NL Short Takes

Final contribution charges unveiled by CRTCThe CRTC has ruled, in Telecom Decision 2003-84, that the final 2003 contribution charges and the 2003 subsidy per network access service for the five major ILECs will be 1.1%. It also granted interim approval to revised subsidy requirements for Télébec and Telus Québec. Bell Canada increases speeds of Internet offeringFollowing the example of Rogers Cable Inc. (NL Update, Dec. 15/03), Bell Canada has increased download and upload speeds on its Sympatico high-speed Internet service. Residential consumers’ speeds double from 1.5 Mbps to 3 Mbps while business speeds jump to 4 Mbps. Upload speeds for both will be 800 kbps. Bell Canada and Nortel opt for IP-driven telephonyBell Canada is investing $170 million in Nortel Networks Corp. equipment to further its rollout of IP telephony. The two companies will also create an optical innovation centre in Montreal, due to open in early 2004. Vonage postpones service in Canada until partner foundThe much-awaited entry of Vonage Holdings Corp. into Canada is on hold. The company is making its virtual numbers available to Canadians but will not roll out across the country until it finds a suitable partner. Allstream designs web product for CATA membersAllstream Corp. has designed an online information delivery system for the Canadian Advanced Technology Alliance. CATA members will be able to place news releases on the group’s web site, which will then be linked at the CATA site and distributed to CATA’s subscribers. Bell Canada International delists from NASDAQBell Canada International Inc. has delisted from NASDAQ and deregistered its common shares. BCE Inc.’s international arm also announced it has received early prepayment for its shares in Axtel S.A. de C.V. Telecom Ottawa purchases Cornwall CommunicationsTelecom Ottawa continues its rapid expansion by buying Cornwall District Communications, a network provider in eastern Ontario. The utel also acquired 70 km of fibre cable connected around Cornwall, including a longer-haul link to Kingston. This is the latest in a series of expansion by Telecom Ottawa (NL, Dec. 8/03). Cybersurf pushes back date of annual and special meetingCybersurf Corp. has moved the date of its annual and special shareholders meeting from June until October 29. This is the second time the Calgary ISP has rescheduled the session (NL, Nov. 24/03). The firm is fighting a hostile takeover. CRTC approves DC rates for most major ILECsIn Telecom Decision 2003-83, the CRTC granted interim approval to direct connection rates for Bell Canada, Aliant Telecom Inc., MTS Communications Inc. and SaskTel. The commission has directed Telus Communications Inc. to file DC cost studies within 30 days. Aliant denied CO floor space info chargesThe CRTC has denied an application by Aliant Telecom Inc. to charge for the provision of central office floor space information. Telecom Order 2003-514 reiterated that this data should be publicly available. YAK shareholders approve two-for-one stock splitToronto reseller YAK Communications Inc. announced its annual meeting approved a two-for-one stock split. The action will take place at the end of January based on the number of shareholders on January 15. Vidéotron Internet surpasses 400,000 subscriptionsVidéotron ltée announced that it now has more than 400,000 subscribers to its high-speed Internet service. Meanwhile, Alberta cableco Northern Cablevision Ltd. has unveiled an Internet Lite product for $21.95 a month. P.E.I. call centre loses telco contract, 60 jobsOn-line Support of Montague PEI is laying off 40 people and moving another 20 to Charlottetown after losing a major contract. The company said an unnamed telecom company had decided not to use an outside call centre. Nunavut and Nova Scotia focus of digital divide studyAcadia University professor Dianne Looker has received $800,000 in funding to study the availability and uses of technology in Nunavut and Nova Scotia. She plans to look at the digital divide, with particular emphasis on educational equity for young Canadians. BCNet reports increase in ORAN network useBCNet says use of its Optical Regional Advanced Network has increased 200% from 2001 to 2002. The grid is part of CANARIE Inc.’s CA*net 4 backbone. The results are included in the group’s quarterly report, covering September to December of this year. Nortel wins two rural telco contracts in United StatesNortel Networks Corp. has sold a DMS-10 system to Oxford Networks, a rural telco serving southern and western Maine. It has signed a similar deal with Rice Belt Telephone of Arkansas. Vancouver’s FatPort introduces VoIP softwareFatPort has unveiled its mobitus software, permitting easier access to Voice over IP telephony. The Vancouver firm says customers can install the software in five minutes and have access to free calls over Internet networks. Internet service complaints could lead to prizesCNEWS technology writer Greg Michetti is asking his readers to send in stories of abysmal service from major ISPs such as Telus Corp., Rogers Cable Inc., Bell Canada and Shaw Cablesystems. The winner will receive a prize of antispam software. The award will be handed out next month.

NL Short Takes

News | 12/22/2003 5:00 am EST

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