ITU Approves Fiber Standard for CWDM

The International Telecommunication Union (ITU) has approved a global standard for a new optical fiber optimized for Coarse Wave Division Multiplexing (CWDM) in metro networks.



ITU-T Recommendation G.656 (Characteristics of a fiber and cable with Non-Zero Dispersion for Wideband Optical Transport) allows operators using CWDM to deploy systems without the need to compensate for chromatic dispersion, a phenomenon that at low levels counteracts distortion but at high-levels can make a signal unusable. G.656 also means that at least 40 more channels can be added to DWDM systems. The most important new feature in the specification is that it sets a low chromatic dispersion coefficient. http://www.itu.int

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QUALCOMM Debuts Convergence Chipset

QUALCOMM introduced its Convergence Platform of multimode chipsets aimed at merging wireless devices with consumer electronics. The company is introducing three chipsets, each of which incorporates a modem processor, an applications processor and associated DSPs delivering up to 1GHz speeds. The chipsets will include advanced power management capabilities for longer battery life, security and digital rights management support, wireless PC synchronization support, and connectivity to external consumer electronics devices via 802.11, USB, Bluetooth or other interfaces.



QUALCOMM said its Convergence Platform could be incorporated into a range of consumer electronics products with capabilities such as digital cameras (up to 6 megapixels), VGA 30 fps video recording and playback, high-fidelity digital stereo audio record and playback, etc.



Separately, QUALCOMM announced the wireless industry's first single-chip RF CMOS transceiver for dual-mode WCDMA (UMTS)/HSDPA and GSM/GPRS/EDGE (EGPRS) terminals. The device integrates a WCDMA (UMTS) transceiver and quad-band EGPRS transceivers into a single-chip, enabling cost optimized, smaller form factor devices for mainstream WCDMA (UMTS) markets. Samples of the RTR6275 are expected to ship in the second quarter of 2005.



QUALCOMM also announced that 21 wireless device manufacturers have selected its integrated chipsets and system software for their WCDMA (UMTS) deployments. http://www.qualcomm.com

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FCC Considers Rules for Smart Radios in Vacant TV Channels

The FCC is proposing to allow unlicensed devices to operate in the broadcast television spectrum at locations where the spectrum is not in use by television stations if they incorporate "smart radio" features that can identify unused TV channels.



Due to the physics of signal propagation, transmissions in the TV band can travel farther and can better penetrate into buildings than transmissions in the spectrum where existing unlicensed wireless broadband operations are permitted. As a result, allowing unlicensed operations in the TV bands could benefit wireless internet service customers by extending the service range of current providers' (WISPs) existing operations, particularly in rural and underserved areas.



The FCC is proposing to classify the unlicensed broadband devices that could be used in the TV bands into two general functional categories. The first category would consist of lower power "personal/portable" unlicensed devices, such as Wi-Fi like cards in laptop computers or wireless in-home local area networks. The second category would consist of higher power "fixed/access" unlicensed devices that are generally operated from a fixed location and may be used to provide a commercial service such as wireless broadband internet access. http://www.fcc.gov

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OPNET Releases Major Updates for its Software

OPNET Technologies announced a significant release of its IT Guru, SP Guru, Modeler, and ODK network management software and application. The release also includes a new Report Server product, new Automation module, and new Distributed Agent Controller module. OPNET's products are used in application performance management, configuration management, capacity planning, as well as modeling and simulation. http://www.opnet.com

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RadioShack Begins Selling Vonage Service in its 4,000 Stores

RadioShack began offering Vonage's broadband Internet telephone service in nearly 4,000 of its retail stores across the U.S. About 1,600 of these stores will host in-store, broadband telephony demonstrations beginning in June. http://www.radioshack.com/voip

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BellSouth Selects Nortel Networks Packet Voice Tandem Solution

BellSouth has selected Nortel Networks to provide packet voice tandem switches for its core network, with deployment expected later this year. This Packet Voice Tandem solution will include Nortel Networks Succession Communication Server 2000 (CS 2000) and Succession Multiservice Gateway 4000 (MG 4000) products. The CS 2000 will operate as a tandem switch in BellSouth's network, transferring calls between BellSouth's central offices. The MG 4000 is a trunking gateway that can reduce tandem congestion and help lower network costs. Financial terms were not disclosed. http://www.nortelnetworks.com

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BellSouth Deploys Lucent's Accelerate VoIP

Lucent Technologies announced a three-year agreement to help BellSouth expand its Centrex IP service across its nine-state territory. Specifically, BellSouth is deploying Lucent's EBS Communication Manager, which works with telephony systems to deliver IP-enhanced business applications via a Web graphical user interface, and iMerge Centrex Feature Gateway, which works with any Class 5 switch, and serves as a bridge between circuit-switched networks and IP network infrastructures to deliver Class 5 features and functionality over a packet network. Financial terms were not disclosed. http://www.lucent.com

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BellSouth Launches Centrex IP Service

BellSouth launched a new Centrex IP Service for business customers across the southeastern markets served by the company. Centrex IP will allow customers to use browser-based software that assists them with call management. Customers will be able to use Centrex IP to access enhanced call management functions through a secure login and have real-time control of calling features. http://www.bellsouth.com

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Europe Takes Stock of its National Broadband Strategies

Broadband Internet access across the European Union has grown by more than 80% in the year to January 2004, according a new European Commission report. The broadband take-up rates in several European countries are now amongst the highest in the world. However, the fastest growth is concentrated in cities. Furthermore, competition in broadband services is not equal in all areas.



The EU15 Member States all have national broadband strategies in place and the new Member States will table theirs before the end of 2004. The report concludes that national approaches must be kept under review and updated during 2005 so as to maintain the current momentum, particularly by ensuring competitive markets and the right regulatory conditions for investment. http://europa.eu.int

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Deutsche Telekom Reports Growth in Mobile, DSL

Deutsche Telekom reported Q1 revenue of EUR 14.0 billion, up by around 2.7% on a net basis and up around 7.5% on a like-for-like basis excluding discontinued operations and exchange rate variations. Some highlights:

• Mobile was the main driving force behind the increase in reported revenue, recording growth of 11.9%. The effects of exchange rate fluctuations with the U.S. dollar and the pound sterling were particularly strong in this area: organic revenue growth in the mobile communications division was more than 19 percent. T-Online also recorded a strong increase of 10.8 percent in reported revenue. This more than offset the reductions in revenue at T-Com of 6.9 percent, or 4.7 percent on an organic basis, mainly as a result of competitive and economic effects, and, at T-Systems, around 3 percent, or plus 0.3 percent on an organic basis, primarily due to changes in the consolidated group and decreases in the telecommunications segment.



• The broadband market continued to expand considerably. The number of T-DSL lines in operation in Germany increased by 37.5 percent year-on-year to 4.4 million. Including DSL lines operated by T-Com's majority-owned subsidiaries in Eastern Europe -- where the number of DSL lines almost tripled -- T-Com had approximately 4.5 million DSL lines in operation by the end of the first quarter of 2004, a year-on-year increase of 424,000.



• In Germany, T-Mobile recorded around 348,000 new customers in the first quarter of 2004, more than half of whom were contract subscribers.



• T-Mobile USA increased its customer base by almost a third in the past 12 months to 14.3 million. In the first quarter of 2004 alone, T-Mobile USA recorded almost 1.2 million new customers -- 93 percent of whom are fixed-term contract subscribers.



• During Q1, T-Online increased its number of customers by around 1 million year-on-year to approximately 13.4 million.



• Free cash flow increased considerably by EUR 0.9 billion year-on-year to EUR 2.9 billion in the first quarter of 2004.



• Net debt decreased further in the first quarter of this year, after debt reduction targets had already been exceeded at the end of 2003. Net debt amounted to EUR 44.6 billion at the end of March 2004. This represents a decrease of around EUR 2.0 billion since the end of 2003.



• The number of ISDN channels in Germany increased by a further 301,000 compared with the end of 2003 to 21.8 million channels in the first quarter of 2004, almost offsetting the decrease in analog lines.



• The workforce was reduced by 13.6 percent to 125,700 employees as a result of successful staff reduction measures.

http://www.telekom.de

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UK Telecom Regulator Issues Broadband Framework

Ofcom, the office telecom regulator for the UK, announced a number of proposals intended to increase sustainable and effective competition in broadband data, content and voice services. The proposals focus on:

• Local Loop Unbundling (LLU) to allow operators to target investment and to develop scale in the creation of new and competitive high-speed data services based in the UK's local broadband exchanges. Ofcom welcomes BT's commitment to that process and its announcement of a 70% reduction in its charges to operators leasing unbundled shared local loops. (LLU is a process by which the dominant provider's local loops are physically disconnected from its network and connected to another communications provider's network. This enables competing providers partly or wholly to lease a customer's access line and provide voice and/or data services directly to end users over that access line.)



• the establishment of a Telecoms Adjudicator, independent of regulator and industry, intended to oversee the swift development of LLU processes.



• a framework, pricing approach and a technology evolution path for Wholesale Broadband Access, enabling all operators to plan for long-term and large-scale investment.



• In the fixed-line voice market, the need to address some of the structural disadvantages inherent in the current Carrier Pre-Select (CPS) regulations. In this context, Ofcom welcomes BT's commitment to offer local call bundles to its CPS competitors interconnecting at the local exchange, with the benefit of greater cost savings and operational efficiency.



• Ofcom is reviewing and will be consulting on the overhead wholesale charges paid by operators to BT to connect to BT's network.

http://www.ofcom.org.uk

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BT Unveils New Local Loop Unbundling Policy

BT will re-design and simplify its current local loop unbundling (LLU), cutting prices by up to 70% in a phased series of price reductions. BT said its long term aim is to ensure that it is subject to less regulation in areas where competition has been a success



The monthly rental price for the existing shared LLU product will come down on June 1 from £4.42 to £2.26 per line with the connection fee also falling from £117 to £83.33. Taking both cuts into consideration, this represents an overall saving of 35 per cent on the current price. Prices will be reduced again - making a total reduction of up to 70 per cent - once the full cost benefits of the re-scoped product and the achievement of certain volumes filter through. Prices for the fully unbundled LLU product are also to come down initially by an average of 15 per cent.



BT will also adjust the price for elements of its BT DataStream products to ensure there are adequate margins between BT DataStream and BT IPStream Home 500. These adjustments will be announced by the end of May with the margin being maintained with regard to all BT IPStream capacity based charging products.



In addition, BT is also to introduce a new wholesale calls product for Carrier Pre-Selection (CPS) operators where they have invested in connecting to a local exchange. This product will allow them to use BT directly for on-switch or inter-local exchange calls at a price such that their overall costs can be considerably reduced. The final product will be developed in consultation with Ofcom and the industry with interim arrangements to be put in place from July. http://www.btplc.com

• BT IPStream is a wholesale ADSL product sold to internet service providers (ISPs). In simple terms, it is an end-to-end wholesale broadband service that ISPs use to sell on to their end user customers.



• BT DataStream is an ATM transport product which tends to be bought by other network operators. These alternative network operators can then use their own ATM and IP networks to sell services directly or indirectly through their ISP customers to consumers and businesses.

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Telefónica Sees Revenues Rise 8%

The Telefónica Group reported Q1 revenue of EUR 6.959 million, up 7.7 year-on-year and up 10.3% year-on-year when excluding the exchange rate and perimeter effect. Net income rose 2.7% to EUR 558.2 million. Some highlights:

• Telefónica's customer base now stands at over 101 million, a 15.8% increase on the year earlier and 2.9% more than in December 2003. As in previous quarters, growth mostly came in the cellular and broadband businesses.



• Telefonica Móviles had more than 54.4 million managed customers, with net adds of 2.3 million in this three-month period and 12.6 million in the last 12 months.



• The number of ADSL connections has risen by 77.6% since March 2003 to 3 million, of which nearly 2.2 million are in Europe and more than 0.8 million in Latin America.



• The Telefónica Group's net debt stood at EUR 18.018 billion, a reduction of EUR 1.217 billion EURs from December 2003.

. http://www.telefonica.es

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