Acterna Names New CEO

Acterna named John R. Peeler as its new CEO, replacing Ned C. Lautenbach. Peeler maintains his position as president of Acterna Corporation and president and chief executive of Acterna's communications test business, the company's largest business unit. He has served with the company for 23 years, including as president and CEO of TTC, the company that merged with Wavetek Wandel Goltermann in 2000 to form Acterna.
http://www.acterna.com

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Level 3 Announces Executive Appointments

Level 3 Communications appointed Sunit S. Patel as group vice president and said it anticipates that he will succeed Sureel Choksi as CFO in May 2003. Patel was formerly CFO of Looking Glass Networks. Prior to co-founding Looking Glass, Patel was Treasurer of MCI WorldCom, WorldCom and MFS Communications from 1994 to March 2000. Sureel Choksi, Level 3 current CFO, will chair a group of senior executives charged with improving the company's ability to develop and deploy new services. Separately, Level 3 reaffirmed its previously stated financial guidance and said it was on track to achieve positive free cash flow during the second quarter of 2004.
http://www.level3.com

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DoveBid to Auction DWDM Equipment from Enron's Broadband Network

DoveBid.com is conducting an online, sealed-bid auction of Enron Broadband Services' DWDM optical equipment for its west coast high-speed, backbone network. Featured assets include Ciena Multiwave 4000 Sentry Systems, Sycamore 8000 Systems, spares, and test & measurement equipment. The auction is scheduled to end on 19-March-2003 at 2pm CST.
http://www.dovebid.com

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UTStarcom Announces Continued Strong Bookings With China Telecom

UTStarcom announced a contract with Guizhou China Telecom, valued at approximately $30 million, for new deployments of its IP-based PAS in five cities in Guizhou province. UTStarcom now expects revenues in the range of $315 million for Q1 and $1.4 billion for the full-year 2003. This compares to previous guidance of $275 million and $1.325 billion, respectively. None of the above guidance reflects the pending CommWorks acquisition, as the transaction has not yet closed.
http://www.utstar.com

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Lucent Offers SDK for Wireless Apps

Lucent Technologies released a new MiLife Intelligent Services Gateway (ISG) Software Developers Kit (SDK), a set of tools that independent software vendors and mobile operators can use to develop enriched services targeted at mobile phone users. The software toolset provides mediation capabilities using standards that include Parlay and Open Services Architecture (OSA) for 3G services. Software applications will be able to make use of information such as the location of a mobile user, the kind of mobile device they are using, subscriber data contained in the user's profile such as passwords and preferences, and billing information to handle payments for purchases of goods and services made using a mobile device. In addition, software applications such as multi-party conferencing will be able to set up telephone calls to friends and family using a simple Internet-based user interface.
http://www.lucent.com

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Alcatel to Resell fSONA's Free Space Optics Solution

Alcatel signed an OEM agreement to resell fSONA Communications' Free Space Optics (FSO) as a subsystem of the Alcatel high capacity wireless solution. Alcatel's high-capacity urban wireless systems are being integrated with FSO technology. Free space optics delivers point-to-point, fiber-like services over the air using lasers. fSONA's SONAbeam technology operates at up to 1.5 Gbps and distances up to 5km, depending on environmental conditions.
http://www.alcatel.com
http://www.fsona.comAlcatel has recently announced a series of OEM and technology partnership agreements, including:

• RADVISION, for its new viaIP gw-P20/M Gateway, which supports real time video telephony sessions between 3G-324M enabled cell phones/PDAs and multiple IP and ISDN-based videoconferencing systems. The system is based on the 3G-324M standard for real-time multimedia communications over WCDMA and CDMA2000 3G/UMTS networks. The RADVISION product will be matched with the Alcatel 5020 Softswitch acting as an H.323 gatekeeper, which manages the fixed IP videophones or PCs with an embedded Webcam and a broadband connection to the Internet (xDSL, cable modem or corporate).
• 
  
  Adjungo Networks, for its wireless LAN security & management systems, which offers several secure authentication mechanisms for WLAN users, such as SIM (Subscriber Identity Module) based and Virtual SIM authentication, which leverages the mobile network capabilities supporting 802.1x hot spots and Web-based hot spots. The offer also includes an SMS (Short Message System) based authentication feature.
• 
  
  Native Networks, for its technology for metro Ethernet over SDH in its Optical Multi-Service Nodes (OMSN) equipment. Alcatel's Optical Multi-Service Nodes aggregate multiprotocol traffic onto SDH. Although configurable as ADMs (Add-Drop-Multiplexers), OMSNs have cross-connect capability and already support point-to-point Ethernet connections. Under the new partnership, Alcatel is leveraging Native Networks' Metro Ethernet technology to introduce enhanced transport and aggregation of Ethernet, Fast Ethernet, and Gigabit Ethernet services, along with Packet Ring functionality.
• 
  
  IP Wireless, for its TD-CDMA (TDD) mobile broadband technology. The TDD solution, which will support Alcatel's portfolio of UMTS/3G and WLAN networks and services, is aimed at mobile operators wishing to complement their GSM/GPRS and WCDMA services with enhanced TDD coverage in dense business areas.

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Space Systems/Loral Resumes Construction of WildBlue Ka-Band Satellite

Space Systems/Loral resumed construction of WildBlue-1, all-Ka-band, multiple spot-beam broadband satellite. WildBlue Communications recently announced that INTELSAT, Liberty Satellite & Technology, the National Rural Telecommunications Cooperative (NRTC), Kleiner Perkins Caufield & Byers and David Drucker, WildBlue's chairman, agreed to invest $156 million in the company. The WildBlue-1 satellite will cover North America with 41 overlapping Ka-band spot beams. Eight tracking antennas on board the satellite provide precision pointing of the beams over the contiguous US. The satellite will provide two-way wireless Internet access using a mini-dish antenna.
http://www.wildblue.com
http://www.loral.com

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Riverstone Cites Deployments of its Hitless Protection System

Riverstone Networks said its Hitless Protection System, which enables its switches and routers to continue functioning during software upgrades and system restarts with no impact on live traffic, is gaining traction on large corporate networks that require carrier-class reliability. Riverstone's HPS is currently used in the carrier networks of KT (formerly Korea Telecom), Telefónica de España, Cox Communications and China Netcom. It is also being deployed in large educational networks including the University of Arizona Telemedicine Program, the Dartmouth and Medfield school districts in the United States, the Urasoe school district in Japan and the Anhui province in China. Additionally, the Pentagon is using HPS for networks serving 26,000 military and civilian employees and 3,000 non-defense support personnel.
http://www.riverstonenet.com

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Siemens Introduces 80-Channel, Tunable Laser Card

Siemens IC Networks introduced a tunable laser card for its DWDM platform aimed at regional to ultra-long haul networks. The new card supports 80 channels and could be used for network expansion projects or for sparing. Apart from the new transponder card, Siemens has expanded its optical portfolio to include a new type of optical add-drop multiplexer that allows up to 100% of the transmitted wavelengths to be added and dropped on an all-optical basis. The design eliminates costly electrical regeneration and also facilitates flexible traffic planning. The integrated automatic analysis and control of optical signals in the DWDM network area also allows additional channels to be added on a plug-and-play basis, providing a further reduction in operating costs.
http://www.siemens.com

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Marconi Previews Data-Optimized SDH Multiplexers

Marconi detailed plans for the roll-out of its SMA16-64 family of data-optimized SDH multiplexers. Marconi's SMA 16-64 will support a wide range of multiple traffic types from STM-1 through STM-64, PDH interfaces at 1.5 Mbps, 2 Mbps, 34 Mbps, 45 Mbps, as well as support for 10/100 Mbps and GigE Ethernet services with L2 switching. The platform will be offered in a number of physical configurations, the largest of which will have 16 multi-port traffic slots. The SMA16-64 could be used in a number of network applications, from a hubbing node to a full connectivity VC-12 cross-connect, as well as its more conventional applications in SDH add/drop rings and meshes.
http://www.marconi.com

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Cisco Introduces New SDH Multiservice Products

Cisco Systems introduced several new SDH optical networking products, including the Cisco ONS 15302 and ONS 15305 multiservice access platforms for the customer premises. Both support data services and existing voice traffic over SDH networks. The Cisco ONS 15302 offers 12 E1 ports, four 10/100BASE-T ports and STM-1 Optical Uplink. The Cisco ONS 15305 delivers a low-cost access or aggregation solution with support for 63 E1 ports, six E3 ports, eight 10/100BASE-T ports, two Gigabit Ethernet ports and scalability for STM-1, STM-4 and STM-16 Optical Uplinks. Both platforms support Layer 2 data capabilities and are managed by the Cisco Transport Manager. Additionally, enhancements to the Cisco ONS 15454 SDH Multiservice Provisioning Platform (MSPP) and Cisco Transport Manager element management system support extended optical reach, application diversity, and flexible multiservice configurations. Service providers deploying a Cisco ONS 15454 in the aggregation site can terminate up to 40 ONS 15302 or ONS 15305 access rings per shelf.


In a related announcement, Cisco stated that Acantho, an Italian metro Ethernet service provider, has selected the Cisco ONS 15454 SDH MSPP and ONS 15302.
http://www.cisco.com/warp/public/779/servpro/solutions/optical/

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Isocore Completes Round of MPLS Code Testing

Isocore completed a round of MPLS testing that demonstrated interoperability of the IETF specifications for Fast Reroute and Layer 2 services, including Virtual Private LAN Service (VPLS). The test-bed consisted of edge and core products from multiple vendors, including the TSR/SSR from Avici Systems, the 12400 Series Internet Routers from Cisco Systems, and the BXR-48000 from Marconi. Edge routing equipment came from CoSine Communications, Cisco Systems, Extreme Networks, Foundry Networks, Ixia, Redback Networks, Spirent Communications, and TiMetra Networks. Isocore said the event marked the first interoperability testing of VPLS and Hierarchical VPLS in the industry based on IETF draft-lasserre-vkompella-ppvpn-vpls. Point-to-Point Layer 2 VPNs, based on the IETF Martini drafts were also tested extensively for transport of various types of traffic, including Ethernet VLAN, Frame Relay, and ATM traffic.
http://www.isocore.com

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AT&T Applauds California PUC on Decision to Lower Verizon's Wholesale Rates

AT&T applauded a decision by the California Public Utilities Commission (CPUC) ordering Verizon to reduce its wholesale rates across its California territory. Last year, the Commission lowered SBC's wholesale rates. AT&T said the decision by the CPUC "reaffirms what was envisioned by Telecom Act and reiterated by the FCC in its February 20th ruling -- that state regulators are in the best position to determine what is required in the local phone market to ensure a robust and competitive market."http://www.att.com
http://www.cpuc.ca.gov

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Viatel Acquires Cybernet, a Swiss ISP

Viatel has acquired the business and assets of Cybernet (Schweiz) AG, a Swiss ISP. Viatel operates a multiduct, 7,000 km fiber network linking major European cities. Financial terms were not disclosed.
http://www.viatel.com
http://www.cybernet.ch

• Viatel emerged from bankruptcy protection in June 2002.

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FCC Seeks Public Comment on Receiver Interference Specs

The FCC is seeking public comment on whether receiver interference immunity performance specifications should be incorporated into its spectrum policy on a broader basis. Such specifications could be in the form of incentives, guidelines or regulatory requirements in particular frequency bands and services. The FCC believes that receiver performance specs could promote more efficient use of spectrum and lead to innovation in technology and commercial services. The FCC stated that it is not its intent at this time to implement regulations that would generally subject all receivers to new regulations. Rather, the Commission believes it better to rely primarily on market incentives and voluntary industry guidelines for receiver immunity.
http://www.fcc.gov

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WSJ: How Phone Firms Lost to Cable

A front page story in The Wall Street Journal analyzes why cable modems have captured nearly 70% of the US consumer broadband market, an early lead so wide that DSL may never catch up. The article places the blame squarely on the RBOCs, arguing that they dawdled on DSL, failed to see a market for online services until the mid-90s, then became content to rent second dial-up lines to residential customers while defending their legacy T1 services for business. Even now, new DSL installations often mean the loss a second telephone line to residential users. The article suggests that the economics of Verizon's DSL business won't be favorable until it has 3.5 million to 4 million customers, a target that the company might not hit until the end of 2005. The cable companies invested heavily in cable plant upgrades on the promise of digital TV services. They view that $60 billion investment as already-spent money from which they can gain additional profits with broadband services.
http://www.wsj.com

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Earthlink Launches Unlimited Voice Broadband Telephone Service

EarthLink introduced Unlimited Voice service for its high-speed cable and DSL subscribers. The service includes unlimited local, regional and long distance calling for a flat rate of $39.99 per month. It also includes voicemail, caller ID, call waiting, call return and call forwarding. Web-based account management provides online voicemail retrieval and real-time inbound/outbound calling activity logs. The service is not tied to geography, so customers can select a phone number from a list of over 115 area codes across the US. Earthlink is providing a free ATA (analog telephone adapter) box that connects standard phones to either a DSL or cable modem.
http://www.earthlink.com

• Earthlink currently has 779,000 high-speed subscribers.
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  Unlimited broadband Internet telephony service is also offered by Vonage. The service is priced at $39.99 per month.

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