Search Results for: telus

Cable / Telecom News

COMMTECH 2009: IPTV works on all networks, but VDSL2 developments could boost its fortunes

KELOWNA – Be it PON, HFC or xDSL, transmitting video using IP protocols will eventually be the way everyone does it. But for right now, PON and HFC are doing it the traditional way (easy, cheaper), distributing virtually all the content, all the time across its thick pipes, to customer TVs, phones and PCs. Most traditional telcos however, have opted for DSL technology to force video and other bandwidth-intensive services through its far thinner pipelines. Bell Canada, Telus, MTS, SaskTel and Bell Aliant have all experimented with various forms of DSL over the past decade or so and collectively… Continue Reading

Cable / Telecom News

Telus lowers expectations for 2009, could cut 1500 jobs

VANCOUVER – Telus Corporation reported a slim 1% growth in revenue for its first quarter, and lowered its full-year guidance accordingly. Revenue for the quarter ended March 31, 2009, was $2.375 billion, an increase of $25 million, led by a 3% growth in wireless revenue and a 6% growth in wireline data revenue, which the company said more than offset its on-going declines in local and long distance wireline revenues. The Burnaby, BC based telecom company lowered its 2009 guidance to “reflect the worsening Canadian economy since (December 2008), weaker than expected wireless results at Telus and the industry in… Continue Reading

Cable / Telecom News

UPDATE: Telus launching own satellite TV service this year

VANCOUVER – In an effort to bring a stronger fourth leg to its connectivity bundle (wireline phone, Internet, wireless and digital TV), Telus today announced it will add satellite television this year. The company has signed a partnership agreement with Bell Canada – and the two have already been working together on the project since the beginning of 2009, Telus CEO Darren Entwistle told a press conference after the company’s annual general meeting today in Ottawa. On the wireline digital TV side, the western-based telco said today it surpassed 100,000 subscribers in April, which are spread across its territories… Continue Reading

Cable / Telecom News

Telus to invest in Ontario, too

OTTAWA – After similar announcements made in B.C. and Alberta, Telus has announced plans to invest more than $300 million on its advanced wireless and wireline broadband infrastructure in Ontario.  The company said that work is underway to build out its next generation wireless network using high speed packet access technology, and it expects to launch the new network in the province and nationally by early 2010. Its broadband wireline investment is geared to supporting new business contracts in Ontario, enabling more organizations to access leading edge connectivity, and collaboration and network services that can improve the efficiency… Continue Reading

Cable / Telecom News

MTS urges government to support competition for broadband Internet access

OTTAWA – MTS Allstream is asking the federal government to reject proposals from Bell Canada and Telus that it says would “stifle broadband internet competition”. The company issued a statement Monday in response to petitions by Bell Canada and Telus, claiming its telecom brethren are asking “for latitude to raise prices, reduce competition, and control the content that users are able to access”. “Adopting the ideas tabled by Bell and Telus would entrench them as the gatekeepers for customer choice in telecom services,” said MTS Allstream CCO Chris Peirce, in the statement. “Bringing choice and competition to the market for… Continue Reading

Cable / Telecom News

OTA Hearing: What if it’s not the economy? What if the market has spoken?

GATINEAU – Telus senior vice-president regulatory and government affairs Michael Hennessy asked a question that was a little uncomfortable for the commissioners – and probably the employees at broadcast stations – to hear: To paraphrase, Hennessy asked: What if viewers in the communities of the smaller nets which are in the most dire financial circumstances (E! and A Channels) have simply decided those stations are just not good enough to watch any more? “What we’re looking at is nothing else than a very normal response of the market as designed by audience preference,” said Hennessy. “Perhaps these channels are… Continue Reading

Cable / Telecom News

Primus brings call centre jobs back to Canada

TORONTO – Residential high speed Internet customers of Primus Canada will no longer have their customer service or technical support calls handled by off-shore representatives. The company announced plans to transition most of its customer service operations, some of which had been outsourced to India, back to Canada “as soon as practical”, which will create 113 new Canadian jobs in the process. All of Primus Canada’s technical support team has been transitioned back to Canada, the press release detailed.  DSL, wireless and VoIP home phone service customers will be able to speak to local representatives if their calls are placed… Continue Reading

Cable / Telecom News

NAB 2009: Chronic customers required a re-think at Telus TV

LAS VEGAS – Being the primary video source for customers is a far different thing than being there for them as a wireline, wireless or data provider. Cable companies know this inherently thanks to decades of experience and many, many mistakes over the years. Cable’s first alert that there might be a network problem used to be when a customer called in to report they had no TV service and it might have taken a few calls (and please be there sometime between 8 and 8…) before the problem was fixed. Nowadays, large cable companies have sophisticated network operations… Continue Reading

Cable / Telecom News

Telus pours $700M into Alberta

EDMONTON and CALGARY – Telus has pledged to spend upwards of $700 million on their advanced wireless and wireline broadband infrastructure in Alberta. Work is currently underway on its next generation wireless network which the company expects to launch in Alberta and nationally by early 2010. Using the latest version of the high speed packet access (HSPA) technology, Telus said in a press release that the investment is expected to “ensure an optimal future transition to long term evolution (LTE) technology”, the emerging worldwide standard for fourth generation (4G) networks. Its broadband wireline network is also scheduled to launch… Continue Reading

Cable / Telecom News

Outsourcing doesn’t ring true, says telecom union

EDMONTON and VANCOUVER – The Telecommunications Workers Union (TWU) has launched a public awareness campaign encouraging Canadians to ask the government to “stop the outrage” of Canadian companies outsourcing jobs to other countries. TWU president George Doubt spoke to the media in Edmonton on Thursday to address Telus’ recent announcement to expand its newly opened facility in the Philippines from 900 workers to 3000 workers. TWU represents Telus employees. “We’re concerned about jobs and resources that are being outsourced,” he said in a telephone interview with Cartt.ca. “Companies that earn their revenue in Canadian communities have a duty to… Continue Reading