THUS Launches MPLS IP VPN with Ethernet Access

THUS plc, a UK service providers, launched an MPLS-based VPN service using Ethernet as the access technology. THUS's MPLS IP VPN service is available with Ethernet connections at 10 Mbps, 100 Mbps and 1 Gbps. THUS operates a Cisco-powered network.
http://www.thus.co.uk

Read More

Infonet Supplies MPLS VPN for TNT Logistics

Infonet Services Corporation is providing an MPLS-enabled IP VPN Secure network for TNT Logistics, which offers express mail and other logistical services globally. The VPN links 15 sites in Europe, Asia, Australia and the United States.
http://www.infonet.com

Read More

Stealth Communications Selects Procket for IP/MPLS Backbone

Stealth Communications, a privately-held Ethernet service provider, has selected Procket Networks' PRO/8801 high-availability router to build a 10 Gigabit Ethernet IP/MPLS metro core network for New York City. Stealth's initial deployment in the greater Manhattan area will leverage Procket's PRO/8801 routers to power a new suite of transparent Local Area services and VoIP over MPLS. Stealth plans to further expand this initial implementation of IPv4/IPv6 IP/MPLS core backbone using Procket PRO/8000 routers in early 2004. Financial terms were not disclosed.
http://www.procket.com

• In April 2003, Procket Networks, a start-up based in Milpitas, California, announced commercial availability of its PRO/8801 router, its first product in a series. The Procket platforms are based on a customized chipset that includes a fully programmable 40 Gbps network processor and a Terabit Switch Engine. The scalable chipset can be used in platforms that range from 80 Gbps to 960 Gbps. The first PRO/8801 router features 80 Gbps of total capacity and can support up to 40 high speed interfaces in a chassis that takes up 1/8 of a rack. The PRO/8812 router, which will ship later this quarter, features 960 Gbps of total capacity and a forwarding rate of 1.2 billion packets per second. The routers support OC-3c, OC-12c, OC-48c, OC-192c, Gigabit Ethernet and 10 Gigabit Ethernet interfaces. All Procket routers use common line cards and media adapters, and the company estimates that its systems offer a reduction in power consumption and floor space of up to 50%.



• In September, Procket announced that University College London was using its PRO/8801 series platform.

Read More

Network Processing Forum Adopts Four Implementation Agreements

The Network Processing Forum (NPF) has added four new software implementation agreements aimed at speeding the development and lowering the cost of network platforms. The four implementation agreements are:


MPLS Forwarding Service APIs with Diffserv and TE Extensions -- these provide an open and generic interface for control plane software components to configure and manage the forwarding plane elements of the MPLS layer. The Forum believes that MPLS is ideally suited to be implemented on network processors and that this IA will greatly simplify the task network equipment vendors face in designing and implementing MPLS on such devices. The IA provides a vendor neutral API for control plane stacks such as LDP and RSVP-TE.


IPv6 Unicast Forwarding Services API -- this provides a vendor-neutral programming interface to configure and manage any IPv6 Forwarding Information Base (FIB). It could be used to configure and manage address resolution tables and it includes unified and discrete mode versions similar to those found in the IPv4 Forwarding Services API announced earlier this year.


Packet Handler API -- this facilitates the transfer of packets between the data plane forwarding elements and control plane applications for control or exception path processing. Control plane applications such as signaling stacks can use this API to send and receive packets from network processing elements.


Version 2.0 of the Software API -- this provides documentation conventions used within all API specifications produced by the NPF Software Working Group.
http://www.npforum.org

Read More

Nokia Wins EUR 100 Million 3G Contact in Singapore

Nokia was awarded a contract valued at EUR 100 million to supply WCDMA 3G network equipment to StarHub of Singapore. Under the 5-year deal, Nokia will supply a complete 3G network, including radio-access and core network equipment, and delivery management services including network planning. Deliveries start immediately for a possible network launch by the end of 2004.
http://www.nokia.com

Read More

Time Warner Cable's Road Runner Teams with Movielink

Movielink and Road Runner, which is owned and operated by Time Warner Cable, announced a multiyear deal to create a co-branded movie rental service. Road Runner's cable modem customers are directed to a co-branded site initially featuring over 450 new release and classic titles from such studios as Disney, MGM, Paramount, Sony Pictures, Warner Bros. Pictures and Universal Studios. The movies can be watched at home or downloaded to a laptop for viewing while traveling.
http://www.movielink.com

Read More

Matsushita Electric Develops IPv6 Module for Consumer Electronics

Matsushita Electric Industrial Company has developed an IPv6 module for networked consumer electronic appliances and portable devices. The module features a compact IPv6 software stack (70 kb) and is optimized for secure data links of up to 100 Mbps.
http://www.matsushita.co.jp

Read More

Comcast Tests Terayon's DOCSIS 2.0 Data Headend Platform

Comcast is testing Terayon' DOCSIS 2.0-qualified Cable Modem Termination System (CMTS) equipment. In the next testing phase, the companies will examine aspects of operational readiness for DOCSIS 2.0 deployment, such as changes in provisioning, operating profiles selection and system integration. In the interim, Comcast will continue to deploy its current Next-Generation DOCSIS 1.x CMTS equipment. Currently, Comcast deploys a single CMTS to support DOCSIS 1.1 features and the company will look to add a second source shortly to round out its DOCSIS 1.1 CMTS certifications.
http://www.terayon.com

Read More

Cisco CallManager Express Delivers IP Telephony for Smaller Businesses

Cisco Systems introduced two new software products that when integrated into its access routers deliver an IP communications solution for businesses with 100 employees or fewer. The new Cisco CallManager Express provides call-processing for PBX-like services such as call pick up, call forwarding, day/night service, hunt groups, paging, intercom, etc. A new Cisco Unity Express software suite delivers voice-mail and automated-attendant features. Both products can be used with Extensible Markup Language (XML) network-based applications via Cisco's recently expanded series of IP phones. Voice services are delivered via Cisco's portfolio of access routers, including the Cisco 1751, 1760, 2600XM, 3600 Series, and 3700 Series routers, and the Access Gateway Module available on the Cisco Catalyst 4500 Series Switch.


The new products complement the existing portfolio of Cisco CallManager IP Communications systems. List price for the Cisco CallManager Express license ranges from US$750 to US$2800, depending on the number of users. List price for Cisco Unity Express begins at $2995.


Cisco also published ten different blueprints that provide business-justification tools; shared implementation best practices; solution designs; and lists of specialized implementation partners for IP branch office deployments.
http://www.cisco.com

Read More

Captus Networks Secures $12.4 Million for its Security Solutions

Captus Networks, a start-up based in Woodland, California, raised $12.4 million in a fourth round of financing for its network intrusion prevention technology. The company's Network Integrity Systems (NIS) are designed to preserve and protect network bandwidth for mission-critical applications and hosts. The Captus IPS 4000 platform is an automated, policy-based system that combines Day Zero protection with traffic management capabilities to ensure network integrity. The new funding was led by GMG Capital Partners.
http://www.captusnetworks.com/

Read More

VoiceXML Forum Launches Platform Certification Program

The VoiceXML Forum has launched a certification program to test for compliance to the latest release of the VoiceXML standard. CT Labs will perform the certification testing on behalf of the Forum. Three companies are initially submitting their platforms for testing: Vocalocity, VoiceGenie Technologies, and Voxpilot. The Forum intends to expand its VoiceXML certification program in the future to include VoiceXML-compliance certification of applications and tools.
http://www.voicexml.orghttp://www.ct-labs.com

Read More

RCN Raises its Cable Modem Downlinks to 5 Mbps

RCN increased the download speed of its "MegaModem" cable modem service to 5 Mbps at no extra cost to the end user. The company has been offering 3 Mbps "MegaModem" speeds for over a year. These premium customers are now being upgraded to 5 Mbps. RCN's standard cable modem users are being upgraded from 1.5 Mbps to 3 Mbps. RCN provides service in the Boston, New York, Philadelphia/Lehigh Valley, Chicago, San Francisco, Los Angeles and Washington, D.C. metropolitan markets.
http://www.rcn.com

Read More

Personal Broadband Australia Selects Portal

Personal Broadband Australia, which is preparing to launch wholesale, broadband wireless services in Australia, has appointed Portal Software as its billing partner. Portal's solution for PBBA provides end-to-end rating, billing and customer management to support a variety of account models including wholesale, retail, prepaid and post-paid. Portal will also provide transactional real-time processing that can pre-authorize usage and precisely track start, mid-transaction and stop mobile broadband events as they occur.


Personal Broadband Australia will launch its wireless service later this year using ArrayComm's iBurst technology.
http://www.portal.com

Read More

Comcast Doubles its Cable Modem Downstream Speeds

Comcast, the largest MSO in the U.S., has doubled the downstream speed of its residential cable modem service to 3 Mbps from 1.5 Mbps. The upgrade is provided at no additional cost to the end user. Upstream speeds will remain the same at 256 Kbps. The upgrade has occurred in 14 U.S. markets and will be expanded to all Comcast markets based on technical readiness. The company projects that the majority of customers will receive the faster speed by the end of the year. Customers need to power-down and then restart their modems. No other changes are required.
http://www.comcast.com

• Comcast currently provides high-speed Internet service to nearly 4.4 million customers.

Read More

Alcatel Awarded EUR 450 Million Contract for London's Underground

Alcatel was awarded a contract valued at about EUR 450 million to provide its communications-based train control technology to Tube Lines, the company responsible for the upgrading and maintenance of segments of the London underground. The project involves a system to re-signal the Underground's Jubilee and Northern Lines over the next seven and a half years.
http://www.alcatel.com

Read More

Alcatel Introduces New Core DWDM Platform

Alcatel introduced a new core DWDM platform aimed at long-haul to ultra long-haul terrestrial network applications as well as unrepeatered undersea applications. The new Alcatel 1626 Light Manager provides enhanced transmission distance (4,500 km) and capacity (192 wavelengths at 10Gbps). It features an Optical Network Extender shelf for in-service upgrades without traffic interruptions. In addition, it provides a continuity path to Alcatel 1686WM and 1640 OADM/WM DWDM systems by extending their performance up to 2,500 km. The Alcatel 1626 Light Manager supports the new ITU Optical Transport Network standard and offers tunable transponders over the full spectrum range, high scalability, automated commissioning and self-maintenance features. In addition, re-configurable optical add-drop and cross connect functions are integrated with the platform to support the migration path to the fully automated optical transport network.
http://www.alcatel.com

Read More

Marconi Resumes Trading on NASDAQ

Shares in Marconi resumed trading on the NASDAQ National Market in the form of American Depository Receipts (ADRs) under the ticker symbol MRCIY. Each Marconi Corporation ADR will represent two Marconi Corporation plc ordinary shares.
http://www.marconi.com

Read More