Charter Selects Cedar Point for VoIP

Charter Communications has selected Cedar Point Communications' SAFARI C³ Media Switching System for use in the strategic deployment of VoIP in select markets. The initial rollout will be in Charter's Northeast Operating Division. Financial terms were not disclosed. http://www.charter.comhttp://www.nortelnetworks.com

• In April 2004, Cedar Point secured $20 million in additional funding for its integrated packet-based voice and multimedia switching platform for cable operators. Cedar Point's SAFARI C(Cubed) is a carrier class switch that incorporates all of the components in a PacketCable voice switching infrastructure. The new funding was led by JP Morgan Partners and included earlier investors Ascent Venture Partners, Battery Ventures, Charles River Ventures, Comcast Interactive Capital and STAR Ventures.



• In February 2004, Cedar Point Communications and Motorola Broadband Communications Sector announced a strategic collaboration agreement to advance the deployment of packet-based cable telephony services. Specifically, Motorola will support the combined end-to-end voice- over-cable solution that includes Cedar Point's SAFARI C(3) integrated switching system, the Motorola Broadband Services Router (BSR) 64000 CMTS, Motorola SURFboard multi-terminal adapters (MTA), and the Motorola Advanced Provisioning System (MAPS). The companies have completed interoperability testing of the solution and will collaborate in marketing, sales and support.



• Also this week, Nortel Networks announced that its cable VoIP solution had been selected for Charter's Midwest and Great Lakes operating divisions. The selection includes Succession Communication Server (CS) 2000-Compact softswitches. Charter also intends to deploy Nortel Networks' Multimedia Communication Server (MCS) 5200 in a 2004 market trial, giving both residential and business customers access to multimedia services independent of location.

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Cisco Adds Wireless Capabilities to Catalyst 6500

Cisco Systems introduced Wireless LAN Services Module (WLSM) for its Catalyst 6500 Series switches. The new module enables enterprises to use their existing Catalyst wireline infrastructure without having to build a completely separate overlay wireless LAN network.



A single Catalyst 6500 Series WLSM deployed anywhere in the network supports up to 300 Cisco Aironet Series Access Points (AP) and up to 6,000 users. Cisco said its new Catalyst 6500 Series WLSM also delivers the industry's fastest, highly secure user roam times. Additionally, the Catalyst 6500 Series switch capabilities are transparently available to wireless LANs either natively through the Supervisor Engine 720 or through the addition of other service modules such as the Firewall Services Module, Intrusion Detection Services Module and VPN Services Module. The Catalyst 6500 Series WLSM has a U.S. list price of $18,000 for the base module which includes a license for support of up to 150 APs.



Cisco is also introducing a new version of its centralized Wireless LAN management system that detects and compensates for out-of-service APs as well as maintaining security policies by suppressing rogue APs through switch port shut-down. The system also automatically protects the radio frequency (RF) environment from unauthorized access with an intrusion detection system (IDS). The Auto RF Optimization capability also automatically adjusts AP radio transmit power and channel selection for optimal RF coverage. Other new features include warm standby redundancy and real-time client tracking and reporting. http://www.cisco.com

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Fujitsu Debuts New SONET-based Ethernet Service Platform

Fujitsu Network Communications announced commercial availability of a new version of FLASHWAVE platform that simultaneously delivers Ethernet and DS1 services while extending the reliability of SONET directly to customer premises.



The FLASHWAVE 4020 ESP is available in an OC-3 or OC-12 version to fit into existing networks and accommodate a variety of subscriber bandwidth needs. The device can be configured for 1+1 protected, Unidirectional Path Switched Ring (UPSR) or unprotected network applications through a dual optical network interface.



Both the OC-3 and OC-12 versions of the FLASHWAVE 4020 ESP offer seven DS1 interfaces, plus four 10/100Base-T Ethernet ports, allowing service providers to provision advanced Ethernet over SONET (EoS) services. Additionally, the FLASHWAVE 4020 ESP supports Generic Framing Procedure (GFP), Link Capacity Adjustment Scheme (LCAS), and both high- and low-order Virtual Concatenation (VCAT), which enables service providers to transport Ethernet across existing SONET networks efficiently.



The FLASHWAVE 4020 ESP also provides sub-50 ms SONET protection switching, NEBS Level 3 compliance, extensive Operation, Administration, Maintenance and Provisioning (OAM&P) features, full Performance Monitoring (PM) support, and loopback capabilities for SONET, DS1 and Ethernet allow complete operational flexibility. It can be managed and provisioned using Telcordia TIRKS, NMA and Transport systems, as well as by the Fujitsu NETSMART 500 craft user interface and NETSMART 1500 Element Management System (EMS). An integrated Simple Network Management Protocol (SNMP) agent is also provided.



Separately, Fujitsu announced that Colorado-based Rye Telephone Company (RTC) is the first customer to purchase the new FLASHWAVE 4020 Ethernet Service Platform (ESP). RTC will deploy the FLASHWAVE 4020 ESP at remote edge locations and use an OC-12 Unidirectional Path Switched Ring (UPSR) to connect to central offices. Voice services and advanced broadband applications will be provisioned through the ESP's seven DS1 and four Ethernet interfaces respectively. The company plans to deploy additional FLASHWAVE 4020 ESPs over the next two years, using their existing FLASHWAVE 4100 and FLASHWAVE 4300 platforms as mini-Digital Cross-connect Systems (DCSs) to groom traffic between remote nodes. http://www.fnc.fujitsu.com

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Terayon and Juniper Announce Cable Alliance

Terayon Communication Systems and Juniper Networks announced an alliance to deliver advanced cable broadband solutions. The alliance matches Terayon's DOCSIS-2.0-qualified BW 3500 CMTS (cable modem termination system) with Juniper Networks' high-performance IP edge routing platforms. The companies said they are developing a joint architecture to ensure seamless interoperability between the edge routing platforms and the CMTS, as well as validating new VPN (Virtual Private Network) services and application-based routing and tunneling capabilities. The architecture is currently in trials with several international cable operators. http://www.juniper.net

• In August 2003, Juniper Networks announced a strategic partnership with ARRIS targeting solutions for Multi-Service Operators (MSOs). The co-marketing initiative combined Juniper's IP platforms with the ARRIS cable modem termination system (CMTS). As part of this partnering strategy, Juniper Networks also announced its intention to voluntarily discontinue its G-series CMTS product line from its PBC acquisition (below).



• In November 2001, Juniper Networks agreed to acquire Pacific Broadband Communications, a start-up developing a next generation cable modem termination system (CMTS), for approximately $200 million in stock (Nov 2001 prices).

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Siemens Unveils Metro Ethernet for Carriers

At this week's Broadband World Forum in Korea, Siemens Information and Communication Networks (ICN) presented its Ethernet and MPLS-based access and metro network strategy for carriers. The first stage of the Siemens strategy is a partnership with Dasan Networks, an Korean manufacturer of Ethernet-based access products. ICN has acquired 40% of the shares in the network specialist Dasan, subject to approval by the relevant authorities and bodies. Dasan offers broadband access products such as DSLAMs and switches based on Ethernet. Siemens will market Dasan's products worldwide. The close cooperation with Dasan will also give ICN direct access to key accounts in the Asia/Pacific market. Dasan's customers in the region include the Korean carriers Hanaro and Dacom as well as the Japanese service provider usen.



Carrier Ethernet from Siemens will also encompass the second mile, where end user traffic is bundled and passed to the carrier's core network. The company said it would leverage a combination of Ethernet and MPLS.



In addition, Siemens is expanding its commitment in China with the foundation of Siemens Communication Networks Beijing (SNBC). http://www.siemens.com

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Sprint Deploys CoManage for Improved OSS Data Integrity

Sprint has deployed CoManage Corporation's TrueSource data integrity management system to enhance the accuracy and efficiency of its Operations Support Systems (OSS) and service management processes. Financial terms were not disclosed.



CoManage's TrueSource combines an advanced discovery engine with a flexible reconciliation engine for continually updating a carrier's OSS databases with accurate information. The solution helps carriers contain operations expenses caused by provisioning failures and rework; reduce unnecessary truck rolls; recapture stranded assets and capacity; and prevent revenue leakage. http://www.comanage.net

• CoManage has previously announced deployments of its network-driven data integrity management solution by AT&T Wireless, British Telecom, COLT, and Verizon.

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FCC Seeks Public Input on Wireless Broadband Access

The FCC has formed a new Wireless Broadband Access Task Force with a mission to review applicable spectrum management policies and regulations. The Task Force is seeking comments from the public regarding wireless broadband policies and deployment. Specifically, input is sought on the following issues:

• 1. To what extent are both licensed and unlicensed wireless broadband networks providing an alternative facilities-based platform to other broadband services, including cable and DSL? To what extent have wireless broadband service providers increased broadband access and competition in rural and underserved areas? If so, are regulatory changes needed to promote or advance these trends?



• 2. Does the Commission currently provide sufficient spectrum suitable for wireless broadband networks? Is the relative availability of spectrum for licensed services or unlicensed devices appropriate? If not, how so?



• 3. Do the services offered using unlicensed devices and those using licensed networks complement each other? If so, how?



• 4. There are several different regulatory approaches that determine access to the spectrum for wireless broadband service providers. Service providers using networks composed of unlicensed devices do not pay for access to the spectrum, but must not cause interference and must share the spectrum with other operators of unlicensed devices, whereas access to other spectrum is obtained through licensing after successful bidding at auction. In addition, some spectrum has been made available on a first come, first served basis. Has the method for access to spectrum affected the development of wireless technologies and the provisioning of wireless broadband services? If so, how?



• 5. Wireless broadband offers clear advantages over other broadband alternatives in terms of both portability and mobility. Do the Commission's rules effectively provide for or account for these capabilities? Could these rules be more flexible? If so, how?



• 6. Are there regulatory incentives that would foster continued investment in and deployment of state-of-the-art technologies? If so, what are they? Are the incentives different for licensed services as compared with services offered using unlicensed devices?



• 7. What is the extent and nature of the deployment of wireless broadband services (market penetration rates; the geographic distribution of wireless broadband services; the extent of competition in the areas in which wireless broadband is deployed; and whether licensed services, unlicensed devices, or a combination of both licensed service and unlicensed devices are used; and the types of technologies used in the networks deployed)?



• 8. With the continued development of new technologies and network configurations, including mesh networks and integrated wireless broadband networks and devices that use both licensed and unlicensed spectrum, are there any rules that require review for updating or increased flexibility?



• 9. What are the applications associated with wireless broadband deployment?



• 10. What about wireless issues in specific communities, such as rural or urban, large or small, and in varied geographic regions?



• 11. Are there ways in which federal wireless broadband policies could facilitate better available policy options for states and municipalities? If so, how?



• 12. What barriers (information, infrastructure) to entry remain for WISP entrepreneurs particularly for unlicensed services? To the extent identified, how can government address these issues?

Comments are due by June 3. The Task Force will issue a report and its recommendations to the FCC in October 2004. http://www.fcc.gov/wbatf/

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Bell Canada Adds 92,000 Wireless, 115,000 DSL Customers in Q1

Bell Canada increased its Sympatico DSL High-Speed Internet subscriber base by 32% compared to the first quarter, 2003 to reach 1.6 million subscribers. This drove higher Internet revenues of 18%. Net DSL additions of 115,000 in this quarter represent the strongest quarterly increase since 2001. During the quarter, Bell doubled the speed of its high-speed service for 75% of its customers to 3.0 Mbps - at no cost to the subscriber. And the company extended the availability of its high-speed service to 80% of customers in Quebec and Ontario and to 66% of Atlantic Canadians.
Subscriptions to Sympatico's value-added services, such as Desktop Anti-Virus and Desktop Firewall, increased by 60,000 to reach 347,000 by the end of the quarter.

• Bell Canada's wireless group added 92,000 new customers in Q1.



• Video subscribers increased by 16,000 and revenues were up 17%.



• Overall, BCE reported revenue of $4.70 billion, up 0.4% and EBITDA of $1.85 billion, up 4.1% when compared to the same period last year. Operating income increased by 3.8% to reach $1.0 billion and earnings per share were $0.51, an increase of $0.01.



• Bell's first quarter 2004 capital expenditures as a percentage of revenues (CAPEX intensity) were 14.4%, compared to the 13.1% reported last year. The higher spending mainly related to Bell's DSL footprint expansion and infrastructure that improved productivity.

http://www.bce.ca

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Firetide Launches Outdoor Wireless Mesh Router

Firetide, a start-up based in Los Gatos, California, introduced its HotPoint 1000R wireless mesh router designed for outdoor network deployments. Firetide's mesh networking technology uses advanced routing technologies and IEEE 802.11-compliant radios to "unwire" the Ethernet infrastructure. Firetide's HotPoint Wireless Mesh Routers replace Ethernet cabling and form a Wireless Instant Network, eliminating the need for trenching and laying fiber or cable. The outdoor wireless mesh router could be used in campus networks, downtown Hot Zones, transportation services, and outdoor communities such as marinas, RV parks, and outdoor events. It provides long range coverage up to two miles omni-directionally. Two weather-sealed Ethernet ports are provided for connecting any Ethernet device, such as surveillance cameras or access points. The HotPoint 1000R can provide Power over Ethernet (PoE). http://www.firetide.com 05-May-04

http://www.firetide.com

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Sprint Awarded New DISA Bandwidth Contract

Sprint awarded a new five-year, $11.3 million order on an existing contract by the Defense Information Systems Agency (DISA) to provide expanded Internet connectivity for an unidentified agency within the Department of Defense (DoD). The additional bandwidth will help the DoD meet the growing data communication needs of their agencies. http://www.sprint.com/gsd

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UWB Forum Demonstrates Common Signaling Mode

The UWB Forum, a newly formed industry group that promotes ultra wideband technology, has signed up 30 member companies. The group expressed support for the Common Signaling Mode (CSM) initiative, which promises to enable the coexistence of multiple ultra-wideband solutions entering the market over the next several years.



The Common Signaling Mode (CSM) technique has been designed to provide an etiquette for different classes of devices (MultiBand-OFDM, Direct Sequence-UWB, and others) to communicate with each other in order to coordinate their actions and interoperate within the same wireless network.



In addition, Forum members are fully supportive of the IEEE 802.15.3 Medium Access Control (MAC) sublayer and several members have working 802.15.3 MAC implementations demonstrating wireless 1394, video streaming, and IP-based applications. The Forum expects to release a UWB specification compatible with the IEEE 802.15.3 MAC in June 2004, and several silicon providers are preparing to release additional application specific implementations of this specification later in 2004 and in 2005. A number of consumer electronics companies are also expected to release products based on DS-UWB in the second half of 2004.



Members of the UWB Forum are working closely with regional and national regulatory bodies to ensure that UWB solutions satisfy requirements designed to prevent unnecessary interference with existing spectrum users. http://www.uwbforum.org

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NETGEAR Reports Q1 Revenue of $88M, up 2% Sequentially

NETGEAR reported Q1 revenue of $88.4 million, as compared to $67.7 million for Q1 2003, and increased by 2% over the $86.8 million in the preceding quarter. Net revenue in the first quarter of 2004 derived from North America was $48.3 million, the Europe, Middle East and Africa region was $31.7 million and the Asia Pacific region was $8.4 million. Net income (GAAP) was $4.2 million, or $0.14 per basic share, as compared to net income of $1.6 million for the first quarter of 2003. http://www.netgear.com

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