NL Short Takes

QuébecTel shareholders approve takeover by TelusQuébecTel of Rimouski QC has approved its takeover by Telus Communications of Burnaby BC. The deal was accepted by 97 per cent of shareholders and 83.3 per cent of minority shareholders. Shareholders will be paid $23 per share on June 5, making the total package worth $582 million. QuébecTel signs agreement for fibre installationQuébecTel has signed a deal with le Réseau interordinateurs scientifique québécois (RISQ) to install a fibre network in the province. The backbone will connect schools and research facilities throughout Quebec.Optel adopts Axxent in hunt for new businessOCI Communications Inc of Toronto, parent firm of Optel Communications Corp, is changing its name to Axxent Inc. The subsidiary will now be known as Axxent Corp. The firm also announced the creation of Rhythms Canada Inc, a joint partnership Rhythms NetConnections Inc of Englewood CO.Telus and HP Canada join up to provide business solutionsTelus and Hewlett-Packard (Canada) Ltd have formed a strategic alliance to deliver e-business solutions. The deal advances both firms' entry into the ASP market. The two will use the applications created by BroadVision Inc of Redwood City CA.NewTel lands Global One dealAliant subsidiary NewTel Communications Inc of St John's NF has won a contract to provide telecommunications equipment to Global One Communications Canada Inc. The $6 million contract calls for the ILEC to employ Meridian PBX and Key telecommunications equipment to the France Telecom group firm.NHC and Linmor to deliver DSL solutions to CLECsNHC Communications Inc, Montreal, and Linmor Technologies Inc, Nepean ON, are teaming to sell an integrated, performance-managed cross-connect switching solution for DSL services. The product, based on Linmor's Nebula Performance Monitor and NHC's VCCS solution, will be sold to CLECs.Northern Fiber to become anchor on Total Telecom fibreEdmonton-based Total Telecom Inc has signed a letter of intent with Northern Fiber Inc that will see Northern become an anchor client on Total's fibre optic corridor. Total Telecom is building backbone from Edmonton to Fort St. John BC this year.Teleglobe expands network access in Italian marketTeleglobe Italia, a subsidiary of telecom giant Teleglobe, has established a network access site in Milan. The GlobeCity site will deliver voice, data and Internet services to customers. Teleglobe has been in the Italian market for three years.Zi Corp sells technology to ChinaCalgary-based Zi Corp is selling its eZiText technology to Zhongxing Telecommunications Equipment Ltd of China. The devices will go into mobile phones in the domestic Chinese market and will be programmed to work in English, simplified and traditional Chinese. The same technology is being sold to Kyocera Corp of Japan.Mediatrix launches server for packet networksMediatrix Telecom Inc of Sherbrooke QC has introduced a session initiation protocol-based APA server. The company, which is privately held, specializes in VoIP network solutions.CrossKeys introduces new last-mile software for ISPsCrossKeys Systems Corp of Kanata ON has held its first demonstration of its Dyband software for multi-access ISPs. The software is designed to address the last mile quandary facing DSL, wireless and cable service providers. The company has also sold its Reserve management software to Ericsson, which will incorporate it into its Telecom Management Solution portfolio.New member for Broadband Content Delivery ForumThe Broadband Content Delivery Forum has accepted Vancouver-based Image Power Inc as a member. The BCDF was set up earlier this year to serve as a round-table for the exchange of ideas and the development of standards, among other goals.CSII wins licence in PortugalCable Satisfaction International Inc of Montreal has won a licence to provide fixed telephony services in Portugal. The licence, which was awarded to CSII subsidiary Cabovisao-Televisao Por Cabo SA, is good for 15 years. Cabovisao has also secured a credit agreement worth 260 million euro with a consortium of banks. CSII has also established a special committee to examine all strategic alternatives for the company, including its possible sale. Sprint offers new calling cardSprint Canada has launched a new enhanced calling card for business customers. The Foncard Plus uses swipe technology and has security features installed. The company has also announced a new communications solution package and has entered into an alliance with Multiactive Software Inc.Bell launches Yellow Pages and new portal in AlbertaBell ActiMedia has opened an office in Edmonton in an effort to roll the telco's influence west. The firm will be issuing the Edmonton Plus Yellow Pages directory in December and an Internet portal, edmontonplus.ca, in August.C1 Communications invests in Internet companyC1 Communications, a CLEC based in Saint John NB, has bought a minority stake in Toronto Internet services firm Velocet Communications. The investment will lead to the creation of two new outfits, DSL Communications Inc and Datavaults Inc.911 approved for PEIThe CRTC has approved Island Telecom Inc's request to introduce 911 service to the province. It will also be allowed to restructure its extended flat rate calling service.Things heat up at FCCAmerican congressman John Dingell is no fan of the Federal Communications Commission, as he recently demonstrated. Speaking in favour of a bill that would permit the Baby Bells to transmit Internet data LD before opening the networks to CLECs, he wondered how to move the FCC to his way of thinking. "Is this to be done by impeaching the FCC, or burning the building down, or just what?"Regulatory reviewIn PN 2000-75, the CRTC announced the annual telecommunications fees to be paid by some Canadian carriers under section four of the 1995 Telecommunications Fees Regulations. The amount to be recovered by June 30 is $18.6 million and the aggregate of operating revenues for firms subject to commission fees is $21.81 billion.The commission has granted a Part VII application by Cable Axion Digitel Inc requesting access to the support structures of Vidéotron Communications Inc. The appeal, listed in Telecom Letter Decision 8690-C73-03/99, gives Cable Axion access until 2002 when it will shift its backbone to Bell Canada. In Order 2000-482, the CRTC has granted Bell's proposal to destandardize and withdraw Partial cable distribution System Offering. The Canadian Cable Television Association had expressed concern that PSO clients would have to pay for removal of the facilities if they chose not to purchase from Bell. The commission dismissed the objections.The commission has approved Bell's tariff notice 6401 and a standard agreement for provision of 911 service to Centrex resellers. Order 2000-500 also calls on CLECs and ILECs to show by the end of the month why they should not provide complete customer information as a condition of resale.Call-Net Enterprises Inc, which was given interim contribution exemption for cross-border Internet traffic in Order 99-351, had the decision made permanent in Order 2000-501.Order 2000-503 has denied Cable Atlantic's application to direct NewTel Communications Inc to provide it with digital exchange access service on an unbundled basis. The CRTC found that the proposed service of Cable Atlantic bordered on being a CLEC even though the company has not applied for that status.Telus was denied a payphone card promotion in Order 2000-502. Canada Payphone Corp and the Canadian Payphone Association maintained the proposal was anti-competition and would have given undue preference to Telus.

NL Short Takes

News | June 5, 2000

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