Search Results for: telus

Cable / Telecom News

Recycle My Cell student challenge returns

OTTAWA – C’mon kids, grab those old mobile devices: the Recycle My Cell student challenge is back for a fourth year. As the national sponsor of Waste Reduction Week in Canada (October 21-27), Recycle My Cell is challenging all Canadian schools and post-secondary institutions to recycle as many old wireless devices as possible, including cell phones, smartphones, wireless PDAs, pagers, accessories and cell phone batteries. The school in each province and territory that collects the most cell phones (based on school population) will be awarded $500 to be used towards a school environmental project.  Last year, more than… Continue Reading

In-Depth

Cartt.ca IN-DEPTH: Lee Bragg, CEO, Eastlink

WHILE THE CANADIAN WIRELESS world and the politicians who oversee it spent the dog days of summer 2013 barking at each other over policies they said were either wrecking the business or boosting competition (depending on your point of view) one player, Halifax-based Eastlink, remained largely silent. While Eastlink is a big deal in Nova Scotia and Prince Edward Island especially, and does daily battle down East with Bell Aliant, CEO, Lee Bragg told Cartt.ca in a recent interview that adding his own voice to that cacophony would have accomplished little. And besides, even though he can’t side with government… Continue Reading

Cable / Telecom News

Despite discounts, new wireless entrants have only 7% of market: Convergence report

TORONTO – Despite deeply discounted pricing, Canada’s new wireless entrants are expected to own only 7% of the wireless market by the end of this year, according to a new report from Convergence Consulting. Canadian Wireless: Assessing the Impact of New Entrants says that Wind Mobile, Public Mobile and Mobilicity are undercutting incumbents Rogers, Bell and Telus and their discount brands on voice packages by up to 58% and 40% respectively, and on combined voice/data packages by up to 63% and 57% respectively.  In some cases, such as with regional providers like EastLink and Videotron, the incumbents and their discount brands… Continue Reading

Cable / Telecom News

Mobilicity files for bankruptcy protection, says it has a buyer

TORONTO – Mobilicity filed for bankruptcy protection late Monday, but said that it’s business as usual for its wireless customers – and that it has a buyer at the ready. The company issued a statement after the markets closed confirming that it applied for and received protection under the Companies' Creditors Arrangement Act (Canada) ("CCAA").  The move will allow it “the necessary time and financing to advance and complete a going-concern transaction, which is before Industry Canada for its review and approval”, the statement reads. “Mobilicity believes that the proposed transaction is in the best interests of its stakeholders and hopes… Continue Reading

Cable / Telecom News

Wireless consortium on track for $50M underground mobile network in Montreal

MONTREAL – Bell, Rogers, Telus and Videotron said Wednesday that they are teaming up on a new $50 million mobile network for the Montréal metro, a move that will make that city one of the first in the world equipped with a 4G LTE mobile underground network on its subway system. Within the next five to seven years, some 900,000 daily metro users will be able to browse the web, download music, and make and receive calls as 3G, 4G and 4G LTE technologies are deployed throughout the metro network, including in subway cars, tunnels and stations. The Société de transport… Continue Reading

Cable / Telecom News

Foreign wireless players conspicuously absent from 700 MHz spectrum initial bidders

OTTAWA – As widely suspected, no foreign wireless carriers were named as potential bidders for the 700 MHz wireless spectrum according to the list released by Industry Canada early Monday morning. The 15 potential bidders includes incumbents Bell Mobility, Telus and Rogers Communications, as well as regional carriers MTS, SaskTel, T-Bay Tel, EastLink/Bragg Communications and Videotron.  Also named is Wind Mobile parent Globalive Wireless, fixed-wireless operator Vecima and Vancouver-based Novus Wireless. While new entrant Mobilicity is not on the list, another company owned by its chairman John Bitove, known as Feenix Wireless Inc. is, as is private equity investors Birch Hill Equity Partners and The Catalyst… Continue Reading

Cable / Telecom News

Telecom policy debate must continue, say unions

VANCOUVER – Two of the country’s biggest unions say they’re happy that Verizon has decided against entering Canada’s wireless market, but stress that should not take public focus off the problems plaguing the telecommunications industry. The newly merged Telecommunication Workers Union (TWU) and United Steelworkers (USW) said Monday that they support parliamentary hearings and on-going public debate about Canada’s telecommunications policy. "We clearly and consistently pointed out that giving Verizon preferential access to Canada's wireless infrastructure and spectrum would be a bad deal for Canadian workers and consumers," said Lee Riggs, national president of the TWU, which represents 13,000 Telus, Shaw and other… Continue Reading

Cable / Telecom News

WIRELESS: More competitors doesn’t mean greater competition, says another report

CHICAGO – Efforts to artificially bolster wireless competition in Canada – such as by creating four competitors in each market, are “outdated and likely ineffective” plus may actually harm competition rather than improve or increase it, says a new report from Navigant Economics sponsored by Telus. The report, Mobile Wireless Market Performance In Canada: LESSONS FROM THE EU AND THE US compares the regulatory differences between the Canadian, U.S. and European wireless industries.  It notes that Canada, like the U.S., has been “relatively successful” in promoting competition and encouraging investment, but cautions Canadian policymakers to “resist calls to… Continue Reading

Cable / Telecom News

700 MHz auction: Wind, EastLink, confirm they’re in

WHILE VARIOUS wireless executives received e-mails this week from Industry Canada officials cautioning them on speaking with the media about the 700 MHz wireless spectrum auction, both EastLink and Wind mobile confirmed Monday they will take part. Initial deposits from any company interested in bidding on the spectrum during the auction which will kick off January 14th, are due Tuesday at noon. While speculation will likely rage on for days now, it is hoped that Industry Canada will release a public list of participants by September 25th. While it’s a lock that the likes of Rogers, Telus, Bell, Videotron, SaskTel,… Continue Reading

Cable / Telecom News

UPDATED: Vodafone’s Laurence named new Rogers president and CEO

TORONTO – Current Vodafone UK CEO Guy Laurence will succeed Nadir Mohamed atop Rogers Communications, the company announced Thursday morning, after a months-long process which saw many candidates interviewed. Laurence, 51, brings 30 years of global experience in telecommunications, pay television and media to the role, including senior leadership positions at international media companies including MGM Studios, United Cinemas and Chrysalis Records. He will become Rogers president and CEO effective December 2nd.  
After joining Vodafone in 2000, Laurence (pictured) was named CEO… Continue Reading