The IT Nerd

Something that caught my eye last night is the fact that Rogers is being sued by the Canadian Competition Bureau over the fact that the telco makes claims that they have unlimited data plans, but in fact have plans that severely restrict data once you reach a certain threshold.

Now according to this CBC News story, Rogers is pushing back on this:

A spokesperson for Rogers said it disagreed with the bureau’s assessment of its phone plans, which were introduced in 2019, adding the company would fight the claims.

“These plans represent the norm in Canada and the Bureau’s decision to single out Rogers after five years is quite concerning,” a spokesperson said in a statement.

Rogers has a point here. Let me explain. First, let’s look at how Rogers markets their data plans:

So Rogers uses the word “infinite” in the marketing their plans. And they state that you get a given amount of data, and after you use up that data, you get throttled. The Competition Bureau has an issue with the word “infinite” as it could mislead consumers.

The thing is, Rogers isn’t the only one of the “big three” who have a plan like this. If I have a look at TELUS, I see this:

And if you read the fine print, you see this:

TELUS is using the word “unlimited” even though it isn’t an “unlimited” plan. Yes they clearly state that you have a certain amount of data, and once you use that data up, you’ll be throttled. In my mind, this isn’t any different than Rogers and their use of the word “infinite”.

And if I have a look at Bell, I see this:

If you look at the amount of data you get, you will see that they clearly state that you get 100GB or 200GB of data, and then your speeds are throttled after that. So it’s the same scheme as TELUS and Rogers, but the word “unlimited” or “infinite” is not present.

Here’s where I’m going with this. Based on looking at these three telcos and how they market their data plans, I have the following observations. Bell for one has nothing to worry about when it comes to the Competition Bureau as this telco clearly markets their plans to avoid any impression that they offer unlimited data plans. However, using the Competition Bureau’s logic, TELUS should have been sued along with Rogers, or they should be expecting to be sued as on the surface they appear to be doing a version of what Rogers is being sued over. But strangely they are not being sued. At least not yet as a lawsuit might be inbound as I type this. I would love to hear from the Competition Bureau as to why Rogers is in the spotlight here and TELUS isn’t. They likely won’t comment. But they should as this looks kind of suspect to me.

Rogers today announced the launch of Rogers Xfinity Storm-Ready WiFi, an innovative new product designed to keep customers connected when there is an outage.

Rogers Xfinity Storm-Ready WiFi brings Rogers advanced network technology together with a device that automatically switches to a cellular backup connection when there’s a network or power outage. The device and battery backup seamlessly keep customers’ homes online so they can work and stream without interruption.

The launch of Storm-Ready WiFi follows the company’s recent introduction of Rogers Xfinity, a suite of in-home services that leverage Comcast’s world-class product and technology platform.

Rogers Xfinity Storm-Ready WiFi delivers:

• Extended Battery Backup
  Keep streaming for up to four hours during a power outage with a rechargeable battery backup
• Enhanced Reliability
  Automatically switches to Rogers cellular network when the power or primary internet service is interrupted with real-time connection and battery status notifications on the Rogers Xfinity app
• Simple Setup and Seamless Integration
  Ready in minutes and seamlessly integrates with Rogers Xfinity Internet
• Stronger WiFi Coverage
  Device provides enhanced coverage, doubling as a WiFi extender for everyday use, making it our best WiFi Boost Pod ever.

Rogers Xfinity Storm-Ready WiFi is now available for customers in British Columbia, part of Rogers commitment to deliver innovative products to Western Canada and will be rolling out across the country in February. Customers can pre-order their Storm-Ready WiFi device today or visit Rogers.com for more information.

Taylor Swift fans on the Rogers 5G network used over 11 terabytes (TB) of mobile data in just a few hours at BC Place to share and stream her last concert of The Eras Tour – setting a new Canadian record.

This shatters the record set at the Taylor Swift concert at Rogers Centre in Toronto on November 21, when fans used 7.4 TB of data on the Rogers 5G network.

The data used on December 8 is the equivalent of uploading 307,000 photos and 2,180 hours of video streaming. Based on data usage spikes, the most-shared moments of the show were when Taylor Swift came on stage and the start of the ‘Reputation’ era. 

As presenting sponsor of Taylor Swift | The Eras Tour in Canada, Rogers invested $10 million to enhance 5G connectivity at BC Place ahead of Taylor’s last stop on her global tour. This includes a full network redesign and installation of a new in-stadium network system to bring fans the best experience across her three nights in Vancouver. Teams spent 10,000 hours of planning and installation took 10,000 hours with a crew of over 40.

The upgrades increase 5G network capacity by 38 times throughout the stadium – the equivalent to coverage provided by 20 towers in Vancouver. Over the course of Taylor’s three performances in Vancouver, fans on the Rogers 5G network at BC Place used 32TB of data.

5G technology is critical for today’s concert experiences, providing faster speeds, lower latency and more capacity, as large numbers of fans livestream and share the moment in real-time.

As part of planning for the expected crowds outside of BC Place, Rogers also installed two temporary Cell on Wheels to increase wireless capacity and ensure reliable connectivity.

Starting January 1, Canadians can continue watching their favourite shows with new seasons and series exclusively on Discovery, HGTV, Food Network, and more. Rogers is the new home to these iconic lifestyle brands and beloved content including titles such as Homestead Rescue (Discovery), Celebrity IOU with Drew and Jonathan Scott (HGTV), Diners, Drive-Ins, and Dives with Guy Fieri (Food Network), Signs of a Psychopath (ID), and Maine Cabin Masters (Magnolia Network).

Building on the exciting slate of hit content from Bravo, Citytv, FX, and FXX, Citytv+ adds thousands of hours of new and returning shows from Discovery, HGTV, Food Network, OWN, Cooking Channel, Animal Planet, Discovery Science, MotorTrend, and more.

Discovery will feature new seasons of off-the-grid living with Homestead Rescue, exploring the unknown in Expedition X, high-stakes underdogs in Hustlers Gamblers Crooks, bootleg legends in Moonshiners, the ultimate booze-making competition Moonshiners: Master Distiller, and all-new series Expedition Files and The Last Woodsman, beginning this January. That’s not all! Discovery will air repeat seasons of Caught, Gold Rush, Big Little Brawlers, and Outback Opal Hunters, plus special events such as Shark Week and Puppy Bowl.

Beginning this January, HGTV will have new seasons of star-studded transformations on Celebrity IOU with Drew and Jonathan Scott, property pursuits with House Hunters, Home Town with Erin and Ben Napier, heritage home renovation series Fixer to Fabulous, and over-the-top house hunting with My Lottery Dream Home, plus Married to Real Estate, Zillow Gone Wild, and Help! I Wrecked My House. Additionally, the channel will have repeat seasons from HGTV’s slate of home improvement programming including Why The Heck Did I Buy This House?, Rico to the Rescue, and Battle on the Mountain. 

The Food Network, connecting viewers to the power and joy of food, will feature all-new seasons of competition series Chopped, Kids Baking Championship, Wildcard Kitchen, and Spring Baking Championship, sizzling showdowns with Beat Bobby Flay, plus Guy Fieri’s Diners, Drive-Ins, and Dives and Guy’s Grocery Games to round out the schedule.

ID offers a slate chock-full of harrowing crimes, in-depth investigations, and powerful true stories with all-new seasons of Signs of a Psychopath, Very Scary People, Murder Under the Friday Night Lights, Death by Fame, Body Cam: On The Scene, and Evil Lives Here, plus past seasons of Real Time Crime.

Premiering on the Magnolia Network this January are new seasons of Maine Cabin Masters, Building Outside The Lines, and In With The Old, plus past seasons of Beachfront Bargain Hunt Renovations and Barnwood Builders to complete the schedule. 

Rogers today announced its net-zero greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions targets have been approved by the globally recognized Science Based Targets initiative (SBTi).

Rogers is the first national carrier in Canada to have approved science-based net-zero targets published by the SBTi. The global organization for corporate climate goals validates submitted targets and action plans to ensure they are in line with the Paris Agreement.  

The company’s action plan will aim to deliver on environmental commitments in four key areas: 

• Increasing energy efficiencies across its operations and network   
• Transitioning its fleet to electric and hybrid vehicles    
• Expanding its renewable energy strategy    
• Engaging suppliers to set their own science-based targets 

Rogers efforts have already reduced scope 1 and 2 GHG emissions by 33% since 2019. Rogers long-term net-zero targets are to reduce absolute scope 1, 2 and 3 GHG emissions to net-zero by 2050. Near-term targets are to reduce absolute scope 1 and 2 emissions by 50% by 2030 and ensure 80% of its suppliers set their own science-based targets by 2029.

Rogers isn’t exactly well loved by Canadians. In fact, no Canadian telco really is. But Rogers specifically is in the crosshairs of many Canadians because of price increases that many Rogers customers weren’t specifically told of. A few Rogers customers went public with CBC a few days ago to express their displeasure:

Here’s the core issue. Rogers customers are seeing unexpected increases in TV box rental fees by $7 a month. Something that Rogers is able to do because it’s buried in the fine print of their contract. That in my opinion is fine if it is properly disclosed to customers before they sign on the dotted line. But in many of the cases that have come to light, that hasn’t happened. Thus customers are mad. To be fair, Rogers aren’t the only Canadian telco that does this. I’ve heard of TELUS and Bell doing something similar with their equipment rentals.

My advice is that if you must get TV from a big three telco, don’t rent their TV hardware. Bell has the Fibe TV app on a variety of platforms. TELUS has the TV+ app on the App Store and Play Store. Ditto for Rogers with their Ignite TV app on the App Store and Play Store. None of these options require you to rent hardware from any Canadian telco, and you get the same experience as if you did. Which means that you save money at the end of the day. Though I suspect that if there’s a critical mass of people switching to these options, the big three telcos will find some way to bill you extra for it.

It will be interesting to see what if anything the big three in general, and Rogers specifically does to respond to this backlash from consumers. Because this kind of has the smell of the negative option billing fiasco that Rogers found itself in the middle of many years ago. Government outlawed the practice as a result of that fiasco, and one has to wonder if the same thing will happen here.

Rogers Communications confirmed today it will be the proud home of Warner Bros. Discovery’s suite of English-language U.S. lifestyle and factual brands starting January 1, 2025. This confirms Rogers plans to bring this sought after content to Canadians and follows Bell’s decision to abandon its legal efforts to block Canadians from seeing Discovery channels.

As the exclusive English-language content rights holder, distributor, and advertising representative for the Discovery brands in Canada, Rogers will launch TV channels for Discovery ID and Discovery and will work with Canadian distribution partners to make the content widely available. In addition, content from Cooking, OWN, MotorTrend, Animal Planet, and Discovery Science will be available on demand and via Citytv+ on Amazon Prime Video Channels.

In June, Bell filed a Notice of Application in the Ontario Superior Court seeking an injunction to block Rogers from distributing Discovery channels. Bell acknowledged all claims against Rogers were unfounded and abandoned its legal efforts.