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TELECOM UPDATE
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published weekly by Angus TeleManagement Group
http://www.angustel.ca
Number 555: November 17, 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:
** Cabinet Overrules CRTC on VoIP
** CRTC Implements Cabinet Order
** Peterborough Hospital Deploys Bedside Terminals
** Union: Bell Threatens to Close Expertech
** Global Roaming with One Phone
** CWC, ITAC Partner to Advance Women
** Three Carriers Seek Satellite Slots
** Comments Filed on 3.6 GHz Spectrum Licensing
** Avaya Launches Unified Communications Portfolio
** Aliant Offers Taxi Dialing
** Motorola to Buy Good Technology
** March Sells Health Care Division
** SR Telecom Postpones Report, Seeks New Investment
** Vecima Posts Sales, Profit Gains
** Cisco Offers Municipal Wi-Fi Technology
** Consultants Call for Speakers
CABINET OVERRULES CRTC ON VOIP: On November 9, Cabinet overturned par
of the CRTC's 2005 VoIP decision. The order-in-council allows the
incumbent telcos to offer "access independent" retail VoIP services
without getting CRTC approval for rates and terms of service. (See
Telecom Update #481, 544)
** The order says that these ILEC services are to be subject to no
more regulation than CLEC retail services, but all "non-economic"
rules for VoIP services will still apply.
** This is the first time that Cabinet has overturned a CRTC decision
since 1988, when it intervened to allow Call-Net to keep operating
as a long distance reseller. Ironically, Call-Net's lawyer at the
time was Charles Dalfen, now CRTC chairman.
http://tinyurl.com/y8ryzh
http://www.crtc.gc.ca/archive/ENG/Decisions/2005/dt2005-28.htm
CRTC IMPLEMENTS CABINET ORDER: CRTC Telecom Circular 2006-10 notes
that the Cabinet order means that the tariffs for Bell Canada's
Digital Voice Lite and Business IP Voice for Broadband, and SaskTel's
WebCall, are no longer in effect.
** The Commission says it is still reviewing whether the order will
affect any of its other rules or determinations.
http://www.crtc.gc.ca/archive/ENG/Circulars/2006/ct2006-10.htm
PETERBOROUGH HOSPITAL DEPLOYS BEDSIDE TERMINALS: Peterborough Regional
Health Centre plans to install 500 Integrated Bedside Terminals that
will be used by both patients (TV, radio, phone, Internet) and
clinical staff (medical records and updates). The $11 million contract
with Telus, said to be the first such installation in Canada, uses
Siemens technology.
UNION -- BELL THREATENS TO CLOSE EXPERTECH: The Communications,
Energy, and Paperworkers Union says that Bell Canada has threatened to
close down its Expertech subsidiary if current contract negotiations
don't result in major concessions. Expertech installs and maintains
carrier telecom networks; it employs about 1,400 people in Ontario and
Quebec.
GLOBAL ROAMING WITH ONE PHONE: Customers who buy a Motorola A840
handset from MTS Allstream ($250 on a two-year contract) can use the
phone on North American CDMA networks under their regular calling
plans. The same phone will work on GSM networks in 140 other
countries, where MTS International Roaming Service charges $2.49 per
minute, including all airtime and LD charges.
CWC, ITAC PARTNER TO ADVANCE WOMEN: Canadian Women in Communications
(CWC) and the Information Technology Association of Canada (ITAC) have
announced a partnership to promote the participation and advancement of
women in the information and communications technology sector. The CWC
hopes to extend the focus of its programs, such as mentorship, "career
accelerator," and "Women on Boards," to include more women in ICT
careers.
** The application deadline for the CWC's 2007 Jeanne Sauve
professional development programs, open to women in
telecommunications and broadcasting, is December 6.
http://www.cwc-afc.com/show-content.cfm?section=wha-pro&subsection=jea
THREE CARRIERS SEEK SATELLITE SLOTS: Telesat Canada, Ciel Satellite
Group, and Canadian Satellite Radio Investments have all submitted
applications for new satellite orbital positions. Industry Canada
opened 29 new satellite positions in July: the applications announced
to date cover only 17 of them. (see Telecom Update #537)
http://strategis.ic.gc.ca/epic/internet/insmt-gst.nsf/en/sf08711e.html
COMMENTS FILED ON 3.6 GHz SPECTRUM LICENSING: Industry Canada has
posted the comments it has received on proposed policies for licensing
spectrum in the 3650-3700 MHz band for wireless broadband
applications. (See Telecom Update #541)
http://strategis.ic.gc.ca/epic/internet/insmt-gst.nsf/en/sf08709e.html
AVAYA LAUNCHES UNIFIED COMMUNICATIONS PORTFOLIO: Avaya has launched a
new Unified Communications product family that delivers "the right
applications to the right devices for various segments of workers with
different communications needs."
ALIANT OFFERS TAXI DIALING: Users of Aliant cellphones can now reach a
taxi dispatcher by dialing #TAXI (#8294). A similar service was
launched in Canada by Rogers Wireless in 2001. (See Telecom Update
#312)
MOTOROLA TO BUY GOOD TECHNOLOGY: Motorola has agreed to buy Good
Technology, which makes wireless email software that competes with
RIM's BlackBerry system. Good's software is used by 12,000 companies
worldwide and claims about 10% of the U.S. wireless email market.
** Motorola is also buying Netopia, which makes broadband home network
equipment, for about US$208 million.
MARCH SELLS HEALTH CARE DIVISION: Ottawa-based March Networks has sold
the assets of its eHealth unit for US$1 million. March closed the unit
down in April, as part of a move to focus on digital video technology.
SR TELECOM POSTPONES REPORT, SEEKS NEW INVESTMENT: SR Telecom is
delaying release of its third quarter results while it seeks "additional
financing from existing lenders and stakeholders." (See Telecom Update
#523)
VECIMA POSTS SALES, PROFIT GAINS: Victoria-based Vecima Networks
(formerly VCom), which makes broadband access gear, reports third
quarter revenue of $20.1 million, 14% more than a year ago. Net income
of $8.3 million was mostly due to a one-time gain related to Vecima's
purchase of WaveRider in July.
CISCO OFFERS MUNICIPAL WI-FI TECHNOLOGY: Cisco Systems has announced
ServiceMesh, a network infrastructure for municipal Wi-Fi providers.
CONSULTANTS CALL FOR SPEAKERS: The Canadian Telecommunications
Consultants Association will hold its Spring 2007 Conference at the
Chateau Champlain, Montreal, on February 23-24, 2007. Proposals for
presentations at the conference are due by November 24. For
information, write ctca.speakers@ctca.ca or visit http://www.ctca.ca.
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John Riddell (jriddell@angustel.ca)