Deployments of systems operating in the 2.3 GHz and 2.5 GHz bands in the United States is expected to speed up next year as the licences are set to expire in 2007, according to research firm Maravedis. The following is an edited excerpt of the executive summary of the BRS, EBS and WCS Regulatory and Licensing Analysis report released by the company on December 1.

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Manitoba Telecom Services Inc. pulled off a major coup this month when it announced that Pierre Blouin was joining the company as its chief executive. He will serve as CEO of both Manitoba Telecom and MTS Allstream Inc. Blouin will be charged with transforming the telecommunications service provider into a nimble and agile provider – one that can compete more effectively against the likes of Bell Canada and Telus Corp. as well as the emerging but growing systems integrators. He joins the company only days after it announced Transition Phase II, a restructuring that will see MTS Allstream cut about 800 jobs, 80% of which will come from the national division. The reorganization is designed to improve the operational effectiveness and efficiencies for the company. "I look forward to using my two decades of experience in the telecommunications industry to lead the company through its next phase as a national communications provider," Blouin said in a news release.

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Wireless to be key, Telus executive says, despite merger
Telus Corp.’s wireless operations will continue to be key for the company as it moves forward in the post George Cope era, according to Telus’ executive VP of business transformation and CIO Kevin Salvadori. In an interview with Report on Wireless, he said that business and operational practices from the wireless organization will be imported to the newly created consumer and business operating units.

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The chief executive of communications giant BCE Inc. is calling on the federal government to make information and communications technologies (ICT) adoption a national priority. Michael Sabia made the comments in Ottawa on December 6 at CAN>WIN 05, a one-day event which discussed ways to improve Canada’s lagging labour economic productivity.

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