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TELECOM UPDATE
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published weekly by Angus TeleManagement Group
http://www.angustel.ca
Number 464: January 14, 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:
** Nortel Report Slashes 2003 Profits
** Shaw About to Launch Phone Service in Edmonton
** Wireless Auction: Week One
** CRTC Okays Telus IP Centrex
** Rates Up for Bell Centrex Data
** New Name for Centrex User Group
** Aliant Supports Wireless Research
** Another VoIP Provider Debuts
** Telebec-Bell Fibre Swap Rejected
** Bell Raises Wireless Feature Rates
** Cisco Buys Wi-Fi Provider
** Microcell Acquisition Boosts Rogers Cell Numbers
** Independent Telecom Experts Promise Results
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NORTEL REPORT SLASHES 2003 PROFITS: On January 10, Nortel Networks
finally filed revised financial figures for 2003. The new reports cut
the company's 2003 profit by 41%, from US$732 million to $434
million. Nortel says that it will file quarterly reports for 2004
later this month.
** Twelve senior executives have voluntarily agreed to repay
$8.6 million in bonuses they received in 2003, and Nortel
is seeking the repayment of bonuses from 10 executives
who were fired for cause in 2004.
** Five current Board members, including former BCE CEO
Lynton Wilson, will not stand for reelection at the next
general meeting.
** Susan Shepard, former head of the New York State Ethics
Commission, has been named Chief Ethics and Compliance
Officer.
** Nortel has launched a new auditing investigation of the
1998-2000 period, during which it says US$3.38 billion in
revenues were improperly recorded.
SHAW ABOUT TO LAUNCH PHONE SERVICE IN EDMONTON: Speaking to Shaw
Communication's annual meeting this week, CEO Jim Shaw said the
company will begin offering IP-based local phone service "within
weeks."
** Shaw's net income for the quarter ended November 30 was
$18.8 million, down from $20 million a year ago. It added
nearly 48,000 Internet customers in the quarter, for a
total of 1.07 million. Shaw Internet penetration rate is
the highest in North America, with 50% of basic cable
subscribers now online.
WIRELESS AUCTION, WEEK ONE: At the end of the first week of Industry
Canada's auction of "leftover" 2300/3500 MHz spectrum licences, high
bids totaled just under $27 million--already more than double the
total amount paid in the original auction last February. (see Telecom
Update #420)
** Highest bidders at week's end are Bell Canada ($10.4M), Distributel
($7.8M), Rogers Wireless ($3.0M), 4253311 Canada Inc. ($2.9M), and
Telus Mobility ($1.7M).
** The auction pace will speed up in the second week, with six bidding
rounds scheduled per day.
http://agora.ic.gc.ca/AuctionGCLF/reportsMainMenu.cfm
CRTC OKAYS TELUS IP CENTREX: CRTC Telecom Order 2004-445 gives interim
approval to the introduction of Telus's IP-Evolution, an alternative
to traditional Centrex, effective February 3. (See Telecom Update
#447) The telco has been directed to file a copy of its IP-Evolution
customer contract.
www.crtc.gc.ca/archive/ENG/Orders/2004/o2004-445.htm
RATES UP FOR BELL CENTREX DATA: CRTC Telecom Order 2005-24 gives
interim approval to Bell's proposal make various changes its Centrex
Data and Centrex Microlink Access contracts, and to increase rates by
between 2.6% and 30.2% (Centrex Data) and between 4.7% and 15.2%
(Centrex Microlink). The changes are effective January 17.
www.crtc.gc.ca/archive/ENG/Orders/2005/o2005-24.htm
NEW NAME FOR CENTREX USER GROUP: The National Centrex Users Group has
changed its name to the International Telecommunication Professionals
Exchange (ITPX), and extended its focus to include non-Centrex telecom
services. This year's ITPX conference and trade show takes place
March 20-23, 2005 in Las Vegas. See www.centrexncug.org for details.
ALIANT SUPPORTS WIRELESS RESEARCH: Aliant says it will invest $500,000
over the next four years to support research into next generation
wireless solutions at the University of New Brunswick.
ANOTHER VoIP PROVIDER DEBUTS: Orion Voice Inc. this week launched
IP-based telephone service in the Toronto area, and said it would soon
expand to other Canadian and U.S. cities. The company's residential
service plans cost from $19.99 to $39.95 a month; business service is
$59.95 or $69.95. At present, the company offers numbers only in area
code 416.
TELEBEC-BELL FIBRE SWAP REJECTED: Last June, Telebec asked the CRTC to
retroactively approve a 1999 fibre swapping agreement between it and
Bell Canada. CRTC Telecom Order 2005-21 denies the application, saying
the two telcos must charge each other tariffed rates, just as they
would for other fibre customers.
** Telebec must file an inter-exchange dark fibre tariff
within 30 days.
www.crtc.gc.ca/archive/ENG/Orders/2005/o2005-21.htm
BELL RAISES WIRELESS FEATURE RATES: On February 1, Bell Mobility will
raise the monthly price of its Message Centre service by $2 and of
Call Display and Message Centre Express by $1. Bell says this matches
other carriers' rates.
CISCO BUYS WI-FI PROVIDER: Cisco Systems has agreed to buy San
Jose-based Airespace, which makes Wi-Fi access points, controllers and
software, for about US$450 million.
MICROCELL ACQUISITION BOOSTS ROGERS CELL NUMBERS: Rogers
Communications says its wireless company had 5.5 million customers at
year-end 2004, up from 3.8 million a year earlier. Three quarters of
the gain--1.3 million subscribers--resulted from the takeover of
Microcell in November.
** Rogers Internet subscribers increased in number from
777,800 to 936,600.
INDEPENDENT TELECOM EXPERTS PROMISE RESULTS: Angus Dortmans Associates
consults to Canadian organizations that use telecommunications and
call centres as essential business tools. Our focus is on practical
issues and measurable results, delivered on-time and on-budget.
Contact Henry Dortmans, 905-686-5050 x300 or
dortmans@angustel.ca.
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E-MAIL: editors@angustel.ca
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Angus TeleManagement Group
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Angus TeleManagement (jriddell@angustel.ca)