TAGGED AS TELECOMMUNICATIONS

Feds pledge faster fibre cost recovery for telecoms

telecom | 11/21/2018 6:00 pm EST

The federal government’s fall economic update includes a faster way for telecoms to recover a bigger portion of their investment costs in fibre deployment, which it hopes will spur broadband connectivity in rural areas. The Accelerated Investment Incentive will allow telecoms, among other “capital-intensive sectors,” to make a larger upfront tax deduction for depreciation of asset investments up to three-times the normal rate in their first year of deployment. The measure was tabled in Parliament on Wednesday as part of the government’s fall economic update. “It is expected...

Rural broadband

Marie-Hélène Labrie new Cogeco SVP of communications

telecom | 11/21/2018 2:01 pm EST

Marie-Hélène Labrie new Cogeco SVP of communications

Cogeco Inc. has a new senior vice-president of public affairs and communications, the telecom announced Tuesday, following the retirement of René Guimond. Marie-Hélène Labrie will replace Guimond, who Cogeco spokeswoman Nancy Bouffard confirmed is retiring from the position and Cogeco. Guimond was appointed to the position eight years ago and has held other roles at the company since 2005. “René wishes to devote more time to personal projects and will serve...

Feds put out call for mobile spectrum performance data

telecom | 11/15/2018 6:30 pm EST

The federal government is looking for a contractor to crowdsource measurements of mobile phone spectrum performance in Canada – results that could affect government licensing strategies. A new...

Spectrum Wireless

CRTC proposes code of conduct for ISPs

telecom | 11/09/2018 5:33 pm EST

CRTC proposes code of conduct for ISPs

The CRTC is asking for input on a draft version of a new code governing internet service providers (ISPs)...

CRTC Internet

Raj Shoan sues government, former CRTC chairman over firing

telecom | 11/09/2018 12:32 pm EST

Raj Shoan sues government, former CRTC chairman over firing

Former CRTC commissioner Raj Shoan has filed a lawsuit against the federal...

CRTC

Helix to be ‘superior’ to Bell’s Fibe: Videotron CEO

telecom | 11/08/2018 5:48 pm EST

Helix to be ‘superior’ to Bell’s Fibe: Videotron CEO

As CEO Manon Brouillette wrapped up her last quarterly results with...

Internet Iptv Wifi

Bell hits Videotron with $100M infringement suit

telecom | 11/07/2018 12:35 pm EST

Bell hits Videotron with $100M infringement suit

BCE Inc.’s Bell Media is suing Quebecor Inc.’s Videotron for copyright and trademark infringement after a licencing agreement between the two companies expired. Bell said in a statement of claim filed in Federal Court Friday that Videotron has continued to offer...

Bell Internet Iptv

Lack of infrastructure, bylaws challenges for remote connectivity

telecom | 11/05/2018 7:28 pm EST

Lack of infrastructure, bylaws challenges for remote connectivity

TORONTO — Remote communities looking to build internet as an essential...

Internet Rural broadband

Xplore Mobile to launch with data rollover plans

telecom | 11/05/2018 4:58 pm EST

Xplornet to brand wireless service Xplore Mobile

Manitoba customers of Xplornet Communications Inc.’s upcoming mobile service will be allowed to...

Wireless

Bell posts subscriber gains, but wireless ARPU dips

telecom | 11/01/2018 5:42 pm EDT

Industry's hot streak in wireless continues with Bell's record Q1

BCE Inc. reported its wireless average revenue per user (ARPU) dipped in its third quarter results...

Bell Ott Wireless

Electrical utilities ask CRTC to become MVNOs

telecom | 10/31/2018 1:31 pm EDT

An organization representing Canada’s electricity providers has filed a Part 1 application with the CRTC asking for changes to wireless regulations it says are necessary for the roll out of smart electrical grids. The...

CRTC Wireless

Bell, Rogers defend sales practices to CRTC

telecom | 10/26/2018 8:00 pm EDT

Bell, Rogers defend sales practices to CRTC

GATINEAU –– BCE Inc. and Rogers Communications Inc. defended their sales tactics Friday after a week...

Bell CRTC Internet

Rogers plans to advance Ignite at ‘thoughtful pace’ to replace legacy systems

telecom | 10/19/2018 6:42 pm EDT

Rogers aims to improve churn, ‘reset’ enterprise division

Rogers Communications Inc. top brass say they expect to see enough...

Bell Iptv Rogers

Combine Heritage and ISED, move spectrum to CRTC: professor

telecom | 10/18/2018 2:16 pm EDT

Combine Heritage and ISED, move spectrum to CRTC: professor

The government should combine the Heritage and Innovation ministries, and...

BTLR CRTC Spectrum

Videotron losing its CEO as Brouillette announces departure

telecom | 10/16/2018 12:42 pm EDT

Former Videotron customers returning from Bell: Brouillette

Manon Brouillette, who has been at the helm of Quebecor Inc.’s Videotron for the past five years, is leaving the company in what National Bank...

Cable Internet Wireless

Iristel buys wireless operator specializing in remote areas

telecom | 10/12/2018 2:06 pm EDT

Iristel Inc. has acquired Télécommunications de l’Est (TDE), a small Quebec telecom that provides service to industries operating in remote areas with limited cellular service, such as forestry and mining. Iristel CEO Samer Bishay said in a press release Thursday that much of TDE’s infrastructure overlaps with that of I-Mobileca Inc., a small provider of machine-to-machine communications Iristel bought in May. Iristel said at the time it would use I-Mobileca’s spectrum in eastern Quebec and northern Ontario to launch wireless service in those areas. “Cellular connectivity has...

Radio Spectrum Wireless

Bandwidth pressures a concern for indigenous ISPs

telecom | 10/11/2018 5:43 pm EDT

Bandwidth pressures a concern for indigenous ISPs

Internet service providers (ISPs) in rural and remote communities are trying to keep up with the appetite...

CRTC Internet Rural broadband

TeraGo to start GTA 5G fixed wireless trial

telecom | 10/11/2018 3:10 pm EDT

TeraGo Inc. will repurpose spectrum it bought nearly a decade ago for a 5G fixed wireless trial in the Greater Toronto Area, the company said Thursday. It bought the 24 GHz spectrum in 2010, aiming to use it for a backhaul...

Internet Spectrum Wireless

Canada joins allies in calling out Russian cyberattacks

telecom | 10/04/2018 5:11 pm EDT

Canada joins allies in calling out Russian cyberattacks

The Canadian government took part in a coordinated international effort...

Internet

Bibic named Bell COO

telecom | 10/04/2018 2:35 pm EDT

Bibic named Bell COO

BCE Inc.’s head of regulatory, Mirko Bibic, has been named its new chief operating officer. Bell said in a press release Thursday that in his new role, Bibic will “lead...

Bell Internet

Barclays predicts ‘smooth sailing’ at Telus after VP exit

telecom | 10/02/2018 6:03 pm EDT

Barclays predicts ‘smooth sailing’ at Telus after VP exit

The upcoming departure of Telus Corp.’s president of consumer and small business, Dave Fuller, shouldn’t disrupt the company, according to Barclays Capital analyst Phillip Huang. In a research note Tuesday, Huang said despite Fuller’s plans to leave the company in...

Rogers Telus

Small ISPs ‘optimistic’ about CRTC broadband fund

telecom | 09/28/2018 4:58 pm EDT

A CRTC decision outlining how its $750 million fund for rural broadband will be administered “looks quite encouraging,” according to the president of the Canadian Network Operators’ Consortium (CNOC). Matt Stein said in a...

CRTC Rural broadband

ITPA asks CRTC to reconsider ending voice subsidy

telecom | 09/28/2018 3:34 pm EDT

The Independent Telecommunications Providers Association (ITPA) has filed a review-and-vary application with the CRTC, asking the regulator to bring back its landline subsidy. When the commission announced its $750 million...

CRTC Landline phones

CRTC rural broadband fund speed targets draw criticism

telecom | 09/27/2018 5:51 pm EDT

The CRTC revealed Thursday the details of the $750 million rural broadband fund that’s been in the works for nearly two years, prompting criticism from some groups concerned about what they say are...

CRTC Internet Rural broadband

Telecom execs praise ‘healthier,’ ‘balanced’ regulatory environment

telecom | 09/26/2018 5:51 pm EDT

Representatives from BCE Inc. and Rogers Communications Inc. described a favourable relationship with regulators at a CIBC investors conference Wednesday, where they also addressed competition between...

Bell CRTC Fizz

Broadcast, telecom acts review panel kicks off consultation

telecom | 09/25/2018 5:31 pm EDT

Broadcast, telecom acts review panel kicks off consultation

OTTAWA — The expert panel in charge of reviewing Canada’s...

BTLR Cbc CRTC

Fewer phones than expected emergency alert compatible: official

telecom | 09/24/2018 5:48 pm EDT

Fewer phones than expected emergency alert compatible: official

OTTAWA — Those in charge of the wireless emergency alert system...

CRTC Smartphones Wireless

Feds paid $190,000 in late-fees to telecoms: documents

telecom | 09/21/2018 6:31 pm EDT

Security, data concerns drive two-phone phenomenon: Bell CEO

The federal government spent at least $190,600 on late-payment fees and...

Bell Cbc Rogers

Repurpose spectrum used for plane connectivity for mobile: Rogers

telecom | 09/21/2018 5:41 pm EDT

Repurpose spectrum used for plane connectivity for mobile: Rogers

Innovation, Science and Economic Development Canada (ISED) should change...

Rogers Spectrum Wireless

CSE defends network security as Tories press on Huawei concerns

telecom | 09/20/2018 8:51 pm EDT

OTTAWA -- Officials from Canada’s cyber-spy agency defended the security of Canada’s telecommunications systems and allowing Huawei Technologies Co. Ltd equipment to operate on them, as MPs pressed whether Canada should follow other Five Eyes allies and restrict the Chinese company’s technology. Communications Security Establishment (CSE) officials insisted Thursday afternoon that taking a "holistic" approach to ensuring security across “heterogeneous networks” is more important than the particular devices vendors are selling, comments that come amid an emerging political...

5g cybersecurity Huawei

Small ISPs ask for new limits on infringement notices

telecom | 09/20/2018 2:26 pm EDT

Small ISPs ask for new limits on infringement notices

The Canadian Network Operators’ Consortium (CNOC) told a House of Commons committee reviewing the Copyright Act that small internet service providers would like to see “some tweaking” to the notice-and-notice regime. That...

Senators asked to champion net neutrality in comms laws review

Media | 09/18/2018 6:38 pm EDT

Senators asked to champion net neutrality in comms laws review

OTTAWA -- Lawmakers need to make net neutrality a major priority and...

BTLR CRTC Internet

Northwestel boosting speeds threefold in October

telecom | 09/17/2018 5:00 pm EDT

Northwestel boosting speeds threefold in October

BCE Inc.’s Northwestel says it will begin providing internet service at speeds three times as fast as...

Internet Rural broadband

Smart home profitability may be elusive for telecoms, Desjardins says

telecom | 09/17/2018 4:34 pm EDT

Global telecoms that have deployed internet of things (IoT) in the home are not seeing the desired profitability from their investments, suggesting those ventures in Canada may suffer a similar fate, according to a review by Desjardins Capital Markets. “While we expect Canadian telcos to be more vocal about the...

Class action filed against Facebook over Android metadata collection

Media | 09/17/2018 12:35 pm EDT

Facebook Inc. is facing another class action suit in Ontario over how it handles user privacy in the wake of the Cambridge Analytica privacy scandal – this time,...

Apple Facebook Google

Ice Wireless can continue to roam until final decision

telecom | 07/07/2016 4:43 pm EDT

Sugar Mobile, an affiliate of Iristel Inc.-subsidiary Ice Wireless, can continue roaming on Rogers Communications Inc.’s network while the CRTC considers its final decision in a...

CRTC Roaming Rogers

Privacy commish warns telecoms about transparency reporting, metadata

telecom | 06/09/2016 12:42 am EDT

TORONTO — Privacy commissioner Daniel Therrien told a telecom industry audience Wednesday that companies should be prudent about the collection and use of metadata, and cautioned companies that...

Internet Privacy Smartphones

Competition Bureau wants input on Bell-MTS deal

telecom | 05/10/2016 4:32 pm EDT

The Competition Bureau is asking for comment on BCE Inc.’s $3.9-billion bid to buy Manitoba Telecom Services Inc., it said in a press release Tuesday. It made a form available on its website that both consumers and...

Bell Competition bureau Mts

ISED approves spectrum transfers

telecom | 04/22/2016 7:17 pm EDT

Innovation, Science and Economic Development (ISED) Canada has approved the transfer of 83 WCS spectrum licences from Xplornet Communications Inc. to Telus Corp. ISED said in a decision Thursday that though the transfer means...

Spectrum

In ‘unusual’ move, Blais calls for national digital strategy

telecom | 04/18/2016 10:37 pm EDT

GATINEAU, Que. — The ongoing basic services hearing may be the “last, best chance” for the CRTC and the stakeholders appearing before its five-person panel to formulate some...

CRTC Internet Rural broadband

Rogers revenue up 2% due to wireless, business divisions

telecom | 04/18/2016 10:26 pm EDT

Rogers Communications Inc. reported a two-per-cent increase in revenue in the first quarter, which rose from $3.18 billion to $3.25 billion. The company said in a Monday press release the increase...

Rogers

RCMP had encryption key for BlackBerry: report

telecom | 04/14/2016 8:19 pm EDT

The Royal Canadian Mounted Police has had an encryption key for BlackBerry Inc.’s devices since 2010, Vice News reported Wednesday. The report was based on court documents that show “law enforcement...

Privacy

New satellites to improve Internet access in North, companies say

telecom | 04/13/2016 9:21 pm EDT

As-yet-unlaunched satellites will make more Internet capacity available at a lower cost in rural and remote areas, satellite providers told the CRTC Wednesday, on the third day of its three-week...

CRTC Internet Rural broadband

Rogers program raises pre-hearing questions about affordability

telecom | 04/07/2016 9:33 pm EDT

OTTAWA — Other major Internet service providers may be compelled to follow in the footsteps of Rogers Communications Inc. and offer cheap Internet packages for low-income earners, according to experts looking ahead to next week’s CRTC basic telecom services hearing. On Thursday, Rogers announced the expansion of its Connected for Success program, which makes a $9.99-per-month Internet service available for those living in rent-geared-to-income housing in Ontario, New Brunswick and Newfoundland and Labrador. During a launch event in Ottawa, Rogers chief customer officer Deepak...

CRTC Internet Rogers

Lawsuit over expiry of prepaid services dismissed on appeal

telecom | 04/05/2016 6:27 pm EDT

The Ontario Superior Court of Justice has upheld a previous dismissal of a lawsuit against BCE Inc. over expiry dates on its prepaid wireless services. Launched in 2012, the...

Bell Wireless

FCC launches broadband labels

telecom | 04/04/2016 8:37 pm EDT

The U.S. Federal Communications Commission (FCC) has launched a labeling program for broadband services, similar to nutrition labels found on food products. “The consumer broadband labels will provide consumers with more...

Fcc Internet

Competition Bureau updates IP enforcement guidelines

Media | 04/01/2016 7:32 pm EDT

The Competition Bureau has updated its Intellectual Property Enforcement Guidelines, as part of what it said in a Thursday press release would be an annual review. It said the updated guidelines clarify “the Bureau’s...

Competition bureau Copyright

CRTC to reconsider current wholesale Internet rates

telecom | 03/31/2016 8:40 pm EDT

The CRTC issued Thursday a new approach to how the rates small companies pay large telecoms for wholesale Internet services are set, stating that “current wholesale [high-speed access] service rates are likely not just and...

CRTC Internet

Sugar Mobile model threatens facilities-based competition: Telus, Quebecor

telecom | 03/18/2016 8:47 pm EDT

Allowing Sugar Mobile to continue roaming on Rogers Communications Inc.’s network would be a “backdoor means” to mandated mobile virtual network operator (MVNO) access, and “a recipe to destroy any appetite for facilities-based competition,” Telus Corp. said. The company waded into an ongoing dispute between Sugar Mobile — an affiliate of Ice Wireless, an Iristel Inc. subsidiary — and Rogers, in which final interventions were due...

CRTC Quebecor Roaming

Telecoms’ TV customer losses up five-fold in 2015

telecom | 03/10/2016 10:22 pm EST

The number of subscribers leaving the Canadian TV system appears to be accelerating, as Canada’s publicly traded telecom companies lost five times more TV subscribers in 2015 than a year earlier. They reported having...

Internet Iptv Pick-and-pay

SaskTel says 1,000 customers hit by phishing scam

telecom | 02/26/2016 9:46 pm EST

Saskatchewan Telecommunications Holding Corp. said in a release Friday that it was recently the target of a “large phishing attack.” It said it estimates the attack affected about 1,000 customers. The...

Internet Sasktel

25,000 respond to basic services survey: CRTC

telecom | 02/26/2016 5:16 pm EST

The CRTC said Friday that more than 25,000 Canadians have completed a questionnaire on the future of broadband as part of its basic telecom services review. The deadline to complete the survey, which includes topics...

CRTC Internet

Sugar Mobile subs have no ‘right’ to roaming: Rogers

telecom | 02/19/2016 8:47 pm EST

Rogers Communications Inc. and BCE Inc. told the CRTC that Rogers has the right to disconnect Ice Wireless from its network because its affiliate Sugar Mobile is selling service outside of Ice...

Bell CRTC Roaming

Shaw to keep Wind’s current strategy in place: exec

telecom | 02/09/2016 9:51 pm EST

As it takes ownership of Wind Mobile, Shaw Communications Inc. will continue positioning Wind as a cheaper option compared to the big three national wireless carriers, according to the company’s chief operating officer....

600 mhz 700 mhz Bell

Bell profits down 8.8 per cent in Q4

telecom | 02/04/2016 9:45 pm EST

BCE Inc. reported net earnings of $542 million in the fourth quarter of 2015, down 8.8 per cent from the same time a year earlier. It said Thursday that final quarter revenues were up 1.4 per cent to $5.60 billion,...

Bell Internet Iptv

Wind completes Vancouver expansion, begins Calgary work

telecom | 02/04/2016 5:30 pm EST

Wind Mobile announced Thursday it has completed its network infrastructure upgrades in Vancouver and has begun a similar expansion in Calgary. The company said in a press release that...

Shaw Spectrum Wind mobile

Growth in telecom to lag behind economy: Conference Board

Media | 02/03/2016 10:48 pm EST

According to the Conference Board of Canada, high debt levels and weak job prospects will make it difficult for Canadians to increase spending on telecom services in 2016, limiting industry growth. A...

Netflix Ott Pick-and-pay