NL Short Takes

Cannect given CLEC status in Vancouver from CRTCCannect Communications Inc of Oakville ON has been granted CLEC status from the CRTC. The initial designation is good for the Vancouver area, one of 13 areas the company serves. First in telephony, last in the Northeast conferenceReports out of Montreal say BCE is about to purchase the Canadiens hockey team and the Molson Centre arena. BCE received approval to take over the CTV television network in CRTC Decision 2000-747 and is planning to merge the Globe and Mail into its media holdings. Telus Internet now includes phone retrieval and classifiedsTelus customers are now able to receive voice mail, e-mail and details of faxed messages by phone. The Onebox Plus system permits users to access the information from any phone or computer anywhere around the globe. The company is also using its myBC.com, Alberta.com and myTO.com portals to launch online classified advertisements. 360networks opens landing station in CaribbeanVancouver fibre firm 360networks Inc and its TeleBermuda International subsidiary have opened a transoceanic cable landing station in St David’s Bermuda. The station will be the hub for the 360americas network, linking the Caribbean, South America and the U.S. Bell signs agreement with Ontario nativesThe First Nations Buying Group has inked a deal with Bell Canada for LD discounts. Aboriginal businesses and tribal councils in Ontario will be charged 7.5 cents per minute, as opposed to the 17 to 35 cents per minute they previously paid. Toronto callers to be told about 10-digit dialingIn anticipation of the arrival of the 647 area code in March, a recorded message will tell callers in Toronto to switch from seven-digit to 10-digit dialing. The messages will start playing in early January on all calls made using only seven numbers. Northwestel launches new LD plans for business, residencesFresh from its new rate structure being approved by the CRTC (NL, Dec. 4/00), Northwestel has introduced two new LD plans. BusinessCents allows corporate clients to call anywhere in Canada for 19 cents per minute with no minimum, while BusinessCents Plus provides direct-dialed calls at 18 cents, with additional discounts for volume. Freedom After Hours permits private customers to call anywhere in the country on evenings and weekends for 10 cents a minute, to a maximum of 600 minutes for $25. Additional minutes will be charged at 10 cents. Aliant signs deal with New Brunswick consultantsEast coast ILEC Aliant Telecom has agreed to become a major sponsor of www.capacadie.com, the French Internet portal created by BMG Consultants of Moncton NB. The portal features 20 publications, two radio stations and several francophone links. Kingston seeks to become feeder for Silicon Valley NorthThe city of Kingston ON is joining with four neighbouring communities to find ways to serve the growing high-tech trade in Ottawa. The strategy will see firms in eastern Ontario supply companies in the capital with goods such as packaging, cabinets and transportation services. More layoffs for BCE interactive divisionExtendMedia Inc of Toronto is chopping 65 employees—about half its workforce. The interactive software firm laid off 40 people last month. BCE Inc holds a 26% stake in the company, which produces interactive TV shows. Not a creature was stirring, not even the mouseAn informal survey done by the Canadian Information Processing Society finds that while 54% plan to use the Internet to research Christmas gift ideas, 60% prefer to do their shopping at bricks and mortar stores. The most frequently cited reason for in-store shopping was the desire to see and touch possible purchases. 3Com and Broadcom form alliance for Ethernet solutions3Com Canada of Mississauga ON and Broadcom Corp of Irvine CA have joined together to develop, cross-license, market and sell Gigabit Ethernet NIC and LOM solutions. The agreement expands upon a deal already in place. Nortel IP solution chosen by Cable & WirelessCable & Wireless of the UK has selected the IP VPN management and infrastructure solutions from Nortel Networks. The US$10-million deal will see next generation IP services deployed in 80 countries. BCE Emergis upgrades network for travelersBCE Emergis Inc has joined up with the Canadian division of Sabre Inc to upgrade Sabre Canadian’s Internet network. The three-year multi-million dollar deal will give customers instant access to Sabre’s global distribution system and to additional tools such as email. NSI Communications releases IP-based satellite productMontreal’s NSI Communications Inc has introduced SkyIP, a two-way IP-based satellite terminal product. The terminal provides high-speed communications where terrestrial infrastructure is under-developed or non-existent. Exfo announces expansion of facilities in QuebecExfo Electro-Optical Engineering Inc of Vanier QC will invest US$20 million to expand operations. The work on three buildings will increase manufacturing space from 55,000 to 180,000 sq-ft, while about 500 new jobs will be created. Fibre deployment expected to approach $1 trillion this yearAn American study predicts that fibre-to-the-home market will be worth US$4.7 million in shipments this year, fibre-to-the-curb brings in US$247.2 million, fibre-to-the-building is worth US$601 million, and fibre-in-the-building is at US$108.2 million. That brings the entire fibre-to-the-x market at US$961.2 billion, the Communications Industry Researchers survey finds. Telecor buys PBX line from DialogicTelecor Inc of Mississauga ON has acquired the Picazo VS1 PBX product line from Dialogic. The system provides computer telephony features such as voicemail, automatic call distribution, conferencing and paging. Studying Perl and Flash with your JavaMontreal’s Télé-Ressources Group has unveiled the Employment Coffee House in the heart of the city. People interested in full-time and part-time work can browse job openings and consult experts through a digital camera and a web site. Most 911 calls not emergencies, American authorities findThe police in Des Moines IA estimate that 90% of the calls received by 911 dispatchers are not emergencies, but instead are people worried about raccoons, drunks babbling incoherently or folks who want food delivery. They should meet the lad in Columbia TN, near Nashville, who called 911 a total of 91 times between 4:30 p.m. and 11 p.m. The boy would burp, order a pizza or just leave dead air. He’s been charged with delinquency through telephone harassment by local authorities.

NL Short Takes

News | December 20, 2000

Unlock all the Canadian telecom, broadcasting and digital media news you need.

FREE TRIAL

SUBSCRIBE

Inside The Wire Report

Information

Hill Times Publishing

Get in Touch With Us