In a filing with the Canadian Radio-television and Telecommunications Commission (CRTC), the telco says the billing option will only apply to phone services provided over copper. In fiber locations, the features will be available through a home bundle. Telus says it plans to introduce a new platform for home telephony services through fiber optic installations in the province. It will add new residential customers to this platform in November and migrate existing customers next year. “Due to limitations in the new platform, it will not be able to apply PPU usage charges,” the apps state. Telus says demand for PPUs fell 26 percent between 2019 and 2021. The figure will likely continue to decline, given the take-up of residential packages. The changes will not affect customers using bundles or business customers. Existing customers can continue to use the PPU option until their service is migrated to the new platform. The same new system will also result in Telus being removed from the “call screen”. The service, which allowed customers to forward 12 phone numbers to a standard recorded message, will be replaced by “call control”. Telus says Call Screening is “more affordable” and is free for all customers, while Telus charges non-bundled customers to run Call Screen. Customers will be able to block 25 calls under call control. The two service changes will take effect on November 7, pending regulatory approval. Customers can submit comments on the CRTC’s website until October 24. Image credit: Shutterstock Source: CRTC
