NL Update

Englander receives costsThe Federal Court of Canada has ruled that Roger Englander is entitled to $11,906.41 in costs for his unsuccessful suit against TELUS Communications Inc. Englander had argued that he should not have to pay to be excluded from TELUS’ white pages directory, but lost his case earlier this month (NL, March 3/04). The man had presented his costs as being $17,944.64, but some charges were made by assessment officer Charles Stinson.MTS to acquire Allstream in stock and cash dealProvincial telco Manitoba Telecom Services Inc. has offered to acquire Allstream Corp. in a combined cash and stock deal worth about $1.7 billion. MTS will pay $23 in cash and 1.0909 in MTS shares, which values each Allstream share at $81.12 based on the closing price of MTS common shares on March 17.Representatives from the two companies said during a March 18 conference call that the business combination would create a national competitor worthy of competing against the other large Canadian providers. Despite the promise of increased competition to Bell Canada and TELUS Communications, neither company laid out a clear plan of how this was going to take place.BCE Inc., which owns approximately 22% of MTS, appeared to be caught off guard by the announcement, issuing a brief statement saying "the acquisition of Allstream is a significant change in the strategic direction of MTS" and that it "will consider its alternatives in light of the proposed transaction with Allstream and the Income Trust shareholder proposal."Network Letter is planning interviews with key executives from both companies and will have more details on the combined entity’s plans in a future issue.SaskTel to invest $9 million in NavigataSaskTel announced last week that it will invest $9 million, with a contingency of $6 million, in Navigata Communications Inc., its wholly owned subsidiary that offers a full range of communications services in B.C., Alberta, Ontario, and Quebec. The money will be used to fund Navigata's capital requirements and allow the company to continue to grow. Bell ordered to issue rebates for co-locationThe CRTC has ordered Bell Canada in Telecom Decision 2004-18 to issue rebates for co-location power retroactive adjustments for the period of Nov. 29, 2000 to Sept. 11, 2002. The decision follows a Part VII application filed by Futureway Communications Inc. (FCI) on Aug. 7, 2003 asking the CRTC to direct the ILECs to issue credits for co-location referred to in Telecom Decision 2002-55.FCI argued that its application challenged the determinations made is 2002-55 to not issue power rebates until the commission ruled on final co-location power rebates and structures. Bell and TELUS challenged the legitimacy of the application on procedural grounds.The commission decided that the size of the rebates was substantial and ordered Bell to issue rebates. TELUS’ compliance with this order has been reserved until the company files its rates.PIAC wins costs in pay telephone proceedingThe Public Interest Advocacy Centre has been awarded $51,616.55 from TELUS Corp. and Bell Canada and its affiliated companies for costs incurred during the access to pay telephone proceeding by the CRTC. The costs will be divided between TELUS, responsible for 24%, and the Bell companies, which will shoulder 76%.Bell Canada grants $15,000 to community-based projectThe Chambre économique de l’Ontario, Ottawa, is one of 19 successful organizations selected from a field of 132 applicants from across Ontario to receive a grant from Bell Canada’s 2003 Community Development Fund (NL, March 18/04). The $15,000 grant is part of Bell’s three-year, $1-million commitment to community-based projects throughout Ontario. The Chambre will use the funding to upgrade its ebiz-présente content on its web site by adding audio and videoconferencing to allow Francophone entrepreneurs across the province to access training and education programs online.Bayly Communications to distribute Ohio company’s products in CanadaBayly Communications Inc., Toronto, will market Applied Innovation Inc.’s (AI) network management products in Canada. The move accelerates Columbus OH-based AI’s expansion into Canada with its wireless products. Bayly will offer sales, on-site service and technical expertise to support the products. INTERNATIONAL NEWS Enterprise firms to increase telecom spending in 2004: In-Stat/MDRThe enterprise market will spend close to $82 billion on telecom services and equipment this year, representing an 8% increase over spending in 2003, according to market research firm In-Stat/MDR. Telecom spending makes up the largest area of IT spending in the enterprise market, at more than 33%. With growth in telecom spending higher than that in any other area of expenditures, In-Stat/MDR expects the enterprise market to spend close to $102 billion by 2008.

NL Update

News | 03/22/2004 5:00 am EST

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