Cisco Collaborates with IBM on CRS ASICs

Cisco Systems collaborated with IBM on the design of the 40 Gbps ASICs for its new Carrier Routing System (Cisco CRS-1). The Cisco Silicon Packet Processor (SPP) features 38 million gates, approximately 185 million transistors and 188 high-performance programmable 32-bit RISC processors executing 47 billion instructions per second (BIPS). The 18.3-millimeter (mm) square chip -- along with nine additional ASICs designed by Cisco and built by IBM for the Cisco CRS-1 -- is the result of a strategic multi-year semiconductor technology development...

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Allstream Launches Managed Mitel IP Telephony Solution

Allstream announced a managed Enterprise IP Telephony solution in partnership with Mitel Networks. The service combines the Mitel Networks 3300 Integrated Communications Platform with Allstream IP Connectivity and Infrastructure Management services, allowing organizations to collaborate and communicate using converged Web-and-voice-based technologies, including mobile and wireless devices. http://www.allstream.comhttp://www.mitel....

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Marconi Selected for BT's 21CN Trials

Marconi confirmed that its SoftSwitch and Access Hub will be used in BT's 21CN trials to deliver voice services to up to 3,000 BT customers. The trial is expected to take place from October 2004 through September 2005 and will be used by BT to evaluate ways of transitioning its PSTN infrastructure to a next-generation network architecture. Marconi's Access Hub has already gone live in BT's network under a three-year frame contract signed in August 2003. It is now providing ADSL services to BT's customers. http://www.marconi....

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DSL Continues Record Growth -- Now 73.4 Million Lines Worldwide

DSL deployments continued to grow at a record pace worldwide during Q1 2004, adding 9.5 million subscribers in three months for a worldwide total of 73.4 million installed lines. This marks the biggest quarterly deployment of DSL to date, according to the latest figures from the DSL Forum and analyst firm Point Topic, and the third consecutive quarter to produce a record-breaking subscriber increase. Installations are now occurring at roughly double the pace in 2003. Three countries represented more than half of the new subscribers:China added...

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Government Will Not Appeal Court Decision Overturning UNE Rules

The Office of the Solicitor General has informed the FCC that it has decided not to appeal the D.C. Circuit decision vacating the Commission's local telephone unbundling rules. Some industry reaction:USTA: ""This is bold leadership from the Administration on American jobs, investment and economic growth. The Administration had a clear choice: Continue down a path of extreme government intervention in a competitive marketplace or embrace the free-market principles that make our economy strong. It chose the forward-looking path...As the strategy...

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MCI Launches On-Demand Application Service

MCI introduced a managed On-Demand Application Service that helps businesses distribute software to multiple locations and hundreds or thousands of end-users via MCI's global IP network. MCI said the service helps companies to more easily distribute software releases and patch updates, better control software licenses and track software usage under a pay-as-you-go model. Data is hosted at an MCI data center and centrally streamed over the company's global IP network. MCI is using technology from Endeavors Technology, a provider of on-demand...

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France Telecom Moves to Unlimited Fixed Line and VoIP

France Telecom launched unlimited usage plans (flat rate) for its fixed line and VoIP services. Beginning this month, France Telecom will offer:Unlimited usage call plans starting at EUR 9 per month, including a contact management application, to 3 fixed line or national numbers after 6pm and on weekends. Pricing scales up for the unlimited calling based on the number of destination lines selected and whether the plan is evenings/weekends or 24/7. 24/7 unlimited VoIP for Internet users, priced at EUR 5 per month and then 13 cents per call2...

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BT Sees Majority of PSTN Services on IP by 2008

BT outlined a five-year timetable for migrating its circuit-based voice services to IP. The mass migration of customers from PSTN to IP will begin in 2006 and, by 2008, BT expects a majority of the transformation will be completed. BT's 21CN initiative aims to migrate the company's existing multiple, service specific networks to a single converged multi-service IP based network. It includes work towards increasing the bandwidth of services provided over the copper access network as well as the trials of FTTP. Key elements of BT's 21st century...

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Voiceglo Chooses CIENA/Laurel to Support VoIP

Voiceglo has deployed a joint CIENA/Laurel multiservice edge solution to support its GloPhone VoIP service. CIENA DN 7100 multiservice edge switches and Laurel ST200) service edge routers provide the voice switching, Internet routing and peering, QoS, subscriber management and interface flexibility for the network. http://www.ciena.comhttp://www.voiceglo.comvoiceglo, a provider of consumer and business VoIP services, is based in Fort Lauderdale, Florida. voiceglo provides free SIP-to-SIP calling to other voiceglo members and charges for calls...

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Cingular Announces $100 Million Expansion in Texas

Cingular Wireless announced a $100 million network expansion program in south Texas. The campaign will add more than 80 new cell sites in 2004, almost doubling the number of sites added last year. Cingular's plan for South Texas is part of the company's national focus to invest $3 billion during 2004 -- adding more cell sites, circuits and switches -- for an enhanced wireless experience. Cingular invested more than $200 million last year implementing GSM/GPRS and improving coverage and capacity throughout the region. http://www.cingular....

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Siemens Confirms Softswitch Deployment by BellSouth

BellSouth has signed an agreement to deploy the IP-based Siemens SURPASS Business Connection next-generation network solution. The deployment will support BellSouth's recently announced business VoIP services. Financial terms were not disclosed. The SURPASS Business Connection solution is part of Siemens SURPASS portfolio of next-generation, standards-based IP solutions for carriers and service providers. Elements of the portfolio include the SURPASS hiQ softswitch and the SURPASS hiG media gateway. http://www.siemens....

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Virtela Manages DSL Connections in 100 Countries

Virtela Communications, a global network solutions company based in Denver, is now able to provide managed global DSL connectivity to its private network from 100 countries. Virtela has doubled the number of access provider relationships since its launch of Global DSL services last year. Through its partners, Virtela now can provide managed DSL access from Indonesia, the Philippines, Saudi Arabia, South Africa, Taiwan and Thailand, among others. Virtela also announced that Pitney Bowes, a global provider of integrated mail and document management...

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