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TAGGED AS 600 MHZ

Freedom answers to ‘unlimited’, offers $0 phones on select plans

telecom | 07/25/2019 6:41 pm EDT

Shaw Communications Inc.’s Freedom is responding to the wireless industry’s recent moves toward removing data caps and offering $0 upfront financing plans by throwing-in...

No broadcaster compensation for 600 MHz move, ISED confirms

Media | 05/28/2019 1:48 pm EDT

Broadcasters have lobbied the government for years to reimburse them for having to switch channels when the 600 MHz spectrum is repurposed for mobile wireless use, but all such requests have so-far been rebuffed, The Wire Report has learned.   In 2016, Innovation Canada...

Shaw says patience, not regulation, required to see organic MVNO market

telecom | 05/17/2019 4:55 pm EDT

Shaw Communications Inc.’s Freedom, the country’s major fourth wireless player, says it is most susceptible to harm if the CRTC decides to mandate MVNO access to incumbent facilities, and that...

Bell-branded wireless hits sub-1% churn, continuing industry trend

Media | 05/02/2019 5:46 pm EDT

The expected focus by the country’s largest wireless service providers...

5G a race between countries, not carriers: Rogers’ Natale

Media | 04/18/2019 6:16 pm EDT

Rogers Communications Inc. CEO Joe Natale emphasized the $1.7 billion the...

Analysts surprised by Bell’s lack of 600 MHz, incumbent spend

telecom | 04/11/2019 5:57 pm EDT

BCE Inc. walking away from the 600 MHz spectrum auction with no licences,...

Bell opts out of 600 MHz, Rogers nabs 52 licenses for $1.7B

telecom | 04/10/2019 5:30 pm EDT

BCE Inc. was among three prospective applicants who didn’t grab licenses for the coveted 600 MHz spectrum, widely considered to be the last chance to get valuable low-band frequencies. The results of the auction were released late Wednesday afternoon. Among the winners were Rogers Communications Inc., Telus Corp., Shaw Communications Inc., Quebecor Inc., Xplornet Communications Inc., Saskatchewan Telecommunications Holding Corp., Iristel Inc., TBayTel Inc., and Bragg Communications Inc. Innovation Minister Navdeep Bains said in a phone interview he was “very happy with the outcome,...

‘Real’ 5G coming in 2020: Telus CFO

telecom | 03/20/2019 6:17 pm EDT

Parts of Canada will see “real 5G,” as opposed to just trials, by late 2020, Telus Corp.’s chief financial officer Doug French told an investors’ conference Wednesday. That will only be possible after the conclusion...

Rural broadband, new tax rules among industry pre-budget asks

Media | 03/15/2019 5:55 pm EDT

As the Liberal government unveils its last budget before the upcoming...

Ottawa bans white space tech from parts of 600 MHz band

telecom | 03/14/2019 6:20 pm EDT

Fixed ‘white space’ devices will be permitted to operate on 60-72 MHz spectrum, but they will be banned from 600 MHz commercial mobile bands, Innovation, Science and Economic Development Canada...

Might be ‘late’ for regional wireless competitors: Cogeco

Media | 01/23/2019 5:05 pm EST

Cogeco Inc.  is raising caution about the negative impact the government's...

Cogeco won’t be among bidders for 600 MHz spectrum

telecom | 12/06/2018 6:29 pm EST

Cogeco Inc. isn’t among the list of participants in the 600 MHz auction, released by Innovation Canada...

Few surprises in 600 MHz auction framework: analysts

telecom | 03/29/2018 4:15 pm EDT

Innovation Canada has released its framework for the 600 MHz spectrum auction, now scheduled for March 2019, and it will set aside 43 per cent of spectrum for “regional competitors and potential new market entrants,” according...

Don’t allow white space devices above 608 MHz, ISED hears

telecom | 02/22/2018 5:59 pm EST

Innovation Canada (ISED) is hearing from both telecoms and broadcasters that it should go ahead with its proposal to limit white space devices to bands below 608 MHz, though for very different...

Millimetre wave spectrum set-asides harmful to 5G potential: telcos

telecom | 11/27/2017 5:51 pm EST

The issue of set-asides has resurfaced in replies to a consultation on...

Size of 600 MHz set-aside, licence areas points of contention

telecom | 11/21/2017 5:25 pm EST

While much of the debate around the upcoming 600 MHz spectrum auction has centered on implementing spectrum set-asides, issues like imposing a spectrum cap and the size of any set-aside, the ability of small providers to participate, and compensation for TV stations are also being hammered out in the lead-up to the action. The consultation wrapped up earlier this month and reply comments were posted on Innovation Canada’s website last week. In recent months, large providers Rogers Communications Inc., BCE Inc. and Telus Corp. have been vocal in their opposition to setting aside spectrum...

ISED consulting on wireless microphones, white space devices

telecom | 11/16/2017 5:58 pm EST

Innovation, Science and Economic Development Canada (ISED) is asking for input on how to deal with both wireless devices that previously used some 600 MHz spectrum and new technology that will be...

Freedom set to support older iPhones with spectrum rejig, deployment

telecom | 10/26/2017 5:37 pm EDT

Shaw Communications Inc. announced Thursday that it would move to redeploy...

ISED consulting on spectrum strategy for next five years

telecom | 10/06/2017 5:30 pm EDT

Innovation Canada is initiating a consultation on its approach to spectrum...

Regional players shouldn’t qualify for spectrum set asides: Bell, Rogers

telecom | 09/12/2017 5:54 pm EDT

Two of Canada’s largest telecom companies aren’t overly enthusiastic...

Quebecor, Shaw to benefit from 600 MHz set-asides: analysts

telecom | 08/08/2017 3:27 pm EDT

Quebecor Inc.’s Videotron and Shaw Communications Inc.’s Freedom Mobile will be the big winners if Innovation Canada goes ahead with its plans to set aside spectrum for smaller players in the upcoming 600 MHz auction, financial analysts said. Barclays Capital analyst Phillip Huang said in a Tuesday note that the proposed rules to set aside 43 per cent of the spectrum for smaller companies will primarily benefit those two telecoms. He added that the auction is unlikely to attract new competitors, noting that out of the seven new entrants emerging from the 2008 AWS auction, only...

ISED mulling set-asides for 600 MHz spectrum

telecom | 08/04/2017 4:38 pm EDT

Innovation, Science and Economic Development (ISED) Canada is looking to bolster wireless competition by...

ISED to consult on 5G, 600 MHz process to launch in ‘weeks’

telecom | 06/05/2017 4:42 pm EDT

TORONTO — Innovation Minister Navdeep Bains said Monday the government would launch a public consultation on “releasing spectrum to support the development and deployment of 5G mobile...

Bell touts good relationship with PMO: Barclays

telecom | 05/08/2017 7:58 pm EDT

BCE Inc. believes the company currently has a “good working relationship” with the Prime Minister’s Office (PMO), according to a note from Barclays Capital analyst Phillip Huang, written following meetings...

ISED releases timeline, allotments for 600 MHz transition

Media | 04/18/2017 8:16 pm EDT

Innovation, Science and Economic Development Canada (ISED) has released a schedule and details how it plans to shift the use of 600 MHz spectrum from over-the-air (OTA) television to wireless. ISED...

600MHz auction wraps in U.S.

telecom | 04/13/2017 9:21 pm EDT

A year after it began, the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) has completed its incentive auction of 600 MHz spectrum to be repurposed for wireless use. The auction, which ran March 29, 2016 to March 30, 2017, grossed $19.8...

Equipment, resources for 600MHz transition available: ISED

telecom | 01/30/2017 9:52 pm EST

Innovation, Science, and Economic Development Canada (ISED), has responded to concerns about the availability of equipment and manpower that will be needed as Canada and the United States both...

600 MHz auction enters final stage in U.S.

Media | 01/20/2017 8:04 pm EST

The American telecom regulator said it is entering the final stage of its incentive auction for repurposing 600 MHz spectrum for wireless use. In a statement Wednesday, outgoing Federal Communications Commission (FCC)...

Bell asks gov’t for 600 MHz revenue fund for OTA

telecom | 01/03/2017 6:15 pm EST

BCE Inc. is asking the federal government to use part of the proceeds from its upcoming 600 MHz spectrum auction for a revenue fund to support local television. In a submission filed in response to...

Compensate broadcasters for 600 MHz transition: RABC

telecom | 12/12/2016 10:21 pm EST

The Radio Advisory Board of Canada (RABC) says broadcasters should be compensated for the cost of changing channels due to the repurposing of 600 MHz spectrum for wireless use. In a reply filed in response to a request for comments by the department of Innovation, Science, and Economic Development (ISED), the technical advisory group, whose members include companies like Rogers Communications Inc., BCE Inc. and Telus Corp., wrote that without “reimbursement, Canadian broadcasters suffer a disadvantage compared to US broadcasters.” It said that there...

‘Similar hurdles’ as U.S. possible in 600 MHz auction: Desjardins

Media | 12/12/2016 8:54 pm EST

The 600 MHz spectrum auction in the United States has again been delayed after bidders failed to meet minimum prices for spectrum, and Canada could see similar problems in its own upcoming auction,...

Infrastructure, spectrum key to competition, lower prices: Bains

telecom | 11/17/2016 10:16 pm EST

OTTAWA — The quality of Canada’s wireless and wireline networks is a “significant strength,” but the country can’t rest on its laurels while others catch up, Innovation...

CRTC issues TV licence-renewal outline

Media | 11/02/2016 8:17 pm EDT

The CRTC has issued a “working document” to guide discussion in the upcoming public hearing on the renewal of television licences by large ownership groups. “The inclusion of specific proposals in the working...

Quebecor in ‘no rush’ to get rid of 700MHz spectrum: Pruneau

telecom | 09/22/2016 10:26 pm EDT

Quebecor Inc.’s chief financial officer Jean-François Pruneau said Thursday the company is content to wait to sell the 700 MHz spectrum it picked up in 2014 and...

Wind hits 1M subscribers in first quarterly report since 2014

telecom | 07/15/2016 10:46 pm EDT

On Friday, Shaw Communications Inc. released Wind Mobile’s first quarterly results since it acquired the wireless company earlier this year, which showed revenues of $132 million for the quarter, as the company assured analysts and shareholders on a conference call that its wireless strategy will take off as it launches an LTE network and obtains low-band spectrum in the future. Wind’s revenues were up 24 per cent compared to the equivalent period last year, driven by a 136,000 increase in subscribers year-over-year, the company said. Its average revenue per user (ARPU) was...

First round of 600 MHz auction wraps up in U.S.

telecom | 06/30/2016 7:22 pm EDT

The first round of an auction in the United States to convert spectrum in the 600 MHz band from TV to wireless use has wrapped up, setting a price of $86.4 billion for 126 MHz of the frequency, the Federal Communications...

Ministry was shooting for telecom spending status quo: report

telecom | 03/08/2016 9:32 pm EST

The new government's first financial plan is set to be revealed March 22, but a Treasury Board report tabled this week in the House of Commons gives a glimpse at where the government...

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....

29 local TV stations at risk of closing by 2020: report

Media | 11/10/2015 7:52 pm EST

A report from independent consultant and lawyer Peter Miller and research company Nordicity says that 50 per cent of Canada’s small- and medium-market local TV stations could...

As OTA leaves 600 MHz, stations set for ‘difficult transition’: expert

Media | 08/18/2015 8:34 pm EDT

Industry Canada will repurpose the 600 MHz spectrum band for mobile use and collaborate with the United States on the move, which means at least some over-the-air (OTA) television stations will have...