NL Short Takes

AT&T Canada losses increase by $200 million for FY 2001AT&T Canada Corp. released its final figures for Q4 2001. The CLEC posted a loss of $733 million, up from the $523 million reported a year earlier. The company now has nearly 550,000 local access lines installed. Slight increase in Group Telecom loss for 2001GT Group Telecom Inc. reported a loss in FY 2001 of $88 million, up from nearly $82 million in 2000. The number of fibre kilometres and route kilometres nearly doubled over the year, primarily as a result of expansion in the Toronto area. Bell Canada and Mitel unveil new IP device in central CanadaBell Canada is now selling an IP-based product combining voice and data in a single box. The 3100 Integrated Communications Platform is manufactured by Ottawa’s Mitel Networks Corp. The device is currently available in Quebec and Ontario, but the telco hopes to expand into other markets soon. Two American telecoms go bankrupt on same dayNetwork Plus, a voice and data provider in Randolph MA, filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy protection on Feb. 5. Last month, the company announced creditors had waived certain terms of its credit facility. On the same day, Advanced Switching Communications Inc. of Vienna VA revealed plans to lay off its remaining 100 workers and sell all assets. Global Crossing accuses accuser of blackmailGlobal Crossing Ltd., which filed for bankruptcy protection (NL, Jan. 29/02), has denied a claim by a former VP of finance that it overstated revenue from sales of capacity on its network. The company maintains that Roy Olofson demanded money in exchange for dropping a wrongful dismissal lawsuit. LocusDialog becomes voice partner with Nortel NetworksMontreal’s LocusDialog has seen its Liaison system certified as a Nortel compatible product. Liaison is a voice recognition system (NL, June 19/00). Thunder Bay Telephone asks CRTC for clarification on wiresThunder Bay Telephone has filed a request with the CRTC seeking clarification on two sections of Decision 2001-756, regarding small ILECs. The telco asks why the commission refers to wire centres in two of its serving areas, since these centres have been replaced by a switch. First nations bands get high-speed access by satelliteThe Naskapi Nation of Kawawachikamach in Quebec has inked a deal with RAMTelecom to receive high-speed Internet service through satellite. B.C.’s Skatin First Nation recently signed an agreement with C-Com Satellite Systems for two-way broadband service. Sprint Canada deploys network for Hudson’s Bay CompanySprint Canada Inc. has rolled out a national frame relay network for the Hudson’s Bay Company. The Call-Net Enterprises subsidiary is consolidating all remote locations and dispersed LANs for Canada’s oldest company, as well as providing voice and call centre services. Group Telecom agrees to do Lord’s work in New BrunswickGT Group Telecom Inc. served as the major sponsor of the State of the Province speech by New Brunswick premier Bernard Lord Feb. 6. In addition to sponsoring the televised address, the CLEC carried the speech as part of a webcast. Ottawa photonics specialists form lobby groupSeveral photonics researchers have banded together to create the Ottawa Photonics Research Alliance. The membership includes the National Research Council, the Ottawa Photonics Cluster, Communications Research Centre Canada, the Ottawa Centre for Research and Innovation and four local post-secondary institutions. Nortel unveils optical Ethernet upgradeNortel Networks has introduced major technological innovations to its Optical Metro portfolio. The company expects the changes will speed deployment while cutting operating costs by up to 60%. AT&T continues to operate in Europe despite BT splitAT&T Corp. of the United States will not pull out of Europe, even though a deal with British Telecom has been cancelled. The American telco’s executive in Germany, Martin Schütz, said the business model for the failed Concert alliance will be adapted for AT&T’s use. Verizon testing pay-per-minute pay phones in two statesAmerican telco Verizon Communications is testing 40 pay-per-minute pay phones in Hampton Roads VA and Tampa FL. The firm, which has 430,000 pay phones in 33 states, boosted pay phone prices from 35 cents to 50 cents last fall. Nortel and Motorola to deliver VoIP to broadband cableNortel Networks has teamed up with the broadband communications sector of Motorola Inc. to create an integrated VoIP product for the broadband cable market. The two companies are building a network for Callahan Associates subsidiary Ish. Cabletel extends line of credit as it refinancesCabletel Communications Corp. of Markham ON has had its existing line of credit extended for another month. The company said the extension, until the end of February, will permit it to complete new financing agreements. Kingston "on the cusp" of becoming high-tech havenAt the recent Kingston Technology Council awards, two IT specialists predicted the Ontario city could become the country’s next "Silicon Valley North". Laura Gainer of Export Development Canada told the Kingston Whig-Standard the city is "on the cusp" of global success because of its innovative firms, sentiments echoed by Darin Graham of Communications and Information Technology Ontario. ITU establishes new wideband speech coding standardThe International Telecommunication Union has set a new standard for high-quality digital wideband speech encoding. It marks the first time that wireline and wireless service can adopt the same codec. Winnipeg police want to lay charges, not reverse themPolice in Winnipeg are warning citizens not to accept collect calls supposedly from the department. A phone scam has subscribers receiving calls from the "Winnipeg Police Service" and being asked to press 1 to accept the call or 2 to refuse it. The police assume a charge will be levied on victims’ phone bills. CCSA enters into cable modem deal with Com21The Canadian Cable Systems Alliance Inc. has signed a deal with Com21 Inc. of Milpitas CA for cable modems. Under the agreement, CCSA members will be able to buy equipment at considerable savings thanks to volume purchases by the alliance. 360networks buys stake in Urbanlink from Worldwide FiberTroubled fibre company 360networks Inc. has acquired all the assets of Urbanlink Holdings Ltd. that were formerly held by Worldwide Fiber Holdings Ltd. The new affiliate will not be part of the restructuring agreement currently underway. Europeans reluctant to spend on broadband, but prefer ADSLA study by GartnerG2 has found that the majority of European consumers don’t plan to get high-speed broadband over the next three years. But a Yankee Group report discovered that in 2001 ADSL subscriptions passed cable modems for the first time. FCC chair recuperating after tests in Washington hospitalFederal Communications Commission chair Michael Powell is resting at home after being hospitalized twice in January. He cancelled a speech in Las Vegas after suffering a suspected case of food poisoning and underwent tests at Walter Reed Army Medical Center in Washington later that month. Fake 911 call doesn’t fool police; man gets to call lawyer insteadA would-be robber phoned in a false 911 report of a shooting in downtown Winnipeg so he could create a diversion while holding up a nearby 7-Eleven store. Kevin Melquist is being held by Winnipeg police on weapons and robbery charges

NL Short Takes

News | 02/11/2002 5:00 am EST

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