OTTAWA – As Industry Canada ponders the rules that will surround next year’s advanced wireless spectrum auction, Rogers Communications CEO Ted Rogers was in Ottawa today to reiterate just where he and his company stand, while saying the company might be looking to spend between $500 million and $1 billion.
While potential national newcomers like Quebecor and MTS Allstream are demanding spectrum set asides, or caps on how much the incumbents can buy and other favours like mandated tower sharing/roaming in order to get into the wireless business cheaper than they would in an open auction and open…
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TORONTO – Astral Television Networks announced a pair of appointments this week.
Mark Waschulzik has been promoted to the position of Director, Affiliate Marketing. Most recently he has been managing key accounts (such as Rogers, EastLink and Videotron) in addition to his regular duties as Manager, Affiliate Insight & Analysis. “His account experience, analytical background and historical perspective provide him with a unique ability to evaluate new growth opportunities and to ensure they are developed in line with corporate objectives, in tandem with other departments and on budget,” said a company memo from Domenic Vivolo, senior vice-president sales and…
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OTTAWA UNIVERSITY PROFESSOR Dr. Michael Geist is Canada’s leading proponent of network neutrality, which, as you’ll read, has many definitions.
Despite the differences in definitions, it’s primarily about treating most bits of data equally so that the free flow of information prospers and opportunities can be available equally to all.
In newspaper columns and on television and in his blog, Geist revisits this issue frequently and believes it’s only a matter of time before it is front and centre in Canadian politics.
The Canada Research Chair of Internet and E-commerce Law, University of Ottawa recently sat down with…
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OTTAWA-GATINEAU – The CRTC today granted a Telus request to deregulate local phone service in several Quebec regions.
Adding to the larger centres across Canada which have already been deregulated, as we’ve reported, Baie-Comeau (Marquette sector), Baie-Comeau (Hauterive sector), Matane, Mont-Joli, Montmagny, Port Cartier, Sept-Îles, Saint-Georges-de-Beauce, and Saint-Lambert are now deregulated exchanges.
It was a quick turnaround as well, as Telus only filed its request in July, said the Commission.
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TORONTO – The Fight Network, which has battled heavyweight after heavyweight on its way from an independent digi-net to growing multiplatform brand, announced this morning a new round of financing and a new leader.
Launched in 2005, just as the ultimate fighting/mixed martial arts craze began to go mainstream, The Fight Network is available on most Canadian cable systems either as the linear channel or on demand.
Content from the channel is also available to wireless subscribers of Telus, Bell, Verizon, Sprint and AT&T. It also has a syndicated radio show, "The LAW" (Live Audio Wrestling), a broadband player,…
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CALGARY – Telus today signed an eight-year contract with the Western Canada Lottery Corporation (WCLC) to provide and implement an Alberta-wide secure Internet Protocol (IP) based network, the companies announced.
The network will support approximately 2,350 on-line lottery ticket terminals, connecting the machines in Alberta with the company’s central computer system in Winnipeg.
"Telus is proud to partner with Western Canada Lottery Corporation to support their on-line lottery ticket terminal network throughout Alberta," said Joe Natale, president, Telus Business Solutions. "The WCLC has recognized the value that our investment in IP technology, and the Telus team’s expertise, can bring…
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TORONTO – Rogers Wireless customers can now find their wireless handsets work in 200 countries.
The company reached this 200-country milestone on July 24th, with a newly-signed roaming agreement between Rogers Wireless and the mobile operator, Comium Liberia Inc. in the African nation of Liberia. Rogers has over 500 roaming partners worldwide.
As Canada’s only GSM carrier, Rogers is leading the way among Canadian wireless carriers when it comes to offering the most international voice and data roaming destinations with a selection of 52 world phones. (With the notable exception of Apple’s iPhone, where rumour-mongers are predicting Rogers will…
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TORONTO – Maria Hale has joined Telus as vice-president, content, consumer group.
Most in the industry will remember her for her eight years at CHUM Ltd. in various broadcasting and new media roles. Her final job there was as vice-president, content business development.
She left that company just last month as the CTVglobemedia purchase of CHUM was finalized. At CHUM, she was the driving force behind the company’s brands’ push into integrated multiplatform content.
As vice-president, content, Hale will focus on acquiring and managing content featured across Telus TV, broadband and mobile service platforms,…
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IF THERE HAS BEEN a Canadian television channel that has struggled more with its programming, carriage, ownership and identity than OUTtv, which began its life in September 2001 as Pridevision, we don’t know of it.
The original category one digital specialty service license went to a surprising place to begin with. The CRTC, preoccupied at the time with trying to uplift smaller broadcasters, gave the must-carry digital license to what then was Headline Media, the owners of what has become The Score, a straight-male all-sports station where no one had experience in the gay community.
Granted, Headline did partner…
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VANCOUVER – A new Angus Reid survey shows Canadians are pretty split when it comes to their opinions on their telecom service and the effects of recently announced deregulation of many local markets.
The survey, done between August 10 and 13th says 52% of Canadians think deregulation will drive cost of phone services up and 46% think deregulation will not mean improved local phone services.
Canadians are split over whether deregulation will ultimately benefit consumers in the end (41% agree it will, 42% disagree), says the company’s press release. Instead, half of respondents (50%) agree that it is best…
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