************************************************************
TELECOM UPDATE
************************************************************
published weekly by Angus TeleManagement Group
http://www.angustel.ca
Number 458: November 22, 2004
Publication of Telecom Update is made possible by generous
financial support from:
** ALLSTREAM: www.allstream.com
** AVAYA: www.avaya.ca/en/
** BELL CANADA: www.bell.ca
** CISCO SYSTEMS CANADA: www.cisco.com/ca/
** ERICSSON: www.ericsson.ca
** MITEL NETWORKS: www.mitel.com/
** SPRINT CANADA: www.sprint.ca
** UTC CANADA: www.canada.utc.org/
************************************************************
IN THIS ISSUE:
** Bell and Call-Net Complete 360 Deal
** City Fido Launched in Montreal
** Telus to Buy Video Conferencing Firm
** Bell Files Centrex III Rate Increases
** ExpressVu Wins Inside Wire Dispute
** Rogers Offers Consumer-Focused BlackBerry
** Change in Satellite Use Policy Proposed
** CRTC Okays Bell TV Application
** Survey Reports Local Competition Growth
** International VoIP Traffic Growth Slows
** Rogers Removes 4-1-1 Fee for Visually Impaired
** Total Telcom Forms Last-Mile Venture
** IWAY Awards Announced
** Chris Tacit to Join Cybersurf
** Opening Up Wi-Fi to Guests and Customers
============================================================
BELL AND CALL-NET COMPLETE 360 DEAL: Bell Canada has completed its
acquisition of the Canadian operations of 360networks and Group
Telecom, for C$275 million. As part of the transaction, Call-Net
Enterprises purchased 360's retail customer contracts in central and
eastern Canada from Bell for about $15 million, to be paid over two
years. (See Telecom Update #435)
** Call-Net is also paying $2.3 million for an option to
acquire 360's local network facilities, including access
to over 1,000 buildings.
** Bell will retain the Group Telecom brand name in western
Canada; the business will be headed by Bell's Mark Hanlon,
who has been appointed COO.
CITY FIDO LAUNCHED IN MONTREAL: Microcell's new Rogers-appointed
management has launched City Fido in greater Montreal, providing
unlimited local wireless calls for $45/month.
** Rogers plans to apply a $6.95/month "system access fee" on
new City Fido accounts, and to increase out-of-region
roaming charges from 20 to 30 cents/minute.
TELUS TO BUY VIDEO CONFERENCING FIRM: Telus has agreed to acquire
Toronto-based Adcom, video conferencing company with 84 employees and
2004 sales of $24.7 million.
BELL FILES CENTREX III RATE INCREASES: In Tariff Notice 6839, Bell
Canada proposes to increase rates for Centrex Microlink Access and
Data Locals in January, and to eliminate multi- year term discounts as
current contracts expire. The changes are intended "to encourage
customers to migrate towards new [IP-based] services."
www.crtc.gc.ca/8740/eng/2004/B2.htm#200412560
EXPRESSVU WINS INSIDE WIRE DISPUTE: In response to a complaint by
ExpressVu, the CRTC has ruled that Rogers Cable must allow competitors
to lease its inside wire in apartment buildings for 52
cents/subscriber/month, instead of requiring building owners to buy
back the inside wire if a competitor begins offering service in the
building.
** Two commissioners dissented. Barbara Cram says that the 52
cent fee may be too low for use of wire in new buildings.
Stuart Langford says the Commission should not interfere
in building owners' contracts.
www.crtc.gc.ca/archive/ENG/Decisions/2004/db2004-494.htm
ROGERS OFFERS CONSUMER-FOCUSED BLACKBERRY: Rogers Wireless has begun
selling the BlackBerry 7100r, which provides e- mail, voice, web, and
organizer functions in a phone-like design. Price: $399 with a
three-year contract.
CHANGE IN SATELLITE USE POLICY PROPOSED: Industry Canada requests
comment by November 29 on a proposal to allow satellite radio services
to broadcast Canadian programs in Canada using U.S. satellites.
http://strategis.ic.gc.ca/epic/internet/insmt-gst.nsf/en/sf08253e.html
CRTC OKAYS BELL TV APPLICATION: The CRTC has approved Bell Canada's
application to distribute television programming using DSL in Ontario
(Toronto, Hamilton/Niagara, Oshawa, Kitchener, London, Windsor, and
Ottawa) and Quebec (Montreal, Gatineau, Sherbrooke, and Quebec
City). Bell has two years to launch the service.
www.crtc.gc.ca/archive/ENG/Decisions/2004/db2004-496.htm
SURVEY REPORTS LOCAL COMPETITION GROWTH: The 2004 edition of
NBI/Michael Sone Associates' report on Canadian Local Telecom
Services, just released, says that:
** Competitors now have more than 20% of the business lines
in London, Toronto, Hamilton, Kitchener, Windsor, and
Quebec City.
** Competitors have 5%-7% of the residential lines in London,
Toronto, Hamilton, Kitchener, Montreal, Vancouver,
Calgary, and Oshawa, and nearly 30% in Halifax.
www.nbicanada.com/reports.html
INTERNATIONAL VoIP TRAFFIC GROWTH SLOWS: TeleGeography reports that
the yearly growth rate of international Voice over IP traffic was 23%
in 2003 and will be about 40% in 2004, a decline from the 80% annual
growth rate of previous years. VoIP now accounts for 11% of
international calls.
www.telegeography.com
ROGERS REMOVES 4-1-1 FEE FOR VISUALLY IMPAIRED: Rogers Wireless has
made directory assistance service available without charge to
customers who are blind or visually impaired. The service normally
costs $1.25/call.
TOTAL TELCOM FORMS LAST-MILE VENTURE: Total Telcom, an Alberta-based
fibre provider, has joined with Winnipeg-based WiBand Communications
to form QC-Networks, which will provide fibre and wireless-based
last-mile connectivity across Alberta.
** Total Telcom had sales for the year ended June 30 of $12.9
million, compared to $3.6 million the previous year. Net
income rose 51% to $1.7 million.
IWAY AWARDS ANNOUNCED: CANARIE's Ninth Annual IWAY Awards will be
presented at a gala celebration in Halifax tonight. This year's
winners are:
** Adaptive Technology: Pierre Dumouchel, CRIM
** Application of Technology: Adam Froman, Delvinia Interactive
** Community Service: Karen Keppler, Smart Partners of Manitoba
** New Technology Development: Andre Charbonneau & Gabriel
Mateescu, National Research Council
** Public Leadership: Brian Unger, iCore
CHRIS TACIT TO JOIN CYBERSURF: Well-known regulatory lawyer Chris
Tacit is leaving Nelligan O'Brien Payne. He will join ISP Cybersurf
Corp. as Vice-President Law and General Counsel in January.
OPENING UP WI-FI TO GUESTS AND CUSTOMERS: The November-December issue
of Telemanagement analyzes initiatives by Canadian organizations to
make their Wi-Fi networks available to non-employees with no loss of
security.
Also in this issue:
** Reinventing Telecom Management-Again
** Avaya and Mitel: Two Strategies for IP Success
** IP Shakes Up Health Care Network
These reports are available to Telemanagement subscribers only. To
subscribe today, call 1-800-263-4415 ext 500 or go to
www.angustel.ca/teleman/tm-sub-online.html.
============================================================
HOW TO SUBMIT ITEMS FOR TELECOM UPDATE
E-MAIL: editors@angustel.ca
FAX: 905-686-2655
MAIL: TELECOM UPDATE
Angus TeleManagement Group
8 Old Kingston Road
Ajax, Ontario Canada L1T 2Z7
===========================================================
HOW TO SUBSCRIBE (OR UNSUBSCRIBE)
TELECOM UPDATE is provided in electronic form only. There are two
formats available:
1. The fully-formatted edition is posted on the World
Wide Web on the first business day of the week at
www.angustel.ca
2. The e-mail edition is distributed free of charge.
To subscribe, send an e-mail message to:
join-telecom_update@nova.sparklist.com
To stop receiving the e-mail edition, send
an e-mail message to:
leave-telecom_update@nova.sparklist.com
Sending e-mail to these addresses will automatically add
or remove the sender's e-mail address from the list. Leave
subject line and message area blank.
We do not give Telecom Update subscribers' e-mail
addresses to any third party. For more information,
see www.angustel.ca/update/privacy.html.
===========================================================
COPYRIGHT AND CONDITIONS OF USE: All contents copyright 2004 Angus
TeleManagement Group Inc. All rights reserved. For further
information, including permission to reprint or reproduce, please
e-mail rosita@angustel.ca or phone 905-686-5050 ext 500.
The information and data included has been obtained from sources which
we believe to be reliable, but Angus TeleManagement makes no
warranties or representations whatsoever regarding accuracy,
completeness, or adequacy. Opinions expressed are based on
interpretation of available information, and are subject to change. If
expert advice on the subject matter is required, the services of a
competent professional should be obtained.
Angus TeleManagement (jriddell@angustel.ca)