GATINEAU – The CRTC heard how the approval of Rogers Communications to acquire Shaw Communications’ broadcast assets will impact other organizations in Canada’s broadcast system on Tuesday during the second day of the Commission’s hearing into the matter.
“While the merger makes sense for Rogers and Shaw for their future, it has the unintended consequence of potentially all but destroying the independent broadcasting sector,” said Brad Danks, CEO of OUTtv and OMG Media Group, who participated virtually at the hearing as part of a panel (pictured above) representing Independent Broadcasters Group (IBG).
Danks argued if the deal goes through, Rogers will…
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VANCOUVER — The Telus Pollinator Fund for Good is celebrating its one-year anniversary by announcing three new investments in early-stage North American companies focused on social innovation.
The Pollinator Fund, which was launched Nov. 24, 2020, also today highlighted its achievements and funding commitments over the last year by releasing an inaugural impact report.
“Within just 12 months, the $100-million fund has amplified Telus’ commitment to social capitalism and invested in 10 exciting companies that are making a difference in communities,” reads a press release.
The three new investments announced today include:
Goodmylk, a California-based company “that uses natural, high quality ingredients…
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VANCOUVER – Telus announced today it is committing $1 million to support British Columbia through the recent flooding that resulted in a state of emergency.
The company is giving “$100,000 to the Canadian Red Cross to support the organization’s flood relief efforts, $100,000 to food banks across the province to support evacuees and British Columbians in need, and $50,000 to the BC SPCA to support their work to help animals and livestock in affected areas,” a press release says.
Additionally, the Telus Friendly Future Foundation is donating $100,000 and local Telus community boards are donating $150,000 to local charities to help…
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GATINEAU – Despite attempts to delay it, the CRTC hearing into Rogers Communications Inc.’s application to acquire Shaw Communications Inc.’s broadcast assets will begin Monday, Nov. 22 at 9 a.m. MT/11 a.m. ET.
“Edward Rogers, Brad Shaw and members of their respective executive and regulatory teams will be appearing on next weeks panel,” a Rogers spokesperson confirmed with Cartt.ca via email.
The CRTC announced this morning the hearing will be held in a hybrid format and as such, only parties appearing in person will be allowed in. It will be available to watch on the CRTC’s website.
Throughout the week,…
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TORONTO – Accusations of unfair conduct, cautious optimism and a Ben Affleck meme – the Canadian Telecom Summit’s regulatory blockbuster panel, held Tuesday, had it all.
The panel (pictured above left to right) was moderated by Globe and Mail reporter Alexandra Posadzki, and featured Ceri Howes, head of regulatory at Opensignal, Dennis Béland, vice-president of regulatory affairs, telecommunications at Quebecor, Geoff White, executive director of Competitive Network Operators of Canada (CNOC), Paul Beaudry, vice-president of regulatory affairs at Cogeco, Ted Woodhead, senior vice-president of regulatory at Rogers Communications, Samer Bishay, CEO of Iristel and Stephen Schmidt, vice-president of telecom policy…
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TORONTO – Spectrum was on a lot of peoples’ minds at this year’s Canadian Telecom Summit, which is hardly surprising given Canada’s slow pace of 5G deployment compounded by the fact ISED has yet to hand over the 3.5 GHz spectrum that was auctioned off this past summer that raised $8.9 billion.
“Four years ago, there was apparently a race to 5G,” said Ted Woodhead, senior vice-president of regulatory at Rogers Communications, who spoke on the summit’s regulatory panel on Tuesday.
“For those of us in the room who are Canadians, that race is over, we lost it.” Woodhead pointed…
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By Lynn Greiner
There is a lot of talk these days around the digital economy, and how cloud, edge, and 5G (the three buzzwords of the year) fit in. The short answer: it’s complicated.
During his Canadian Telecom Summit keynote, Bhushan Joshi, head of sustainability and corporate responsibility for North America at Ericsson, pointed out it is a multimodal problem with several drivers – access, affordability, and digital readiness.
“This multimodal nature of the ICT of the digital divide makes it harder to close this digital divide,” he said. “We need to leverage ICT solutions including 5G to close the digital divide…
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By Ahmad Hathout
During the lunchtime keynote on the second day of the Canadian Telecom Summit, Bell Mobility president Claire Gillies (above) said spectrum costs charged by the federal government are too high.
Coming off the most expensive spectrum auction in its history – a nearly $9-billion investment in 3.5 GHz frequencies said to be crucial for 5G – Gillies said this is not sustainable because service providers like Bell need to use the money to continue investing in future technologies.
“We have to change this,” she said during her keynote Tuesday. “Because we want our money going into investment –…
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By Ahmad Hathout
TORONTO – CRTC chairman Ian Scott (above) said Monday the contested acquisition of 5G spectrum licenses by Quebecor’s Videotron in Western Canada is an example of what the regulator envisioned when it made the decision to allow regional competitors to force negotiations for wireless network space from the larger providers.
The regulator’s April decision allows regional carriers to negotiate access to the wireless facilities of the incumbents – Rogers, Bell, Telus and Sasktel – as long as they have spectrum and network facilities in the area they want to provide mobile virtual network operator (MVNO) service….
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TORONTO — Mediapro Canada announced today OneSoccer, its dedicated soccer streaming service, will undertake its largest-ever production of a live sports event in Canada tomorrow for the Canadian men’s national soccer team’s FIFA World Cup qualifying match against Mexico at Commonwealth Stadium in Edmonton.
OneSoccer is producing coverage of the match, part of the Concacaf Final Round of FIFA World Cup Qatar Qualifiers, for broadcasters in Canada, the U.S. and Mexico, as well as multiple rights-holders worldwide.
According to a press release, nearly 100 technical and production crew members, working across three outside broadcast trucks at the stadium, will produce live…
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