ROW Short Takes

Bell Mobility adds more than 500,000 subs in 2004Canada’s second largest wireless operator Bell Mobility added 513,000 new net additions in 2004, matching subscriber growth in 2003. In the fourth quarter, the company recorded 217,000 net additions. Q4 additions exceeded levels in the previous year’s fourth quarter by 15%. Revenue for fiscal 2004 was $2.8 billion, a 14.5% increase over the previous year’s revenue figures. The company says this was driven in large part by subscriber additions. Churn for BCE Inc.’s wireless business was 1.3%, a tenth of a percent drop compared to churn rates in 2003. Fourth quarter churn was 1.4%, the equivalent of last year’s Q4 level. Telesat Canada posts strong financial resultsBCE Inc. subsidiary Telesat Canada has posted strong financial results with the satellite operator growing net earnings by 19% and overall revenue by 5%, compared to 2003 figures. Revenue for fiscal 2004 was $362.1 million, up from the $344.5 million recorded in 2003. Net earnings jumped even more to top the $83.4-million mark, up from $70 million in fiscal 2003. Q4 revenue was slightly more than $102 million, and net earnings nearly doubled jumping $10.5 million to $21.3 million year over year. MTS Allstream posts strong revenue in wirelessCanada’s third largest telecommunications service provider MTS Allstream Inc. reported double-digit fourth-quarter revenue growth in its wireless division. Wireless service revenue in Q4 was $46.9 million, a jump of 12.7% over 2003 fourth quarter revenue. Full-year revenue was nearly $182 million, a more than 13% increase from 2003 revenue. Revenue performance figures represent strong subscriber additions where the company experienced a nearly 12% increase in its overall subscriber base. Full fiscal 2004 net additions were 30,139, bringing MTS Allstream’s overall wireless subscriber base to more than 285,000. Average revenue per user (ARPU) increased to $54.26, a 3.4% increase from fiscal 2003 ARPU. Canada’s other major communications service providers report fiscal 2004 and fourth-quarter results later this month. Check Report on Wireless later this month for more details. Bridgewater announces record revenue in 2004Ottawa-based Bridgewater Systems has posted record revenue for fiscal 2004, experiencing a 43% year-over-year revenue increase. Demand for its products rose 65% over the previous year, pushing its overall annual revenue above the $20-million mark. Much of the revenue increase comes from higher demand for its products following deals with 16 new customers that were signed, including leading service providers in the wireless, cable and DSL markets. Bridgewater also signed agreements with a major mobile virtual network operator and a mobile virtual network enabler. SAMSys inks deal with SafeTzone TechnologiesSAMSys Technologies Inc. has announced an agreement with SafeTzone Technologies, under which the company’s RFID readers will be used in family amusement parks around the United States. SAMSys’ readers work in conjunction with an RFID-enabled bracelet used to identify family members at various locations around the venue. The bracelets can also be used for cashless purchases of food, drinks and merchandise on the premises of the amusement park. The company’s readers are currently be used at Steamboat Ski and Resort in Colorado, Wannado City in Florida, Paramount’s Great America in California and Dollywood’s Splash Country in Tennessee. Wireless Age to acquire mmwave TechnologiesToronto-based Wireless Age Communications Inc. has signed a letter to acquire mmwave Technologies, a distributor, systems integrator and reseller of wireless, microwave and fibre optic systems. Mmwave, which has operations in Montreal, Ottawa, Toronto, Calgary, Vancouver and Seattle, reported revenues of about $9 million in each of the last two fiscal years and had total assets valued at $3.1 million. The transaction is expected to close on March 2, 2005. Further details of the transaction have not yet been disclosed. Avis Rent A Car offers BlackBerry to vehicle rentersCanada’s Avis Rent A Car company has partnered with Bell Mobility to offer vehicle renters a free BlackBerry 6750 as long as they sign up for two years of service with the wireless operator. Between January 17 and April 30, customers can receive one BlackBerry device per rental, up to a total of five devices. Rogers Wireless debuts Z500a wireless video phoneRogers Wireless Inc. and Sony Ericsson have announced the availability of the "fully-loaded, customizable and affordably-priced" Z500a handset. The clamshell device features a built-in digital camera and video recorder, entertainment functions such as 3D gaming and music. The Z500a sells for $79.99 with a three-year service agreement. Fredericton well on its way to full Wi-Fi coverageThe City of Fredericton is well on its way to blanketing its municipal boundaries with wireless coverage. The project, Fred-eZone, was brought to life with 110 802.11g Wi-Fi base stations from Cisco Systems Inc. and now covers about half of all potential computer users. The second phase of the project, now underway, will bring coverage to about 95% of all computer users. Fred-eZone grew out of the city’s need to have its 650 employees work more efficiently, but the city soon realized that the project could serve as an easy way to offer free broadband, bolstering business and improving the quality of life. Nortel Networks continues to secure contractsNortel Networks Corp. has inked two deals this month that will see the company provide infrastructure across a number of American states. Horizon PCS Inc. has called on Nortel to help it increase network capacity, improve call quality and enable the delivery of high-speed services in Ohio, Indiana and Tennessee. The four-year deal is estimated at US$14 million. The other contract is with iPCS Inc. and calls for the replacement of wireless infrastructure to help iPCS to increase network efficiencies and support the delivery of high-speed data services. This agreement is valued at US$15.2 million over three years. DragonWave inks distribution deal with AllianceDragonWave Inc. has signed a distribution agreement with Alliance Corporation of Canada and its U.S. subsidiary. The agreement will strengthen Alliance’s portfolio, and will allow DragonWave to significantly extend its market reach in the North American market. TeliPhone inks deal with Eye-In Wireless in QuebecUnited American Corp. subsidiary TeliPhone Inc. has signed a deal with Eye-In Wireless that will allow TeliPhone subscribers to use Eye-In Wireless hotspots through Ontario and Quebec. The agreement initially calls for the opening up of 70 hotspots with future expansion into the rest of Canada and the United States in 2005.

ROW Short Takes

News | 02/08/2005 5:00 am EST

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