By Ahmad Hathout
VANCOUVER – As the country’s cable companies move toward incorporating the next DOCSIS technologies that allow for fibre-like internet speeds over older cables, Telus executives touted its fibre infrastructure as a differentiator in its pursuit of more subscribers on higher speeds.
“By any measure, PureFibre exceeds DOCSIS and will endure to deliver exceptional reliability and symmetrical speed advantages to our customers as investments in Docsis aim to catch up,” Zainul Mawji, executive vice president and president of Telus Consumer Solutions, said on the company’s first quarter conference call Thursday.
Last month, Rogers announced that it was in a trial…
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OTTAWA – Innovation Canada decided Wednesday on the parameters for its framework that will allow certain 5G spectrum bands to be allocated for use in local and small-scale applications without the need for users to go through a competitive auction process to obtain them.
The department launched a consultation last summer to determine how it should go about dedicating spectrum in the 3900 to 3980 MHz band and parts of the 26, 28 and 38 GHz bands for a non-competitive licensing framework, which it said would go to benefit various local sectors and innovations, including real-time monitoring of farming and…
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By Ahmad Hathout
CALGARY – Rogers is preparing to make additional cuts to the Shaw team, which will include layoffs in the programming and communications departments, according to individuals with direct knowledge of the matter.
Vice president of programming Andrew Eddy and vice president of external affairs Chethan Lakshman are expected to depart the company this week, the individuals said. Katherine Emberly, president of business at Shaw, announced on her LinkedIn page Friday she was also leaving the company.
It is unclear to Cartt how many more are expected to be let go as part of Rogers’s integration of the cable company…
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By Ahmad Hathout
TORONTO – Rogers CEO Tony Staffieri said Wednesday that the company’s side agreements with Videotron that are part of its deal to acquire Shaw are “not much different” than existing ones it has in place for other competitors.
The cable giant committed to providing favourable wholesale internet access and roaming deals to the Montreal-based company, which acquired Shaw’s Freedom in the deal, to appease regulators and allay fears that the combination would diminish competition.
But over the last several months, questions were raised by competitors as to the nature of the deals and whether they would significantly advantage Videotron…
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By Ahmad Hathout
MARIEVILLE, Que. – The commission for the protection of agricultural territory of Quebec ruled last week that Telus can build a new telecommunications tower in Marieville.
The Vancouver-based telecom requested commission approval for the 60-meter tower, an overhead power line and an access road in an area of approximately 4,884 square meters to maintain an optimal coverage quality.
The application faced resistance, namely from the Fédération de l’UPA de la Montérégie, an organization representing agricultural businesses. But the commission, which requires approval for development other than agriculture, said the project would not affect the crops. It cited non-agriculture developments,…
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Correction: A previous version of this article said Jamal would replace previous president and CEO Allison Lenehan. In fact, Fran Shammo will remain interim CEO.
MARKHAM – Xplore announced Tuesday that Rizwan Jamal will be the company’s next president and chief commercial officer starting May 1.
Jamal will be responsible for sales, marketing and product development and will support the company’s “strategic priorities,” a press release said.
“I am excited to be joining Xplore at this pivotal time in the Company’s history,” Jamal said in the release. “Xplore has become one of the country’s largest telecommunications providers proudly serving rural residential and…
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By Ahmad Hathout
WHITEHORSE – Telus announced Thursday that it has struck a deal in principle to transfer incumbency to Bell’s Northwestel in the region of Atlin, British Columbia to better serve the area.
There are only three communities in the far north that are served by Telus as the incumbent – Fort St. John, High Level, and Atlin. But unlike the former two, Telus does not serve Atlin with its own transport facilities. Instead, it leases a stretch of 1,300 kilometres of the transport portion from Bell subsidiary Northwestel.
“It is an island completely separated from the rest of TELUS’ ILEC…
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By Ahmad Hathout
OTTAWA – The Federal Court of Appeal has denied an application by Telus that challenged the CRTC’s decision not to regulate wireless access to municipal infrastructure and that forced the carriers to provide seamless roaming to other providers.
Telus argued that the two components of the CRTC’s April 2021 decision – which mandated regional carrier access to the wireless infrastructure of the large players – were made in error. The thrust of the telecom’s argument – which was backed by Rogers and Bell – was that the CRTC too narrowly defined the term “transmission…
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The regulator has been urged not to rely on carrier negotiations for roaming rates
By Ahmad Hathout
OTTAWA – The CRTC has dismissed an application by Globalive that sought a commission review of wholesale roaming rates in general and a roaming agreement between Rogers and Videotron in particular, citing an existing application before the regulator addressing similar issues.
Globalive filed the Part 1 application late last month, which requested the CRTC make interim the current wholesale roaming rates, require the national carriers to file updated studies supporting new rates, and to open an investigation into Rogers’s proposed roaming agreement…
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By Ahmad Hathout
MONTREAL – Cogeco CEO Philippe Jette said Friday that wireless service providers are in a better position to focus on negotiating mobile virtual network operator deals with the conclusion of Rogers’s acquisition of Shaw.
“It provides more predictability throughout the industry now that this transaction is over and we know what to expect of it,” Jette said on the company’s second-quarter conference call Friday morning.
“I think now every player is at a better place with the conclusion of the transaction and getting ready for the next steps negotiating partnerships and rates,” he added.
Earlier this month, Rogers and Videotron Continue Reading
