Tag: teksavvy

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CRTC orders Rogers, Bell, to share details on network-sharing agreements

The Canadian Radio-television and Telecommunications Commission (CRTC) has directed Rogers and Bell to share details on agreements with Vidéotron and EBOX.

Rogers’ agreement with Québecor subsidiary Vidéotron is part of the company’s $26-billion merger with Shaw. Vidéotron is seeking approval to acquire Freedom Mobile for $2.85 billion from Innovation Minister François-Philippe Champagne.

Rogers has said it will lease its broadband network to the company at a lower rate than wholesale. However, TekSavvy has argued the deal violates the Telecommunications Act.

The Commission wants Rogers to share specifics on the wholesale service or agreement it will provide to Vidéotron. Almost nothing is known about the selection process that led Rogers and Shaw to pick Vidéotron as the company it would sell Freedom to.

TekSavvy’s application also points to preferential treatment with Bell and its recently acquired company EBOX. The CRTC has also directed Bell to share details of any agreements between the two brands.

Both Rogers and Bell have previously stated the agreements aren’t preferential.

The CRTC says it must receive the responses by April 11th.

Source: CRTC

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TekSavvy upgrades its Cable 75 Unlimited internet package to Cable 100 Unlimited

Internet service provider TekSavvy is upgrading its Cable 75 Unlimited internet package at no additional cost to customers.

The change will give customers download speeds up to 100Mbps instead of 75Mbps and allow for more than 10 devices to connect at once, according to its website.

TekSavvy will send the approximately 28,000 impacted subscribers an email notifying them of the change. Customers aren’t required to take any action.

“Your monthly invoice amount will remain the same. The only thing that is changing is that you get more of what you love. Fast internet,” the email reads.

You can check out TekSavvy’s website for more information on internet plans.

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ISP Start.ca reportedly joins Telus banner

Telus appears to have acquired internet service provider (ISP), Start.ca.

Peter Nowak, an executive at ISP TekSavvy, shared the news on Twitter. Nowak didn’t share how he confirmed the acquisition.

It’s unclear how many customers the acquisition impacts and if it went through regulatory approval.

Additionally, Nowak states the telecom giant has also overtaken a second ISP, Altima.

MobileSyrup cannot independently confirm the news but will provide an update once available.

This isn’t the first time Altima’s name has been associated with Telus. Flanker brand Koodo partnered with the ISP in December to offer discounted internet services.

Both Altima and Start.ca serve Ontario residents.

Image credit: Shutterstock 

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TekSavvy says Rogers, Vidéotron wholesale deal violates Telecommunications Act

Source: https://www.newswire.ca/news-releases/teksavvy-launches-super-fast-fibre-internet-service-in-tupperville-851678510.html

TekSavvy wants the Canadian Radio-television and Telecommunications Commission (CRTC) to investigate wholesale arrangements between Rogers and Vidéotron.

The deal is part of Rogers’ plans to merge with Shaw and will see Vidéotron acquire Freedom Mobile. However, TekSavvy argues the arrangements violate the Telecommunications Act.

During the Competition Tribunal’s hearing examining the merger, the companies shared Rogers would lease its broadband network with Vidéotron at a discounted price. TekSavvy says these prices aren’t available to them or other independent service providers (ISP) that lease services from incumbents.

The CRTC sets wholesale rates, and TekSavvy argues the arrangement violates Section 27(2) of The Act, resulting in anti-competitive actions.

“The largest consolidation in the history of the Canadian telecom sector is predicated on unlawful wholesale agreements,” Andy-Kaplan Myrth, TekSavvy’s vice president of regulatory and carrier affairs, said.

“These arrangements were not arrived at through negotiations based on natural market forces, but are instead an effort by Rogers to remove regulatory hurdles to its acquisition of another Incumbent, Shaw.”

The CRTC approved broadcast aspects of the merger in March 2022 with several conditions.

The Competition Bureau is fighting to block the merger and will face Rogers, Shaw, and Vidéotron in the Federal Court of Appeal next week. The Competition Tribunal previously discussed the matter and backed the telecoms.

The bureau argues the tribunal didn’t consider the various issues surrounding such arrangements. On the other hand, the three telecom companies have asked the court to dismiss the bureau’s application.

Innovation Minister François-Philippe Champagne also needs to provide approval. TekSavvy recently urged the Minister to block the transaction, citing fears such ventures could impact the presence of ISPs.

Image credit: TekSavvy

Source: TekSavvy

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Minister Champagne must block Rogers-Shaw merger to protect ISPs, TekSavvy says

Source: https://www.newswire.ca/news-releases/teksavvy-launches-super-fast-fibre-internet-service-in-tupperville-851678510.html

TekSavvy calls on Industry Minister François-Philippe Champagne to block Rogers’ $26-billion takeover of Shaw.

Peter Nowak, the independent service provider’s (ISP) spokesman, says the Minister must take action before ISPs are “squeezed out.”

The merger, which will also see Vidéotron acquire Freedom Mobile, previously received approval from the Canadian Radio-television and Telecommunications Commission (CRTC). The Competition Bureau, another entity that must provide approval, sought to block the merger.

Unsuccessful in its initial bid, the bureau will present its case to the Federal Court of Appeal on January 24th. It was the Competition Bureau’s efforts to block the merger that revealed Rogers’ plans to rent its broadband network to Vidéotron at “preferential rates,” TekSavvy says.

“With competitors leaving the market, the federal government’s own data confirms Canadian internet prices are skyrocketing during an unprecedented cost of living crisis.”

The Minister previously stated he’ll wait to see how the legal proceedings go before making any decisions.

Image credit: TekSavvy

Source: TekSavvy

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TekSavvy will give you a $10/month discount when you refer a friend

Teksavvy has launched a new holiday offer that saves you and a friend/family member $120 off your bill over 12 months.

The internet provider says that the program allows TekSavvy customers to sign up a friend for internet service in order to save both parties $10 off their monthly bill for 12 months.

Teksavvy’s offer runs from December 1st to January 31st and is valid for all customers that “meet the eligibility requirements.” Further, the deal is also valid for current Teksavvy customers.

It’s unclear what plans qualify for this deal or how to enroll in it, but MobileSyrup has reached out to TekSavvy for more details.

TekSavvy primarily offers internet services in the southern Ontario area.

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TekSavvy reveals CRTC chair Ian Scott’s multiple mystery meetings

The Canadian Radio-television and Telecommunications Commission (CRTC) chair Ian Scott has been under fire over meetings with telecom executives, particularly when Scott was photographed having beers with Bell CEO Mirko Bibic.

Now, independent internet service provider (ISP) TekSavvy obtained records detailing multiple undocumented, off-site meetings between Scott and unknown participants. In a blog post, TekSavvy explains it obtained documents through the Access to Information Act. The documents show several lunches or meetings Scott had in Ottawa between 2019 and 2021.

Specifically, the information in the documents comes from Scott’s calendar entries associated with the business uses of his vehicle. The documents don’t always include information about who attended the meetings or what topics were discussed. Moreover, TekSavvy said the CRTC didn’t provide additional details or documentation related to the meetings through a spokesperson or additional access-to-information requests.

Highlights from the documents include that several of the meetings occurred at the high-end Rideau Club. Records show that Scott met with Quebecor CEO Pierre Karl Peladeau and former CBC executive vice-president and Telus advisor Richard Stursberg. TekSavvy says there’s no further documentation of those meetings, and neither meeting was logged in the federal lobbyist registry. A Quebecor spokesperson told TekSavvy that the CRTC requested the meeting with Peladeau and that it wasn’t logged because it didn’t pertain to matters covered by lobbying regulations.

TekSavvy argues that meetings like these are concerning since there’s no transparency around them. There’s no way to know what was discussed at the meetings and what impact (if any) the meetings had on CRTC decisions. The ISP even cites a 2o14 CRTC document advising against meetings like the ones Scott attended since they could appear to express favour or bias.

Finally, TekSavvy reiterated its call for Scott’s removal, noting that he presided over several anti-consumer decisions that the ISP says contributed to rising internet prices and the acquisition of several independent telecom companies by large players. However, Scott’s term as CRTC chairperson was extended until January 4th, 2023. It was initially set to end in September.

Source: TekSavvy

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Telecom news round up [Aug 13-19]

Welcome to another edition of MobileSyrup’s telecom news roundup.

Business

The Commission for Complaints for Telecom-television Services’ (CCTS) received 15,000 complaints in 2021. The CRTC-mandated organization summarized the details in its 2021 Compliance and Monitoring report. While the report lacks information about which companies received the most complaints, it does point to 4pairless communications twice when discussing breaches of its Procedural Code.

Six weeks after Rogers’ July 8th outage, the company has revealed more details surrounding the nationwide disturbance. More than 13 million wireline and wireless customers were impacted. When it came to restoring services, Rogers focused on wireless services first, followed by wireline services and critical care services. The disclosure results from several requests from various organizations demanding Rogers reveal more detail on the outage.

The CRTC is continuing its investigation into Rogers’ nationwide outage. The regulatory body has sent the company a list of questions it needs “to assess the situation.” The commission wants details on the company’s plan to separate its wireless and wireline networks, the direct economic losses the outage brought, and its impact on 911 services.

More on the CRTC, the commission has ruled it will decide on Telus’ application to charge credit card fees in 45 days. The CRTC commonly approves interim decisions 15 days after receiving applications. However, the commission says it won’t take that step in this case, given the number of interventions against Telus’ request. That figure sits in the thousands. More background on the topic is available here.

Internet Service Provider (ISP) TekSavvy has once again asked the Competition Bureau to address predatory internet pricing. In a letter, the ISP says large companies are offering retail internet prices under their flanker brands that cost less than the “inflated” prices they charge competitors. TekSavvy says the anti-competitive behaviour is going unchecked, leading ISPs to go out of business.

Infrastructure

Telus is planning on spending billions of dollars in British Columbia through 2026. Under the commitment, the Vancouver-based telecom giant will invest $33 million in Surrey this year. $13 million will also go towards New Westminster, $4 million to Richmond, and $105 million to Vancouver. The company has promised similar investments for several municipalities in Alberta.

Deals

The new school year is just around the corner, and several brands are offering decent promotions for students.

Public Mobile is offering students a 20GB data plan for $55/mo.

Rogers has offered some former customers a $45/25GB win-back plan.

Virgin Plus has a $45/20GB plan available for some customers, although getting it requires talking to an agent through chat.

Deals are also available through Nintendo and Amazon.

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TekSavvy wants Competition Bureau to enforce predatory internet pricing in Canada

Aerial view of mobile phone cell tower to illustrate lack of broadband internet service in rural areas and need for investment

TekSavvy says the Competition Bureau is not enforcing anti-competitive behaviour under the Competition Act, forcing Internet Service Providers (ISPs) to go out of business.

In a letter addressed to the Canadian regulator, TekSavvy says the Bureau has taken no action to address the anti-competitive activities it detailed in a February 2020 complaint.

That complaint says incumbents took part in “predatory pricing” of retail internet services through their flanker brands. Citing Virgin (Bell’s flanker brand), Fido (Rogers’ flanker brand), and Fizz (Vidéotron’s flanker brand), TekSavvy says these flanker brands offer retail internet prices that cost less than the “inflated” wholesale price incumbents charge competitors.

“The Bureau has taken no action to address the anti-competitive activities detailed in our complaint and has remained silent as incumbents acquire independent competitors and while prices continually rise for consumers. This trend can only be expected to worsen if the Bureau does not take enforcement action,” the letter reads.

TekSavvy warned such practice would lead wholesale-based competitions to exit the market, a reality it says has come true. In its recent letter, TekSavvy highlights Bell’s acquisition of EBOX and Québecor’s takeover of VMedia.

“By acquiring independent companies and continuing to operate them under their established brands, incumbents get to both eliminate their competitors and benefit from the goodwill they have built as independent alternatives,” the letter says.

Such actions are leading to higher prices for consumers. According to the Wall Report, which compared internet services. The most popular internet services saw a 13 percent price hike between 2020 and 2021.

TekSavvy says the price hike isn’t related to global market forces. The Wall Report details broadband costs have decreased in other countries covered in the report, except for Canada and Japan.

“Canada is suffering through a cost-of-living crisis. Consumers should not continue to pay increasing, artificially inflated prices for an essential service while heavily subsidized, large incumbent carriers reap record profits,” TekSavvy says.

Image credit: Shutterstock 

Source: TekSavvy

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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