NL Short Takes

Group Telecom latest CLEC to form special committeeGT Group Telecom Inc. has formed a special committee and has hired Morgan Stanley & Co. Inc. to help the firm in considering possible capital structure enhancements. The move comes days after AT&T Canada formed a similar committee (NL Update, Mar. 18/02) and months after Call-Net Enterprises restructured (NL, July 16/00). BCE Emergis shares drop on revenue warningShares in BCE Emergis Inc. plummeted by 40% following warnings about a shortfall in non-recurring revenue. The company said it expects Q1 revenue to be around $128-$138 million, with negative EBITDA of $17-$22 million and a net loss of $25-$30 million. Teleglobe and Bell Canada to align networksTeleglobe is planning to outsource its network operations, technology, IS/IT and real estate management through agreements with BCE Inc. affiliates Bell Canada and CGI. About 600 Teleglobe workers will transfer to the other companies and a further 100 jobs will be eliminated. Telus buys out partner in Toronto fibre deploymentTelus Corp. has bought up the shares it did not already own in a joint venture with Metromedia Fiber Network Services to build a fibre network in the city of Toronto. The B.C.-based telco acquired all of its partner’s interest for a nominal fee. Telus Québec SIP approved in part, other filings neededThe CRTC has approved a proposed service improvement plan filed by Telus Communications (Québec) Inc. dealing with three northern communities. But the regulator told the telco in Decision 2002-16 to file another SIP by the end of the year to extend service to unserved areas. Foreign ownership survey released by Lemay-YatesMontreal telecom consultants Lemay-Yates Associates Inc. has released a study called Foreign Ownership of the Canadian Telecom Industry. The 50-page report examines the evolution of foreign investment by segment and the impact of the restrictions. Inter.net Canada outsources operations to Telus divisionISP Inter.net Canada has signed a deal with Telus Global Trading & Partner Solutions to outsource part of its network operations to the telco. The two-year agreement is worth $13 million. SaskTel rolls out high-speed and high-speed lightSaskTel has announced plans to deploy high-speed Internet over the next two years to 191 communities in the province, including Climax, Loon Lake and Wadena. The ILEC is also offering a light Internet product, faster than dial-up but slower than regular high-speed, in 10 larger cities. Alberta SuperNet to use Cisco platform to deliver servicesAlberta SuperNet has chosen Cisco Systems Inc. to provide an optical product to offer services. The Cisco ONS 15454 SONET Multiservice Platform will deliver voice, video and data over the provincial grid. Nortel and Health Unit see no risk in air qualityNortel Networks Corp. maintains there is no health impact from chemicals spilt near its now-closed facility in Belleville ON. The Hastings and Prince Edward County Health Unit agrees that air quality tests fall within the acceptable limits, despite the protests of residents of the neighbourhood who claim their health has been affected by the residue (NL, March 12/02). Telehealth Ont. introduces TTY number to complement serviceTelehealth Ontario has unveiled a new number, 866-797-0007, so hearing or speech impaired people can gain access to its service. Previously, TTY users had to use Bell Canada to get into the network. VoIP manufacturer Vectoria wins technology awardMontreal’s Vectoria Inc. has won the best new technology award in the telecom sector from Venture News Canada. Vectoria makes a next generation VoIP network and is deploying a grid with Cisco Systems and Group Telecom. American government stops .usa , .brit scamsThe Federal Trade Commission in Washington won an injunction against TLD Network Ltd., Quantum Management (GB) Ltd., TBS Industries Ltd., Thomas Goolnik and Edward Harris Goolnik of London UK. It claims they were engaged in a scam to sell worthless domain names like ".usa" and ".brit" to unsuspecting Internet users. Ireland to build Internet network throughout nationThe Irish government is investing 300 million euros (about $420 million) to build a 50,000-km high-speed fibre-optic Internet network. The public/private partnership hopes to have 123 towns and cities connected by 2005. Czech telecom competition delayed by regulatorThe Czech Telecommunications Office says it is delaying the implementation of competitive service because former monopoly Cesky Telecom is not ready for the next step. Three groups, including Deutsche Telekom and Swisscom, are bidding to buy Cesky, which is in the process of being privatized. Fallen branch truncates phone service in KingstonMark Collis of Kingston ON didn’t realize a fallen willow branch could cause such an uproar. A branch from his tree took down two neighbours’ phone lines. Jurisdictional disputes within Bell Canada meant the problem was not solved for one week. Support for European broadband by 2005 growsSweden and Great Britain have become the latest countries to endorse the idea of providing high-speed Internet service in Europe by 2005. Prime ministers Goran Persson and Tony Blair announced the support at the European Union summit in Barcelona earlier this month. America’s SBC seeks IPO for Belgian telcoAmerican telco SBC Communications wants Belgacom, in which it owns 24.5%, to issue an IPO. Belgacom has an estimated value of 12 billion euros (about $16.75B). Net2Phone offers service to 25 nations through one numberNet2Phone is now offering subscribers one telephone number to connect to 25 countries outside the United States. The new number will provide universal access to Canada and to other nations in Europe, Asia and the Middle East. Deutsche Telekom to sell cable assets, settles fight with ISPDeutsche Telekom announced it is discussing the sale of its cable assets with two unnamed investors. The German ILEC has also settled a dispute with QSC, a local ISP, over interconnection charges to its broadband network. Blue films lead to red faces over 911 calls by partying policeEvansville IN police officer Jeff Breivogel is facing charges after phoning in a fake 911 call that alleged a shooting had occurred. The cop wanted a female officer dispatched to the area so Breivogel and his colleagues could watch porno films at a party celebrating another officer’s divorce.

NL Short Takes

News | March 25, 2002

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Q&A: Senator explains why Canada needs stronger penalties for copper wire thieves

Rogers, T-Mobile bring satellite service to U.S. roaming customers

CENGN partners with Ericsson to open new living lab in Quebec

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