By Ahmad Hathout
Cogeco and Eastlink are challenging cabinet’s decision not to intervene in the CRTC’s refusal to exclude the three largest telecommunications companies from accessing the internet networks of their competitors.
The basis of the judicial review request is simple: that cabinet, through the recommendation of Industry Minister Melanie Joly, allegedly did not provide the legally required justification for declining their petition to reverse a policy that they say creates an “existential” threat to their businesses.
“Instead of explaining and justifying its decision to sit on the sidelines, the had a Minister send out…
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Telus and Telus Digital (formerly known as Telus International) on Tuesday announced they have entered into a definitive agreement for Telus to acquire all of the outstanding multiple voting shares and subordinate voting shares of Telus Digital not already owned by Telus for US$4.50 per share, representing a total value of US$539 million.
This follows Telus’s initial proposal in June to purchase all outstanding shares of Telus Digital for US$3.40 per share, which at the time Telus said represented a premium of approximately 15 per cent to Telus…
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Rogers announced Thursday it is offering Xfinity customers Netflix, Disney+ and Apple TV+ in one plan for a lower price than if purchased separately.
The cable giant said customers seeking to add the new Rogers Xfinity StreamSaver plan to their internet or TV packages are looking at $22 per month, saving more than 30 per cent compared to the $32 they would spend if they purchased each streaming service separately. The plan is also available as a standalone option and is already included in the Ultimate TV plan.
The savings are based on a before-tax Netflix with ads plan at $8…
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Telus Fund, a Certified Independent Production Fund that administers Telus’s financial contributions in support of Canadian content promoting health and well-being, announced Wednesday it has appointed media executive Leah Camenzind as its new executive director.
She succeeds Elizabeth Friesen, who is retiring after more than 12 years at the helm of Telus Fund since its inception in 2013.
“Camenzind brings a proven track record of launching, leading, and transforming film funds, with deep expertise at the intersection of storytelling, impact, and strategic investment in Canadian content,” reads a Telus Fund announcement. “Her appointment signals an…
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Telus announced Wednesday it has partnered with Korean budget telecom provider FreeTelecom to launch the FreeTelecom Dual Plan, allowing customers to access both Korean and Canadian mobile services on a single device.
Calling it “an industry-first mobile solution,” Telus said in a press release the service offers significant cost savings compared to traditional international roaming. Built on Telus’s network, the service “addresses the unique connectivity needs of Korean residents, working holiday, students, and business travelers who spend time in both countries,” Telus said.
This strategic partnership with Telus makes FreeTelecom the first Korean…
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By Ahmad Hathout
A broadband consulting firm wants the CRTC to clarify that internet networks built using public dollars in southwestern Ontario are subject to the commission’s new wholesale internet framework.
Ontario-based Broadlytics Inc. filed a Part 1 application with the CRTC this week asking it to rule that networks built under the Southwestern Integrated Fibre Technology Inc. (SWIFT) project be made to comply with the commission’s ruling on access to the aggregated fibre regime – meaning third-party access to the builds’ middle- and last-mile fibre networks. Otherwise, it says, those builds cannot uphold an obligation to open access.
“The Applicant requests…
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Bell on Monday announced the launch of Bell Streaming, initially offering trio bundles featuring Crave, Netflix and Disney+ as well as two-service bundles that bundle Crave with one of the other two streaming services.
Bell says its bundles deliver up to 25-per-cent savings compared to subscribing to the services individually. An ad-supported “Crave, Netflix, Disney+ – Basic” bundle is priced at $22 per month, while a “Crave, Netflix, Disney+ – Premium” bundle is $49 per month.
Ad-supported Crave-Netflix and Crave-Disney+ bundles are $16.75 and $15.75 per month, respectively. Premium Crave-Netflix…
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By Connie Thiessen
Corus Entertainment has announced that Telus marketing exec Christopher Mercer is joining the company as Barb McKergow, senior vice president of advertising, gets set to retire this fall.
McKergow started her broadcast sales career with WIC (Western International Communications) in 1992, focused on national sales. She joined Canwest Mediaworks in 2000, moving on to Shaw Media for the next 14 years, where she ended her time as head of marketing ventures. She officially joined Corus in 2019 as SVP of national advertising revenue, holding the title of SVP of advertising sales for the past year, overseeing all advertising sales, revenue management, research, advanced advertising and data teams.
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The CRTC via an Aug. 12 letter is asking telecommunication service providers (TSPs), as well as intervenors, for their input on a potential increase to the $10-million revenue threshold for participation in the commission’s National Contribution Fund (NCF) and payment of annual telecom fees.
An April 2024 application by the Independent Telecommunications Providers Association (ITPA) had requested the revenue threshold be increased from $10 million to $25 million. Large telecoms, including Bell, Quebecor, Telus and Rogers, have argued against the increase, while the Canadian Communication Systems Alliance (CCSA) and the…
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By Ahmad Hathout
Canada’s largest broadcasters are asking the nation’s highest court to determine whether the Federal Court of Appeal (FCA) overstepped its authority when it effectively supplanted the Copyright Board’s decision in setting rates for the retransmission of distant signals.
Rogers, Bell, Telus, Videotron, Cogeco and the Canadian Communication Systems Alliance (CCSA) are named as applicants on a leave to appeal application, filed late last week, which seeks clarification about whether a relatively new judicial standard of review called Vavilov — which prioritizes the reasonableness of a tribunal’s decision on review and restrains courts from immediately jumping to correct issues…
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