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TELECOM UPDATE
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published weekly by Angus TeleManagement Group
http://www.angustel.ca
Number 443: August 9, 2004
Publication of Telecom Update is made possible by generous
financial support from:
** ALLSTREAM: www.allstream.com
** BELL CANADA: www.bell.ca
** CISCO SYSTEMS CANADA: www.cisco.com/ca
** CYGCOM INTEGRATED TECHNOLOGIES: www.cygcom.com
** GROUP TELECOM: www.360.net
** JUNIPER NETWORKS: www.juniper.net
** PRIMUS CANADA: www.primustel.ca
** SPRINT CANADA: www.sprint.ca
** TELUS: www.telus.com
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IN THIS ISSUE:
** Profits Soar at BCE, Telus
** Hard Times for AT&T, MCI
** Shaw Files CLEC Tariff
** Ontario Suspends New Broadband Funding
** Alliance Seeks Fixed/Mobile Convergence
** Bell-MTS Transfer Complete
** Telus Permits Free Migration from Centrex
** Sympatico Adds Anti-Spyware Service
** O.N.Telcom Changes Name
** Avaya to Buy Conferencing Supplier
** Bell & Call-Net File GT Customer Agreement
** Call-Net Wants Lower Rates on Link to Newfoundland
** CRTC Nixes SaskTel Bid to Deregulate Voice Messaging
** Telecom Suppliers Sponsor Major Conference
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PROFITS SOAR AT BCE, TELUS: Canada's two largest telecom companies
reported sharply higher profits in the second quarter. BCE's net rose
20% to $554 million, while Telus's more than doubled, to $172 million.
** In both cases, the growth was driven by wireless sales:
Bell's wireless revenue was up 15% and Telus's rose 20%.
HARD TIMES FOR AT&T, MCI: Times are tough at two largest long distance
carriers in the United States, and both are rumoured to be seeking a
buyer. In recent weeks:
** AT&T has pulled out of the consumer business, had its
bonds rated as "junk" by Standard & Poor's, and is
reported to be considering a multi-billion dollar asset
writedown.
** MCI reported a 15% revenue drop in the second quarter, and
an accompanying US$71 million loss compared to an $8
million profit a year ago.
SHAW FILES CLEC TARIFF: Shaw has asked the CRTC to approve its
Competitive Local Exchange Carrier tariff by September 1, "in order
that it may start business at that time." Shaw plans trials of local
phone service this fall, and retail service in early 2005.
www.crtc.gc.ca/8740/eng/2004/S61.htm#200408009
ONTARIO SUSPENDS NEW BROADBAND FUNDING: The Ontario Government will
not fund any new projects under the Connect Ontario: Broadband
Regional Access (COBRA) program in the current fiscal year (see
Telecom Update #370). Three already- approved projects are going
ahead.
ALLIANCE SEEKS FIXED/MOBILE CONVERGENCE: Rogers Wireless has joined
five other large telecom carriers--Brazil Telecom, BT, Korea Telecom,
NTT Com, and Swisscom--in creating the Fixed- Mobile Convergence
Alliance, to enable seamless handoffs between fixed and mobile
wireless networks.
BELL-MTS TRANSFER COMPLETE: Bell Canada now owns 100% of Bell West
Inc. Under the deal, completed August 3, Bell paid MTS $645 million
for its 40% interest, and MTS paid Bell $75 million to get out of
contractual commitments. (See Telecom Update #440)
TELUS PERMITS FREE MIGRATION FROM CENTREX: CRTC Telecom Decisions
2004-263 and 2004-264 change existing Telus Centrex contracts. Early
termination charges will be waived for customers who replace Centrex
with network access services of equal or greater value than the
remaining value of the contract. The Commission approved a similar
change to Bell Canada's Centrex contracts in Telecom Decision 2004-100
in March.
www.crtc.gc.ca/archive/ENG/Orders/2004/o2004-263.htm
www.crtc.gc.ca/archive/ENG/Orders/2004/o2004-264.htm
www.crtc.gc.ca/archive/ENG/Orders/2004/o2004-100.htm
SYMPATICO ADDS ANTI-SPYWARE SERVICE: Bell Sympatico now offers its
customers anti-spyware software from Montreal- based Zero-Knowledge
Systems.
O.N.TELCOM CHANGES NAME: O.N.Telcom, the provincially owned telco in
northeast Ontario originally known as Ontario Northland Telephone, is
changing its name to Ontera.
AVAYA TO BUY CONFERENCING SUPPLIER: Avaya has agreed to buy Spectel, a
Dublin-based conferencing supplier with 210 employees and 500
customers, for about US$103 million.
BELL & CALL-NET FILE GT CUSTOMER AGREEMENT: Bell Canada has asked the
CRTC for September 15 approval of its agreement with Call-Net
regarding the Group Telecom customers in Eastern Canada who will be
transferred to Call-Net when Bell buys 360/GT's Canadian assets (see
Telecom Update #435).
www.crtc.gc.ca/8340/eng/2004/bell/040730.zip
CALL-NET WANTS LOWER RATES ON LINK TO NEWFOUNDLAND: Call-Net has asked
the CRTC to rule that Aliant must provide digital service between
Halifax and St. John's to competitors at "essential service" rates
(cost plus 15%), or failing that, must reduce the markup currently
charged.
www.crtc.gc.ca/PartVII/eng/2004/8661/8661_04.htm#200407462
CRTC NIXES SASKTEL BID TO DEREGULATE VOICE MESSAGING: The CRTC has
turned down SaskTel's request that the Commission forbear from
regulating its voice messaging services.
www.crtc.gc.ca/archive/ENG/Decisions/2004/dt2004-54.htm
TELECOM SUPPLIERS SPONSOR MAJOR CONFERENCE: The organizers of the
coming TeleManagement Live! conference have announced that Allstream,
Avaya, Bell Canada, Cisco Systems, Lucent Technologies, OneConnect,
Siemens, Telus, and the United Telecom Council have joined the event
as key sponsors.
** The Conference and Exposition will be held in Toronto,
October 20-21. There's an "Early Bird" $100 discount for
early registration, and an ADDITIONAL $100 DISCOUNT for
Telemanagement subscribers. See www.telemanagementlive.com.
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