VANCOUVER and TORONTO — Telus Ventures announced today it is investing in a newly created Black Innovation Fund, which was launched today by Black Innovation Capital (BIC) and BDC Capital.
The fund is focused on investing in Canadian pre-seed and seed stage technology companies founded by Black entrepreneurs. The initial close of funding amounts to $6.4 million, with investors including RBC Ventures and Globalive Capital in addition to Telus Ventures.
“As one of Canada’s most active venture funds, Telus Ventures holds itself to an extremely high standard for finding and funding new and emerging technologies. It should be no different in…
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LEDUC, AB — Telus Communications announced today it is investing $25 million to expand its PureFibre network in Leduc, Alta., which will provide direct connectivity for 90% of the community’s homes and businesses to Telus’s gigabit-enabled, fibre-optic network.
Construction on the PureFibre network in Leduc, which is just south of Edmonton, is already underway, and Telus says it anticipates the majority of homes and businesses will be connected by next spring.
For more, please click here.
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By Ahmad Hathout
GATINEAU – Like deja vu, the immediate impact of a major decision by the CRTC has unfurled in the days immediately following — but the reactions are the reverse of what happened in August 2019.
When the CRTC that summer decided to slash the bulk internet rates smaller providers pay for large network access – and make the rates retroactive so some serious back pay was supposed to go to those independents – the large telecoms announced cuts to investments, including in rural areas. Smaller providers, rejoicing, immediately slashed retail internet prices.
Following Thursday’s decision to go back…
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LONGUEUIL, Que. — Quebec-based third-party Internet service provider EBOX is joining other independent ISPs who are calling for the resignation or firing of CRTC chairman Ian Scott following the Commission’s reversal last week of its August 2019 decision to lower the third-party Internet access (TPIA) rates paid by the small independents to Canada’s largest carriers.
Last week, TekSavvy asked for Scott to be removed from his position (TekSavvy has also petitioned the federal cabinet to overrule the CRTC’s rate decision) and VMedia called for Scott’s resignation.
Now today, EBOX issued a press release also calling for Scott…
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VANCOUVER — In partnership with March of Dimes Canada and in support of National AccessAbility Week, Telus Communications today announced it’s expanding its Tech for Good program across the country to support more Canadians with disabilities who require assistance to independently use their mobile device.
First launched in Alberta and British Columbia in 2018, the program offers “customized recommendations, training, and support on mobile devices and, based on individual need, the assistive technology required for persons with disabilities to use their mobile device. Tech for Good enables equitable access to mobile devices, empowering people with disabilities to live, work,…
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Angry competitive ISPs say prices and regulatory distrust will increase
By Ahmad Hathout
GATINEAU – Large independent internet service provider TekSavvy, having been in the process of building its fibre facilities, was gearing up for next month’s critical 3.5 GHz spectrum auction. In January, competitive ISP Distributel purchased telecom Primus. And several other competitive ISPs reduced their prices in light of what they anticipated would be a new era of lower wholesale internet fees.
But those business decisions were based on the assumption the CRTC would choose lower bulk internet purchase rates that at least were between the interim rates set in…
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GATINEAU – After nearly two years since the CRTC set lower rates which the incumbent wired telecom carriers such as Bell and Rogers were to charge third party internet access providers like TekSavvy and Start.ca for access to those wired networks, the CRTC has decided to backtrack.
In its decision today on a review and vary filed by the incumbents (after they had appealed to both cabinet and the courts, too) the Commission today said it will make the interim wholesale rates which have been in place since 2016 the new permanent rates, except for a supplementary…
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VANCOUVER — Loop Insights, a data intelligence company using artificial intelligence to drive real-time insights, enhanced customer engagement and automated venue tracing for global retailers and venues, announced today a multi-year reseller agreement with Telus which will see the wireless service provider sell Loop solutions directly to its national business customers as a Telus product.
Telus will be offering the full suite of Loop products, including its data insights and wallet pass engagement platforms. Telus will provide marketing, pre-sales, and sales services for Loop products, as well as after-sales service and support.
The reseller agreement is an expansion of the two…
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VANCOUVER — Telus Health announced today its LivingWell Companion personal emergency response service is now available on Apple Watch.
The new Telus Health Companion on Apple Watch combines LivingWell Companion’s 24/7 emergency monitoring service with Apple Watch’s fall detection and location-sharing capabilities to provide emergency response to users like seniors who have taken a hard fall. Trained operators at Telus Health’s central monitoring station will immediately contact the customer to confirm the emergency, and then alert the customer’s designated emergency contacts and, if needed, dispatch emergency support.
Customers with an Apple Watch Series 4 or later can add the Telus…
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CEO Péladeau has already said he is interested in Freedom Mobile
By Ahmad Hathout
MONTREAL – Quebecor CEO Pierre Karl Péladeau has been making headlines in recent weeks by suggesting he is interested in acquiring Freedom Mobile in the event that condition is forced by regulators as part of a Rogers-Shaw merger. Now, he’s sending lobbyists west to familiarize the brand.
During a conference call related to his company’s first quarter earnings report this month, Péladeau expressed interest in taking Videotron’s brand nationwide. He said regulatory conditions are better now, following the CRTC’s decision to give regional carriers access to the wireless…
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