Telecoms close stores, offer free channels in response to COVID-19

Telecommunication providers are closing retail stores, offering complimentary TV channels and continuing to waive overage fees on home internet plans as they respond to COVID-19. Xplornet Communications Inc. and Saskatchewan Telecommunications Holding Corp. were the latest providers to announce a temporary pause to wireless internet overage charges on Monday, joining a number of telecommunications companies who announced similar moves on March 13. BCE Inc.’s Northwestel announced in a press release on Monday that it also proposed to waive overage fees, subject to the CRTC accepting an “urgent application” for temporary relief, while Bell on Saturday announced it would also waive overage fees for customers not already on unlimited plans. Shaw Communications Inc., which had already announced the suspension of overage fees on Friday, declared on Monday that it would close 113 Freedom Mobile and 46 Shaw retail stores until March 27 as a result of the virus. In a press release, CEO Brad Shaw said all employees affected by the closure would be paid for the hours they would have been scheduled to work during the shutdown period. “The health and well-being of our employees and customers is our top priority,” Shaw said in the release. “Clearly these are extraordinary circumstances and this step will help our communities and health care professionals across the country better tackle this growing pandemic by helping to flatten the curve and reduce the number of individuals who can be exposed to COVID-19.” Select dealers and retail partners remain open for people wanting to order products, while payments can be processed through its online portal or call centre, while Shaw’s website, app and call centre remain open. SaskTel, which announced it would suspend overage charges for wireless and fusion internet customers from March 17 to 31, and Rogers Communications Inc. both joined Shaw in announcing they would make a number of TV channels available for free to subscribers in order to keep them entertained as more Canadians self-isolated, worked from home and ceased going to school. Prime Minister Justin Trudeau on Monday urged all Canadians to stay at home if possible. Rogers CEO Joe Natale also announced another suite of measures to help “Canadians stay connected during this uncertain time” waiving long distance calling fees for Rogers, chatr and Fido home and wireless customers until April 30. Rogers and Fido will also waive international roaming fees for Canadians on postpaid plans in “all available” destinations and the company has promised not to disconnect or suspend the service for customers who are experiencing financial hardship over the next 90 days. In its release, Rogers said it would provide “more flexible payment options” for those facing financial uncertainty. In its press release announcing it had submitted a relief application to the CRTC to be able to waive the overage fees for March and April, Northwestel said it had already begun preparing extra network capacity to accommodate an expected usage increase on its terrestrial network. — With reporting by Adam Langenberg at alangenberg@thewirereport.ca and editing by Michael Lee-Murphy at mleemurphy@thewirereport.ca

Telecoms close stores, offer free channels in response to COVID-19

Broadcast | March 16, 2020

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Telecoms close stores, offer free channels in response to COVID-19

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