OTTAWA-GATINEAU – Canada’s largest telephone companies must rebate $310.8 million to their urban home telephone customers plus bring broadband Internet to 287 rural and remote communities across the country, the CRTC said Tuesday.
Widely referred to as the deferral accounts decision, the CRTC has ordered that the initiatives be funded using the deferral accounts of Bell Canada, Bell Aliant, Telus and MTS Allstream, which, as of May 31, 2010, held $770 million (including interest). Of this amount, $310.8 million will be rebated to customers, while $421.9 million will be spent on broadband services in communities across five provinces by 2014. The…
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REGINA – Telus has rolled out its new wireless network in what it describes as “tech hungry” Saskatchewan.
As part of the company’s investment in 3G+ wireless services this year, Telus entered into a enhanced network sharing agreement with SaskTel that builds on arrangements the companies have had in place since 1999. The network sharing agreement facilitates the deployment of next generation wireless voice and data services for Telus customers in Saskatchewan, optimizes cell-site utilization, and maximizes the potential for operating efficiencies.
"Telus is excited to bring its new blazing fast 3G+ network, the biggest in Saskatchewan, along with some of…
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OTTAWA – When it comes to licensing the 28GHz band, Canada’s wireless operators generally agree with Industry Canada’s proposed framework, documents submitted to the department via its call for comments reveal.
Telus, however, is concerned about the first-come, first-served approach advocated by the department in its consultation. Given the rapid growth of mobile networks and mobile data services, the need for longer-term backhaul network planning is paramount and a FCFS process may act as a barrier, the company states in its submission.
“Telus is of the view that the FCFS model needs to be ‘tweaked’ to allow…
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OTTAWA – The battle between Telus and MTS Allstream over mandated wireless roaming in Manitoba continues to brew.
After Telus complained to Industry Canada earlier this month about MTS Allstream’s alleged refusal to negotiate a deal on roaming rates in Manitoba, MTS Allstream replied by asking the government to disregard Telus’ application which it says misconstrues “certain facts and has outright omitted a number of others”.
In particular, MTS Allstream claims that Telus’ application misrepresents the rationale and eligibility criteria for out-of-territory roaming, in-territory roaming and the definition of a new entrant, so that it may obtain “an even…
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FINALLY, A CANADIAN, PUBLICLY traded wireline telco has made a real commitment to the future, despite what the country’s financial community thinks.
MTS Allstream has been absolutely crucified in the markets this month for daring to cut its quarterly dividend in order to try to properly prepare the company for what’s next by launching a $125 million fibre to the home overhaul. Good for Pierre Blouin and his team for deciding that if the company is to continue in the wired communications game and gain a real competitive advantage in its service areas, it had to make the fibre-to-the-home switch,…
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OTTAWA – The CRTC’s decision to deny an appeal from Telus to reconsider two earlier rulings could have an unexpected and wide ranging impact on the Canadian enterprise market, the telco warned.
The Commission said Tuesday that it was turning down Telus’ request to review and vary Telecom Decisions 2009-85 and 2010-11 because “it is incumbent upon a party making a review and vary application to raise all of the grounds in support of their application that are, or should be, apparent to the applicant at the time the application is made.”
The request is part of a…
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VANCOUVER – Telus’ Optik TV customers have a new option for their set top boxes – an Xbox 360.
With the gaming and entertainment unit, Optik TV customers can use it to enable PVR Anywhere features, such as scheduling the recording of up to three shows simultaneously on one PVR unit. The Microsoft Mediaroom software that powers Optik TV now also supports delivery of Optik TV to the Xbox 360 to provide functionality for watching television anywhere in the home, as well as all the gaming.
“We are blazing a trail as the first provider in North America to offer this…
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VANCOUVER – A 12% increase in wireless subscribers helped to drive up second quarter earnings at Telus.
Net income was $296 million, up 21% from $244 million in the same period last year, while operating revenues increased to $2.39 billion from $2.38 billion. EBITDA for the quarter ended June 30, 2010 was $919 million, compared to $873 million in the same period last year.
Total net wireless subscriber additions of 124,000 increased by 12% over the same period a year ago. Higher value postpaid net additions were up 15% to 109,000, and smart phone subscribers now represent 25% of total postpaid…
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MANY OF THE SUBMISSIONS to the digital economy consultation offered recommendations on what the federal government should do, or not do, to ensure every Canadian household has access to high-speed Internet services. Rogers suggests that mobile spectrum can efficiently and effectively complete the rural broadband effort.
“We recommend a joint government/industry initiative aimed at extending broadband access to remaining unserved rural and remote communities in Canada as soon as possible. The emphasis here, we suggest, should be on mobile broadband networks which will simultaneously bring both mobile and broadband service to rural communities,” Rogers says in its comments….
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OTTAWA – Telus has filed a complaint with Industry Canada asking for mandated roaming on the wireless networks in Manitoba owned by MTS Allstream after what Telus says has been years of negotiations that never went anywhere.
“Telus has been unable to negotiate reasonable terms for roaming since 2001 and as a result Telus customers in Manitoba, particularly in the 204 area code (Winnipeg) are unable to obtain data roaming in their home Province,” reads the company’s application.
“Additionally all customers of Telus are limited to varying degrees in terms of roaming on the MTS network. This asymmetry is contrary to…
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