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TELECOM UPDATE
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published weekly by Angus TeleManagement Group
http://www.angustel.ca
Number 542: August 18, 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
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IN THIS ISSUE:
** Internet Use Up but Digital Divides Remain
** Nortel Class Action Settlements Proposed
** MTS Objects to Cabinet's Proposed CRTC Order
** Telus Gives Wireless Service Level Guarantee
** MTS Sells Its Directory Business
** Shaw to Buy Whistler Cable
** Rogers May Appeal 'Comma' Ruling
** Rogers Expands Cablephone Coverage
** Mitec Names New CEO
** Videotron Expands the Broadband Wars
** Boeing Gives Up on Airborne Broadband
** Judge Orders Halt to Bush Wiretaps
** IIC Canada Meeting Set for December
INTERNET USE UP BUT DIGITAL DIVIDES REMAIN: Statistics Canada's latest
Internet Use Survey concludes that 18.8 million adult Canadians
accessed the Internet for personal non-business purposes in 2005, and
that two-thirds of home users logged on every day. The study also
found significant disparities in Internet usage between specific
population groups.
** Urban: 68%. Rural: 58%.
** Household income over $86,000: 88%. Under $86,000: 61%.
** Some secondary education: 88%. High school or less: 49%.
** Adult use in households with children: 81%. Without children: 61%.
** Age 18 to 44: 85%. Age 45 or older: 50%.
http://www.statcan.ca/Daily/English/060815/d060815b.htm
NORTEL CLASS ACTION SETTLEMENTS PROPOSED: Plaintiffs in U.S. and
Canadian class actions, alleging that Nortel misled investors about
earnings, have agreed to a settlement totaling US$808 million in cash,
and other benefits. The settlement still requires court and regulatory
approvals. Details (including claim forms and deadlines) are available
at www.nortelsecuritieslitigation.com.
** The proposal affects investors who bought Nortel shares or
options during two periods: October 24, 2000, through
February 15, 2001, and April 24, 2003, through April 27,
2004.
MTS OBJECTS TO CABINET'S PROPOSED CRTC ORDER: MTS Allstream, commenting
on Cabinet's proposed policy direction to the CRTC (see Telecom Update
#534) says it "agrees wholeheartedly" with the goals expressed, but
objects that the section on wholesale services will be anticompetitive
if implemented as drafted.
http://www.mts.ca/commentsaug16/
TELUS GIVES WIRELESS SERVICE LEVEL GUARANTEE: Telus Mobility says it
will provide credits on customer accounts if it fails to provide a
dropped-call ratio lower than 1% or "fast" response to customer service
calls.
MTS SELLS ITS DIRECTORY BUSINESS: Manitoba Telecom has agreed to sell
its directories business to Yellow Pages Group for $281 million.
SHAW TO BUY WHISTLER CABLE: Shaw Communications has agreed to buy
Whistler Cable, which provides TV and Internet access services to the
B.C. resort town, for an undisclosed sum. (See Telecom Update #541)
ROGERS MAY APPEAL 'COMMA' RULING: The Globe and Mail reports that
Rogers Communications is "strongly considering" appealing a CRTC
ruling that, based on the placement of a single comma in an
Aliant-Rogers contract, allowed Aliant to end the agreement early. The
ruling results in Rogers paying significantly higher rates for access
to N.B. Power poles.
http://www.crtc.gc.ca/archive/ENG/Decisions/2006/dt2006-45.htm
ROGERS EXPANDS CABLEPHONE COVERAGE: Rogers Cable says it is extending
residential cablephone service to several small cities in Ontario,
including Belleville, Chatham, Milton, Trenton, and Welland.
MITEC NAMES NEW CEO: Mitec Telecom has named former Ericsson VP Daniel
Piergentili as President and CEO, replacing Keith Findlay. Findlay had
held the post since October 2005, when Mitec undertook a review of
"strategic alternatives." (See Telecom Update #502)
VIDEOTRON EXPANDS THE BROADBAND WARS: On September 7, Videotron will
start upgrading its High-Speed Internet Service from 5.1 Mbps to 7 Mbps.
(See Telecom Update #541)
BOEING GIVES UP ON AIRBORNE BROADBAND: The Boeing Company is abandoning
its six-year effort to convince airlines to install a system that
provides satellite-based Internet access to passengers during flights.
The company will close down Connexion by Boeing this year and take a
US$320 million charge.
JUDGE ORDERS HALT TO BUSH WIRETAPS: A U.S. court has ruled that the
warrantless wiretaps run by the U.S. National Security Agency are
unconstitutional, and ordered them halted immediately. Implementation of
the injunction has been stayed pending an appeal by the Justice
department.
** This ruling may affect a related lawsuit against telephone
companies for cooperating with the NSA. (see Telecom Update #540, 541)
IIC CANADA MEETING SET FOR DECEMBER: The Canadian Chapter of the
International Institute of Communications will hold its annual
conference in Ottawa, December 4-5, under the theme "Communications in
2010." For information go to http://www.iic-canada.ca.
HOW TO SUBMIT ITEMS FOR TELECOM UPDATE
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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)