NL Short Takes

BCE to participate in Bell Canada International rights offeringBCE Inc. is going to participate in a $440 million rights offering for Bell Canada International Inc. BCI has announced a recapitalization plan in order to meet its short-term funding commitments. Another part of the scenario will see BCI reorganize its participation in Telecom Americas Ltd. in the South American market. Nextel Communications divests itself of Telus stakeAmerican wireless carrier Nextel Communications Inc. has sold its 11.4% stake in Telus Corp. for US$196.5 million. The shares were purchased by TD Securities Inc., which in turn sold them to various investors. 360networks posts $168M loss in first nine months of 2001Fibre builder 360networks Inc. reported a loss of $168 million for the first nine months of 2001, compared to a $138 million profit for the same period in 2000. The company, which has filed for bankruptcy protection, is in the process of renegotiating several of its contracts. Near $3-million loss for dba Telecom as it ends operationsVancouver’s dba Telecom reported a loss of $2,932,012 for the first nine months of the year. The company recently shut down its North American operations and sold its assets. No funds were available to pay secured or unsecured creditors. RSL COM buys Startec Canada customer baseRSL COM Canada has added 3,000 local phone lines through its purchase of the business customer base of Startec Canada, the former Vancouver Telephone Co. RSL COM was bought by SaskTel this summer (NL, Sept. 11/01). Mandatory ‘Do Not Call’ list advocated by CMAThe Canadian Marketing Association is urging the CRTC to establish a mandatory Do Not Call service for telemarketers. The CMA proposal would see companies pay an annual fee ranging from $500 to $10,000 to subscribe to the list and consumers pay $5 to be registered for three years. CRTC presents NPA relief for Ottawa and HullIn Order 2001-841, the CRTC has set out a relief plan for the 613 and 819 area codes. Local 10-digit dialing will be in place by late 2004 (NL, Sept. 24/01). The question of number relief is complicated because the local calling area overlaps two provinces and two NPAs. Revised unbundled loop rates released by CRTCThe CRTC has issued interim approval of revised unbundled loop rates for reclassified bands. Order 2001-848 affects Aliant Telecom Inc., Bell Canada and Telus Communications Inc. Northern Ontario gets 911 service from Bell CanadaBell Canada is extending 911 service to the communities of Kenora-Dryden and Rainy River. The Northern Ontario areas will begin receiving the service next week, with Kenora signing on Dec. 11 and Rainy River getting the service two days later. Manitoba Telecom introduces faster Internet serviceManitoba Telecom Services Inc. is offering customers in Winnipeg and Brandon faster high-speed Internet service. The new system, which can serve single and multiple users, promises download speeds of three Mbps and upload speeds of 320 Kbps. Core Networks announces new American partnershipsHalifax-based Core Networks Inc. has joined with Pacific Broadband Communications of San Jose CA to help service providers mine DOCSIS opportunities. The company is also working on expanding QoS for cable operators, through a new agreement with P-Cube Inc. of Sunnyvale CA. Bell Canada donates $300,000 to telehealth project in OntarioBell Canada is providing the Children’s Hospital of Eastern Ontario with $300,000 to establish a telehealth link. The new system will see the Ottawa medical facility, the only centre in the area that treats children exclusively, joined up electronically with 18 regional hospitals throughout eastern Ontario. TigerTel Communications takeover completedTigerTel Telecommunications Inc., which was previously known as Consolidated Technologies Holdings Inc., has acquired the outstanding shares of TigerTel Communications Inc. Shareholders will receive 15 million common shares of the parent company. Oz Optics lays off workers at Ottawa-area plantFibre optics manufacturer Oz Optics Ltd. has laid off between 25 and 45 employees at its facility in Carp ON. The cuts reduce the company’s workforce to about 250 people. EXFO launches power meter option on platformEXFO Electro-Optical Engineering Inc. of Quebec City has unveiled a power meter option on its FTB-100 field-testing platform. The option will give technicians insertion loss measurements in addition to the basic Optical Time Domain Reflectometer testing. AT&T subsidiary wins contract from Alberta governmentThe Alberta revenue, tax and revenue administration branch has awarded a three-year, $4.3 million contract to Montage.DMC for electronic support services. The services being offered include software maintenance and application development. Montage.DMC is a division of AT&T Canada Inc. Zarlink introduces new synchronization chipOttawa equipment manufacturer Zarlink Semiconductor Inc. has unveiled a new optical network synchronization chip. The new chip is designed to ease system design and slash board space and it is the first in a planned group of phase locked loop devices. Consolidated Magna enters deal with Data FortressVancouver’s Consolidated Magna Ventures Ltd. has signed an agreement with Data Fortress Technologies Ltd. Data Fortress will house Magna’s servers and will provide three on-ramps to its fibre optic loop in Vancouver. Quick Link to provide Internet services to natives in NWTQuick Link Communications Ltd. has signed a three-year contract with the ADK Corporate Group of Fort Liard NWT. ADK, which is run by the Acho Dene Koe First Nations band, will resell Quick Link’s data and Internet services to remote areas in the Northwest Territories. Canada upgraded on list ofbest places to do businessThe World Markets Research Centre of London UK has released rankings on the best places in the world to do business, based on six risk categories. Canada has jumped from eighth spot on Sept. 10 to sixth spot as of Oct. 25. Analysts predict slow recovery for Nortel in 2002A new report from the Dell’Oro market research group of Redwood City CA predicts Nortel Networks Corp. will have a tough time recovering in 2002. It believes the declining optical-networking market will hurt the Canadian equipment manufacturer. France Telecom increases development in ADSLFrance Telecom is investing EUR 400 million (approximate $561 million) to provide ADSL to households over the next three years. The company expects ADSL to have 80% of the French market by the end of 2003. Manitoba Telecom wins award for advertising campaignManitoba Telecom Services Inc. and its advertising agency Cossette Communications have won a silver medal in the regional success category at the recent Canadian Advertising Success Stories awards. The prize was given for the telco’s Morty the Bison, a talking bovine who tells customers what the provincial company can offer. False pornography listing leads to directory lawsuitAmerican video company RGB Productions Inc. is suing McLeod USA Publishing Co. after it was listed in the Maumee OH telephone directory as "RGB Porno Productions", the Toledo Blade reports. The firm, which makes TV commercials and videos for schools, churches and industry, is asking for US$25,000 in compensatory damages and over US$10 million in punitive damages.

NL Short Takes

News | 12/05/2001 5:00 am EST

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