Sector Profile British Columbia Suppliers

The world telecommunications market is undergoing unprecedented changes with phenomenal growth caused by the deregulation of markets and the convergence between voice, data, video and broadcast applications. Technology developments in wireless communications and optical networks, combined with the proliferation of Internet and IP applications are helping create new opportunities and generate new markets.

The telecom supplier industry is a key sector in British Columbia’s vibrant high-technology industry. The province’s high-tech sector grew by 6.2 per cent in 1998 and employed approximately 52,000 people. The com- munications and electronics equipment manufacturing classification generated estimated revenues of more than $600 million in 1998 and employed more than 5,200 people in 1999.

The telecom industry in British Columbia is well-posi- tioned to take advantage of this growth. British Photo courtesy of Spectrum Signal Processing Columbia’s large pool of engineering and development expertise in telecom equipment has collectively pio- neered many advanced developments in fields such as British Columbia telecom suppliers include well-known mobile data, two way-paging, ATM switching and satel- multinational and U.S. companies that have invested in lite communications. Many telecom products and servic- the province to capitalize on British Columbia’s engi- es developed in British Columbia have found success in neering and development talents. Examples include V world markets. Tech in the field of advanced cordless , Alcatel (formerly Newbridge) in ATM switches, British Columbia’s proximity to the United States pro- Motorola Canada in the development of packet switching vides easy access to a large market for advanced telecom infrastructure and gateways for mobile phones and lap- products. The province’s close ties to the Asia Pacific tops, Nortel Networks in telephony, e-business and wire- also allow British Columbia companies to access Pacific less products, Glenayre in paging, cellular, PCS and digi- Rim markets in a cost-effective and timely manner. tal network development, Norcom in satellite terminals, Trillium in IP application software, and Pirelli Cables in The industry is supported by a well-established advanced fibre optic cables and optical amplifiers. communication infrastructure. , British Columbia’s incumbent provider, is British Columbia also has a large number of home- the second largest telecommunication provider in Canada grown companies, many of which have become leaders and provides a full range of wireline, wireless data and in their respective markets. This sector profile provides a Internet communications services. British Columbia is sample of British Columbia companies that illustrates the also home to a new breed of infrastructure providers diversity and strength of the province’s telecom sector. such as 360 Networks and GT Globe Telecom.

British Columbia Canada Abatis Systems Altus Solution Inc.

Abatis Systems Corporation is a leading supplier of IP Altus Solutions Inc. provides traffic management soft- networking solutions to telecom carriers and Internet ware that maximizes the return on a telecommunica- service providers. Abatis products simplify the deliv- tions service provider’s network. Altus provides carri- ery of advanced IP services, such as videoconferenc- er grade solutions for IP, wireless, wireline and SS7 ing, IP telephony and VPNs, to business consumers. multi vendor networks. In addition to enhancing its IP The Abatis Network Services Contractor is a service products, Altus is further expanding its products, management platform that enables pay-as-you-go sub- addressing VOIP, hybrid data and wireline, and scription to services