by ************************************************************
* *
* TELECOM UPDATE *
* Angus TeleManagement's Weekly Telecom Newsbulletin *
* http://www.angustel.ca *
* Number 185: May 31, 1999 *
* *
* Publication of Telecom Update is made possible by *
* generous financial support from: *
* *
* AT&T Canada ............... http://www.attcanada.com/ *
* Bell Canada ............... http://www.bell.ca/ *
* Lucent Technologies ....... http://www.lucent.ca/ *
* MetroNet Communications ... http://www.metronet.ca/ *
* Sprint Canada ............. http://www.sprintcanada.ca/ *
* Telus Communications....... http://www.telus.com/ *
* TigerTel Services ......... http://www.citydial.com/ *
* *
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IN THIS ISSUE:
** Ottawa Sets Broadband Spectrum Auction
** Nortel to Offer Meridian PBX on a LAN
** FCC to Examine Area Code Crisis
** Ledcor Says It Is So a Carrier
** MacDonald Leaves Bell
** Stephenson to Head Lucent Canada
** CAIP Hires President from Cable Industry
** Telus TV Trial Extended
** Iridium Wins Another Debt Extension
** Telecom Networks Pass Y2K Tests
** CRTC Deregulates Fixed Satellite Services
** Price Caps for QuebecTel and Telebec
** Steinmetz Buys Tucows
** MetroNet Shareholders Okay AT&T Merger
** Failed ISP Sues MetroNet
** AirIQ Offers Combined Cellular/GPS Antenna
** Olivetti Wins Telecom Italia Bidding War
** Petro-Canada to Sell Cantel Prepaid Airtime
** Telus Moves East
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OTTAWA SETS BROADBAND SPECTRUM AUCTION: An auction of broadband
wireless spectrum in the 24 and 38 GHz frequency bands will be held in
Canada this fall, beginning in early October. To participate,
companies must submit completed applications with financial deposits
to Industry Canada by August 6. Details on the auction procedure are
posted at http://strategis.ic.gc.ca/SSG/sf01797e.html.
** Potential bidders include the telephone and cable
companies, which until now were not permitted to hold
wireless broadband licenses.
NORTEL TO OFFER MERIDIAN PBX ON A LAN: Over the next year, Nortel
Networks will port its Meridian 1, Norstar, Matra and MSL100 PBX
systems to open IP-LAN servers. Details will be revealed on June 8,
when the company introduces 15 new IP telephony products.
FCC TO EXAMINE AREA CODE CRISIS: As Telecom Update #180 reported,
North America may run out of three-digit area codes by 2007. On May
27, the U.S. Federal Communications Commission issued a "Notice of
Proposed Rulemaking" to consider measures which may delay the need for
a major numbering system change.
** Ian Angus analyzes causes of the Area Code crisis (and
possible cures) in the June issue of Telemanagement, now
available.
LEDCOR SAYS IT IS SO A CARRIER: Ledcor Industries denies the City of
Vancouver's claim that the company is not a "Canadian carrier" as
defined by the Telecom Act and thus has no right to apply to the CRTC
for access to Vancouver rights-of-way (see Telecom Update
#184). Ledcor says it meets the definition, since it owns transmission
facilities over which Sprint Canada provides public telecom services.
MACDONALD LEAVES BELL: John MacDonald, President and Chief Operating
Officer of Bell Canada, is leaving the company June 1 "to pursue other
opportunities in emerging communications technology and spend more
time with my family." His duties have been assumed by Bell CEO Jean
Monty.
STEPHENSON TO HEAD LUCENT CANADA: On July 15, former Stentor president
Carol Stephenson will join Lucent Technologies Canada as President and
CEO. Most recently, Stephenson has been President and CEO of the
Business Services Division of Bell Satellite Services.
** Lucent Canada's current President and CEO, Jim Schram, has
been transferred to the United States.
CAIP HIRES PRESIDENT FROM CABLE INDUSTRY: Jay Thomson, for 10 years
Legal and Regulatory Affairs Vice-President of the Canadian Cable
Television Association, has been hired as President of the Canadian
Association of Internet Providers. Thomson will replace Ron Kawchuk,
who will stay with CAIP in another capacity.
TELUS TV TRIAL EXTENDED: The CRTC has okayed Telus's application for a
one-year extension of its multimedia trials in Calgary and
Edmonton. The telco must limit the trial to 2,000 customers in Calgary
and 1,400 in Edmonton.
IRIDIUM WINS ANOTHER DEBT EXTENSION: Iridium's creditors have given
the satellite telephone provider until June 30 to prove it can meet
customer and revenue targets. Iridium is trying to negotiate a
restructuring of its debt.
TELECOM NETWORKS PASS Y2K TESTS: The Canadian Year 2000 Telecom
Industry Forum says its program of 1,000 tests "revealed no errors or
problems associated with processing calls across multiple networks."
Tests of billing systems are still pending.
CRTC DEREGULATES FIXED SATELLITE SERVICES: CRTC Telecom Decision 99-6
deregulates Telesat Canada's Fixed Satellite Services as of March 1,
2000, when Telesat's monopoly ends. The Decision defines a
transitional regulatory regime, including price caps, for the
intervening period. (See Telecom Update #163)
http://www.crtc.gc.ca/internet/1999/8045/02/d99-06.htm
PRICE CAPS FOR QUEBECTEL AND TELEBEC: CRTC Public Notice 99-15 invites
comments on the appropriate timing for implementing a price cap regime
for Quebec-Telephone and Telebec, as well as on rate rebalancing and
the target contribution rate to be used in setting their going-in
rates. To participate, notify the Commission by June 9.
http://www.crtc.gc.ca:80/internet/1999/8045/03/pn99-15.htm
STEINMETZ BUYS TUCOWS: A consortium headed by Israeli-based Steinmetz
Technology Holding International has bought 85% of Toronto-based
Tucows Interactive Limited, which operates Tucows.com.
METRONET SHAREHOLDERS OKAY AT&T MERGER: Shareholders of MetroNet
Communications have voted to approve MetroNet's merger with AT&T
Canada. MetroNet says the merger will result in savings of $1.8
Billion over five years.
FAILED ISP SUES METRONET: Puterdudes Internet Services is suing
MetroNet for losses resulting from missed deadlines and for "negligent
and unworkmanlike" equipment installation. Founded last fall, the
London-based ISP no longer provides service. MetroNet says the suit is
without merit.
AIRIQ OFFERS COMBINED CELLULAR/GPS ANTENNA: AirIQ says it will offer a
credit card-sized combined cellular/GPS antenna which allows quick,
hidden installation of the company's vehicle tracking technology, and
reduces interference which often results when two antennas are close
together.
OLIVETTI WINS TELECOM ITALIA BIDDING WAR: Italy's Olivetti has paid
US$33 Billion for a majority stake Europe's fourth- largest telecom
company, Telecom Italia, blocking Telecom Italia's planned merger with
Deutsche Telecom.
PETRO-CANADA TO SELL CANTEL PREPAID AIRTIME: Cantel AT&T Pay As You Go
cards can now be purchased at Petro-Canada service stations across
Canada.
TELUS MOVES EAST: The June issue of Telemanagement, now available,
features a report on Telus's plans to build a Canada-wide fiber
network and enter the Ontario market by fall. Also: Cisco Plans a
Revolution in Telecom; Running Out of Numbers; What Municipalities
Want for Their Rights-of-Way.
http://www.angustel.ca/teleman/tm99c-06.html
** Until June 30, new subscribers to Telemanagement will
receive "Tips, Tricks and Traps: Managing Business Telecom
Today," an anthology of 22 recent Telemanagement articles
that focuses on solving practical problems of telecom
management.
** To subscribe call 1-800-263-4415, ext 225 or visit
http://www.angustel.ca/teleman/tm.html.
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COPYRIGHT AND DISCLAIMER: All contents copyright 1999 Angus
TeleManagement Group Inc. All rights reserved. For further
information, including permission to reprint or reproduce,
please e-mail ros...@angustel.ca or phone 905-686-5050 ext
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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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