National Institute of Standards Awards Video-overDSL Funding

The National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST) awarded a three-year, $4 million grant to four companies to develop a system to provide video services over DSL. The team is made up of project leader Sarnoff Corporation, Alcatel, SBC Laboratories and Thomson. The four companies will collaborate on a video delivery mechanism that allows live or recorded program feeds to be sent to subscribers. The system will provide a wide selection of streams (or "channels") of commercial-quality video and audio content and distribute them in real time...

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Corning Licenses Patents to Japanese Manufacturer

Corning concluded a license agreement with Nippon Sheet Glass (NSG) covering patents for molded glass components used in telecommunication applications and other products where compact, durable, high quality optical lens systems are required. Terms of the agreement are not being disclosed. NSG joins the expanding list of companies that have taken a non-exclusive license under these Corning patents. http://www.corning....

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Colubris/Miltope Supply Wi-Fi for Connexion by Boeing

Connexion by Boeing is deploying wireless access equipment from Colubris Networks and Miltope Corporation to enable in-flight wireless access. In addition, Miltope and Colubris Networks have entered into an OEM partnership to deliver secure wireless access point products to the largest manufacturers and operators in the commercial and executive aviation industries. Early Connexion by Boeing trials with Lufthansa and British Airways utilized the Colubris Networks/Miltope solution.So far, Connexion by Boeing has announced agreements to supply in-flight...

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Legra Closes $12 Million for WLAN Switching

Legra Systems, a start-up based in Burlington, Massachusetts, raised $12 million in Series B funding for its WLAN switching solutions. Legra recently began shipping its flagship WLAN system, which features a "Parallel Priority Cryptography" chip for security. The WLAN switch combines priority switching and priority cryptography on a single platform. New investor Duchossois TECnology Partners led an up-round which included participation from all Series A investors, including Kodiak Venture Partners and Genesis Partners. http://www.legra....

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FCC Forms Internet Policy Working Group

The FCC is forming an internal Internet Policy Working Group to advise on issues that arise as telecommunications services move to Internet-based platforms. The group will work with state commissions and federal agencies in forming a national policy. The members of the steering committee for the Working Group include:Co-DirectorsRobert Pepper, Chief of Policy DevelopmentJeff Carlisle, Senior Deputy Chief, Wireline Competition BureauOther MembersJune Taylor, Chief of Staff, Consumer and Governmental Affairs BureauAnna Gomez, Deputy Chief, International...

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Sylantro and Convedia Partner on IP Centrex

Sylantro Systems and Convedia Corporation completed interoperability testing between Sylantro's hosted communications and IP Centrex application and Convedia's media servers. By providing a shared pool of media processing resources for all applications in a carrier network, Convedia's media servers help to drive down operational and capital costs while supporting new services. Sylantro has utilized Convedia's SIP control interface to achieve full interoperability with Convedia's media-processing features including announcement playback, VoiceXML...

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Infineon Introduces Ethernet-over-SONET Mapper/Framer

Infineon Technologies introduced an Ethernet-over-SONET/SDH (EoS) mapper/framer designed for systems that support current and emerging Ethernet/data transport services over existing metropolitan-area optical fiber networks. Infineon's new MetroMapper 622 chip, the first member of a new family of networking ICs, allows equipment manufacturers to develop systems that meet the latest Ethernet transport requirements as defined by the Metro Ethernet Forum (MEF) and ITU-T, including seamless interface between private and carrier networks, and any-point-to-any-point...

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Vonage Introduces $15 Residential Basic Plan

Vonage, introduced a new Residential Basic Plan for broadband telephony priced at $14.99 per month, offering 500 minutes of local, toll and long distance calling throughout the U.S. and Canada. The Vonage Basic Plan includes the same features as its other plans at no additional cost and is available to all existing and future customers. Vonage's existing Residential Unlimited local Plan is priced at $24.99/month for unlimited local calling plus 500 minutes of long distance. http://www.vonage....

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Swiss Utility Deploys Cisco ONS 15300 series multiservice optical platforms

The regional power utility company (Centralschweizerische Kraftwerke) serving the Swiss Canton of Lucerne is deploying Cisco ONS 15300 series multiservice optical platforms to create a single network between power stations, remote offices and its central headquarters. The new network will carry switched Layer 2 Ethernet traffic between sites as well as consolidate traditional PBX voice traffic over a single multiservice optical network using SDH as a transport protocol. The utility is using Cisco ONS 15302 MSPPs in its remote locations, with traffic...

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Quintum Announces New VoIP Switch/Gateway

Quintum Technologies announced the newest addition to their Tenor VoIP MultiPath Switch product line for supporting larger PBXs that are utilizing multiple digital trunks. It also enables service providers to implement IP Local Loop or calling card applications in their smaller Points of Presence (POPs). Quintum's MultiPath Switches provide intelligent call routing between the PBX, PSTN and IP networks. The newest products, available with 2, 4, 6 or 8 T1/E1/PRI spans, support H.323 and SIP. They scale from eight to 120 simultaneous VoIP calls....

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FCC Opens VoIP Forum Seeking Coherent Policy

Views from:FCC Chairman Michael PowellFCC Commissioner Michael CoppsFCC Commissioner Jonathan AdelsteinKevin Werbach, The Supernova GroupCharles H. Giancarlo, Cisco SystemsJeff Pulver, Pulver.com and The Pulver ReportJohn Hodulik, UBS Investment ResearchJohn K. Billock, Time Warner CableMichael Gallagher, Department of CommerceCarl Wood, California Public Utilities CommissionCharles Davidson, Florida Public Services CommissionJames Crowe, Level 3Tom Evslin, ITXC and VON CoalitionJeffrey Citron, VonageDr. Gregg Vanderheiden, University of WisconsinSpeaking...

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FCC Publishes 3G Rules Opening 90 MHz of Spectrum

The FCC officially adopted and published service rules for Advanced Wireless Services (AWS) in the 1710-1755 and 2110-2155 MHz bands, including provisions for application, licensing, operating and technical rules, and for competitive bidding. Licensees in these bands will have the flexibility to provide any fixed or mobile service that is consistent with the allocations for this spectrum.The new rules were announced on 16-Oct-2003. http://www.fcc....

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Alcatel Supplies SDH to Burkina Faso

Alcatel will supply its SDH optical multi-service transmission equipment to ONATEL (National Office of Telecommunications), the first national operator in Burkina Faso, to modernize the transmission network and interconnect Burkina Faso with the neighboring countries (Ivory Coast, Mali, Togo and Ghana) as well as getting access to the high capacity submarine cable SAT3. Alcatel will also supply the cable optical fiber in the eastern side of the country. The new transport infrastructure, which will be supervised by Alcatel's network management...

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Bandwidth Challenge Teams Push Networking Performance Envelope

Teams of scientists from research organizations around the world competed recently in Phoenix to see who could move the most scientific data across networks in the fourth annual High-Performance Bandwidth Challenge, held in conjunction with SC2003, the international conference on high-performance computing and networking. SC2003 is sponsored by the Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers Computer Society and by the Association for Computing Machinery's Special Interest Group on Computer Architecture. This year's winners included the following:Sustained...

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ICG Names Interim CEO

ICG Communications, a facilities-based nationwide communications provider, named Jeffrey R. Pearl, executive vice president of sales and marketing as interim CEO. An external search for a permanent CEO will continue. Randall E. Curran, ICG's current CEO since September 2000 steps down November 30 after successfully seeing the company through its financial restructuring. http://www.icgcom....

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NTL Home Standardizes on Motive for Broadband Service Management

NTL Home, the leading provider of cable modem service in the UK, has expanded its use of Motive's e-care capabilities. For two years, Motive has provided the technology behind NTL Home's Broadband Installer/Checker service, which automatically guides new subscribers through the entire broadband activation process. The new capabilities will help address customer issues such as incorrect email account setup and ongoing customer support. The new e-care service will also provide the option for subscribers to send technical data electronically to...

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CWA Cites Comcast for Repeated Violations of FCC Rule

The Communications Workers of America issued a public complaint to the FCC concerning Comcast Communications and its alleged violation of the FCC's rules on maintaining public records that are complete and accessible. The CWA noted that FCC's public file rules require the operator of any cable system with more than 1,000 subscribers to maintain specific documents -- including all requests for broadcast time over the past two years by or on behalf of a candidate and other information -- and to make this file available during regular business hours....

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Zhone Reaches Agreement with Former Tellium Executives

Zhone Technologies reached an agreement with three former Tellium executives regarding their separation from the company. Zhone forgave the outstanding restricted stock loans of approximately $21.6 million held by the former executives, and will make a payment of approximately $15.5 million to the appropriate taxing authorities on their behalf to satisfy the tax liability associated with the forgiveness. The individuals involved are former Chairman and CEO Harry Carr, former Chief Financial Officer, Secretary and Treasurer Michael J. Losch, and...

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SingTel Extends IP VPN Services to Vietnam

Singapore Telecommunications (SingTel) together with Vietnam Datacommunications Company (VDC), the data services arm of Vietnam Posts and Telecommunications (VNPT), began offering IP VPN services to corporate customers with operations in Vietnam. SingTel is the first foreign carrier to offer such a service, which allows customers to be connected to VDC's domestic nation-wide IP network. The service provides seamless, MPLS-based IP connections from Singapore and all major cities in the world into, across and out of Vietnam. http://www.singtel.comIn...

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Metalink Customers Corecess and Tellion Selected by KT Corp. for VDSL

Corecess Inc. and Tellion have been selected by KT to supply QAM 50 Mbps VDSL equipment for mass deployment in Korea. Metalink said it is providing its QAM VDSL silicon to both of these systems companies. Earlier this month, Metalink announced that shipments of the company's standard compliant QAM VDSL products to South Korea exceeded the 200,000-port milestone. http://www.metalinkBB....

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SIP Forum Announces SIMPLE Interop Event

The SIP Forum is hosting a major interoperability event for the SIMPLE (SIP for Instant Messaging and Presence Leveraging Extensions) specification this week in Banff, Alberta, Canada. SIMPLE focuses on the application of SIP to instant messaging and presence, and its goal is to create an interoperable standard for these services across all IP networks. http://www.sipforum.o...

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Big Bear Raises $18 M for 10/40 Gbps Photonic Signal Processing

Big Bear Networks, a start-up based in Sunnyvale, California raised $18 million in a third round of private venture funding for its next-generation 10 and 40 Gbps optical system products. Big Bear said its electronic dispersion compensation technology automatically corrects for the fiber impairments (e.g., modal dispersion, chromatic dispersion, polarization mode dispersion) that become more severe as systems move toward greater speeds and transmission distances. Its Photonic Signal Processor (PSP) could be used in electrical-optical interfaces...

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Deutsche Telekom's T-Online Launches Broadband VOD

Deutsche Telekom's T-Online division launched a broadband video-on-demand service enabling DSL subscribers to order downloadable movies. The movies cost 1.90 EURs to 4 EURs for a 24-hour period and can be paid for via the regular T-Online bill, with MicroMoney or the T-Pay charge card. The movies can be viewed with the Windows Media player. T-Online has signed distribution deals with major Hollywood Studios MGM, Universal and Dreamworks as well as with Germany's Constantin Film, giving the company access to thousands of movies. http://www.t-...

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German Regulator Lowers Interconnection Charges by 9.5%

Germany's Regulatory Authority for Telecommunications and Post (RegTP) approved new interconnection charges, lowering the last approved prices by an average of 9.5%. The last change for interconnection charges occurred in October 2001 and led to an average reduction of 14%. http://www.regtp...

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Alcatel and Micromuse Team on DSL Service Assurance

Alcatel and Micromuse are working together to provide a unique DSL service assurance solution. The joint solution distributes real-time information about network performance and service impacting problems throughout the service provider organization. It proactively provides service reports to end-customers and ISPs, improving their visibility into service status and helping avoid call center congestion. The Alcatel DSL assurance solution is based on Micromuse's Netcool software suite. Alcatel will sell the solution as part of its DSL OSS portfolio....

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Alcatel and NTT Communications Announce Partnership

Alcatel and NTT Communications agreed to integrate and jointly market Alcatel's OmniSwitch user authenticated VLAN technology with NTT-Communications' "Safety Pass" IC (integrated circuit) Card technology to enterprises in Japan. Alcatel's Authenticated VLANs offer enterprises the ability to dynamically assign users to a particular VLAN based upon their authentication status or role within the enterprise. NTT Com's Safety Pass Business is a highly secure authentication access service which uses IC cards and IPSec-based Internet VPNs. http://www.alcatel.com...

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Cramer Announces Wins with KPN, Japan Telecom

Cramer announced a three-year contract to supply its inventory management solution to KPN Telecom's fixed wireline division. KPN Telecom will use Cramer to replace legacy inventory systems currently in place for its fixed wireline network, which serves 7.8 million customers nationwide and handles some 40 billion call-minutes per year. Three legacy network systems in the transmission domain will be replaced by the Cramer platform. KPN Telecom is Cramer's fourth Tier 1 win this year, following similar strategic accords with BT, Bell Canada and...

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Finnet Selects Ericsson/Juniper for Backbone Expansion

Finland's Finnet has expanded its IP backbone network with Ericsson's Packet Backbone Network (PBN) solution, equipped with Juniper Networks' routers. The upgrade enables 10 Gbps speed across the backbone. Construction began last spring, and the network has been in commercial service since summer 2003. Financial terms were not disclosed. http://www.ericsson.com http://www.juniper....

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Net2Phone Raises $63 million in Secondary Offering

Net2Phone raised $63 million through a secondary public offering. In addition to the public offering of 10.5 million shares, the underwriters exercised their option to purchase an additional 1 million shares of Net2Phone's common stock at $4.50 per share. Net2Phone intends to use the proceeds from the offerings for general corporate purposes, capital expenditures, and working capital, including funding its cable telephony business. http://www.net2phone....

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AT&T Supplies Integrated Network for Enterprise Rent-A-Car

AT&T was awarded a three-year, $10.5 million contract from Enterprise Rent-A-Car to implement an integrated networking platform that will support advanced e-business applications for Enterprise's operations in Europe. The network will connect Enterprise's 300 locations in Germany, Ireland and the UK, with an initial rollout to 40 sites this year and the remainder migrating to AT&T from other suppliers in 2004 and 2005. http://www.att....

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Acterna Expands its Optical Tester Line

Acterna introduced a new version of its MTS optical tester line designed for field use in both outside plant and central office applications. The new MTS-8000 serves as a fiber characterization and WDM analyzer with a full range of test capabilities, including optical time domain reflectometer (OTDR), polarization mode dispersion (PMD), spectral attenuation (SA), wavelength division multiplexing (WDM), optical spectrum analyzer (OSA), and channel isolation up to 10.7 Gbps. http://www.acterna....

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FCC Sets Agenda for VoIP Proceedings Next Week

The FCC announced the agenda for its VoIP Forum, which will be held on 01-December-2003, beginning at 10:30 a.m. EST. After briefly discussing FCC precedents regarding VoIP, a number of industry insiders will have the chance to present their view. Invited speakers include:Charles H. Giancarlo, SVP & General Manager, Cisco SystemsJeff Pulver, President & CEO, Pulver.comJohn Hodulik, Managing Director, Communications Group, UBSJohn Billock, COO, Time Warner CableMichael Gallagher, Acting Assistant Secretary, Department of CommerceCommissioner...

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FCC's Wireless Bureau Announces Reorganization

The FCC has reorganized its Wireless Telecommunications Bureau into six divisions:Auctions and Spectrum Access Division -- Promotes transparent, efficient and effective access to spectrum, through the development of policy initiatives and legal analysis, as well as procedures and administrative capability, to implement the FCC's competitive bidding authority and the transition of spectrum to new and innovative uses. Addresses issues relating to statutory authority and objectives, Commission rules and policies, and the planning, design, and conduct...

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Russia's Combellga Selects the Alcatel 5020 Softswitch

Combellga, a Russian service provider, selected the Alcatel 5020 Softswitch for its next generation network interconnecting its local services areas. Combellga will also use the platform to initiate IP telephony and a range of multimedia services for home and business. The contract also covers the Alcatel Media and Signaling Gateways, which provide seamless interworking between the public switched telephone network (PSTN) and IP networks. Financial terms were not disclosed. http://www.alcatel.com http://www.combellga...

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Oak Ridge National Laboratory to Build "UltraNet"

The Department of Energy's Office of Science has awarded Oak Ridge National Laboratory (ORNL) $4.5 million to design a high-speed, experimental network to be call the "Science UltraNet." The three-year project will support high-performance computing and other large facilities at the Department of Energy and at universities. The plan is to set up a testbed network operating at 10 Gbps to 40 Gbps and connecting ORNL to facilities in Atlanta, Chicago and Sunnyvale, California. http://www.ornl....

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SeaChange Ships 123,000 VOD Streams in Q3

SeaChange International reported record quarterly revenues of $37.6 million, up 11% compared to revenues of $33.9 million in the same period last year. Video-on-Demand (VOD) system revenues for the quarter were $22.5 million, up 47% compared to $15.3 million in the comparable period last year. During the quarter, SeaChange shipped its highest number of streams ever -- over 123,000 residential VOD streams - bringing its total shipped to date to over 750,000. http://www.schange.c...

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Cable & Wireless to Stream Online Video Ads for MSN

Cable & Wireless America will deliver the online streaming video advertising for MSN Video, MSN's new high-quality broadband video player that will be broadly available this winter across the MSN network. Cable & Wireless is providing an end-to-end streaming media solution encompassing content encoding, content and campaign management and streaming media delivery services. Encoding services will be provided for advertisers, enabling advertisers to put advertisements in Windows Media 9 Format. All video advertisements will be streamed over...

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Alloptic Signs Asia-Pac Distribution Deal with Ericsson

Ericsson agreed to market and resell Alloptic's optical access platform to telecommunications carriers throughout the Asia-Pacific region. Alloptic's EPON products provide a point-to-multipoint, passive fiber optic solution. Financial terms were not disclosed. http://www.ericsson.com http://www.alloptic....

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Marvell Introduces 10 GigE Switch Processor

Marvell introduced a 10 GigE silicon solution for enterprise aggregation switches. The new Prestera-98EX135 10 Gigabit Ethernet (GbE) packet processor integrates a 10 GbE MAC/PHY and a 10 Gbps uplink bus. The multi-layer switching features include line rate Layer-2 bridging, Layer-3 routing, Layer 1-4 filtering and QoS. On the line side, the device integrates 10GbE Attachment Unit Interface (XAUI) SerDes for interfacing with XENPAK, XFP and CX-4 modules. http://www.marvell....

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Nortel Introduces Usage-Based Internet Access Solution

Nortel Networks introduced a Usage-Based Internet Access application that enables its Shasta 5000 Broadband Service Node (BSN) to be used to offer pre-paid Internet access. Service providers could use the solution to offer residential and business customers a choice between unlimited access at a fixed price and flexibly priced access based on time and bandwidth used. Customers would also be able to choose their own access bandwidth, view daily updates of service use and control Internet access in real time. Once pre-paid service is used, customers...

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Chile's VTR Leverages Nortel's Shasta for Broadband Flex

VTR, a broadband service provider in Chile, is using Nortel Networks' Shasta 5000 Broadband Service Node (BSN) platform for a new Broadband Flex service that allows customers to decide their connection speed (64, 300 or 600 kbps) every time they log on, and enable them to pay for only the time that they are connected. VTR is believed to be the first carrier offering such a broadband access speed choice. The Shasta cable solution VTR also supports additional, on-demand services like firewalls, VPNs (Virtual Private Networks), and content management....

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Movielink Announces Partnership for SBC Yahoo! DSL Customers

Movielink, a broadband movie download service, signed an agreement with SBC Internet Services to offer a customized version of Movielink's movie rental website as part of a promotional trial of services to SBC Yahoo! DSL members. During the promotional trial, SBC Yahoo! DSL members can go to sbc.movielink.com to browse, rent, and download their favorite movies from the special, co-branded site. Movies on the service currently range between $1.99 and $4.99 for a 24-hour viewing period and can be stored on a member's hard drive for up to 30 days....

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Andrew Acquires Channel Master for Satellite Antennas

Andrew Corporation has acquired selected assets of Channel Master, privately held designer and manufacturer of high volume antenna and antenna related products for professional VSAT (Very Small Aperture Terminal), consumer DBS and television accessory markets, for $18 million in cash. http://www.andrew....

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WildBlue Announces Appointment of New President

WildBlue Communications announced the appointment of Ken Carroll to the position of President and Chief Operating Officer. He previously served as president and CFO at Liberty Satellite & Technology and before that as CFO of PRIMESTAR, a satellite TV service purchased by DirecTV in 2000.Separately, WildBlue named Jim Elliot as Vice President of Infrastructure, responsible for meeting WildBlue's system procurement and implementation goals through contractual and technical management of the space segment, ground segment gateways and customer...

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BellSouth Increases Dividend For Third Time In 2003

BellSouth approved a dividend of $0.25 per common share, an 8.7% percent increase from the previous level of 23 cents per common share. Over the last seven quarters, BellSouth has increased its quarterly dividend 31.6% from $0.19 per common share to $0.25 per common share. http://www.bellsouth....

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SIP Forum Names Pingtel Exec as Chairman

Jay Batson, chairman and founder of Pingtel, has been elected chairman of the board of directors of the SIP Forum. During 2004, the SIP Forum plans to conduct major interoperability activities, such as the SIPit events and its own SIP phone testing service. The SIP Forum also announced that Eric Burger, chief technology officer, SnowShore Networks Inc., has joined the organization's board of directors. http://www.sipforum.o...

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Vonage Raises $35 Million for its Broadband Phone Service

Vonage closed $35.0 million in new financing round led by New Enterprise Associates (NEA), which invested $12 million. The money will be used to further the build out of the service, enhance marketing programs and develop new offerings. Vonage senior management participated in the round; capital raised to date by the company now totals $65.3 million.Vonage currently serves more than 70,000 broadband phone lines and continues to add more than 10,000 lines per month to its network. Traffic volume is over 3 million calls per week. http://www.vonage.com...

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voiceglo Expands its VoIP Calling Across the U.S.

voiceglo, a provider of consumer and business VoIP services based in Fort Lauderdale, Florida, announced the expansion of its free and low cost service into 42 additional area code markets. During the first two weeks of December, voiceglo will launch VoIP services in 29 additional area code markets. voiceglo provides free SIP-to-SIP calling to other voiceglo members and charges for calls off the network. voiceglo's full featured plans, which include voicemail, call waiting, call forwarding and caller ID, are available at rates below typical...

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RADVISION Expands Line of Videoconferencing Appliances

RADVISION announced new versions of its INVISION videoconferencing network appliance aimed at small and medium-sized businesses. The INVISION models support the full range of compression and communications protocols used in videoconferencing for both IP and ISDN end points. Supported standards include the new H.264 compression standard, H.239 for dual video, and G.722, G.722.1 for full audio transcoding. Additionally the INVISION devices support most communication protocols used today, including ISDN (H.320), traditional IP (H.323), and SIP (optional)....

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DSL Forum Issues Interoperability Plan for SHDSL

The DSL Forum issued a new technical report (TR-060) that specifies the equipment interoperability testing plan for SHDSL, which supports speeds up to 2.3 Mbps and reach of up to 18,000 ft. SHDSL, which is being positioned as an access technology for small and medium-sized businesses and for remote offices of larger organizations, was ratified by the ITU in February 2001. TR-060 builds on TR-048, the DSL Forum's testing plan for ADSL equipment interoperability that has become the international industry measure used by independent testing laboratories...

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Ixia Announces 8-Port GigE Module for Layer 4-7 Analysis

Ixia introduced an 8-port 10/100/1000 Ethernet load module for generating large amounts of Layer 4-7 traffic for network analysis. The blade features a dedicated high-speed processor on each port running the Linux operating system. The blade operates within the IXIA 1600T, IXIA 400T, IXIA 250 and IXIA 100 chassis and supports Ixia's full-line of layer 4-7 applications such as: IxChariot for application traffic simulation; IxWeb, for HTTP, SSL, and FTP testing; Radview's WebLOAD for web site stress testing; as well as Ixia's IPSEC security application,...

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Japan Adds 361,000 DSL Lines in October

More than 361,000 new DSL accounts were added in Japan during October, according to the Ministry of Public Management, Home Affairs, Posts and Telecommunications. The figures represent a slight acceleration over the pace of DSL activations in September, when some 340,000 new DSL accounts were added. As of 31-Oct-2003, there were some 9,590,349 DSL lines in service. http://www.soumu.go.jp/joho_tsusin/eng/Statistics/dsl/index.h...

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Ciena's Strategy Seeks Growth through Expansion

The pure optical transport market is not growing and it may not for a while, said Steve W. Chaddick - Ciena's Chief Strategy Officer speaking at last week's UBS conference in New York. Advances in optical technology have been so successful that is very cost effective to build "huge" capacity networks with DWDM. In order to grow in a relatively flat market, Ciena's strategy is to expand into new markets. It is not good enough to be a niche player, said Chaddick, because service providers are seeking long term relationships with a few key suppliers...

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Core Optics Raises $15 Million for High-Speed Components

Core Optics, a start-up based in Nuremberg Germany and Manchester, New Hampshire raised announced the closing of $15 million Series C funding from existing investors, Crescendo Ventures, Techno Venture Management, High Tech Private Equity and Atila Ventures/ETV. CoreOptics develops and manufactures optical modules and subsystems. Its current portfolio includes advanced transponders at 40 Gbps and 10 Gbps as well as high performance ASICs for Metropolitan and Long Haul optical systems. http://www.coreoptics....

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EU Forms Network and Information Security Agency

A new European Network and Information Security Agency (ENISA) has been formed to address cross-border network security issues on behalf of the European Union. Specifically, ENISA will address the need for increased network security awareness and help inform citizens, businesses and administrations of the risks involved in using the Internet and how to protect themselves against the threat. The agency will be temporarily based in Brussels.http://europa.eu....

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Network Elements Raises $15 M, Partners with TriQuint

Network Elements, a start-up based in Beaverton, Oregon, raised $15 million in funding for its development of high-performance 10 Gbps optical networking modules. The new funding cam from Alloy Ventures, New Enterprise Associates, and Lake Street Capital. Network Elements also announced a strategic partnership with TriQuint Semiconductor, a supplier of high performance components for communications applications. The companies will collaborate on the development, production and worldwide distribution of optical 10 Gbps optical networking modules....

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Hong Kong's PCCW Launches Hosted VoIP Service

PCCW, the incumbent carrier in Hong Kong, launched a "Convergence" hosted IP telephony service that features a single inbox for email, voicemail or fax, click-to-call, click-to-conference, intelligent call routing and screening, IP phone access, softphone access, and full standard telephone features and IDD services. The service initially supports H.323 and will soon support SIP. It also integrates with Microsoft Outlook and Messenger buddy lists. The user interface is provided in both Chinese and English. PCCW Convergence is offered in two...

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BT Launches Broadband Entertainment with Philips

BT announced a partnership with Philips to advance its "Home of Possibilities" strategy of extending broadband connectivity to a variety of consumer devices. The companies are offering a bundled package that includes the Philips Streamium MC-i250 hi-fi and a BT Voyager 2000 Wireless Modem for £499.99. A BT broadband connection can be used to stream MP3 files and online radio stations wirelessly to the Philips Streamium player. http://www.btplc....

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Norway's BlueCom Selects Alcatel's DSL

BlueCom, the number three ADSL service provider in Norway, selected Alcatel's Advanced Services Access Manager (ASAM) for an expansion of its national network. Over a two-year period, BlueCom will install approximately 200 Alcatel ASAMs throughout its network with a strategy to upgrade them in the near future to deliver video services over DSL. Bluecom is expected to be an early adopter of new DSL line technologies, including ADSL2plus. The carrier historically been a wholesaler of broadband services, however this agreement with Alcatel allows...

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Alcatel Acquires Packet Video's Network Solutions Division

Alcatel has acquired the Network Solutions unit of PacketVideo, which develops video server technology for the mobile communications industry. The company has demonstrated MPEG-4 video streaming to mobile devices and has an established footprint with NTT DoCoMo, T-Mobile, Orange, Mobilkom, New World Mobility and others. Alcatel described the acquisition as "another significant step" in its strategy to become a leader in broadband video solutions. Financial terms were not disclosed.PacketVideo Corporation, including its Device Solutions unit, is...

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Bay Microsystems Closes $10 Million for its Packet Processors

Bay Microsystems, a start-up based in Santa Clara, California, closed $10 million in an over-subscribed Series C financing round, bringing the total investment in the company to more than $30 million. Bay Microsystems has developed a line of programmable packet processing and traffic management solutions. Its product line includes OC192c/10G processor capable of classification, policing, segmentation and reassembly, and traffic management at wire rate. The funding round includes a new institutional investor, In-Q-Tel, as well as participation...

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Siemens Announces Optical Transmission Breakthrough

Researchers at Siemens, in collaboration with partners at BT and the Technical University of Eindhoven, have develop an extremely fast optical switch known as a TD-OADM (Time-Domain Optical Add-Drop Multiplexer) that enables the transmission and routing of diverse data elements in a single light wave length through the network. Conventional optical switches can only direct complete waveguides. Over a two-year period, Siemens researchers collaborated with workers from the COBRA Institute of Eindhoven Technical University (Netherlands) and BTexact...

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Occam Secures $16.1 million from Investors

Occam Networks, a supplier of Ethernet and IP-based loop carrier equipment, secured $16.1 million from existing investors in the first closing of its previously announced Series A-2 Preferred Stock financing. The company had previously announced plans for the sale and issuance of up to a currently anticipated maximum of $20 million of Series A-2 Preferred Stock. http://www.occamnetworks....

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FCC Rejects Delay Request for LNP

The FCC denied a petition from United States Telecom Association (USTA) and CenturyTel to delay the implementation of local number portability rules due to take effect next week. The new rules require that wireline carriers must port numbers to wireless carriers where the requesting wireless carrier's coverage area overlaps the geographic location of the rate center in which the customer's wireline number is provisioned, provided that the porting-in carrier maintains the number's original rate center designation following the port. http://www...

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EZchip Ships AdvancedTCA Board for its 10Gbps Processor

EZchip Technologies introduced a new evaluation board for its NP-1c 10-Gigabit network processor based on the Advanced Telecommunications Computing Architecture (AdvancedTCA). The solution is provided as a blade that can be plugged into an AdvancedTCA chassis or as a stand-alone, self-contained box. It features ten 1-Gigabit Ethernet ports and a complete data plane and control plane solution. EZchip's 7-layer processor provides 10 Gbps data plane processing and classifying, while a mezzanine card provides control plane processing.AdvancedTCA is...

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European Commission Finds Telecom Sector Recovering

A report from the European Commission finds that the communications sector is stabilizing. The report points to renewed business and consumer confidence, saying that broadband and mobile communications are the main drivers of growth. Overall, the European telecom sector has grown faster in 2003 than the overall rate of growth of the EU economies. The rate of growth in telecom revenues is expected to reach between 3.7% and 4.7% for 2003, compared to an estimated 0.8% for the EU's overall GDP for 2003. Some additional highlights:The number of...

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Lucent Lands ADSL Contract with Portugal Telecom

Portugal Telecom awarded a two-year framework agreement to Lucent Technologies covering more than 100,000 DSL lines in its home territory. Lucent will install its Stinger ADSL equipment in more than 300 locations across Portugal, spreading out from initial installations in and around the capital city of Lisbon.Lucent has been a major supplier of solutions such as CDMA mobile networks, network management software, optical backbone equipment and services to Telesp Cellular, a Brazilian mobile operator and subsidiary of Portugal Telecom, for more...

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ADVA and NEC Deliver Optical Transport for Asahi

Asahi National Broadcasting Company, one of Japan's largest television and broadcasting companies, is using ADVA's Fiber Service Platform (FSP) 2000 to connect its new headquarters facility to its data center. TV Asahi is currently transporting primarily Gigabit Ethernet traffic over 20 kilometers in a point-to-point application. ADVA's DWDM and TDM platform can transport up to 512 applications at speeds between 8 Mbps and 10 Gbps over a single fiber pair. NEC is a partner on the project. http://www.advaoptical....

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Lucent Signs Optical Expansion Contract with Beijing Com. Corp

Beijing Communication Corporation (BCC), a subsidiary of China Netcom, has selected Lucent Technologies' LambdaUnite Multi-Service Switch (MSS) and the Metropolis ADM MultiService Mux for its optical transport network. The expansion project, to be cutover by the year end, marks the first win for LambdaUnite MSS in BCC. Lucent valued the contract at several million U.S. dollars.The LambdaUnite MSS bridges traffic between metro networks and optical core networks, connecting cities, campuses and corporate networks to larger, long-haul public networks.The...

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Verizon Cites Progress in Nationwide Enterprise Data Services

One year after unveiling an ambitious plan to expand its high-speed data network nationwide, Verizon Communications has closed over 900 sales with more than 550 of its largest customers, including 65 Fortune 500 corporations as well as many educational institutions.Verizon's Enterprise Advance portfolio offers Frame Relay, ATM, SONET and Ethernet-over-SONET connectivity in some 40 markets across the country. The company has previously disclosed plans to enter 56 markets.In the initiative's first year, Verizon has added over 6,800 fiber miles to...

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TiVo Adds Record 209,000 subscriptions in Q3

TiVo added a record 209,000 subscriptions in Q3, pushing its total subscription base to over one million. The company cited strong consumer demand, driven by retail support, broad availability, a $50 rebate, and increased awareness of its service. TiVo added approximately 150,000 net new subscriptions through DIRECTV in the quarter, which is growth of nearly 100% over Q2, and nearly 10 times the number of new DIRECTV subscriptions added in Q3 of last year. DIRECTV has increased its focus in driving demand for DIRECTV with TiVo, including increased...

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Brocade Reports Revenue of $138M, up 3% Sequentially

Brocade Communications Systems reported quarterly revenue of $137.8 million, an increase of 3% over the prior quarter, but down from $153.1 million for the same period last year. Non-GAAP net income for Q4 03 was $4.6 million, or $0.02 per share. http://www.brocade....

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AT&T Files Patent Suit Against PayPal, eBay

AT&T filed a patent infringement suit against PayPal and eBay alleging that their online payment systems infringe an AT&T patent covering transactions in which a trusted intermediary securely processes payments over a communications system such as the Internet. AT&T's patent was originally filed in 1991 and was granted in 1994. AT&T said it has unsuccessfully tried to license the patent to the two companies for the past year. http://www.att....

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SBC Introduces Hosted Enterprise VoIP Service

In what it described as "perhaps the most substantial technological advance in telecommunications in 100 years," SBC Communications introduced a new range of enterprise IP services, including a hosted VoIP service aimed at small to medium-sized businesses.SBC's Hosted IP Communication Service (HIPCS) provides a Web interface for managing a full suite of unified messaging features. These include voice mail, e-mail, "find me, follow me," click-to-call, conferencing and other applications. Users can plug in their IP devices, including IP-enabled...

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Cisco Looks to Process Change for Productivity Gain

Cisco has sought to transform its operations during the industry downturn, said Randy Pond, SVP of Operations, Systems and Processes at Cisco Systems, speaking at the Morgan Stanley European TMT Conference. During the late 90s, the whole industry was "in a tornado" and growth could be achieved in all directions. Post downturn, said Pond, Cisco has changed its goal from growing market share to looking for profitable markets. Cisco has launched a "Six Sigma" program to drive operational efficiencies throughout the company. This includes jettisoning...

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MCI Launches IP VPN Broadband Service

MCI announced the immediate availability of its new IP VPN Broadband service for linking remote locations, such as retail outlets, to a company's corporate resources via a broadband connection. MCI is offering IP VPN access through its own DSL network in 55 major markets, or a company could also use its own DSL or cable broadband service from another provider. MCI will manage the VPN equipment. http://www.mci....

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New Edge Networks Helps SAVVIS Expand IP Network

New Edge Networks will provide SAVVIS Communications with DSL reach from more than 1,600 central office locations throughout the U.S. New Edge Networks will provide the expanded reach through its national multi-services platform backbone network and existing inter-carrier agreements with other broadband providers. http://www.newedgenetworks....

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IEEE 802.17 RPR Draft Moves to Sponsor Approval

The IEEE 802.17 RPR Working Group has forwarded the RPR draft standard for Sponsor Ballot, the penultimate step in the standardization process. The fully ratified IEEE 802.17 RPR Standard is expected to be published in mid-2004."The Working Group has worked diligently for more than two years to create an RPR standard that meets the needs of today's metro networks," said John Hawkins, chair of the RPR Alliance and senior marketing manager of Optical Ethernet for Nortel Networks. "As the telecom industry continues its recovery, carriers are increasingly...

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Aruba Debuts Mid-range, Centralized Wi-Fi Switch

Aruba Wireless Networks introduced a mid-range, centralized Wi-Fi switch for dense building environments. The Aruba 2400, which extends the company's existing family of centralized Wi-Fi switching systems, provides Wi-Fi switching, Wi-Fi security appliance and Wi-Fi IDS functions simultaneously. The Aruba 2400 switches and processes both native Ethernet (802.3) and Wi-Fi (802.11) packets. The Aruba 2400 is also optimized for supporting voice communications over wireless. To ensure no degradation in service quality, low latency (sub-10 millisecond)...

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Qwest Commits to Lucent's Accelerate Technology

Lucent Technologies announced a three-year agreement to supply its Accelerate portfolio of next-generation products, services and software to Qwest Communications. Specifically, Qwest will use Lucent's new 5E-XC switch technology - a key component of the Accelerate portfolio of products - to replace older technology, consolidate end-offices and lay the groundwork for migration of its network to VoIP. Lucent Worldwide Services will provide integration, engineering and installation. Qwest will also use Lucent's new intelligent media gateway to...

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Lucent Unveils its "Accelerate" VoIP Initiative

Lucent Technologies introduced its "Accelerate VoIP Solutions," a re-working of its product portfolio to support the convergence of traditional voice services with multimedia services, including Web-based features. The Accelerate initiative is aimed at helping wireline and mobile operators gain the efficiencies and cost-savings of IP networks. It is also aimed at consumers and enterprises new voice and data applications such as unified communications, multimedia messaging, location-based services, IP Centrex, and voice and data VPNs.Major elements...

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AT&T Supplies FR/ATM Network for Georgia Pacific

AT&T was awarded a multi-million dollar integrated networking contract to connect 300 locations across the country for Georgia-Pacific. The network is based on Frame Relay to ATM Interworking, which supports applications running on Georgia-Pacific's corporate intranet, from email to manufacturing, inventory control and warehousing. The three-year agreement significantly expands AT&T's existing relationship with Georgia-Pacific. http://www.att....

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Intelsat Turns to Level 3 Team for New Video Delivery Network

Intelsat and Level 3 Communications will launch a new video delivery network to serve North American broadcast customers. The new Intelsat-operated network, scheduled for launch in the beginning of 2004, will be deployed using Level 3's fiber network and collocation facilities. It will initially consist of PoPs located in many of the largest U.S. media centers, such as New York, Los Angeles, Washington D.C., Denver and San Francisco, with fiber interconnects into additional North American locations. TANDBERG TV is supplying its 3rd Generation...

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Agilent Adds WLAN to Network Analyzer

Agilent Technologies announced a centralized monitoring and analysis application for 802.11a/b/g networks. The new capabilities enable Agilent's Network Analyzer to be used for troubleshooting layer 1-7 of LANs, WANs, and WLANs from a central location. http://www.agilent.com/comms/W...

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MCI Wins $250 million Contract from Virginia

The Commonwealth of Virginia selected MCI to provide advanced voice, data and Internet communications for its statewide COVANET, which connects state agencies, local and county governments, public universities and schools. The four-year contract, with six one-year renewal options, is valued at up to $250 million. The state expects to save 12% on its annual communications costs. http://www.mci.comIn April 2003, MCI/WorldCom relocated its headquarters from Clinton, Mississippi to Ashburn, Virgin...

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Marvell Reports Quarterly Revenues of $215 M, up 12% Sequentially

Marvell reported record quarterly sales of $215.3 million, an increase of 58% over net revenue of $135.9 million for the same period last year and up 12% compared to the previous quarter. Net income under generally accepted accounting principles (GAAP) was $12.0 million, or $0.08 per share. The company said the growth was fueled by market share gains in the data storage market and by its Gigabit Ethernet solutions. http://www.marvell....

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KT Responds as Fast Subscriber Growth Ends

Korea's overall telecom market (wireless + wireline) has grown at double digit rates for the past 5 years, said Jeong-Soo Suh, CFO of KT, speaking at the UBS conference in New York. But the fast growth is now over and the market is only expanding at a low, single-digit pace.Korea's telecom regulatory environment has been changing over the past years, including new requirements for local loop unbundling and local number portability, but so far these have had minimal effect. Suh said KT is too big and too dominant to avoid the impact of regulations....

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China Telecom Sees Favorable Conditions for Growth

The fundamentals of telecom growth in China are very good, said Chang Xiaobing, President of China Telecom. Whereas annual GDP growth in China has been running at over 7.5%, telecom growth has been much faster -- running at annual growth rate of over 15.7% for the past five years. Chang predicts that the central government's commitment to aggressive overall economic growth will be especially favorable for telecommunications.China Telecom is the dominant service provider in the country's most developed areas, where average incomes are double the...

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Intel Predicts PC Economics will Revolutionize Telecom

The telecom market has reached an inflection point where equipment designs based on proprietary silicon and software will soon be overtaken by systems built using standardized silicon, software and modules, said Howard Bubb, Vice President and General Manager of Intel's Communications Infrastructure Group, speaking at the UBS conference in New York.Intel is pursing 2 basic strategies in this regard. 1. Bring communications into computing. Bubb observed that the deepest level of industry convergence is happening at the silicon level, where microprocessors,...

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