CDMA provider contemplating move to GSM: The Telus edition

Ah yes, ye olde we're-going-to-switch-our-network-technology story surfaces again, seems we can't have a quarter without this type of story raising it's head. We heard this same tale back when Bell Canada was involved in all that sale / merger / rumor business, but this time Telus is the center of the fun. It seems that Telus may be set to abandon its 'Betamax" network and is now ogling the hundreds of millions of dollars in roaming revenue that the GSM carriers enjoy by considering a move to tap into it. Of course, this is merely speculation, but the story does seem to be gaining traction and Rogers shares actually suffered a 2.6 percent drop on this news yesterday. The Olympics are in Vancouver in 2010, we're thinking if Telus really was going to go for it -- and shell out an estimated half billion dollars -- that would be a prime time to roll out a hybrid EV-DO / HSDPA network.

[Nishant @ Mar 1st 2008 4:20PM]

I think this would be great and as a consumer, at some point, we might get some benefits. Here in Canada, all providers are sucks. They charge for Service Access fee (What the hell is this? Why consumer needs this and pay for this?), 911 fees (It's clause of Government with providers not with consumers.), caller ID sucks (6-8 $ per month), voicemail and lot more. With Basic plan, it will end up with at least 50 $ per month. Last year I came from India and there, you can get lifetime prepaid in just 20 $ which includes free incoming calls for lifetime, by default Caller ID free (I have not even think in my dream that there could be charges for this common feature) and of course for outgoing call, you have to recharge your balance. What the hell is that these providers claiming best technology and best services in the world with all extra burdens on consumers?

[Jason @ Jan 16th 2008 12:10PM]

This would be great news. We desperately need a competing GSM hardware network in Canada.

[Alan Strangis @ Jan 16th 2008 12:11PM]

Do it Telus, do it! Canada needs a GSM competitor to Rogers since they bought Fido.

PS: and keep your data rates reasonable; even if it's double the price of Bell's deal with the HTC Touch I'll switch over in a New York minute.

[efm-7 @ Jan 16th 2008 12:21PM]

As long as the rates don't increase, i'm all for it.

The reason why I sacrificed the infinite hardware choice with Rogers for less desirable hardware choices with Telus; is because the rate plans at Telus were much better for my needs.

[mik @ Jan 16th 2008 12:23PM]

that would be nice, might actually go for the employee rateplan if this happens - but rogers has done a pretty good job matching the plan for me.

[why not the LS2/LS7? @ Jan 16th 2008 12:23PM]

That's great. Because the world needs more devices that make nearby speakers go dit-dit-dit.

I use GSM, I love the availability of handsets. But the signaling standard (based upon TDMA) sucks. We'd be far better off if all this switched to a CDMA signaling.

[Andrew @ Jan 16th 2008 12:33PM]

UTMS (3G GSM) uses a wideband-CDMA air interface, so that problem is going away. Slowly.

[Mike @ Jan 16th 2008 12:35PM]

Do you mean UMTS?

(sorry for the nitpicking)

[Ian @ Jan 16th 2008 12:55PM]

Andrew makes a good point.
There's been no reason why a CDMMA/CDMA preovider would ever considewr a backwards movement to GSM less than 3G hardware. But if they were to jump from CDMA 2000 (like SPrint. Verizon etc) and go to W-CDMA would be this such a difficult move? i.e. are the 2 real 3G CDMAs close enough that a switch becomes viable cost and infrastrucrure wise?

[Kriston @ Jan 16th 2008 11:23PM]

W-CDMA is not CDMA at the "air interface."
Under the covers, it's still TDMA-style signalling just like humble old GSM.

You really need to look this up, people.

[Jonathan @ Jan 16th 2008 12:24PM]

I'm with Rogers now for the choice in phones. I'd love to see some (real) competition in the marketplace (see Alan's comment).

Calling Rogers to complain about your service and threatening to switch carriers isn't as fun unless you actually have the balls to do it. CDMA? No thanks.

[Alan Strangis @ Jan 16th 2008 12:59PM]

I prefer getting an unlocked phone myself (been using a Cingular 8125 with Fido for a couple of years), but Bell's version of the HTC Touch has 3G, a 400Mhz proc, and an unlimited $7 internet plan (as long as you don't tether to a notebook).

Rogers/Fido won't even come CLOSE to price matching that. I had a Fido retention rep tell me to go ahead and switch...

So... I've been contemplating the switch for a couple of weeks now, but if Telus does go GSM, I'd be eating a 3yr plan buyout.

Ah decisions decisions...

[Jason @ Jan 16th 2008 1:01PM]

We got nowhere with Fido with our 2 phones until we gave up and asked to cancel our accounts. Then we were transfered from the CSR to "Customer Relations" where they bent over backwards to keep us on. But only after asking to leave.

[Mike @ Jan 17th 2008 10:49PM]

I think this would be great. The people need the choice, the industry needs the competition, and I'm sure the company wants, and will get the extra subscribers.

[fadetowhite @ Jan 17th 2008 9:34PM]

I'm with Telus, and I like my service and rate plan. Like everyone else, they've been increasing rates and changing around options to make it more expensive. But I stick with them because they are so far the lesser of the 3 evils (Rogers, Aliant, Telus).

The move to GSM would be awesome though - I could finally get a wicked phone instead of a decent one. And hello iPhone (yeah, right)!

[MemphisNET @ Jan 16th 2008 12:47PM]

I've been very happy with my Telus service, and have been a client since they were called Clearnet. Would there be a grace period for those with current/older handsets, or would there be a switch date.

I just got an HTC P4000 in Sept, and other than some initial teething problems (went through 2 new, 5 refurbished - they don't seem to know how to put them back together again once they're ''fixed'') I'm very happy with it.

Oh, and iPhone? :D

[Evan @ Jan 16th 2008 1:02PM]

I'm a Telus subscriber, and let me say that Telus sucks considerably less than Rogers sucks.

I'd get an iPhone with Telus if they supported GSM. However, there's no way in hell I'd get an iPhone with Rogers.

[Khris @ Jan 16th 2008 1:43PM]

I've had the complete opposite experience with Rogers/Telus. I have an iPhone on Rogers and I have yet to drop a call on it. My work Blackberry from Telus drops at least 1 or 2 calls a day, and I constantly have to support "dropped call" issues at the various sites I'm responsible for.

Screw Telus! They screwed over Clearnet customers back in the day too! My Clearnet cell was perfect.....as soon as Telus bought them out, my reception went for a prompt trip down the porcelain megaphone.

[Richard @ Jan 16th 2008 1:03PM]

Telstra in aussie are doing the cdma switchoff this month, telecom in NZ are going to do it sometime soon, so its definataly a viable thing.

Telsta were pioneers in the 850MHz UMTS from what I recall, and its gone ok for them.

[xbit @ Jan 16th 2008 1:34PM]

Wow, another company realizes that vendor lock-in is incredibly bad for business. Especially when the vendor in question is Qualcomm.

[Zombie Ned Flanders @ Jan 16th 2008 1:39PM]

TELUS sucks.
Bell sucks.
Rogers/Fido sucks.

They all suck. They charge too much for data. They need to get with the times. But, as long as they all suck, they have no motivation to do that.

Google, after you free the US from crappy carriers, please come up and help us out.

[Jason @ Jan 16th 2008 1:49PM]

TELUS's $15 unlimited data or Bell's $7 for unlimited data on the HTC Touch isn't good enough of a deal?

- Jason

[WolfDV @ Jan 16th 2008 3:18PM]

I agree, data charges are too much . . . I want a package with real unlimited data + tethering to other devices (aka laptop) for under 50/month

[skulldriveshaft @ Jan 17th 2008 2:51AM]

Sorry to people talking about UNLIMITED from Telus.

Please read the following:

What is included when my rate plan or bundle offers unlimited Web browsing at over 100 selected sites?

If your rate plan or bundle includes unlimited Web browsing, you will get access to many websites*. You will also get access to chat rooms and TELUS Instant Messenger service from your phone's Web browser.*

* The list of sites included with unlimited Web browsing, chat and instant messaging change without notice as updates are made to the service.

What is not included in the "100 selected sites"?

Any site not directly linked to from the SPARK Sampler menu is considered “Go To Site”. “Go To Site” can be accessed from the main menu or “Go to URL” at 10¢/pg.

And the $15 plan currently applies to Email and IM, that's about it.

When I read unlimited browsing, it should be EXACTLY that, not what the gimmick weasels designed.

[Kevin Kowalewski @ Jan 16th 2008 2:00PM]

If TELUS finally does make the switch to GSM, it would be loved by nearly every Canadian.

Telus has long been the pioneer of amazing plans in Canada, and still offers Unlimited versions of data.

Not sure when they'd be doing this, but someone mentioned something about the vancouver Olympics.

This would be KEY for TELUS to earn back a whole bunch of the money that they had invested in their initial network, a whole bunch of roaming partners are going to see one (or two) things on their phone...

Select Network:

ROGERS (GSM)
TELUS (GSM)

If you were trying to make money off of MILLIONS of new comers to Vancouver then you'd want to have your name on their phones roaming list!!!

[tom @ Jan 16th 2008 2:23PM]

Listen Telus, I (tom) for one will switch to you will switch my account from rogers to you when you switch to GSM.

Rogers are being so arrogant these days for being the exclusive GSM carrier in Canada (the only one to be compatible with iPhone. I had enough, really!

Be a man, do the right thing

[sitruc @ Jan 16th 2008 2:22PM]

Like Amit Kaminer, in the article, I wonder if it is cost effective to take on such a large project when new standards are coming in the not to distant future. Can they really make money while balancing two different infrastructures and then having to deal with the hassle of upgrading that in a few years?

[tom @ Jan 16th 2008 2:24PM]

Rumor floating that Telus plans to sell off their existing CDMA infrastructure which they own and lease it back.

they are raising $$$$

[Brent @ Jan 16th 2008 2:50PM]

I wonder what this would mean in Newfoundland. There's no GSM in the majority of the province, but there's CDMA almost everywhere you can go.

Seems to be they'd be contractually obliged to provide service to an area if someone signed a contract with them for that area.

Who knows though, maybe with some competition, Rogers or Telus will put up some GSM towers out East.

[tom @ Jan 16th 2008 2:59PM]

Telus (doesn't own any towers in the east) and Rogers own very little (piggy backing tower most case with aliant) most of the time.

It will take a long time before you see anything tangible in the east

[Brent @ Jan 16th 2008 8:44PM]

That being my problem here. It's quite unlikely there'll be more towers out East, so if Telus switches to GSM and abandons it's CDMA customers out East, they're gonna have some 'splainin' to do (and in theory a whole lot of contracts to release early because they are unable to provide the service guaranteed.

[sketch @ Jan 16th 2008 4:44PM]

If they switch does that mean we have to change out phones? I just bought a brand new blackberry..

[moe @ Jan 16th 2008 9:19PM]

omg, talk about a loud of crap!

1. telus made a name for itself by copying other carriers plans. the current plans are copies of bells.

2. canada uses the upgraded umts standard of hsdpa which is faster then the current cdma.

3. it would take more then a year to do the switch and they would probably end up paying rogers to do it.

4. clearnet would have been gsm now if they continued as their biggest manufacturers at the time are all gsm providers now.

5.the iphone will never be on Telus as Rogers is a AT&T partner.

6. if telus did this it would be the biggest example of egg in the face as they could have out bid rogers easily for all those Fido locations. instead they assumed fido was a lost cause and said they would kill it the first chance they got. now rogers is the biggest carrier with the biggest potential.

7. what worse people in canada are seeing more then just rate plans now and see the dead end cdma is with its shoddy hardware.

[kb @ Jan 29th 2008 8:15PM]

Rogers an AT&T partner? Even if true, who cares? AT&T only has exclusive iPhone privileges for the UNITED STATES. They didn't develop the hardware, APPLE did. And Apple can give it to whomever they choose.

Just look at Europe. Sure AT&T has partners there... likely not including their US rival T-Mobile. But look who offers the iPhone in Germany. You got it: T-Mobile.

I truly hope that Telus switches. If only so I can drop a Telus SIM card into my T-Mobile registered iPhone when I commute between the two countries. Rogers plans suck -- it is cheaper for me to pay roaming charges with T-Mobile than it is to activate a new Rogers plan or pay-as-you-go, even with existing hardware.

[HatesRogers @ Jan 16th 2008 11:37PM]

If this happened I would be absolutely over-joyed, it's far too expensive to use my Nokia phone here in Canada on Rogers, and if Telus offered a cheap alternative I would hop on board in a jiff.