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TELECOM UPDATE
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published weekly by Angus TeleManagement Group
http://www.angustel.ca
Number 457: November 15, 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/
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IN THIS ISSUE:
** Fast Shake-Up at Microcell
** Rogers Aims to Take Wireless Company Private
** Nortel Finds $3 Billion Problem, Delays Reports Again
** Ottawa Opens Infrastructure Protection Discussion
** Bell Wants Faster Tariff Approvals
** Videotron Cable and Telecom Units to Merge
** Mitel Upgrades Flagship PBX
** FCC Asserts Control of U.S. Internet Calling
** Rogers to Announce PEI Investment
** Roadpost Offers World Blackberry Rental
** Clarification on Bell Staff Reductions
** Cisco Sales Grow 17%
** Everything's Changing in Telephony--Almost
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FAST SHAKE-UP AT MICROCELL: After winning its takeover bid last week,
Rogers Wireless moved quickly to put its own team in charge of
Microcell Telecommunications. Rogers CEO Nadir Mohamed and CFO John
Gossling have been named to the same positions at Microcell, replacing
Andre Tremblay and Jacques Leduc, who have resigned. Other Microcell
executives are expected to depart soon.
** Alain Rheaume, who has been President and COO of Microcell
Solutions, has been named Executive VP of Rogers Wireless
and President of Fido.
** The entire Microcell Board has been replaced by members of
Rogers' Board.
ROGERS AIMS TO TAKE WIRELESS COMPANY PRIVATE: Rogers Communications
wants to buy the 11% equity interest in Rogers Wireless that it
doesn't currently own. It is proposing to offer 1.75 shares in Rogers
Communications for each outstanding wireless share.
NORTEL FINDS $3 BILLION PROBLEM, DELAYS REPORTS AGAIN: Nortel Networks
has again delayed releasing financial reports, saying its 1999 and
2000 sales figures were overstated by US$3 billion. Most of that
amount will be moved into subsequent years, but $250 million will be
"permanently reversed."
** The announcement comes just days after the company
launched a new image-building advertising campaign, using
the slogan "This is the Way. This is Nortel."
OTTAWA OPENS INFRASTRUCTURE PROTECTION DISCUSSION: Communications and
Information technology is one of 10 key sectors identified in the
federal government's new Position Paper on a National Strategy for
Critical Infrastructure Protection. Ottawa wants to "elicit feedback
from stakeholder groups" with the goal of adopting a strategy by the
fall of 2005.
www.ocipep.gc.ca/critical/nciap/positionpap_e.asp
BELL WANTS FASTER TARIFF APPROVALS: Bell Canada has asked the CRTC to
streamline the process for reviewing and approving the incumbent
telcos' retail tariffs. Under Bell's proposal, tariffs would receive
interim approval in 10 days or 40 days (depending on the nature of the
tariff) unless the Commission deferred or denied them in that time,
and would receive final approval in 60 days unless rejected by the
Commission.
** Bell says the proposed changes would not "conflict with
or modify the Commission's current regulatory framework
or price cap rules."
www.crtc.gc.ca/PartVII/eng/2004/8657/b2_200412627.htm
VIDEOTRON CABLE AND TELECOM UNITS TO MERGE: Quebecor Media announced
last week plans to integrate its Videotron Telecom unit into its cable
subsidiary, Videotron ltee, in 2005.
MITEL UPGRADES FLAGSHIP PBX: Mitel Networks is now shipping Release 5
of its 3300 ICP IP-PBX, featuring enhancements to in-building
wireless, hotdesking, messaging, system management, and other
capabilities.
FCC ASSERTS CONTROL OF U.S. INTERNET CALLING: The Federal
Communications Commission has voted unanimously to exempt Vonage's
Internet telephony service from regulation by the State of Minnesota,
asserting that such services fall under federal jurisdiction.
ROGERS TO ANNOUNCE PEI INVESTMENT: This morning, Rogers will announce
a donation to support wireless research and development in Prince
Edward Island, and measures to improve wireless coverage on the
island.
ROADPOST OFFERS WORLD BLACKBERRY RENTAL: Toronto-based Roadpost says
it is the first Canadian provider of wireless equipment for world
travelers to offer BlackBerry rentals. The service delivers data in
55 countries.
CLARIFICATION ON BELL STAFF REDUCTIONS: Bell Canada points out that
the 5,000 employees who are leaving the company (see Telecom Update
#456) have all accepted voluntary departure or voluntary early
retirement packages.
CISCO SALES GROW 17%: Cisco Systems reports net sales of US$5.97
billion, an increase of 17% over a year ago and 0.8% over the previous
quarter. Net income increased 29% to $1.40 billion. R&D of $787
million was 7% higher than a year ago.
EVERYTHING'S CHANGING IN TELEPHONY -- ALMOST: The November-December
issue of Telemanagement, now available online, provides an exclusive
look at the future of business telecommunications by Fred Knight, a
world-recognized authority on enterprise telephony and networking.
Also in this issue:
** Avaya and Mitel: Two Strategies for IP Success
** Opening Enterprise Wi-Fi Nets to Guests and Customers
** Reinventing Telecom Management, Again
These important 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.
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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
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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
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Angus TeleManagement (jriddell@angustel.ca)