F5 Acquires MagniFire WebSystems for Application Firewall

F5 Networks has acquired MagniFire WebSystems, a start-up based in New York with R&D in Israel, for $29 million in cash. MagniFire's TrafficShield security appliance combines application-layer filtering with network and encryption technology to defend against "zero-day" web infrastructure attacks. F5 Networks said the acquisition complements its acquisition of uRoam and its FirePass SSL VPN product for secure remote access last July. http://www.f5networks.com/http://www.magnifire.com/

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Verizon Remains Deadlocked with MCI and AT&T

Following marathon negotiations over the Memorial Day weekend, Verizon Communications issued a statement blaming the government's position for the failure to reach commercial agreements with MCI and AT&T.



"The positions of all sides are clearer now, there was some movement, and we'll continue to do everything we can to reach fair agreements with wholesale customers," said Tom Tauke, executive vice president of public affairs at Verizon. "But the negotiations are frustrated by the position of the government."



The majority of the FCC is seeking a stay of the appeals court order that threw out key parts of the Triennial Review Order with regard to network unbundling rules. http://www.verizon.com

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XO Calls on FCC Chairman to Open Key Negotiations

XO Communications expressed its strong opposition to what it believes are the "secret and exclusive" FCC-sponsored negotiations among the four regional Bell operating companies (RBOCs), AT&T and MCI that have taken place over Memorial Day weekend.



"It is unfortunate that the FCC Chairman has engaged in secret and exclusive negotiations that serve to undermine the Telecommunications Act of 1996, which was enacted to foster competition and protect consumers and businesses from the local monopolies," said XO Communications Chief Executive Officer, Carl Grivner. "XO has invested billions of dollars in local network facilities in order to compete against the RBOCs. The deliberate exclusion, from the negotiations process, of companies that have brought true facilities-based competition to the telecommunications industry demonstrates a total disregard for open and fair discussions. http://www.xo.com

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Communications Workers Union Seeks Universal Service Rules for VoIP

The Communications Workers of America is calling on the FCC to define VoIP as a telecommunications service and therefore subject to the same regulations that govern other telecommunications services providers -- including universal service support, emergency and public safety access, consumer protections and disability access.



In a filing with the FCC, the union notes that the current model ensured universal, affordable, high-quality telephone service for every household and business in the United States. "Now, as we move into the next generation of communications, it is more important than ever to maintain this commitment to universal service, if the full benefits of Internet-enabled services are to be available to all," the filing continued.



The CWA also believes there is no need for the FCC to impose rate regulation on VoIP. However, it sees a continued role for state commission in partnership with the FCC. http://www.cwa-union.org/

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Aleron Broadband Services Deploys Axiowave

PowerNet Global Communications (PNG), an emerging national wholesale and retail carrier, began offering "ATM-Grade SLAs" for IP services. The carrier is using Axiowave Networks' XCR128 service convergence router across the IP network of its wholly owned Aleron Broadband Services. New services include Toll-Quality VoIP, ATM-Grade IP-VPNs, and ATM-Grade transit.



PNG/Aleron is now guaranteeing worst-case latency and jitter levels for the industry's first ATM-Grade IP-VPNs (point-to-point worst-case latency under 65 ms and worst-case jitter under 0.5 ms). The company said its SLAs provide a sharp contrast to the current industry practice of offering "monthly averages across all city pairs". In addition, PNG/Aleron guarantees that point-to-point worst-case latency and jitter for VoIP SLAs will never exceed 65 ms and 0.5 ms, respectively. This provides customers with Toll-Quality VoIP previously possible only across an ATM network. http://www.aleron.com

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Axiowave's Router Promises ATM-Grade QoS for IP

Axiowave
Networks, a start-up based Marlborough, Massachusetts, unveiled
its core/metro routing platform designed to deliver
"ATM-grade" quality of service for IP traffic.
Axiowave, which was founded in 2000 by Ray Stata and Mukesh
Chatter (formerly Lucent/Nexabit) is betting that the prevailing
IP/MPLS business model is flawed because service providers are
forced to overbuild and overprovision their networks. Axiowave
contends that most IP backbones today are not profitable because
CAPEX and OPEX are still too high, revenue per dollar invested
is low, margins are tight, and there is a lack of service
differentiation. But the greatest obstacle to IP profitability,
according to the company, is that the average sustained
utilization per IP egress port is below 30%. Even with MPLS
backbones, service providers must keep each port's sustained
utilization rate quite low in order to maintain promised SLAs.
This makes it difficult to "fill up the pipes," so,
instead, service providers "build more pipes." Company
CEO Mukesh Chatter believes ATM's best attribute was its ability
to carve out bandwidth for each service and to enforce the
bandwidth allocations in hardware. As a result, ATM and Frame
Relay networks remain more profitable than their IP
counterparts.



Axiowave's core/metro routing platform leverages a unique
switching and queuing architecture designed for carving out
bandwidth among four classes of service (ATM-CBR, VBR-rt, VBR-nRT,
and best effort). The platform uses ASICs and FPGAs. The company
claims it can increase the utilization of IP egress trunks to
90%, including a high percentage (90+%) in the presence of
oversubscribed best-effort traffic. As with ATM, unused
bandwidth from any service running on the platform can be
dynamically distributed to other services with burstable
options. Examples of premium IP services could include,
too-grade VoIP, ATM-grade IP VPNs, wireless voice, broadcast
video, etc.

Source: Axiowave



Axiowave's first model, the XCR128, will support up to 32
OC192c, or a combination of OC-48c, GbE, OC12 and OC3
interfaces. Standard support for IP/MPLS protocols includes
BGPv4, OSPF, IS-IS and MPLS. Key features also include:

• completely non-blocking packet switching architecture that
  scales to 1.28 Tbps
  
• a modular, shelf-based architecture that expands by adding
  I/O shelves
  
• line cards that support any protocol -- such as IP, MPLS,
  Ethernet and native ATM -- on any port as a
  software-configurable option
  
• a modular operating system that isolates failures,
  preventing one failure from affecting other processes.
  
• support for IETF Graceful Restart mechanisms
  
• multiple "deep" packet touch operations such as
  large "multi-field" packet classification,
  policing, filtering, scheduling, congestion management, and
  accounting operate at wire-speed for all packet sizes.

http://www.axiowave.com

• Axiowave has raised $121 million in funding to date. The company has approximately 156 people.



• Axiowave was founded in May 2000 by Ray Stata (formerly a founder of Nexabit Networks), Mukesh Chatter (formerly a founder and CEO of Nexabit Networks), Satish Soman (formerly VP of Chip Development and Modeling at Nexabit Networks), and Peter Marconi (formerly a founder of Nexabit Networks).


• In June 1999, Lucent Technologies first announced plans to acquire Nexabit Networks, a start-up developing a terabit-class IP switch/router, in a stock swap deal valued at about $900 million at the time (14 million shares of LU). The announcement came one day after Lucent completed its acquisition of Ascend Communications.



• In October 2002, Lucent Technologies confirmed that it had abandoned its TMX 880 high-capacity core network switch, which was based on technology acquired from Nexabit Networks.

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Allied Telesyn Teams with General Bandwidth

Allied Telesyn will resell General Bandwidth's G6 VoIP Media Gateways in support of packet voice services alongside its TN9000 series MultiService Access Platforms (MAP) and RG600 Residential Gateway CPE products. As part of Allied Telesyn's Triple Play service offering of voice, video, and high speed data over IP, Allied Telesyn will be integrating the G6 VoIP Media Gateway, a NEBS Level 3 certified circuit-to-packet gateway, with its own carrier grade, Ethernet/IP-based access portfolio.



The G6 platform is a fully redundant, carrier grade VoIP service gateway with the capability to scale from 240 to 3360 DSOs per chassis. http://www.alliedtelesyn.com

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Riverstone Debuts 10 Gbps Ethernet Edge Router

Riverstone
Networks introduced an "Ethernet Edge Router" that
combines the standard elements of a multiservice edge router -
an IP/MPLS control plane, multiple interface types, and the
ability to converge traffic over MPLS. The new ASIC-driven
Riverstone 15008 Ethernet Edge Router employs a distributed and
modular operating system architecture that allows the router to
detect and restart errant protocols without affecting the rest
of the system. Riverstone said router software outages and
reboots currently account for nearly half of all network
failures. The Riverstone 15008 hardware also provides redundant
control modules and switch fabrics. It also supports resilient
network designs with technologies like MPLS Fast Reroute and
Service loop detection and prevention. Other key design elements
include:

• 192 Gbps non-blocking switch fabric (384 Gbps full-duplex)
  
• 144 Mpps throughput, expandable to 288 Mpps
  
• distributed hardware forwarding on each line card for IPv4
  and IPv6 routing at wire-rate
  
• MPLS LER and LSR forwarding
  
• Ethernet bridging
  
• IEEE VLAN support and VLAN Stacking
  
• additional VLAN support including Ethernet Pseudowire,
  VPLS and H-VPLS, future Layer 3 VPNs, E-Line and E-LAN,
  E-UNI , etc.
  
• RSVP-TE and LDP label distribution and signaling
  
• hardware based security and service profiles
  
• Jumbo frame support
  
• 10 Gigabit Ethernet (LAN and WAN PHY) and Gigabit Ethernet
  (SFP-based)
  
• Support for POS - OC-3/STM-1, OC-12/STM-4, OC-48/STM-16,
  and OC192/STM-64
  
• Support for ATM - OC3-/STM-1, OC-12/STM-4, and
  OC-48/STM-16

Riverstone said the new 10-gigabit Ethernet router complements
its flagship RS product line and Riverstone Management Center (RMC).
Service providers could use the platform to support,
fine-grained traffic management. It could also function as a
Provider Edge router for high-capacity customers, or be used to
scale the aggregation and core of a network with 10 Gigabit
trunks.



T-Systems is trialing the Riverstone 15008 together with
Germany's national research and education network, Deutsches
Forschungsnetz (DFN).
http://www.riverstonenet.com

• In January 2004, Riverstone Networks introduced a new hardware module, upgraded MPLS routers and a software release all aimed at helping carrier's transition toward MPLS/VPLS-based Ethernet networks. The rollout included three new access routers -- the RS 1100, 3100 and 3200 -- that are positioned as small, cost-effective VPLS platforms that build upon Riverstone's existing RS 1000 and 3000 routers. The new platforms offer additional intelligence to deliver granular QoS with rate limiting and shaping. Available interfaces including ATM, Packet over SONET/SDH and TDM, enabling a transition of existing services to Ethernet services based on MPLS/VPLS. The RS 1100 and 3100 are targeted at Ethernet-over-copper deployments with standard 10/100BaseT interfaces, while the RS 3200 is targeted at Ethernet-over-fiber deployments with SFP interfaces for 100BaseFX or 100BaseBX. The new Advanced Services Module (ASM) for the RS routers provides bandwidth control, allowing Ethernet to emulate the service capabilities of Frame Relay and ATM. The ASM's traffic shaping and advanced MPLS capabilities allow service providers to offer their customers services like E-Line and E-LAN (defined by the Metro Ethernet Forum) as well as a choice in how much service they want to pay for.

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AT&T Names Chief Marketing Officer for Business

AT&T appointed Kathleen R. Flaherty Chief Marketing Officer of the unit that serves business customers in the U.S. and globally. Flaherty will head a new organization that consolidates all AT&T business marketing functions -- product, price, promotion and placement -- into a single group focused on delivering higher-value services, applications and solutions to AT&T's domestic and multinational business. Flaherty most recently served as the president and chief operating officer of Winstar International. She will report to AT&T President William Hannigan. http://www.att.com

• In December, William J. Hannigan was named as President of AT&T. Hannigan was most recently Chairman and CEO of Sabre Holdings. Previously, Hannigan held senior executive positions at SBC Communications, including president of SBC Global Markets and president of Southwestern Bell's $4.5 billion Business Communications Services unit. Prior to joining Pacific Bell in 1996, Hannigan spent nearly 12 years at Sprint and its predecessor companies.

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Bluefire Secures $10 Million for Wireless Firewalls

Bluefire Security Technologies, a start-up based in Baltimore, raised $10 million in series C financing for its security software that protects wireless handheld devices, data and networks. The company's flagship product, Bluefire Mobile Firewall Plus, is a security solution for handheld devices, providing firewall, intrusion prevention, integrity management, encryption, authentication and policy-based enterprise security management features that enable the safe use of mobile and wireless applications. The new funding came from Grotech Capital Group, JK&B Capital, Walker Ventures, Maryland's Department of Business and Economic Development, and the Maryland Angels Council. http://www.bluefiresecurity.com/

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Sprint Expands Portfolio with DISH Satellite TV

Sprint has begun offering DISH Network satellite TV services in its 18-state local telephone operating territory. http://www.sprint.com

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Tellabs Enhances Grooming of Digital Crossconnects

Tellabs has added support for Telcordia's GR-303 Voice Circuit Concentration to its Tellabs 5320L and Tellabs 5320LS digital cross-connects. The enhancement more effectively grooms incoming T-1s so that fewer voice switch ports are required to support the same level of service. With fewer voice switch ports, Tellabs estimates that network operators can realize savings from 75% to 83%.



The Tellabs 5320L/5320LS systems also now have surveillance port support that enables network operators to monitor thousands of DS-0 circuits simultaneously, which is particularly helpful for wireless carriers deploying FCC-mandated E911 location-based service. http://www.tellabs.com

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Broadcom and BroadLight Team on FTTP

Broadcom and BroadLight announced joint solutions for building cost-effective FTTP optical network units (ONUs) for delivering voice, video and data services to residential users. The system design is based on BroadLight's advanced broadband passive optical network (BPON) transceivers and media access controllers (MACs) and Broadcom's access technologies for carrying voice, video and data to and throughout the home. Broadcom and BroadLight are co-marketing the solutions to telecommunications system vendors and service providers worldwide. http://www.broadlight.com/http://www.broadcom.com

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Tiscali Selects UTStarcom's IP DSLAMs

Tiscali awarded a two-year contract to UTStarcom or deployment of its AN-2000 IB IP-based DSLAM in its multiservice broadband network, which will offer integrated Internet, telecommunications, and entertainment services in eight European countries. UTStarcom is also supplying Tiscali with NetRing optical Ethernet switches and iNetMan network and subscriber management software. Financial terms were not disclosed. http://www.utstar.com

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BellSouth Adds to Metro Ethernet Portfolio

BellSouth is enhancing its Ethernet transport services for business customers by adding new solutions for business continuity, data and storage center connectivity, sharing of medical and technical imaging, video and VoIP. The Metro Ethernet Service enhancements, known as Premium Service options, are initially available in Atlanta, Miami, New Orleans, Jacksonville and Raleigh, with deployments to take place in additional metro areas throughout 2004.



With BellSouth's Premium Service, customers have several available options including committed bandwidth speeds, bursting capabilities above the committed speeds, traffic prioritization and VLAN aggregation along with Service Level Agreements and Customer Network Management services.



BellSouth had been offering Ethernet transport at rates of 10, 100 or 1,000 Mbps. The new Premium Service allows customers to subscribe to additional incremental speeds of 20, 50, 250 and 500Mbpshttp://www.bellsouth.com

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Amedia Unveils Ethernet-based FTTP Solution

Amedia Networks, formerly TTR Technologies, unveiled an active Ethernet-based Fiber-to-the-Premises (FTTP) access solution. The company's Ethernet Switched Optical Network (ESON) technology, which was licensed from and jointly developed with Lucent Bell Labs, provides QoS mechanisms for delivering triple play services at up to 100 Mbps bandwidth per subscriber.



The Amedia portfolio includes:

• The PG1000 Premises Gateway: customer premises equipment located at the subscriber's home or business to enable ultra-broadband high QoS access, wirelessly or using traditional wiring.



• The AS5000 Aggregation Switch: a hardened distribution switch located between the Central Office/Head End and the end-user location.



• The CS1200: Core Switch: an Ethernet and MPLS switch located at the Central Office/Head End of the service provider network.



• The Director: a simple network management protocol (SNMP) based full fault, configuration, accounting, provisioning and security (FCAPS) Network Management System proving remote, end-to-end single person network operations.

http://www.amedianetworks.com

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MCI and Qwest Reach Commercial Agreement for Wholesale Services

MCI and Qwest Communications reached a landmark agreement on wholesale pricing and services -- marking the first commercially negotiated wholesale agreement between ILEC and major CLEC. The deal was reached after five weeks of mediated negotiations. Cheryl Parrino, former chairman of the Public Service Commission of Wisconsin and president of the National Association of Regulatory Utility Commissioners, served as mediator.



The agreement maintains existing prices through 31-Dec-2004; creates a transition period through January 2007; provides for incremental price adjustments at scheduled points within the transition period; and eases MCI's transition to facilities-based service offerings.


To better reflect market conditions, the deal includes a residential and business price split which addresses the unique market needs of these very different customers and results in a smaller rate increase for CLECs that serve residential customers in Qwest's territory. Additionally, rates are geographically sensitive. In total, rates for Qwest's "Qwest Platform Plus" (QPP) -- which will replace the unbundled network element (UNE) platform that MCI currently buys under regulatory rules -- will increase an average of less than $5 - including both residential and business customers -- by the end of the transition period. Certain non-recurring charges that MCI incurs to move its customers to its own facilities will decrease.



The agreement includes Qwest DSL services, as well as other services not previously available with a combined wholesale service, providing MCI with the opportunity to access new features and functionality at a discount -- specifically, Advanced Intelligent Network (AIN) services and Qwest Voice Messaging services. http://www.mci.comhttp://www.qwest.com

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Agilent Ships 10 Millionth ASIC Embedded SerDes Channel

Agilent Technologies shipped its 10 millionth embedded serializer/deserializer (SerDes) channel for storage, enterprise computing and network equipment manufacturers. Agilent's ASICs integrate more than 200 SerDes channels onto a single 0.13 micron CMOS chip, each operating at up to 3.125 Gbps. http://www.agilent.com

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Oman to Become Hub for Region's First Terabit Cable System

Omantel, the national telecoms operator in Oman, has signed a dual landing station agreement with FLAG Telecom for the FALCON cable system. This new high-capacity resilient loop will provide multiple landings throughout the Gulf region, with submarine links stretching to Egypt in the west and to Hong Kong in the east. The Gulf loop and east and west links will interconnect at two landings in Oman. Omantel has also signed a capacity agreement with FLAG Telecom, purchasing international connectivity on the FALCON cable system, providing direct connectivity to any point on the FLAG global network.



Leaving the Gulf, the western link of the FALCON system follows a route across the top of the Arabian Sea and through the Red Sea, where it will interconnect with FLAG's global network at Telecom Egypt's landing station at Suez. Travelling from Oman along its easterly link, FALCON will cross the Arabian Sea to a new Reliance-owned landing station at Mumbai, India. At this point FALCON will interconnect to Reliance's pan-India 80,000 km backbone network. From Chennai, on the east coast of India, FALCON will link India to Hong Kong where the cable will once again integrate with FLAG's global network. http://www.flagtelecom.com/

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Nokia Adds "Light Messaging" to Latest Camera Phone

Nokia unveiled its latest camera phone -- the Nokia 3220 -- featuring transparent grips which pulsate with light effects to indicate calls, messages, and in sync with the beat of ringtones. By waving the Nokia 3220 from side to side, the LED lights of the Nokia Xpress-on Fun Shell light up to "write" a message that appears to float in mid-air. The Nokia 3220 is a tri-band camera phone that will be available in two versions: a GSM 900/1800/1900 primarily for the European and Asian markets, and a GSM 850/1800/1900 primarily for the Americas. Shipments are expected to start in summer 2004. http://www.nokia.com

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TTR Technologies Changes Name to Amedia

TTR Technologies, a supplier of Ethernet and FTTP access solutions, has changed its name to Amedia Networks. Shares in the company have begun trading under the symbol AANI (OTCBB:AANI). http://www.amedianetworks.com

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