Cogeco targets low-data users with new Canadian mobile service + MORE Jul 16th

When you picture a young, ambitious entrepreneur, someone in a sleek office, coding the next big app, or launching a disruptive startup in tech probably springs to mind. But something interesting is happening in the face of economic uncertainty: young Canadians are buying up “boring” businesses from retiring Baby Boomers.

Think laundromats, dry cleaners, car washes, and trade businesses like plumbing companies. These aren’t the businesses that typically make headlines, but they’re the quiet workhorses of communities, often necessities in day-to-day life, and they’re ripe for a generational handover.

A report by the Canadian Federation of Independent Business (CFIB) reveals a staggering statistic: 76% of small business owners in Canada plan to exit their businesses by 2033. Yet, fewer than 10% of them have a formal succession plan in place. This opens up unexpected opportunities for the next generation of entrepreneurs willing to roll up their sleeves and embrace the unsexy…

Cogeco Inc. has launched its long-awaited wireless service in Canada, saying it plans to compete with other carriers in the market by targeting “low-to-mid data users.” The Montreal-based telecommunications company said it has already signed up an initial cohort of customers on the new mobile service following a pre-registration period for its existing Canadian wireline subscribers.

President and CEO Frédéric Perron said Wednesday that Cogeco plans to cover 12 Canadian markets in parts of Ontario and Quebec over the coming weeks, ahead of a full commercial launch of the service this fall. The company has said mobile coverage would be available across its broadband footprint. “We’re ready to go,” he told analysts on a conference call discussing the company’s third-quarter earnings results.

Pricing details TBD as Cogeco targets existing subscribers with bundles

But Perron declined to share pricing details for its wireless service, saying the company wants to announce those offers to its customers first…