Call-Net/Sprint Canada supports the entry of new competitors to the local service market, within the current regulatory regime
2004年9月22日 - 3:20AM
PRニュース・ワイアー (英語)
Call-Net/Sprint Canada supports the entry of new competitors to the
local service market, within the current regulatory regime Company
agrees with the CRTC that regulation should be technology-neutral
and cautions that the proceedings not be used to allow the
re-monopolization of local phone service OTTAWA, Sept. 21
/PRNewswire-FirstCall/ -- Call-Net Enterprises Inc., a national
facilities- based provider of competitive telecommunications, data
and Internet Protocol (IP) solutions to households and businesses
across Canada, today called upon the Canadian Radio-television and
Telecommunications Commission (CRTC) to continue to apply the
current regulation governing providers of local phone service
regardless of the technology utilized to provide the service. "VoIP
is simply a voice service being provided over a broadband
facility," said Bill Linton, president and chief executive officer
of Call-Net. "We support the entry of new competitors in the local
service market using VoIP, providing they comply with the existing
rules of competition such as the requirement to provide consumer
protection, equal access and enhanced services such as 911 and
411." Linton also stated, "In addition, incumbent telcos should be
subject to the existing regulations regardless of the technology
they use to provide voice service, particularly as long as they
control the vast majority of the market. Until we actually see
competition in the local market, the former monopoly phone
companies should continue to be regulated as they are today for the
benefit of consumers." Almost six years after competition was first
introduced in the local phone service market, the former monopolies
continue to control more than 95 per cent of the market share. The
majority of consumers do not have real choice in most markets when
it comes to local phone service. Regulation exists to ensure that
consumers with no other alternatives are protected from price
gouging and to create the environment to establish a fair and
competitive market place for local service. Added Linton,
"Unfortunately the incumbents are trying to turn the issue into one
of technology. But there is no hiding the fact that they are still
dominant and consumers don't have a choice of local service
providers in most markets. Failure to apply the existing regulatory
regime to incumbent telephone companies that provide voice over IP
could stifle the future development of local competition in
Canada." Call-Net is also urging the CRTC to ensure that
competitors' have access to the networks of cable companies as well
as monitoring their behaviour in markets where they control
substantial market share. Call-Net recently launched
voice-over-Internet protocol telephony service for the consumer
market. The VoIP service called Sprint Canada Internet Phone
Service, works with any residential high speed Internet service,
including light services offered by telephone digital subscriber
line (DSL) or cable. The starter package includes a VoIP gateway
and an integrated four-port 100 megabits per second (mbps) Ethernet
router and firewall. The service works with a regular telephone
handset that includes one telephone number with a wide variety of
features and services that can be used wherever there is access to
high speed Internet service. Customers can keep their existing
phone number in serviceable areas or add a new one and select their
preferred area code and exchange. The service is available as a
standalone product and includes all standard home phone service
features such as operator services, 911, 411, and 711, call
waiting, call display and voice mail. It is also available as part
of bundled package with local home phone service and Fido(R)
wireless service. About Call-Net Enterprises Inc. Call-Net
Enterprises Inc., (TSX: FON, FON.B) primarily through its wholly
owned subsidiary Sprint Canada Inc., is a leading Canadian
integrated communications solutions provider of home phone,
wireless, long distance and IP services to households, and local,
long distance, toll free, enhanced voice, data and IP services to
businesses across Canada. Call-Net, headquartered in Toronto, owns
and operates an extensive national fibre network, has over 148
co-locations in five major urban areas including 31 municipalities
and maintains network facilities in the United States and the
United Kingdom. For more information, visit http://www.callnet.ca/
and http://www.sprint.ca/. DATASOURCE: Call-Net Enterprises Inc.
CONTACT: Media Contact: Karen O'Leary, Corporate Communications,
(416) 718-6445,
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