Broadcom Unveils DOCSIS 2.0 CMTS chipset for 40 Mbps

Broadcom introduced a DOCSIS/EUR-DOCSIS 2.0-based CMTS chipset designed to enable 40 Mbps symmetrical interactive services over cable networks. The company also announced three major design wins for CMTS DOCSIS 2.0 equipment based on the new chipset: ADC Telecom, ARRIS and Cisco Systems.


Broadcom's new CMTS chipset consists of a QAMLink media access controller (MAC), a QAMLink Dual A-TDMA/S-CDMA burst receiver, and a QAMLink modulator. The MAC chip, which can process up to 400,000 packets per second in the aggregate over all upstream and downstream channels, has both a PCI and Gigabit Ethernet interface connection for traditional CMTS and deep fiber architectures.


Broadcom said its TurboQAM technology enables upstream line rates of up to 40 Mbps and downstream operation up to 100 Mbps. The chipset also incorporates support for Broadcom's unique packet-acceleration software, Propane, which enhances the upstream throughput of the cable network.
http://www.broadcom.com

• In December 2002, the International Telecommunications Union -- Telecommunication Sector (ITU-T) approved DOCSIS 2.0 as an international standard. ITU Recommendation J.122 (DOCSIS 2.0) primarily provides greater upstream bandwidth from the user to the network. The specification includes two technologies to achieve that goal: an advanced form of time-division multiple access (A-TDMA), and synchronous code-division multiple access (S-CDMA). Recommendation J.122 is backwards compatible with earlier versions of DOCSIS. It also supports the QoS capabilities in DOCSIS 1.1, enabling the new standard to be used as a foundation for IPCablecom telephony services.
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  In December 2002, CableLabs awarded the first wave of certifications for DOCSIS 2.0 compliance to five companies. DOCSIS 2.0 modems from Motorola, Scientific-Atlanta, Terayon, Texas Instruments and Xrosstech were certified and a cable modem termination system (CMTS) from Terayon received DOCSIS 2.0 qualification.

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Yahoo! Messenger Ties Into WebEx Conferencing

The next release of Yahoo! Messenger Enterprise Edition will allow employees to launch WebEx meetings from their desktops. WebEx Meeting Center conferences, leveraging the WebEx MediaTone Network, will allow users to share applications such as QuickBooks, Excel or AutoCAD, PowerPoint presentations, browsers and desktops, with integrated video, IP voice and telephone conferencing. The new functionality is provided through a partnership between Yahoo!, WebEx Communications and BEA Systems. Developers will be able to tie into Yahoo! Messenger EE functionality from within BEA WebLogic Workshop, BEA's unified development environment.


The companies said they envision an enterprise platform that leverages presence and real-time messaging to quickly communicate vital information, such as a customer's order status or a breakdown in a backend process, to the right person at the right time.
http://www.yahoo,com
http://www.webex.com

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India's Sify Deploys Cisco MPLS Backbone

Sify Limited has deployed the largest MPLS-based network in India using Cisco Systems' 12000, 7600 and 7200 series routers. The network will be used for MPLS VPNs, as well as for reliable Internet gateways to the U.S. Financial terms were not disclosed. Sify's IP backbone extends to 55 major POPs in India, representing an estimated 90% of the established PC base in the country.
http://www.cisco.com
http://www.sifycorp.com

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Covad Acquires 23,000 Qwest Business DSL Customers

Covad Communications is acquiring approximately 23,000 out-of-region business DSL customer from Qwest for $3.75 million in cash. There will be a 105-day transition period for the Qwest customers. Qwest will continue to offer an array of high-speed broadband services to customers outside its 14-state region including dedicated Internet access, Frame Relay, ATM, private line, and virtual private networks.
http://www.covad.com
http://www.qwest.com

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Infineon and Metalink Push QAM-based VDSL to 150 Mbps

Infineon Technologies and Metalink unveiled a new VDSLPlus technology capable of data rates up to 150 Mbps (short range) and extended reach exceeding 4 km using QAM line coding. VDSLPlus uses a new, fifth frequency "band" above the current 12 MHz limit, as defined by international VDSL standards. The companies said the benefits of the extended QAM VDSL technology include:

• delivery of over 150 Mbps aggregated bandwidth over single-pair copper wire - at more than 300m (1000 feet).
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  reach of over 4km (13,200 feet) at speeds exceeding 4 Mbps.
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  compliance with all relevant VDSL standards' requirements including: Band Plan 998, 997, and those defined by the Chinese CTSI as well as any proprietary band plans.
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  spectral compatibility and co-existence with narrowband and legacy DSL services including POTS, EURISDN, TCM-ISDN and ADSL.
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  support for both Ethernet and ATM over VDSL.

Metalink and Infineon said they are committed to teaming with other QAM PHY and system companies to promote VDSLPlus standardization in the various standardization bodies.
http://www.infineon.com
http://www.metalinkDSL.com

• Last week, eleven DSL semiconductor and system vendors announced their commitment to discrete multi-tone (DMT) modulation as the line code for standard-compliant very-high-bit-rate digital subscriber lines (VDSL). The companies noted that over 36 million ADSL lines deployed worldwide at the end of 2002 were using DMT modulation. The companies claim the technology will scale to more than 70 Mbps downstream and over 50 Mbps upstream on existing telephone lines. The backers of DMT VDSL include Alcatel, Analog Devices, Broadcom, Ericsson, Ikanos Communications, Intel, LSI Logic, Nokia, STMicroelectronics, Texas Instruments and Thomson Multimedia.
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  The T1E1.4 committee is meeting later this month to consider whether DMT or QAM should be adopted as a standard. A "VDSL Olympics" is currently underway, with both sides presenting their technical arguments as to which is best.

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BellSouth to Extend DSL to all COs in Georgia

Alcatel will supply its 7300 Advanced Services Access Manager (ASAM) DSL platform to BellSouth to enable the remaining central offices in Georgia with DSL. Financial terms were not disclosed. BellSouth credited a favorable business environment established by the State of Georgia for its decision to deploy broadband capabilities to those central offices where it is not currently available..
http://www.bellsouth.com
http://www.alcatel.com

• In April, BellSouth announced plans to extend ADSL to 100% of central offices in South Carolina. BellSouth said actions taken by the South Carolina state legislature had created a favorable environment for the network expansion.

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AT&T Shareholder Vote Against Cap on CEO Compensation

AT&T shareholders voted against a proposal to set a cap on CEO compensation. Shares voted "for" the proposal were 40 million (about 8%), while shares "against" were 484.9 million (about 92%). Among other issues, AT&T shareholders voted for the election of all directors on the AT&T board, for the appointment of PricewaterhouseCoopers as auditors, and against term limits for outside directors.


Separately, AT&T declared a regular dividend of $0.1875 per share, payable 01-August-2003, to AT&T common shareowners of record on 30-June-2003.
http://www.att.com

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Sarvega Raises $10 Million for XML Appliances

Sarvega, a start-up based near Chicago, Illinois, attracted $10 million of Series B funding for its XML appliances. Sarvega's solutions are designed to decouple complex XML processing tasks from the application infrastructure and offload them to the network infrastructure. The Series B financing brings the total capital raised to date to over $20 million and introduces new investor InterWest Partners to existing investors Bessemer Venture Partners, ComVentures, and KB Partners, who also participated in this round.


CommWorks is using Sarvega's XPE appliances to accelerate XML processing in its global customer support applications infrastructure.
http://www.sarvega.com/

• Sarvega's hardware-based appliance accelerates XML processing, providing higher performance and QoS, regardless of the XML document size or dialect. The Sarvega XPE Switch would reside between originating enterprise applications and the gateways to the applications, services, networks and devices that the originating applications need to deliver information to. Originating applications connect to the switch using their own native version of XML; and the Sarvega XPE uses business rules configured within it to package, secure, and deliver the information to multiple end points.
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  Sarvega is headed by Dr. Sunil S. Gaitonde, who previously led the second-generation cache engine initiative for Cisco's Content Services Business Unit. He joined Cisco when it acquired Internet Junction, a developer of Internet gateway software, a company that Sunil co-founded.

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France Telecom Announces New Push for Nationwide Broadband

France Telecom announced a new push to extend DSL through France. The company is now targeting 3 million ADSL customers by year-end 2003 and that ADSL coverage will be available to 90% of the population by 2005. The new initiative has five major points:

• Equip central offices (local exchanges) to provide ADSL access as rapidly as possible when service is requested by at least 100 customers in a given local area. France Telecom expects to have 8,000 DSLAMs deployed in 2005, compared with 3,000 today. This will require 7,500 km of new fiber deployments.
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  Equip all central offices of over 1,000 lines (which serve areas with about 2,000 inhabitants) with ADSL access equipment by 2005
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  Launch satellite broadband Internet service in September 2003 for residential customers, businesses and municipalities in remote areas. France Telecom plans three different satellite service. "Pack Surf Satellite" lets users select their own ISP and supports four different data rates from 128 kbps to 2048 kbps for downstream traffic and 64 kbps to 512 kbps for upstream traffic. Oléane SAT covers both Internet access solutions and Intranets with the same range of speeds as Pack Surf Satellite. Wanadoo Pro Sat provides the same services as Wanadoo Pro ADSL, but without geographic restrictions. This service will provide data rates of 128 kbps downstream and 64 kbps upstream.
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  Launch trials of alternative broadband technologies in summer 2003 to meet customer demand throughout the country. Among these are services that integrate satellite broadband Internet and WiFi networks.
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  France Telecom's regional offices will pursue these initiatives in close liaison with local and regional authorities to assess customer demand and deliver responses adapted to broadband Internet needs.

France Telecom plans to invest EUR 600 million over three years in the broadband initiative.
http://www.francetelecom.com

• At the end of 2002, 1.4 million people in France had broadband Internet connections and about 50,000 new accounts were being added per week. It now takes about 48 hours to get new ADSL service in Paris and about one week elsewhere in France.

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MCI Reports Two More Executive Resignations

MCI reported two more executive level resignations: Michael H. Salsbury, executive vice president and general counsel, and Susan Mayer, senior vice president and treasurer.
http://www.mci.com

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U.S. House Approves Commercial Spectrum Enhancement Act

The U.S. House of Representatives voted 408-10 to pass the Commercial Spectrum Enhancement Act (H.R. 1320), which supports the reallocation of spectrum from governmental to commercial users. The legislation authorizes the use of proceeds from spectrum auctions to finance the relocation of incumbent federal entities to comparable spectrum bands. The funding is expected to accelerate the move of federal agencies to new spectrum and the subsequent introduction of new commercial services.
http://www.house.gov

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Dorman Outlines Strategies for AT&T Shareholders

The telecom industry is in the final stages of a ten year transition period, said David Dorman, AT&T Chairman and CEO, speaking at the company's 118th annual meeting of shareowners. Dorman emphasized AT&T's financial stability and balance sheet strength as key competitive differentiators during an upcoming consolidation of the industry. He believes AT&T has solid strategies in place to benefit from a revitalized telecom sector. These include a $500 million spending plan to improve customer-facing operations, such as service contracts, provisioning, access, billing and customer care. For businesses, AT&T is looking to simplify the operating environment of the services it delivers by evolving to a single, global IP network from five separate physical networks today. For consumers, AT&T will look to increased service bundling, which it now provides to more than 3 million customers in 11 markets. AT&T expects to offer bundled services to consumers in as many as 22 markets by year end. As for its financial condition, AT&T expects to end the year with net debt under $10 billion, compared to net debt of $12 billion at the end of this year's Q1. A webcast of Dorman's presentation is available online.
http://www.att.com/ir/

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Passave Offers FTTH Chip for EPON Deployments

Passave Technologies introduced a new chip for use in Gigabit Ethernet FTTH customer premises termination units, otherwise known as ONUs. The new device, which conforms to the emerging IEEE 802.3ah EFM standard, integrates EPON (EFM point-to-multi-point) and OAM functionality. It features integrated security, PON protocol, OAM protocol, UNI, burst control, as well as bridging with IGMP filtering and traffic management functions. Passave said its chip has been proven with burst optics from multiple vendors.
http://www.passave.com

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New Zealand's TelstraClear Deploys 3.5GHz OFDM Network

TelstraClear, New Zealand's second-largest full service telecommunications service provider, is deploying Alvarion's BreezeACCESS 3.5GHz OFDM equipment to provide broadband services in areas beyond the reach of wireline infrastructure. The carrier holds 3.5GHz licenses throughout New Zealand. Siemens Information and Communications Networks (ICN) serves as systems integrator for the project. TelstraClear has placed an initial purchase order with Siemens for the project's first phase to establish a Fixed Wireless network in Auckland and a number of other cities throughout the country.
http://www.alvarion.com

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IPeria Raises New Funding for its IP Voice Messaging

IPeria, a start-up headquartered in Burlington, Massachusetts, announced a new round of funding to support its IP messaging software. IPeria's ActivEdge Enhanced Communication System provides voicemail, auto-attendant, and other network-based enhanced messaging services using SIP and VoiceXML. IPeria features an open software architecture that runs on commodity servers using Solaris or Linux. The new funding was led by New Venturetec of Zurich Switzerland. Financial terms were not disclosed.
http://www.iperia.com

• Earlier this month, IPeria named Rob Scott as its new president and CEO. Scott joins IPeria from Octave Communications, Inc. where he was chairman and co-founder.

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Verizon Launches T-1 Integrated Access service

Verizon Communications began offering a new Integrated Access service for small businesses. A T1 circuit is used to provide 24 digital channels that can be designed for voice services, data or a combination of both. Verizon is offering a series of discounts, rebates and fee waivers for the bundle of services. There are three service options:

• Channelized T-1 with dedicated long-distance and dedicated Internet access
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  Channelized T-1 with dedicated Internet access
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  Channelized T-1 with dedicated long-distance

http://www.verizon.com

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Broadcom and Ambit Reach 2 Million VoIP CPE Shipments in Japan

Ambit Microsystems' shipments of residential VoIP hardware sets have exceeded two million units in Japan. The Ambit SMTAs (Standalone Media Terminal Adapters) use Broadcom's BCM1112 VoIP CPE Engine and its xChange VoIP firmware. The devices enable one or two analog POTS ports to be connected to a VoIP service running over a broadband connection.
http://www.broadcom.com
http://www.ambitmicro.com

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