Carriers and government spar over “duty to disclose” provision in Bill C-36

telecom | 04/30/2002 4:00 am EDT

Legal experts and the federal government are at odds over the potential effects of Bill C-36, particularly its requirement to force telecom providers to disclose potential terrorist activity. At a session of the New Developments in Communications Law and Policy Conference in Ottawa April 26, senior...

Telecom carrier spending to pick up early next year, says FSO product developer

telecom | 04/30/2002 4:00 am EDT

Vancouver-based fSONA Communications expects to begin shipping volume quantities of free space optics (FSO) products in the third or fourth quarter of this year, a signal of greater spending by telecom carriers to come, according to the company’s president and CEO. Despite renewed reports from telecommunications equipment...

Access to capital or selling out to foreign players? Ownership debate continues

telecom | 04/30/2002 4:00 am EDT

Discussions surrounding current foreign ownership limits for telecom and broadcasting companies continue unabated as both sides of the debate remain divided on the benefits to and impact on Canadian common carriers. While proponents of relaxing current limits believe Canadian companies would gain access to more foreign...

Regulatory bodies shouldn’t make special deals with conglomerates, conference told

telecom | 04/30/2002 4:00 am EDT

The CRTC and other government regulatory bodies shouldn’t cave into pressure from large conglomerates when faced with difficult regulatory and policy conundrums, a communications law conference was told last week. This was one of the key arguments made by Chris Taylor, an Ottawa-based communications lawyer, who presented...

Former QUALCOMM executive joins Wmode board to provide strategic advice

telecom | 04/30/2002 4:00 am EDT

Wireless micropayment system provider Wmode has lured a former QUALCOMM senior executive to sit on its board of directors, a move the company’s head says reinforces the credibility of its technology and product offering. On April 17, Wmode appointed Robert Blakeney to its board, who will be tapped to provide strategic advice and direction as the Calgary-based company tries to make its ClearMode product the de facto wireless content billing standard for the industry. Wmode president and CEO Dennis Woronuk says Blakeney’s experience and knowledge of the industry is certainly a major addition to the board. The long-time industry veteran most recently served as senior VP, QCT...

RoW Short Takes

telecom | 04/30/2002 4:00 am EDT

Microcell integrates i5 operations under PCS bannerMicrocell Telecommunications Inc. decided to integrate Microcell i5 operations under the Microcell PCS banner earlier this month. This marks the second such move in the last month as the company tries to streamline operations, cut costs and eliminate duplication within the executive ranks (RoW, April 3/02). Microcell i5 was formed nearly two years ago with a mandate to...

RoW People

telecom | 04/30/2002 4:00 am EDT

BCE Inc. has made a major change within its management ranks. Jean Monty announced his resignation as chair and CEO last week. Michael Sabia will add the CEO post to his responsibilities, while continuing to serve as president and COO. Richard Currie will become non-executive chair. Monty joined BCE in 1997 as president and COO. He added the CEO title in 1998. Prior to joining BCE, he was with Nortel Networks Corp.,...

E-Canada initiative gets boost from Telesat

telecom | 04/30/2002 4:00 am EDT

Larry Boisvert, president and CEO of Telesat Canada, gave the keynote address to the Smart City Summit and 17th Annual CATAAlliance Innovation and Leadership Awards Gala last week, where he highlighted some of the challenges facing Canada in rolling out broadband access. He also pointed out the potential benefits of such a broad reaching communications...

RoW Editorial

telecom | 04/30/2002 4:00 am EDT

The opinions expressed in this editorial are those of the author and do not necessarily reflect those of Decima Reports. The government of Canada may soon introduce new legislation that would require wireless and other telecommunications carriers to install additional equipment into their networks that would facilitate the surveillance of potential terrorists by law enforcement agencies, namely the RCMP. The...

NL Update

telecom | 04/29/2002 4:00 am EDT

Shakeup at BCE as Monty quits, Teleglobe hung out to dryJean Monty surprised most people last week when he stepped down as chair/CEO of BCE Inc. following the release of Q1 results. Michael Sabia, president and COO, succeeds him as CEO, and Richard J. Currie as non-executive chairman. The results were generally good for Bell Canada, which saw revenues increase four per cent, due to growth in data, wireless, and satellite...

Teleglobe noteholders demand BCE continue support for carrier

telecom | 04/23/2002 4:00 am EDT

An American law firm is serving as counsel for an ad hoc committee of investors in BCE Inc.’s Teleglobe unit and is hoping to keep the parent company committed to backing the troubled carrier. The Bingham Dana LLP firm has begun negotiations with BCE but does not discount the possibility of legal action. The action...

Government told to look to American plan to increase phone penetration

telecom | 04/23/2002 4:00 am EDT

The federal government should take an active role in combating phonelessness in Canada, a new report recommends. While several options are presented, the preferred solution would see adoption of the program currently operating in the United States. Last month, the Public Interest Advocacy Centre (PIAC) released the...

NL Short Takes

telecom | 04/23/2002 4:00 am EDT

Western Ontario gets NPA overlay, 10-digit dialingIn Telecom Decision 2002-25, the CRTC introduced a distributed overlay for the 519 area code region, which includes such western Ontario cities as London, Windsor and Kitchener-Waterloo. Major telcos like Bell Canada, AT&T Canada and Rogers Wireless had endorsed the idea. Residents in the district will also have to dial 10 digits in order to complete phone calls within...

NL People

telecom | 04/23/2002 4:00 am EDT

The creation of Bell West out of the ashes of Bell Intrigna and Bell Nexxia’s western operations has led to substantial changes in telecom boardrooms. Randy Reynolds moves from president/CEO of Nexxia to assume the same roles at Bell West. A new chief of Nexxia will be appointed in the next few weeks. Bell Canada president John Sheridan is Bell West’s chair. Louise Villeneuve shifts from being COO at Intrigna to COO at Bell West. Murray Bamforth will be CFO. Cheryl Barker, who had been chair/president/CEO of Intrigna, moves back to MTS Communications Inc. as president/COO. Before joining Intrigna, she was EVP finance/CFO at MTS. David Rourke moves from EVP operations at MTS to become president/COO at subsidiary MTS Advanced Inc.  Several changes have occurred in the BCE Emergis executive suite.Terry Ham is the head of the newly formed business development group. His role as president of the USA unit is taken by Alan Neely, the former chief marketing officer. Christian Trudeau is interim chief of Emergis’ Canadian section,...

The Shape of Things to Come

telecom | 04/23/2002 4:00 am EDT

The last few months have not been kind to communications conglomerates. The value of AOL Time Warner’s stock recently hit a post-merger low, having fallen about 70 per cent from the beginning of 2000 when the merger was announced. The French media giant Vivendi Universal is quickly catching up (or down) with AOL, its shares having suffered a comparable decline over much the same time period. In Canada, BCE and Quebecor...

NL Editorial

telecom | 04/23/2002 4:00 am EDT

The opinions expressed in this editorial are those of the author and do not necessarily reflect those of Decima Reports. The tumultuous world of telecom is starting to learn the folly of being insular. Several items in this edition of Network Letter reinforce the point that industry is influenced by more forces than it sometimes realizes.  As Christopher Taylor points out in his Newsmakers column, we all have a...

Head of new Bell/MTS venture predicts solid growth for western CLEC

telecom | 04/23/2002 4:00 am EDT

The head of Bell’s reconfigured western-based CLEC is betting heavily that it can double its current market share by stealing customers from its competitors. While the BCE Inc. strategy is certainly aggressive, some believe the company may be overstating its projections. "We’re not releasing actual numbers [of...

Government IT security weak, needs updating: Auditor General’s report

telecom | 04/23/2002 4:00 am EDT

The federal government’s IT security standards are out of date, with no firm plans to update them, according to the Auditor General of Canada. The federal government watchdog also believes the government does not have the proper information to assess the true status of its IT protection.  In her most recent report to...

Canadians want more Canadian content on Internet, new survey discovers

telecom | 04/23/2002 4:00 am EDT

While Canada is one of the most Internet-connected nations on the planet, citizens are not happy with the lack of Canadian content available to them. A new study done by a Toronto consulting firm asked 500 people about Canadian identity on the Internet. The survey, conducted by Innovative Consulting Strategies, found that 40 per cent were not happy with the amount of Canadian services on the web. Thirty two per cent declared themselves "somewhat dissatisfied" with a further eight per cent were "not satisfied at all". By contrast, 48 per cent said they were "somewhat satisfied" and only 12 per cent pronounced themselves "extremely...

RoW Update

telecom | 04/22/2002 4:00 am EDT

Industry Canada proposes changes to frequency allocation tableIndustry Canada has announced proposed changes to the current Canadian Table of Frequency Allocations to comply with modifications made at the most recent World Radiocommunication Conference in Istanbul, Turkey (WRC-00). The conference focused on several key issues including the implementation of advanced mobile services (third generation or 3G wireless) and...

CRTC locks out carriers’ use of handset subsidy as key contribution deduction

telecom | 04/16/2002 4:00 am EDT

The CRTC has closed the door one final time on a potential loophole that would have decreased the amount the country’s wireless operators would have had to pay into the national contribution pool. Telecom Decisions CRTC 2002-22 and 2002-23, released April 12, reaffirm two previous rulings on the matter. Several...

No problems foreseen in approving Vidéotron’s purchase of Stream’s licences

telecom | 04/16/2002 4:00 am EDT

Industry Canada is expected to rubber stamp the proposed transfer of 92 spectrum licences in the 38 GHz band to Vidéotron Télécom ltée within the next several days. The Montreal-based company acquired the vast array of licences previously held by the now-defunct Stream Intelligent Networks Corp. last month, but needs...

Progress being made in addressing interoperability requirements for PPDR

telecom | 04/16/2002 4:00 am EDT

The Canadian Association of Chiefs of Police (CACP) will hold high-level discussions in Quebec City later this month to hammer out details of interoperability requirements needed in public safety radiocommunications. Discussions within the CACP’s Informatics Committee are expected to help map out the route to delivering...

Commercial wireless networks potential option for public safety communications

telecom | 04/16/2002 4:00 am EDT

Canada’s wireless carriers are telling public safety groups and law enforcement agencies that commercial wireless networks could be used as vital communications links to support public protection disaster relief (PPDR) efforts. While the carrier community recognizes that there are some issues with ubiquitous coverage,...

Smart phone shipments to increase significantly in next four years

telecom | 04/16/2002 4:00 am EDT

Shipments of smartphones are expected to rise by more than 50 per cent over the next four years as technically-savvy users demand greater device functionality. Any rosy projections, however, should be tempered by the significant hurdles that lay ahead, says a major American market research firm. According to In-Stat/MDR,...

RoW Short Takes

telecom | 04/16/2002 4:00 am EDT

Wireless services growing part of Canadian telecom services pieThe Canadian wireless telecommunications services industry continues to grow and now makes up nearly one-fifth of total telecommunications services revenue, according to recently released figures from Industry Canada. Wireless’ portion of operating revenue has grown from 18 per cent in 2000 to 19.9 per cent based on the first nine months of 2001. Resellers,...

RoW People

telecom | 04/16/2002 4:00 am EDT

Cygnal Technologies has appointed Bryan Hills VP shared services, effective immediately. He will be responsible for day-to-day corporate and administrative services of the company, including accounting, treasury facilities and information technology. Hills’ first task will be to oversee the installation of a corporate-wide enterprise resource planning (ERP) system, as well as other productivity improvement and...

RoW International Short Takes

telecom | 04/16/2002 4:00 am EDT

CWTA annual conference and trade show to be rebrandedThe Canadian Wireless Telecommunications Association is teaming up with Reed Exhibitions and E.J. Krause & Associates to rebrand the wireless lobby’s annual conference and trade show. This year’s event, to be held Nov. 5, 6 and 7 at the Metro Toronto Convention Centre, will now be called EXPO COMM Canada Communications 2002. Last year, the CWTA’s event was expanded to include wireline telecommunications, in addition to wireless communications, after the Canadian Business Tele-communications Association folded in 1999 (RoW, Aug. 23/99). This was the next logical step, CWTA president and CEO Peter Barnes said in a news release. Interoperable SMS launchedCanada’s four national wireless operators and the CWTA announced the commercial availability of inter-carrier short messaging service earlier this month. The initiative was originally announced at Communications 2001 in Toronto last November (RoW, Nov. 13/01). Now subscribers of one carrier can send messages to a subscriber...

RoW Editorial

telecom | 04/16/2002 4:00 am EDT

The opinions expressed in this editorial are those of the author and do not necessarily reflect those of Decima Reports. The CRTC’s decision last week reaffirming its position that the use of handset subsidies is a simple cost of doing business could have a dramatic impact on how carriers price handsets and services in the future. While the actual effects of Telecom Decisions CRTC 2002-22 and 2002-23 may not be known...

NL Update

telecom | 04/15/2002 4:00 am EDT

 Bell and MTS aggressively enter western CLEC marketBell Canada and Manitoba Telecom Services Inc. have reconfigured their holdings in Bell Intrigna and Bell Nexxia to create Bell West Inc., a CLEC operating in British Columbia and Alberta. Unlike Intrigna, which was majority owned by MTS, the new company will be owned 60 per cent by Bell and 40 per cent by the Manitoba provincial telco. More details. CRTC...

Canada in the Network Age: Towards an Innovative Economy and Society

telecom | 04/09/2002 4:00 am EDT

Bruce Drake, Industry Canada’s executive director for the Pacific region, delivered the keynote address at last month’s United Telecom Council Canadian conference. An adaptation of his remarks follows:  We are now in the network age, with instant access to knowledge. This is transforming business; generating...

NL Editorial

telecom | 04/09/2002 4:00 am EDT

The opinions expressed in this editorial are those of the author and do not necessarily reflect those of Decima Reports. The charge by Vidéotron Télécom into the void created by the collapse of Stream Intelligent Networks is a bright spot in a telecommunications world that has been cloudy of late. After months and months of bad news, a CLEC is finally ready to expand its operations.  In doing so, the Quebec...

Revitalized Vidéotron Télécom moves into Ontario with takeover of Stream assets

telecom | 04/09/2002 4:00 am EDT

The takeover of the telecom assets of Stream Intelligent Networks Corp. by Vidéotron Télécom ltée heralds a new approach by the Quebec-based telco. On death’s doorstep a few months ago, the CLEC has stormed back and is now anxious to assume its place in the Canadian telecom scene. Late last month, the Ontario Superior Court of Justice in Bankruptcy approved a deal whereby the subsidiary of Quebecor Inc. bought most of the assets of the defunct carrier. It did not buy the rights to the Sewer Telecommunication Access by Robot (STAR), a piece of equipment that permits installation of fibre in sanitation and storm pipes. "It is not our business. We are not in the...

Telecom market inviting sector for utility companies, UTC research director says

telecom | 04/09/2002 4:00 am EDT

Canadian utility companies are in a strong position to succeed in the telecom market, the American association of utels believes. Despite slower growth than in the U. S., the current state of the utility market is very positive. Beth Griffiths, director of research for the United Telecom Council in Washington DC,...

Utilities best suited to deliver fibre to the home as bandwidth demand grows

telecom | 04/09/2002 4:00 am EDT

The burgeoning demand for bandwidth means telecommunications providers have to be prepared to deliver more capacity to consumers. An industry conference last month was told that the best approach will be fibre to the home (FTTH). James Salter, CEO of the Atlanta Engineering Group, did a presentation on FTTH at the...

Conference organizers discover telecom meltdown affects them as well

telecom | 04/09/2002 4:00 am EDT

The belt-tightening in the telecom sector over the past year or so has hit the organizers of industry conferences particularly hard. Sessions are being cancelled or scaled back as it becomes harder to attract speakers and delegates to telecommunications meetings. The most recent casualty is the Wireless Internet 2002...

Fibre and wireless to overtake copper and wireline by 2015, new study projects

telecom | 04/09/2002 4:00 am EDT

The telephone grid of the future will be a network of packet switches and fibre optics, replacing circuit switches and copper, according to a new study. Broadband will be used primarily for data and video as consumers rely on wireless for voice communications. That glimpse into what may unfold is provided in The Local...

NL Short Takes

telecom | 04/09/2002 4:00 am EDT

BCE completes sale of Excel Communications to VarTecBCE Inc. has completed its sale of Excel Communications to VarTec Telecom Inc. of Dallas for US$227.5 million in promissory notes (NL Update, Aug. 27/01). BCE acquired Excel after it took over Teleglobe Inc. two years ago.  BCE Emergis slashes jobs and cuts non-core servicesBCE Emergis Inc. has announced plans to reduce its workforce by 20%, representing about 550...

NL People

telecom | 04/09/2002 4:00 am EDT

Darrell Amatto is the new VP/GM western region for Group Telecom. He joins the CLEC after working for Avaya Communications and has previous experience at Octel/Lucent Technologies and at Telus Communications.  BCE Emergis Inc. has elected Daniel Johnson and Michael Sabia to the board of directors. Johnson is a counsel at McCarthy Tétrault LLP and a former premier of Quebec. Sabia is president/COO of BCE and COO of...

RoW Update

telecom | 04/08/2002 4:00 am EDT

Bell Mobility to launch 1X network in Ottawa next weekBell Mobility will official roll out its next-generation 1XRTT wireless network in Ottawa next week, closely following launches in Toronto and Montreal in recent weeks. Company president and COO Michael Neuman and Charlotte Burke, senior VP, will be on hand to discuss the benefits and features of the new network. The company also plans to show off some products that...

Vidéotron acquires Stream’s assets, needs approval for spectrum licences

telecom | 04/03/2002 5:00 am EST

Vidéotron Télécom ltée finalized the acquisition of Stream Intelligent Networks Corp.’s assets last week, including the Toronto company’s spectrum licences. As expected, there was no opposition to the acquisition, but the affiliate of Quebec-based cable operator Vidéotron ltée still needs regulatory approval from...

Public safety groups, department struggle to find leader in public protection policy

telecom | 04/03/2002 5:00 am EST

The development of a coherent public protection disaster relief (PPDR) policy is proving to be a much more daunting task than previously anticipated as both the federal government and public safety groups call on each other to take the lead. At a conference on public safety radiocommunications in Ottawa last week, Industry Canada officials said they wanted greater input from law enforcement and public safety agencies on their particular systems requirements, while those same groups have looked to the government for direction on what those requirements should be. The National Public Safety Radiocommunications Conference, organized by the Radio Advisory Board of Canada (RABC), brought the...

Effect of anti-terrorist laws on WSPs unclear; prepaid reportedly under scrutiny

telecom | 04/03/2002 5:00 am EST

Pre-paid wireless services could be on the chopping block if new anti-terrorism legislation, rumoured to be in the works, is passed. Speculation is circulating that the federal government will introduce another security bill, nicknamed "Omni 3" in Ottawa, which could place stringent restrictions on wireless...

Microcell streamlines PCS operations; chops two from executive suite

telecom | 04/03/2002 5:00 am EST

Microcell Telecommunications Inc. is consolidating its wholesale and retail PCS operations under the Microcell PCS banner, a move company executives say will allow the wireless operator to more effectively and efficiently compete in the marketplace against its bigger rivals. The move marks the final nail in the coffin for...

RoW Short Takes

telecom | 04/03/2002 5:00 am EST

Shaw Communications sued over LMCS technologyCellularVision Technology & Telecommunications L.P. has sued a successor entity to WIC Western International Communications Ltd., which was taken over by Shaw Communications in 1999. CellularVision alleges breach of contract related to certain LMCS technology. It is claiming damages ranging from $10 to $50 million. Shaw has assumed responsibility for the defence, and...

RoW People

telecom | 04/03/2002 5:00 am EST

Rogers Wireless Communications Inc. has made some executive announcements. John Boynton has been appointed VP, consumer marketing, and Bruce Burgetz has been named senior VP and CIO of the Toronto-based company. In his new role, Boynton will lead the development and execution of all marketing strategies and plans for the consumer segment. He will also be responsible for managing all existing product offerings to meet the...

RoW International Short Takes

telecom | 04/03/2002 5:00 am EST

FCC to refund money from spectrum auctionThe Federal Communications Commission has decided to refund a "substantial portion" of down payments made by winning bidders in a spectrum auction of licences previously awarded to NextWave Personal Communications Inc., NextWave Power Partners Inc. and Urban Comm-North Carolina Inc. The decision follows a petition made in January by a coalition of winning bidders. The FCC will return approximately US$2.8 billion or 85 per cent of the down payments currently held. Despite returning the down payments, the commission will maintain the status of the applications and preserve the results and integrity of the auction. In auction No. 35, the FCC had net bids totalling US$16.3 billion and collected down payments of approximately US$3.3 billion. It its decision the FCC writes: "The commission found that petitioners, many of whom are small businesses, may require access to their funds to continue to operate their business." In other FCC news, the commission will soon vote on a Verizon...

Row Editorial

telecom | 04/03/2002 5:00 am EST

The opinions expressed in this editorial are those of the author and do not necessarily reflect those of Decima Reports. The Canadian government and the country’s public safety organizations are struggling to come up with a plan that would see interoperable and standardized radiocommunications become a reality. At a conference last week in Ottawa (see article in this issue), both groups seemed to be pointing fingers at...

Vidéotron acquires Stream’s assets, needs approval for spectrum licences

telecom | 04/03/2002 5:00 am EST

Vidéotron Télécom ltée finalized the acquisition of Stream Intelligent Networks Corp.’s assets last week, including the Toronto company’s spectrum licences. As expected, there was no opposition to the acquisition, but the affiliate of Quebec-based cable operator Vidéotron ltée still needs regulatory approval from...

NL Update

telecom | 04/02/2002 5:00 am EST

 Court approves Stream takeoverAn Ontario court last week approved the takeover of Stream Intelligent Networks Corp. by Vidéotron Télécom ltée (NL Update, March 27/02). The Quebec telco has purchased all of the fibre and spectrum assets of the Toronto company. Shaw sued by @Home Corp. for US$65MShaw Cablesystems is being sued for US$65 million by @Home Corp. over the discontinuation of services from the...

NL Update– Special Edition

telecom | 03/27/2002 5:00 am EST

Vidéotron Télécom to take over Stream assets  Vidéotron Télécom ltée (VTL) is appearing before a court today in Toronto to present its plan to take over the assets of bankrupt fibre company Stream Intelligent Networks Corp, Network Letter has learned. A spokesman for receiver PricewaterhouseCoopers says the deal should close later today or...

Carriers must be alert to provisions of new anti-terrorist legislation, lawyer warns

telecom | 03/25/2002 5:00 am EST

The federal government’s omnibus legislation to fight terrorism has implications for the telecom sector that were little noted when the bill was passed last fall. Activities that have been considered part of normal customer service could end up being seen as abetting subversives. Following the September 11 attacks in...

Hoping for price cap relief, Call-Net moves into Ottawa residential market

telecom | 03/25/2002 5:00 am EST

The preliminary move into the competitive residential market has been so successful for one CLEC that it is now expanding into Ottawa. Sprint Canada will begin offering local and LD voice bundles to individuals at rates slightly below that of incumbent Bell Canada. William Linton, president/CEO of Sprint parent...

Electrical wires may soon be delivering telephony services to Canadian customers

telecom | 03/25/2002 5:00 am EST

In their search to provide telecommunications services, utility companies may have found the "killer app" lying right under their noses. While most firms have been excited by the prospect of using their fibre and wireless networks to serve customers, a growing trend is the implementation of powerline...

O.N. Telcom files review and vary over contribution levies for independent ILECs

telecom | 03/25/2002 5:00 am EST

The concern over CRTC decisions affecting small independent telcos continues as an Ontario company seeks to have the commission take another look at two decisions and rescind a subsequent order. O.N. Tel Inc., the parent company of O.N. Telcom, has filed a review and vary application asking the CRTC to re-examine...

Bank says telecom market outlook good, recovery ahead for manufacturers

telecom | 03/25/2002 5:00 am EST

A new bank study predicts that the next five years will be productive ones for the telecom industry, good news for an industry battered and bruised. The Bank of Montreal believes relief for the carrier market will come quickly, while equipment manufacturers will have to wait for the upturn in their fortunes. In its report Prospects For Canada’s Industries To 2006, the bank projects annual growth in output for the communication and information services sector to jump by 9.1 per cent, the highest of any of the 45 areas surveyed. The total for all sectors combined was 3.4 per cent. The report differentiates between the telecom services sector, such as telephone companies and...

NL Short Takes

telecom | 03/25/2002 5:00 am EST

Group Telecom latest CLEC to form special committeeGT Group Telecom Inc. has formed a special committee and has hired Morgan Stanley & Co. Inc. to help the firm in considering possible capital structure enhancements. The move comes days after AT&T Canada formed a similar committee (NL Update, Mar. 18/02) and months after Call-Net Enterprises restructured (NL, July 16/00).  BCE Emergis shares drop on revenue...

NL People

telecom | 03/25/2002 5:00 am EST

Telecom Ottawa, the communications subsidiary of Hydro Ottawa, has appointed three senior managers. Lucie Adam signs on as director of network operations and technology. She most recently worked at Norigen Communications and has experience at Sprint Canada. The new director of engineering and field services is Claude Poithier, formerly of AT&T Canada, MetroNet, and Rogers. Vidéotron Télécom alumnus Jacques...

Regulatory reform next step in ensuring sustainable competition, Call-Net says

telecom | 03/25/2002 5:00 am EST

Call-Net Enterprises Inc. president/CEO William Linton recently addressed the National Press Club on the topic of competition in the telecommunications market. An edited transcript of his remarks appears here.  It’s easy to forget, 10 years later, just how revolutionary the emergence of Sprint Canada’s long...

NL Editorial

telecom | 03/25/2002 5:00 am EST

The opinions expressed in this editorial are those of the author and do not necessarily reflect those of Decima Reports. We have long been wary of the federal government’s response to the events of September 11. The provisions of the Anti-Terrorism Act and the possibility of new, more encompassing legislation should be of concern to all of us.  Many of the new requirements placed on telcos and ISPs are defined in...

RoW Update

telecom | 03/25/2002 5:00 am EST

Nortel and Motorola to combine wireless equipment units, rumours aboundRumours began spreading late last week that Nortel Networks Corp. and Motorola Inc. could be in talks to merge their respective wireless equipment units following a report of such a move in a Business Week article. Some observers are speculating that may be the case since there has been significantly lower demand from carriers for wireless infrastructure equipment. An RBC Capital Markets report also indicates that Nortel may have to initiate another round of layoffs if it wants to reach profitability before the end of 2003. Analyst John Wilson said in a report: "Lowering the break-even level sufficiently to reach profitability again prior to the end of 2003 will, in our view, require an additional 10%-20% reduction in head count." That could translate into a further reduction of 5,000 to 10,000 employees. Speculation of more consolidation within the industry has been a hot topic recently. Following a significant decrease in carrier spending, some believe that...

RoW People

telecom | 03/18/2002 5:00 am EST

Effective March 15, Peter Sommerer will take over as chair of the board of directors at SiGEM Inc., replacing Herb Woods who will remain on the board. That is the day pegged for the company to also change its name to Mobile Knowledge Inc. Sommerer is an advisor to the Longitude Fund, which will lead the financing. He brings extensive experience in successfully growing technology companies having held senior-level...

RoW International Short Takes

telecom | 03/18/2002 5:00 am EST

Nortel, Sprint complete smart antenna trialsNortel Networks Corp. and Sprint PCS have completed trials of Nortel’s CDMA smart antenna technology, which is designed to double the voice capacity of Sprint’s current technology while using existing spectrum. The trials were conducted using Nortel’s Metro Cell product platform over a CDMA wireless...

RoW Editorial

telecom | 03/18/2002 5:00 am EST

The opinions expressed in this editorial are those of the author and do not necessarily reflect those of Decima Reports. Canada’s wireless lobby is making a stronger push to support and provide leadership for its smaller trade members, something the association hasn’t always done to the best of its ability in the past. The Canadian Wireless Telecommunications Association (CWTA) recently signed a memorandum of...

NL Update

telecom | 03/18/2002 5:00 am EST

AT&T Canada appoints committeeAT&T Canada Inc. has appointed a special committee to look at financial and other issues facing the CLEC. The committee is made up of board chair Purdy Crawford, André Bureau, Steven Chisholm, Philip Ladouceur, and Craig Young. The move appears to be a response to a new ad hoc committee of investors that has expressed concerns about AT&T’s business operations and financial...

Industry Canada prepares for 3G debate, commissions study on wireless competition

telecom | 03/18/2002 5:00 am EST

Industry Canada is gearing up for what could be a contentious consultation on the release of spectrum for third-generation wireless networks and has initiated additional background research into the Canadian wireless market. Two weeks ago, Canada’s spectrum regulator released a study it commissioned from Ottawa-based...

CWTA to provide better leadership for trade members; signs MoU with WTIA

telecom | 03/18/2002 5:00 am EST

Canada’s wireless lobby is making a strong push to support its trade members through a new partnership with its counterpart in Hong Kong. Last week, the Canadian Wireless Telecommunications Association (CWTA) and the Hong Kong Wireless Technology Industry Association (WTIA) announced an agreement to promote their...

SAMSys scores first patent as U.K. technology firm takes equity stake

telecom | 03/18/2002 5:00 am EST

SAMSys Technologies Inc., a radio frequency identification (RFID) system developer, has scored a couple of major wins recently that should greatly increase awareness of the Toronto-based company in global markets. In late February, SAMSys received its first patent covering proprietary RFID tag evaluation technology, and it...

Cell-Loc finalizes manufacturing contract; gives company lead time to land deals

telecom | 03/18/2002 5:00 am EST

Calgary-based Cell-Loc Inc. has secured a manufacturing agreement for its wireless location beacons by finalizing a deal with a Brazilian embedded electronic modules designer and manufacturer. PST Industria Eletronica de Amazonia Ltda. has agreed to produce the company’s Cellocate Beacon device, and will also participate...

CRTC orders carriers to provide better service for blind at reseller level

telecom | 03/18/2002 5:00 am EST

The CRTC has ordered Canada’s telecommunications carriers, including mobile wireless operators, to make sure their resellers are providing adequate service to blind and visually impaired subscribers and potential customers – Telecom Decision 2002-13. The March 8 decision goes a step further than an earlier ruling that forced the carriers themselves to provide certain information upon request to the blind. In a decision last fall (Order CRTC 2001-690, dated Aug. 31/01), the commission ordered all Canadian carriers to provide billing, rates, terms and conditions information and other inserts in alternative formats to the blind and visually impaired. In the ruling, the CRTC asked the...

RoW Short Takes

telecom | 03/18/2002 5:00 am EST

Decima Reader Survey, January-February 2002 A recent online poll of subscribers to Decima Publishing newsletters asked if newly-appointed CRTC chair Charles Dalfen is the right person for the job in the current environment. The results are mixed, with nearly as many unsure as those who endorse the appointment. Esemde to offer vehicle tracking over Microcell networkMicrocell Connexions Inc. has signed an agreement...

Telecom an inviting area for utilities, but companies need to be cautious

telecom | 03/12/2002 5:00 am EST

Even though the telecommunications sector has been difficult for many players in the last few years, there are those who see glimmers of light in niche marketplaces. One area that has sparked interest among many observers is the provision of telecom services by municipal electric utilities (MEUs). As the United Telecom...

Receiver keeps Stream flowing as it seeks to sell assets of fibre provider

telecom | 03/12/2002 5:00 am EST

Customers of Stream Intelligent Networks Corp. will continue to receive service despite the fact the company was recently forced into receivership (NL, Feb. 26/02). How long that service will remain is anybody’s guess, however. "I don’t think we’re giving any service guarantees, but I don’t think we’re...

Persona takeover of Amtelecom fails as independent telcos consider options

telecom | 03/12/2002 5:00 am EST

The proposed acquisition of an Ontario independent telco by an Atlantic cable operator has collapsed at a time when the future of smaller ILECs is uncertain. But changes instituted by the CRTC could help the tiny telcos survive. Last summer, Regional Cablesystems Inc. of St. John’s NF (since renamed Persona...

Rogers and RBUA singing from same hymnal over abusive servers

telecom | 03/12/2002 5:00 am EST

The recent war of words between Internet users and one of Canada’s largest cable operators is being attributed to miscommunication, with both sides realizing that they are in agreement on basic issues. They hope cooperation will lead to fewer disruptions on the network. The matter arose when Rogers Communications Inc. set out a mass emailing in February to customers of its high-speed Internet network regarding the use of servers. "Please be advised that all servers are a violation of section 7.(k) of our End User Agreement and Acceptable Usage Policy," the company wrote, while quoting the appropriate clause. "Your account will be checked in the future. To avoid any interruption in service, please remove all servers immediately while connected to the Rogers...

Canada in danger of losing leadership in government online: Yankee Group

telecom | 03/12/2002 5:00 am EST

The federal government says all the right things about getting government services online, but it has been slow in turning those words into actions. As a result, Canada is in danger of falling behind other countries when it comes to e-government, says a recent report. The Yankee Group recently released Electronic...

NL Short Takes

telecom | 03/12/2002 5:00 am EST

Decima Reader Survey, January-February 2002 A recent online poll of subscribers to Decima Publishing newsletters asked if newly-appointed CRTC chair Charles Dalfen is the right person for the job in the current environment. The results are mixed, with nearly as many unsure as those who endorse the appointment. AT&T committed to Canada, not sure about rest of worldAT&T Corp. CEO Michael Armstrong told analysts...

NLPeople

telecom | 03/12/2002 5:00 am EST

BCE Inc. has made more changes in the executive suite. Pierre Blouin has been named EVP of the corporation but will continue as CEO of Bell Mobility. He will be assisted at the wireless firm by new president/COO Michael Neuman. Neuman had been EVP of Teleglobe and was the founding CEO of Bell ExpressVu.  Romeo De Gasperis has been confirmed as president/CEO of Futureway Communications Inc. He had been acting in the...

FCC rapidly evolving but more changes must be made, chair tells senators

telecom | 03/12/2002 5:00 am EST

FCC chair Michael Powell testified last week before the U.S. Senate subcommittee on commerce, justice, state and the judiciary. In addressing the commission’s upcoming budget estimates, he reviewed some of the achievements and goals of the FCC. An edited version appears here.  The commission must stay abreast of...

NL Editorial

telecom | 03/12/2002 5:00 am EST

The opinions expressed in this editorial are those of the author and do not necessarily reflect those of Decima Reports. The telecom world is constantly evolving, sometimes quickly, sometimes slowly. But the current state of the sector would no doubt amaze the pioneers who first initiated this process.  Last week marked the 126th anniversary of Alexander Graham Bell being awarded a patent for the telephone. Fifty...

RoW Update

telecom | 03/11/2002 5:00 am EST

Department releases competition review of mobile wireless industryIndustry Canada has released a study on competition in the Canadian mobile wireless industry in preparation of a pending release of spectrum for advanced wireless services, otherwise known as third generation, or 3G. The study, A Competitive Assessment of the Canadian Mobile Wireless Industry, prepared by Wall Communications Inc., is part of the background...

Stream in receivership; questions arise about viability of high-frequency wireless

telecom | 03/05/2002 5:00 am EST

The long-term viability of high-frequency and LMCS-type services is in serious doubt now that an important 38 GHz spectrum holder has been forced into receivership by one of its financial backers (RoW Update, Feb. 26/02). On February 25, GE Capital Canada pulled the plug on further financial support for Stream Intelligent...

WNI Networks granted service deployment extension; other extensions likely to come

telecom | 03/05/2002 5:00 am EST

The extension of a deadline to deploy LMCS service granted to WNI Networks Inc. won’t be the only one granted, predicts a senior-level Industry Canada official. The department is anticipating applications from other licensees as the deadline for deploying services fast approaches. At press time, none of the other...

Ascendent Telecom brings wireless PBX system to Canadian market

telecom | 03/05/2002 5:00 am EST

Ascendent Telecom has developed a product that can extend the reach of corporate PBX telephone networks to cell phones and other remote devices, and allow these devices to function as if they were hardwired to the PBX. The Encino CA-based company has hired some Canadian telecom muscle to help sell the system, dubbed Wireless Connect, in Canada. Ascendent was in Toronto a few weeks ago to discuss details of an agreement with Telus Mobility that would see the wireless operator sell the Wireless Connect product to its enterprise customers here. Ascendent has also struck deals with U.S.-based Nextel Communications and Cingular Wireless, which will help the product gain market penetration in the United States. The upstart telecommunications system provider is targeting Fortune 500...

Colligo signs licensing agreement with Palm, mobile collaboration gains credibility

telecom | 03/05/2002 5:00 am EST

Colligo Networks has licensed its peer-to-peer collaboration software to one of the world’s largest handheld device manufacturers, providing the Vancouver-based company some international muscle to promote its portable collaboration applications. Palm Inc. of Santa Clara CA has licensed two of Colligo’s Portable...

RoW Short Takes

telecom | 03/05/2002 5:00 am EST

Java-based BlackBerry introduced at ComdexResearch in Motion Ltd. has unveiled its first GSM/GPRS-capable handheld, the Java-based BlackBerry 5810. The device integrates voice, email and PDA functionality, and features a micro-browser for web surfing. At its core, the 5810 sports the Java 2 Micro Edition as its operating system, which RIM executives tout as a secure, open platform for customers, carriers and developers....

RoW People

telecom | 03/05/2002 5:00 am EST

Rogers Wireless Communications Inc. has appointed Bruce Good as VP national corporate sales, effective immediately. He will be responsible for all corporate sales initiatives, including national corporate accounts and enterprise solutions. Good brings more than 20 years experience in the telecommunications and information technology industries having most recently served as national sales executive in the global services...

RoW International Short Takes

telecom | 03/05/2002 5:00 am EST

Bell Mobility partners with Nextair for dispatchingBell Mobility and Nextair Inc. have partnered to deliver dispatch applications over the wireless Internet. Bell will begin offering Nextair’s Internet-based mdispatch.com and DispatchForce as its preferred wireless dispatch products in early 2002. Mdispatch.com comes with built-in options that makes...

RoW Editorial

telecom | 03/05/2002 5:00 am EST

The opinions expressed in this editorial are those of the author and do not necessarily reflect those of Decima Reports. Canada’s high-capacity wireless services industry is in complete disarray following the unexpected failure of Stream Intelligent Networks last week. One of the Toronto-based company’s primary financial backers pulled the plug on future funding, which forced it into receivership. The failure of major players in the LMCS services market can be linked to several things. High equipment costs that didn’t allow these competitive providers to offer affordable services is often cited as one of the primary reasons for failure. Others cite the current regulatory environment for not allowing competition to flourish. Some believe it is a result of many things all coming together at the same time, including a lack of cost-effective equipment, the current regulatory environment, and a serious lack of capital investment in these upstart competitive telecommunications providers. A general downturn in the economy hasn’t...

NL Update

telecom | 03/04/2002 5:00 am EST

Stream was put into receivership by GE CapitalGeneral Electric Capital Canada Inc. was the investor that drove Stream Intelligent Networks Corp. into receivership. The financial giant was owed $13 million by the fibre provider, according to documents filed with the Ontario Superior Court of Justice. Stream’s executive officers have resigned and the company is being run by receiver PricewaterhouseCoopers Inc. To read...

Telecom role in Canadian economy increasing, Industry Canada reports

telecom | 02/26/2002 5:00 am EST

Despite the doom and gloom of the last year, the telecommunications sector is still a healthy part of the Canadian economy. New figures released by Industry Canada show salaries are above the national average, while prices are below the mean. "Since 1994, telecommunications services GDP has out-performed the...

NL Short Takes

telecom | 02/26/2002 5:00 am EST

Call-Net negotiates recapitalization planCall-Net Enterprises Inc. has negotiated a new plan with its noteholders and shareholders that will see the CLEC’s debt reduced by over $2 billion. All of Call-Net’s $2.6 billion of senior notes will be exchanged for US$377 million of new 10.625% debt, US$81.9 million in cash and 80% equity in Call-Net. A day earlier, the telco released its FY2001 numbers. Revenue dropped to...

NL People

telecom | 02/26/2002 5:00 am EST

Janet Matulia has been named CEO of France Télécom Longue Distance Canada. The 25-year telecom veteran was VP billing at France Telecom subsidiary Equant. Joining her at FTLD’s Montreal headquarters is newly-installed president Diane Gauthier-Jetté. She has worked for Teleglobe and was president of France Telecom’s Canadian office.  Peter Pereira has been appointed CIO/VP information services at Telus Corp. He...

Making the Maple Leaf a hallmark of excellence around the globe

telecom | 02/26/2002 5:00 am EST

Following the introduction of the Innovation Strategy, Industry minister Allan Rock spoke to the Canadian Chamber of Commerce in Toronto. An edited version of his remarks appears here:  The plan is both comprehensive and concrete. It identifies specific areas of strength and weakness. It sets out targets to both...

NL Editorial

telecom | 02/26/2002 5:00 am EST

The opinions expressed in this editorial are those of the author and do not necessarily reflect those of Decima Reports. The heroics of Canada’s two Olympic hockey teams have made believers out of many of us skeptics. There were doubts heading into the Salt Lake City games that they could come away with gold, but the women’s and men’s squads rallied. Can the federal government pull off a similar feat?  The...

RoW Special Edition Update

telecom | 02/26/2002 5:00 am EST

Stream Intelligent Networks files for receivership, sources tell Report on Wireless  Note: Officials in two Ontario municipalities, including Toronto deputy mayor Case Ootes, have told Report on Wireless that they were notified by email late last night of the company's current situation. It is not known, however, if those email notifications originated from Stream itself. PricewaterhouseCoopers has apparently...

Breaking News-Stream Intelligent Networks files for receivership, sources tell Network Letter

telecom | 02/26/2002 5:00 am EST

Though unconfirmed by the company, several sources have indicated that metropolitan area network (MAN) provider Stream Intelligent Networks Corp. filed for receivership last week. The company, known for its STAR sewer fibre-laying technology, did not return telephone calls or emails at press time to...

Cable association latest body to urge dramatic changes to CRTC structure

telecom | 02/26/2002 5:00 am EST

The call for reform of the CRTC is getting louder as the main lobby group for cable operators laid out its proposals for changing the regulator. The Canadian Cable Television Association (CCTA) introduced its package at a February 19 appearance before the House of Commons Standing Committee on Canadian Heritage, which is conducting a review of the broadcasting system. The plans have three main elements for overhauling the commission: a smaller, streamlined CRTC; an open, accountable and transparent regulatory process; and setting priorities for regulatory activity.  CCTA president/CEO Janet Yale stresses the need for recorded votes. Currently, the only indication a vote is not...