U.S. Court of Appeals Rules on Cable Internet Services

The United States Court of Appeals for the Ninth Circuit issued a ruling on cable Internet services in a case concerning open access for independent ISPs. In March 2002, the FCC issued a Declaratory Ruling in which it concluded that "cable modem service, as it is currently offered, is properly classified as an interstate information service, not as a cable service, and that there is no separate offering of telecommunication service." The FCC ruling meant that cable operators would not be regulated as common carriers, but would instead be classified as providers of an information service under less stringent rules. Seven different petitions have since been filed to clarify the ruling. None of them challenged the conclusion that cable modem service is an information service, but each of them contends that the FCC should not have stopped there and should have extended its ruling into other areas.


The new ruling from United States Court of Appeals affirms in part, vacates in part and remands in part the FCC's Declaratory Ruling. The 39-page court ruling is online (Brand-X Internet Services vs. FCC).


FCC Chairman Michael Powell said the ruling "will throw a monkey wrench into the FCC's efforts to develop a vitally important national broadband policy." He has ordered the FCC's General Counsel to appeal the decision.
http://www.ce9.uscourts.gov

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Critical Telecom Introduces DSL Extenders for 25km Reach

Critical Telecom, a privately held company based in Ottawa, introduced its Full Rate Extended DSL (FRED) platform designed to transparently extend DSL up to 82 kft (25 km) from telecom providers' central offices. The platform comprises central office and outside plant equipment. ADSL data streams from a central office-based DSLAM are converted into a multiplexed optical signal and, using 1 or 10-Gigabit transport components, the optical signal is sent from the central office to an existing cross-connect cabinet. At the outside plant cabinet, the electrical signal is reconstructed and demultiplexed, restoring the original ADSL signals for distribution to subscribers over existing copper connections. FRED uses digital transmission so that ADSL signal quality is not affected by fiber-optic cable length.


Critical Telecom said its platform supports full-rate 8 Mbps ADSL for tiered and broadcast services to all customers simultaneously. The system is DSLAM independent and does not require new environmentally hardened enclosures, concrete pad or power trenching. The company believes its Full Rate Extended DSL will be substantially less expensive than remote DSLAMs.


Separately, Critical Telecom announced US$12.7 million in new funding. The financing was led by VenGrowth Capital Partners Inc. Other investors include TELUS Ventures, Business Development Bank of Canada, and Crown Ventures Fund Inc.
http://www.criticaltelecom.com

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Motorola Confirms Plans to Spin-off Semiconductor Operations

Citing its intention to increase its focus on communications and integrated electronic systems, Motorola announced plans to separate its semiconductor operations into a publicly traded company. Specifically, Motorola is considering an initial public offering (IPO) of a portion of its Semiconductor Products Sector (SPS) group, followed by a distribution of remaining shares to shareholders in a tax-free manner.


Motorola's Semiconductor Products Sector is the leading producer of embedded processors. Its product line includes a its "DigitalDNA" system-on-chip solutions. Motorola's worldwide semiconductor sales were $4.8 billion in 2002.


Motorola's remaining portfolio includes:

• Cellular handsets and related software and services -- Personal Communications Sector
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  Cellular network infrastructure, software and services -- Global Telecom Solutions Sector
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  Integrated radio communications and information solutions for public safety, government and enterprises
  -- Commercial, Government and Industrial Solutions Sector
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  Automotive electronics, embedded computing systems and portable energy systems -- Integrated Electronic Systems Sector
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  Cable and broadband communications devices and technology -- Broadband Communications Sector

http://www.motorola.com

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ITC^DeltaCom and BTI Close Their Merger

ITC^DeltaCom completed its previously announced merger with BTI Telecom Corp. (BTI), creating one of the largest CLECs in the southeastern U.S. As of the merger closing, Welsh, Carson, Anderson & Stowe (WCAS) invested $35 million for new equity in the firm. The combined company will operate under the name ITC^DeltaCom.


The new ITC^DeltaCom has a fiber optic network spanning approximately 14,500 route miles and approximately 230 Points of Presence (POPs). It offers a full suite of voice, data and Internet services including local, long distance, data, broadband, colocation and Web hosting. The company operates approximately 30 voice switches and 70 data switches in Arkansas, Texas, Virginia and all nine BellSouth states.
http://www.itcdeltacom.com

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iBasis Signs India's Vebtel for International VoIP

Vebtel, a provider of PC-to-Phone voice services in India, selected iBasis to provide international long distance service for its business and residential customers. Vebtel joins the more than 180 carriers worldwide who have interconnected with iBasis.


The companies noted that VoIP was legalized in India in April 2002 as the country officially deregulated its international long distance market. By the end of 2002, VoIP traffic accounted for approximately 6% of India's international long distance traffic (inbound and outbound). iBasis expects VoIP to constitute the majority of India's international long distance traffic by 2007.
http://www.ibasis.com

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Conexant and Huawei Develop DSL Management Software

Conexant Systems and Huawei Technologies have developed new remote management software that enables service providers to administer DSL networks from a central location. The software automatically configures the customer premise modem to the correct network parameters as soon as it is activated. This is accomplished by utilizing the simple network management protocol (SNMP) over the existing high-level data link control/embedded operations channel (HDLC/EOC), as opposed to Web-based remote management via data path or dedicated management permanent virtual circuit (PVC). This channel does not require an integrated TCP/IP stack. The companies said a key benefit of their new remote management software is that it is extensible and compatible with all G.997.1-compliant technologies, including ADSL, SHDSL, and VDSL.


China Telecom and China Netcom are currently conducting field trials of the remote management software.
http://www.conexant.com
http://www.huawei.com

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Cramer Systems Marks its 50th OSS Customer Win

Essent Kabelcom, the second largest MSO in The Netherlands with over two million customers, has selected Cramer Systems' centralized inventory management solution to replace multiple inventory systems. Cramer Systems said the deal represents is 50th carrier customer win.
http://www.cramer.com

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Mintera Unveils its First 40 Gbps Product

Mintera, a start-up based in Lowell, Massachusetts, announced its first product aimed at the migration to 40 Gbps optical transport in metro-core, regional, long-haul, and ultra-long-haul optical networks. Mintera believes that carriers will migrate from 10 Gbps optical trunks to 40 Gbps systems during the second half of the decade and that during 2004 and 2005 carriers will be pursuing 40 Gbps trials. Mintera's MI 40000 product-set multiplexes 4 x 10 Gbps SONET/SDH services onto a 40 Gbps long haul wavelength. Mintera promises plug and play operation on existing 10 Gbps long haul optical transport line systems or on dark fiber in regional networks. In addition to an MI 40000 micro-chassis platform with corresponding 40 Gbps multiplexer and transponder modules, Mintera will provide various distance and capacity extension modules. Mintera is also developing a 43 Gbps Bit Error Rate test and measurement module with optical and electrical interfaces. The company said it has already booked orders for its products and services.
http://www.mintera.com

• In March 2003, Mintera claimed an optical transmission record by demonstrating error-free transmission of 40 data channels each operating at a bit rate of 40 Gbps over a record distance of 10,000 km of transmission fiber without electrical regeneration. Mintera said the result was achieved with optical amplifier spacing of 100 km and by using all-Raman amplification as well as enhanced error correction encoding.
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  Mintera is headed by Menachem Abraham, who previously was president of Lucent Technologies' Enterprise Internetworking Systems Group. Abraham joined Lucent in January 1998 following Lucent's acquisition of Prominet Corporation, a pioneering Gigabit Ethernet firm, where he was president, chief executive officer and one of that company's co-founders. Prior to Prominet, Abraham was senior vice president of product development and chief technology officer during an 11-year career at Chipcom Corporation.

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Excel Switching Accelerates Wireless Application Development

Excel Switching Corporation has extended the wireless capabilities of its Converged Services Platform (CSP) with the addition of full Intelligent Network (IN) wireless protocol support. The new capabilities enable the Excel CSP to be used for developing wireless applications across SS7, SIP, and wireless protocol signaling. Carriers could use the CSP to get to market quickly with applications spanning 2G, 3G and Wi-Fi networks. For instance, the Excel platform could be used to create and localize a host of wireless services for 2G, 3G, and WiFi networks including: Prepaid Calling, Mobile Centrex, Personal Access/Follow Me, Short Messaging Service (SMS), Color Ring Back Tone (CRBT), Presence, Operator Services and Intelligent Call Screening. The new IN protocol support includes:

• ANSI-41: a TIA/ANSI standard messaging protocol used in CDMA and TDMA wireless networks primarily in the Americas and parts of Asia.
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  Wireless Intelligent Network (WIN): a TIA/ANSI standard messaging protocol that enables subscribers in ANSI-41 based mobile networks to use intelligent network services and capabilities in systems into which the subscriber roams.
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  Advanced Application Networks (AIN): Telcordia standards for wireline networks that separate service logic from switching equipment, allowing new services to be added without having to redesign the CSP to support the new services.
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  Mobile Applications Part (MAP): an ETSI standard messaging protocol used in GSM wireless networks to communicate among network elements (MSC, HLR, VLR, EIR, SMSC) to support user authentication, equipment identification, and roaming.
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  Customized Applications for Mobile Networks Enhanced Logic (CAMEL): an ETSI standard messaging protocol for including IN functions into GSM mobile networks. CAMEL is used when roaming between networks, allowing the home network to monitor and control calls made by its subscribers.
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  Intelligent Network Application Part (INAP): ITU-T standards for information flow format between different functional entities in wireline Intelligent Networks to execute the entire service logic in distributed systems.

http://www.xl.com

• Excel's Converged Services Platform is used to deliver carrier applications such as RBOC voice mail services, pre-paid calling cards, tandem/international gateway switching, multiparty audio conferencing, media server and advanced directory assistance services. The platform is designed to bridge traditional circuit switched networks with next-generation IP networks in either wireline or wireless environments.
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  In June 2003, Excel Switching Corporation was spun out of Lucent Technologies, returning to its roots as an independent supplier of carrier-class, open services platforms for communications networks. The company offers a Converged Services Platform that is used to deliver carrier applications such as RBOC voice mail services, pre-paid calling cards, tandem/international gateway switching, multiparty audio conferencing, media server and advanced directory assistance services. The platform is designed to bridge traditional circuit switched networks with next-generation IP networks in either wireline or wireless environments. More than 7,000 CSP systems have been deployed throughout the world. Lucent and Excel entered into a worldwide OEM agreement under which Lucent acts as a sales channel for Excel's products. Lucent did not retain an equity interest in Excel Switching. Excel is based in Hyannis, Massachusetts.

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Lantern Communications Signs Japanese VAR for 10 Gbps RPR

Japanese-based Network Value Components will distribute Lantern Communications' Metro Packet Switch platform, which offers dual 10 Gigabit trunks in a Resilient Packet Ring (RPR) configuration. Lantern said its 10 Gigabit Ethernet 10km trunk modules are priced at $9,500.
http://www.lanterncom.com
http://www.nvc.co.jp

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Internet2 Launches Video Collaboration Service

The Internet2 initiative launched an H.323 video conferencing service. The Internet2 Commons Videoconferencing Service enables university users to reserve videoconferencing ports for time-sensitive meetings such as remote research collaborations and regularly scheduled distance learning classes. They can also set-up multi-party videoconferences on the spur-of-the-moment.http://commons.internet2.edu/h323/

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Boingo Wireless Raises $10 Million for its Wi-Fi Network

Boingo Wireless raised $10 million in series B funding for the continued rollout of its Wi-Fi network in the U.S. and internationally. Boingo serves as a network aggregator for dozens of Wi-Fi hot spot operators. The company recently began expanding outside of the U.S. and has hot spot locations in Europe, Japan, Australia, Latin America, India and Canada.


The lead investor for the round was Mitsui & Co. Venture Partners. Other investors in the round include Infonet Services Corporation and clients of Amerindo Investment Advisors, Inc. Boingo's original financial investors, New Enterprise Associates, Sternhill Partners, and Evercore Ventures, also participated. Boingo has raised a total of $30 million to date.
http://www.boingo.com

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NTT Comm Outsources IT to EDS

NTT Communications awarded a multi-year, helpdesk outsourcing support contract to EDS. Under the deal, EDS will provide remote management, system support, and web-based self- help services for more than 15,000 desktops in Japan. Terms of the agreement were not disclosed.
http://www.eds.com

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Nokia Launches its "N-Gage" Game Deck + Phone Combo

Nokia officially launched its "N-Gage" game deck + mobile phone combo device, which features online 3D multiplayer games over Bluetooth and GPRS, a digital music player (MP3/AAC), stereo FM radio, as well as a tri-band GSM 900/1800/1900 mobile phone. The Nokia N-Gage platform will provide online games of its own as well as a growing list of games from major game publishers, such as Electronic Arts. Sales of the Nokia N-Gage game deck will start across several continents in over 60 countries. In the U.S. market, the device has a retail price of $299, including a charger, rechargeable battery, stereo headset, USB cable and a SIM card with a pre-selected telephone number and $50 worth of T-Mobile service.
http://www.nokia.com
http://www.n-gage.com

• In August, Nokia announced an agreement with Electronic Arts (EA), the world's leading interactive entertainment software company, to deliver select EA titles for the Nokia N-Gage platform.
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  In August 2003, Nokia agreed to acquire assets of Sega.com Inc., a subsidiary of SEGA, to enhance the online games and service offerings for the Nokia N-Gage game deck. The SEGA Network Application Package (SNAP), which enables high-performance networked multi-player games, will form the core part of Nokia Mobile Phones' Entertainment and Media Business Unit's online games activity.

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Nokia Unveils Mobilizer for Access to Corporate Data

Nokia introduced an "Access Mobilizer" application for providing corporate email, calendar and contact data in a format that is optimized for each mobile device accessing the application. The Nokia Access Mobilizer appliance is installed behind the corporate firewall and acts like a web server. Users simply open the browser on their device and specify the secure URL unique to their company. All transferred data is retained on the original server, not the mobile device.
http://www.nokia.com

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European Regulators Group Discusses Bitstream Access Policy

At its meeting held last week in Brussels, the European Regulators Group discussed the preliminary results of its public consultation on bitstream access. The European Regulators Group (ERG) is composed of the heads of each national regulatory agency of nations in the European Union. The ERG has been considering the adoption of a common policy that would ensure bitstream access to broadband networks, especially the DSL networks of incumbent operators. The public consultation process was initiated in July.


A common ERG position on further steps to such a policy is expected to be presented at the next ERG meeting in Budapest in November.
http://www.erg.eu.int/

• In July 2003, the European Commission implemented a new regulatory framework aimed at harmonizing the policies and enforcing the legal certainty of laws pertaining to electronic communications across the member states of the European Union. The new regulatory framework, which went into effect on 25-July-2003, gives the European Commission powers to oversee the national regulatory regimes of member states through a consultative process with their national regulatory authorities (NRA). This consultative process will take place through the European Regulators Group.

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Terayon Strengthens Senior Management Team

Terayon Communication Systems named Jeffrey Barco as Vice President and General Manager of its Digital Video Solutions Group. Barco most recently was the President and CEO of BroadbandHome, a home networking company spun-off from IBM. Prior to BroadbandHome, Barco was Managing Director of Microsoft's Digital TV Platforms Group, coming to the company via its acquisition of WebTV, where he was Senior Director of the Broadband Networks Group. Before WebTV, Barco worked in the Digital Media and Interactive TV groups of Silicon Graphics, and prior to this spent 10 years at Apple Computer.


Terayon also named William Rohrbach as Terayon as Vice President of North America Sales. Rohrbach comes to Terayon with 30 years of experience selling complex systems at Lucent and AT&T, where he held a variety of executive sales, management and market development positions.
http://www.terayon.com

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Utah's UTOPIA Project Plans Widescale FTTH Deployment

Salt Lake City and 17 other cities across the state of Utah are planning to build a publicly-owned, fiber telecommunications network that would reach nearly 250,000 homes and 35,000 business, representing a population of about 724,000. The Utah Telecommunications Open Infrastructure Agency (UTOPIA) plans to build the network and then act as a municipally-owned wholesale carrier. The project plans to issue 15 to 20 year bonds that would be paid for by leasing capacity on the network to various service providers and ISPs. It does not expected to raise the tax base for the communities served.


UTOPIA plans to use an "Open Service Provider Network" model developed by Dynamic City, which serves as consultant for the project. The first phase of the rollout will connect some 15,000 homes beginning in early 2004. UTOPIA's Fiber-to-the-home (FTTH) will use an active architecture rather than a PON design. Riverstone Networks has been selected to provide core electronics and access distribution systems. Allied Telesyn's RG223 Residential Gateway has been chosen as the customer premises solution for the network. Allied Telesyn's product distributes traditional voice and multiple IP-based services throughout a home, including broadband Internet access, VoIP, broadcast television, and video on demand. The RG223 features two analog phone ports, three 10/100 Ethernet LAN ports, and supports IGMP for secure and efficient multicast video. The gateway, which would be placed inside the home, directly terminates the fiber connection. A category 5 Ethernet cable is used to connect to an IP set-up box.
http://www.utopianet.org/http://www.dynamiccity.com

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Pedestal Networks Unveils Line-Powered Remote DSLAM

Pedestal Networks, a start-up based in Fremont, California, introduced a line-powered, remote Digital Subscriber Line Access Multiplexer (DSLAM) designed to extend a carrier's ADSL reach to 100% of subscribers. In addition to operating over long loops of up to 45,000 feet with loaded pairs, the platform can be deployed beyond existing Digital Loop Carriers (DLCs).


Pedestal Networks' Universal Broadband Server (UBS) features a proprietary line-power technology, automated provisioning, and an environmentally hardened "brick" design. The platform incorporates 24 ADSL modems, built-in line splitters and protection, and an internal digital cross-connect in a 12" x 14" x 2.5", hermetically-sealed enclosure. The small packaging enables the remote DSLAM to be deployed anywhere in a carrier's outside plant, including underground, underwater, in a buried hand-hole, mounted on poles, inside pedestals or crossboxes, or in any similar unconditioned enclosure in the field. Power is provided through standard HDSL2 or HDSL4 connections. Pedestal's adaptive power technology automatically configures the UBS to use appropriate power for the distance and quality of the links. Carriers can also install the UBS behind "loaded pairs," copper pairs that use load coils to enhance voice signals over long loop distances. Only the backhaul T1 need be "unloaded" to support the UBS.


Significantly, Pedestal's remote DSLAM can be pre-provisioned to support Instant-On Service Activation, whereby an any-to-any Physical Layer Router (PLR) in the platform leverages an integrated digital cross-connect technology to map the 24 onboard ADSL modems to any of the 50 pre-provisioned copper pairs. When the carrier receives an order for ADSL service, the Network Operations Center (NOC) can DSL-enable any of the 50 available POTS pairs at any time, with a single command.


Standard T1 connections, using T1-UNI or T1-IMA, are used to backhaul UBS broadband traffic. A fiber upgrade option for the platform will also be offered. The ADSL modems, which are based on Globespan's silicon, are firmware-upgradeable to support ADSL2 standards.


Pedestal Networks confirmed that commercial rollouts of its platform are already underway with a number of carriers.
http://www.pedestalnetworks.com

• Last month, Pedestal Networks named Greg Daily as its new CEO, replacing Dan Kohn, general partner of Skymoon Ventures, who served as the interim CEO during Pedestal's two-year product development phase. Daily previously served as general manager of ADC's $200 million Loop Transport Products division. Pedestal's investors include Benchmark Capital, DCM, and Skymoon Ventures.

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Wave7 Optics Selected for Large FTTP Deployment in Tenn.

The Jackson Energy Authority (JEA) of Jackson, Tennessee, a municipal utility company, selected Wave7 Optics for a fiber-to-the-premises (FTTP) network that is expected to pass some 31,000 homes and businesses in 2005. Jackson Energy is the local electrical utility. Wave7 is scheduled to begin delivering network equipment in December 2003 and JEA anticipates it will initiate deployment in Q1 2004. The network will be used to deliver over 250 analog and digital cable television channels, high-speed (up to 500 Mbps) two-way business and residential Internet connections, full featured POTS and IP telephony (as a carrier's carrier for local CLECs). Commercial activation of the network is expected in Q2 2004. Wave7's solution is an IP and Ethernet optical access system that provides all traditional "carrier-grade" telephone services (including fax), high-speed data (e.g., Internet service) and both analog and digital video (including IP streaming video). Wave7 provides standard data, telephone and CATV interfaces at its customer premise devices, accommodating existing home and business telephone, television and computer systems. Financial terms were not disclosed.
http://www.wave7optics.com
http://www.jaxenergy.com

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