Rogers 2015 Annual Report Download - page 35

MANAGEMENT’S DISCUSSION AND ANALYSIS
FOCUS ON INNOVATION AND NETWORK LEADERSHIP
• Completed our strategic acquisition of wireless provider
Mobilicity and completed our transaction to acquire Shaw’s
AWS-1 spectrum licences. We added and activated 20 MHz of
contiguous AWS-1 spectrum adjacent to our existing 20 MHz of
AWS-1 holdings across all of British Columbia and Alberta, and
added 10 MHz of contiguous AWS-1 spectrum across Southern
Ontario, the largest population centre in Canada. We also
divested certain non-contiguous AWS-1 spectrum licences to
WIND.
• Augmented our extensive 2500 MHz spectrum holdings during
the recent 2500 MHz spectrum auction. We successfully
executed a tactical fill-in and top-up strategy to acquire nearly
our entire allowable spectrum at an average cost of $0.10/MHz/
pop, lower than other auction participants. We now hold 40 MHz
of contiguous, paired 2500 MHz spectrum across nearly all of
Canada, as well as an additional 20 MHz of unpaired 2500 MHz
spectrum in many key population areas.
• Launched new Rogers IGNITE broadband Internet-based
bundled offerings with new unlimited usage options and value-
added content, including Rogers NHL GameCentre LIVE and
shomi.
• Extended wireless network coverage in even more rural markets
within Canada.
• Named in 2015 as both Canada’s Fastest ISP and Canada’s
Fastest Mobile Network by Ookla, a global leader in broadband
speed testing.
• Released independent testing research from SamKnows, an
independent broadband performance company, dated
February 2015 confirming that Rogers’ broadband Internet
customers continue to enjoy fast and reliable upload and
download service, delivered at 100 percent or more, on average,
of advertised speeds, even during peak network hours.
• Rogers’ wireless network was the first in Canada to be Category
6-enabled, allowing customers in select communities across
Ontario and British Columbia to enjoy faster download speeds
and a higher quality video experience on Category 6-enabled
smartphones and tablets.
• Extended Rogers Smart Home Monitoring services to residents
in Vancouver and the Lower Mainland, British Columbia, and
Calgary and Edmonton, allowing them to connect, protect, and
manage what is happening at home using their mobile devices
or computers.
• First in Canada to launch Voice over LTE (VoLTE) technology,
giving our Wireless customers across the country access to
higher-quality high-definition voice and video calls, faster call
setup and connection times, and the ability to simultaneously
place calls, browse the web, and stream video at considerably
greater LTE speeds.
• Introduced complimentary Wi-Fi service throughout the Rogers
Centre, our multi-purpose event venue and home to the Toronto
Blue Jays, in yet another example of Rogers’ commitment to
deliver the best-connected experience to Canadians.
• Became the first company in the world to launch programmatic
advertising for NHL GameCentre Live, whereby Internet users will
see advertising banners (created and placed in real-time, with
the help of Google) for recent events, such as a scored goal in a
hockey game, and be encouraged to watch the goal.
GO TO MARKET AS ONE ROGERS
• Successfully worked as one company, showing we can bring our
entire team together to achieve our goals. We demonstrated this
through the successful launch of our NHL Agreement, utilizing
Wireless, Cable, and Media to bring the NHL to Canadians, and
our launch of new initiatives such as Roam Like Home and
Rogers IGNITE, while delivering more value with offerings such as
Spotify Premium, shomi, and VICE.
• Appointed executive leaders with significant experience in our
industry and global best practices: Dirk Woessner as President,
Consumer Business Unit, Rick Brace as President, Media Business
Unit, and the internal appointment of Jamie Williams as our
Chief Information Officer.
2015 ANNUAL REPORT ROGERS COMMUNICATIONS INC. 33