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TELECOM UPDATE
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published weekly by Angus TeleManagement Group
http://www.angustel.ca
Number 557: December 1, 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:
** Wireless Profits Surpass Wireline
** CRTC Chair -- Belisle vs Addy?
** Telus Drops Income Trust Plan
** GPS Tracking May Violate Privacy Rights
** Aliant Lets Parents Monitor Cell Use
** Deferral Account Proposals to Be Reviewed
** Alcatel, Lucent Complete Merger
** Skype Takes 4% of World Calling
** Telecom Magazine Folds
** Layoffs Follow Sitel Expansion Plan
** Vonage Expands Montreal-Area Coverage
** Montreal Messaging Developer Wins Financing
** Milne Leaves White Radio
** Celestica Names New CEO
WIRELESS PROFITS SURPASS WIRELINE: Statistics Canada reports that in
the qarter ending June 30, 2006, Canadian wireless carriers had
profits of $996 million, a 36% increase from 2005. This is the first
time that wireless profits have exceeded the incumbent telcos'
wireline profits, which were $822 million, down from $1.2 billion a
year earlier.
** Wireless subscribers at the end of June were 17.2 million,
up 10.9% from a year earlier. Wireless revenues were $3.1
billion, about 35% of the industry's total revenues of
$8.9 billion.
** The incumbent wireline telcos lost 706,000 residential
lines in the preceding 12 months, and a total of 1.2
million residential lines in the past five years. Their
business line counts grew by 36,000 in the past year,
partially reversing a three-year decline (2002-2005).
** Cablecos had 750,000 telephone subscribers at the end of
June 2006, six times more than a year earlier.
http://www.statcan.ca/Daily/English/061127/d061127c.htm
CRTC CHAIR -- BELISLE VS ADDY? The Globe and Mail says that there are
two leading contenders to replace Charles Dalfen as CRTC
Chair. Fernand Belisle (former Vice-Chair Broadcasting at the
Commission) is said to be favoured by Heritage Minister Bev Oda and
leading broadcasters, while George Addy (former head of the
Competition Bureau) is preferred by Industry Minister Maxime Bernier
and the large telcos.
TELUS DROPS INCOME TRUST PLAN: As expected, Telus has decided not to
convert to an income trust. The company says its Board of Directors
unanimously decided that Ottawa's plan to increase tax on trusts means
that "it is no longer in the best interests of the Company and its
shareholders to proceed." (See Telecom Update #553, 554)
** We expect a similar announcement from Bell, at or before
the company's annual Business Review Conference on December 12.
GPS TRACKING MAY VIOLATE PRIVACY RIGHTS: The Office of the Privacy
Commissioner (OPC) says that GPS tracking may violate employees'
privacy rights. Responding to a complaint by drivers working for an
unnamed telecom company, the Commission said that employers may use
tracking devices to monitor vehicles, but they should not be used to
evaluate employee performance.
** A summary of the OPC's investigation and
conclusions is available online at
http://www.privcom.gc.ca/cf-dc/2006/351_20061109_e.asp.
ALIANT LETS PARENTS MONITOR CELL USE: For $4.95/month, subscribers to
Aliant Mobility Family Plans can now monitor and control their
children's cellphone use. Cellular Manager lets parents control when a
child's cellphone can be used, and limit which phone numbers can call
the phone or be called from it.
DEFERRAL ACCOUNT PROPOSALS TO BE REVIEWED: Further in the apparently
never-ending process to determine how the incumbent telcos' deferral
accounts will be spent, CRTC Telecom Public Notice 2006-15 opens a
review of the telcos' proposals. (See Telecom Update #545) To
participate, notify the Commission by December 15.
** Alternative broadband providers that are, or will soon be,
serving any of the communities proposed for broadband
funding from the deferral accounts must notify the CRTC by
January 19, 2007.
** The Commission is still considering Barrett Xplore's
application to review and vary the original deferral
account order (see Telecom Update #533), as well as other
proceedings that could affect the amounts in the deferral
accounts.
** The deferral account issue won't be decided anytime soon.
The Commission will still be receiving comments in June
2007, and the Federal Court will hear appeals of the
original decision next year as well. (See Telecom Update
#548)
http://www.crtc.gc.ca/archive/ENG/Notices/2006/pt2006-15.htm
ALCATEL, LUCENT COMPLETE MERGER: Alcatel and Lucent begin operations
today as a merged company. Alcatel-Lucent has 89,000 employees and
annual revenues of about $28 billion. Lucent CEO Pat Russo assumes that
post for the merged company; Alcatel CEO Serge Tchuruk becomes Chairman.
(See Telecom Update #524)
SKYPE TAKES 4% OF WORLD CALLING: TeleGeography says that Skype
computer-to-computer calls is equivalent to 4.4% of international
carrier traffic this year, compared to 2.9% in 2005. The number of Skype
users online "now regularly exceeds eight million."
TELECOM MAGAZINE FOLDS: Communications & Networking magazine will cease
publishing this month. Publisher Transcontinental Media says its
ITBusiness Group will continue to offer information on networking and
telecom in Computing Canada magazine.
LAYOFFS FOLLOW SITEL EXPANSION PLAN: On October 24, Sitel said it plans
to hire 500 people for its Kanata call centre. This week the company
announced that in April it will close its 550-person call centre in
nearby Bell's Corners.
VONAGE EXPANDS MONTREAL-AREA COVERAGE: Vonage Canada now offers local
numbers in 19 additional communities in the Greater Montreal area,
including Lachine, Laval, and Longueuil.
MONTREAL MESSAGING DEVELOPER WINS FINANCING: Montreal-based Oz
Communications, a maker of software for email and Instant Messaging on
cellphones, has raised US$34 million in financing. Oz has 230 employees,
up from 60 two years ago.
MILNE LEAVES WHITE RADIO: John Milne, President and General Manager of
telecom distributor White Radio, has resigned "to pursue other
interests." White is a subsidiary of Cygnal Technologies.
CELESTICA NAMES NEW CEO: Celestica, the Toronto-based electronics
manufacturer, has given president Craig Muhlhauser the additional
position of CEO. Former CEO Stephen Delaney has resigned "to pursue
other business interests."
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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)