GATINEAU – Today, the CRTC denied an application brought by large facilities-based ISPs to review and vary telecom regulatory policy 2019-269, specifically, the application of the Internet Code.
“The applicants (Bell, Rogers, Telus and others) submitted the Commission erred in its determination to apply the Internet Code to only the 10 largest facilities-based ISPs at this time; however, the Commission finds that the applicants have failed to demonstrate that there is substantial doubt as to the correctness of that determination,” reads today’s decision.
“As stated in Telecom Regulatory Policy 2019-269, the Commission expects that all Internet service providers will…
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By Ahmad Hathout
OTTAWA – Between losing a fourth wireless player in a merger and difficulty negotiating with big telecoms on leasing wireless network capacity, smaller carriers and their representatives told members of the industry committee Tuesday that the one-two punch of divesting Freedom Mobile in a Rogers-Shaw combination and mandating wireless negotiations with service-based operators could spell the last vestige of hope for a competitive telecom environment.
Appearing before the committee studying the Rogers-Shaw merger proposal, Matt Stein, who is head of the Competitive Network Operators of Canada, an industry group representing smaller internet service providers (as well as president…
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OTTAWA — Ericsson announced today it has established the Ericsson Open Lab, a new space located in Ottawa, to enable collaboration and innovation with its Cloud RAN customers and ecosystem partners to drive virtualized 5G radio access network (RAN) technologies.
Ericsson Open Lab (above) is co-located with the company’s Cloud RAN expertise at Ericsson’s R&D site in Ottawa, and is also accessible virtually to customers globally.
The launch of Open Lab follows Ericsson’s announcement of its Cloud RAN product portfolio development. It will enable further development of Ericsson Cloud RAN solutions on commercial off-the-shelf (COTS) hardware, says the company’s press release….
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TORONTO — Telus Health announced today its employer-focused virtual care service, Akira by Telus Health, is now integrated with its own country-wide electronic medical records (EMRs) and in Ontario with Health Report Manager (HRM), the provincial report delivery system.
Telus Health currently has 30,000 EMRs users across the country, and this integration means “more informed primary care can be provided as critical patient health information is delivered seamlessly into one medical chart so patients using this virtual care platform through their employee benefits programs will effectively receive better continuity of care,” reads Telus Health’s press release.
“Until now, the process for…
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VANCOUVER — Following its $1.3-billion equity offering last week, Telus announced today a debt offering of $500 million of senior unsecured Series CAE notes with a 30-year maturity and 4.1% interest rate.
The notes are being offered through a syndicate of agents led by CIBC Capital Markets and RBC Capital Markets, and together with BMO Capital Markets and Scotiabank. The offering is expected to close on or about April 5, 2021.
The notes were priced at $99.47 per $100 principal amount for an effective yield of 4.131% per annum and will mature on April 5, 2051.
“The net proceeds of this…
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OTTAWA — The number of Canadian consumer complaints to the Commission for Complaints for Telecom-television Services (CCTS) increased by 6% during the six-month period from August 1, 2020 to January 31, 2021 compared to the same period of the previous year, according to the CCTS’s 2020-21 mid-year report, released this morning.
During the six months ended January 31, the CCTS accepted 9,121 complaints from Canadian telecom and TV customers and resolved 88% of all complaints. There were 28 confirmed Wireless Code breaches, five Television Service Provider Code breaches, four Internet Code breaches and one Deposit and Disconnection Code breach.
The CCTS…
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Briefing note pointed to Premier Legault’s promise of 50/10 for all by end of 2022
By Ahmad Hathout
OTTAWA – The federal portion of the $826.3 million investment announced this week to connect 150,000 households in Quebec by September 2022 is coming from the $1.75-billion Universal Broadband Fund, Innovation Canada confirmed, less than 10 days after the final deadline for applications closed.
This would make Tuesday’s announcement the first award from the UBF’s core program, as its “rapid” stream for projects completed by November has already disbursed funds. The massive $826.3-million operation will be evenly split between Quebec’s new Operation…
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By Ahmad Hathout
OTTAWA – Independent internet service provider TekSavvy said this week a lower court made an error when, for the first time, it ordered Canada’s ISPs to block the websites of an alleged copyright infringer.
That’s because the Federal Court, in ordering the blocking of websites associated with alleged IPTV infringer GoldTV, leaned too much toward the rights of the copyright holders at the possible expense of free expression and the impact it could have on legitimate content, it alleged in a two-day hearing at the Federal Court of Appeal this week.
TekSavvy is challenging the first site-blocking order…
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VANCOUVER – Saying it will use the proceeds to “strategically bring forward transformational capital investments in broadband connectivity, including fibre and 5G, enhancing our industry-best customer experience, leading networks and competitive position,” Telus today announced a share sales deal which will bring in $1.3 billion.
Officially, the company “entered into an agreement with a syndicate of underwriters led by RBC Capital Markets and CIBC Capital Markets, and together with BMO Capital Markets, Scotiabank and TD Securities Inc. as joint book runners… pursuant to which the Underwriters have agreed to purchase from Telus, on a bought deal basis, and sell to…
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VANCOUVER — Through the expansion of its Connecting for Good programs during the pandemic this past year, Telus says it is now helping to bridge the digital and health divides for three million Canadians in need each year.
During the past 12 months, Telus has expanded its Connecting for Good programs in the following ways:
Internet for Good
Telus partnered with school boards for K-12 students in need to get high-speed Internet at home for only $9.95 per month
Expanded the program to include people in need and living with disabilities in British Columbia, Alberta and Quebec, giving them access…
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