NL Short Takes

360networks completes Group Telecom takeover360networks Corp. has finalized its acquisition of Group Telecom. Under the deal, secured creditors of GT will receive about $250 million in cash. BCE boosts stake in Sympatico, cuts share of GlobemediaBCE Inc. has regained full control of Sympatico.ca and is transferring it from Bell Globemedia to Bell Canada. It is also reducing its stake in Globemedia from 70% to 68.5%. AT&T Canada losses tumble in fourth quarter of 2002AT&T Canada Corp. reported a net loss in Q4 2002 of $63.8 million, down from the $170.7 million loss of Q4 2001. Revenues for the quarter were $359.6 million, nearly identical to the $359.9 million posted in Q3. The company expects to complete its restructuring plan by the end of Q1 2003. Mergers unlikely in equipment sector: Nortel’s DunnNortel Networks Corp. CEO Frank Dunn is skeptical about the prospects of equipment manufacturers merging. "We all have global coverage already," he told a Berlin news conference, "so mergers would be all about cutting costs, but we are already cutting costs." Northwestel seeks end to marketing & bundling bansNorthwestel Inc. has filed a Part VII application with the CRTC seeking to remove the ban on joint marketing and bundling its services with its wireless division. The northern ILEC says the rationale for keeping it the only incumbent with such limits has changed thanks to technological advances. Ottawa networker raises US$20 million in financingTropic Networks Inc. has completed US$20 million in financing. The Ottawa metro-optical network company received the money from Celtic House Venture Partners, Goldman Sachs’ Private Equity Group, Kodiak Venture Partners, Crescendo Ventures and the Teachers’ Merchant Bank, a division of the Ontario Teachers’ Pension Plan. Rexcan Circuits shuts down operations in OntarioRexcan Circuits Inc. has declared bankruptcy and shuttered its plant in Belleville ON. The circuit board company, which had 145 employees at the time of the closing, had a debt of $21 million. Aliant cable reorganization approved by CRTCIn Broadcasting Decision 2003-29, the CRTC approved a corporate reorganization of Aliant Telecom Inc. that sees 13.99% of its cable operations moved from BCE Inc. to a numbered company. The commission denied an Aliant application to implement a reduced Centrex rate for health and education customers in Telecom Order 2003-69. CRTC dismisses R&V over service suspension ratesThe CRTC has dismissed a review and vary application over Telus Communications Inc.’s suspension of service rates. The appeal, by B.C. citizen Neville Cox, was rejected in Telecom Decision 2003-5. Nortel Networks opposes CIC rule changesThe Industry Numbering Committee is seeking comments on proposed changes to the carrier identification code (CIC) assignment involving ElectroMagnetic Interface records. Nortel Networks Corp. maintains that subcontractors cannot determine if the EMI record should be billed back at toll or local rates. Navigata signs telecom deal with B.C. real estate groupNavigata Communications Inc. has renewed its telecommunications affinity program with the British Columbia Real Estate Association. The BCREA has extended its deal with the SaskTel subsidiary for the next three years. Onlinetel cash flow positive for December and JanuaryOnlinetel reported revenue in January of $458,077, an increase of 23% over December revenues. The Eiger Technology Inc. VoIP division has increased its annualized revenue run rate to $5.5 million. Mitel Networks unveils telework productOttawa’s Mitel Networks Corp. has introduced a plug and work teleworker product. The device uses a standard Mitel IP phone and converts any DSL or cable modem connection into a secure extension off the corporate network. Call centre gets government cash to open in ReginaStarTek Inc. of Denver is opening a call centre in Regina, creating 800 jobs in the Queen City. In order to secure the operation, the municipal government offered a $1.5 million tax abatement and the provincial government committed $1.8 million in training funds. Vancouver firm deploys domain name product at BTVancouver’s Incognito Software Inc. has deployed its Name Commander product at British Telecom. Name Commander integrates the management of multiple domain name system servers into a centralized site. Nortel sells convergence device to European telcoNortel Networks Corp. has deployed its Passport 20000 Multiservice Switch in the network of European telco Connex. The product allows the convergence of voice and data traffic onto one network and permits the introduction of new services. Nortel sells adaptive network to Indian companyICICI OneSource, a business processing outsource firm located in Mumbai, India, has purchased an adaptive network system from Nortel Networks Corp. The network is based on contact centre, routing and switching technology devices. Vodaphone in talks to sell Japan Telecom to U.S. firmBritish telco Vodaphone Group Plc is in talks to sell its 66% stake in Japan Telecom Holdings Co. Ltd. to Ripplewood, an American investment fund. Vodaphone is also increasing its stake in Swedish telco Europolitan and Portugal’s Telecel, buying total control of the firms, which it already held majority interests in. British industry wants more support for broadbandAlmost half of all companies believe the British government should provide greater support for broadband deployment, a new survey finds. The Institute of Directors poll discovered that 48% of respondents think grants or tax breaks will encourage more adoption of broadband. British broadband signing up 30,000 users each weekNew figures from British telecom regulator Oftel report new broadband subscriptions of nearly 30,000 per week. That brings the total number of high-speed Internet subscribers to 1.4 million. U.S. government questions cyberwarfare web siteThe American government has pulled the plug on the AONN.gov web site, which claimed to be a cyberwarfare unit of the federal government. Officials determined the Access One Network Northwest is not a recognized agency and are puzzled as to how it got a ".gov" domain name. South Korea denies unfair assistance to chip companiesThe government of South Korea is denying charges it unfairly subsidizes local computer chip manufacturers. Infineon Technologies of Germany had filed a complaint with the European Union and Micron Technology filed a similar protest with the U.S. Department of Commerce. Dump unbundled platform, research council tells FCCThe New Millennium Research Council is urging the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) to eliminate its unbundled network element platform (UNE-P), saying it slows investment. FCC chair Michael Powell discussed problems with UNE-P when he appeared before Congress last month (NL, Jan. 28/03). Would-be baseball boss out at homeThe same day that William Collins III announced plans to buy the Montreal Expos and move them to northern Virginia, he was dumped as chair/CEO of Metrocall Holdings Inc. Collins had been with the company since 1996.

NL Short Takes

News | 02/10/2003 5:00 am EST

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