Cellphones

Canadian wireless companies collectively spent about $2.1 billion on chunks of 5G bandwidth in the federal government’s most recent spectrum auction. A man uses a cell phone to capture images at Federal Hill Park, Wednesday, Jan. 4, 2023, in Baltimore. THE CANADIAN PRESS/AP-Julio Cortez

Wireless companies’ spectrum gains could have lasting effect on 5G quality, pricing

Canada’s recent spectrum auction awarded telecom companies 4,099 spectrum licences

 

Kathy Gillies is fighting for better cellular phone coverage after being unable to communicate with a 911 dispatcher from Hammond Bay the night her husband Ken suffered a heart attack and died before help could arrive. (Chris Bush/News Bulletin)

Man’s death underlines need for better cell coverage in Nanaimo

Widow lives with not knowing whether getting through to 911 could have saved her husband’s life

 

Some local high school students have been banned from using phones at school. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Sean Kilpatrick

West Shore high school bans cellphone use in class

Belmont Secondary School has formalized a policy which already existed in some classrooms

 

Cellular service from Sooke to Port Renfrew is mostly limited to customers with Rogers Communications. (File - Shutterstock)

Limited cell coverage leaves Highway 14 commuters stranded

Many believed everyone would get cellphone coverage when new infrastructure put in place

Cellular service from Sooke to Port Renfrew is mostly limited to customers with Rogers Communications. (File - Shutterstock)
Data shows that nearly 40 per cent of car crash injuries in B.C. are caused by distracted driving, and most British Columbians think the penalty needs to be increased. (Stock Snap/Pixabay.com)

6-in-10 British Columbians have seen distracted driving in last 4 weeks: poll

Data shows drivers using mobile devices is increasing yearly

Data shows that nearly 40 per cent of car crash injuries in B.C. are caused by distracted driving, and most British Columbians think the penalty needs to be increased. (Stock Snap/Pixabay.com)
FILE - In this April 8, 2019, file photo, a woman browses her smartphone in Philadelphia. (AP Photo/Matt Rourke, File)

B.C. school teens showed improved grades and social skills after a ban on phones

Pilot project at B.C. high school has been ongoing for 5 months

FILE - In this April 8, 2019, file photo, a woman browses her smartphone in Philadelphia. (AP Photo/Matt Rourke, File)
A cellphone tower. The Sooke to Port Renfrew cellphone project received nearly $5 million in funding from the province and $695,000 from Rogers Communications. (Shutterstock)

A 70-km stretch of Highway 14 on Vancouver Island finally gets wireless coverage

The project received $5 million in funding from province and $695,000 from Rogers Communications

A cellphone tower. The Sooke to Port Renfrew cellphone project received nearly $5 million in funding from the province and $695,000 from Rogers Communications. (Shutterstock)
Photo by Richard Shotwell/Invision/AP, File

T-Mobile acquires Mint, partially owned by Ryan Reynolds

Mint Mobile, partly owned by actor Ryan Reynolds, is being acquired by…

Photo by Richard Shotwell/Invision/AP, File
Rogers Communications says cellphone service between Sooke and Port Renfrew will be up and running by April 1. (Shutterstock.com)

Sooke to Port Renfrew will have full cellphone coverage by April

‘Dead zone’ along a 70-kilometre section of Highway 14 to be eliminated

Rogers Communications says cellphone service between Sooke and Port Renfrew will be up and running by April 1. (Shutterstock.com)
Students at the Washington Junior High School leaving classes for the day, use the unlocking mechanism to open the bags their cell phone were sealed in during the school day, Thursday, Oct. 27, 2022, in Washington, Pa. Citing mental health, behavior and engagement as the impetus, many educators are updating cellphone policies, with a number turning to magnetically sealing pouches. (AP Photo/Keith Srakocic)

Schools clash with parents over bans on student cellphones

Parents who had constant access to their children during remote learning reluctant to give that up

Students at the Washington Junior High School leaving classes for the day, use the unlocking mechanism to open the bags their cell phone were sealed in during the school day, Thursday, Oct. 27, 2022, in Washington, Pa. Citing mental health, behavior and engagement as the impetus, many educators are updating cellphone policies, with a number turning to magnetically sealing pouches. (AP Photo/Keith Srakocic)
The construction of seven towers to expand cellular service on a 70-kilometre stretch of Highway 14 from Sooke to Port Renfrew has begun, says Rogers Communications. (File - Shutterstock)

In Sooke, Highway 14 cellphone service upgrade begins

First cell tower west of Sooke went into service at the end of May.

The construction of seven towers to expand cellular service on a 70-kilometre stretch of Highway 14 from Sooke to Port Renfrew has begun, says Rogers Communications. (File - Shutterstock)
Tony Staffieri speaks at the Rogers annual general meeting in Toronto on Monday, April 23, 2013. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Matthew Sherwood

Rogers pursuing deal with competitors to juggle 911 calls in case of outage

July 8 outage left millions unable to use phone for emergency services

Tony Staffieri speaks at the Rogers annual general meeting in Toronto on Monday, April 23, 2013. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Matthew Sherwood
The House of Commons industry committee will hold two hearings today about the Rogers outage that lasted more than 15 hours and left millions of Canadians in a communications blackout. People use Starbucks’ provided WIFI at a store in Toronto amid a nationwide Rogers outage, affecting many of the telecommunication company’s services, Friday, July 8, 2022. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Cole Burston
The House of Commons industry committee will hold two hearings today about the Rogers outage that lasted more than 15 hours and left millions of Canadians in a communications blackout. People use Starbucks’ provided WIFI at a store in Toronto amid a nationwide Rogers outage, affecting many of the telecommunication company’s services, Friday, July 8, 2022. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Cole Burston
A massive outage shutdown the Rogers network for hours Friday, July 8. (File photo by The Canadian Press)

Industry minister to meet with Rogers CEO after “unacceptable” network outage

Canadians left without cell service, internet, banking services for at least 15 hours

A massive outage shutdown the Rogers network for hours Friday, July 8. (File photo by The Canadian Press)
FILE - In this Saturday, March 14, 2020, file photo, an Apple logo adorns the facade of the downtown Brooklyn Apple store in New York. Apple plans to roll out a “lockdown” option for iPhones, iPads and Mac computers intended to protect against spyware unleashed by state-sponsored hackers — although enabling it will also make these devices less useful. The safeguard was announced on Wednesday, July 6, 2022. (AP Photo/Kathy Willens, File)

Apple to add ‘lockdown’ safeguard on iPhones, iPads, Macs

Protection offered against spyware unleashed by state-sponsored hackers

FILE - In this Saturday, March 14, 2020, file photo, an Apple logo adorns the facade of the downtown Brooklyn Apple store in New York. Apple plans to roll out a “lockdown” option for iPhones, iPads and Mac computers intended to protect against spyware unleashed by state-sponsored hackers — although enabling it will also make these devices less useful. The safeguard was announced on Wednesday, July 6, 2022. (AP Photo/Kathy Willens, File)
Rogers Communications says Nanaimo is the first city in Canada to receive the company’s high-speed, high-capacity 3500 MHz 5G service. (Darren Calabrese/Canadian Press)

Nanaimo first Canadian city to connect to Rogers Communications’ new high-capacity network

Company says 3500 MHz 5G will benefit commercial, industrial, public-sector and home clients

Rogers Communications says Nanaimo is the first city in Canada to receive the company’s high-speed, high-capacity 3500 MHz 5G service. (Darren Calabrese/Canadian Press)
Rogers Communications has announced plans to bring cell service to Hwy. 4 between Tofino-Ucluelet and Port Alberni. (Westerly file photo)

Better cell service for Island’s West Coast coming, how much better unclear

Rogers announces new towers for Alberni/Tofino link, Ucluelet mayor wondering what that means

Rogers Communications has announced plans to bring cell service to Hwy. 4 between Tofino-Ucluelet and Port Alberni. (Westerly file photo)
Texting and driving seems like it’s a habit many people are never going to break. (Photo by Boaz Joseph/The Leader)

Opinion: Distracted driving still a big issue

Campaign in March aimed at getting people to leave their phones alone

Texting and driving seems like it’s a habit many people are never going to break. (Photo by Boaz Joseph/The Leader)
Rogers Canada has added 5G network services to Greater Victoria residents, including the West Shore, Sidney, and Sooke. (Canadian Press photo)
Rogers Canada has added 5G network services to Greater Victoria residents, including the West Shore, Sidney, and Sooke. (Canadian Press photo)
A Shaw Communications sign at the company’s headquarters in Calgary, on January 14, 2015. Shaw Communications Inc. has launched its FreeRange TV mobile streaming app, bringing the company in line with rivals in offering its full TV service to any subscriber with an Internet or mobile data connection. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Jeff McIntosh

Shaw Mobile launches in Alberta, B.C., alongside Shaw’s Freedom Mobile

Shaw’s existing Freedom Mobile service competes with Telus, Rogers and Bell

A Shaw Communications sign at the company’s headquarters in Calgary, on January 14, 2015. Shaw Communications Inc. has launched its FreeRange TV mobile streaming app, bringing the company in line with rivals in offering its full TV service to any subscriber with an Internet or mobile data connection. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Jeff McIntosh