Industry Canada has announced that winners in the 24 GHz and 38 GHz spectrum auction of 1999 will have more time to implement spectrum usage plans. As a condition of licence, auctions winners were to have demonstrated spectrum usage by a certain date unless they were granted an extension. The department received extension requests from several licensees, which notes that their inability to deploy networks has been hampered by the lack of affordable and suitable equipment. DGRB-003-07 amends the spectrum usage condition of licence, requiring "that licensees demonstrate to the Minister of Industry that their spectrum has been put to use by the end of their licence terms." Industry Canada also notes that it will issue a consultation paper "in the upcoming year" regarding the manner in which spectrum licence renewals will be handled. 

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Toronto-based RFID technology development Sirit Inc. has landed another near-field communications (NFC) agreement with one of the world's biggest handset makers, BenQ Corp. NFC is a key ingredient to turning the cell phone into a mobile payment device or mobile wallet. Sirit will serve as BenQ's supplier of embedded NFC software and technology engineering services for handsets and smartphones. "The design win further validates the value proposition and expertise of Sirit's NFC team in helping OEMs shorten their development cycles and time to market for NFC-enabled devices," reads a news release. BenQ's associate VP of the mobile communications business groups SS Chen said there is an immediate opportunity for NFC handsets in the Asia Pacific region and Sirit's expertise will help the company address critical time to market issues. Sirit inked an agreement with Kyocera Technology Research Corp. in February under which Kyocera will use Sirit's RFID technology in NFC handset development.

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Yak Communications Canada Inc. has sold its telecom management services unit Contour Telecom Inc. to Datex Billing Services Inc., a subsidiary of Montec Holdings Inc., a Montreal-based company focused on growing a diversified portfolio of technology companies. Datex will benefit from the acquisition by being able to diversify its billing and customer management services. The purchase adds the large enterprise segment to Datex's traditional carrier business. "We think that this new business unit dovetails into the Datex model of outsourced customer management and billing services, and we are delighted to bring to Datex a number of Fortune 1000 clients that can benefit from Datex's years of telecom experience," Datex president Jim Dawson said in a news release.

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A tenacious businessman, a long-distance pioneer, a formidable lawyer and a public servant whose efforts helped launch cellular telephony are this year's inductees into the Canadian Telecommunications Hall of Fame. Announced at the Palliser Fairmont Hotel in Calgary, the new entrants represent "a true ‘never say die' spirit that has put Canada at the forefront of telecommunications the world over," says Hall of Fame founder Lorne Abugov in a statement. The laureates:

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Ending bets that Nortel Networks would acquire Avaya Inc., the latter telecom equipment maker announced June 4 a merger agreement with private equity firm Silver Lake Partners and private investment partnership Texas Pacific Group Inc. (TPG) for US$8.2 million or US$17.50 per share, a premium of approximately 30% over Avaya's averaging closing share price in May. Avaya's board of directors has approved the merger, according to a press statement. The deal is expected to close in autumn, subject to shareholder and regulatory approval. Rumours of an impending Avaya sale began a few weeks ago, when the company reportedly cancelled a meeting with financial analysts. Nortel was considered an interested buyer.

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Primus Telecommunications Canada Inc. has opened two new Internet data centre facilities in Toronto and Ottawa, a move the company states show the commitment to meeting increasing customer demand for collocation and managed services. According to a statement, Primus Canada notes that its managed services business grew by 36% in 2006. The Toronto-based firm also announced that it is looking for two additional locations to house two more data centres. Primus Canada expects to open these additional facilities in early 2008. 

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