Rogers 2015 Annual Report Download - page 40

MANAGEMENT’S DISCUSSION AND ANALYSIS
Broadband Internet service is provided using the DOCSIS 3.0/3.1
standard, which combines multiple RF channels onto one access
point at the customer premise, delivering exceptional
performance. The bandwidth of our Internet service offerings has
increased 166-fold in the last 10 years as we bring new
technologies to market when they become available. This track
record of investing in our networks and demonstrating the
capability to deploy best-in-class service is one of our key strategies
for ensuring that we stay competitive with other service providers
that provide Internet service into homes and businesses over
copper facilities.
Through our advanced, hybrid fibre-coaxial network, we expect to
be able to offer consumers across our entire DOCSIS 3.0/3.1
footprint Internet download speeds up to 1 Gbps by the end of
2016. We will be able to upgrade our entire footprint of over four
million homes with Gigabit Internet at an incremental in-year capital
cost of less than $50 per home. We will increase capacity as the
demand for speed grows with further annual success-based capital
investments.
We continue to invest in and improve our cable network; for
example, with technology to support the launch of gigabit Internet
speeds, Rogers 4K TV, a new 4K set-top box, and North America’s
largest commitment to live broadcasting in 4K with HDR.
Voice-over-cable telephony services are provided over a dedicated
DOCSIS network. Our offerings ensure a high quality of service by
including network redundancy as well as network and customer
premise backup powering. Our phone service includes a rich set of
features, such as TV Call Display, three-way calling, and advanced
voicemail features that allow customers to be notified of, and listen
to, their home voicemail on their wireless phone or over the
Internet.
BUSINESS SOLUTIONS
We own and operate some of the most advanced networks and
data centres in Canada. We leverage our national fibre, cable, and
wireless networks and data centre infrastructure to enable
businesses to deliver greater value to their customers through
proactive network monitoring and problem resolution with
enterprise-level reliability, security, and performance. We operate
our own robust, facilities-based, transcontinental network with
100% digital fibre optic backbone and strategic interconnect points
to the US and overseas for cross-border and international coverage.
Our primary and secondary Network Operation Centres proactively
monitor Rogers’ networks to mitigate the risk of service
interruptions and allow for rapid responses to any outages.
Our data centres provide guaranteed uptime and expertise in
colocation, cloud, and managed services solutions. We own and
operate 17 state-of-the-art, highly reliable, certified data centres
across Canada, including:
• Canada’s first Tier III Design and Construction certified
multi-tenant facility, opened in 2012 in Toronto;
• Alberta’s first Tier III certified data centre, opened in 2014; and
• a third Tier III certified data centre in Ottawa, opened in 2015.
POWERFUL BRANDS
The Rogers brand has strong national recognition through our:
• established networks;
• extensive distribution;
• recognizable media content and programming;
• advertising;
• event sponsorships, including the Rogers Cup;
• community investment, including Rogers Youth Fund; and
• naming rights to some of Canada’s landmark buildings,
including the Rogers Centre in Toronto, Rogers Arena in
Vancouver, and Rogers Place in Edmonton.
We also own or utilize some of Canada’s most recognized brands
including:
• the wireless brands of Rogers, Fido, chatr, and Mobilicity;
• over 20 TV stations and specialty channels, including Sportsnet,
FX (Canada) and FXX (Canada), OMNI, and City;
• over 30 publications, including Maclean’s, Chatelaine, Flare,
Hello! Canada, and Canadian Business;
• Texture by Next Issue, with a catalogue of over 190 premium
Canadian and US magazine titles;
• over 50 radio stations, including 98.1 CHFI, 680 News, Sportsnet
The FAN, KISS, JACK FM, and SONiC;
• major league sports teams, including the Toronto Blue Jays, and
teams owned by MLSE, such as the Toronto Maple Leafs, the
Toronto Raptors, and Toronto FC;
• TSC, the only nationally broadcast, interactive, multi-channel
Canadian retailer;
• shomi, a subscription-based video-on-demand service; and
• VICE, a global youth media company that produces and
distributes global online video and text content.
WIDESPREAD PRODUCT DISTRIBUTION
WIRELESS
We distribute our wireless products nationally using various
channels including:
• an extensive independent dealer network;
• company-owned Rogers and Fido retail stores;
• major retail chains and convenience stores;
• other distribution channels, such as WOW! Mobile boutique, as
well as Wireless Wave and TBooth Wireless through our
ownership interest in Glentel;
• customer self-serve using rogers.com, fido.ca, chatrwireless.com,
mobilicity.ca, or e-commerce sites;
• our call centres; and
• outbound telemarketing.
CABLE
We distribute our cable products using various channels including:
• company-owned Rogers and Fido retail stores;
• customer self-serve using rogers.com;
• our call centres, outbound telemarketing, and door-to-door
agents;
• major retail chains; and
• an extensive network of third-party retail locations.
38 ROGERS COMMUNICATIONS INC. 2015 ANNUAL REPORT