Back in January, I wrote a piece that spoke of the simple words: cell phones save lives.

I caught a press release from the folks at “411 on Wireless” that talked about an event held yesterday to promote increased accessibility to prepaid phones as an affordable choice for a “cell phone security blanket” for the elderly.

We have seen various prepaid plans that target our teens; the youth market is sexy and fun and predisposed to try out lots of high margin discretionary services.

While the elderly are among those most likely to benefit from access to a mobile device, they are also among the age groups least likely to have one.

The question is whether service providers will look at special packages for seniors’ emergency access?

A reader sent me a link to a wonky article that claims that a Canadian conspiracy is underway to begin charging to access certain internet sites:

The plans made by the large telecom businesses would change the Internet into a cable-like system, where customers sign up for specific web sites, and must pay to see each individual site beyond a certain point. Subscription browsing would be limited, extra fees would be applied to access out-of-network sites. Many sites would be blocked altogether.

It’s too late for April Fools Day, right?

Check out the source article as well.

Technorati Tags:
AFP, net neutrality

An interesting observation about the spectrum auction results.

Look at the total spent by the major new entrants:

Top New Entrant Bidders:
Quebecor	$554,549,000
Globalive	$442,099,000
DAVE	$243,159,000
Shaw	$189,519,000

This totals $1.4B. Does that number sound familiar to anyone?

Check out the news clippings from just under 4 years ago. Rogers bought Microcell for $1.4B in cash.

Remember that Microcell was already an operating carrier, with 30 MHz of national spectrum, 1.2M subscribers, a working network (towers, switches, international roaming agreements, staff), brand recognition, etc.

What would have been the state of mobile wireless in Canada had others foreseen the value?

Technorati Tags:
Industry Canada, AWS Spectrum Auction, Microcell

After 331 rounds, we have finally reached the end of bidding in the AWS spectrum auction.

The final tally: $4,254,710,327.

I suspect there are some long overdue vacations for the bid teams at the various carriers.

Top Bidders:

Rogers	$ 999,367,000

TELUS	$ 879,889,000

Bell Mobility	$ 740,928,000

Quebecor	$ 554,549,000

Globalive	$ 442,099,000

DAVE	$ 243,159,000

Shaw	$ 189,519,000

SaskTel

$ 65,690,000

Technorati Tags:
Industry Canada, AWS Spectrum Auction

Effective today, the CRTC begins operating with a new converged organizational structure.

Activities common to both sides of the Commission, broadcasting and telecom, will be grouped under the Policy Development and Research sector, under Namir Anani’s leadership. This will include social policy and dispute resolution. Accessibility issues, currently under the Telecom group moves to a new social policy group in the sector, combined with social policy functions from Broadcasting.

Telemarketing issues (such as the DNCL) will also be transferred to this organization. The Policy Development and Research sector will be responsible for conducting economic analysis on the communications industries, markets and technologies, and will process ownership and acquisitions applications.

The CRTC has talked previously about a converged Communications Act to replace the Broadcast Act and Telecom Act.