Chinese fibre optics company sets up shop in Vancouver

A subsidiary of a Chinese fibre-optics company said Friday it has established Vancouver as its North American headquarters.

F-Pacific, a division of China Fiber Optic Network System Group Ltd., had already been manufacturing equipment meant for export to China in nearby Richmond, B.C., since last June. It has plans to open another manufacturing facility in Surrey, B.C., while the North American headquarters are in downtown Vancouver.

SaskTel brings fibre to Swift Current

Saskatchewan Telecommunications Holding Corp. said Tuesday that it has officially launched its fibre-to-the-home Internet service in Swift Current, Sask.

SaskTel said in a press release that some customers have already been hooked up to the new network, and that all of its existing high-speed Internet and IPTV customers would be given the option of signing up once their neighbourhoods are converted.

Small Toronto ISP to provide fibre link for Pan Am athletes

Athletes from across two continents competing in the 2015 Pan American Games in Toronto this summer will be able to connect with family and friends back home via high-speed fibre Internet connections provided by Beanfield Technologies Inc.

The company, the official communications services supplier for the games, has a fibre network in downtown Toronto that links commercial and residential buildings all along the waterfront to the Internet at speeds of 100 Mbps and more.

Rogers condo connection could be cut off without Bell access

The CRTC said Thursday that unless a developer provides BCE Inc. "timely access" to a Toronto condominium building about to accept new occupants, the other service providers that have been given access to the building, including Rogers Communications Inc., will not be permitted to provide services there.

New business gigabit-Internet service launched in Vancouver

Urban Communications Inc. said Thursday it has launched its gigabit Internet connections for business customers in Vancouver.

Telus to invest $4 billion in B.C. through 2018

Telus Corp. said Wednesday it will spend $4 billion on infrastructure and facilities in its home province of British Columbia over the next four years, including $1 billion this year.

The company said in a press release that the investment will include the expansion of its fibre-optic network, as well as the addition of LTE to every wireless site in the province.

SaskTel plans $313M in capital spending this year

Saskatchewan Telecommunications Holding Corp. said Thursday it plans to make about $313 million in capital expenditures in its home province this year, including $177 million on what it calls its "core Saskatchewan network."

Some of the priorities SaskTel highlighted in a press release included spending $45 million on its fibre-to-the-premises network, $37.8 million on upgrades to its wireless network and $79.9 million for "basis network growth and other enhancements."

Telus to make $4.2B investment in Alberta

Telus Corp. said Monday it will spend $4.2 billion on infrastructure and facilities in Alberta between now and the end of 2018, including $1 billion in the current year.

The company said in a press release that, when combined with operational spending, its total investment in Alberta over four years will amount to more than $11 billion.

Small ISPs take the lead on gigabit Internet in Canada

Small Internet service providers are taking the lead on providing gigabit Internet service in Canada, in contrast to the United States where Internet giant Google Inc. is pioneering efforts to bring this type of ultra-fast web connection to the masses.

ISP claims first residential gigabit service in Canada

Urban Communications Inc. said Thursday it has launched the first gigabit Internet service for Canadian residential users.

The company said in a news release the service will cost $49 a month for speeds of 1,000 Mbps over its fibre lines in Vancouver.

Urban said its fibre-optic network connects 24 residential buildings in Vancouver, representing 1,800 units, and it has signed access agreements with a further 28 buildings representing 3,000 units. CEO John Farlinger said in an email that its Internet service comes with unlimited data.

Telus announces $100M for fibre connections in B.C.

Telus Corp. is spending $100 million to provide access to a fibre optic network to 90 per cent of the homes and businesses in the British Columbia communities of Kelowna and West Kelowna, it said Tuesday.

It said in a press release that work began on the project in the fall and it expects the final premises to be connected by the spring of 2016. Telus said the connections will provide Internet speeds of up to 100 Mbps.

Bell launches restart feature for Fibe TV customers

BCE Inc. announced Monday that the latest upgrade to the software for its Fibe TV service adds the ability to rewind and restart programs already in progress.

The new Restart feature, which functions even if a user has not previously chosen to record a show, works on “thousands of shows,” the company said in a news release.

Bell claims this is the first time such a service has been available in Canada.

Bell Aliant expands N.B. fibre network

Bell Aliant Inc. said in a press release Thursday that it will extend its fibre-to-the-home (FTTH) network to another 4,177 premises in three communities in New Brunswick.

It added that it has invested $122 million since 2009 to bring its FibreOP network  “to 230,000 homes and businesses” in N.B., adding that the service is now available in “almost every part” of the province.

Bell Aliant makes concession on Ontera purchase

The Competition Bureau said Wednesday that Bell Aliant Inc. has responded to the bureau's concerns surrounding its purchase of an Ontario-government-owned telecommunications provider.

The bureau said in a press release Bell Aliant has agreed to lease a "significant portion" of Ontera's fibre network in northern Ontario to Eastlink.

Bell Aliant brings fibre-to-the-home to Quebec

Bell Aliant Inc. said Monday that fibre-to-the-home connections are now available in Quebec, with three communities on its FibreOP network immediately and four more to be connected before the end of the year.

Bell Aliant said in a press release that its FibreOP service, which it uses to deliver Internet download speeds of up to 250 Mbps, along with TV and home-phone services, is now available in Alma, Saguenay and Victoriaville.

Wireless broadband penetration falls short in Canada: OECD

Data released by the Organization for Economic Co-operation and Development on Tuesday shows Canada falls well short of the average of economically advanced countries in terms of wireless-broadband penetration.

Figures on the OECD's website showed an average penetration rate of 72.4 per cent for wireless broadband among 34 countries in this group at the end of last year, meaning there is about three subscriptions for every four people.

Videotron offers faster Internet speeds at similar prices

Quebecor Inc.'s Videotron said Wednesday it has revamped its high-speed Internet plans to offer, in some cases, double the speed at a similar price.

The company said in a press release it was doing this through its new Fibre Hybrid service, which its website says is available throughout Quebec.

It said customers that had been subscribing to Internet plans giving them download speeds of 15 or 30 megabits per second could double their speeds at "virtually the same price."

Bell Labs creates 10-Gbps connection on copper lines

Bell Labs, the research arm of French telecom hardware maker Alcatel-Lucent, announced on Wednesday that it has set a new broadband speed record of 10 gigabits per second over traditional copper telephone lines.

In a press release, the company said its technology, XG-Fast, could allow existing copper networks to attain speeds previously only possible on fibre-optic lines.

Telus to invest $1.1B in Ont. by 2016

Telus Corp. said Wednesday it will invest $1.1 billion in technology infrastructure in Ontario between now and 2016.

It said in a press release that the money will go toward expanding its wireless network, bringing fibre-optic connections to businesses and advancing its health-care network.

Telus said $500 million would be spent this year as part of an existing three-year plan that was to end in 2014. It said a new commitment was made to invest $600 million in Ontario in 2015 and 2016.

ISP to launch first 1 Gbps Internet service in Ontario

Lakeland Networks, an Internet service provider for businesses in Ontario’s cottage country north of Toronto, said it will become the first in Ontario to offer speeds as fast as one gigabit per second.

The service will be available to businesses and public agencies in the Muskoka and Almaguin regions in April, Lakeland Networks said in a press release issued Tuesday. Bill Gispen, manager of Lakeland Networks, said in an email Thursday that the company does not provide residential service.

Bell Aliant extends fibre network in Newfoundland

Bell Aliant Inc. said Wednesday it is expanding its fibre-optic network to three towns in Newfoundland, making its FibreOP service available to an additional 8,100 homes and businesses.

Harbour Grace, Deer Lake and Stephenville will now have access to Bell Aliant’s FibreOp network, which the company said in a press release represents an investment of $4.8 million. Bell Aliant said it has spent a total of $65 million since 2011 on bringing the number of premises in Newfoundland and Labrador for which fibre-to-the-home is available to 139,000.

Ciena loses less money in first quarter

Network builder Ciena Corp. reported a smaller loss for its first fiscal quarter than in the same period a year earlier.

The company said in a press release Thursday that it lost $15.9 million US in the quarter ended Jan. 31 compared to a deficit of $47.3 million US in the same quarter a year before.

Revenue was up 17.8 per cent from a year earlier to $533.7 million US. The company saw a profit from operations of $3.4 million US, compared to a loss of $5.6 million US a year earlier, figures showed.

CRTC launches satellite inquiry, NWTel appeals December decision

The simmering debate over Northern Canada’s telecommunications services heated up again this week as Northwestel Inc. asked the CRTC to re-examine parts of its most recent decision on the company’s services, and as the commission launched a planned inquiry into satellite “transport” services.

Allstream’s fibre-optic network reaches 3,000-plus buildings

Manitoba Telecom Services Inc.’s Allstream unit said Wednesday that its national fibre-optic IP network is now hooked up to more than 3,000 buildings.

Allstream, which provides communications services to businesses, said in a press release this marks a 50 per cent increase in the last three years. It added that in 2010 it embarked on a program focused on connecting multi-tenant buildings in proximity to other buildings already on the fibre network, which could be connected at a low cost.

SaskTel expanding infiNET to Prince Albert

SaskTel is expanding its infiNet fibre-to-the-premises (FTTP) network to Prince Albert, Sask., the company said in a release Thursday.

It said “customers can expect to have infiNET available to their homes starting in spring 2014, with fibre optics projected to be deployed to all residential areas of the city within a year.”

The company is spending $670 million to deploy FTTP and upgrade its broadband network in Saskatoon, Regina, Moose Jaw, Weyburn, Estevan, Swift Current, Yorkton, North Battleford and Prince Albert, SaskTel said.

Cogeco partners with non-profit network in Quebec

Cogeco Inc. subsidiary Cogeco Cable Canada said Friday it has reached an agreement with a non-profit operator of a fibre-optic network in Quebec’s Mauricie region to provide high-speed Internet, phone and digital-TV services to residences and business, as well as other organizations in that area.

Mauricie is a region between Montreal and Quebec City that spans 40,000 square kilometres, according the Quebec government’s tourism website. It includes the cities of Trois-Rivières and Shawinigan.

Telcos fight for share of growing condo market

As condo developers erect new high-rise buildings to house the expanding populations of Canada’s largest cities, telecom providers are competing to be the ones to line those buildings with fibre-optic cables, sometimes with exclusive deals. 

“Every provider nowadays is looking for how best to capture customers as early and as completely as possible,” Stephen Meyer, director of technology at Nordicity, said in an interview Monday. “By offering one infrastructure to those in condos, they’re hoping to form a long relationship.” 

CRTC will look at wholesale Internet access for new, fibre-to-the-home networks

TORONTO—The CRTC will hold a proceeding to look at whether incumbent Internet service providers should be required to give smaller competitors wholesale access to their fibre-to-the-home networks, CRTC Chair Jean-Pierre Blais said.

Telus rolling out FTTH in Rimouski

Telus Corp. said it will roll out a fibre-to-the-home network in Rimouski, Que. as part of a $265 million investment to expand its telecom services in the province in 2013.

In a release Wednesday, Telus said the fibre-to-the-home network will allow the company to deliver its next-generation, Optik-brand Internet and TV services in Rimouski.

Bell Aliant approved for TV in Sault Ste. Marie

The CRTC said it approved Bell Aliant Inc.’s request to offer broadcast distribution services Sault Ste. Marie, Ont.

The economics of a fibre rollout: demographics, competition, aerial space, are key

Consumer demand for bandwidth and more efficient network builds are allowing Bell Aliant Inc. to roll out its fibre-to-the-home network in communities that were previously seen as not a viable investment, said Andre LeBlanc, the company’s vice-president of residential markets.

Capacity billing rates make or break for wholesale Internet regime, small ISPs say

The CRTC's review of the “capacity-based billing” rates it established in November 2011 will make or break wholesale Internet services provided by the incumbent cable and telecom companies, the chief executives of two small Internet service providers (ISPs) said.

Hurricane Sandy shows cost of storms, resistance of underground fibre

Three weeks after Hurricane Sandy ripped through the mid-Atlantic and Northeastern United States, Verizon Communications Inc. and other U.S. telecom providers continue to spend millions of dollars to replace damaged and destroyed infrastructure.

The lessons they’ve learned could spare Canadian telecom providers from suffering similar damage as a warming planet results in stronger storms, analysts say.

MTS rolls out fibre-to-the-home service

MTS Allstream Inc. launched its MTS Fion fibre-to-the-home network in Neepawa, Man., the company said Monday.

MTS said in a release the new fibre optic network will bring high-speed Internet and MTS' IPTV service, Ultimate TV, to Neepawa residents.

MTS said it is investing $125 million over “several years” to deploy the fibre service to 120,000 residents in Manitoba and that its IPTV service will be available in more than 20 communities.

Bell Aliant aims to pass 1M homes with fibre-to-the-home

BCE Inc. subsidiary Bell Aliant Inc. plans to bring its fibre-to-the-home service to one million homes “in the coming years,” Glen LeBlanc, the company’s executive vice-president and chief financial officer, said Wednesday.

Bell Aliant bringing fibre network to Gander

BCE Inc. subsidiary Bell Aliant will invest $2.75 million to expand its fibre-to-the-home services into Gander, N.L., later this month, the company said Thursday.

In a release, Bell said the investment would allow it to bring its FibreOP service to 5,600 homes and businesses in Gander.

Bell said FibreOP is currently available in St. John’s and Mount Pearl on the Newfoundland island, and that builds have also been announced for Corner Brook and Grand Falls-Windsor.

Quebec plan to invest in rural fibre stalled, ISPs say

A $900 million investment by the Quebec government to bring high-speed broadband connectivity to its unserved and underserved residents over 10 years has made little progress since it was first announced last winter, small Quebec Internet service providers (ISPs) say.

Bell Aliant expands Atlantic fibre service

BCE Inc. subsidiary Bell Aliant said Wednesday that it is investing $11.5 million to expand its fibre optic Internet service to 22,000 more homes and businesses in Atlantic Canada.

In a release, the company said it will use the investment to expand its FibreOP service to the Grand Falls-Windsor, N.L., Hampton, N.B., and to the Nova Scotia communities of Digby, Campbellton and Antigonish.

Bell said it is also “adding new homes and businesses to its footprint in the Greater Moncton area.”

SaskTel launches fibre optik network

SaskTel launched a new “fibre to the premises” network service Friday that promises download speeds of up to 200 Mbps, the company said in a release.

In the release, SaskTel said its infiNet fibre optic network will be rolled out to more than 40,000 customers by the end of 2012 as the company initially converts its customers in Regina and Saskatoon to the new network.

It said the customers will receive a maximum upload speed of 60 Mbps.

CRTC working group to report on telco access to municipalities

A CRTC working group plans to file a report to develop a model agreement between telcos and municipalities for access to municipal infrastructure, the commission said Friday.

Arctic Fibre lobbying telcos, governments, to sign onto Arctic fibre link

Arctic Fibre Inc. is asking Canadian telecos and government agencies to commit to using its proposed fibre backbone network for Internet services across Canada’s northern territories instead of satellite.

On July 1, the Toronto-area startup launched an “open access season” throughout which it is encouraging Canadian carriers and government agencies to “request specific bandwidth” on its proposed fibre network, which will connect Tokyo, Japan to New York City and London, England via Canada’s northern lands and waters.