Shared Services Canada Taps into IT Industry Knowledge

Shared Services Canada Taps into IT Industry Knowledge

OTTAWA, ONTARIO--(Marketwire - Nov. 22, 2012) - The Honourable Rona Ambrose, Minister of Public Works and Government Services and Minister for Status of Women, and Minister responsible for Shared Services Canada, today launched a roundtable that brings together Government and representatives of the Information and Communications Technology (ICT) sector on a regular basis to help shape the Government of Canada's IT transformation agenda.

"We want to work with the ICT sector to draw on innovative, proven industry solutions as we transform the Government of Canada's technology platform," said Minister Ambrose. "Their input is vital to helping Shared Services Canada develop a more efficient, secure and cost-effective IT infrastructure to serve Canadians."

Participants in the Information Technology Infrastructure Roundtable (ITIR) will include leading members of the Information Technology Association of Canada, the Canadian Advanced Technology Alliance, the Canadian Business Information Technology Network, Invest Ottawa, the Canadian Information Technology Providers Association and Communitech, as well as academics and other experts. SSC intends to solicit the support and the participation of additional regional associations over the coming months. The ITIR will be chaired by Liseanne Forand, President of Shared Services Canada.

In addition to the quarterly ITIR meetings, four issue-specific advisory committees will focus on developing standards for security, data, applications and technologies; discussing access to innovative technology; adopting best practices for procurement; and defining how the Government will source email, data centres and telecommunications. These committees will be led by SSC, with membership from other government departments and the ICT sector, and will report back to the Roundtable's quarterly meetings.

All information presented at the ITIR and advisory committee meetings, including lists of participants and summaries of discussions, will be made available on the SSC website at http://www.ssc-spc.gc.ca/pages/itir-triti/roundtable-tablerond-eng.html.

Backgrounder

Information Technology Infrastructure Roundtable

Shared Services Canada (SSC) recognizes the value and the contribution of the Information and Communications Technology (ICT) sector, and the important role that sector can play in the transformation of the Government of Canada's IT infrastructure. To that end, SSC is hosting quarterly Information Technology Infrastructure Roundtable (ITIR) meetings with representatives from the ICT sector. The first meeting of the roundtable will take place November 22, 2012.

History

The Harper Government created SSC on August 4, 2011, to fundamentally transform how the government manages its IT infrastructure. During the fall of 2011, SSC officials met with representatives from the Information Technology Association of Canada (ITAC) and the Canadian Advanced Technology Alliance (CATA). They also met with associations that have a more local base, such as the Canadian Business Information Technology Network (CABiNET) and the Canadian Information Technology Providers Association (CITPA).

As a result of this engagement, SSC established the ITIR, a forum that will bring together representatives of the ICT sector and the government to support on-going substantive dialogue concerning the Government of Canada's IT transformation agenda.

Objectives

The purpose of the ITIR is to undertake early, open and ongoing consultation on the long-term IT transformation agenda and emerging technologies; to validate approaches and provide guidance on complex issues; and to contribute best industry solutions that can help the government achieve value for money, sound stewardship, innovation and service excellence.

The ITIR will also provide an opportunity for the ICT sector to address issues of interest to the industry. Information shared and discussed at the meetings will be made available publicly through SSC's website.

Throughout the ITIR discussions, SSC will continue to be driven by its guiding principles developed at the outset of the industry engagement process, which include fairness, transparency, inclusiveness, integrity, market-based competition and innovation.

Membership

The ITIR will be chaired by Liseanne Forand, President, SSC. SSC representation will also include Grant Westcott, Chief Operating Officer, as Vice-Chair, and senior officials responsible for various elements of the IT infrastructure transformation agenda.

The ITIR will include leading representatives from ITAC, CATA, CABiNET, CITPA, Invest Ottawa and Communitech. In the interest of rounding out available expertise and input, SSC may invite others to participate over time.

Representatives from Treasury Board of Canada Secretariat and Industry Canada will also hold a permanent membership.

Advisory Committees

The ITIR will be supported by four advisory committees, which will address specific areas where SSC requires the input and expertise of the ICT sector to move forward on its transformation agenda. Chaired by SSC senior officials, these committees are:

  • The Architecture Framework Advisory Committee;

  • The Innovative Canadian Enterprises Advisory Committee;

  • The Procurement Benchmarks Advisory Committee; and

  • The Smart Sourcing Advisory Committee.

More Information

SSC will post information on upcoming ITIR roundtable and advisory committee meetings on its website at http://www.ssc-spc.gc.ca/pages/itir-triti/roundtable-tablerond-eng.html. ICT organizations are welcome to visit the site to view schedules, meeting summaries and copies of presentation materials shared at meetings.

Contact Information

Michelle Bakos
Director of Communications
Office of the Honourable Rona Ambrose
819-997-5421

Media Relations Office
Shared Services Canada
613-947-6276
Media@ssc-spc.gc.ca

Canada Reaches Two Million .CA Internet Addresses

 

Canada Reaches Two Million .CA Internet Addresses


OTTAWA, Nov. 22, 2012 /CNW/ - The Canadian Internet Registration Authority (CIRA) announced today it has reached the two million mark for registered .CA Internet domain names. This milestone demonstrates Canadians' rapidly increasing adoption of .CA domain names for personal and business use: it took 21 years for one million .CA domain names to be registered and just four years to reach the next million.

The two million mark is all the more poignant as it comes at the close of the 25th anniversary of the founding of the .CA domain. It was established in 1987 by a group of volunteers at the University of British Columbia (UBC) and transferred to CIRA in 2000. In 1988, the first .CA domain name, upei.ca, was registered by the University of Prince Edward Island.

Leora Rissin, a retired schoolteacher from Toronto, Ontario, registered the two-millionth .CA domain name, algonquinhouse.ca. She is planning to use it to promote her new small business, a bed and breakfast near High Park.

"For me, having a .CA lets everyone know you're a Canadian business," said Ms. Rissin.

".CA is like having a Canadian flag on your digital backpack," says Byron Holland, President and CEO of CIRA., "It represents Canada on the Internet. And research shows Canadians prefer.CA sites for online news, banking and shopping. So it's no surprise our numbers continue to climb."

.CA is the fourth fastest-growing Internet domain name registry and the fourteenth largest compared to other country specific domain names like .uk (United Kingdom). "When we started the .CA domain there were only a few thousand computers on the Internet - in total - and no one thought it would ever be so pervasive," says John Demco, who led the team responsible for creating the .CA top-level domain at UBC in 1987. "Now Canada leads the world in the amount of time its citizens spend online, and while the Internet from a technology perspective doesn't concern itself with nationality, Canadians strongly identify with.CA domain names and the registration of two million .CAs is proof of that."

About CIRA
The Canadian Internet Registration Authority is the Member-driven organization that manages Canada's .CA domain name registry, develops and implements policies that support Canada's Internet community, and represents the .CA registry internationally.

SOURCE: Canadian Internet Registration Authority (CIRA)

For further information:

For more information or to schedule an interview:

Tanya O'Callaghan 
Communications Manager, Canadian Internet Registration Authority 
(613) 237-5335 ext. 262 
tanya.ocallaghan@cira.ca


Boldly Going Where No 4G Broadband Has Gone Before

 

Boldly Going Where No 4G Broadband Has Gone Before


Xplornet's New 4G Satellite Service Operational -  Providing 4G Satellite Broadband In Rural Regions Where None Previously Existed

WOODSTOCK, NB, Nov. 22, 2012 /CNW/ - Xplornet Communications Inc., Canada's leading provider of rural broadband services, is pleased to announce that EchoStar XVII, a new 4G broadband satellite, has passed all tests and service is now commercially available, serving Canadians from coast to coast.

EchoStar XVII brings 4G satellite broadband to six Canadian provinces where - until now - it has not been available.  Residents in rural and remote regions of British Columbia, Manitoba, New Brunswick, Prince Edward Island, Newfoundland and Nova Scotia will now - many for the first time - be able to experience the transformational benefits of a robust high-speed Internet connection to the home or business.  The EchoStar XVII satellite is capable of providing Internet access with speeds up to 25 mbps down, and at monthly prices similar to what urban Canadians pay.

"This new satellite will bring our high-speed and high-capacity packages to rural Canadians from Vancouver Island to Newfoundland", said Xplornet CEO John Maduri today, "Xplornet has proven that 4G satellite is not just an acceptable technology for high-speed internet to rural Canada, but an exceptional one.  Xplornet has invested heavily in bringing this technology to Canada and ensuring that no rural Canadian gets left behind in the new global, digital economy."

EchoStar XVII is a next generation, high-throughput broadband-only satellite specifically designed for today's media-rich online applications.  Together with another 4G satellite launched last year, and Xplornet's 4G terrestrial network, Xplornet has delivered on its commitment of ubiquitous broadband in rural Canada.

Additional information on packages is available at www.xplornet.com.

Xplornet's regional executives are available to comment on the local impacts of the company's expanded 4G satellite network.

About Xplornet Communications Inc.

Headquartered in Woodstock, New Brunswick, Xplornet Communications Inc. is Canada's leading rural broadband provider.  We believe everyone should have access to the transformative benefits of broadband, so we make our service available everywhere in Canada, including the hard to reach places.  We overcome the challenges of Canada's vast geography through our deployment of Canada's first national 4G network, which leverages both fixed-wireless towers on the ground and next-generation satellites in space.  Our customers live in the farthest reaches of the country and just outside of major urban centres, and through our coast-to-coast network of local dealers we connect them to all that the Internet offers.  Xplornet is high-speed Internet - for all of Canada.

xplornet.com |twitter.com/xplornet | facebook.com/xplornet

SOURCE: Xplornet Communications Inc.

For further information:

Media Inquiries:

Jeff Hecker, Director, Marketing Communications and Public Relations
Xplornet Communications Inc.
(905) 944-7969


Pitney Bowes Launches SendSuite(r) Live: Delivers Time and Cost Savings for SMBs Prior to Hectic Holiday Shipping Season

Pitney Bowes Launches SendSuite® Live: Delivers Time and Cost Savings for SMBs Prior to Hectic Holiday Shipping Season

 

MISSISSAUGA, ON., November 22, 2012 - Pitney Bowes Inc. (NYSE: PBI) today announced it will expand its shipping solutions portfolio in Canada to include SendSuite® Live, a web- based global logistics management solution, just in time for the holiday season. The scalable platform provides SMB and enterprise shippers broad access to global carriers for significant cost savings, helping businesses overcome holiday season shipping costs.

 

As retailers are preparing for the increase in orders during holiday time, SendSuite Live’s powerful network of carrier connections provides shippers with extensive options to reduce inbound and outbound shipping costs and gain greater control of their shipping operation. In fact, Pitney Bowes estimates shippers can save up to 20 per cent of their shipping costs while simplifying the carrier payment process. 

 

“The global logistics environment is becoming increasingly complex and traditional Transportation Management Systems aren’t keeping up, often because of technology limitations and IT constraints”, said Bill Mackrell, general manager, Pitney Bowes Canada. “SendSuite Live changes this by leveraging web services to create a unified, best of breed, global logistics management platform that streamlines logistics processes, reduces business risks and delivers cost savings on a local and global scale.”

 

SendSuite Live provides access to a wide range of global parcel and freight carriers’ rates and services, allowing a shipper to choose the best delivery and cost options. It offers origin point shipping for international shipping and cross-border rating and consolidation. Access to multiple carriers and services will provide businesses with the flexibility and options to remain profitable, even when often customers now expect free shipping. SendSuite Live, with easy to use applications, also offers the ability to optimize routing and streamline the logistics process with carrier and vendor compliance, and effectively manage regulatory compliance concerns, such as SOX and Export requirements.

 

It is a fully scalable solution that integrates easily with internal ERP, WMS and CRM systems. By integrating with Connect+ Customer Communication Series mailing solution, mailing and shipping costs can be tracked throughout the organization. The desktop capability provides the ability to allow on site and remote employees access to rate shopping with various carriers, and can provide company specific negotiated carrier rates.

 

SendSuite Live combines Pitney Bowes’s heritage of mail service shipping with a superior platform that integrates with cloud-based applications to deliver a wide range of transportation management services to businesses of any size, simply and economically. Complemented by the company’s nationwide customer service, along with flexible financing options, any organization can leverage cost savings and improved operations management with this shipping management solution.

 

SendSuite Live was developed through an agreement with Pierbridge, Inc., a software development firm specializing in supply chain processes, and customized for SMB market applications. In an associated move, Pitney Bowes also has an agreement with ConnectShip®, a technology platform that provides increased functionality for deploying global transportation carriers and compliance through the SendSuite Live platform.

 

About Pitney Bowes

Pitney Bowes provides technology solutions for small, mid-size and large firms that help them connect with customers to build loyalty and grow revenue. The company’s solutions for financial services, healthcare, nonprofit, public sector and retail organizations are delivered on open platforms to best organize, analyze and apply both public and proprietary data to two-way customer communications. Pitney Bowes is the only firm that includes direct mail, transactional mail, call centers and in-store technologies in its solution mix along with digital channels such as the Web, email, live chat and mobile applications. Pitney Bowes is a $5.3 billion company with 29,000 employees worldwide. Pitney Bowes: Every connection is a new opportunity™.

 

Pitney Bowes of Canada Ltd., the Canadian subsidiary has a direct sales and service force of approximately 1,300 professionals located in offices throughout the country. The head office for its operations in Canada is located in Mississauga, Ontario. For additional information on the company, its products and solutions, visit www.pitneybowes.ca
























































Nova Scotia, New Brunswick Experts Meet to Plan Regional Area Network: “A new kind of country”

Nova Scotia, New Brunswick Experts Meet to Plan Regional Area Network: “A new kind of country”

Fredericton, November 22, 2012  --  A meeting between networking leaders from New Brunswick and Nova Scotia in Sackville on November 28th will help decide on methods to interlink high-speed networks, within and between the provinces. 

“We are envisioning a new national dream,” said Gary Stairs, President of Fredericton-based Stellar Learning Strategies and Vice President, i-CANADA.  “Our region is leading the development of a new Canada  -  one suited to the 21st Century.  We are going to sketch out a plan to create an equitable high-bandwidth regional community, bringing ultra-high-speed service to homes and businesses throughout the twin provinces.”

The meeting is a follow-through to an Executive TeleForum that was held in October.  i-CANADA is a movement dedicated to the creation of an Intelligent Nation, where social and business organizations can thrive in a connected ecosystem.

“We are building on success,” noted Mr. Stairs.  “The digital economy strategies followed by the province of New Brunswick, for example, have brought us new business and higher levels of economic growth and social activity.  We are thrilled that the Governors Council of i-CANADA is Chaired by Premier David Alward  -  he is setting an example for everyone.  Mayor Brad Woodside of Fredericton is also a nationally-recognized champion; he has taken the digital economy message across Canada!  Our goal is to keep their momentum going, and make sure that we are all connected and engaged.”

Information and Communications Technology (ICT) is general acknowledged to be the dynamic ecosystem sparking innovation and spurring change.  Befitting a workshop dedicated to breaking traditional molds, it is being held at the studio of photographer Thaddeus Holownia, Professor and Head of the department of Fine Arts, Mount Allison University, Sackville, New Brunswick.  Holownia is setting aside his studio and his time, because he recognizes the importance of our work from a creative and innovative point of view,” stated Mr. Stairs.

The drive to create a regional area super-network has been partly spurred by Canada’s relative decline in communications capability.

“The reason for this initiative is the undeniable connection between broadband performance and a region’s prosperity” said Mr. Stairs.  “Twenty years ago Canada was the world’s leader in telecommunications and every year for the past few years we have declined.  A recent survey showed that we have dropped nine points in the past year alone, now ranking 14th behind countries such as Korea and Romania.”

By contrast, added Mr. Stairs, countries like Malaysia are relying on information and communication technology (ICT) to power a transformation to become a developed country.  It plans to increase the amount of GDP generated from ICT to 17 per cent from the current 9.8 per cent, double digital exports, generate additional jobs from digital industries for 350,000 citizens, and break the top 10 listing in the IMD World Competitiveness Yearbook. Nigeria, too, is working to become a top 20 economy by 2020, using ICT will as a primary driver of that aspiration. In the short term, it is distributing 10 million phones to farmers to improve access to fertilizer subsidies, and giving phones to pregnant women to help them get medical care.

“In many ways, our region is setting an example for the rest of Canada.  We want to accelerate that process,” stated Mr. Stairs.

++ Action Item: Join our social media group (6000 members) to discussion your innovation and entrepreneurship ideas at: http://www.linkedin.com/groups/Canadian-Advanced-Technology-Alliance-CATA-37239/about

 

For more on the world of Thaddeus Holownia, visit:       http://www.holownia.com/

For more on i-CANADA:                                                                www.icandaa.nu

For more on Stellar Learning Strategies:                               http://www.stellarls.com/

For inquiries about the Workshop, please email: Shannon Payne at  spayne@redhotlearning.com

© 2012 Canadian Advanced Technology Alliance. All rights reserved.


Rogers Hires Independent Third Party to Conduct In-Home Testing of Customer Broadband Speeds

Rogers Hires Independent Third Party to Conduct In-Home Testing of Customer Broadband Speeds

Testing to provide additional measurement as part of company's commitment to delivering World-Leading Internet Experiences

TORONTO, Nov. 21, 2012 /CNW/ - Rogers Communications announced today it has signed an agreement with SamKnows Ltd., an independent world leader in broadband performance testing, to conduct ongoing measurement of broadband internet speed, based on customer data collected in the home.

"With Internet usage exploding, speed is more important than ever to the customer experience," said John Boynton, EVP and Chief Marketing Officer, Rogers Communications. "We are committing to long-term in-home testing as an additional quality measure to ensure customers are getting world-leading Internet experiences.   We encourage other ISPs to do the same."

Rogers has invested more than $10 billion in network infrastructure. Working with SamKnows, which has performed testing for international regulators including the FCC in the U.S. and Ofcom in the U.K., Rogers will have the ability to measure actual customers' Hi Speed Internet speeds on a consistent basis.   This testing is complementary to existing testing the company conducts.

Using a custom hardware device called a Whitebox that simply plugs-in to a customer's existing internet connection, SamKnows will measure Internet upload and download performance as well as other key performance indicators such as latency.

"We are excited to have this opportunity to bring the proven SamKnows methodology for measuring broadband speeds to Canada," says Alex Salter, Chairman of SamKnows. "We will be testing the actual Internet speeds Canadians experience in their homes.  We are pleased that Rogers is the first Canadian ISP to commit to such a large home-based testing program."

Today's announcement is the latest in a series of initiatives Rogers has made to help customers be confident that they are getting world-leading Internet experiences.   Earlier this year, Rogers engaged LeMay-Yates to conduct research to help give a more accurate look at how Canada's actual broadband speeds stacked up on a global scale relative to advertised speeds.  The report found Canada ranked within the top 10 countries internationally for fastest Internet speeds delivered.  In addition, Rogers announced it would phase out its Internet Traffic Management Policy, which was designed to manage peer-to-peer Internet uploaded traffic. This phase out is on track to be completed by the end of 2012. Most recently, Rogers announced that it is working towards SysTrust Certification of its Hi-Speed Internet Data Meter Systems with PricewaterhouseCoopers LLP (PwC). This certification process includes evaluating the processes Rogers uses to measure customer Hi-Speed Internet data usage.

About SamKnows

SamKnows has established itself as the leading authority on broadband service availability and independent broadband performance testing.
Founded in 2008 and operating from London, United Kingdom, this privately held and independent company continues to build out its global measurement platform, creating a standard for broadband performance measurement. As part of its work with the FCC (USA), Ofcom (UK), the European Commission, Anatel (Brazil), and the IDA (Singapore), SamKnows is working with governments, industry leaders and academics worldwide to create a methodology and test platform that measures every aspect of broadband and network performance. For further information about SamKnows, please visit www.samknows.com

About Rogers Communications:

Rogers Communications is a diversified Canadian communications and media company. We are Canada's largest provider of wireless voice and data communications services and one of Canada's leading providers of cable television, high speed internet and telephony services. Through Rogers Media we are engaged in radio and television broadcasting, televised shopping, magazines and trade publications, sports entertainment, and digital media. We are publicly traded on the Toronto Stock Exchange (TSX: RCI.A and RCI.B) and on the New York Stock Exchange (NYSE: RCI). For further information about the Rogers group of companies, please visit rogers.com.

SOURCE: Rogers Communications Inc.

For further information:

Racheal Neish
SamKnows
+44 (0) 20 3111 4343
racheal@samknows.com

Carly Suppa-Clark
Rogers Communications
416-935-6550
carly.suppaclark@rci.rogers.com























































































CBCI Telecom Teams up with Cisco Canada to Fight school Dropout in Verdun

CBCI Telecom Teams up with Cisco Canada to Fight school Dropout in Verdun

CBCI Telecom and Cisco Canada joined forces in donating Toujours ensemble's new building a state of the art IP telephony system and IT infrastructure.

MONTREAL, Nov. 20, 2012 /CNW/ - CBCI Telecom, Canada's leader in visual communications, teamed up with Cisco Canada to provide Toujours ensemble, a non-profit organization that provides academic, financial and social support to youth in the underprivileged community of Verdun in Montréal, with a state of the art Cisco IP telephony system and IT infrastructure for their new building.

The project started 12 months ago, when the organization received the funding necessary to build and equip the new "Centre de la perseverance Scolaire Marcelle & Jean Coutu". CBCI Telecom and Cisco Canada joined forces in donating Toujours ensemble's new building a state of the art IP telephony system and IT infrastructure. The new building located at 4647 rue de Verdun—where the deprivation Index is 10/10 in schools (Source: MELS 2010-2011) — will be devoted entirely to fighting school dropout.

CBCI Telecom CEO, Jeff Speak, has been involved with Toujours ensemble for more than 4 years. "Toujours ensemble is a remarkable organization that has been making a tremendous difference in the community of Verdun. It has been a great opportunity for CBCI Telecom to team up with Cisco Canada in providing Toujours ensemble the communication technology so they can continue the fight against elevated high school dropout rates."

The support given by CBCI Telecom in making this project a success was greatly recognized by Marc Edwards, Chairman of the Board"... thank you so much for everything you (and your team) do for Toujours ensemble. We can't thank you enough, you are exceptional…"

For over 30 years, Toujours ensemble has helped many Verdun kids facing academic, family or social difficulties. In 2007, Toujours ensemble added the Pathways to Education program to its arsenal of services to fight school dropout – called Passeport pour ma réussite here in Quebec. Since then, the program has helped over 300 young people in the Verdun community to stay in school. In order to continue with its mission of helping young people, Toujours ensemble has undertaken a major expansion project: the construction of a new building to house the Pathways to Education program.

The technology deploy at Toujours ensemble includes Cisco Unified Communications system, which combines voice, data, video, security, and more into one easy-to-manage solution as well as the Cisco Unified Computing System . It uses advanced communications capabilities including telephone call processing, voicemail, automated attendant, and conferencing functions to respond to users faster and save money on long-distance charges. It also provides video capability, wireless and highly secure connections. The system also integrates with existing desktop productivity applications such as calendar, email, and customer relationship management programs. The Cisco Unified Computing System provides the horsepower to accommodate the increasing need of data processing and storage of the Toujours ensemble network.

ABOUT Toujours ensemble

Toujours ensemble is a non-profit organization that provides academic, financial and social support to youth in the underprivileged community of Verdun in Montréal. The organization's mission is to offer young people opportunities in education and recreational activities that will help them learn how to succeed. Toujours ensemble values collaboration and works closely with schools, teachers, parents, volunteers, organizations and associations throughout the city. One of its main goals is to help lower the high school drop out rate in Quebec. Visit us at http://www.toujoursensemble.org

ABOUT Cisco

Cisco (NASDAQ: CSCO) is the worldwide leader in networking that transforms how people connect, communicate and collaborate. For ongoing news, visit http://newsroom.cisco.com and http://newsroom.cisco.com/canada.

ABOUT CBCI Telecom

CBCI Telecom is Canada's Leader in Visual Communications; our mandate is to improve business human connection through visual communications. CBCI Telecom is at the forefront of Canada's adoption of telepresence and videoconference solutions in making visual communications simple and effective for business. We have been serving the corporate, health, education and government communities of Canada for more than 20 years. At CBCI, we don't believe in a one-size fit all package, we believe in a visual communication solution adapted to your needs. We support our clients in making their visual communications easy through leading-edge professional services and Video Managed Services.

CBCI Telecom is recognized as a Cisco TelePresence Master Level ATP partner and has been named as Cisco Canadian Business Video Partner of the year in 2011 and 2010 as well as nominated as TANDBERG Partner of the year for 8 consecutive years since 2002. In 2011 and 2012, it ranked in the Top Information and Communication Technology Companies in Canada of the Branham300 list as well as on the North American Solution Provider 500 (formerly VAR500) list. Know you can expect more with CBCI Telecom as we provide the most knowledgeable and talented visual communication resources in Canada. More information can be obtained at http://www.cbcitelecom.com.

Media Contacts:

Jennifer Madden
jemadden@cisco.com
416.306.7365

Caroline Le Brun
CLeBrun@CBCITelecom.com
514.422.9333 x.4418

SOURCE: CBCI Telecom

For further information:

http://www.cbcitelecom.com
































































































Sandvine launches routing efficiency dashboard

Sandvine launches routing efficiency dashboard

Business Intelligence for reduced transit costs and increased quality of experience

WATERLOO, ON, Nov. 20, 2012 /CNW/ - Sandvine, (TSX:SVC; AIM:SAND) a leading provider of intelligent broadband network solutions for fixed and mobile operators, today announced the launch of its Routing Efficiency Dashboard, the latest dashboard in its Network Analytics library. Sandvine's Routing Efficiency Dashboard provides a detailed look into the costly routing and transit links and interconnect relationships that affect operational expenses on fixed and mobile networks.

The Routing Efficiency Dashboard highlights high-demand traffic using high-cost transit links, allowing communication service providers to reroute traffic toward more appropriate routes such as private peering. Identifying the most efficient links for high-demand traffic creates an immediate cost savings and helps ensure a consistent quality of experience for subscribers. Operators can also measure the quality of links based on their ability to carry rich media and consequently make routing decisions based on quality.

"Sandvine's Network Analytics product has been instrumental in highlighting business-critical application and quality metrics on our network," Harris Miller, Director of Network Services, EATEL. "As a family company, EATEL prides itself on delivering top applications like YouTube, Skype and Netflix at the highest quality to our subscribers across Louisiana."

"Large CSPs have many complex peering and transit arrangements and their Border Gateway Protocol (BGP) designates the best available routes for subscriber traffic.  Linking route-knowledge to application, cost and quality is an essential part of optimizing network operations, reducing costs and improving subscriber quality of experience," said Don Bowman, CTO, Sandvine.  "Sandvine's Routing Efficiency Dashboard paints a bullseye on the inefficient and over-worked transit links so CSPs can manage their investments to enhance network performance and increase quality of experience for subscribers."

The Routing Efficiency Dashboard is one of many executive dashboards in Sandvine's Network Analytics library. Sandvine's Network Analytics is a comprehensive business intelligence tool that analyzes network traffic and performance to help gain insight into network trends and subscriber usage.

For more information visit Sandvine at Broadband Traffic Management Latin America, Sao Paulo, Brazil, Nov. 27-28, 2012 or www.sandvine.com

EATEL has been a Sandvine customer since 2005.

ABOUT EATEL
EATEL was the first company in Louisiana to provide phone, Internet and TV over an all-fiber network that offers a broad array of integrated digital services. EATEL recently launched its new TV service, LightWave TV, which provides advanced features such as Multi-Room DVR, remote DVR scheduling and more HD channels. Founded in 1935, EATEL recently entered its 77th year as a service provider and business leader in the Ascension and Livingston Parishes. To learn more about EATEL, visit www.eatel.com.

ABOUT SANDVINE
Sandvine's network policy control solutions focus on protecting and improving the quality of experience on the Internet. Our award-winning network policy control equipment and software helps fixed and wireless and mobile operators better understand network traffic, manage network congestion, create new services and revenues, mitigate traffic that is malicious or undesirable to subscribers, deliver QoS-prioritized multimedia services and increase subscriber satisfaction. With over 200 service provider customers in over 85 countries, serving hundreds of millions of broadband and mobile data subscribers, Sandvine is enhancing the Internet experience worldwide. For more information, please visit: www.sandvine.com

FORWARD-LOOKING STATEMENTS
Certain statements in this release which are not historical facts constitute forward-looking statements or forward-looking information within the meaning of applicable securities laws ("forward-looking statements") and are made pursuant to the "safe harbour" provisions of such laws. Statements related to potential benefits of, and demand for, Sandvine's products are forward looking statements which are subject to certain assumptions, risks and uncertainties that may cause the actual results, performance or achievements of Sandvine to differ materially from the results, performance, achievements or developments expressed or implied by such forward-looking statements. Readers are cautioned not to place undue reliance on such statements.

SOURCE: Sandvine Incorporated

For further information:

MEDIA CONTACT
Jennifer Ross
Sandvine
+1 519 880 2400 ext. 3605
jross@sandvine.com

INVESTOR RELATIONS CONTACT
Rick Wadsworth
Sandvine
+1 519 880 2400 ext. 3503
rwadsworth@sandvine.com


AIM NOMAD
Andrew Chubb/Simon Bridges
Canaccord Genuity Limited
+44 0207 050 8000

Gartner Says Worldwide Platform as a Service Revenue Is on Pace to Reach $1.2 Billion

Gartner Says Worldwide Platform as a Service Revenue Is on Pace to Reach $1.2 Billion

PaaS Is Where the Battle Between Cloud Vendors and Products Is Set to Intensify the Most

STAMFORD, Conn., November 19, 2012—      Worldwide platform as a service (PaaS) revenue is on pace to reach $1.2 billion in 2012, up from $900 million in 2011, according to Gartner, Inc. The market will experience consistent growth with worldwide PaaS revenue totaling 1.5 billion in 2013, and growing to $2.9 billion in 2016. 

The category of PaaS includes suites of application infrastructure services, such as application platforms as a service (aPaaS) and integration platforms as a service (iPaaS); as well as specialist application infrastructure services, such as database platform as a service, business process management platform as a service, messaging as a service and other functional types of middleware offered as a cloud service. Users may subscribe to a cloud provider's PaaS or may buy a cloud-enabled application infrastructure product and build their own PaaS for private cloud (private PaaS) or public cloud consumption. 

"Of all the cloud technological aspects, infrastructure as a service (IaaS) and software as a service (SaaS) are the most mature and established from a competitive landscape perspective, while PaaS is the least evolved," said Fabrizio Biscotti, research director at Gartner. "For this reason, PaaS is where the battle between vendors and products is set to intensify the most. It comes as no surprise that the PaaS competitive landscape is still in flux, with traditional application infrastructure vendors facing competition from new large players moving into the market, and myriad specialized PaaS pure players cutting into their slice of profits." 

The largest segments within the PaaS market are cloud application platform services (aPaaS), accounting for 34.4 percent of total PaaS spending in 2012; cloud application life cycle management (ALM) services (almPaaS) at 12 percent; cloud BPM platform services (bpmPaaS) at 11.6 percent; and cloud integration services (iPaaS) at 11.4 percent. Gartner predicts that the potential spending in PaaS technologies is an average of $360 million per year from 2011 through 2016. 

More than 70 percent of PaaS functionality today can be referenced to an application infrastructure and middleware (AIM) capability, calling for AIM vendors to consider PaaS in their offerings or to have a strategy to address the needs of those clients looking at cloud for future deployments. Today, the largest AIM vendors have only marginal share of the PaaS market (lead by Microsoft and some IBM acquisitions), and this leaves the door open for more competitive landscape disruption over the next three years since many of the largest enterprise software vendors are on the cusp of entering the PaaS market with their own offerings. 

"The fundamental appeal of PaaS is the opportunity for ISVs (independent software vendors) and IT organizations to create new software solutions with minimal capital expense and without the hassle of provisioning and configuring the underlying infrastructure," said Yefim Natis, distinguished analyst at Gartner. "Too many SMBs (small or midsize businesses), in addition, PaaS offers the chance to take advantage of some state of the art enabling technologies, they otherwise could not afford. Finally, the popularity of SaaS also drives adoption of PaaS for customization, extension and integration of the cloud-based applications." 

Despite ongoing economic uncertainties, mature economies, which are also the most mature IT markets, such as the U.S., Western Europe and Japan, are on the forefront of PaaS adoption. PaaS spending globally is relatively small, and it is almost entirely generated by the U.S., with 42 percent of the market, followed by Western Europe and Mature Asia/Pacific. All mature economies combined, account for almost 90 percent of worldwide PaaS spending. 

Emerging markets are currently only marginally investing in PaaS, but this trend is expected to change as PaaS matures as a technology and the vendor landscape consolidates around fewer mainstream players that have the capability to service wider geographies. 

"All software mega-vendors are strategically investing in the PaaS market despite the relatively modest projected market revenue," said Mr. Natis. "Application infrastructure, and in this case application infrastructure as a service (PaaS), has always played a central role in establishing the standards, architectures and best practices in enterprise software markets. The vendors expect their leadership in the PaaS market to translate to large and effective ecosystems of partners, developers and solutions. PaaS technologies are embedded in many other types of cloud services — all major opportunity channels. The direct revenue in the PaaS market grossly underestimates the importance of this part of the cloud architecture."

Additional information is available in the report "Market Trends: Platform as a Service, Worldwide, 2012-2016, 2H12 Update." The report is available on Gartner's website at http://www.gartner.com/resId=2188816.

Mr. Natis will deliver additional analysis on PaaS at the Gartner Application Architecture, Development & Integration Summit 2012 taking place November 27-29 in Las Vegas. The Summit will focus on the rapidly evolving trends that have profound implications for application executives. Amongst other trends, cloud computing, the explosion in mobile apps and service-oriented architecture are causing application leaders to re-examine their strategies. For more information, visit www.gartner.com/us/aadi. Members of the media can register for the event by contacting janessa.rivera@gartner.com

Follow updates from the Summit on Twitter at www.twitter.com/gartner_inc using #GartnerAADI

Contacts:

Christy Pettey
Gartner
+1 408 468 8312
christy.pettey@gartner.com

Rob van der Meulen
Gartner
+44 0 1784 267892
rob.vandermeulen@gartner.com


About Gartner:
Gartner, Inc. (NYSE: IT) is the world's leading information technology research and advisory company. Gartner delivers the technology-related insight necessary for its clients to make the right decisions, every day. From CIOs and senior IT leaders in corporations and government agencies, to business leaders in high-tech and telecom enterprises and professional services firms, to technology investors, Gartner is the valuable partner to clients in 12,000 distinct organizations. Through the resources of Gartner Research, Gartner Executive Programs, Gartner Consulting and Gartner Events, Gartner works with every client to research, analyze and interpret the business of IT within the context of their individual role. Founded in 1979, Gartner is headquartered in Stamford, Connecticut, U.S.A., and has 5,000 associates, including 1,280 research analysts and consultants, and clients in 85 countries. For more information, www.gartner.com.

University of Regina and Cisco Establish Research Chair to Further e-Governance in Canada

University of Regina and Cisco Establish Research Chair to Further e-Governance in Canada

REGINA, SK--(Nov 20, 2012) - Cisco Canada today announced an agreement of $2 million over 10 years to establish a Research Chair in e-Governance at the University of Regina. The Chair will address ways for governments to more effectively use technology to drive collaboration, productivity and efficiency in the public sector in Canada.

The Chair will look at how governments can more effectively communicate with citizens, businesses and other governments through enhanced use of technologies such as video, information sharing and online collaboration. The Chair will be located within the Johnson-Shoyama Graduate School of Public Policy at the University of Regina.

E-Governance initiatives may include exploring and developing best practices in sharing information, promoting services, recruiting and retaining employees, conducting surveys, engaging the public, 'virtual government,' collaborating internally and creating new strategic partnerships. This will allow governments to move beyond driving people to websites to making full use of the latest technologies to enhance citizen engagement, improve client satisfaction, lower operating costs and provide faster service.

Nitin Kawale, president of Cisco Canada, says Cisco is proud to work with the University of Regina to further technology innovation and help define the transformation of the public sector.

"The ability of networked technologies, video and the Internet to improve communication and transactional capacities are key processes of public sector modernization," said Kawale. "Government must enhance their networking capacity and adapt to virtual environments and the transformative power of video. The University understands the significance of research and development in this area, both for Saskatchewan and Canada as a whole, and it's a vision Cisco is delighted to participate in."

University of Regina President and Vice-Chancellor Vianne Timmons says the new Chair will connect with the University's strategic goals and long-range vision to position the University as one of the world's leading institutes of higher learning in this area.

"The Chair will foster close relationships with industry and government while supporting and leading related research, development and innovation at the University," said Timmons. "This 10-year collaboration with Cisco will broaden the scope of the University of Regina's research enterprise while providing tangible benefits for all Canadians. Through this partnership, we will help move public sector governance policy and practice forward to keep pace with the rapid evolution of communication technology in areas such as social media," she added.

About University of Saskatchewan

The Johnson-Shoyama Graduate School of Public Policy is a provincial centre for advanced education, research and training in policy and administration. Located on two university campuses -- the University of Regina and the University of Saskatchewan -- the school is a source of respected policy advice and commentary. With academic backgrounds such as political science, economics, sociology, geography, law and education, the school's faculty members train graduate students in an interdisciplinary environment, educate the public on policy matters, and improve the knowledge base from which policymakers draw. For more information, visit www.uregina.ca.

About Cisco

Cisco (NASDAQ: CSCO) is the worldwide leader in networking that transforms how people connect, communicate and collaborate. Cisco products and services are supplied in Canada by Cisco Systems Canada Co., a wholly owned subsidiary of Cisco Systems, Inc. For ongoing news, please go to http://newsroom.cisco.com and http://newsroom.cisco.com/canada.

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Contact Information

Natalie Tomczak
External Relations
University of Regina
Phone: (306) 337-2452
Cell: (306) 536-4312
Email: Natalie.Tomczak@uregina.ca

Karin Scott
Cisco
Phone: (416) 306-7164
Email: kariscot@cisco.com