Canada Infrastructure Bank says it’s seeing increasing interest for loans from telecoms The bank said internet service providers are less hesitant for loans, as Bell sought some this summer for its Universal Broadband Fund projects. December 10, 2021December 10, 2021
Shaw is fighting a BC Hydro proposal to charge for wireless equipment on utility wires Shaw is fighting a proposal that would allow BC Hydro to charge telecoms to use its wires to mount wireless equipment. June 11, 2021June 20, 2021
Innovation stressed importance of wholesale rates for “competitive options” in December roundtable Federal officials said correctly setting wholesale rates would be critical for competition, affordability and network investment. June 1, 2021June 1, 2021
Rogers and Telus want $1.1B of pre-budget UBF funds The two telecom giants are requesting nearly $1.15 billion from the Universal Broadband Fund, which has attracted 1,900 applications worth $10.5 billion. April 20, 2021May 14, 2021
B.C. prepared to blunt any impact of $10 internet on smaller providers The British Columbia government is prepared to step-in if smaller providers are impacted by the larger ISP's $10 internet offerings. March 23, 2021May 14, 2021
“Really?” ISED analyst unhappy with small carrier price hike after fed wholesale rate decision Emails show ISED analyst bothered by small carrier reaction to the minister's statement that CRTC's wholesale rate decision hurts large carrier investment. March 16, 2021May 14, 2021
Rogers’ stab at Shaw illustrates its thirst for western influence Rogers has for years sought to raise its profile in Western Canada, and now seeks to add pressure on telco giant Telus by buying out its rival Shaw. March 15, 2021March 28, 2021
Wild Blueberry Internet now available Eastlink has updated the website for its new internet brand in Delta, B.C., saying that Wild Blueberry Internet is now available in the city. March 3, 2021March 18, 2021
Eastlink launching new brand in B.C. called Wild Blueberry Internet with a single $60, 100 Mbps plan Bragg Communications’ Eastlink filed a trademark for "Wild Blueberry Internet" on Feb. 15, an internet service provider whose only offering is a pre-paid $60 plan with 100 Mbps download, 10 Mbps upload and unlimited monthly data allowance. February 28, 2021March 18, 2021
5G networks susceptible to foreign supply risks, warns internal government report Surveillance and security risks related to supply chain components and undersea fibre cables are among concerns outlined in a report produced by Natural Resources Canada and the Canadian Electricity Association this summer. February 26, 2021May 14, 2021
As infrastructure minister, Champagne increased share of federal cost to incent telecom broadband deployment Before becoming innovation minister last month, François-Philippe Champagne incented private broadband builds by increasing federal subsidies, a model currently used during the pandemic. February 17, 2021March 18, 2021
Bell will lobby Toronto on ConnectTO project Bell will speak with Toronto officials about an approved project that will leverage city resources to build a public broadband network. February 11, 2021March 18, 2021
ISED received 576 applications for rapid broadband Innovation Canada said it has received 576 applications for the rapid response part of the Universal Broadband Fund. February 5, 2021March 18, 2021
Xplornet extended satellite contract two years to connect Haida Gwaii and parts of Yukon Xplornet signed a two-year extension to use Telesat's Anik F2 satellite after federal government pressure to avoid ending service on December 31. February 3, 2021March 18, 2021
Shaw says it made “deliberate” decision not to take CEWS money As the Big 3 telecoms come under fire for taking nearly $250 million in Covid wage subsidies, Shaw said it deliberately didn't participate -- but won't say why. February 2, 2021March 18, 2021
Bell says $71M of CEWS money went to media business Bell's chief legal and regulatory officer Robert Malcolmson said the company allocated to its media operation $71M of the $122.8M it received in federal wage subsidies. January 26, 2021March 18, 2021
Nunavut fibre line decision expected in summer/fall 2021 The $203-million Nunavut fibre project, originally announced in August 2019, won’t know what route it will take until the summer or fall of this year. January 26, 2021March 18, 2021
Bell received $122M in wage subsidies, bringing big 3 telecom total to nearly quarter billion Bell filed its first fresh provincial lobby registration in months and, as the downUP previously reported, it would inevitably reveal the amount the company obtained in wage subsidy money. January 21, 2021March 18, 2021
Nunavut “reassessing” Greenland route for $203M fibre project Nunavut's fibre line came under fire for the proposed cost, but it was also uncertainty about striking a deal with the island's largest telecom provider that is driving it to reassess the whole route entirely. January 7, 2021March 18, 2021
Citing competition, Rogers asks B.C. officials for same infrastructure access as Telus Rogers formalized in a letter to B.C. officials its concern that Telus allegedly has a major advantage when it comes to attaching equipment to structures. December 24, 2020March 18, 2021
The federal government has delivered only 54% of allocated Connect to Innovate money through 2020 Money allocated for the Connect to Innovate broadband program is getting held up, as the program is mired by delays and slow build-outs. December 16, 2020March 18, 2021
Telus proposed B.C. lobby feds to support projects that didn’t immediately meet speed target Telus proposed B.C. push feds to expand funding for Indigenous projects, even if they didn't immediately meet speed objectives. November 27, 2020March 17, 2021
Universal Broadband Fund will favour applicants who share their own infrastructure with third parties The fund's guidelines include opening existing passive infrastructure, paid for with private money, to third parties as an incentive for federal dollars. November 24, 2020March 18, 2021