / Telecom News

Telus keeps close tabs on foreign ownership levels as non-Canadians snap up shares

VANCOUVER – Non-Canadians are purchasing so many common shares of Telus that the company is in danger of violating Canada’s foreign ownership restrictions. The telco issued a notice Thursday reminding non-Canadian investors of its reservation procedures while warning that that its transfer agent may not be able to approve all pending or new applications. Non-Canadians wanting to buy Telus’ common shares must reserve the right to obtain transfers by contacting the company’s transfer agent, Computershare Trust Company of Canada, and obtaining a reservation number after completing a reservation application. Telus said that the catalyst for this announcement is “significant buying interest” by… Continue Reading

Cable / Telecom News

Telus rolls out wireless trade-in program

TORONTO – Telus has become the latest wireless provider to offer its customers a credit towards a new device for trading in their old handset. The trade-in program, which seems certain to boost retention, lets new and existing customers present their device at a Telus store for a credit if the phone is recent enough that it can be refurbished or, if not, the company will make a $3 donation to Tree Canada in their name.  Customers can trade in up to three phones, mobile Internet keys or mobile Wi-Fi devices (with a maximum combined value of up to $200). Credits will then be… Continue Reading

Cable / Telecom News

Telus, Globe & Mail, launch contest aimed at small businesses

TORONTO – Canadian entrepreneurs are being invited to share their business challenges for a chance to win a $100,000 grant as part of a contest launched Monday by Telus and The Globe and Mail. Called 'The Challenge', the contest invites small business owners to describe the following in an 800-word submission: – a challenge their business is currently experiencing (200 words); – a proposed solution to this challenge and how the $100,000 prize would help overcome that challenge (200 words); – an explanation of the results they expect to achieve (200 words); and – a description of how their business incorporates the following values… Continue Reading

Cable / Telecom News

Bell poised to go toe-to-toe with Quebecor following $3.4 billion takeover of Astral

MONTREAL – In its third major content acquisition in a little over 18 months, BCE Inc. (Bell) announced today the purchase of Astral Media Inc. and all its assets for $3.38 billion. If approved, the deal would dramatically boost Bell’s French language TV viewership in Quebec from 6% to 32%, placing it within striking distance of Quebecor, which reaches about 35% of viewers. But at least one market analyst has questioned the value of the deal and believes Bell should have invested the money in its broadband network. "Bell is gaining a well-seasoned national Astral management team, dramatically expanding our… Continue Reading

Cable / Telecom News

Foreign investment, auction rules don’t please everyone

OTTAWA – Reaction was predictably mixed when Industry Canada Minister Christian Paradis released the 700 MHz spectrum auction policy Wednesday, with some saying that it struck the right balance, while others describing the rules as devastating to new entrants. Mobilicity, which had asked for the entire 700 MHz band to be set aside for new entrants, still saw the decision as a positive step for competition and support for the upstart wireless companies. “I think Industry Canada had a tough decision to make and it tried to make all sides happy to some extent.  So I thought it was a reasonable compromise,… Continue Reading

Cable / Telecom News

Spectrum, foreign ownership rules favour smaller players, says Moody’s

TORONTO – The newly announced rules for the pending 700 MHz wireless spectrum auction and on foreign ownership could damage the credit ratings of the country’s three wireless incumbents, according to Moody's Investors Service. The ratings agency said Thursday that the government’s new rules are credit-negative for Baa1-rated Bell Canada, Rogers Communications and Telus Corp. Conversely, those rules are credit-positive for Canada’s five regional service providers and the three wireless-only new entrants. www.moodys.com Continue Reading

Cable / Telecom News

Telus introduces mobile management services for business

TORONTO – Telus has debuted a series of managed mobility services (MMS) designed specifically for the complex needs of Canadian enterprises. Powered by Vox Mobile, the services help to manage various aspects of an enterprise's mobile infrastructure and devices from procurement to payment, all while managing wireless devices on multiple platforms, from multiple carriers. "Mobile device management software has now made it possible to sync new mobile devices across multiple platforms, but there's so much more to consider than just synchronizing email," said Tony Krueck, VP of business products and services, in the announcement.  "With the flood of new smart phones,… Continue Reading

Cable / Telecom News

SPECTRUM: 700 MHz auction to bring in about $3.5 billion, predicts analyst

TORONTO – Despite how the rules to be applied to the auction of 700 MHz wireless spectrum have yet to be announced, one telecom industry analyst believes (taking all variables into account) the federal government can expect to earn about $3.5 billion when that auction finally does take place. In a note to clients last week, Scotia Capital analyst Jeff Fan took into account potential changes to foreign investment rules, the possibility of a cap on the amount of spectrum to be purchased by any one company and the potential for certain blocks of spectrum Continue Reading

Cable / Telecom News

Telus to invest $3M in BC over three years

VANCOUVER – Telus has pledged to invest $3 million in British Columbia over the next three years to further expand its wireless and wireline broadband networks, and on the construction of Telus Garden, the company’s new Vancouver-based headquarters. The company said that its investments will also result in the hiring of 1,300 new employees across the province – 800 this year alone to support its Optik TV and wireless growth, and an additional 500 jobs for the construction of Telus Garden. "Telus' $3 billion investment over the next three years will support significant economic and community development in every region of… Continue Reading

Radio / Television News

Prime Time 2012: To get paid online, Canuck producers must talk terms of trade with YouTube, et al

OTTAWA – Establishing a carriage relationship with Netflix, YouTube, Google, Yahoo! and others as well as reworking how money is distributed to fund online entertainment are two ways to ensure Canadian content will secure a space for itself on the Internet, Canadian Media Production Association’s (CMPA) annual Prime Time conference in Ottawa, heard Friday. Online entertainment is growing leaps and bounds with the help of some major players such as Google and Yahoo, but what can be done to ensure that Canadian productions have a place? Richard Stursberg, senior advisor on media and entertainment with Telus (and former head of… Continue Reading