NL Short Takes

Aliant considers putting xwave on the block, replaces presidentIn releasing its FY 2002 results, Aliant Inc. said it was going to focus on the telecom sector and was reviewing whether it will continue to support its xwave subsidiary. The BCE Inc. property also announced senior VP David Rathburn is now in charge of xwave, replacing president/COO Rod Wark, who has left the company. Broadband funding announced in rural and remote districtsThe federal government has awarded $2.4 million to 89 applicants who will roll out high-speed Internet in rural and remote areas. The 1,149 communities served are in every province and territory with the exception of the Yukon. Nortel Networks reports improved financial picture Troubled equipment maker Nortel Networks Corp. reported a net loss in Q4 2002 of US$248 million, down from the US$1.83 billion registered in 2001. The company predicts a modest downturn in the equipment market but still expects to post pro forma profitability by Q2 2003. CRTC approves construction costs plan for ILECsIn Telecom Decision 2003-2, the CRTC approved a large construction charge installment payment plan for Bell Canada, Telus Communications Inc. and Aliant Telecom Inc. The new rules arise out of provisions of Telecom Decision 2002-34, the price cap decision (NL, June 3/02). Telecom union accuses electrical workers of raidingThe Telecommunications Workers Union has filed charges with the Canadian Labour Congress, accusing the International Brotherhood of Electrical Workers of raiding Telus employees. The TWU began to represent the workers when the component companies were merged (NL, Sept. 23/02). Supreme Court hears Bell Canada appeal of pay equityThe Supreme Court of Canada has heard arguments from Bell Canada in its appeal of the pay equity ruling. The telco maintains the Canadian Human Rights Commission is biased in its handling of the case. Call-Net wants ILECs to provide Internet to CLEC customersCall-Net Enterprises Inc. has filed a Part VII application with the CRTC asking ILECs to provide DSL service for consumers who sign up with competitors’ local service. The CLEC says that Bell Canada, Aliant, SaskTel and Telus have been denying high-speed Internet service to customers unless they also subscribe to the incumbent’s local service. Manitoba Telecom warns of billing error in three-way callsManitoba Telecom Services Inc. says it has been accidentally charging customers for three-way calls. The provincial telco warns subscribers to replace the handset in the cradle when hanging up, instead of quickly pressing the on/off hook. Northern Telecom harmonizes brand names and logosNorthernTel has instituted a name and logo harmonization scheme. The NorthernTel brand name replaces Northern Telephone, NorthernTel Mobility replaces Nortel Mobility and NorthernTel Infosystems takes the place of Logicon. Nortel, CIENA settle patent infringement suitNortel Networks Corp. has settled a patent infringement and misappropriation of trade secrets suit launched against ONI Systems Corp. Because ONI is now a division of CIENA Corp., the Maryland company will be granted a licence by Nortel to produce optical networking products. Aliant calls for suspension of LCA rules and proceduresAliant Telecom has filed a Part VII application with the CRTC asking for suspension of the mechanisms and processes for expanding the local calling area. The telco says information it asked CLECs to provide under Telecom Decision 2002-56 has since been deemed privileged by the commission. Kids’ email addresses to cost Manitobans $3.25 millionThe Manitoba government has unveiled its CyberSchools Manitoba project, which will see all students in elementary and secondary institutions getting individual email addresses. The program will cost $3.25 million over the next five years. Cost of DA in Prince Rupert increases to 95 centsThe cost of directory assistance from Prince Rupert City Telephones is jumping to 95 cents per request. The CRTC approved the hike in Telecom Order 2003-40, but provided the same exemption criteria that Bell Canada had set out in Telecom Order 99-741. Discouraging words heard on prairie as information stolenThe government of Saskatchewan is warning residents that their personal information may be at risk. ISM Canada, a contractor for the provincial government, recently had a hard drive storing confidential data, including doctor billing records and worker compensation claims, stolen. Vidéotron high-speed Internet service surpasses 300,000 Vidéotron ltée has signed up 100,000 subscribers to its high-speed Internet service over the past 16 months, the cableco announced. It says the new customers put its total subscription level to over 300,000 people. Vacant Nortel offices may be rented by Ottawa governmentThe City of Ottawa is considering buying or leasing vacant office space that had been used by Nortel Networks Corp. The local government says the building has more than enough space and plenty of parking for employees. VenGrowth funds three telecom startups in OttawaThree telecom startups based in Ottawa have received funding from VenGrowth Capital Partners. Belair Networks Inc. was given $6.8 million in seed financing, Nakina Systems Inc. received $6.2 million and Rev D Networks was provided with $9.3 million. Ottawa’s AcceLight Networks suspends operationsOttawa optical switch manufacturer AcceLight Networks has wound down operations. The company, which laid off several workers late last year (NL, Dec. 2/02), had hoped new CEO James Fultz could revive it (NL, Sept. 10/02). Internet banking more popular than phone bankingA survey by NFO CFGroup finds that online banking has overtaken telephone banking in popularity among Canadians. The most recent study finds that 25% of respondents had banked online in the previous month, up from 19% in 2001, while only 22% used the phone, down from 26% in 2001. March Networks wins Health Canada approval for productOttawa’s March Networks has had its Health Monitoring Kit win approval from Health Canada. The product provides remote visiting and monitoring using secure broadband connections. Email more popular than face-to-face meetingsA new report from temp agency Accountemps finds corporate managers say email is replacing face-to-face meetings with staff. The survey found 67% of respondents said they used email as a substitute for personal contact "very often", with another 27% saying they did "somewhat often". Toronto, prairies get new telephone directoriesTelus is delivering the 2003 edition of its Superpages directory in the Toronto region. Meanwhile, SaskTel subsidiary DirectWest is joining forces with Western Producer Publications to distribute Warrens Agricultural Directory across the three prairie provinces. CANARIE strikes up the broadband in two citiesTo celebrate its 10th anniversary, CANARIE Inc. staged a two-city jazz concert. Musicians in Calgary and others in Ottawa had their sounds transported across CANARIE’s CA*Net 4 network. Obscene caller gets police attention very quicklyJohn Mullen Jr. of Westlake OH misdialed a phone number and began making sexually explicit remarks. His call was received by local police captain Guy Turner, who called the force on another line and arranged for Mullen’s arrest.

NL Short Takes

News | January 28, 2003

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