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TELECOM UPDATE
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published weekly by Angus TeleManagement Group
http://www.angustel.ca
Number 471: March 4, 2005
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:
** Richard French Named CRTC Vice-Chair
** Nortel Shakes Up Executive Suite
** Virgin Mobile Begins Service
** 450 to Get 10-Digit Dialing
** CAIP Organizes to Influence Telecom Review
** Shaw Plans Cellphone Service
** Plaintiffs Against BCE/BCI Lose Appeal
** Nortel Gets Another Extension
** Aliant Expands Broadband Access
** Survey Shows User Support for Wireless Portability
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RICHARD FRENCH NAMED CRTC VICE-CHAIR: Richard French has been
appointed head of the CRTC's telecom branch, replacing Vice- Chairman
David Colville, who retired in December. French, a former Bell Canada
executive and Quebec cabinet minister, more recently held posts with
Bombardier in Germany and Tata Communications in India.
** Rita Cugini has been named a full-time member of the
Commission representing Ontario.
NORTEL SHAKES UP EXECUTIVE SUITE: Nortel Networks has named Gary
Daichendt, currently a Cisco Systems EVP, as President and COO,
effective March 14. Bill Owens, now President and CEO, will become
Vice-Chairman and CEO. Newly appointed CFO Peter Currie will assume
the additional post of Executive VP. Pascal Debon will become special
advisor to Owens.
VIRGIN MOBILE BEGINS SERVICE: Virgin Mobile Canada, a joint venture of
Richard Branson's Virgin Group and Bell Mobility, launched its
youth-oriented prepaid wireless service in Ontario and Quebec March
2. Airtime price: 25 cents/minute for the first five minutes; then 15
cents/minute. Phone prices start at $99.
** Twelve days earlier, Bell Mobility lowered its prepaid
airtime price to 30 cents/minute for the first two minutes
and 5 cents/minute thereafter.
450 TO GET 10-DIGIT DIALING: Following a public consultation, the CRTC
has decided to apply 10-digit local dialing to area code 450, serving
the Montreal region, beginning in October 2006. (See Telecom Update
#451, 466)
CAIP ORGANIZES TO INFLUENCE TELECOM REVIEW: The Canadian Association
of Internet Providers says it will launch TelecomAct Campaign as a
vehicle to "advance recommendations and react to proposed changes"
with regard to the federal government's review of telecom policy (see
Telecom Update #470). Contact Joanne Stanley at 613-236-6550.
www.caip.ca
SHAW PLANS CELLPHONE SERVICE: According to published reports, CEO Jim
Shaw says that Shaw Communications plans to offer wireless service in
about six months.
PLAINTIFFS AGAINST BCE/BCI LOSE APPEAL: The Supreme Court of Canada
has dismissed an appeal by plaintiffs in a $1-billion suit against BCI
and BCE. The suit was previously dismissed by Ontario Court of
Appeal. (See Telecom Update #415)
NORTEL GETS ANOTHER EXTENSION: Nortel Networks has received court
permission to delay its 2004 annual meeting to the end of June -- the
fourth extension of this deadline. Nortel plans to file its 2004
results by the end of April.
ALIANT EXPANDS BROADBAND ACCESS: Aliant says it will invest more than
$35 million in 2005 to bring broadband connections to 90,000 more
homes in Atlantic Canada.
SURVEY SHOWS USER SUPPORT FOR WIRELESS PORTABILITY: A survey of
Canadian wireless users by Solutions Research Group reports 79%
support for introduction of Wireless Number Portability; 13% were
opposed and only 8% not sure. Support was strongest among business
users and youth.
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FAX: 905-686-2655
MAIL: TELECOM UPDATE
Angus TeleManagement Group
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Ajax, Ontario Canada L1T 2Z7
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TeleManagement Group Inc. All rights reserved. For further
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John Riddell (jriddell@angustel.ca)