NEC Achieves 150-km-long Single-photon Transmission

NEC claimed a new distance record of 150 km for a single photon transmission -- a feat that might enable secure network communication based on principles of quantum mechanical physics.
The result was achieved through a newly developed quantum cryptography system consisting of optical planar circuits based on Planar Lightwave Circuit (PLC) technology. NEC said quantum cryptography transmissions in optical networks could some day to used metropolitan areas for truly secure communications. http://www.nec.co.jp/press/en/0403/1201.html

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Altera Signs On to Equant's MPLS VPN

San Jose-based Altera Corporation a two-year, $2.1 million contract with Equant to link its nine international sites into a global IP VPN. Altera will use three classes of service (CoS) to prioritize business communications applications. The fully managed, MPLS-based service will be implemented by the second half of 2004. The network allows for future converged voice and video applications. http://www.equant.com

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FCC Proposes $9 Million fine against Qwest

The FCC announced a $9 million fine against Qwest Corporation for its failure to file 46 interconnection agreements with the Minnesota Public Utilities Commission and the Arizona Corporation Commission as required by the Communications Act.

Section 252(a)(1) of the Communications Act requires carriers to file their interconnection agreements for approval by state public service commissions. This requirement ensures that incumbent local exchange carriers, like Qwest, cannot enter into potentially discriminatory arrangements unknown to their competitors. The Commission found that Qwest apparently withheld 46 agreements from state commissions in Minnesota and Arizona, an apparent violation of section 252(a)(1). The Commission's proposed forfeiture complements state enforcement proceedings in Minnesota and Arizona relating to the same behavior by Qwest. http://www.fcc.gov

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T-Mobile USA Adds Wi-Fi Connection Manager Application

T-Mobile USA introduced a free software application to help its subscribers located and use its 4,200 HotSpot locations. The T-Mobile Connection Manager software enables customers to automatically detect and logon to the T-Mobile HotSpot network. In addition, the T-Mobile Connection Manager has a built-in directory of T-Mobile HotSpot locations. The software is available from the company's website. http://www.t-mobile.com

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Bell Labs Develops Silicon 'Nanograss'

Researchers at Bell Labs have discovered an entirely new method to control the behavior of tiny liquid droplets by applying electrical charges to specially engineered silicon surfaces that resemble blades of grass. The breakthrough technique makes silicon surfaces resemble a lawn of evenly cut grass, with individual "blades" only nanometers in size. Liquids interact with these surfaces in a novel way, thereby providing a way to precisely control their effects. The individual blades of the nanograss are so small that liquid droplets sit on top and can be easily maneuvered.

Lucent Technologies said the new technique of manipulating fluids has many potential applications, including thermal cooling of integrated circuits for powerful computers, novel photonic components for optical communications, and small, low-cost "lab-on-a-chip" sensor modules. In optical networking, for example, moving a droplet of fluid into a nanograss surface can alter the physical properties of the transmitting medium through which light signals are sent, and this may lead to better methods for optical switching. Novel optical components, such as filters, could be created by moving the fluid into and out of nanograss areas, according to the Bell Labs researchers. http://www.lucent.comhttp://www.bell-labs.com.

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Cisco to Acquire Twingo Systems for SSL VPNs

Cisco Systems will acquire Twingo Systems, a start-up based in Mountain View, California, for approximately $5 million in cash. Twingo Systems develops desktop security solutions for Secure Socket Layer (SSL) Virtual Private Networks (VPNs).

Cisco plans to incorporate Twingo's Virtual Secure Desktop into its existing WebVPN solution beginning with the Cisco VPN 3000 Concentrator series. Cisco said Twingo's technology brings the same quality of endpoint security available with IPSec VPNs to SSL VPN deployments.

Key issues in SSL VPN endpoint security include a reliable and system-agnostic approach to fully erasing history files, temporary files, caches, cookies, e-mail file attachments and other downloaded data at the close of an SSL VPN user session. Additionally, users must be able to depend on SSL VPN to deliver connectivity that does not falter due to variations in browser security settings or client system administrative privileges. The companies said Twingo's Virtual Secure Desktop technology eliminates all traces of sensitive data by providing a single secured location for session activity and removal on the client system, as well as ensuring consistent functionality and application accessibility for end-users of SSL VPN. http://www.cisco.com

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Volo Names Mark Richards as COO

Volo Communications appointed Mark Richards as its Chief Operating Officer. Richards joins Volo from Epicus Communications, where he has been acting CEO for the past two years. Prior to that, he held executive positions with a variety of CLEC and telecom start-ups, including NET-Tel, TCCF, and American Network Exchange. Volo Communications is a next gen service provider that offers voice, data and enhanced services to carrier customers including, tier 1 and 2 carriers, CLECs, ISPs, cable providers, resellers and IXCs, utilizing both TDM and Packet Technology. http://www.volocommunications.com 12-Mar-04

http://www.volocommunications.com

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Marconi to Resell RBN's Coarse WDM Equipment

Marconi agreed to resell RBN's GigaEdge 8200 CWDM platform as part of its Multiservice Metro-Edge portfolio. RBN's CWDM products have already been deployed by "tier one" carriers including PCCW. The GigaEdge 8200 is a fully carrier-class transport system that offers high-quality performance monitoring capabilities and high availability. All aspects of the system, including full wavelength channel reconfiguration, can be managed by Marconi's ServiceOn network management solution.

Marconi will be exhibiting the GigaEdge 8200 on its stand in Hall 27, Stand D48 at the CeBIT technology fair in Hanover this week. http://www.marconi.comhttp://www.rbni.comRBN is headquartered in San Francisco, California with research and development facilities in Sydney, Australia.

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ADTRAN Announces DSLAM Deployments at Qwest

ADTRAN has begun volume shipments of the Total Access 1100 OSP DSLAMs to Qwest. The ADTRAN Total Access 1100 DSLAMs are environmentally hardened, self-contained, weather-tight and temperature-hardened for deployment at the edge of the network. These DSLAMs can be line or locally powered and are able to be mounted in any outdoor environment including walls, pedestals, poles, cross-boxes, remote terminals and other challenging locations. Financial terms were not disclosed. http://www.adtran.com

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MCI Completes Restatement and 2002 Audit

MCI reported a cumulative net reduction of $74.4 billion to previously reported pre-tax income for 2000 and 2001 in what it described as "the largest and most complex financial restatement ever undertaken." The restatement process included revalidation and correction of accounting records, review of the accounting for all major acquisitions dating back to 1993, reassessing the propriety and appropriateness of the application of accounting principles, and a re-audit of the financial statements. The largest category of restatement adjustments is impairment charges resulting from write-offs of goodwill and write-downs in the carrying value of other intangible assets and property, plant and equipment in 2000 and 2001. The impairment charges for 2000 and 2001 total $59.8 billion. MCI also filed its annual report for 2002. As restated, consolidated revenues were $32.2 billion in 2002, $37.7 billion in 2001, and $39.3 billion in 2000. Work continues on its 2003 financial statements.

MCI said the filing is one of the last remaining milestones on its path to emerge from Chapter 11 protection, which is expected to occur in April. The restated financials do not have an impact on the company's current liquidity position. http://www.mci.com

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UTStarcom Announces Stock Repurchase Program

UTStarcom announced a stock repurchase program pursuant to which up to 5,000,000 shares of its outstanding common stock may be repurchased over a period of six months. In addition, as also approved by the board of directors, the company repurchased an additional 1,623,000 shares in a privately negotiated transaction with an institution. http://www.utstar.com

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Canada's Allstream Deploys 2nd Wireless Access Net

Allstream (formerly AT&T Canada) has launched its second wireless Internet access service for businesses in Cumberland, Ontario. Its first fixed wireless network service was launched earlier this month in Richmond, British Columbia. The new service is the result of a venture between Allstream, Inukshuk Internet Inc., a wholly-owned subsidiary of Microcell Telecommunications Inc., and NR Communications to develop a Multipoint Communications System (MCS) network. Allstream is purchasing wholesale wireless access technology for "last mile" connectivity and has created a business high speed wireless offering to be included in its Connectivity Internet Access Portfolio.

This service will primarily target small office and teleworking applications, as well as enterprises with remote branch locations. It delivers wireless Internet access with download speeds of up to 2.1 Mbps at a price of $59.95 (Canadian) per month using licensed spectrum and non-line-of-sight technology. http://www.allstream.com

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