Certain business clients of SaskTel might have to pay more money for telephone service, thanks to the CRTC. The Commission in March approved the Saskatchewan telco’s request to increase Centrex, multi-line and single-line rates in “high cost” areas – basically anywhere outside of the province’s major urban centres. The CRTC also gave SaskTel the go-ahead to increase the price of “SmartTouch” services like Call Display and Call Waiting for both business and residential customers, according to a press release from the carrier. SaskTel said falling revenues forced the move.
AT&T by any other name
AT&T Canada will have a new name by Sept. 9, 2003, according to an AT&T Canada investor presentation. The document says Canada’s largest telecom competitor will also complete its toll-free platform by Dec. 31, 2004 and transition customers onto the new infrastructure by the end of 2005. AT&T Canada will maintain strong ties with former parent company AT&T Corp., despite a parting of the ways for the two firms. Meanwhile, AT&T Canada will leverage its new-found freedom to “build new supplier relationships” and “extend” its “global reach.”
Bell swallows Nexxia
BCE Nexxia Inc. is no longer separate from Bell Canada. On April 1 Bell swallowed Nexxia whole, taking the enterprise-class network service provider’s customers and client managers along for the ride. The transfer came after Bell took over Nexxia’s carrier services group, a move that followed a CRTC decision that chastized Bell and Nexxia for certain regulatory missteps. A Bell spokesperson said it’s “business as usual for our customers….Bell Nexxia will continue to manage the same key accounts in the corporate enterprise market.” Nexxia offers ATM, Ethernet and Frame connections for businesses.