TANDBERG Television Introduces Content Security for TV over IP

TANDBERG Television is adding enhanced content security to its iTTV delivery platform, which is aimed at telcos and network operators looking to deliver video-centric services such as subscription TV and video on demand over their DSL and FTTH broadband networks. The company's TV over IP head-end solution works in tandem with conditional access systems from Conax, Latens and Widevine. TANDBERG Television also plans to integrate its solutions with conditional access systems from VideoGuard and NDS. http://www.tandbergtv....

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Alcatel wins DSL expansion project in Vietnam

Vietnam Post and Telecommunication (VNPT), the incumbent national telecom provider, awarded a new DSL expansion contract to Alcatel. Under the first contract, VNPT used Alcatel technology to provide broadband access service to the southern cities of Binh Duong, Dong Nai and Ho Chi Minh City. The second contract enables VNPT to expand its service coverage in the central and southern regions, including the cities of Ba Ria Vung Tau, Can Tho, Hue, Da Nang, Khanh Hoa and Nghe An. The deployment uses the Alcatel 7300 ASAM. http://www.alcatel....

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NFOEC: Video delivery via DSL and FTTP

Switched digital video over DSL currently appears to provide a better return-on-investment (ROI) than competing architectures, according to Frank Wiener, VP of Business Development at Calix. Speaking at this week's NFOEC conference in Orlando, Florida, Wiener described an ROI analysis of video delivery over DSL and FTTP that his company has performed. Calix analyzed all 550 COs in Michigan to understand the revenues and costs involved in offering video services. Calix created a model to compare various architectures to deliver video over this...

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France Telecom Divests Latin American Interests

France Telecom will sell its indirect interests in Telecom Argentina to W de Argentina, an affiliate of the Los W group, a leading Argentinean investment company for a consideration in cash of US$125 million.France Telecom and Telecom Italia each hold approximately 34% of voting rights and a 25.5% economic interest in Nortel Inversora ("Nortel"), the holding company which owns 54.7% of Telecom Argentina's share capital.Separately, France Telecom reached an agreement with America Movil for the sale of its 26% indirect interest in El Salvador's operator,...

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London's Video Networks Chooses Alcatel for TV-over-DSL

Video Networks Limited (VNL) selected Alcatel for a video-over-DSL deployment that will be launching in Q2 2004. Under the contract, Alcatel will provide VNL with DSLAMs and support services enabling VNL to provide a full suite of broadband entertainment services including video on demand, broadcast TV and broadband internet data services. Specifically, VNL will use the Alcatel 7301 Advanced Services Access Manager (ASAM) and the Alcatel 5523 New Generation ADSL Work Station (NG AWS) Element Management System. The service initially will be...

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Alcatel Teams with NDS on Broadband IP Entertainment

Alcatel agreed to promote and integrate a video content protection platform from NDS Group plc. as part of its Alcatel Open Media Suite solution for broadband entertainment. NDS's Synamedia system encrypts video content for secure, on-demand delivery. Alcatel's Open Media Suite consists of Video on Demand, broadcast TV and other broadband applications. Cyprus Telecommunications Authority, which is planning a triple-play residential service over DSL, was named as a first customer for the joint solution. http://www.alcatel.com http://www.nds....

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RADVision Announces Gateway for Encrypted Videoconferencing

RADVISION introduced a new videoconferencing gateway with encryption capabilities designed for federal and military markets. The new platform, which is based on RADVISION's viaIP gateway, adds four serial interfaces for connecting to packet-based video conferencing networks. These serial interfaces enable connection to encryption devices, which are common in federal and military applications where high-quality videoconferencing is required over encrypted communication channels. http://www.radvision....

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HNS, a Broadband Satellite Operator, Joins Wi-Fi Alliance

Hughes Network Systems (HNS), which operates the DIRECWAY broadband satellite service, has joined the Wi-Fi Alliance. HNS is providing a Wi-Fi Access service that utilizes the nationwide DIRECWAY system as a backbone, complementing the terrestrial coverage of both 2.5 and 3G cellular carriers and other Wi-Fi hot spot providers. http://www.hns.com http://www.wi-fi.o...

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Ciena Signs Reseller and Investment Deals with Laurel Networks

Ciena entered into a reseller agreement to market, sell and support Laurel Networks' flagship ST200 Service Edge Router, which will be integrated into Ciena's LightWorks ON-Center Management Suite. Laurel's ST200 Service Edge Router is designed for service provider IP/MPLS backbones.Separately, Laurel Networks closed a $20 million third round of funding, bringing total investment in the company to $102.3 million. The new participant in the third round is primary investor Ciena. This fund raising is inclusive of funds raised under a separate transaction...

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Korean Data Center Deploys Juniper's T-series Routers

Korean Internet data center (KIDC) selected Juniper Networks' T-series routing platform to support a major network backbone upgrade at its flagship data center in Seoul. KIDC will use Juniper's T640 backbone core IP routing platform to support new major corporate customers. Financial terms were not disclosed. http://www.juniper....

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FCC Adopts Digital TV Plug and Play Standard for One-Way Cable

The FCC adopted rules for digital "plug and play" cable compatibility, paving the way for digital TVs to work on cable networks without set-top decoders. The new rules will permit TV sets to be built with "plug and play" functionality for one-way digital cable services, which include typical cable programming services and premium channels like HBO and Showtime. Consumers will have to obtain a security card (often called a "POD" or "cable card"), from their local cable operator, to be inserted into the TV set. Consumers will still need a set-top...

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TI Establishes ADSL Test Lab

Texas Instruments has established a new InterOps Test Labs DSL interoperability program to help its customers accelerate operator qualification of products based on its chips. TI said that as operators upgrade and replace their infrastructure equipment, interoperability testing would ensure that new line cards work seamlessly with the DSL modems already being used by subscribers. The TI InterOps Test Labs DSL program has facilities in San Jose, California and Dallas, Texas and includes testing against more than 30 leading infrastructure line cards...

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ECI Telecom Spins-off Celtro, Targeting Backhaul for Mobile Networks

ECI Telecom has spun-off its Celtro business unit, which provides transmission solutions for the backhaul of mobile networks. The new, independent and privately-held company will be known as Celtro Inc. Celtro's team and core technology are descended from ECI's former NGTS Division, which developed digital circuit multiplication equipment and recently merged with NexVerse Networks to form Veraz Networks. The division developed and marketed the QuadCoder, an all-traffic compression system for the cellular network that is installed in live traffic...

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FCC to Review Unbundled Network Element Pricing Rules

The FCC will undertake a comprehensive review of the rules used to establish wholesale pricing of unbundled network elements (UNEs). Through a Notice of Proposed Rulemaking (NPRM), the FCC is seeking industry input on a proposal to make TELRIC rules more closely account for the real world attributes of an incumbent carrier's network. The NPRM reaffirms the 1996 decision to use a forward-looking cost methodology to determine UNE pricing. The FCC also seeks to simplify the process to make it easier for state commissions to set UNE prices. FCC...

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Sprint Refocuses Network Assets on Customer Segments

"Network planning must start with the customer in mind," said Len Barlik, VP - Technology Research and Development at Sprint, speaking at NFOEC in Orlando, Florida. Barlik argues that the network alone is not sufficient to provide a great service; instead resources must be focused on understanding what the customer really wants. This requires a change from a product-specific network to a customer-focused network. To this end, Sprint is consolidating various in-house assets, including network, IT and billing groups across its various divisions,...

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