Tag: EastLink

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Mobile Syrup

Eastlink will launch mobile services in Bathurst, NB in April

Bathurst, New Brunswick, residents will soon have access to mobile services courtesy of Eastlink. Plans feature rollover data, 5G services, and contract buyouts.

The company says it’s on track to launch the service next month under mobile network expansion plans for Northern New Brunswick. The project also brought mobile services to the City of Miramichi.

“Our retail location is ready to open next month in the Bathurst Mall and our technical teams, along with local contractors, are putting the finishing touches on the installation of poles, antennae systems and supportive equipment,” Eastlink CEO, Jeff Gillham, said in a press release.

The expansion plan has a $26 million price tag and aims to improve coverage and service options for New Brunswick residents.

Image credit: Eastlink

Source: Eastlink

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Mobile Syrup

Innovation Minister wants CRTC to investigate rising roaming rates

Innovation Minister François-Philippe Champagne has asked the Canadian Radio-television and Telecommunications Commission (CRTC) to examine recent price hikes on roaming plans.

“This is part of a concerning trend to charge more for existing services broadly at a time when inflationary pressures are making it difficult for Canadians to pay their bills,” Champagne wrote in a letter to CRTC Chair Vicky Eatrides.

Several carriers have recently implemented price hikes. Telus and its flanker brand Koodo increased the cost for U.S. roaming from $12/day to $14/day and international roaming from $15 to $16/day.

Bell and its flanker Virgin Plus also increased its price tag. The costs for U.S. roaming went from $12/day to $13/day and international roaming from $15/day to $16/day.

Eastlink also has plans to increase its costs by $1 on April 20th. The company will charge $13/day for U.S. roaming and $16/day for international roaming.

“Increases to these types of ancillary fees add to the cost of a consumer’s bill beyond the main sticker price,” Champagne wrote. “In many cases, these fees are much less visible and are unpredictable or challenging for consumers to understand.”

Champagne acknowledges the Wireless Code addresses some aspects of roaming fees but doesn’t stop providers from increasing costs involved with international roaming.

“Increases to ancillary fees like international roaming fees can be a mechanism where a service provider seeks to raise the consumer price without affecting the main sticker price that is most visible to consumers in making their purchasing decision.”

Source: @FP_Champagne

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Mobile Syrup

Eastlink to increase roaming costs on April 20

Eastlink is the latest provider in Canada to up the cost of its roaming services.

Under easyTravel, Eastlink customers can use the same plan they have at home for $12 a day if they’re travelling to the U.S. and $15/day internationally.

But come April 20th, the prices will increase to $13/day for the U.S. and $16/day internationally, according to information a reader shared with MobileSyrup.

Eastlink is following a trend that saw Telus and Koodo increase their costs on March 8th. Bell and its flanker brand Virgin Plus also implemented a $1 increase on March 9th.

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Mobile Syrup

Eastlink expands its mobile network in Miramichi, NB

Nova Scotia-based telecom company Eastlink has expanded its mobile network to Miramichi, New Brunswick. 

The move is part of a $26 million mobile expansion in the province to improve coverage and provide residents with more service options.

Eastlink’s network features rollover data, 5G-ready service, and $0 down device options.

“Our teams have been working hard for the better part of the year getting our network sites built and our store ready to reflect the interactive, personalized experience we want our customers to have when they walk through the door,”  Jeff Gillham, the company’s CEO, said.

Source: Eastlink

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Mobile Syrup

Here are the biggest Canadian telecom stories of the week [Sept. 24-29]

Atlantic Canada was hit by Hurricane Fiona a week ago, impacting telecommunications services for thousands. Here’s a roundup of how carriers responded and other telecom developments over the last week.

Business

Spam calls are incredibly annoying, but the worst part is that there isn’t much people can do about it. While the Canadian Radio-television and Telecommunications Commission (CRTC) mandated all service providers to implement STIR/SHAKEN technology to curb spam calls in November, various factors have stopped the technology from taking full effect. Unfortunately, until these factors are addressed (or people choose to implement third-party technology), Canadians will continue to receive unwanted calls.

Xplore is extending its fibre services in Quebec under the provincial government’s Operation Haute Vitesse program. The service provider is currently working on giving access to 6,000 homes and businesses.

Telus will use Palo Alto Network’s security software on its 5G network.

Several service providers, including Telus and Freedom Mobile, waived charges for long distance calls and texts to Iran as protests continue in the country.

Following Hurricane Fiona’s arrival on September 24th, several carriers offered impacted customers various forms of assistance. Bell gave customers 50GB of extra data, Eastlink applied free data overages and top-ups, and Telus waived long-distance charges for calls, text, and data overages.

Government

Nova Scotia Premier Tim Houston sent a letter to Minister François-Philippe Champagne complaining about the “poor participation and support” of telecom companies before, during, and after Hurricane Fiona made downfall. “I’m asking you, as the Minister who oversees these companies, to consider all potential legislative and regulatory means to hold telecommunications companies accountable for participating in emergency planning, preparedness, response, mitigation, and recovery to the fullest extent possible,” Houston wrote. However, several companies have spoken up in their defence, stating they participated where possible.

Ministers Champagne and Chrystia Freeland met with telecom companies on the same day Houston shared his letter, according to a statement Champagne made on Twitter. It’s not clear if the parties met before or after Houston published the letter.

Deals

Rogers flanker brand Chatr is offering new activations 2GB of bonus data for 12 months. The bonus applies to most plans the brand offers and expires on October 3rd. You can find more details here.

Image credit: @TimHoustonNS/Twitter

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Mobile Syrup

Nova Scotia’s Premier says carriers offered ‘poor participation’ during Hurricane Fiona

Nova Scotia’s Premier is calling out Canada’s telecommunications companies on their “poor participation and support” before, during, and after Hurricane Fiona.

Premier Tim Houston shared details in a letter sent to François-Philippe Champagne, Canada’s Minister of Innovation, Science and Industry.

The letter states the Province’s Emergency Management Office (EMO) began preparing for Fiona’s landfall one week before it arrived and requested representatives from its infrastructure partners be sent to the Provincial Coordination Centre.

“Given the expected impacts on power and telecommunications, having a representative attend in person was imperative for optimal collaboration.”

Initial requests were left unanswered. Complaints from EMO led Bell to send one representative who was present in person for two days before working virtually. Eastlink, Rogers, and Telus participated virtually but failed to send a representative in person following the initial response. It was only after three days of public and media pressure did representatives attend in person.

Houston says cellular and landline services have improved, but some cell towers are running on generators, and reliable service isn’t available in Cape Breton.

While other key companies, including Nova Scotia Power and the Canadian Red Cross, were willing to participate in press briefings to share updates with residents, telecom companies were not. When a rep is made available, they’re unable to answer questions, he said.

“I’m asking you, as the Minister who oversees these companies, to consider all potential legislative and regulatory means to hold telecommunications companies accountable for participating in emergency planning, preparedness, response, mitigation, and recovery to the fullest extent possible,” Houston concludes in his letter.

Bell released the following statement in response to Houston’s statement.

Image credit: @TimHoustonNS/ Twitter

Source: @TimHoustonNS/ Twitter

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Mobile Syrup

June roundup: network expansions in Canada

Telecom companies, internet service providers (ISPs) and various government bodies have made a number of expansion announcements over the past month.

To help you keep track of them all, MobileSyrup has put together a roundup. You can also check the announcements out on the map below.

Government

June 2: The governments of Canada and PEI invest $10 million to bring high-speed internet to all PEI homes. 

June 3: The federal government grants Xplornet and Rogers millions to bring high-speed internet to 11,000 homes in New Brunswick. 

June 30: The federal government and the Province of Quebec invest $8.2 million to bring high-speed internet to 25 rural communities.

Telus

June 3: Telus invests $10 million to bring its PureFibre network to Chaudière-Appalaches, Quebec. 

June 9: The telecom provider announced it’s expanding its PureFibre network to Quebec’s Granit region. 

June 10: Telus announced it would continue to expand its 5G network in Kamloops and Osoyoos and Oliver, B.C. 

June 17: Telus shared it will deploy its 3500MHz spectrum. It’s available in several areas, including Toronto and Montreal. 

TekSavvy

June 8: The ISP announced the national availability of its Unified Communications solution 

Bell

June 10: The company announced it would expand its pure fibre internet services to London, Ontario.

June 15: Bell announced details to deploy 5G+, which utilizes the 3500MHz spectrum. 

Rogers

June 15: The Toronto-based telecom provider announced it was the first to deploy the 3500MHz spectrum in Canada. 

Mage Network

June 21: The company received $500,000 to bring high-speed internet to 280 households in West Bragg Creek, Alberta.

Eastlink

June 23: Eastlink announced it’s ready to install fibre in Mindemoya, Ontario, bringing high-speed internet access to 321 households.

Shaw

June 30: Shaw launches a new internet tier for businesses starting at $195 a month.

Image credit: Shutterstock

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Mobile Syrup

Eastlink’s Miramichi, New Brunswick expansion will ‘go live in the coming months’

Eastlink says it’s making “great progress” on mobile network expansions in Miramichi, New Brunswick.

The Halifax-based telecom provider originally announced details in September 2021, investing $26 million to expand its mobile network in several communities. The project was set to take place over the next couple of years, with the first step to expand existing coverage from Shediac to Miramichi this year.

Eastlink will follow with expansions in Bathurst and the Acadian Peninsula.

Steve Irvine, Eastlink’s vice-president of engineering and chief technology officer, says operations in Miramichi will begin “in the coming months.”

“We have the necessary approvals and permits in place and have begun preparing several sites between Shediac and Miramichi with access roads, tree trimming and the installation of poles, antennae systems and supportive equipment,” Irvine confirmed. 

Source: Eastlink

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Mobile Syrup

Regional providers charging less for wireless, broadband, and mobile internet services in most cases: study

Aerial view of mobiel phone cell tower over forested rural area of West Virginia to illustrate lack of broadband internet service

A study prepared for the Government of Canada found national flanker brands are charging more for wireless services in some cases than regional providers.

The study also found a similar difference in prices for wholesale-based competitors and regional companies providing mobile internet services.

The study, commissioned every year for Innovation, Science and Economic Development Canada, examines the three categories over “service baskets” or levels. Each category has a different number of baskets that reflects service volumes that capture usage levels by Canadians.

Mobile wireless

The study examined wireless services on eight different levels. Level one included voice minutes and texts. Level 2 only involves 1GB of data. Levels three to eight include unlimited talk and text, with varying amounts of data.

The comparison found prices offered by regional providers, including Freedom, SaskTel, Xplore Mobile, Videotron, and Eastlink, are between 6 and 22 percent lower than national incumbents, including Bell and Telus. Prices mostly greatly contrasted between incumbents and regional providers in Ontario and BC, where Freedom offers services.

The study also found that incumbents that offered flanker brands (Virgin, Fido, and Koodo) didn’t always provide the lower cost. “Flankers were higher priced 15 times and lower-priced 13 times. We do note that regional provider prices were consistently lower than flanker prices in Ontario and BC.”

Reseller plans that offer the same service levels as national providers were consistently priced lower. Most regions examined in the study also had a service provider or reseller available that charged less for specific levels than national providers.

Internationally, Canada, the U.S., and Japan have the highest wireless prices. The analysis found Japan charged more for all levels than Canada, except for Level 8, which features unlimited talk and text and between 20 and 49GB of data.

Fixed broadband internet

The study broke download speeds into seven different levels. Level one involved speeds between 3 and 9Mbps. Level seven involves speeds greater than 500Mbps.

Where both parties offer plans, incumbents offer higher prices than wholesale-based competitors (WBC) on four levels, all on the lower end of speeds. WBC plans are priced 8 to 18 percent lower. But the opposite is true for services with faster speeds. WBC plans cost 15 percent more than the incumbent.

Overall, Canada has higher prices on most levels than the U.S. Canada also saw higher prices in 2021 compared to 2020 on almost all levels. Comparatively, prices in the U.S. have been declining over the last couple of years. Compared to Japan, Canada has higher prices on the three lower levels.

Mobile internet

The study includes four levels: level one includes mobile plans with 2 to 4GB of data a month, level two includes 5 to 10GB of data, level three has 11 to 49GB, and level four includes plans with 50 to 99GB of data.

The study found regional providers are charging 25 percent less than incumbent providers for level one in all provinces except Quebec. For level two it’s 21 percent less, level three is 18 percent less, and level four is 37 percent less, respectively. Regional providers are uniformly charging more for mobile data than incumbents in Quebec.

Image credit: Shutterstock 

Source: Innovation, Science and Economic Development Canada

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Mobile Syrup

CRTC says action on botnet traffic a must to protect Canadians

The Canadian Radio-television and Telecommunications Commission (CRTC) says regulatory action is needed to ensure telecom providers that block botnets do it in a way that protects Canadians.

Cyber attackers use botnets to emit activities, including spam and information theft, that goes against Canada’s anti-spam legislation (CASL). Botnets impact everyone, from small businesses to hospitals.

The CRTC says communications from botnets flow through the networks telecom companies provide, putting them in a position to implement blocks of botnet activities.

In its decision, the regulatory body said it needs to take action as the current practices of service providers are “opaque” and aren’t consistent when sharing botnet indicators of compromise (IOCs). The CRTC further stated service providers are in a “unique position” to address activity, and blocking the issue at the network level is appropriate.

The CRTC’s Interconnection Steering Committee will examine the issue and create a report with its recommendations in the next nine months. A commenting period will follow, and the CRTC says it will “establish the minimum standards for botnet blocking” afterwards.

Several parties, including telecom companies, financial institutions, and advocacy groups, submitted comments last year when the CRTC launched its initial consultation. Bell, Eastlink, Telus and Rogers were part of the telecom companies who said intervention from the regulatory body was unnecessary.

The Big Three ultimately rejected the idea of mandatory blocking.

“The parties opposed to regulatory intervention argued that the existing flexibility afforded through collaboration is more adaptable than regulation, that a regulatory authority to block botnets already exists, that the current blocking efforts already follow industry best practices, and that other parties can contribute to botnet mitigation strategies more than [service providers] can,” the CRTC said in its decision.

Source: CRTC