After a roller coaster summer, Ottawa's Mitel Networks Corp. says it's finally taking possession of Arizona-based Inter-Tel Inc. Inter-Tel stockholders will received $25.60 per share, and the transaction makes Mitel the number-1 phone system provider in the small and mid-sized business (SMB) market, the firm boasts by press release. Mitel originally announced its intention to purchase Inter-Tel in April, but soon after a rival suitor, Vector Capital Corp., arrived on the scene. As well, former Inter-Tel CEO Steven Mihaylo announced an alternative recapitalization plan and urged investors to reject Mitel's offer. A group of shareholders applied to the Delaware Court of Chancery to stop the Mitel-Inter-Tel merger. But the court denied the motion earlier this week, clearing the way for the deal.

Unlock all the Canadian telecom, broadcasting and digital media news you need.

Take a free trial or subscribe to The Wire Report now.

The Smart Systems for Health Agency (SSHA), Hydro One Telecom Inc. and Ontera, the provincial telecom arm, are joining forces to upgrade a communications network for Northern Ontario. The new infrastructure will allow participating healthcare agencies to securely share patient files, including bandwidth intensive x-rays and other diagnostic images. According to the SSHA, the network is meant to reduce patient wait-times. Hydro One is building the network core, while Ontera will connect the healthcare sites in northeastern Ontario, and TBay Tel will connect the northwestern sites.

Unlock all the Canadian telecom, broadcasting and digital media news you need.

Take a free trial or subscribe to The Wire Report now.

Cablecos seem to have the upper hand in the fight for Canada's communications market, according to the SeaBoard Group. In a recent report the telecom industry analysts point out that in the last two years, cablecos such as Rogers Communications Inc. and Vidéotron ltée have siphoned 13% of the local residential phone market away from Bell Canada, Telus Corp. and other traditional telcos. Meanwhile telco efforts to enter the traditional cableco arena – cable TV – have been slow. The SeaBoarders suggest telcos should roll out fibre to the home to give the cablecos a run for their money.

Unlock all the Canadian telecom, broadcasting and digital media news you need.

Take a free trial or subscribe to The Wire Report now.

Toronto telecom equipment provider Nortel Networks is deepening its relationships with universities around the world to develop 4G wireless applications such as video and mobile TV. The company's investigations with the University of Waterloo, the University of Texas at Austin and National Taiwan University, among others, are designed to improve spectral efficiency and decrease time to market for 4G products, Nortel said in a press statement. Specifically at Waterloo, the company is working with the school's Coding and Signal Transmission group to increase wireless capacity.

Unlock all the Canadian telecom, broadcasting and digital media news you need.

Take a free trial or subscribe to The Wire Report now.

What does one do after a career in the telecommunications industry? If you're June Cupolo Foxwell, you jump from a plane. According to the Niagara Falls Review, the former Bell Canada employee plans to celebrate her 70^th birthday Saturday by skydiving – something she'd always wanted to do, but raising kids, volunteer work and her full-time telecom job kept her from it. Foxwell's tandem jump (tandem means she'll be strapped to a more experienced skydiver) at the Niagara Skydive Centre is also a fundraiser for the Canadian Cancer Society. She's a volunteer with the local chapter. To sponsor Foxwell, call (905) 356-5706.

Unlock all the Canadian telecom, broadcasting and digital media news you need.

Take a free trial or subscribe to The Wire Report now.

Despite the proliferation of social networking, instant messaging and text messaging, the home phone remains Canada's first choice for long-distance communication. According to a recent Globarange Index, 84% of Canadians stay in touch with friends and family by phone. Survey respondents said they keep up with 7.3 friends on average, and 4.6 family members. As well, 38% said they have business associates outside of Canada with whom they communicate via phone; on average the business folks have 15.3 correspondents. The Globarange Index was commissioned by Panasonic Canada Inc., which sells VoIP phone systems.

Unlock all the Canadian telecom, broadcasting and digital media news you need.

Take a free trial or subscribe to The Wire Report now.