SBC Increases Quarterly Dividend by 3.2%

SBC Communications announced a 3.2% increase in its quarterly dividend from 31.25 cents a share to 32.25 cents a share, or 4 cents a share on an annual basis, from $1.25 to $1.29 a share. SBC said this marks its 20th consecutive year for dividend increases. http://www.sbc.com

Read More

Lucent Supplies Tollgrade DSL Test to Saudi Project

Lucent Technologies will supply Tollgrade Communications' broadband test equipment for deployment throughout Saudi Telecom Company (STC). The project marks the first significant international selection of Tollgrade's DigiTest EDGE multi-layer broadband test system. The companies said Tollgrade's testing technology was selected for both POTS and DSL service. Tollgrade solutions will be incorporated into a network comprised of network elements manufactured by several leading global telecommunications equipment suppliers.



Tollgrade's LoopCare Test OSS is a loop test and management system currently used for testing more than 150 million access lines worldwide. The DigiTest EDGE Broadband Test Head is a multi-layer test and management solution used to accurately qualify potential customers for broadband services, verify provisioning prior to service activation, and isolate multi-layered network faults. http://www.tollgrade.com/

Read More

Lucent to Distribute Warrants in Connection with 03 Shareholder Deal

As part of its agreement to settle class action shareowner and related litigation that began in 2000, Lucent Technologies distributed 200 million warrants to purchase an equal number of shares of common stock at an exercise price of $2.75. The company also said that it will pay the remaining $215 million to the settlement fund in January 2005, and this obligation can be settled in either cash or stock at the company's option. Lucent currently expects to use cash for the remaining settlement, but a final decision will not be made until January. The company had already deposited $100 million of stock into an escrow account for the settlement fund in December 2003.



The agreement, which was announced on March 27, 2003, and approved by the court on December 12, 2003, was a global settlement of what were 54 separate lawsuits, including the consolidated shareowner securities class action lawsuits in the U.S. District Court in Newark, N.J., and related ERISA, bondholder, derivative and state securities cases. The lawsuits alleged that the company violated federal securities laws and related state laws. The company denied any wrongdoing as part of the agreement. http://www.lucentsecuritieslitigation.com/

• In March 2003, Lucent announced a global settlement of what were 54 separate lawsuits, including consolidated shareowner securities class action lawsuits and related ERISA, bondholder, derivative and state securities cases. The lawsuits alleged that the company violated federal securities laws and related state laws. The company denied any wrongdoing as part of the agreement.

Read More

Nortel Announces New Waiver from Export Development Canada

Nortel Networks obtained a new waiver from Export Development Canada ("EDC"). The new waiver from will remain in effect until the earlier of certain events including the date on which the company's past financial reports have been filed with the SEC; or January 15, 2005.



If the company fails to file the reports by January 15, 2005, there can be no assurance that it would receive any further waivers or any extensions of the waiver beyond its scheduled expiry date.



The EDC Support Facility provides up to US$750 million in support, all presently on an uncommitted basis. As of December 9, 2004, there was approximately US$290 million of outstanding support utilized under the EDC Support Facility, approximately US$206 million of which was outstanding under the small bond sub-facility. http://www.nortel.com/news

Read More

Ericsson to Serve as Integrator for China Telecom's CN2

China Telecom has selected Ericsson as the total solution integrator for building its next-generation IP backbone network, known as ChinaNet Next Carrying Network (CN2). According to the contract, Ericsson will provide total solutions for the entire national core network of CN2 and the major part of its backbone network in the southern and western parts of China. Under the contract, Ericsson will provide systems integration, supervision and support and training services, and will also provide equipment in partnership with Juniper Networks to China Telecom. Delivery and implementation of the contract will start in the first quarter of 2005, and the CN2 network is expected to run into service by the end of 2005. http://www.ericsson.com

Read More

Cisco Systems Marks its 20th Anniversary

Cisco Systems marked the 20th anniversary since its founding on December 10, 1984 by two Stanford University scientists. Since then, Cisco has grown from a start-up business with two employees to a global company with more than 35,000 employees in 259 cities worldwide and $22 billion in revenue. In its infancy, the company manufactured one router; today it offers more than 40 product lines.



In support the anniversary, president and CEO John Chambers challenged every Cisco employee globally to volunteer one day in their community. Cisco employees have exceeded the goal of donating 175,200 hours, which equates to 20 years worth of service to the global community. Cisco began the challenge in May 2004 and will continue until May 2005. Examples of the charitable work includes:

• Cisco worked closely with a Seattle-based non profit organization, Community Voice Mail, to provide voicemail boxes for the homeless and others who may not have access to phones--which is critical to help them secure jobs and services.



• More than 1300 Cisco employees worldwide helped Habitat for Humanity build more than 420 houses in various cities including wiring 10 percent of them for networking.



• A team of employees from Cisco's Hungarian office volunteered one full day to help repaint fire-damaged walls of a Hungarian children's home so that the displaced children could return.



• More than 250 employees from Cisco's offices in Korea spent an entire day rejuvenating the Mt. Bookhan hiking area.

http://www.cisco.com

Read More

Intelsat Delays Launch of Intelsat-Americas-8, Pending IA-7 Review

Intelsat reported that 22 transponders on the Intelsat-Americas-7 satellite have been tested, are performing normally and are available to be put back into service. Already, several of these transponders are being used to provide service to Intelsat customers.



Intelsat has temporarily delayed the launch of its IA-8 satellite pending the on-going investigation into the anomalies experienced this month with IA-7. The company said it is working closely with Space Systems/Loral to determine and fully analyze the cause of the anomaly, though the complexity of the event means it may take several months to deliver a final report.



Given the current condition of IA-7, Zeus Holdings Limited, Intelsat's prospective acquirer, would have the option not to consummate the acquisition of Intelsat if the loss is not remedied in accordance with the terms of the agreement with Zeus. Zeus has been advised of Intelsat's decision to delay the launch of IA-8 and continues to evaluate the extent to which the IA-7 anomaly and the IA-8 launch delay could impact the pending acquisition. http://www.intelsat.com

Read More