NL Short Takes

BCI gets Canbras stake from Telecom AmericasBell Canada International Inc. is assuming the interest in Canbras Communications Corp. currently held by Telecom Americas Ltd. When the deal closes, BCI will hold 76.6% of the common shares of Canbras and, taking into account minority interests, will have an equity interest of 75.6%. Telus buys DSL equipment from Alcatel and rolls out in NorthTelus Corp. is spending $250 million to deploy Alcatel ADSL technology for its high-speed Internet service over the next three years. The telco, which was rated the number one Canadian Internet backbone by NetConfigs Ltd., has also joined with Quick Link Communications Ltd. to provide call-control-systems to remote regions in northern Canada. Manitoba Telecom has 100,000 Internet subscribersProvincial telco Manitoba Telecom Services Inc. has signed up its 100,000th high-speed Internet customer. The company reports that 98% of people in the province have access to the service, the highest rate in the country. Shaw rolls out Internet in two B.C. communitiesShaw Communications Inc. is deploying its high-speed Internet service in two more regions of British Columbia. The rollout to Agassiz and Creston means the cableco offers the service to about 2.8 million people. WorldCom unveils web-enabled VPN service in CanadaWorldCom is now providing Canadian customers with its IP VPN service. The system will allow clients to direct the control of their networks. WorldCom will continue to offer fully-managed service to other business customers. Linmor loss cut in half for Q3 2002 as revenues increaseOttawa software manufacturer Linmor Inc. announced its net operating loss for the third quarter of 2002 was $902,706, a decrease of 56% from Q2. Revenue jumped by 82% from Q2 and from Q3 of 2001, registering $1.7 million. PCNet reports revenue hike, net loss in FY 2001Victoria-based ISP PCNet International Inc. reported a 283% increase in revenues in 2001 over 2000, bringing in $13.7 million last year as opposed to $4.8 million a year earlier. The company, which has been expanding operations lately (NL, Nov. 19/01), posted a net loss of $3.2 million, against a loss of $324,723 in 2000. Cogeco spends $7.6 million to convert Internet customersCogeco Cable Inc. announced that the transformation of its high-speed Internet service from @Home to its own Rapidus service cost it $7.6 million. The cableco has about 122,000 customers in Ontario and Quebec. Zarlink divests Quebec foundry in $21 million dealOttawa’s Zarlink Semiconductor has sold its foundry in Bromont QC to Dalsa Corp. of Waterloo ON for $21.6 million. Zarlink will retain a 19.9% stake in the facility. Dalsa is guaranteeing a continuity of supply under a three-year agreement. Union accuses Bell of flip-flopping on job offersThe Communications, Energy and Paperworkers Union says Bell Canada has reneged on a commitment to hire operators at a new operation. Bell had promised workers in Kingston ON that they would have jobs at Nordia when the telco shut its office, but the promise hasn’t been kept, the union charges. Go Prepaid sets up vending machines in Edmonton airportGo Prepaid Inc. has expanded its vending machine network at the Edmonton International Airport. The company sells Telus LD and wireless prepaid cards through kiosks in airports and other tourist locations. Global Crossing seeks bankruptcy protection in U.S.Fibre deployer Global Crossing Ltd. has filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy protection in New York and in Bermuda. The firm said it has US$22.4 billion in assets and US$12.4 billion in liabilities. Washington proposes ‘do not call’ registry for telemarketingThe Federal Trade Commission in the United States is proposing the creation of a national "do not call" registry for telemarketers. The CRTC is currently reviewing regulations for the telemarketing industry (NL, Mar. 12/01). FCC restructures several bureaus and creates new oneThe Federal Communications Commission has reorganized several of its internal bureaus. The common carrier bureau will be replaced by the wireline competition bureau, and the media bureau will handle issues currently under the jurisdiction of the mass media and cable services bureau. A new consumer and governmental affairs bureau will be created and will take over files from three other sections. Alcatel upgrades DSL technologyEquipment manufacturer Alcatel has introduced improvements to its 7300 Advanced Services Access Manager. The upgraded product allows users to increase their revenue and efficiency, while reducing their capex. Cable high-speed on the increase in BritainIn the United Kingdom, the deployment of cable modems for high-speed Internet service is growing faster than DSL rollout. Telewest reports signing up 100,000 customers after a mere 10 months. British Telecom to pay ISPs for broadband promotionBT Wholesale, a division of British Telecommunications, will spend millions of pounds to advertise its broadband service on ISPs. BT has told the 190 ISPs operating in the country that it will only pay for ads that specifically promote ADSL. Local loop unbundling costs slashed in BritainThe British telecom regulator Oftel has ordered British Telecom to cut charges for its local loop unbundling. The new rate is £2.60, down from £5.30. Iceland telco to offer messaging on all phonesSiminn, the Icelandic telco, has bought a unified messaging service from American manufacturer Comverse. The system will permit functions such as email to speech and is adaptable for both wireline and wireless devices. Problems with the telephone poltergeistBecky Sivek doesn’t have LD service but her phone is apparently dialing across the United States. The Associated Press reports the Traverse City MI woman has been receiving threatening calls from people who have been contacted by her phone. Ameritech, her telco, is investigating.

NL Short Takes

News | 01/29/2002 5:00 am EST

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