NL Update

FCI uses Alcatel FTTU equipmentFCI Broadband, a division of CLEC Futureway Communications Inc., will deploy Alcatel’s fibre-to-the-user (FTTU) product on its network. The equipment will permit FCI to provide customers with voice, data and TV service. This is the first FTTU contract Alcatel has signed in Canada.Group Telecom signs deals with Newfoundland schoolsGroup Telecom has inked deals with Memorial University of Newfoundland and the Avalon East school district worth $6 million to provide telecom services. The CLEC has filed a Part VII application with the CRTC demanding that Aliant Inc. lease inside wire access at Memorial to the telco. Aliant filed its response last week.Telus and union reach agreement on overstaffingTelus Corp. has reached an agreement with the Telecommunications Workers Union on surplus workers in the lower mainland of British Columbia. A total of 60 people in four divisions are affected. Current employees can enter a canvass for the remaining jobs.EXFO slashes workforce by 30%Quebec City’s EXFO Electro-Optical Engineering Inc. has announced it is cutting its employee base by 30%. It is also planning to consolidate manufacturing operations and rationalize some business activities. The restructuring moves should save the firm US$10 million.SaskTel subject to other ILEC QoS rate adjustmentsThe CRTC last week ruled in Telecom Decision 2003-36 that SaskTel should be subject to the same interim quality of service (QoS) rate adjustment mechanisms as other incumbent telcos. The provincial ILEC must implement the schedule for retail customers by July 1. The telco must also report on QoS performance results for service to competitors.Sogetel LCA expansion approvedThe CRTC has approved the expansion of local calling areas (LCAs) in territory served by Sogetel Inc. In Telecom Order 2003-234, the commission notes that it does not require that the principles, criteria and process for creating expanded LCAs be included in tariffs. But it had no objection to the process and permitted Sogetel to do so.Nortel inks deal with MCINortel Networks has been chosen by MCI to help it move its voice network to an IP core. MCI, which used to be known as WorldCom, hopes to have the migration completed by 2005. Nortel will be providing softswitches and packet gateways under the contract.AOL Canada chooses Google for targeted linksAOL Canada Inc. has signed a partnership deal with Google that will provide Google sponsored links to AOL users. Google hopes to reach millions of new customers through the agreement. This is an upgrade of a partnership that has existed between the two companies for slightly more than one year.VoiceIQ removed by TSX inactive listThe TSX Venture Exchange has removed VoiceIQ Inc. from its inactive issuers list. The company recently announced its first-ever consecutive profitable quarters (NL, June 2/03). This resulted in the TSX re-evaluating the firm.INTERNATIONAL NEWSCable & Wireless abandons U.S. marketBritish telecom Cable & Wireless is phasing out its American operations. Last fall the company shuttered its retail voice and data service in the United States. It continued to provide service to business customers and as a multinational service provider.ITU and CEA formalize standardsThe International Telecommunication Union has set up a formal relationship with the Consumer Electronics Association to set standards for the industry. The two groups hope to establish standards for such technologies as cable, multimedia and wireless. This is the 32nd formal relationship the ITU has entered into with standards groups worldwide.Executives of three American telcos to be dealt withFollowing the lead of the American military’s propaganda campaign in Iraq, a group of entrepreneurs has created The Stacked Deck, playing cards featuring disgraced corporate bigwigs. Among the telecom executives making the cut are leaders of WorldCom, Global Crossing and Qwest. The deck sells for US$9.95.

NL Update

News | 06/09/2003 4:00 am EDT

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