NL Short Takes

Warnings about 10-digit dialing begin outside TorontoCallers in the 905 region surrounding Toronto are hearing recorded messages alerting them to the advent of 10-digit dialing. The 289 NPA will be overlaid on June 9, resulting in the dialing of all the numbers. Orchestream completes takeover of Ottawa’s CrossKeysBritain’s Orchestream Holdings plc has completed its acquisition of CrossKeys Systems Corp. The deal, which was approved by 99.7% of CrossKeys’ security holders, is worth about $17.7 million.Wireline profits up as wireless losses emerge, StatsCan saysStatistics Canada reports operating profits for the telecom industry were $3.8 billion in 1998 on revenues of $28.5 billion. Wireline and satellite companies showed profits that year while wireless and resellers posted losses.360networks offers services in three American citiesFibre builder 360networks Inc has inked a deal with Equinix Inc of Mountain View CA to make its broadband services available in Equinix IBX centres. The initial rollout will be in Los Angeles, Chicago and Dallas, with future development in New York, Washington DC and the Silicon Valley possible.Hull seeks investment through tax breaks, business parkThe city of Hull QC, where generations of Ontario underage drinkers were first led astray, is hoping to lure some of Ottawa’s start-up high-tech businesses across the border. It has announced plans for a $500- million business park and tax breaks of up to $15,000 per employee for firms that locate there. The developer hopes to eventually have upwards of 7,500 employees working in the park.Northern Canada to receive Internet service by satelliteOttawa-based RAMTelecom is offering high-speed Internet service to Northern Canada. Using Telesat Canada resources, the firm is providing one-way and two-way satellite systems that deliver speeds similar to those in major cities.Supplier sues dba Telecom Unico Technology Berhad has launched a suit against dba Telecom of Vancouver saying the BC company did not follow through on several purchase orders. It is asking for US$594,000 in damages.Bell to offer Internet protocol virtual private networkBell Canada is introducing an Internet Protocol virtual private network that offers bandwidth and level of service on demand. Customers concentrate on their business as Bell handles day-to-day network activities.Inter.net signs deals with WorldCom and AT&T CanadaInternet access firm Inter.net Canada has reached service agreements with WorldCom Canada and with AT&T Canada. The deal permits Inter.net customers to have dial-up access with 67 POPs across the country.Nortel and Agilent work on optical networksNortel Networks Corp and Agilent Technologies Inc have inked a deal to market a solution to simplify optical network management. It is designed to enable service providers to quickly determine when logical alarms are caused by fibre problems and where the problems are.Bragg Photonics to work harder with fewer employeesBragg Photonics of Pointe Claire QC is reducing its workforce by 13% and is adjusting its production schedules to meet market conditions. The firm plans to expand to meet customer demand.Zenastra begins shipping optical products to clientsOttawa’s Zenastra Photonics Inc has begun receiving orders and is sending sample products to three customers. The company makes integrated optical components for high performance networking systems.Norsat enters agreement with China NetcomNorsat International of Vancouver will supply China Netcom with a fully redundant digital video broadcasting data hub for CNC’s Internet gateway in Beijing. The deal will be completed by the end of the month.Look Communications escapes death penaltyISP Look Communications Inc has had a Usenet Death Penalty withdrawn after the firm dealt with a spam artist using its service. A subscriber had sent more than 10,000 unwanted emails to Usenet customers throughout North America.Unilink after LD market through reward programUnilink Tele.Com of Vancouver is establishing a PhoneMiles reward system in an attempt to capture a share of the LD market. The stored-value system permits users to amass free LD time by tracking sales made through Unilink’s retail partners.Phonify adopts new VoIP platform from NetSpeakPhonify Communications is deploying a VoIP platform from NetSpeak for its phone-to-phone and PC-to-phone service. The company expects to reach major cities representing 60% of the Canadian population.SS8 Networks inks partnership deal with NetNumberIP telephony firm SS8 Networks of Ottawa and San Jose CA has joined up with NetNumber of Lowell MA to integrate their products. The coordination will permit number resolution and call routing to IP phones.North American telephony group web site hackedThe Alliance for Telecommunications Industry Solutions, a body working on problems like number exhaust, had its web site hacked into at the beginning of the month. ATIS is working to restore documents and other files that were deleted in the raid.Canadians happier with telecom service than AmericansA new poll finds 87% of Canadians rate their telecom service good or very good, as opposed to only 79% of Americans who said so. The biggest gap in the Ipsos-Reid study was in LD service, which 88% of Canadians rated good or very good while only 74% of those south of the border agreed.

NL Short Takes

News | April 23, 2001

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