************************************************************
TELECOM UPDATE
************************************************************
published weekly by Angus TeleManagement Group
http://www.angustel.ca
Number 541: August 11, 2006
Publication of Telecom Update is made possible by generous
financial support from:
** AVAYA: www.avaya.ca/
** BELL CANADA: www.bell.ca
** CISCO SYSTEMS CANADA: www.cisco.com/ca/
** ERICSSON: www.ericsson.ca
** MICROSOFT CANADA: www.microsoft.com/canada/telecom/
** MITEL NETWORKS: www.mitel.com/
** NEC UNIFIED SOLUTIONS: www.necunifiedsolutions.com
** ROGERS TELECOM: www.rogers.com/solutions
** VONAGE CANADA: www.vonage.ca
************************************************************
IN THIS ISSUE:
** Telecom Union Ousts President
** Videotron Offers Wireless Phones
** Sprint to Build U.S.-Wide WiMAX Network
** Telus to Sell Amp'd Services in Canada
** Bell Aliant Appeals Rebate Ruling
** U.S. Broadband Spectrum Auction Under Way
** Comment Sought on 3.6 GHz Spectrum Licensing
** Cogeco Joins the Broadband Wars
** Court Refuses to Block AT&T Suit
** Fido Adds City-Only Rate Plan
** Discussion Opens on Bell Rate Hike
** Telus Quebec to Offer Wholesale Ethernet & DSL
** Nortel, Ciena Bury Hatchet--Again
** Videotron Adds 56,000 Phone Customers
** Shaw Buys Kenora Cableco
** Cisco Sales Rise 21%
** Nakina Names New CEO
TELECOM UNION OUSTS PRESIDENT: Bruce Bell has been removed as
President of the Telecommunications Workers Union. In March,
widespread dissatisfaction with the outcome of last year's strike at
Telus led to a membership meeting that voted non-confidence in
Bell. When he refused to resign, charges were laid under the union's
constitution, and a Trial Board recommended that he be fired. Bell can
appeal the decision to the Canadian Labour Congress.
VIDEOTRON OFFERS WIRELESS PHONES: Videotron has launched its version
of the much-hyped "quadruple-play" by adding cellular phone service to
its product line in Quebec City. A bundle including a residential
phone, Basic Internet, digital cable, and a cellphone with 300 anytime
minutes, is $94.95/month, all fees included.
** Videotron is using Rogers' wireless network, but will
provide its own customer service, billing, and marketing.
The company plans to roll out wireless service in the rest
of its territory by year-end.
SPRINT TO BUILD U.S.-WIDE WIMAX NETWORK: U.S. carrier Sprint Nextel has
announced plans for national deployment of a "4G" broadband wireless
network using WiMAX technology. Sprint says it will invest at least
US$2.5 billion by 2008 on the venture, working together with Intel,
Motorola, and Samsumg.
TELUS TO SELL AMP'D SERVICES IN CANADA: Telus has announced an exclusive
agreement to sell and distribute mobile entertainment, gaming,
information, and messaging services developed by Amp'd Mobile Inc,
beginning early in 2007. The youth-oriented services will be available
only to users of Telus's Wireless High Speed (EVDO) services.
** California-based Amp'd describes itself as "the first
integrated mobile entertainment company that fully
optimizes third generation (3G) functionality."
BELL ALIANT APPEALS REBATE RULING: Bell Aliant has asked the CRTC to
amend its ruling in Telecom Decision 2006-27, to exclude 100% (instead
of 50%) of the effects of the 2004 strike from its quality of service
calculations. Since the telco has already paid customer rebates based
on the earlier ruling, it wants to recover the money through a future
application. (See Telecom Update #530, 535)
http://www.crtc.gc.ca/PartVII/eng/2006/8662/b54_200609927.htm
U.S. BROADBAND SPECTRUM AUCTION UNDER WAY: The U.S. Federal
Communications Commission began a major spectrum auction on August 9:
168 parties are bidding on 1,122 broadband wireless licences in the
1.7 GHz to 2.1 GHz spectrum bands. The licences are expected to be
used for Advanced Wireless Services including voice, Internet access,
and full-motion video. The FCC hopes to raise US$15 billion.
http://wireless.fcc.gov/auctions/default.htm?job=3Dauction_summary&id=3D6=6
COMMENT SOUGHT ON 3.6 GHz SPECTRUM LICENSING: In Gazette Notice
DGTP-006-06, Industry Canada invites comments by October 27 on its
proposed policies for licensing spectrum in the 3650-3700 MHz band for
wireless broadband applications.
http://strategis.ic.gc.ca/epic/internet/insmt-gst.nsf/en/sf08674e.html
COGECO JOINS THE BROADBAND WARS: Cogeco has raised the maximum download
speed of its standard Internet service, formerly 7 Mbps, to 10 Mbps, and
the maximum for its "Pro" service from 10 Mbps to 16 Mbps. (See Telecom
Update #540)
COURT REFUSES TO BLOCK AT&T SUIT: A U.S. court has rejected a Bush
administration attempt to halt a lawsuit that accuses AT&T of
illegally allowing the government to monitor phone calls without
warrants (see Telecom Update #540). Seventeen similar lawsuits against
other carriers have now been combined with the AT&T case.
FIDO ADDS CITY-ONLY RATE PLAN: Rogers' Fido service has added a new rate
plan that offers 400 outgoing airtime minutes and unlimited incoming
calling within a single urban area for $30 a month. "Suburban" calling
is $5/month extra.
DISCUSSION OPENS ON BELL RATE HIKE: CRTC Telecom Public Notice 2006-11
invites comment on the Bell and Bell Aliant proposal to raise all
residential phone rates by 80 cents/month, and to eliminate connection
charges for new or moving residential customers. (See Telecom Update
#537)
http://www.crtc.gc.ca/archive/ENG/Notices/2006/pt2006-11.htm
TELUS QUEBEC TO OFFER WHOLESALE ETHERNET & DSL: CRTC Telecom Decision
2006-50 directs Telus Communications to file wholesale tariffs for
Ethernet transport and DSL services, including dry loop DSL
capability, in its Quebec territory.
http://www.crtc.gc.ca/archive/ENG/Decisions/2006/dt2006-50.htm
NORTEL, CIENA BURY HATCHET--AGAIN: Nortel Networks and Ciena
Corp. have settled two patent lawsuits and signed a patent
cross-licence agreement. The dispute goes back to an earlier patent
disagreement that appeared to be settled in January 2003.
VIDEOTRON ADDS 56,000 PHONE CUSTOMERS: During the second quarter,
Videotron added 1,200 cable TV, 28,800 Internet, and 56,200 cable
phone customers, increasing its cable-phone subscriber base
(residential and business) to 283,000.
** Problems in the printing division of Videotron's parent company,
Quebecor Inc, resulted in an overall decline of 6% in sales and 75%
in profits.
SHAW BUYS KENORA CABLECO: Shaw Communications has agreed to buy Norcom
Telecommunications Ltd, a Kenora-based cableco that serves 7,000
customers in 15 northwest Ontario communities.
CISCO SALES RISE 21%: Cisco Systems revenue for the quarter ended July
29 was US$7.98 billion, an increase of 20.9% over the same quarter a
year ago, or 12.1% if the effects of the recent Scientific-Atlanta
acquisition are not included. Net income of $1.54 billion was
unchanged from last year.
NAKINA NAMES NEW CEO: Ottawa-based Nakina Systems, which makes network
management software for carriers, has named Marco Pagani as President
and CEO, replacing co-founder David Vicary. (See Telecom Update #527)
HOW TO SUBMIT ITEMS FOR TELECOM UPDATE
E-mail ianangus@angustel.ca and jriddell@angustel.ca
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 late
Friday afternoon each week at http://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 http://www.angustel.ca/update/privacy.html.
COPYRIGHT AND CONDITIONS OF USE: All contents copyright 2006 Angus
TeleManagement Group Inc. All rights reserved. For further
information, including permission to reprint or reproduce, please
e-mail jriddell@angustel.ca.
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.
John Riddell (jriddell@angustel.ca)