BT Issues Equal Access Proposal, Seeking Settlement with Regulator

BT unveiled a set of proposals to offer competitve operators lower wholesale prices, faster broadband services and transparent, highly regulated access to BT's local network. BT hopes the proposals could form part of a regulatory settlement between itself, the national telecoms regulator (Ofcom) and the industry. Key points of the proposal include:BT to set up an Access Services Division to provide transparent and equal access to BT's local network. This "fenced off" part of the business would remain within BT and would have responsibility for...

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BT to Raise ADSL Speeds, Trim Wholesale Prices

BT Wholesale announced plans to deliver higher speed broadband services throughout the UK together with a range of wholesale broadband pricing initiatives. The changes came as part of BT response to the Ofcom Telecommunications Strategic Review . Starting in April 2005, BT will begin a trial of higher speed services in the 2 Mbps to 8 Mbps range using existing ADSL technology. In addition, BT Wholesale plans to run initial trials of ADSL2+ technology to support higher speed services of up to 18 Mbps. Further details of the timing, scope and...

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Wabash Mutual Deploys Occam's Broadband Loop Carrier

Wabash Mutual Telephone Company, an independent operating company (IOC) in Celina, Ohio, has chosen Occam Networks' BLC 6000 System to deliver triple play services, voice, high-speed data and video, in a multi-year access network upgrade project. Wabash Mutual is transitioning its entire network to an all-IP network. Occam's BLC 6000 Central Office Terminal (COT) is installed in the company's Central Office (CO) and connected to the company's MetaSwitch softswitch. BLC 6000s have been installed in two remote locations and are providing voice and...

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TelCove Acquires KMC Telecom

TelCove will acquire certain network assets and customers of KMC Telecom, significantly extending its CLEC prescence in Florida. TelCove will acquire 21 of KMC's markets, 18 of which represent new coverage areas, while three represent augmentations to existing TelCove markets. The acquisition will add approximately 1,050 local fiber route miles, 47 POPs and 202 lit commercial buildings. Upon the closing of this transaction, TelCove will serve 70 markets throughout the eastern half of the United States and have 3,345 lit buildings. Financial...

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Kasenna Supplies IPTV for Ultra-Luxury Hotel in Abu Dhabi

Kasenna has supplied its IPTV system for what is described as the world's most advanced multimedia guest room system at the seven-star Emirates Palace Hotel in Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates. Kasenna's TimelessTV allows hotel guests to capture 50 TV channels in real time with the ability to record, pause, rewind and fast-forward through live video. The system also provides VOD as well as 24 hours of interactive playback of previously recorded content. Bond Communications served as the main audio-visual and multimedia contractor for the Emirates...

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WSJ: Qwest in Talks to Buy MCI

The Wall Street Journal reported that Qwest Communications is offering about $6.3 billion to acquire MCI. People close to the situation report that MCI is eager for a deal, although a rival bid from Verizon is possible, according to the article. Neither company has commented on the speculation. http://www.wsj....

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Dust Networks Secures $22 Million for Wireless Sensor Networks

Dust Networks, a start-up based in Berkeley California, raised $22 million in equity funding for its enterprise-class low-power wireless mesh networking systems. Dust Networks' SmartMesh products provide a way to deploy wireless sensors that collect data about physical environments. The technology is aimed at enterprise-class monitoring and control applications in building automation, industrial monitoring and security markets, including energy monitoring, HVAC systems, machine-health, and perimeter security. The funding was led by Crescendo...

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Nokia Signs a WCDMA 3G Contract with Far EasTone

Nokia has signed a WCDMA 3G network expansion agreement with Far EasTone Telecommunications Ltd. (FET) and its subsidiary Yuan-Ze in Taiwan, marking a new customer for Nokia. The deal covers the delivery of Nokia WCDMA 3G radio access network equipment and services in central and southern Taiwan. In addition the agreement also includes the Nokia NetAct network and service management system and an extensive range of services such as installation, commissioning, integration, project management and care services. Deliveries will begin immediately...

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SunRocket Names Kevin Bennis as CEO

SunRocket named Kevin Bennis as President and CEO. Bennis has previously served as President of MCI's Systems Integration Division, President and COO of Avantel, and as President and CEO of Sprint Canada/Call-Net Enterprises. Earlier, Bennis was the President of Frontier Communications, leading the company's $1.9 billion integrated communications business. http://www.sunrocket.c...

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Alcatel Reports Q4 Revenue of EUR 3.812 Billion

Alcatel reported Q4 revenue of EUR 3.812 billion, up 10.7% year over year (13.4% at constant exchange rate). Income from operations amounted to EUR 393 million, a 10.3% operating return on sales. Some highlights:Q4 gross margin was 34.4%. Q4 revenues for the Fixed communications division decreased by 1.6% to EUR 1.533 billion compated to the same period last year. Optical networks registered a significant increase due to growth in optical multi-service networks with good traction coming from new products such as metro core cross connects. The...

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Fujitsu Announces Hybrid Ethernet and Metro ADM Chip

Fujitsu Microelectronics Europe (FME) introduced its ETHOS (ETHernet Over SDH/SONET) device for delivering full-rate Gigabit Ethernet and E1/DS1 access in metro and access networks. The device, which was designed in collaboration with AimCom, is a fully integrated, single chip, add-drop multiplexer. Four line ports at STM-4/OC-12 or STM-1/OC-3 are provided, each supporting direct connection to SFP modules. There are 4 E1/DS1 ports, and 4 Ethernet or Gigabit Ethernet ports on the access side, as well as higher & lower order cross-connect fabrics...

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MCI Launches Private Line Ethernet in Nine European Countries

MCI launched a Private Line Ethernet service providing LAN-to-LAN connectivity for business customers in nine European countries. Companies with multiple business locations can establish seamless high-speed connections between two or more LANs within a city, throughout a country or across international borders with end-to-end service management by MCI. MCI's Private Line Ethernet service runs over SDH technology using optical technology from Nortel, offers connectivity at speeds from 2 Mbps to 100 Mbps. MCI Private Line Ethernet is currently available...

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Linksys Announces New, ADSL2 and 2+ CPE

Linksys announced the availability of three new ADSL2+ products: the Linksys Wireless-G ADSL2+ Gateway (WAG54G v.2), the Linksys ADSL2+ Gateway with 4-Port Switch (AG241) and the Linksys ADSL2+ Modem (ADSL2MUE). ADSL2+ offers download speeds up to 25 Mbps, depending on line conditions and distance. The Linksys Wireless-G ADSL2+ Gateway (WAG54G v.2) is an all-in-one wireless solution for Internet connectivity in the home, providing an ADSL2+ modem, Internet-sharing router, 4-port 10/00 switch and a wireless-G (802.11g) access point in one box. The...

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Comcast Tops 7 Million Cable Modem Subscribers

Comcast Cable reported revenue of $4.987 billion, representing a 10.6% increase from the prior year quarter. Video revenue increased 5.9% during the period, reflecting the addition of digital cable subscribers and price increases to our video service. Comcast Cable added more than 250,000 digital cable subscribers during the fourth quarter to end the period with greater than 8.6 million subscribers. Comcast Cable added 60,000 basic subscribers during the seasonally strong fourth quarter of 2004, ending the year at 21.548 million. For full-year...

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Sprint Reports Record 1.58 Million Wireless Adds in Q4

Sprint posted record wireless and DSL subscriber gains along with a continued decline in long distance for Q4 2004. Total consolidated revenues for 2004 were $27.4 billion, a 5% increase compared to 2003. Fourth quarter revenues increased 4% compared to the year- ago period and were flat sequentially. In the quarter, Sprint reported a double-digit year-over-year increase in Wireless revenues and steady Local performance offset by a decline in Long Distance. In the quarter, each of Sprint's customer-facing sales units reported revenues consistent...

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