OTTAWA-GATINEAU – Toronto-based Venoa Video has asked the CRTC for a BDU license serving the Greater Toronto Area.
According to the company’s web site, it either offers or wants to offer voice over IP, high speed Internet, IPTV, community TV and radio, health care communications, education online and e-shopping. The home page even has a button entitled "HBO Canada" that is "under construction".
The company does operate in Toronto as a third-party DSL re-seller.
Venoa wants a "Class 1 terrestrial distribution undertaking (which will) use an Asynchronous Digital Subscriber Line 2 Plus (“ADSL 2 Plus”) and Very High Speed Digital Subscriber Line (“VDSL”) network to deliver broadcast services to subscribers. The proposed service will provide consumers with a competitive alternative to the incumbent cable distribution undertakings operating in the same service areas," says its Commission brief.
The technology, said the brief, is similar to what is being offered by telco TV services from MTS, SaskTel and Aliant.
The company doesn’t plan to overbuild, however, and instead wants to lease fibre from Toronto Hydro Telecom. "Venoa plans to use optical network of Toronto Hydro Telecom (“THT”) by leasing 1Gbps connections between Head-end and Bell Cos," says its submission. "THT network is not connected with Bell Canada COs. To be able to use THT optical network Venoa will deploy its own optical network, which will connect THT optical network with Bell COs and Venoa Head-End. However as the subscriber base increases, Venoa will evaluate the option of deploying multiple video processing centers witch allow Venoa to use its optical network only."
The company is controlled by a man named Vladimir Niman, according to the Commission filings.
A public hearing considering the application – and others – is set for January 29th.
