TekSavvy Challenges Cogeco's Coaxial Network Wind-Down, Files CRTC Application for Service Continuity

 

TekSavvy has submitted a Part 1 application to the CRTC, urging a review of Cogeco's proposed phase-out of older coaxial network technology. This move by Cogeco is anticipated to impact TekSavvy's ability to provide services to its customers. TekSavvy relies on Cogeco's last-mile coaxial facilities at two interconnection locations in Burlington and Windsor, Ontario.

According to TekSavvy, Cogeco informed them of plans to migrate wholesale customers to newer technologies, such as radio frequency over glass technology (RFoG) at the Burlington site and eventually to ethernet passive optical network by May 1, 2024, at both sites. TekSavvy alleges that this migration would result in losing customer access to these sites, as Cogeco has yet to establish fibre access via the disaggregated regime anywhere on its network.

Despite regular business meetings seeking alternative arrangements for service continuity, TekSavvy claims that Cogeco has confirmed it will not provide any means for TekSavvy to serve the affected sites or maintain service continuity for existing customers.

Cogeco has chosen not to comment on the matter. The CRTC has, to date, only allowed competitors access to last-mile fibre networks of cable companies if they arrange their own transport facilities. Additionally, the commission ruled that Bell and Telus must temporarily provide last-mile access to fibre with the transport bundle under the aggregated regime, a decision that Bell is currently challenging through a judicial review.

TekSavvy asserts in its application that Cogeco's network changes would result in WHSA services no longer being available at the affected sites. As of May 1, 2024, existing end users with HFC and legacy coaxial cable WHSA services would be disconnected, and competitors would be unable to connect new WHSA services at these sites. TekSavvy argues that Cogeco's plans violate a 2016 determination by the Commission, stating that the removal of coaxial access facilities would deny competitors the ability to connect end users, thus conferring an undue preference upon Cogeco.