RealNetworks' RHAPSODY Streams 500,000 Songs per Day

RealNetworks' RHAPSODY subscription services is streaming an average of 500,000 songs per day to its customers. The company streamed more than 16 million on-demand songs to RHAPSODY subscribers in August. Customers pay a flat fee for unlimited access to a library of more than 25,000 albums of music.
http://www.realnetworks.com

Read More

Comcast Considers All-Digital Migration, Plans to Boost Cable Modem Speeds

With upgrades to its physical cable plant nearly complete, Comcast is contemplating its next big upgrade: the leap to an all digital network. Speaking at the at the Morgan Stanley Global Media & Communications Conference in Boston, Steve Burke, president of Comcast's cable division, said that about 50% of the bandwidth in its network is consumed by broadcasting about 80 analog channels. If all analog customers were converted to digital, this bandwidth could be used for the equivalent of about 500 more digital channels. The liberated bandwidth could also be used for other applications, such as increasing the downlink speed of the cable modem service to 10 Mbps and above. To get to the all-digital network, Comcast would have to provide digital set-tops to some 30 ~ 40 million customers. The company is considering a very low cost, set-top box (under $35) as one option. Burke said that even if it were to cost $1 billion to provide these set-tops and convert the network to an all-digital infrastructure, he believes it would be "money well spent" due to the increased sales opportunities that would result.


Later this year, Comcast aims to upgrade its average cable modem downlink speed from 1.5 Mbps to 3 Mbps said Burke. This will provide Comcast with "bragging" rights as to why cable is better than DSL. Burke also said that Comcast will invest in a broadband portal to differentiate its service from DSL. As for economics, Burke noted that the cable modem business continues to accelerate, despite recent price cuts by the RBOCs, in part because cable modem service is available in more locations than DSL. ARPU for cable modem service continues to be strong and Comcast is adding 400,000 or more new customers per quarter. Comcast's most effective means of attracting new cable modem subscribers continues to be people calling in asking for cable TV service and then being up-sold to a bundled TV+data bundle. Comcast also has about 4,000 retail locations (Circuit City, Best Buy, etc.), which provides a sales advantage over the telcos. Burke also observed that the margins for cable modem service improve with greater subscriber density. Comcast's margins for cable modem service already exceed those for its video offerings.
http://www.comcast.com

Read More

Redback Boosts SMS Performance 2-3X with Upgrade Board

Redback Networks introduced a new XFE Forwarding Engine module that boosts the performance of its SMS 1800 and 1000 platform by 2 to 3 times. The Redback SMS 1800 and 1000 are widely deployed across the industry for managing DSL broadband subscribers, including by eight of the top ten DSL providers worldwide.


Redback's new XFE Forwarding Engine module, which can be installed into the forwarding engine slot of the SMS 1800 system, leverages high performance network processors from Broadcom, as compared to the generic PowerPC processors in use since the Redback SMS 1000 was introduced in 1999. The basic functionality of the platform continues to be based on Redback's "Streamliner" technology, which the company says has a proven 99.999% reliability. The module supports existing ATM OC3/STM1 trunks. It also maintains the existing SMS integration with the Radius database and BSS/OSS.


Performance gains from the new XFE Forwarding Engine module are also achieved by integrating two 10/100/1000 Ethernet ports directly into the forwarding plane. More significantly, these ports would enable service providers to transition some of the transport trunks linking the SMS to DSLAMs from ATM to Gigabit Ethernet without a fork-lift upgrade. Redback said its XFE module also increases the potential use of existing equipment in Ethernet access networks and L2TP tunnel switching. The module is already shipping.
http://www.redback.com

• Redback's XFE Forwarding Engine module integrates two 10/100/1000 Ethernet ports directly into the forwarding plane to enable service providers to transition transport trunks linking the SMS 1800 to DSLAMs from ATM to Gigabit Ethernet.

Read More

Spirent to Develop Remote Network Testing for Alcatel ASAM

Spirent Communications will integrated its remote test capabilities into the widely-deployed Alcatel 7300/7301 Advanced Services Access Manager (ASAM). A remote test probe in combination with Operations Support System (OSS) software allows service providers to carry out remote tests to determine the nature and location of a customer's service problem.


As part of the development, Alcatel is providing an interface to its 7300/7301ASAM, while Spirent is producing test hardware that conducts the actual circuit testing. This hardware -- in the form of a compact module -- plugs into and is contained within the ASAM. To activate testing on circuits served by the ASAM, the service provider uses Spirent's REACT remote test Operations Support System (OSS) software to select circuits, initiate tests and report results. Support for additional element types is currently under investigation.


Spirent said this approach helps reduce the need for expensive field dispatches, speeds the repair of an affected circuit, and helps shrink the provider's overall capital and operational expenses.
http://www.spirentcom.com

Read More

TI Debuts Multi-service ADSL Chipset for CO Equipment

Texas Instruments introduced a new 16-port, multi-service ADSL central office (CO) chipset for both new and legacy ADSL standards. The two-chip "AC7" implementation, which represents TI's seventh-generation CO solution, enables multi-service and multi-standard support of ADSL, including legacy protocols, as well as ADSL2 and ADSL2plus. Included among the features in AC7 are support of reach- extended ADSL2 (G.992.3 Annex L), enhanced-upstream operation enabling upstream bit rates over POTS as high as 3.5 Mbps (G.992.3 Annex J and G.992.5 Annexes J and L). Each of these standards and operational modes can be supported from any port on a single line card with software provisioning. The AC7 is expected to begin sampling in 4Q 2003 with full production expected in early 2004.


Texas Instruments said that supporting the full suite of DSL standards enables operators to tier their service offerings for consumers, offer the triple play of voice, video and data services, and expand their service area to provide DSL to more households.
http://www.ti.com/dsl

Read More

ECI Unveils its Next Generation Multiservice Access Gateway

ECI Telecom introduced Hi-FOCuS 4, its next-generation multiservice access gateway platform for use in all types of broadband networks, including DSL and FTTx. The platform provides very high port density of 960 lines per shelf and 3,840 lines per rack and can be deployed with optional functionality of multi-direction test access and line card redundancy. Furthermore, Hi-FOCuS 4 features a unique non-blocking backplane architecture that supports more than 20,000 simultaneous users with an aggregated capacity of more than 500 Gbps and with multiple connections to each user. ECI estimates that the bandwidth capabilities across the Hi-FOCuS 4 backplane provides ability to deliver over 500 video channels. It supports multi-level multicasting, enabling not only multi-channel TV services but also Video on Demand, video telephony, peer-to-peer services and other bandwidth demanding services.


Network interfaces include multiple STM-4, STM-1, Gigabit Ethernet, T3/E3 and E1/T1 options. Both ATM and IP can coexist on the same box.


ECI said that consistent with the previous generation platform, Hi-FOCuS 4 is built to migrate customers from one type of DSL to another within the same box. The system supports all types of DSL including ADSL, ADSL2, ADSL2+ G.SHDSL and VDSL. The Hi-FOCuS 4 could also be used for both point-to-point and point-to-multi-point (PON) fiber-based networks with various FTTx implementations including FTTC, FTTH and FTTB. It also provides full voice functionality support including direct POTS interfaces, VoDSL, VoIP and Integrated Voice Gateway functionality.
http://www.ecitele.com

Read More

Rogers AT&T Wireless To Deploy Telica's Wireless Gateway

Rogers AT&T Wireless, which serves more than 3.8 million wireless customers across Canada, has selected the Telica Plexus 9000 Gateway Mobile Switching Center (MSC) for deployment starting this quarter. Telica's Plexus 9000 is a carrier-grade switch that includes all the elements of a softswitch-based solution, media gateway, media gateway controller and signaling gateway, to provide Class 4/5 switching for wireline and wireless networks. Rogers AT&T Wireless will use the Plexus 9000 Gateway MSCs to achieve greater efficiency in traffic handling and to further facilitate the operation of its dual TDMA IS-136 and GSM/GPRS networks. Financial terms were not disclosed.
http://www.telica.com

Read More

Springboard Telecom Selects Occam's BLC

Springboard Telecom, a competitive communications provider based in North Carolina, has selected Occam Networks' Broadband Loop Carrier (BLC) platform to provide voice and high-speed data services to residential and business subscribers. The BLC system will be deployed initially to deliver service to a new urban development in Charlotte, N.C. called "The Town of Ayrsley." The new development includes a closed fiber optic network, which ultimately will enable fiber to the premises for every customer in the 140-acre community. Financial terms were not disclosed.
http://www.occamnetworks.com
http://www.justonestop.net

Read More

Jungo Raises $5.5 Million for Residential Gateway Software

Jungo Software Technologies, a start-up based in San Jose, California, with R&D in Israel, secured $5.5 million in a third round of funding for its residential gateway software. Jungo develops OpenRG), a software suite that enables broadband access device manufacturers to add home networking applications and managed broadband services to cable and DSL modems, residential and small office/home office (SOHO) gateways, wireless access points, and integrated access devices (IAD). OpenRG includes an optimized Linux-based operating system, optional VxWorks support, communication and routing protocols, network security (Stateful Packet Inspection Firewall), wireless LAN security, VPNs and other features. Toshiba and U.S. Robotics are using the software in their respective integrated access devices. The new funding was led by Partech International and joined by Jungo's existing investors, Infineon Ventures, the Intel Communications Fund and TeleSoft Partners.


Partech's Venture Partner, Ami Amir, who is also the founder and former CEO of RADVISION, will join Jungo's board of directors.
http://www.jungo.com

Read More

Cisco Adds Fibre Channel to its ONS 15454 MSPP

Cisco Systems announced the ability to deliver Fibre Channel-based storage-area-network (SAN)-extension services over SONET/SDH using its Cisco ONS 15454 Multiservice Provisioning Platform (MSPP). A new SL-Series interface for the Cisco ONS 15454 supports four gigabit-interface-converter (GBIC)-based ports, each capable of 1- and 2-Gbps Fibre Channel at line rates. This provides the Cisco ONS 15454 with a potential density of 40 Fibre Channel interfaces. A Cisco ONS 15454-based service network can use the Cisco ML-Series and SL-Series interfaces to provide SAN-extension services using native Fibre Channel, Gigabit Ethernet, or Fibre Channel over Internet Protocol (FCIP) with standards-based generic framing procedure-transparent (GFP-T) and virtual concatenation (VCAT) technology. SAN services would use the same management tools as with TDM and Ethernet services. The Cisco ONS 15454 ML-Series interface is currently available and the Cisco ONS 15454 SL-Series interface is scheduled to be available by year end 2003.


Separately, Cisco announced that Cogeco Cable, the second-largest cable system operator in both Ontario and Quebec, selected the ONS 15454 Multiservice Provisioning Platform (MSPP) ML-Series interface to reduce the type and number of network elements required for Ethernet and IP transport.
http://www.cisco.com

Read More

NFOEC: Meriton Networks Unveils its Metro Services Network

Meriton Networks, a start-up based in Ottawa, Canada, unveiled a managed, access- to-regional, high-speed metro (HSM) services architecture based on a new transparent optical multiplexing device for the access network. This new device, the Meriton 3300 OSU (Optical Services Unit), collects and aggregates traffic at the customer premise or the carrier's point of presence. The traffic is then carried over wavelengths to the metro core by the Meriton 7200 OADX (Optical Add/Drop Switch). The platform serves as the metro transport, including all the necessary optical amplifiers and dispersion compensation modules. Both CWDM and DWDM are supported. The Meriton platform also delivers high-speed data services, including Gigabit Ethernet and storage service offerings. Meriton estimates that its architecture deliver twice the capacity at 60% less capital cost compared to SONET/SDH architectures. Other product innovations introduced by Meriton Networks include:


the 1450 OFA (Optical Fiber Amplifier) Series, a collection of pre-, post- and inline amplifiers for advanced DWDM. The amplifiers inter-work seamlessly with Meriton's metro core 7200 OADX (Optical Add/Drop Switch) and Meriton's metro access 3300 OSU (Optical Services Unit).


the 1100 DCM (Dispersion Compensation Module) Series, a suite of products that enhances the performance of DWDM 2.5 Gbps and 10 Gbps longer reach optical networks. There are five different DCMs available, ranging in lengths from 40 km to 120 km.
http://www.meriton.com

• In December 2002, Meriton Networks, a start-up based in Ottawa, Canada, secured $17 million in new funding for its carrier-class wavelength networking equipment. The funding new funding was led by VenGrowth Capital Partners and was joined by existing investors Desjardins Venture Capital Group, Newbury Ventures, Primaxis Technology Ventures, RBC Capital Partners (Telecommunications Fund), Sierra Ventures, Venture Coaches and VentureLink Fund.



• Meriton Networks is headed by Michael Gassewitz, who previously held a variety of key roles at Newbridge Networks, including Assistant Vice President and Chief Technology Officer for the Switching and Routing division.

Read More

Mahi Names New Customer for its Metro Core Aggregation System

Buckeye TeleSystem, a facilities-based carrier located in Toledo, Ohio, has deployed Mahi Networks' Mi7 MCAS platform to aggregate and switch multiple SONET rings for its hub switching facilities. For the initial application, Buckeye has cutover existing service from several SONET facilities that serve a large local institution with more than 70 sites, and has aggregated the associated rings onto the Mi7. Financial terms were not disclosed.
http://www.mahinetworks.com

Read More

UTStarcom's PAS Subscribers in China Top 15 Million

During August, more than 1.5 million new subscribers in China were added to networks served by UTStarcom's city-wide Personal Access System (PAS). The total PAS customer base in China has now exceeded the 15 million mark. In the first half of 2003, PAS accounted for over 40% of all the fixed-line subscriber additions in all of China.
http://www.utstar.com

Read More

NFOEC: Nortel Networks Extends Reach of Metro DWDM

At this week's NFOEC (National Fiber Optic Engineers Conference) 2003 in Orlando, Florida, Nortel Networks is unveiling plans to extend the reach of its metro DWDM platforms. In the first phase, scheduled for availability in Q4 2003, Nortel Networks OPTera Metro 5200 Multiservice Platform will extend the reach of metro DWDM networks to as much as 350 kilometers over 2.5 Gbps channels and 110 kilometers over 10 Gbps without dispersion compensation. The second phase enhancement, scheduled for availability in the Q1 2004, will extend this reach to as much as 600 kilometers over 10 Gbps channels.
http://www.nortelnetworks.com

Read More

Bell Canada Outlines Plan for Packet Telephony Services

Bell Canada plans to invest CDN$200 million (approximately US$146 million) over three years in Nortel Networks' IP and multimedia messaging platforms to provide new services to its large enterprise customers. Bell Canada is pursuing a "One Network" approach to the development and delivery of services," said Michael Sabia, Chief Executive Officer of BCE and Bell Canada, based on an "evolutionary" strategy as opposed to a totally new network implementation. However in western Canada, the approach may be more as a greenfield deployment.


Bell Canada will be using Nortel Networks' Multimedia Communication Server (MCS) 5200 (formerly known as the Interactive Multimedia Server or IMS) as an open, SIP-based media server. Bell also plans to deploy Nortel Networks Succession Communication Server 2000, which is a "Superclass" softswitch. The companies said both platforms would position Bell to fully evolve to a full VoIP infrastructure. Some of the enhanced applications that will be available to Bell customers could include: Instant Video Calling, Hot Desking (allowing mobile workers can establish an instant workspace equipped with their phone numbers and calling preferences); Unified Messaging, Single Directory and Collaboration Tools.


Bell Canada, in conjunction with Aliant and Bell West, will launch an Innovation Centre in Ottawa by Q4 focused on creating new services based on IP Telephony and multimedia standards, while working with third parties to address compatibility issues. The new Innovation Centre will complement and extend the work of Bell's iTechCentre, a CDN$50 million lab established in 2001 to test new IP-based technologies and services. Initial work at the Innovation Centre will focus on hosted IP telephony applications that could be adopted by large enterprises, as well as small to medium-sized businesses. Longer term, the goal is to create an ecosystem for IP telephony applications.


Eugene Roman, Group President of Networks & Technology for Bell Canada, said the move to IP is all about innovation and providing simplicity to its customers. Al Safarikas, Vice-President Marketing for Nortel Networks, predicted that this delivery of multimedia services would be the next inflection point for the telecommunications industry.
http://www.bell.cahttp://www.nortelnetworks.com

Read More

NFOEC: OFS and Alloptic Extend EPON Reach to 16km

OFS and Alloptic are demonstrating a Fiber-to-the-Premises (FTTP) Ethernet Passive Optical Network (EPON) solution with a reach of 16 km, about 60% further than conventional EPON solutions. The demonstration, which combines voice, video, and data in a triple play service, consists of Alloptic EdgeGEAR 2000 Chassis connected to Alloptic HomeGEAR Ultra over 16 km of the Access ADVANTAGE cabling system. OFS said that optical power is conserved due to the zero water peak characteristics of its AllWave Fiber cable used in conjunction with its low loss splitters and low loss LC connections. The applications include broadcast analog video at 1550 nm, Internet Protocol (IP) data and two way live voice using Time Division Multiplexing (TDM) voice at 1490 nm and 1310 nm. The voice capability is provided by Alloptic's patented voice TDM technology.
http://www.alloptic.com
http://www.ofsoptics.com

Read More

Broadcom Ships Single-Chip Wi-Fi Solution

Broadcom began shipping a single-chip, all CMOS Wi-Fi solution designed for pocketsize electronic devices, including PDAs, cell phones, digital cameras, MP3 players and other portable devices. The new chip, which is described as the "size of a postage stamp" integrates a 2.4 GHz radio, power amplifier, IEEE 802.11b baseband processor, medium access controller (MAC), Tx/Rx and diversity switches and all other radio components onto a single silicon die. The power management of its new chip consumes an average of 70-97% less power than existing solutions. Broadcom said a new "SuperStandby" feature wakes the minimum amount of circuitry for the shortest possible period of time, allowing the one-chip module to consume up to 97% less power than the Intel Centrino wireless LAN solution in standby mode.
http://www.broadcom.com

Read More