NL Short Takes

Alcatel deploys network for Newfoundland HydroAlcatel has completed deployment of a microwave radio infrastructure network for Newfoundland and Labrador Hydro. The network will provide high-speed data and voice links among 13 locations. The system will upgrade the teleprotection signals from analog to digital technology. Group Telecom files applications with CRTC against Bell, AliantGT Group Telecom Services Corp. has filed Part VII applications against two major ILECs in the BCE family. The first complaint alleges that Aliant is violating its tariff schedule in its provision of services to Memorial University of Newfoundland; the second claims Bell Canada is not complying with bundling rules. Telus unveils Internet service on home phonesTelus Corp. has introduced the Express net Service, which permits subscribers to show information from the myBC.com or Alberta.com portals on home phone screens. The system works with Vista 350, 390 or 480 phones. One-third of Canadians use high-speed Internet, poll findsA study by the Ipsos-Reid marketing research firm finds that 75% of Canadians have access to the Internet. Broadband, either DSL or cable modems, make up 48% of home Internet connections. Rebanding appeals from provincial telcos denied The CRTC has denied appeals by MTS Communications Inc. (Telecom Decision 2002-29) and SaskTel (Telecom Decision 2002-30) over the commission rebanding decision. The R&Vs over Decision 2001-238 were filed last fall (NL, Nov. 19/01). March Networks and Adobe initiate staff cutsOttawa’s March Networks Corp. has shut down its e-learning division in Toronto, throwing 30 people out of work. Adobe Systems, which recently purchased Accelio, is dismissing 100 workers in Ottawa and a further 100 staff members in other parts of the company. Northwestel denies calling cards tampered withNorthern ILEC Northwestel is assuring subscribers there are no problems with calling cards it recently mailed out. The supplier re-opened the mail to insert a letter and the glue used was deficient. Linmor unveils new management productLinmor Technologies Inc. of Ottawa has released the Nebula Enterprise Performance Monitor. The product is being targeted at governments to run their data networks. TeraGo Networks rolls out service in Toronto exurbTeraGo Networks Inc. is rolling out service in the Toronto-area city of Markham ON. This is the 11th community the data carrier and ISP has moved into. London Telecom introduces new pricing planReseller London Telecom Network Inc. has unveiled a new LD plan. For $20, subscribers receive unlimited evening and weekend calls and daytime rates of 10 cents per minute. Telus takes on Bell Canada in its own hometownTelus Corp. is moving into Bell Canada territory with the introduction of a SuperPages directory in Montreal. The alternative to Bell’s Yellow Pages will cover the entire island of Montreal. CANARIE issues Atlantic Canada RFPBroadband consortium CANARIE Inc. has released a request for proposal for the Atlantic Canada leg of CA*net 4. The RFP, which closes at the end of May, seeks proposals from carriers and others who want to provide services to the Atlantic Canada Research Network. Bell Nordiq Income Fund completes IPOThe Bell Nordiq Income Fund, a trust that holds a minority share in Télébec ltée and Northern Telephone Ltd. (NL, Mar. 12/02), has raised $324 million in its IPO. In conjunction with the move, the corporate name of Télébec has been changed to Bell Nordiq Group Inc. TigerTel issues additional common sharesTigerTel Telecommunications Corp. of Mississauga ON has issued 750,000 more common shares to the former shareholders in its subsidiary TigerTel Communications Inc. This distribution is in addition to the shares released when the division was taken over (NL, Dec. 5/01). City of Calgary considers privatizing EnmaxA committee of Calgary city council has voted 4-3 to sell off Enmax. The utility also has a telecom unit (NL, Apr. 9/02). UniLink Tele.Com rolls out new Canadian POPsUniLink Tele.Com Inc. has completed the next two phases of its network expansion. In early April, it installed POPs in Montreal, Quebec City, Ottawa, Kitchener-Waterloo and London; later that month it moved into Victoria, Edmonton, Winnipeg, St. John’s and Halifax. SaskTel warns about LD phone scamsSaskTel is warning business customers about a LD phone scam currently underway in the province. The con artists phone companies that use a PBX and ask the call recipient to dial 9-0-# and then hang up. This results in the scam artist being able to make LD calls that are charged to the PBX-using firm. U.S. Senators seek to ease regulations on DSL linesDemocratic senator John Breaux and Republican Don Nickles are co-sponsoring a bill that would reduce the regulatory burden on DSL providers. The bill appears to be in response to a recent Federal Communications Commission ruling that eased third-party access rules for cablecos (NL Update, Mar. 18/02). Network Associates to restate financial dataInternet security firm Network Associates Inc. has discovered inaccuracies in its books and is restating its financial reports for 1999 and 2000. The move is forcing the company to postpone plans to buy the outstanding shares of its McAfee.com Corp. subsidiary. Swiss ILEC opposes government on unbundlingSwisscom is resisting moves by the Swiss government to open up local loops to rival telcos. The ILEC asserts that it does not have a monopoly because cablecos offer telephony alternatives. UTC forms power line council to study new technologiesThe United Telecom Council has created an independent operating unit called the United Power Line Council to drive the development of broadband power line communications. Power line telecommunications was the focus of a session at the UTC’s Canadian conference in Vancouver (NL, Mar. 25/02). Deutsche Telekom launches satellite DSL following trialsDeutsche Telekom has unveiled its satellite DSL service for customers who cannot receive high-speed Internet over wirelines. The product, being marketed under the brandname T-DSL, uses the Astra satellite system and has been in trials since last November. BT Group in talks to buy online directory Scoot.comBT Group plc, a divison of British Telecom, is reportedly holding discussions to purchase online directory service Scoot.com. If successful, BT would build a directory service around the Scoot brandname. Small print causes big ruckus for Bell CanadaSenior citizens in Belleville ON have been complaining to Bell Canada because the latest edition of the phone directories have adopted smaller type. Bell officials say seniors who have difficulty reading the six-point type are eligible for free directory assistance. Sad Sackville gets apology over misprinted phone booksMTT Aliant Telecom has repeatedly apologized over a misprint in the new Halifax phone directory, where the heading for the city of Sackville was replaced with "Prospect Road". The telco is waiving DA charges, is advertising corrected information on radio and has donated $20,000 to the Sackville Rivers Association.

NL Short Takes

News | 05/07/2002 4:00 am EDT

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