GATINEAU – The CRTC hearing into Rogers Communications’s proposed acquisition of Shaw Communications wrapped up Friday with a reply from Rogers during which the company argued the deal is good for Canadians and for the broadcasting system despite what interveners have said over the past week.
“As our panel highlighted on Monday, there is no question that this transaction is in the public interest,” said Ted Woodhead, senior vice-president of regulatory at Rogers.
“It embraces the transformational moment we face, positioning Canada’s broadcasting system for a strong and sustainable future. With Shaw and Rogers joining forces, Canadian consumers will enjoy more…
Continue Reading
CALGARY – Earlier this week, WestJet and Telus trialled Trusted Boarding, which uses facial verification technology as a touchless method of checking the identity of travellers before they board a flight.
“The trial was the first-of-its-kind in Canada and took place at the YYC Calgary International Airport,” according to a WestJet press release.
Trusted Boarding “employs a self-sovereign identity ecosystem (the creation of unique, private and secure connections between two trusted parties) through a TELUS-provisioned digital identity wallet in a smartphone application for IOS and Android,” the press release explains.
“It provides contactless document validation, where a facial verification scan is matched with a…
Continue Reading
DAWSON CREEK, BC and DRUMHELLER, Alta. – Telus announced last week it has expanded its 5G network to Dawson Creek, British Columbia and Drumheller, Alberta.
Residents and businesses in these communities now have access to the company’s 5G network, which provides speeds of up to 1.7 Gbps, according to two separate press releases announcing the expansion. (The Dawson Creek release is available here, and the Drumheller release is available here.)
Telus indicated in the releases it “is on track to provide 70% of the Canadian population with access to its 5G network by the end of the year.” Currently,…
Continue Reading
OTTAWA – The Portrait Gallery of Canada (PGC) announced today Telus is a founding partner of the new non-profit organization.
PGC’s goal is “to share humanizing stories of Canada through portraiture,” a press release says.
“Through its exhibitions, artist talks, social media engagements, presentations and catalogues, the PGC addresses the complex issues of the day from a variety of voices and celebrates the rich diversity of people who live on these lands,” the release says.
PGC is an online gallery, available at portraitcanada.ca.
Telus’s partnership enables PGC “to support artists, curators, educators, designers, communicators, translators and others who contribute to the PGC’s programs…
Continue Reading
GATINEAU – More concerns about Rogers Communications’s proposed acquisition of Shaw Communications were shared with the CRTC during day three of the hearing, Wednesday.
While the day’s presentations showed the deal definitely has its supporters, it also highlighted the many concerns there are about the consequences of the deal in its current form on the Canadian broadcasting system generally, and on independent broadcasters and consumers specifically.
TLN Media Group Inc. and Ethnic Channels Group Limited, who presented together to highlight issues specific to Canadian ethnic independents, told the Commission that despite their opposition to the deal in their written submission, they…
Continue Reading
ISED referenced U.S. action on Chinese telecoms as justification for ban
By Ahmad Hathout
OTTAWA – A Chinese telecom that resold Canadian services and plans was operating illegally for five years and posed a significant threat to the country’s national security, Innovation Canada said in a submission to the Federal Court.
The department was responding to a judicial review application by China Mobile, a mobile virtual network operator that was asked this summer to leave the country after a public safety review.
The company is asking the court to pause the revocation of its authorization to operate until the court decides on the…
Continue Reading
Telecoms have said this would impact the value of the 5G frequencies
By Ahmad Hathout
Innovation Canada said last week it will stick with its proposal to place restrictions on the use of the 3.5 GHz spectrum in areas surrounding 26 major airports, which some of Canada’s telecoms want to deploy 5G wireless networks.
The exclusion areas are intended to prevent interference with aircraft altimeters, which use radio signals to guide the airplane to the runway.
The large telecoms, including Bell, Rogers and Telus, said Innovation Canada did not indicate before the 3.5 GHz auction in June that the department would prevent…
Continue Reading
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…
Continue Reading
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…
Continue Reading
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…
Continue Reading
