Hong Kong's PCCW to Launch Pay-TV over ADSL

Hong Kong's PCCW Limited unveiled a new pay-TV service delivered over its broadband ADSL network using IP multicast technology. PCCW currently has a broadband customer base of 480,000 subscribers. The new Broadband TV service will carry feature films, regional and international news, documentaries, music, sports, health, fashion, travel and children's programming. Content agreements have been signed with 23 major channels. PCCW said it is network is capable of delivering DVD-quality video to all locations in Hong Kong. At the customer home, digital...

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Amalfi Closes $12M for Low Power RF Designs

Amalfi Semiconductor, a start-up based in Los Gatos, California, secured $12 million in series A funding for its low power RF designs for wireless applications. The company said its products would address large existing markets. Amalfi is currently operating in stealth mode. The oversubscribed funding round was co-led by Doll Capital Management and Trinity Ventures. http://www.amalfisemi....

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Thomson Shows "Oz" Digital Home Network Prototype

Thomson demonstrated its new Digital Home Network concept called "Thomson Oz" at Berlin's 2003 Internationale Funkausstellung exhibition. At the center of the Thomson Oz network is a media server that provides the consumer with a single source for digital entertainment in the home. The prototype shown in Berlin provides access to applications inside and outside of the home, including connection and control of home devices, and it uses 5GHz technology (HiperLAN2 and IEEE802.11a) for delivering content throughout the home. The device can serve as...

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Mobixell Networks Raises $5 Million for its Media Processing

Mobixell Networks, a start-up based in New York City with R&D in Israel, raised $5 million from major global investors for its multimedia processing and delivery solutions for mobile systems. Mobixell specializes in multimedia adaptation and optimization for messages delivered over a mobile networks. Its platform provides rendering and delivery capabilities for applications such as multimedia messaging, media album, instant messaging, entertainment, and others. Mobixell's products are operationally deployed in over a dozen commercial installations...

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Xignal Tech Offers VDSL Analog Front End

Xignal Technologies AG announced the release of its CMOS-based mixed signal integrated circuit (IC) analog front end (AFE). Xignal uses a proprietary cancellation technique that makes it feasible for different line coding schemes to be used. Another unique feature is the provisioning of the full 12 MHz bandwidth in both transmit directions, which allows for standardized or customized frequency plans. In addition, the CMOS implementation of Xignal's cores makes it feasible to integrate VDSL CPE with 802.11 Wi-Fi processors on a single die. htt...

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Lightship Telecom Introduces ATM-based Dynamic Bandwidth T1 Service

Lightship Telecom, an integrated communications provider serving New England, introduced a T1 "dynamic bandwidth allocation" service that provides business customers with increased data bandwidth when voice calls are not being made. The ATM-based access service enables voice circuits to receive first priority, but circuits switch automatically between voice and Internet service. Dynamically allocated bandwidth can burst to up to 1.024 Mbps or 1.536 Mbps of data. Lightship's network includes four Class 5 Nortel telephone switches and four Lucent...

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Nokia Shows Free-to-Air Digital TV Receiver

Nokia unveiled a compact, free-to-air digital television and radio receiver for the European market. The Nokia Mediamaster 110 T, which is based on Digital Video Broadcast (DVB) standards, provides automatic channel search and access to subscription-free digital broadcasts through an existing rooftop aerial. http://www.nokia....

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Nokia Set-top Combines Digital TV and PVR

Nokia introduced a set-top box combining a digital satellite or terrestrial receiver with a Personal Digital Recorder for tapelessly recording on-air content. In addition to providing access to pay-TV content from cable operators or satellite broadcasts in the European market, the set-tops can tune in digital free-to-air television and radio entertainment programs where available. The Nokia Mediamaster 260 series also serves as a family Image Album by storing photos transferred via Bluetooth from compatible camera phones. The units also features...

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Taiwan's Chunghwa Telecom Tops 2 Million ADSL Users

Chunghwa Telecom, the incumbent operator in Taiwan, reported 2.04 million ADSL users as of 30-June-2003, compared to 1.86 million at the end of March 2003. Broadband ARPU was NT$996 for the six months ended June 30, 2003. Chunghwa Telecom reduced its ADSL tariff in July by 16% to expand the customer base and encourage customers to migrate from lower bandwidth to 1.5 Mbps ADSL service. http://www.cht.com...

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IBM Wins Multiyear Contract to Manage Boeing's Voice Network

IBM was awarded a three-year contract, with extension options, to manage the Boeing corporate-wide voice communications network, which serves 150,000 users. IBM is instituting variable pricing for a broad spectrum of services, such as telephony systems and applications support, voicemail, audio conferencing and operator services. IBM is working with Verizon to provide service to Boeing users throughout the U.S. The contract was valued at $160 millionhttp://www.ibm....

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Siemens and Huawei form TD-SCDMA Joint Venture

The Siemens Information and Communication Mobile Group and Huawei Technologies set-up a joint venture to develop, manufacture and market TD-SCDMA technology. The new company, with an investment exceeding USD 100 million, will be based in Beijing. Siemens will hold 51% stake in the venture. The Chinese Ministry of Information Industry allocated 155 MHz spectrum to TD-SCDMA in October 2002, paving the way for the commercial use of the standard in China. Siemens has been working on TD-SCDMA since 1998 and will contribute its technology to the joint...

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Volo Communications Offers Businesses 1.9 Cents Per Minute LD Rates

Volo Communications, a facilities-based carrier that uses both TDM and packet technology, rolled out a T1 long distance service to enterprise business customers nationwide offering a rate of 1.9 cents per minute. Volo Communications operates an IP backbone network with locations in 18 major metropolitan areas across the US. The company said its network can handle over 200 different protocols, standards and interfaces. All services are designed to work directly with a traditional PBX or IP PBX. http://www.volocommunications....

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Nettel Activates a SIP-based Network

Nettel Holdings activated a new SIP-based IP telephony network and plans to launch a worldwide broadband phone service. Nettel plans to offer an unlimited calling plan to anywhere in the United States for $29.95 per month. Ordinary telephones could be connected to a broadband connection using a Cisco Systems' Analog Telephone Adapter (Cisco ATA) or other SIP-enabled device. Nettel is based in Vancouver, Washington. http://www.nettelholdings....

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Russia's Central Telegraph Selects Veraz for VoIP

Central Telegraph (CNT), a Russian service provider, selected Veraz Networks' ControlSwitch and high-density I-Gate 4000 Media Gateway for deployment in its VoIP network. The equipment will be used in CNT's Multitel project, which will provide multiple services across Russia. The Veraz equipment supports a multivendor platform, enabling CNT to accommodate traffic from multiple local VoIP providers. The Veraz softswitch is a call control platform that offers traditional toll, tandem and local voice services, as well as new, converged voice-data...

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ITXC Signs Venezuela's CANTV

ITXC signed an agreement for bilateral exchange of international voice traffic with Compania Anonima Nacional Telefonos De Venezuela (CANTV), the country's incumbent operator. CANTV has about 2.7 million access lines in service, 2.5 million cellular subscribers and 1.0 million Internet users. ITXC's global VoIP network interconnects with local, national and global carriers in over 175 countries. http://www.itxc.com http://www.cantv.com...

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RAD Data Announces Support for TDM Over MPLS

RAD Data Communications announced that its products will fully support the new TDM Transport over MPLS using the AAL1 Implementation Agreement (IA). RAD has developed a new ASIC designed for transporting TDM over Packet Switched Networks. The new chip is planned to power the next generation of RAD's Ethernet Network Termination Units (NTUs), TDM over IP (TDMoIP) gateways and TDM over MPLS (TDMoMPLS) access devices. Product introductions are expected in October. http://www.rad.comEarlier this month, the MPLS/Frame Relay Alliance approved a new Time...

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Connexion by Boeing Plans its Asia-Pacific Gateway

Connexion by Boeing is working with Tokyo-based Space Communications Corporation (SCC) to build out an Asia-Pacific gateway for its in-flight connectivity service. Specifically, Connexion by Boeing will lease transponder capacity on SCC's SUPERBIRD-C satellite located at 144 degrees east, providing the mobile information services provider with satellite coverage that supports the Asia-to-Europe airline routes. In addition, SCC will establish and operate a satellite gateway (ground station) at the Ibaraki Satellite Control Center north of Tokyo....

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Asia Netcom and China Netcom to Interconnect their IP VPN Services

Asia Netcom and China Netcom have agreed to interconnect their IP VPN infrastructure to enable seamless services across their networks. China Netcom is the largest shareholder in Asia Netcom, whose other major stakeholders include Newbridge Capital and Softbank Asia Infrastructure Fund.The IP VPN interconnection agreement is complemented with a new Internet peering agreement between Asia Netcom and China Netcom. The peering agreement enables one-hop access to Chinese online content by delivering Internet traffic from Asia Netcom's global IP backbone...

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ADC Adds High-Density DOCSIS 2.0 Module to CMTS

ADC introduced a new high-density DOCSIS 2.0 module for its Cuda 12000 cable modem termination system (CMTS). The new module, which is based on Broadcom's DOCSIS 2.0-based chipset, is expected to enable upstream line rates of up to 40 Mbps and downstream rates up to 100 Mbps. The module is expected to ship in Q4. ADC said MSOs (multiple system operators) could use the module to deliver symmetrical broadband applications such as business grade T1 services and peer-to-peer functionality. http://www.adc....

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American Fiber Systems Raises $6 Million

American Fiber Systems (AFS), a provider of metro connectivity and wholesale services with networks in Cleveland, Kansas City, Minneapolis/St. Paul, Nashville and Salt Lake City, raised $6 million in new equity funding to expand into certain commercial buildings. The company's networks currently comprise 245+ route miles and 76,000+ fiber miles.AFS is offering three Ethernet based services: Virtual Private Line Service (EVPL) will provide point-to-point connectivity between diverse locations; Virtual Private LAN Service (EVLAN) will provide point...

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Encore Networks and MetaSwitch Partner on Voice over Packet

Encore Networks, a developer of signaling interworking VPN solutions, and MetaSwitch announced a partnership targeting advanced global Voice over Packet (VoP) solutions. Encore provides advanced security solutions that include encryption, stateful inspection IP VPNs, support of legacy data protocols, and built-in dial backup and fail-over capabilities. MetaSwitch's VP3500 Next Generation Class 5 Switch integrates softswitch, media and signaling gateway components for delivering more than 80 Class 5 services over legacy and broadband IP/ATM networks....

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GlobespanVirata Closes Acquisition of Intersil's Wireless Group

GlobespanVirata completed its acquisition of Intersil's Wireless Networking Products Group. GlobespanVirata paid Intersil $250 million in cash and issued 15,462,185 shares of GlobespanVirata common stock. The deal was originally announced on 15-July-2003. http://www.globespanvirata....

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AMCC to acquire JNI for Fibre Channel Products

Applied Micro Circuits Corporation agreed to acquire JNI Corporation, a supplier of Fibre Channel hardware and software products, for approximately $190 million in cash. JNI's assets include approximately $90 million of cash and investments. JNI offers a line of Fibre Channel-based host bus adapters (HBAs), InfiniBand Host Channel Adapters, storage ASICs and software. The products operate on Solaris, Windows, HP-UX, AIX and Linux systems. AMCC said its expertise in physical layer and multi processor design is highly leveraged in host bus adapters....

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RBOCs Seek Court Injunction Against FCC's UNE-P Rules

The United States Telecom Association (USTA), SBC Communications, BellSouth and Qwest filed a petition in the U.S. Court of Appeals seeking to block the UNE-P rules in the FCC's newly issued Triennial Review Order. The carriers are arguing that the FCC has "thumbed its nose" at existing law and at earlier court orders. They further allege that by asking state commissions to make the critical determination as to whether competition exists is a local market, the FCC has abdicated in its statutory responsibility to set national telecommunications...

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China Netcom Selects Nortel Networks for Packet Telephony

Shandong Netcom, a provincial subsidiary of China Netcom, selected Nortel Networks as its exclusive equipment supplier for a next generation network. The deployment will support a variety of service delivery methods, including twisted pair phone lines, ADSL, hybrid fiber coax (HFC) cable and Ethernet using products from Nortel Networks' Multimedia Communications and Succession VoIP portfolios. This includes Nortel's Multimedia Communication Server 5200 (formerly known as Interactive Multimedia Server or IMS), which is a SIP media and applications...

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Thomson Ships 807,000 DSL Modems in Q2

Thomson shipped 807,000 DSL modems in Q2 2003, giving it a 9.9% share of the global market, according to figures from Gartner that were released by Thomson. In a recent reorganization, Thomson combined all its Telco products and services into a central Telecom business unit. The company is also focusing on telco video solutions. http://www.thomson.netIn 2001, Thomson acquired Alcatel's DSL modem busine...

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Samsung Launches 100-Hour DIRECTV DVR

Samsung Electronics America introduced a DIRECTV DVR with TiVo recorder with the ability to store up to 100 hours of programming on its 120 GB hard disk. The unit has two USB expansion ports for future home entertainment services. List pricing is $499 and the DIRECTV with TiVo service monthly subscription fee is $4.99 (or free to customers subscribing to the PREMIER package.)http://www.samsungelectronics....

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Nokia Looks to New Models for Next Billion Mobile Users

Nokia plans to introduce new mobile phones, business models and network solutions aimed at untapped global markets for mobile communications. Nokia believes it possible for the worldwide mobile subscription base to reach two billion in 2008. Currently, there are about 1.2 billion mobile phone users in the world. Specifically, Nokia estimates that "with the right mix of phones, optimized network solutions and low-cost voice and data services, operators can in the near future generate reasonable profit from customers even at average revenue per...

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Millennium Digital Media Chooses ADC's Cuda CMTS

Millennium Digital Media has purchased ADC's Cuda 12000 Next-Generation CMTS. The company serves some 150,000 residential and business customers in Washington, Oregon, Michigan and Maryland, and is ranked among the top 25 MSOs in the U.S. Millennium Digital Media has also deployed ADC's FastFlow Broadband Provisioning Manager (BPM) software in its Washington region. Financial terms were not disclosed. http://www.adc....

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Korea's Dacom Selects Lucent to Expand Backbone

Dacom, one of South Korea's leading wireline and broadband service providers, selected Lucent Technologies to supply optical networking systems to expand its DWDM backbone network and also to build out a storage DWDM network for its customer, Korea's Supreme Court. The contract covers Lucent's Metropolis Enhanced Optical Networking (EON), a 32-channel DWDM metro optical system, in three metropolitan areas of Seoul, Inchon and Daejeon as well as major cities in Gangwon province. The contract marks the first time that Metropolis EON is being used...

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Case Western Offers Largest Free Wi-Fi Network

Case Western Reserve University is opening more than 1,230 Cisco Aironet 1200 wireless access points 01-September-2003, providing free Internet access to faculty, students, staff and visitors. The university said the project represents the first phase of blanketing the city of Cleveland, Ohio with free wireless Internet access. The network is described as the nation's largest free, public wireless service. http://www.cwru....

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Oklahoma Attorney Launches New Case Against WorldCom

Oklahoma Attorney General Drew Edmondson issued criminal indictments against WorldCom and six of its former management staff, including Chief Executive Officer Bernard Ebbers, Chief Financial Officer Scott D. Sullivan, Controller David F. Myers, Director of General Accounting Buford T. Yates, Jr., Director of Management Accounting Betty L. Vinson and Director of Legal Accounting Troy M. Normand. The criminal complaint alleges that the company and these six employees executed a scheme to artificially inflate the value of WorldCom stock and bonds...

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BellSouth Adds DirecTV to its Service Bundle

BellSouth and DIRECTV entered into a strategic marketing alliance under which DIRECTV digital satellite television service will be sold to BellSouth customers beginning in early 2004. BellSouth residential customers will be able to bundle DIRECTV with their other voice, DSL and wireless communications services at packaged, discounted savings. The companies also agreed to explore ways of integrating digital satellite and terrestrial broadband services. DIRECTV ordering software will be integrated into all BellSouth call centers. The companies...

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Sprint Leverages FCC UNE-P Order to Expand its Local Service Bundles

In a direct response to the recent FCC order on UNE-P, Sprint announced a significant expansion of its portfolio of local, long-distance and nationwide wireless bundles. The Sprint "Complete Sense" services leverage Unbundled Network Elements Platform (UNE-P) facilities from other carriers. The portfolio consists of four bundled calling plans -- including an unlimited local, domestic long-distance and wireless bundle called Sprint Complete Sense Unlimited with PCS. Sprint will offer the bundles in selected markets in 36 states and the District...

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Alcatel Invests Heavily in 3G R&D in China

Alcatel will invest an additional US$45 million in R&D programs in China focused on 3G infrastructure. R&D in 3G already was expected to constitute a significant portion of the US$100 million R&D commitment in China that Alcatel announced earlier this year.According to the Chinese Ministry of Information Industry, by the end of July 2003, the number of mobile subscribers in China had reached 234 million, representing the largest mobile phone market in the world. http://www.alcatel....

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FCC Lifts Freeze on New Satellite License Applications

The FCC lifted a freeze on new satellite license applications that had been in place since 23-April-2003. The temporary freeze, which did not affect Direct Broadcast Satellite (DBS) and Digital Audio Radio Satellite (DARS) satellites, was intended to remain in effect between the time the FCC adopted its the First Space Station Reform Order and when the rules were actually published in the Federal Register. http://www.fcc.govIn April 2003, the FCC adopted a new licensing process aimed at accelerating the rollout of satellite Internet services....

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Alcatel Selected for Municipal FTTH Network in Georgia

Dalton Utilities, a public utility serving small cities in the state of Georgia, has selected the Alcatel 7340 Fiber-to-the-User (FTTU) system to deliver triple play services to residences and businesses. The Alcatel 7340 FTTU system uses a Broadband Passive Optical Networking (BPON) architecture. Financial terms were not disclosed. http://www.alcatel.comDalton Utilities is using General Bandwidth's G6 platform to deliver full feature voice services over their new Fiber to the Premises (FTTP) network. Dalton Utilities' OptiLink service delivers...

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Fortinet Raises $30 Million for ASIC-powered Antivirus Firewalls

Fortinet, a start-up based in Santa Clara, California, closed $30 million in fourth round funding for its ASIC-powered, network-based anti-virus firewall systems. The FortiGate systems deliver a full range of network-level services -- firewall, VPN, intrusion detection and traffic shaping -- as well as application-level services such as anti-virus and content filtering. The round was led by Redpoint Ventures, who was a new investor along with Meritech Capital Partners. All existing institutional investors also participated in the financing. Fortinet...

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Riverstone Networks Updates its Financial Restatement

Riverstone Networks released results of its ongoing accounting review confirming that previously announced financial results were overstated. Based of the review, Riverstone has determined that it overstated its previously reported net revenues of $210.8 million for the fiscal year ended March 2, 2002 by as much as $85.5 million and its previously reported net revenues of $54.5 million for the nine months ended November 30, 2002 by as much as $12.7 million.In addition, the company has determined that previously announced net revenues of $69.6...

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AMCC Delivers 10 Gbps Transceivers With Electronic Compensation

Applied Micro Circuits Corp. (AMCC) introduced two 10 Gbps CMOS transceivers that could be used to deliver more integrated capabilities for line card and XFP modules. The transceivers interface with a variety of AMCC's OC-192 framers, mappers and Forward Error Correction (FEC) devices. Both transceivers support OC-192/STM-64, 10 Gigabit Ethernet, 10 Gigabit Fibre Channel and G.709 OTU-2 rates. http://www.amcc.c...

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Flag Telecom's Outstanding Debt Reduced by 55%

FLAG Telecom completed the redemption of outstanding notes at a discounted rate, enabling the company to reduce its total outstanding debt by 55% to approximately $35 million. http://www.flagtelecom.com In May 2003, FLAG Telecom announced plans to enhance the reach of its European network through an agreement with Verizon Global Solutions. This agreement is a key element in FLAG's global network plan. FLAG said it would also open new POPs in Amsterdam and Frankfurt to provide seamless connectivity to its submarine cable systems: FLAG Atlantic-1...

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ADC Names New Officers

ADC named Gokul Hemmady as its new CFO. Hemmady joined ADC in 1997 as Assistant Treasurer and has served as ADC's Corporate Controller and Treasurer since 2002. ADC also announces the promotion of Mark Borman to the position of Treasurer, combined with his current position of Vice President of Investor Relations. http://www.adc....

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Boingo's Wi-Fi Network Reaches 2,600 Hotspots

Boingo Wireless now has over 2,600 unique hot spot locations either live or in the process of integration in its Wi-Fi roaming network. The company has added some 1,300 locations over the past 90 days. http://www.boingo.com Boingo Wireless was founded by Sky Dayton, founder and chairman of EarthLink. The company received venture funding from New Enterprise Associates (NEA), Sprint PCS and Evercore Ventur...

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BT Supplies MPLS VPN for the Financial Times

BT was awarded a GBP 3.5 million contract to supply an MPLS VPN for the Financial Times. Over the past nine months, the FT has been migrating all its print sites, currently connected via a BT Frame Relay network, to a consistent page distribution solution. The new MPLS VPN is expected to reduce FT's distribution costs by 20% over the first year. http://www.bt....

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Bob Annunziata Joins Tropic Networks' Board

Bob Annunziata, a former CEO of Global Crossing, has been named non-executive Chairman of the Board of Directors of Tropic Networks, a start-up developing metro-optical network equipment. Previously, Annunziata helped establish Teleport Communications Group (TCG), a CLEC that was acquired by AT&T. In 1999, Annunziata became CEO and a Director of Global Crossing. In May of 2000, he was appointed Chairman of the Board at Velocita Corporation. http://www.tropicnetworks....

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D-Link Launches Airspot Line of Combo Public/Private Internet Gateways

D-Link launched the first in its line of affordable Airspot Public/Private Gateways aimed at small to medium-sized business that wish to create a public hot spot to cater to Wi-Fi enabled mobile consumers and businesspeople while maintaining access to its own private LAN. The D-Link Airspot DSA-3100 is a complete hot spot gateway that provides a firewall, DHCP server and router functions for both public and private broadband Internet access. From the gateway's web-based configuration menu "command center," the administrator can limit user access...

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RCN Launches Cinemax On Demand

RCN began offering a Cinemax On Demand subscription video on demand (SVOD) in its Philadelphia, New York and Massachusetts markets. The service offers 50 hours of top Cinemax programming to digital subscribers for $4.95 per month. http://www.rcn....

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Cox Selects CIENA's ONLINE Multiservice Solutions for Nationwide Network

Cox, the fourth largest cable operator in the U.S., has selected CIENA's ONLINE Metro and ONLINE Edge platforms to support data services on its multiservice broadband communications network. CIENA's ONLINE platforms will be used to deliver video-on-demand, storage area networking and Gigabit Ethernet services. Financial terms were not disclosed. http://www.ciena.com In June 2003, Cox began to move its long distance voice traffic onto its national IP backbone. Cox is using Nortel Networks' Succession cable VoIP solution and Nuera Communications'...

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General Bandwidth Completes IP Centrex Interoperability Testing With VocalData

General Bandwidth announced an interoperability alliance with VocalData, an application developer of hosted IP telephony services. General Bandwidth's G6 platform simultaneously supports SIP-based IP Centrex services with feature servers, as well as MGCP-based softswitches and Class 5 derived voice services. VocalData's flagship VOISS product is a feature-rich, standards-based voice application server that can be used to deliver IP Centrex, hosted PBX, VoIP VPN, and enhanced services such as conferencing and unified messaging. http://www.genba...

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Connexion by Boeing Selects Eutelsat for In-Flight Satellite Connectivity

Connexion by Boeing signed a contract with Eutelsat for satellite transponder capacity covering key areas or Europe and Asia. The deal covers leased capacity on Eutelsat's SESAT satellite, which is located at 36 degrees East and provides a footprint stretching from the eastern Atlantic Ocean across the European continent and as far east as Central Asia. The connectivity will provide in-flight, real-time access to email, company intranets, the World Wide Web and entertainment content. Financial terms were not disclosed. http://www.boeing.com/connexionhttp://www.eutelsat.comIn...

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DISH Network to Offer Free Digital Video Recorder

EchoStar Communications will begin offering a combination satellite TV receiver and digital video recorder (DVR) to new subscribers of its DISH Network service. The DISH Player - DVR 510 features a seven-day on-screen program guide, a 120-gigabyte hard drive capable of up to 100 hours of tapeless recording, parental locks and other features. The new DISH Video On Demand service allows viewers to skip commercials and other pre-recorded programming without videotape, as well as pause live TV, perform slow-motion instant replays, fast forward and...

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McDATA Agrees to Acquire Nishan Systems and Sanera Systems

McData announced separate agreements to acquire Nishan Systems and Sanera Systems, both start-ups targeting storage area networks (SANs). McDATA said that as a result of these acquisitions its expanded portfolio would allow its customers to seamlessly build and grow their storage services infrastructure in several dimensions simultaneously.Nishan Systems, which is based in San Jose, California, offers a line of IP storage switching products that enable enterprises to leverage their Fibre Channel storage network infrastructure and their IP networks...

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California Town Plans Municipal FTTH Network

The town of Truckee, California, plans to begin construction this Fall of a municipal FTTH network serving 12,000 subscribers. The Truckee Donner Public Utility District ("TDPUD") recently sold a 16.5 mile conduit that runs through the town to Sierra Pacific Communications (SPC). Proceeds will be used for construction of the new FTTH network. The conduit will assist SPC in completing its Salt Lake City to Sacramento fiber optic network. The deal also provides TDPUD with the rights to four strands of dark fiber running from Reno to Sacramento....

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Lucent Selected for Telecom Rebuilding in Iraq

Bechtel has awarded a $25 million subcontract to Lucent Technologies to carry out emergency repair and rehabilitation of the communications network in Iraq. Under the contract, Lucent will provide 13 5ESS and 5ESS Very Compact Digital Exchange (VCDX) central office switches, the Lucent Metropolis ADM Multiservice Mux, and its Navis Network management system. Deployment will begin next month. Prior to the war, approximately 1.1 million Iraqis subscribed to the Iraqi Telephone and Post Company (ITPC) for landline telephone service. Much of the communications...

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General Bandwidth Adds SIP-Based IP Centrex to G6 Gateway

General Bandwidth has added full SIP and PRI support within its G6 Packet Telephony Migration Platform. The G6 platform can now be used in conjunction with a SIP feature server to provide a wide range of traditional Centrex and other messaging capabilities. New features can include advanced call screening, single number service, click-to-call, dial from directories, voice & email integration, as well as legacy Class 5 and other new services.General Bandwidth's G6 platform already offered support for derived voice services from legacy Class...

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Alaska's Matanuska Telephone Deploys Minerva's IP Headend

Matanuska Telephone Association (MTA), an independent operating company (IOC) serving 38,000 member-owners in Alaska, has deployed Minerva Networks IP television headend for its triple play network. This fall, MTA will begin offering live next-generation digital television, video on demand (VOD) and pay-per-view bundled with voice and data services over an ADSL network. The MTA service includes 195 channels of high-quality digital TV including local channels, VOD, pay-per-view and later this fall, MTA will offer TV-based Caller-ID bundled together...

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Optibase Encoding Selected for Live TV over DSL

Venus Telephone Corporation, an independent operator serving rural Pennsylvania, selected Optibase's TV streaming platform to deliver over 130 live TV and music channels over telephone lines to its subscribers over ADSL. Located in the digital head-end, a single Optibase MGW 5100 unit can transmit up to 64 video channels received from various live or pre-encoded sources. The TV content is encoded in low bitrate MPEG-2 format. The platform is designed to support MPEG-1, MPEG-2, MPEG-4 AVC (H.264) and Windows Media video formats. Venus Telephone...

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SBC Extends its Dial-Up Internet Contract with Level 3

SBC Communications has extended an existing agreement with Level 3 for dial-up Internet access service for an additional two years. The contract will now run through 2006. The agreement also includes an increased revenue commitment of approximately $11 million from SBC over the contract's duration. http://www.Level3....

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T-Systems Partners with VocalTec for VoIP in Africa

Deutsche Telekom's T-Systems is partnering with VocalTec Communications in a series of joint sales and marketing initiatives in Africa aimed at offering competitive carriers new service opportunities. T-Systems' International Carrier Sales & Solutions (ICSS) division aims to secure new bilateral agreements with incumbent African carriers for connection to the Jules Platform, which is T-Systems' wholesale VoIP network. The Jules Platform is based on VocalTec's technology. http://www.t-systems.com/icsshttp://www.vocaltec.comIn March 2003, VocalTec...

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PingTone Releases Real-Time IP Telephony Call Quality System

PingTone Communications introduced a proactive, IP telephony call quality monitoring system. PingTone's CADIUS system pulls information from the real-time transport protocol (RTP) information packet of the call and uses this information to score calls. If the call's score is outside PingTone predetermined acceptable limits, proactive measures can be taken to improve call quality before any loss of performance is detected by a listener. http://www.pingtone....

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Agere Acquires Massana for Gigabit Ethernet PHYs

Agere Systems has acquired Massana, a start-up developing Gigabit Ethernet-over-copper physical layer device (PHY) technologies, for approximately 9.1 million shares of Agere Class A common stock, valued at about $26.2 million, based on the closing price on 22-August-2003. Agere said the acquisition enables it to deliver GbE PHYs to Ethernet switch providers as well as PC and server OEMs. With the acquisition, Agere plans to deliver a next-generation 0.13 micron single PHY product in early 2004 and an octal in mid-2004. Approximately 45 Massana...

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Motive Introduces Broadband Usage Policy Manager

Motive introduced a Usage Policy Manager designed to help DSL and cable operators model the network-subscriber-bandwidth capacity ratio of their networks, correlate bandwidth consumption with specific subscriber services, and automate service policies. Motive said it developed the software to address business issues such as subscriber churn and excessive use or misuse of bandwidth. With access to network data only, traditional management vendors lack context of the service at the subscriber and application level, making their solutions unable...

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3Com Teams with Aspect for IP PBX Contact Center Solutions

3Com is teaming with Aspect Communications, a provider of enterprise customer contact solutions, to jointly develop and market IP-based telephony solutions for enterprise and contact center communications worldwide. The joint solution will combine an IP-private branch exchange (PBX) with contact center functionality, such as advanced call routing, multichannel support and centralized workflow development. More specifically, the 3Com-Aspect solution will combine the 3Com IP-PBX with Aspect's Uniphi solution suite for contact centers. http://www.3com.com...

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Rural Carrier Selects Motorola and Quantum Bridge for FTTP

QCOL, an independent cable TV operator serving rural communities in Pennsylvania, Maryland and West Virginia, selected Motorola Broadband Communications Sector and Quantum Bridge Communications to provide an FTTP network for triple play services. The companies said their FTTP solution was selected for the economics of their full ATM switching capabilities, the video return path, and the fact that they are compliant with the international APON standards. Financial terms were not disclosed. http://www.motorola.com http://www.quantumbridge....

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NRTC to Offer WildBlue Satellite Broadband Services

The National Rural Telecommunications Cooperative (NRTC) signed a distribution agreement whereby its members will be able to offer WildBlue's two-way satellite broadband service in the continental United States. NRTC membership includes over 1,100 rural telephone and electric companies. http://www.wildblue.com http://www.nrtc....

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Alereon to Develop UWB Chipsets

Alereon, a start-up based in Austin, Texas, unveiled plans to develop Ultra wideband (UWB) semiconductors for personal area networks. Alereon's first product, in development for commercial availability in late 2004, will be compatible with the emerging IEEE 802.15.3a standard for PAN communications. Eric Broockman, formerly with Austin-based semiconductor company Legerity, joins the company as CEO. Jim Baker and Jeff Ross, both former executives at UWB developer Time Domain Corporation, will serve as chief operating officer and executive vice...

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Westell Selects TI's ADSL Router-on-a-Chip

Westell Technologies is using Texas Instruments' (TI's) DSL router-on-a-chip to support the recently announced expansion of its family of WireSpeed modems. These two new distinct Westell WireSpeed modem product lines are based on the new ITU standards for ADSL2, ADSL2+ and Reach Extended ADSL2 (READSL). http://www.ti....

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FTTH Council Applauds FCC's UNE Triennial Review Order

The Fiber-to-the-Home (FTTH) Council praised the FCC's UNE Triennial Review Order as the "most significant and important regulatory document in the country's telecommunications history," according to Mike DiMauro, the FTTH Council's president. He predicts that "without a doubt, 2004 will be the year for FTTH."http://www.ftthcouncil.orgThe Fiber-to-the-Home Council will host its FTTH Conference in New Orleans from 07-October-2003 through 09-October-20...

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Comcast Names Steve Silva to Head New Broadband Initiatives

Comcast Cable named Steve Silva to the newly created position of Executive Vice President, New Business Development, where he will be responsible for new initiatives that leverage Comcast's broadband infrastructure. In this role, he will work closely with the company's engineering, marketing and operating teams across all product lines, including video, data and telephone. Silva most recently served as Chief Technology Officer for Charter Communicationshttp://www.comcast....

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PMC-Sierra Extends SERDES for Gigabit Ethernet Backplane

PMC-Sierra introduced 6-channel HexPHY 1GR and 4-channel QuadPHY 1GR serializer/deserializer (SERDES) devices for high-speed serial backplanes and Gigabit Ethernet (GE) transceivers. The HexPHY 1GR and QuadPHY 1GR features support for the RGMII v2.0 industry standard parallel interface to enable low power, low cost and compact Ethernet-based system designs. RGMII (Reduced Gigabit Media Independent Interface) v2.0 simplifies board design by reducing the number of routing layers required which also lowers board manufacturing costs. PMC-Sierra said...

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Mike McGrail Named President and CEO of ICTV

ICTV, a start-up offering a centralized platform for the delivery of interactive television services, announced the appointment of Mike McGrail as president and CEO. He replaces Wes Hoffman who is becoming COO of OpenTV, a strategic investor in ICTV. McGrail previously served as president of CableData, a global supplier of subscriber management and transaction-based billing software for the broadband cable industry.ICTV's HeadendWare application servers enables interactive, revenue-generating programming to be accessed by any digital set-top....

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FCC Grants Authorization for New Wireless RFID

Parco Wireless received FCC authorization for an RFID (Radio Frequency Identification) equipment locating system that uses ultra-wideband pulses to provide sub-foot precision for the two-dimensional and three-dimensional location of RFID tagged objects. Parco Wireless' UWB RFID tag is roughly the same size as a wristwatch and can transmit continuously for up to 5 years on a single button cell battery. The company is marketing the technology as a solution for tracking hospital equipment. http://www.parcowireless....

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JDSU Names New Leadership

Jozef Straus will retire as chairman and CEO of JDS Uniphase at the end of the month. Succeeding Dr. Straus as CEO will be Dr. Kevin Kennedy, currently a member of JDS Uniphase's Board of Directors. Kennedy most recently served as COO of Openwave Systems. Prior to joining Openwave in August 2001, Dr. Kennedy spent seven years at Cisco Systems, lastly as Senior Vice President of the Service Provider Line of Business and Software Technologies Division. He also served at Bell Labs for 17 years.Syrus Madavi, JDSU's president and COO, will also step...

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Avanex to Acquire Assets of Vitesse's Optical Systems Division

Avanex agreed to acquire certain assets of Vitesse Semiconductor's Optical Systems Division located in San Jose, California, for approximately 1.2 million shares of Avanex common stock. Based on the closing price of Avanex's stock on August 19, 2003, the transaction has a value of approximately $6 million. As part of the deal, Avanex will also buy up to $2 million in products from Vitesse over the next three years. Avanex said the acquisition would enhance its presence in transponders and expand its customer traction in subsystem products. http://www.avanex.comIn...

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Further Industry Reaction to the FCC Decision

The High Tech Broadband Coalition (HTBC) applauded the FCC order, describing it as "a major triumph for consumers." The HTBC especially commended the FCC for setting "a sound and clear demarcation between legacy copper and packetized capacity."The Consumer Electronics Association said the FCC "removes burdensome regulations that are key to new last-mile investments." Michael Petricone, CEA's Vice President of Technology Policy, described the FCC order as "a giant leap toward making universal adoption of broadband a reality."Sprint said the FCC...

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Covad to Appeal Gradual Phase Out of Line Sharing

Commenting on the FCC order, Covad Communications noted that it includes a grandfathering provision for line-sharing customers that was not disclosed in the February announcement. While the order phases out line sharing for new customers, it preserves line splitting, which allows Covad to provide DSL broadband service on the same line a competitive voice provider uses to provide local phone service. The Commission also preserved Covad's access to full DSL loops and interoffice transport, and strengthened its rules regarding T-1 loops. Covad noted...

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Alcatel to Build Undersea Link from Malta to Sicily for Vodafone

Vodafone selected Alcatel to supply a 250 km undersea cable linking its subsidiaries in Malta and Sicily. The initial capacity of the system is 2.5 Gbps with the potential to increase the capacity to over 1 Tbps. Financial terms were not disclosed. http://www.alcatel....

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Alcatel Ships Record 3.1 million ADSL Lines in Q2

Alcatel shipped 3.1 million ADSL lines during Q2, a record for all DSL equipment suppliers. To date, Alcatel has shipped over 29.4 million lines - more than four times the volume of any other DSL equipment supplier, according to the company, giving it a cumulative 37.6% share of all lines shipped through the end of the second quarter 2003. Alcatel said its is seeing a rapid increase in deployment of DSL. http://www.alcatel....

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China Netcom Order 400,000 Lines of ADSL from Alcatel

Alcatel Shanghai Bell has signed an agreement with China Netcom Group to supply more than 400,000 ADSL lines. The contract covers deployment of the Alcatel 7300 Advanced Services Access Manager (ASAM) and management to China Netcom subsidiaries in ten areas in northern China, including Beijing, Liaoning and Shandong. All ten projects will be completed by March 2004. http://www.alcatel.comEarlier this month, UTStarcom announced a new contract to supply over 200,000 lines of its AN-2000 IB IP-based DSLAM solution to China Netcom for deployment in...

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ADSL Overtakes Cable Modems in the UK

ADSL has now overtaken cable modems as the most popular broadband connection in the UK, according to the latest figures from Oftel, the official market regulator. BT said that its network is now available to 71% of the population, compared to 45% available coverage for cable modem. The figures show 2,335,000 broadband lines overall, with around 30,000 new broadband subscriptions per week. http://www.bt....

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T-Online Rolls Out Wi-Fi in Frankfurt

T-Online began offering Wi-Fi access through local partners in Frankfurt. Some 200 hotspots are expected by year's end. The service uses the same account and password as the T-Online dial-up service. The price via WLAN for T-Online customers with dial-in via personal access data is EUR 0.16 per online minute. http://www.telekom...

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Industry Responds to FCC Triennial Review Order

Noting that it took the FCC two years to produce the order, Verizon Communications said it needed time to fully consider the implications. Tom Tauke, senior vice president-Public Policy and External Affairs for Verizon, said "the world is changing so fast that the order may already be outdated." AT&T commended the FCC majority "for keeping its promises to consumers." Robert Quinn, AT&T Vice President for Federal Regulatory Affairs, said the order "will allow AT&T to continue to serve our existing local customers and to follow through...

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FCC Commissioners Remain Split over Unbundling Decision

Six months after their contentious 3-to-2 vote on the landmark Triennial Review proceeding, FCC commissioners remained divided over key points of the ruling.Chairman Michael Powell said he was pleased that the majority made a number of changes to the final UNE-P order that respond to his concern, but that he remains convinced that many of the decisions represent poor public policy and flout the law. In a 17-page dissent, Powell writes that trying to preserve UNE-P switching as a favored means of competition without any meaningful considering of...

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F5 Networks and NetScaler Settle Patent Dispute

F5 Networks and NetScaler settled their patent dispute surrounding F5 Networks' "Cookie Persistence" patent, which enables key capabilities for traffic management and load balancing products. As part of the settlement, F5 and NetScaler will enter into a cross-license agreement where NetScaler will license the F5 Cookie Persistence patent and F5 will license a NetScaler patent. NetScaler will also pay F5 an undisclosed licensing fee. http://www.netscaler.com http://www.f5....

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CIENA Reports Quarterly Revenue of $68.5 Million

CIENA reported quarterly revenue of $68.5 million for the period ending 31-July-03, an increase of 37% from the same period a year ago. CIENA's reported net loss for the period was $88.9 million, or a net loss of $0.20 per share (GAAP). During the quarter, CIENA added seven new customers, including two incumbent carriers. CIENA said its strategic plan is to evolve into a comprehensive network solutions provider, and that to thrive in today's telecom environment, it must get bigger, not smaller. Rather than simply cost-cut its way back to sustainable...

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FCC Releases 576-Page Triennial Review Order

Six months and one day after voting 3-to-2 to adopt a new set of network unbundling rules for incumbent local exchange carriers (ILECs), the FCC released the final rules for its Triennial Review Order. The 576-page document provides rules and regulations to clarify the Telecommunications Act of 1996 and address local phone and broadband competition issues, including previous Unbundled Network Elements (UNE) rules that had been overturned last year by the U.S. Court of Appeals.Significantly, the order eliminates most unbundling requirements for...

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CIENA to Acquire Akara for SANs over SONET

CIENA agreed to acquire Akara Corporation, a start-up developing SAN over SONET/SDH solutions, for an aggregate consideration of $45 million consisting of $31 million in cash and $14 million in shares of CIENA common stock. Akara's OUSP 2000 product family multiplexes data center protocols such as Fibre Channel, FICON, ESCON and Gigabit Ethernet in their native formats onto any SONET/SDH (DS3, OC-3/12/48, STM-1/4/16), DWDM or dark fiber network. Akara is based in Ottawa, Canada. http://www.ciena.com http://www.akara.comIn June 2003, Akara introduced...

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Siemens to Build 5th Global R&D center for Mobile Phones in Brazil

Siemens AG plans to invest more than US$110 million over the next five years to build its fifth global R&D center for Mobile Phones in Manaus, Brazil. Siemens already has R&D facilities for mobile phones in Germany, Denmark, China and the U.S. http://www.siemens....

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Bankruptcy Court Confirms MFN/AboveNet Plan of Reorganization

The U.S. bankruptcy court overseeing Metromedia Fiber Network's (MFN's) Chapter 11 case has confirmed the company's plan of reorganization, clearing the way for the company to emerge from bankruptcy protection in early September. MFN recently changed its brand name to AboveNet. Upon emergence from Chapter 11, the company expects to have approximately $70 million in senior bank debt and $73 million in cash by the end of the year. http://www.mfn.comIn June 1999, Metromedia Fiber Network agreed to acquire AboveNet Communications in a stock swap...

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MPLS/Frame Relay Alliance Approves TDM-over-MPLS

The MPLS/Frame Relay Alliance has approved a new Time Division Multiplexing (TDM)-over-MPLS Implementation Agreement (IA) that enables the delivery of n* 64kps (DS0), T1, E1, E3, T3 or other such private line services over an MPLS network. The new IA may be applied in the design of carrier or Provider Edge (PE) routers, multi-service edge switches and dedicated gateway equipment. The emulation method defines how the PE will map, encapsulate and tunnel TDM private line traffic over MPLS LSPs. Specifically, it defines the emulation of TDM circuits...

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Qwest Wins Federal Contract for Frame Relay Network

Qwest Communications was awarded a new contract to provide a Department of Labor (DOL) agency with Frame Relay service under the new Multi-Tiered Security Profile (MTSP) program. Financial terms were not disclosed. http://www.qwest....

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SBC Urges Consumers to Maintain Landline Phones for Safety

In the wake of last week's blackout affecting 50 million people in the U.S. and Canada, SBC Communications is urging consumers to maintain at least one corded landline phone in their homes and businesses to ensure reliable voice and data communications during a disaster. Additionally, SBC pointed out that its DSL and dial-up Internet services continued to be available during the blackout for users with battery-powered notebook computers. http://www.sbc....

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Cisco Teams with Taiwan on National IPv6 Laboratory

Cisco Systems is collaborating with Taiwan's National Information and Communications Initiative Committee (NICI) on IPv6 research. NICI is establishing a national standards laboratory for testing IPv6-compatible products. Cisco is supplying its Cisco 7609 Router and providing consulting expertise. http://www.cisco....

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ADC Reports Sales of $189M, Outlines Four-Part Strategy

ADC reported quarterly sales of $189 million, compared to $192 million in the prior quarter and $235 million for the same period last year. There was a net loss of $1.2 million, or $0.02 GAAP and $0.00 Pro Forma. Some other highlights: 36% of quarterly sales were from outside the U.S., and gross margin was 39%, compared with 14% for the same quarter last year.ADC also outlined a growth strategy with four objectives: (1) improve organic growth through market share gains, new product development and expansion into adjacent and related markets;...

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Riverstone Names Nortel Exec as its New CEO

Riverstone Networks named Oscar Rodriguez as its new president and CEO, replacing Romulus Pereira, who will continue to serve as chairman of the company. Rodriguez previously served as president of Nortel Networks' Enterprise Solutions and Intelligent Internet divisions. Formerly, Rodriguez served as president and COO of Arris Interactive, an equipment supplier for the cable industry. http://www.riverstonenet....

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SAVVIS Builds VPN for Lions Gate Entertainment

SAVVIS was selected to provide managed private IP VPN and Internet services to Lions Gate Entertainment, a producer and distributor of motion pictures, home entertainment, television programming, animation and video-on-demand content. The network will be used to link the company's U.S. and Canadian facilities, and for videoconferencing, corporate e-mail, digital asset management, and viewing of "digital dailies," the day-by-day progress being made on a particular film. http://www.savvis....

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Larscom and TANDBERG Television Announce MPEG Partnership

Larscom and TANDBERG Television announced a co-marketing agreement targeting MPEG transport solutions. Under the deal, TANDBERG Television can bundle its MPEG-2 Encoders and Integrated Receiver Decoders with Larscom's Orion 2000 Inverse Multiplexing (IMUX) solution over ATM to transport high-definition MPEG contribution video from remote sites to network distribution hubs. Larscom's IMUX solution can be used to combine multiple T1 or E1 lines into a larger trunk. http://www.larscom.com http://www.tandbergtv....

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Juniper Supplies MPLS Network for China's Jiangxi Government

Juniper Networks was selected by the Government Information Centre in China's Jiangxi Province to supply an advanced network for delivering MPLS-based VPN services. The network will be based on Juniper's M-series router portfolio, including its M5 and M20 models. Financial terms were not disclosed. http://www.juniper....

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DBS Now Accounts for 20% of U.S. TV Market

One in five television households in the U.S. now receive their television programming through the direct broadcast satellite (DBS) service of either DIRECTV or EchoStar's DISH Network. DIRECTV's July second-quarter subscriber count was 11.56 million, up by 181,000 in three months. DISH Network currently has 8.8 million subscribers, up by 270,000 net new subscribers in the last quarter. The Satellite Broadcasting and Communications Association said that in the first six months of 2003 the DBS industry had net additions of 1.01 million subscribers,...

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Edgewater Launches SOHO Appliance supporting SIP or MGCP VoIP

Edgewater Networks introduced a customer premise appliance for the SOHO market that is designed to resolve NAT/Firewall traversal problems and provides QoS for voice and data traffic over xDSL and cable modem links. It supports up to 5 concurrent SIP, MGCP or SCCP VoIP calls, PPPoE, WAN DHCP and can manage bandwidth using different upstream and downstream link speeds as required by ADSL. It is also remotely manageable and automates the configuration of IP phones through an integrated DHCP server. http://www.edgewaternetworks....

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Birch Telecom Selects CIENA's DN 7100 Multiservice Switches

Birch Telecom selected CIENA's DN 7100 Multiservice Switches to converge Frame Relay, ATM and CES (Circuit Emulation Service) traffic onto a single backbone. Initial deployments are planned across Texas and Oklahoma. Financial terms were not disclosed. Birch Telecom serves 50 metro markets across 11 states. http://www.ciena....

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Metro Ethernet Forum Cites Progress on is Services Model

The Metro Ethernet Forum announced technical progress resulting from its quarterly meeting last week in Denver. The organization's Metro Ethernet Services Model document advanced to the letter ballot stage. Once a document reaches the letter ballot stage it is essentially complete, needing only a final vote to make it officially approved. Also, the Ethernet Services Definitions specification is expected to move to letter ballot at the October 2003 MEF Technical Committee meeting; and the Ethernet Traffic Management specification could move to...

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Westell Launches ADSL2, ADSL2+ and Reach Extended ADSL2 Modems

Westell Technologies expanded its family of WireSpeed modems with two new distinct product lines based on the new ITU standards for ADSL2, ADSL2+ and Reach Extended ADSL2 (READSL). The rollout includes a "ProLine" of modems featuring Westell's patent-pending Dynamic Multi-Hybrid and Power Spectral Density technologies, which help service providers overcome troublesome issues associated with in-home wiring and bridged taps that may affect service delivery and performance. A "WireSpeed LiteLine" is a lower cost option. The new products are currently...

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