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TELECOM UPDATE
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published weekly by Angus TeleManagement Group
http://www.angustel.ca
Number 551: October 20, 2006
Publication of Telecom Update is made possible by generous
financial support from:
** AVAYA: www.avaya.ca/
** BELL CANADA: www.bell.ca/home/Home_Business.page
** CISCO SYSTEMS CANADA: www.cisco.com/ca/
** ERICSSON: www.ericsson.ca
** MICROSOFT CANADA: www.microsoft.ca/communications/
** NEC UNIFIED SOLUTIONS: www.necunifiedsolutions.com
** ROGERS TELECOM: www.rogers.com/solutions
** SHAW BUSINESS SOLUTIONS: www.shawbusinesssolutions.ca
** VONAGE CANADA: www.vonage.ca
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IN THIS ISSUE:=20
** B.C. Area Code Plan Proposed
** CRTC Okays Centrex Rate Hike
** SaskTel First to Launch IP High-Definition TV
** Canada Drops in OECD Broadband Rankings
** Cogeco Cable Phone Subscriptions Jump 64%
** Videotron Wireless Launches in Montreal
** Bell Offers Personal Online Storage
** Winnipeg Mayor Makes Wi-Fi Promise
** CRTC Revokes International LD Licences
** Price Cap Hearing Concluded
** Distributel Files CLEC Tariff
** FCC Delays AT&T-BellSouth Vote
** RIM to Miss Filing Deadline
** Telecom Hall of Fame Honours New Laureates
** Last Chance for "Enterprise Networks 2006"
B.C. AREA CODE PLAN PROPOSED: The NPA 250 Relief Planning Committee has
agreed on a plan to solve the looming phone number shortage in B.C. (See
Telecom Update #548) The proposal, one of 24 considered, would expand
Area Code 778 (currently Lower Mainland only) to cover the entire
province, and eliminate current restrictions on where new 604 numbers
can be assigned in the Lower Mainland. This would delay the need for a
new Area Code in British Columbia to 2017.
** The committee's proposal, which now goes to the CRTC for
approval, envisions implementation by June 2007.
CRTC OKAYS CENTREX RATE HIKE: CRTC Decision 2006-281 gives final
approval to a 10% increase in Bell and Bell-Aliant monthly rates for
Centrex locals, EEWD locals, and related services, in Ontario and
Quebec. The Commission rejected an argument, made by the Department of
Justice, that it was unfair for Bell to increase rates shortly after it
won a competitive RFP process to provide EEWD (Enhanced Exchange-Wide
Dial) service to the federal government.
** Centrex and EEWD rates are uncapped; telcos do not have to
provide cost justification for rate increases.
http://www.crtc.gc.ca/archive/ENG/Orders/2006/o2006-281.htm
SASKTEL FIRST TO LAUNCH IP HIGH-DEFINITION TV: SaskTel says it is the
first provider in North America to offer High Definition TV over an
Internet Protocol network. Max HD Ultimate, which includes 27 HD
channels, is $59/month for the first four months. (See Telecom Update
#514, 532)
CANADA DROPS IN OECD BROADBAND RANKINGS: The OECD's latest statistics on
broadband penetration in member countries show that Canada is still
first in the G7 in broadband penetration, but due to much faster gains
by other countries Canada is now ninth in the OECD, down from second
place in 2003.
** In the past six years, Canada has increased from 8.5 to
22.4 broadband subscribers per 100 inhabitants.
http://www.oecd.org/sti/ict/broadband
COGECO CABLE PHONE SUBSCRIPTIONS JUMP 64%: Cogeco Cable added a net
20,394 phone lines in the quarter ended August 31, to bring the total
to 52,315. Service is now available to 66% of homes passed.
** Overall revenue of $174.9 million was 25% higher than the
previous year, reflecting Cogeco's recent acquisition in
Portugal. Profits tripled to $34.0 million. (See Telecom
Update #532)
VIDEOTRON WIRELESS LAUNCHES IN MONTREAL: Videotron has launched cellular
service in Greater Montreal, the fifth Quebec region to receive coverage.
BELL OFFERS PERSONAL ONLINE STORAGE: Bell Canada now offers Personal
Vault, an online storage service designed for consumers' music or photo
files. Price for three gigabytes of space: $6 per month.
WINNIPEG MAYOR MAKES WI-FI PROMISE: Winnipeg's incumbent Mayor, Sam
Katz, says that if he is re-elected on October 25 he will initiate a
project to deploy Wi-Fi Internet access throughout the city's downtown
area.
CRTC REVOKES INTERNATIONAL LD LICENCES: The CRTC has revoked the
licences of 21 international long distance carriers and resellers that
have failed to submit required reports. Under the Telecom Act, anyone
who provides international LD service without a licence faces summary
conviction and penalties up to $100,000 for an individual or $1 million
for a company.
http://www.crtc.gc.ca/archive/ENG/Notices/2006/pt2006-13.htm
PRICE CAP HEARING CONCLUDED: The CRTC's hearing on Price Caps ended on
Wednesday, October 18. Volume 6 of the hearing transcripts presents the
parties' oral final arguments. Written arguments are due next week,
reply comments on November 6.
http://www.crtc.gc.ca/eng/transcripts/2006/tt1018.htm
DISTRIBUTEL FILES CLEC TARIFF: Distributel Communications has notified
the CRTC that it intends to become a competitive local exchange carrier.
It has filed a proposed tariff for interconnecting to other local
carriers.
http://www.crtc.gc.ca/8740/eng/2006/D11.htm#200612681
FCC DELAYS AT&T-BELLSOUTH VOTE: The U.S. Federal Communications
Commission has postponed its vote on AT&T's plan to acquire BellSouth
for US$79 billion. The delay resulted from a request by two Democratic
Party commissioners for more time to get public input on concessions
offered by the two telcos. (See Telecom Update #550)
RIM TO MISS FILING DEADLINE: Research In Motion says its review of stock
option practices has found additional errors beyond those outlined two
weeks ago. As a result, RIM will miss the October 17 deadline for
filing its quarterly report with regulatory authorities.
TELECOM HALL OF FAME HONOURS NEW LAUREATES: On October 16, 340 telecom
industry leaders and supporters attended a Gala Dinner in Toronto. Ted
Rogers, his father Edward S. Rogers Sr, Leila Wightman, Donald Hings,
Ernie Saunders, and Francis Dagger were officially inducted into
Canada's Telecommunications Hall of Fame. A Special Recognition Award
went to Digital World, the 1970s digital switching initiative of
Bell-Northern Research and Northern Telecom. (See Telecom Update #546)
** The next Telecom Laureate Awards gala will be held October
16, 2007, at Windsor Station in Montreal.
http://www.telecomhall.ca/
LAST CHANCE FOR "ENTERPRISE NETWORKS 2006": The Enterprise Networks 2006
educational conference, organized by Angus Dortmans Associates, begins
next week, on Tuesday October 24, at the Metro Toronto Convention
Centre. The meeting, co-located with Canada's top call centre
conference, ICCM Canada, focuses on the practical issues that managers
in end-user organizations must understand to survive and prosper at a
time when rapid change is the only constant.
Confirmed speakers include:
** Henry Dortmans, President, Angus Dortmans Associates
** Mario Belanger, President, Avaya Canada
** Tom Moss, VP, Bell Security Solutions
** Tony Rybczynski, Director Enterprise, Nortel
** Mike Hall, Senior Director, Shaw Business Solutions
** John Riddell, Senior Consultant, Angus Dortmans Associates
** Stuart Curzon, Regional Vice-President, Verizon Business=20
** Deepak Chopra and Greg MacDonald, Senior VPs, National Bank Financial
** Nitin Kawale, Senior VP, Cisco Systems Canada
** Stan Tyo, VP, Telus
For a full conference program, and to register, visit
http://www.enterprisenetworks.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
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TeleManagement makes no warranties or representations
whatsoever regarding accuracy, completeness, or adequacy.
Opinions expressed are based on interpretation of available
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John Riddell (jriddell@angustel.ca)