Skype announced that it now has more than 23 million registered users and is adding more than 130,000 new users per day. The company also released software versions for Mac OS X and Linux. http://www.skype....
Monday, January 31, 2005
Alcatel Supplies DSL in Oman, Yemen
Omantel, the incumbent operator in the Sultanate of Oman, has deployed the Alcatel 7300 Advanced Services Access Manager throughout the country to offer advanced broadband services to their residential users and enterprise customers. Commercial services were launched at the beginning of November 2004. Separately, Alcatel has been selected by Yemen Telecom to supply equipment for a DSL network. The first phase of the agreement covers the installation of 3,000 DSL lines, which will be put into commercial operation this month. http://www.alcat...
Hong Kong Broadband Net Offers 100 Mbps Residential Ethernet
Hong Kong Broadband Network Limited (HKBN) has launched a 100 Mbps residential broadband service based on Cisco Systems' Metro Ethernet, IP and optical network solutions. HKBN is installing more than 10,000 Cisco LAN switches and more than 800 Cisco routers in buildings throughout Hong Kong. Category 5e copper cables are wired from the LAN switch cabinet to the apartments of each target customer. Fiber-to-the-building (FTTB) was deployed between the buildings using the Cisco ONS 15454 Multiservice Transport Platform (MSTP) and Cisco Catalyst...
Meru Wins GSA Contract for WLAN and VoWLAN
Meru Networks was awarded Federal Supply Schedule contract approval by the General Services Administration, enabling U.S. federal agencies, the Department of Defense, and state and local government agencies to purchase Meru voice and data products for Wi-Fi (802.11) wireless LAN applications. The company expects government agencies will benefit from converged voice and data WLANs. http://www.merunetworks.c...
U.S. Marine Corps Selects net.com's Promina, SHOUT Platforms
The U.S. Marine Corps Systems Command has selected net.com's Promina multiservice access and SHOUT900 IP telephony platforms for domestic and overseas deployment in the Joint Enhanced Core Communications System (JECCS). The initial order for 11 JECCS units is valued at approximately $3 million. JECCS, a Humvee-mounted multifunctional communications system, enables deployed forces to establish mobile network connectivity between land and sea operations. The system leverages the Promina platform to provide both secure and non-secure voice and...
Verizon Launches iobi to Small Businesses in NYC, New England
Verizon launched iobi Professional for small businesses in New York and New England. The IP-based service provides individuals with call-management, voice mail, e-mail and other communications services using their PCs, the Web or a voice portal. Additional features include dynamic call log, address book, calendar, text messaging, e-mail messaging, instant SuperPages and personal directory number lookup, an always-on weather display, and access to calling-party maps. Iobi Professional operates over a variety of Verizon wireline services including...
BT to Manage THALES Network Services
BT was awarded a five-year contract by THALES Group, an international electronics and systems group serving the defense, aeronautics, security and services markets. Under the deal, BT will manage all fixed voice and data network services for THALES and its subsidiaries in 42 countries. BT will take over all operational management of their services and some of the existing contracts, and will manage the gradual migration of those services towards an IP platform, enabling progressive and controlled introduction of VoIP. http://www.bt....
Sun Microsystems Offers Grid Computing & Storage Services
Sun Microsystems launched a new "Sun Grid" utility initiative aimed at radically changing the way customers select, acquire and use next-generation IT infrastructure. Sun's new utility offerings include the Sun Grid compute utility and the Sun Grid storage utility. In the coming months, Sun will also roll out additional Sun Grid offerings for the desktop and developer communities. Sun is in the process of rolling out Sun Grid Centers worldwide; initial locations include Virginia, Texas, New Jersey, Canada and Scotland. Sun expects these centers...
SunRocket Selects Netrake for National VoIP Service
SunRocket has selected Netrake' session border controller for its flat-fee residential VoIP phone service. Netrake provides the ability to seamlessly support Hosted Firewall and NAT traversal for offering new, advanced IP services to customers behind enterprise and residential firewalls. Financial terms were not disclosed. SunRocket's all-inclusive annual home phone service features a unique Bottom-Line Pricing model. Special features include distinctive ringing for multiple household members, find me/follow me, do not disturb, and a browser-based...
NBC Universal and CinemaNow Sign VOD Deal
CinemaNow signed a deal with NBC Universal to deliver first-run pay-per-view and library titles, including movies and television event programming, on a streaming basis via the CinemaNow Web site.. Content partners for CinemaNow's video-on-demand service now include 20th Century Fox, Disney, Lions Gate, MGM, Sony, Warner Bros., and over 200 other licensors. The company has distribution rights about 6,500 titles. http://www.cinemanow....
Infonet Establishes Subsidiary in Hong Kong
Infonet Services has established a wholly-owned subsidiary in Hong Kong. The company has been providing services in Hong Kong since 1980 through its partner PCCW (previously known as HKT). PCCW will continue to act as a reseller of Infonet services to local enterprises based in Hong Kong. http://www.infonet.comIn November 2004, BT agreed to acquire Infonet, a provider of international managed voice and data network services, for $965 million (excluding Infonet's net cash balance of $390 million, the aggregate value of the deal is $575 million)....
Covad Release Q4 Network Metrics
Covad Communications release key operating statistics for Q4 2004, including: the addition of 8,300 DSL lines, bringing total lines in service at year end to 533,200 lines, a 3% increase from 517,000 at the end of 2003. Covad ended with 567 VoIP business customers representing approximately 20,500 VoIP stations.http://www.covad....
Telstra BigPond Deploys Juniper Networks E-Series
Australia's Telstra BigPond has chosen Juniper Networks' E-series edge routing platforms to provide connectivity to customers of BigPond's DSL service. At BigPond, the E-series edge routing platforms are being deployed as Layer 2 Tunneling Protocol (L2TP) networking servers to support existing and future subscribers on the Telstra network. L2TP is a secure remote access technology designed to protect sensitive data on DSL and other broadband connections. Financial terms were not disclosed. http://www.juniper.netTelstra BigPond is Australia's largest...
TIA Estimates U.S. Telecom Spending at $784.5 Billion, up 7.9%
Total spending in the U.S. telecommunications industry rose 7.9% in 2004 to an estimated $784.5 billion -- a significant improvement from gains of 3.6% in 2003 and 1.9% in 2002 -- according to TIA's 2005 Telecommunications Market Review and Forecast. The increased spending was driven by an increase in equipment and software revenue and double-digit increases in wireless services, services in support of equipment, and specialized services. TIA is predicting that the U.S. telecom market will continue growing at a projected 9.5% compound annual growth...
Ericsson to Resell Critical Telecom's Remote Ethernet DSLAM
Ericsson will integrate Critical Telecom's GEmini Remote Ethernet DSLAM into its global Ethernet DSL Access (EDA) broadband portfolio to help service providers deliver such new generation broadband access services as IPTV. The new Gemini Ethernet Remote DSLAM provides integrated GigE backhaul (with two GigE ports) in an environmentally-hardened, compact unit that can be deployed inside of remote cabinets. The unit can be installed without the need...
SBC to Link its Brand with Entertainment Services
SBC Communications will begin offering entertainment gifts and other incentives to encourage residential customers to signup for service bundles of local, long distance, DSL, wireless and satellite TV. The incentive include movie and music downloads, PlayStation2 online enabled videogames, and specialized merchandise. The promotion and advertising campaign are part of an overall initiative to link the SBC brand to premier communications and entertainment services, in advance of the company's introduction later this year of IPTV, VoIP and fast...
SBC - AT&T Merger to Result in 13,000 Layoffs, Reduced CAPEX
Nearly 60% of cost synergies from SBC's proposed acquisition of AT&T are expected to come from headcount reductions, said senior officials from both companies in a conference call from the investment community. SBC currently has about 163,000 employees, while AT&T has 47,000. The layoffs are likely to affect about 13,000 employees. The job cuts are expected to include 550 engineering positions, 1,100 enterprise data ordering positions, 1,200 enterprise data provisioning positions, 1,500 enterprise care functions, 700 network management...
Sunday, January 30, 2005
Infinera Goes Live with Photonic IC Technology
Infinera, a start-up based in Sunnyvale, California, announced the first commercial deployment of its Photonic Integrated Circuit technology. Germany's freenet is operating a nationwide network of Infinera DTNs. Unlike conventional optical systems, which use analog optical devices for key networking functions, the Infinera DTN uses digital technology. Infinera has created its own photonic chips that combine dozens of active and passive devices for managing light. The chips converts all traffic from optical to electronic signals, allowing the...
Marconi Forms Partnership with Huawei
Marconi and Huawei Technologies Co. Ltd. are working on a mutual distribution agreement that would see each company sell certain products from the other's product portfolio into their respective customers. Marconi will distribute certain of Huawei's carrier grade data products into its key customers. Huawei will distribute Marconi's next-generation access radio products into its key customers. The two companies have also discussed how Marconi can use its extensive services structure to support Huawei's pursuit of equipment business in the European...
NCTA Sees Antitrust Issue in SBC-AT&T Deal
Robert Sachs, President & CEO National Cable & Telecommunications Association, issued a statement urging caution in the proposed SBC acquisition of AT&T: "The proposed combination of the largest and second largest telephone providers in SBC's 13-state region raises obvious antitrust concerns that regulatory authorities will have to scrutinize carefully. Cable companies, other phone competitors, consumers and business users alike have a vital interest in ensuring that this new telco behemoth does not act anti-competitively to thwart...
Cable Operators Announce Digital Carriage Agreement
the Association for Public Television Stations and the National Cable & Telecommunications Association announced a progressive digital television carriage agreement covering the nation's local public television stations. The deal ensures that local public television stations' digital programming will be carried on cable systems serving the vast majority of the nation's cable subscribers. There are currently 356 Public Television stations in the U.S. As of the end of January, digital signals from about 100 Public Television stations were being...
Atheros Ships its 20-Millionth Wireless Chipset
Atheros Communications shipped its 20-millionth chipset during the fourth quarter of 2004. In just under three years, the company has delivered six generations of WLAN silicon. In its Q4 financial report, Atheros said demand for its solutions is at an all-time high. Revenue in the fourth quarter was $41.7 million, compared with $38.3 million in the third quarter, an increase of nine percent. Gross margins in the fourth quarter were 44.5 percent, compared with 45.6 percent in the third quarter, at the upper end of the company's guidance. ht...
Network Implications of SBC + AT&T Merger
SBC Communications confirmed its plans to acquire AT&T in an historic deal valued at approximately $16 billion that is likely to reshape the U.S. telecom market. The companies expect that the combination of a converged, IP backbone with global scale, a high-density of local broadband access lines, and with a nationwide IP-based UMTS/HSDPA wireless network (Cingular) will be the foundation for truly integrated, next-generation services. The companies cited more than $15 billion in identified short term synergies created through their merger....
Agere Teams with HCL on Network Processor Designs
Agere Systems introduced a simplified Functional Programming Interface (FPI) software platform that runs on its network processors, such as its PayloadPlus APP550 for multiservice networking gear. Agere's improved FPI software features a comprehensive suite of protocols and services for target applications. In addition, the software facilitates quick addition of revenue-generating, differentiating features with relatively small, localized changes in code. Agere also announced a service agreement with HCL Technologies to help enable telecom equipment...
MCI to Link Moonv6 IPv6 Network to Commercial Internet
MCI is collaborating with the University of New Hampshire InterOperability Laboratory (UNH-IOL) to connect the North American IPv6 Task Force's Moonv6 network to the commercial Internet backbone, allowing nationwide direct connection to the test bed. The connection will give test participants a native, non-tunneled connection to Moonv6 via MCI's MAE Services network exchange points. MCI's MAE infrastructure facilitates nationwide Layer 2 interconnectivity and public peering between Internet service providers. MAE Services connection points are...
XO Launches Broadband VoIP Service for Businesses
XO Communications is preparing to launch "Xoptions" Flex, its new bundled VoIP solution for business customers with a broadband connection. The service provides unlimited local and long distance calling over XO's Tier 1 IP network. XOptions Flex will be available for a flat monthly price and include more than a dozen standard voice applications and features for each phone line including call forward, three-way calling, and hunt groups. XOptions Flex will be available in Boston, New York and Washington, DC in early March followed by full nationwide...
ARRIS, Xtend Achieve DOCSIS 2.0 using Extended HFC Spectrum
Xtend Networks and ARRIS (announced the ability to offer dedicated high-bandwidth spectrum to commercial customers using standard DOCSIS products. In the tests conducted at ARRIS' laboratories, engineers used off-the-shelf Xtend and ARRIS DOCSIS products under a normal testing environment. Reliable operation and high performance were achieved at 256 QAM modulation downstream and 64 QAM SCDMA modulation upstream. Xtend's products are based on the ability of advanced application technology and Block Division Multiplexing to increase the available...
Sprint Joins the WiMax Forum
Sprint has joined the WiMAX Forum as a Principal Member to lend its support to that organization's mission of global interoperability standards formation for broadband wireless access products.Sprint said it is anxious to conduct technical trials as test equipment becomes available. http://www.sprint....
TiVo Opens Application Platform to Third Party Developers
TiVo released an early-access software development kit (SDK) that allows third parties to create entertainment and information applications that extend the TiVo service. TiVo recently announced a new service strategy to give broadcasters a way to deploy media rich broadband applications to TiVo subscribers,. TiVo subscribers will be able to access such applications from their broadband-connected TiVo Series2 DVRs, whether they're hosted by TiVo servers or running locally on their home PC. TiVo expects a wide variety of applications will be created,...
ECI Telecom Expands FTTP Portfolio with New Indoor ONTs
ECI Telecom introduced a new family of standards-based indoor Optical Network Termination (ONT) devices for residences and businesses being served by Broadband Passive Optical Network (BPON). The new Hi-FOCuS B-Light family of indoor ONTs joins the existing family of outdoor ONTs. Both the indoor and outdoor ONT units interconnect various customer-owned devices, including telephones, PCs, and TVs to the operator's BPON network. The products are based on the ITU G.983 standard. http://www.ecitele....
Passave Establishes U.S. Headquarters in Santa Clara
Passave, a supplier of FTTH silicon has opened a new U.S. headquarters. Based in Santa Clara, California. The new U.S. headquarters office incorporates a state-of-the-art development laboratory for support of customers throughout the design-in and deployment of Passave chips in their systems and networks. Passave recently opened Passave Japan KK subsidiary in the world's largest FTTH market, and a new R&D center in Herzlia, Israel. Passave's EPON solution is compliant with the IEEE 802.3ah standard for Ethernet in the First Mile (EFM). ...
America Online and Roadrunner Align Broadband Efforts
Time Warner Cable and America Online, both subsidiaries of Time Warner Inc., agreed to develop and market a customized broadband offering with attractive pricing for their current AOL and Road Runner subscribers as well as prospects across the Time Warner Cable footprint. As part of this relationship, America Online will manage the advertising and search opportunities for both the new offering and the Road Runner portal. The new broadband offering will consist of a special edition of the AOL client optimized for broadband that is combined with...
IP Unity Names Motorola Exec to Board
IP Unity has appointed Cas Skrzypczak, general partner at Global Asset Communications, and Adrian Nemcek, an executive vice president of Motorola, Inc. and president of Motorola Networks, to its board of directors. Casimir Skrzypczak joined Global Asset Capital after retiring from Cisco Systems where he served as senior vice president of Customer Services Advocacy. Adrian Nemcek, as president of Motorola Networks, is focused on providing customer solutions for existing cellular radio access, IP networks, telco wireline access, iDEN technology,...
Sylantro Names New Feature Server Customers
Sylantro Systems named two new customers, VoEx and STS Telecom. Both companies have integrated Sylantro's applications feature server and hosted communications applications as part of their comprehensive new service strategies to deliver richer, differentiated alternatives to Unbundled Network Element Platform (UNE-P) service offerings. STS Telecom, a South Florida-based telecommunications service provider, has deployed Sylantro servers and applications as part of the new EVOLUTION enterprise VoIP offering that will be initially deployed in 30...
Japan Telecom Implements Cisco Optical Platform
Japan Telecom has deployed the Cisco ONS 15454 Multiservice Provisioning Platform (MSPP) for its new "Otoku Line" fixed telephone service introduced in December 2004. The Cisco ONS 15454 MSPP forms a metro access ring independently deployed on a nationwide basis. Financial terms were not disclosed. http://www.cisco.com http://www.japan-telecom.co...
Analog Devices Announces Blackfin Processors
Analog Devices (ADI) announced the availability of four new network-enabled Blackfin Processors designed for embedded audio, video and communications applications. The Blackfin architecture combines the audio and video processing capabilities of DSPs and media processors with the programming capabilities of embedded 16/32-bit microprocessors. The new devices are targeted at IP-based video delivery, including IPTV set-top boxes. ZTE, China's largest listed telecommunications equipment provider, has adopted ADI's new Blackfin eMedia Platform for...
Saturday, January 29, 2005
Cox Selects Atrica/Fujitsu for Metro Optical Ethernet
Cox Communications has built a carrier-class optical Ethernet backbone to serve the New Orleans Public Schools using Fujitsu Network Communications' Flexible Architecture for Subscriber Service Termination (FASST) and Ethernet equipment from Atrica. The new network links nearly 140 schools and administrative sites using Gigabit Ethernet connections. Each site now receives high-speed, guaranteed services including Internet access, Voice over IP, IP/H.323 videoconferencing, and distance learning. The new network replaces a mix of T1s, Frame Relay...
Thursday, January 27, 2005
Alcatel and Finmeccanica Merge their Satellite Activities
Alcatel and Finmeccanica reached a final agreement to merge their space activities through the creation of two joint ventures companies, to which both partners will contribute their respective satellite industrial and service activities. The first company, Alcatel Alenia Space, of which Alcatel will hold 67% and Finmeccanica 33%, will combine Alcatel Space and Alenia Spazio's activities. It will concentrate on the design, development, and manufacturing of space systems, satellites, payloads, instruments and associated ground systems for civilian...
Siemens Announces Restructuring of Wireline Business
Siemens announced a corporate restructuring aimed at strengthening the competitiveness of its wireline business. The company said it would be increasing its focus on growth areas such as VoIP, Ethernet Access, applications and services for broadband networks or Home Entertainment. The restructuring is expected to affect some 600 jobs in Germany and 650 jobs overseas, although Siemens seeks to transfer the affected employees within the company wherever possible. http://www.siemens....
Eblana and Vitesse Announce Breakthrough in Laser Fabrication
Eblana Photonics and Vitesse Semiconductor announced a manufacturing relationship for single-mode laser diodes on Vitesse's 4" Indium Phosphide (InP) Integrated Circuit Fabrication Line. This manufacturing relationship builds on an industry first where the companies fabricated 2.5 Gbps, single wavelength, laser diodes using established InP IC toolsets and processes. The companies said their landmark process line production of high-quality laser diodes will have significant impact for the communications industry. Short term, it its expected to...
Verizon Selects Microsoft TV Platform
Verizon will use the Microsoft TV platform for the commercial rollout of its FiOS TV service. src="https://dl.dropbox.com/u/11402824/CND/v11n222-msiptv.jpg" align="left"> The selection builds on a string of recent, high-profile wins for the Microsoft TV platform amongst telecom carriers, including SBC, Telecom Italia, Swisscom/Bluewin and others. Financial terms were not disclosed.Verizon plans to use the Microsoft TV platform to deliver high-definition...
Wednesday, January 26, 2005
Optical Internetworking Forum Launches New Project
The Optical Internetworking Forum (OIF) is embarking on two new technical projects: the Architecture and Signaling working group, in conjunction with the Carrier working group, will address Neighbor Discovery as it applies to links used by the optical control plane. Neighbor Discovery is a process that allows the control plane to identify new links and to initialize the control plane to use those links. OIF working groups will seek to define Neighbor Discovery requirements based on carrier scenarios and define control plane extensions to achieve...
NEC Assembles 3G Base Stations in China
NEC has commenced production of 3rd Generation mobile radio base stations (Node-B)at one of its production sites in China. The facility procures major core pre-product modules, such as channel coding cards and line cards, from NEC's major manufacturing sites in Japan, and other general parts such as power modules and racks from local vendors. The plant then assembles and customizes them according to the requirement of each operator.The first lot of the products has been delivered in January to operators in Europe. The plant will also be used for...
Alcatel to Resell Widevine Cypher for TVoDSL
Alcatel has entered into a global agreement to resell Widevine Technologies' Cypher technology-Virtual SmartCard and Application Level encryption for securing content over video networks. The Widevine Virtual SmartCard solution is currently used a content security solution in the TVoDSL and FTTH markets. The companies cited Chunghwa Telecom's rollout as the catalyst for their agreement. Financial terms were not disclosed. http://www.widevine.com/http://www.alcatel....
StarOne Selects Alcatel for South American Satellite
Star One, the largest satellite solutions company in Latin America, awarded a contract valued at US$150 million to Alcatel for the construction of a telecommunications satellite serving South America. It is the second satellite that Alcatel will build for the Brazilian operator.Star One C2, which will be based on the Alcatel Space Spacebus 3000B3 platform, will be fitted with 44 transponders, 28 C-band and 16 Ku-band and 1 X-band. Star One C2 will replace the Star One B2 satellite in the C band for direct TV broadcasting over South America...
Siemens Sets up Carrier Ethernet Network in Kenya
Kenya Data Networks Ltd. (KDN) has commissioned Siemens Communications to deliver, install and maintain an optical network. The fiber optic rings will be installed in Nairobi and equipped with Siemens Carrier Ethernet technology. The installation is planned for completion in spring of 2005. By that time the metro network should cover a distance of 35 kilometers. Financial terms were not disclosed.The main components in the network are Surpass hiD products, which were developed jointly by Siemens and the Korean company Dasan. Siemens has been the...
T-Com Selects Marconi for Europe's First 40G Optical Network
T-Com, the fixed-network unit of Deutsche Telekom, awarded a three-year contract to Marconi to build Europe's first 40 Gbps optical network. Marconi will supply T-Com with its Multihaul 3000 DWDM transmission platform and its ServiceOn Optical network management system. The Multihaul 3000 will act as an expressway carrying high-bandwidth traffic between switching nodes in the network, with a capacity of 3.2 Tbps (terabits per second) on each optical fiber pair. This will give T-Com an unrivalled capacity in its core network. T-Com's decision...
CableLabs Issues Headend VoD Specs
CableLabs issued the first set of specifications to aid in the creation of next-generation Video-on-Demand (VoD) cable services through the development of headend metadata and content distribution documents. Common metadata specifications are expected to pave the way for new types of VoD application models, such as enhanced VoD, subscription VoD, advertising, and audio services in the cable headend. The newly released specifications build upon a family of specifications that currently are in use. The ADI2.0 (Asset Distribution Interface) Asset...
Broadcom Reports Q4 Revenue of $539 Million
Broadcom reported Q4 net revenue of $539.4 million, a decrease of 16.6% from the $646.5 million reported for Q3 2004 and an increase of 12.6% from the $479.1 million reported for Q4 2003. Q4 net income (GAAP) was $71.1 million, or $.20 per share (diluted), compared with GAAP net income of $43.9 million, or $.13 per share (diluted), for Q3 2004. "As discussed previously, our fourth quarter results were negatively impacted by the industry-wide inventory correction that affected all of Broadcom's business groups, but which was most pronounced within...
Nokia Estimates 1.7 Billion Mobile Users Worldwide
Nokia reported record mobile device volumes in Q4 2004, saying it now estimates that mobile subscriptions worldwide number 1.7 billion. The company cited the ongoing boom in growth markets such as Latin America, Russia, India and China, and brisk sales of color screen and camera phones. However, Nokia's North American phone volumes were disappointing. Nokia's full-year 2004 mobile device market share was 32%, based on an estimated market volume of 643 million units. Additional highlights of the quarterly report include:Q4 net sales increased 3%...
Verizon Cites Strong Wireless Growth, Good Start for FTTP
Verizon Communications' Q4 revenues increased 6.2% to a record $18.3 billion, driven by a 10th consecutive quarter of double-digit, year-over-year revenue increases for wireless services. Wireless contributed $27.7 billion to the corporation's $71.3 billion total revenues in 2004. For the fourth quarter 2004, Verizon reported earnings of $3.0 billion, or $1.08 per diluted share, compared with a loss of $1.5 billion, or 53 cents per share, in the fourth quarter 2003. Some highlights for the quarter:Verizon Wireless contributed more than 40 percent...
T-Mobile USA Adds 1 Million Net Customers in Q4
T-Mobile USA added more than 1 million net new customers in Q4 2004, compared to 901,000 in the third quarter of 2004 and 1,015,000 in Q4 2003. The company ended the year with over 17.3 million customers. Net new postpay customer additions amounted to 812,000 in Q4. Postpay churn was 2.6%, the same as the third quarter of 2004. Blended churn, a mix of postpay and prepay customers, was 3.1% in the fourth quarter of 2004, up from 3.0% in the third quarter of 2004, and down from 3.2% in the fourth quarter of 2003. http://www.t-mobile....
Chunghwa Telecom Consolidates on Cisco 12800 Routers
Taiwan's Chunghwa Telecom has selected Cisco Systems for an IP Next Generation Network to consolidate traffic of all its services. Cisco 12800 Series Routers will be deployed to scale company's IP backbone to support all its services including MPLS VPNs, multicast video, VoIP and other Internet-related services. Since 2001, Chunghwa Telecom's HiNet division has used the Cisco 12000 Series Routers for its broadband infrastructure. The major installation of the CHT IP network took less than two months. The upgraded network is expected to serve more...
France's neuf telecom Expands TV-over-DSL Network
neuf telecom's has reached a major milestone in delivering broadband services throughout France with the deployment of a network connecting 3,000 cities in 18 months. neuf telecom is using Cisco equipment for the extension and expansion of its network to support local loop unbundling and to facilitate triple-play over ADSL to residential customers. Cisco's 7600 Series routers, Catalyst 3000 Series switches and Cisco IOS network infrastructure software are used to provide the QoS-enabled multi-service network, supporting intelligent video distribution...
SBC Offers Discounted 3 Mbps Service
SBC Communications trimmed the price on its fastest DSL tier for bundle customers. SBC Yahoo! DSL Pro service, which provides download speeds of up to 3 Mbps, is now $29.99 a month with a one-year term agreement and when bundled with an SBC unlimited local and long distance calling plan. Previously, the lowest price for the 3 Mbps service was $36.99 when ordered online or as part of a Total Connections bundle with a one-year term agreementhttp://www.sbc....
Nortel Appoints Peter Currie as CFO
Nortel Networks announced today the appointment of Peter Currie as CFO. Currie is rejoining Nortel as he had previously served as senior vice president and chief financial officer from 1994 until early 1997. He most recently served as vice chairman and chief financial officer of RBC Financial Group, one of North America's leading financial services organizations. This appointment was made following the decision by William Kerr, the current CFO, to step down from this position, which he had assumed last year to lead the completion of the restatement....
DIRECTV Adds 444,000 Subscribers in Q4
The DIRECTV Group added 444,000 net subscribers in Q4, driving full year 2004 additions to more than 1.7 million. As of December 31, the total number of DIRECTV platform subscribers was 13.94 million representing an annual growth rate of 14% compared to the 12.21 million platform subscribers as of December 31, 2003. Additional highlights include:DIRECTV U.S. gross subscriber additions in Q4 increased by 21% to a fourth quarter record of 1,103,000 due to higher penetration rates in local channel markets,Q4 ARPU was $71.92, compared to $71.75 a...
ECI Telecom's Hi-FOCuS Employed for Video/DSL
ECI Telecom announced today that over 1 million of its installed Hi-FOCuS broadband lines will be used by carriers to deliver video over copper. The company said its customers in several countries, including Taiwan and France, have recently received approvals and licenses to deliver TV & video over broadband networks. http://www.ecitele....
Novatel Wireless Raises Guidance Citing EV-DO Card Sales
Novatel Wireless increased its financial guidance citing increasing shipments of its newly introduced EV-DO cards and quad-band UMTS cards. The company is currently expecting first quarter revenues to more than double from the prior year period and range between $32 to $34 million. http://www.novatelwireless....
PMC-Sierra Reports Q4 Revenue of $61.8 Million
PMC-Sierra reported Q4 revenues of $61.8 million compared with $71.2 million for the third quarter of 2004 and $70.6 million for the same period a year ago. This represented a decrease in revenues of 13 percent sequentially and 12 percent on a year-over-year basis. GAAP net income in the fourth quarter of 2004 was $13.1 million (GAAP diluted earnings per share of $0.07). This compares to GAAP net income of $6.3 million in the third quarter of 2004 (GAAP diluted earnings per share of $0.03). "We believe that our revenues stabilized in the fourth...
WSJ: SBC and AT&T Holding Acquisition Talks
The Wall Street Journal reported that SBC Communications is in talks to acquire AT&T in a deal potentially valued at over $15 billion. The combination, if approved by regulators, would give SBC access to AT&T corporate and government customers, as well as the largest Internet backbone, among other assets. http://www.wsj....
Tuesday, January 25, 2005
Qualcomm, Nortel Complete First Handset HSDPA Calls
Nortel and QUALCOMM completed the industry's first end-to-end calls using High Speed Downlink Packet Access (HSDPA) on a commercial network and handset equipment. The calls were completed using commercial network equipment from Nortel and the first available handset, which is enabled by QUALCOMM's Mobile Station Modem chipset. Calls were made over a live air connection to a moving automobile to demonstrate the stability of the connection in a real-world environment. A five-megabyte music file was downloaded in less than 30 seconds, and an e-mail...
Nortel Offers Wi-Fi Hotspot Solution for MSOs
Nortel introduced a wireless local area network product that enable cable operators (MSOs) to provide access to secure high-speed Internet and network services at 'hotspots' in public locations and residential neighborhoods. The solution consists of three components: a strand-mounted Access Point (APU) Unit; a Corporate Services Unit (CSU) that receives wireless signals from the APU; and a choice of directional or omni-directional antennas. When in hotspot mode, users connect directly to the Access Point Unit using Wi-Fi enabled devices such as...
Pannaway and net.com Partner on Triple Play
Pannaway Technologies and net.com finalized an integration and distribution agreement whereby Pannaway will integrate net.com's SHOUT platform into its Service Converged Network triple play solution. Pannaway will also provide Tier 1 service support for all SCN-based SHOUT products.The companies said their agreement would help service providers, including ILECs, to deliver end-to-end SIP-based VoIP services, high-quality digital IP video and high-speed (26 Mbps) Internet access over a single broadband connection. Pannaway already has ILEC customers...
Hong Kong's PCCW Deploys Riverstone Edge Router
PCCW, the incumbent service provider in Hong Kong, will deploy Riverstone Networks' 15008 Ethernet Edge Router. Cascade Limited, PCCW's professional services subsidiary, will begin deploying the Riverstone 15008 in PCCW's network to provide the carrier's customers with business-class, bandwidth-intensive Ethernet services through its existing metro Ethernet network. Financial terms were not disclosed.The procurement builds upon Riverstone's existing relationship with PCCW, which first deployed Riverstone's RS 8600 and RS 3000 carrier Ethernet...
Vodafone Reaches 150 Million Customers
The Vodafone Group reported its strongest quarter of net additions since December 2000 with over 5.4 million organic net additions, bringing its total proportionate customer base to over 151.8 million. Some highlights from Q4 2004:Highest quarter ever for new Vodafone live! customers of 3.9 million, bringing global Vodafone live! controlled customer base to 28.3 million, including 12.9 million in JapanVodafone live! with 3G was launched across 13 marketsVodafone UK added 641,000 net customers in the quarter, taking the total base to 15.2 million...
Corning Names New CEO
Corning named Wendell P. Weeks (45) to succeed the retiring James R. Houghton (69) as its CEO. Additionally, Peter F. Volanakis, 49, will replace Weeks as chief operating officer. http://www.corning....
Communications Union Attacks AT&T's Job Cuts
The Communications Workers of America accused AT&T of cutting another 1,700 jobs and closing four customer service centers in the U.S. while at the same time transferring jobs to the Philippines, India and other offshore locations. Specifically, the CWA is concerned that AT&T will shut call centers in Mesa, Arizona; Syracuse, N.Y.; Marietta, Georgia., and Town and Country, Missouri. http://www.cwa-union.o...
Verizon Implements Windows Media for V CAST
Verizon Wireless is using the Microsoft Windows Media Format to power V CAST, its new 3G consumer wireless broadband multimedia service delivered over its EV-DO (Evolution-Data Optimized) network. Starting next month, Verizon Wireless V CAST customers can stream and play back audio and video clips using Windows Media. The service also uses technology from PacketVideo and thePlatform for Media Inc.. Verizon Wireless said video clips on V CAST are consistently streamed at 15 frames per second.Verizon Wireless V CAST is supported on three new phones...
RCN Launches Remote Video Monitoring Service
RCN launched a home monitoring service that allows its cable modem customers to remotely view real-time video of their home or business from any browser on the Net. RCN's WebWatch system allows customers place up to four small wireless cameras throughout their homes or businesses. When away from the home or business, they log in to a secure website through the Internet to view real-time, streaming videos. Customers can view one camera at a time or all four simultaneously. The video can also be recorded for later viewing.RCN WebWatch leverages software...
Meru Powers Metro Wi-Fi Service in New Mexico
Meru Networks supplied the core WLAN equipment for a converged wireless network in Rio Rancho, New Mexico. The project, which is described as the largest citywide converged voice and data network in the U.S., has gone live with citywide Wi-Fi data service built on Meru's WLAN solutions. Azulstar Networks, a division of Ottawa Wireless, served as system integrator. Azulstar and the city are also in final testing of wireless VoIP phone services running over the same infrastructure, and expects to launch this within the next 90 days. Financial...
Internet2 Launches Hybrid Optical and Packet Infrastructure Initiative
The Internet2 Hybrid Optical and Packet Infrastructure (HOPI) initiative announced its design for a national network testbed infrastructure that allows researchers to experiment with new optical technologies, including dynamically provisioned wavelengths, circuit switched environments, and new transport protocols. The HOPI testbed will utilize facilities from Internet2's Abilene Network, the National Lambda Rail (NLR) network, The MANLAN exchange point, and regional optical networks. Each HOPI node will consist of an Ethernet switch with 10GigE...
deltathree Selects Level 3 for Wholesale VoIP
deltathree agreed to purchase wholesale VoIP services from Level 3 Communications to support the growth of its Service Provider and Reseller VoIP offerings, as well as iConnectHere, its retail VoIP service. Specifically, deltathree purchased Level 3's (3)VoIP Enhanced Local service to expand its geographic reach. Financial terms were not disclosed.Level 3's (3)VoIP Enhanced Local service is a wholesale VoIP solution that enables companies who operate their own switching infrastructures to launch IP-based local and long-distance communications...
Israeli Defense Forces Expands Use of ECI's XDM Platform
ECI Telecom received a new $16 million order to provide additional XDM optical equipment to the Israel Defence Forces (IDF). This agreement follows the installation of ECI equipment from a previous order for deployment of the IDF's optical backbone. ECI's Network Management System (NMS), which is integrated in the XDM platform, automatically maps managed elements onto separate technology layers - SONET/SDH, optics and data - enabling the IDF to better manage services. http://www.ecitele....
i2Telecom Deploys Kagoor's Session Border Controllers
i2Telecom, a low-cost VoIP service provider, has deployed Kagoor's VoiceFlow 1000 series session border controller in a high-availability, redundant configuration to deliver global service over its SIP-based network. Kagoor's VoiceFlow 1000 session border controller solves the NAT traversal problem and simplifies the configuration of i2Telecom's microgateway adapter behind NAT devices like cable and DSL modems. Kagoor's network protection solution also provides i2Telecom with added network security. i2Telecom is a low-cost telecommunications service...
SBC Adds 425,000 DSL lines in Q4
SBC Communications reported Q4 growth in its wireline business, driven by a 10.5% rise in data revenues and increased penetration of bundled services such as DSL and long distance. Cingular Wireless, which is 60% owned by SBC, achieved a net subscriber gain of 1.8 million on a pro forma basis, more than double the pro forma net subscribers added in the previous quarter. Highlights of SBC's Q4 report include:Q4 2004 earnings from continuing operations were $754 million, or $0.23 per diluted share, including special items., down from Q4 2003 reported...
Monday, January 24, 2005
Global Crossing Partners with Hong Kong's NWT
Hong Kong-based New World Telecommunications and Global Crossing announced a strategic alliance to deliver MPLS-based VPN and international private leased circuit (IPLC) services. The deal enables NWT to extend its reach through Global Crossing's MPLS-based IP network and its iMPLS service. http://www.newworldtel.com/http://www.globalcrossing.c...
Agere Reports Q4 Revenue of $439 million
Agere Systems reported quarterly revenue of $410 million, compared to $439 million in the preceding quarter and $516 million in the year-ago quarter. The company reported a GAAP net loss of $67 million, or $0.04 per share, including $60 million in net restructuring charges and related costs. "We achieved strong design win momentum in all areas of the business and we are pleased by our continued strength in storage where we increased shipments of read channels and system-on-a-chip solutions to key customers targeting PC and consumer electronics...
Tellabs Reports Q4 Revenue of $379 million
Tellabs reported Q4 2004 revenue of $379 million (which includes one month of AFC revenue of $53 million), up 36% from $279 million in the fourth quarter of 2003. For the year 2004, Tellabs revenue totaled $1.2 billion, up 26% from $980 million in 2003. Tellabs recorded a net loss of $139 million or 32 cents per share in the fourth quarter of 2004 as a result of special charges related to the acquisitions of AFC and Vinci Systems and other activities. Excluding charges of $180 million, Tellabs earned 9 cents per share or $41 million in the fourth...
BellSouth Adds Record 224,000 DSL Customers in Q4
BellSouth reported Q4 revenue of $5.15 billion, an increase of 0.8 percent compared to the same quarter in 2003. Income from continuing operations was $496 million compared to $836 million in the same quarter of the previous year. Reported EPS from continuing operations for the quarter was 27 cents compared to 45 cents in the fourth quarter of 2003. The company cited restoration expenses due to hurricanes, severance-related expenses and a previously announced change in the calculation of the retiree medical benefit obligation for its lower earnings....
Deutsche Telekom and T-Online Set Exchange Ratio
Deutsche Telekom and T-Online reached a common understanding regarding the exchange ratio range in connection with the proposed merger of T-Online International AG into Deutsche Telekom AG. Both companies expect the exchange ratio to be between 0.45 and 0.55 Deutsche Telekom shares for one T-Online share. http://www.telekom...
Alcatel Enhances Open Media Client Software
Alcatel launched its next generation 5955 Open Media Client (OMC) software as part of its Open Media Suite. The Alcatel 5955 Open Media Client is a set of software components for IP set-top boxes which add functionality in the set-top box required for advanced features needed for IPTV and enables full lifecycle content management.With the Open Media Client, Alcatel is defining an industry reference model for IP set-top box vendors to interwork with Alcatel's Open Media Suite, facilitating the integration process for the service provider and lowering...
Cingular Goes Live With MobiTV
Cingular Wireless began offering MobiTV, a television network expressly for mobile phones. With MobiTV, Cingular subscribers can watch live news, sports and entertainment programming on 22 channels, including MSNBC, CNBC, ABC News Now, NBC Mobile, FOX Sports, Discovery, TLC, C-SPAN, and other music, sports, fashion, and comedy channels.MobiTV will be available to Cingular Wireless subscribers using the Nokia 6620, Motorola V3 (RAZR), Motorola V220, Motorola V180, and soon on the Motorola V400 and V600 handsets. http://www.mobitv.com/http://w...
Avaya Reports Quarterly Revenue of $1.148 Billion, up 18%
Avaya reported quarterly revenue of $1.148 billion, up 18% compared to a year earlier. The revenue increase largely reflected the impact of recent acquisitions and favorable currency rates. Excluding these two items, revenues grew at double-digit rates in all regions except the United States where sales were essentially unchanged versus the year ago period. Income from continuing operations of $33 million or seven cents per diluted share.Avaya said its fiscal 2005 goals are to increase revenues between 25 and 27 percent compared to fiscal 2004...
Chunghwa Telecom Expands Licensing of Orca Middleware
Taiwan's Chunghwa Telecom has purchased an additional 10,000 licenses of Orca's RiGHTv IPTV middleware to accommodate growth in its multimedia on demand (MOD) deployments. Orca Interactive has partnered with leading IPTV companies to provide an end-to-end IPTV solution for CHT since its initial rollout. This is the second expansion requested from Orca within less than six month. This brings the total number of Orca middleware licenses at CHT to 40,000. http://www.orcainteractive....
Siemens Mobile Invests in PhoneBites
PhoneBites, a San Francisco-based start-up, raised $3 million in first round funding provided by Siemens Mobile Acceleration, Cardinal Venture Capital, and Garage Technology Ventures. PhoneBites has developed a software application that lets subscribers interject sound bites into live telephone conversations, outgoing messages, voicemails and photo messages. Subscriber can insert audio clips by pressing the handset keys during a phone call without interrupting it. PhoneBites describes this as a "very funny entertainment tool" that mobile operators...
Critical Telecom Appoints Former Ciena Exec as its CEO
Critical Telecom announced that Nancy Macartney has been appointed President and CEO. Prior to Critical Telecom, Nancy was the Vice President, Supply Chain Management for CIENA, during which time she was responsible for the Operations integration of Akara Corporation into CIENA. Most recently Nancy was the Vice President of Operations within Critical Telecom. Critical Telecom is headquartered in Ottawa, Canada. http://www.criticaltelecom....
Fujitsu Cites North American Market Share
Fujitsu Network Communications holds a leading 27.7% share of the North America market for SONET aggregation equipment, according to figures from RHK cited by the company. Within the aggregation market, Fujitsu has a market share in excess of 40% in the $345 million Add/Drop Multiplexer (ADM) segment and a 23% share of the $1.05 billion Optical Edge Device (OED) segment. Fujitsu cited strong market traction in the transition to OED devices with its FLASHWAVE 4000 MSPPs, which have become standardized in several RBOC, CLEC and MSO networks.htt...
Equinix to Provide U.S. Peering for Allstream
Canadian-based Allstream will deploy its network to three Equinix Internet Business Exchange (IBX) centers in order to directly interconnect with the large aggregation of networks, carriers and ISPs located in Equinix's New York, Washington, D.C. and Chicago area centers. Financial terms were not disclosed. Equinix's centers have become the primary peering locations in the U.S., serving the world's leading ISPs, broadband providers, international networks and major content providers. Other networks on the Equinix GigE Exchange service include...
ADTRAN Reports Q4 Sales of $105 Million
ADTRAN reported Q4 sales of $104.9 million, compared to $113.8 million in the same quarter of 2003. Earnings per share, assuming dilution, were $0.19 for the quarter compared to $0.26 for the fourth quarter of 2003. ADTRAN Chairman and Chief Executive Officer Mark Smith stated, "After experiencing significant revenue growth since 2002, we saw a pause in our markets in the last half of 2004. We anticipate this pause will resolve itself as employment and IT spending continue to expand and as carriers continue to aggressively promote consumer broadband...
RADVISION Enhances Test Suite for SIP, H.323
RADVISION released version 3.5 of its ProLab Test Management Suite , a scalable testing system suitable for development, quality assurance, deployment, and tuning of voice and video over IP (SIP and H.323) products. New features of version 3.5 include a new improved Graphic User Interface (GUI), improved ease of use, advanced signaling and media testing, advanced monitoring, and a large number of built-in media and scripts. Designed to run on any standard Microsoft Windows PC system, RADVISION's ProLab Suite provides the ability to simulate a SIP...
