NL Short Takes

Telus rolls out ADSL across British Columbia and AlbertaTelus is investing $500 million over five years to expand its ADSL service. It plans to offer the service to 38 communities in Alberta and British Columbia. SaskTel gets direct connect rate approval from CRTCProvincial telco SaskTel has been granted a five-cent per-minute, per-end direct connect rate by the CRTC. The commission, in Order 2000-1080, gave the Crown corporation a higher rate than other incumbents due to higher costs of providing service. 360networks offering broadband on national networkFibre giant 360networks Inc has lit an 11,500-km network linking 13 major cities across Canada. The grid provides 20 gigabit per second capacity with the potential to be quadrupled in two years. The Vancouver-based firm also plans to set up metro rings in 35 cities around the world next year. Among those being targeted are Calgary, Ottawa, Houston, San Diego, Stuttgart and Buenos Aires. By 2002 it expects to install more than 100 intelligent optical switches in major cities worldwide.Bell Nexxia helps CIBC with Internet-based servicesBell Nexxia has been awarded a multi-year supply agreement from the CIBC to provide the bank with all its voice and data transport services in Canada. The BCE subsidiary says the Internet contract is its largest deal to date. High-speed Internet service arrives in Watson LakeNorthwestel has launched Sympatico ADSL service in Watson Lake, YT. The telco hopes to have five other communities online by the end of December as part of its Yukon Infrastructure Project. Vidéotron Communications announces layoffsVidéotron Communications Inc has laid off 44 management, professional and non-unionized employees and told another 34 that they will be let go next month. The firm, which was recently purchased by Quebecor, says more staff reductions could be forthcoming. Bell delivers IP telephony to Ottawa collegeBell Canada and Cisco Systems have joined together to launch an IP telephony network at Ottawa’s Algonquin College. The state-of-the-art network links the school’s residence, the police and public safety institute and the campus in Pembroke ON. Group calls for end to LD within Ottawa boundariesNow that Ottawa and its surrounding suburbs have been merged into one large city, Bell Canada should no longer charge LD rates from the easternmost section of the community to the west end. The Transition Business Alliance also wants Bell to bring high-speed Internet access to what was formerly known as Orleans and Kanata. QuébecTel signs deals with eRing Solutions and BIOQuébecQuébecTel, a division of Telus, has entered into a three-year agreement with eRing Solutions Inc of Montreal. The telco is using eRing’s Internet call management solution itRings! The company has also signed a deal with the BIOQuébec association that will see member firms of the group receive telephony and Internet services from QuébecTel at discounted rates. Canarie seeks nominations for IWAY awardsInternet development consortium Canarie Inc is looking for nominations for its IWAY Awards. The prizes are given in five categories to inventors and visionaries in broadband technology. Nominations close January 19. Island Tel adds communities to high-speed networkIsland Tel is extending its high-speed network to the PEI communities of Bunbury, Wilmot and Keppoch. Island Tel is part of the Aliant group, itself a subsidiary of BCE. Fake phone invoices lead to chargesThe Competition Bureau has filed eight charges against three individuals and two companies for misleading advertising invoices. More than 1500 complaints were received about invoices from the "Yellow Business Pages" and "Yellow Business Directory". Charges have been laid against Alan Benlolo and Elliot Benlolo, both of Thornhill ON, Victor Serfaty of Richmond Hill ON, Yellow.com Business Pages Corp and 1421628 Ontario Ltd, both of Toronto. Alberta takes high-tech workers from British ColumbiaThe global technology industry group of PricewaterhouseCoopers states that uncompetitive tax rates and the troubled political climate in BC have hurt the province’s high-tech industry. Alberta is "stealing our workforce" through its lower tax rates, Michael Calyniuk of PWC told a Vancouver audience. Telus loses appeal of defence contract awarded to BellThe Canadian International Trade Tribunal has turned down an appeal by Telus Corp for a Department of National Defence contract. The contract had been awarded to Bell Nexxia, even though the Telus bid was lower. The western telco has recently had several losing bids overturned. Shaw adds more communities to high-speed networkShaw Communications Inc has connected Spruce Grove and Stoney Plain to its high-speed broadband fibre network. The two Alberta cities will join Shaw’s 2.3-million member national backbone. The company is spending $100 million to deliver digital service to its customers across the nation. Total Telcom delivers fibre to Clearnet CommunicationsAlberta fibre builder Total Telcom Fiber Inc has turned over four lit strands to wireless carrier Clearnet. Clearnet is now part of the Telus empire. The fibre company’s parent firm, Total Telcom Inc, has also lit its network from Edmonton to Pouce Coupe, BC. The Clearnet fibre will run on this grid. 360networks deploys Nortel Networks’ systemVancouver fibre builder 360networks Inc has lit a 640-km segment of its network linking Montreal, Albany and New York City. It is using the OPTera Long Haul 1600 Optical Line System from Nortel Networks. The Internet is free, the information is notFed up with delays at the local library’s Internet site, Tajh Leitso has invented a coin-operated printer for the library that charges 10 cents per page. Previously the Vancouver man had devised a software program that limits computer time in public places and warns users when their time is about to expire. Bell wins Internet awardAt the E-commerce Gala in Montreal, the National Bank-Bell-Desjardins consortium and the Commission de la santé et de la sécurité du travail shared the award in the business-to-business category. The groups were also nominated in the Grand Prix and Security categories. Industry Canada releases statistics on ICT industryTelecom services contributed $28.5 billion of the $116.4 billion in revenue generated by Canada’s information and communications technologies industries in 1998, according to new statistics released by Industry Canada’s ICT branch. Telecom services came in second after ICT wholesaling, which contributed $38.6 billion that year. In comparison, cable television contributed $3.1 billion, software and computer services $15.3 billion, telecom and other communications equipment $11.8 billion and electronic parts and components $6.9 billion. The data also show that ICT services (cable/telecom services, ICT wholesaling, software/computer serivces, office machinery rental/leasing) accounted for 73% of all ICT revenues in 1998. Of the $4.7 billion projected to be spent on research and development in 2000, telecom and cable services are expected to contributed the lowest amount, at 2.3%. The largest R&D contributor will be telecom equipment makers, forecast to reach 48.9%.

NL Short Takes

News | December 4, 2000

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