BANFF – Would relaxing the rules on foreign investment in Canada around our communications sector help to create competition which in turn, would benefit consumers with lower prices and more choice, or, would it spell the end of our cultural sovereignty?
That theme was the focus of a spirited panel debate Tuesday at the Banff World Media Festival appropriately titled ‘Foreign Ownership: The Impact on the Communications Business’.
Norm Bolen, president and CEO of the Canadian Media Production Association (CMPA), came down hard, and consistently, on the side of preserving Canada’s unique culture at all costs, something that only Canadian ownership can…
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BANFF – It seems as though you can’t go far at the Banff World Media Festival without hearing talk about over-the-top (OTT) providers, and, depending on your point of view, whether they are a bane or boon to the Canadian broadcasting industry.
At a panel discussion on Monday called "OTT Services The Future of Television" — moderated by Telus’ Michael Hennessey — a Canadian cable company, broadcaster and the independent producers coalition faced down a trio of representatives from foreign OTT services Google TV, Boxee and Netflix. But with every expectation of fireworks, the predominant tone of the discussion seemed to be one…
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TORONTO – As promised last week, Telus announced Monday the company is lowering its roaming voice and data rates by up to 60%.
With the launch of Telus’ new “clear and simple international travel pricing,” all customers will now get the same low roaming rates when they’re traveling. Separate travel bundles and passes will no longer be required to take advantage of the lowest rate, making it easy and hassle-free for customers to use Telus wireless services when overseas.
"After the launch of our new HSPA+ wireless network in late 2009, Telus was able to offer our customers a…
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WELL, THAT WAS predictable.
We awoke Wednesday morning to a new report on wireless – this time on data roaming charges – from the Organization for Economic Co-operation and Development. The press release bellowed: “More effective competition and better regulation needed to cut high mobile data roaming costs, says OECD”.
When an international body with an unwieldy membership and fuzzy, broad mandate such as the OECD says we need more regulation of this or that, my automatic bullshit antenna engages. I also wondered aloud right away where Canada would rank in the report and in the press release (the only bit…
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TORONTO – Telus customers will soon be able to use Skype on their smart phones and purchase Skype credits through their Telus accounts. In addition, Telus will launch the first Skype edition smart phone in Canada, the LG Optimus Black, the companies announced Thursday.
Skype is a software application that allows users to make low cost voice and video calls and chats over the Internet. With 663 million registered users as of 2010, the company was acquired by Microsoft for US$8.5 billion last month.
Telus said that its partnership with Skype will allow customers to make unlimited Skype-to-Skype voice calls and instant…
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VANCOUVER – Telus and the Telecommunications Workers Union (TWU) have completed a new collective agreement following a series of ratification meetings.
Telus said Wednesday that more than 80% of its employees who cast their ballots in more than 30 communities voted to accept the new contract. The new agreement, covering approximately 12,100 employees nationally, takes effect Thursday and expires on December 31, 2015.
"I am pleased the agreement was endorsed by our team members across Canada," said president and CEO Darren Entwistle, in a statement. "This is great news for Telus, our team members and our customers, enabling us to…
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OTTAWA – The Governor in Council (GIC) did not exceed its authority under the Telecommunications Act when it ruled that Globalive Wireless met the Canadian ownership and control test, the Federal Court of Appeal (FCA) said in a June 8 decision.
In a statement, Globalive’s Wind Mobile proclaimed its vindication.
“We and our 300,000 customers are thrilled with this decision,” said Anthony Lacavera, chair of Globalive. “Now we can continue delivering value and choice to Canadian consumers without the distraction and expense of challenges by our competitors to our right to operate.”
The ruling comes after the Federal Court of Canada…
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TORONTO – Telus has launched a new suite of communications services earmarked for companies with less than 100 employees.
The Telus Future Friendly Office was built in collaboration with Cisco and features Cisco Unified Communications technology, including wi-fi capability and extension mobility. Available nationwide, it is designed to help small and medium-sized businesses grow without having to manage a complex system, plus offers “flexible payment options”.
“Telus Future Friendly Office transforms the way SMBs communicate by providing a complete solution designed to help small and medium companies set up and run their office phone and data networks”, said Jim Senko, vice-president…
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TORONTO – Making a passionate case for greater government support of wireless competition, Globalive Group Chairman Anthony Lacavera lambasted the nation’s three incumbent mobile providers, called for a full set-aside of 700 MHz spectrum for newer entrants and urged that the government ease its current restrictions on foreign investment in Canadian telecom providers.
In a wide-ranging keynote at the Canadian Telecom Summit here Thursday morning, Lacavera lit into Rogers Communications, Bell Canada and Telus for raising legal and regulatory challenges to Globalive’s entry into the Canadian market because of its international investors (wireless giant Orascom). Further, he knocked Rogers,…
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TORONTO – It was no surprise when the last member of the Canadian wireless triumvirate to address this week’s Canadian Telecom Summit made his pitch for an open auction the next time wireless spectrum goes on the block.
As George Cope, president and CEO of BCE and Bell Canada, put it during his luncheon keynote address on the final day of the Telecom Summit: why would the Canadian government put a spectrum auction process in place that would prevent one of the big three incumbent wireless carriers from participating fully in the 700MHz spectrum auction (expected in late 2012)?…
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