RoW Update

Antenna tower e-town hall extendedThe National Antenna Tower Review’s first-phase consultation period has been extended for another two weeks. Originally slated to end on October 10, the e-town hall has been extended until October 24. There was no explanation for the extension, but a low participation level might be one reason the comment period has been extended. As of October 14 at 9 a.m., there were a total of 134 comments submitted for the six policy questions. Total page hits in the discussion forum section has, however, topped the 5,000 mark.Industry Canada pushes back deadline for auction participationIndustry Canada has pushed back the deadline for the submission of applications to participate in the 2300 MHz and 3500 MHz spectrum auction to November 24. The auction is scheduled to begin in mid-January 2004. The department has also extended the deadline for submitting questions about the auction to October 17. Responses to the questions will then be posted on the Strategis web site in mid-November.HP Canada to deploy wireless LAN at Pearson airportThe Greater Toronto Airports Authority has awarded a contract to HP Canada to design, build and deploy a wireless local area network (LAN) covering the entire area at Pearson International Airport. The network, which will be one of the largest wireless LANs ever built in Canada, will be used to improve business processes such as baggage handling and airplane inspection. In an interview with Report on Wireless last week, HP Services Canada’s managing principal Victor Garcia explained that the wireless network will help Pearson operate more efficiently, allowing Canada’s largest airport to save money. This announcement is only one in a series that HP unveiled at the International Telecommunication Union’s Telecom World 2003 conference.Mitec closes private placementMitec Telecom Inc. closed a private placement on October 9 netting the company nearly $9 million. Mitec issued 7.9 million units, each consisting of one common share and one-half of a common share purchase warrant. The units were priced at $1.10 each. Proceeds from the placement were will be used to fund additional growth, working capital purposes and debt repayment. Desjardins Securities Inc. acted as the agent for the placement.Wi-LAN snags cash for potential acquisitionsCalgary-based Wi-LAN Inc. has entered into a bought deal agreement with a syndicate of underwriters led by Orion Securities Inc., proceeds from which could be used to fund “potential acquisition opportunities.” The company will also use the money for general corporate purposes. BMO Nesbitt Burns Inc. and CIBC World Markets Inc. are also participating in the $12-million deal. Under terms of the agreement, the syndicate has agreed to purchase 2.9 million units at $4.15 each.Bell Canada unveils single number functionalityBell Canada has introduced a virtual telephone number service, dubbed Single Number Reach, which allows customers to organize and direct calls among multiple devices through a single telephone number. “Single Number Reach helps small- and medium-sized businesses and large mobile work forces stay organized while staying connected through a growing array of communications devices. Acting like a personal assistant, Single Number Reach provides integrated messaging and real-time call processing using one virtual telephone number,” states a Bell news release. Karen Sheriff, Bell Canada’s president, small and medium business market, says, “From wireless phones to faxes, Canadian business people are struggling to manage a complex array of communications devices. Single Number Reach streamlines the management of customer calls and information they receive to a single point of contact.”Redline introduces 802.16a-compliant productRedline Communications Inc. has introduced the AN-100, an 802.16a-compliant broadband wireless system. The company is showcasing the product at the International Telecommunication Union’s Telecom World 2003 conference in Geneva, Switzerland from October 12 to 18. Products based on the 802.16a standard are expected to facilitate a massive uptake of outdoor broadband wireless systems similar to what Wi-Fi has done for the indoor wireless access. Voice Mobility adds Linux support to its UCN productVoice Mobility International Inc. has added support for Linux to its unified communication system, the UCN 200 enhanced messaging platform. “By offering service providers the additional choice between operating systems, Voice Mobility increases the ease with which the UCN 200 can be integrated into existing infrastructure,” reads an October 8 news release.Canadian companies gain ability to bid on Galileo-related projectsThe Canadian Space Agency (CSA) has ponied up $11 million to the Galileo radionavigation satellite system, giving Canadian companies the right to bid on projects related to the civil satellite program. On October 8, the CSA and the European Space Agency (ESA) inked an agreement that ensures Canada’s participation in the development and validation phase of the program. “By collaborating with the ESA in this leading edge international satellite navigation initiative, Canada is targeting its funding to provide new and exciting opportunities for the Canadian space industry,” Industry minister Allan Rock said in a news release.

RoW Update

News | October 14, 2003

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