Germany Opens Consultation on Local Loop Access

Germany's Regulatory Authority for Telecommunications and Post (RegTP) has opened a national consultation and debate on draft proposals on the local loop access market. Access to the local loop is one of eighteen relevant markets the national regulatory authorities (NRAs) have been recommended by the European Commission to look at. In its draft RegTP concludes that the German market, defined in line with national circumstances, requires regulation and that Deutsche Telekom AG (DTAG) has significant market power in this market. All interested parties...

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FCC Takes Measures to Reform E-Rate Program

Following an audit of the schools and libraries support mechanism (also known as the "E-rate" program), the FCC adopted a number of measures aimed at reducing waste, fraud and abuse of the program. The schools and libraries program enables qualified applicants to receive discounts on eligible telecommunications services, Internet access, and internal connections. Since the program's inception in 1997, schools and libraries across the United States have received over $11 billion in funding commitments and, as a result, 99% of public schools and...

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Russia's SMARTS Selects Alcatel for EDGE mobile network

SMARTS, a leading regional mobile operator in Russia, selected Alcatel for the deployment of an EDGE network throughout the city of Samara, a city with over one million inhabitants. Under the contract, Alcatel will EDGE-enable the Evolium 900 and 1800 MHz base stations already installed in the operator's network using the multi-standard GSM/EDGE/WCDMA capability of its industry leading Evolium solution. http://www.alcatel....

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MCI Provides MPLS VPN service for CODA

MCI is providing a fully-managed international Private IP solution to CODA, the financial systems specialist. The network-based, MPLS VPN service provides any-to-any connectivity between CODA's international sites. Because CODA chose a fully-managed solution, MCI also handled the hardware implementation, integration and the ongoing maintenance of their network from the router and beyond. MCI Private IP is a certified Cisco Powered Network service. Financial terms were not disclosed. http://www.mci....

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Swisscom Reaches 656,000 ADSL Subscribers

As of 30-June-2004, Swisscom was serving 656,000 ADSL access lines, more than double the 317,000 ADSL subscribers it was serving a year earlier. Of the total, 389,000 are for Bluewin retail customers and 267,000 for other providers' customers. Overall, Swisscom posted a 0.4% increase in revenue (excluding debitel) to CHF 5 billion for the first half of 2004. Operating income before interest, tax, depreciation and amortization (EBITDA) fell by 5.6% year-on-year to CHF 2.25 billion. Swisscom's Mobile segment posted a year-on-year increase of...

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Sprint PCS Launches Nationwide Streaming Video and Audio

Sprint announced the nationwide launch of a wireless service that offers streaming video and audio content. The Sprint PCS Vision Multimedia Phone MM-A700 by Samsung will be the first CDMA device in the United States to deliver streaming audio and video content from familiar sources such as CNN, NBC, FOX Sports, The Weather Channel, E! Entertainment, mFlix, Twentieth Century Fox, AccuWeather and 1KTV. Sprint said users will be able to access more than 600 new streaming video and audio clips every day, covering the latest news, weather, sports...

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BT Adds Self-help Option for Broadband Customers

BT introduced an enhanced 'self-help' option for its range of broadband services, from Broadband Basic to BT Yahoo! Broadband. Called 'BT Broadband Help' or 'BT Yahoo! Help', it enables customers to receive automated pop-ups that will automatically alert users to potential problems. These include issues with connection and email, general settings enquiries and internet usage allowances. It will then take the user through the necessary steps to remedy the problem,. The service is based on management software from Motive, Inc. The service is available...

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Conexant Announces Workforce Reductions

Conexant Systems announced plans to reduce its worldwide workforce by approximately 300 employees by the end of the calendar year. The company cited merger-related synergies and its 's revenue outlook for the September quarter, which was communicated in its recent quarterly earnings call at the end of July, and is lower than the company expected one quarter ago. The headcount reduction is in addition to the actions announced last April that will affect approximately 200 people by the end of the calendar year. http://www.conexant....

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