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IN THIS ISSUE:
** Canadian VoIP Carriers Comply With 9-1-1 Rules ** Telus Intros Hosted IP Call Centre ** CRTC Refuses to Change Allstream City Contracts ** Agenda Set for Local Forbearance Hearing ** Auto Union Protests GM-Telus Deal ** Telus Launches Mobile TV ** Rogers Wins CA*net Expansion Contract ** Internet Growth Slows ** Telus Makes Mike Multimedia ** Regulation of Small Incumbents Under Review ** Google Offers Instant Messaging, Voice ** Aliant Boosts Internet Download Speed ** Cogeco Expands Phone Service ** CRTC Orders Telus to Tariff Fibre Deal ** Telus Provides WLAN for Winnipeg Airport ** Call Centre Managers to Meet in September============================================================
CANADIAN VOIP CARRIERS COMPLY WITH 9-1-1 RULES: All VoIP providers in Canada have told the CRTC that they are in compliance with the VoIP
9-1-1 requirements set out in Telecom Decision 2005-21. (See Telecom Update #476) This includes routing 9-1-1 calls to the correct emergency centre, and obtaining new customers' express consent to limitations on 9-1-1 service. Unlike the U.S. rules, Canada's don't require carriers to obtain express consent from existing customers.** An industry consensus report on standard notification of 9-1-1 limitations awaits approval by the Commission.
TELUS INTROS HOSTED IP CALL CENTRE: Telus says it already has $12 million in contracts for CallCentreAnywhere, a newly announced hosted IP-based call centre product that the telco says can be up and running for a customer within 12 days.
CRTC REFUSES TO CHANGE ALLSTREAM CITY CONTRACTS: The CRTC has denied MTS Allstream's 2001 request to amend the municipal access agreements signed with Toronto and Calgary by its predecessor, MetroNet. The CRTC says the terms Allstream objects to as "onerous and unconscionable" were actually proposed by MetroNet and confirmed by Allstream when it and MetroNet merged.
AGENDA SET FOR LOCAL FORBEARANCE HEARING: The CRTC has outlined the process to be followed at the September 26-29 hearing on deregulating local phone service, including the order in which parties will speak. The process is similar to that followed at the VoIP hearing last year.
AUTO UNION PROTESTS GM-TELUS DEAL: The Canadian Auto Workers union says that General Motors' IP telephony contract with Telus is "completely unacceptable" so long as a strike continues at Telus. In an August 19 letter to GM, CAW president Buzz Hargrove says that the deal violates a GM-CAW "Supplier Relation letter" and that CAW "fully expects that GM will cancel this contract" unless the strike is settled immediately. (See Telecom Update #493)
TELUS LAUNCHES MOBILE TV: Telus Mobility has launched Mobile TV, providing seven television channels for $15/month, on Telus's 1X data network. It's initially available only on the Motorola V710 flip phone, which sells for $349.99, or for $199.99 on a three-year contract.
** Rogers and Bell launched similar services last week. (See Telecom Update #493)ROGERS WINS CA*net EXPANSION CONTRACT: Rogers Telecom (formerly Sprint Canada) has won a multi-million contract with CANARIE to expand CA*net
4 connections beyond universities and colleges, to federal and provincial research labs, schools, hospitals and private sector research facilities.INTERNET GROWTH SLOWS: A new TeleGeography survey says that that global cross-border Internet traffic grew by "just" 49% in 2005, down from 103% in 2004. The combined average traffic on all cross-border backbone routes is now just under 1 Terabit per second.
TELUS MAKES MIKE MULTIMEDIA: Telus Mobility's push-to-talk Mike service now offers the multimedia-enabled Motorola 1860 phone, which allows users to send photos, contacts, and virtual business cards to other Mike users.
REGULATION OF SMALL INCUMBENTS UNDER REVIEW: In Public Notice 2005-10, the CRTC invites comments on the regulatory framework for small incumbent phone companies from 2006 forward. A joint report by all 39 small ILECs has proposed extending the existing price cap rules, with modifications, for another four years. (See Telecom Update #492).
GOOGLE OFFERS INSTANT MESSAGING, VOICE: The new Google Talk service allows users of Google's email service to exchange instant messages or computer-to-computer voice calls.
ALIANT BOOSTS INTERNET DOWNLOAD SPEED: Aliant has increased the download speed of its High-Speed Ultra Internet service from 3 Mbps to
5 Mbps. The upload speed remains 640 Kbps.COGECO EXPANDS PHONE SERVICE: Cogeco's cable telephone service is now available to its Internet customers in a Drummondville. The service made its Quebec debut in Trois-Rivieres in July. (See Telecom Update #488)
CRTC ORDERS TELUS TO TARIFF FIBRE DEAL: The CRTC says that Telus cannot provide and maintain fibre to four remote B.C. communities under an inter-carrier agreement with EnTel, a company that provides high-speed Internet to remote, rural and First Nations communities. Instead, Telus must file a special facilities tariff for the services.
TELUS PROVIDES WLAN FOR WINNIPEG AIRPORT: Winnipeg Airports Authority has launched a wireless LAN service at Winnipeg International Airport; travelers can access the service, built and managed by Telus Mobility, for $8 a day.
CALL CENTRE MANAGERS TO MEET IN SEPTEMBER: The 2005 ICCM Conference & Exposition -- the world's largest event focusing on contact centre management -- will be held September 25-28 at the Bellagio Hotel in Las Vegas. ICCM's educational program is developed by Canada's Angus Dortmans Associates, and the conference will be chaired by Henry Dortmans. For more information or to register, go to
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