FCC Proposes More Flexible 900 MHz Band

The FCC proposed to eliminate unnecessary regulatory restrictions in the 900 MHz spectrum band. The Commission's proposal would allow more flexible use of "white space" in the 900 MHz band and allow users in the band to respond to evolving market demands. Specifically, the FCC proposed amendments to Part 90 of its rules to facilitate more flexible use of the 199 channels allocated to the Business and Industrial Land Transportation (B/ILT) Pools in the 896-901/935-940 MHz (900 MHz) bands. The Commission's proposal addresses a number of licensing,...

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Tut Systems to Acquire Copper Mountain Networks

Tut Systems agreed to acquire all of the outstanding shares of Copper Mountain Networks in a stock-for-stock transaction valued at approximately $10 million. Tut Systems said it is acquiring Copper Mountain Networks primarily for its product and engineering resources, which will be refocused to address the expanding IPTV market opportunities. Tut Systems plans to incorporate Copper Mountain's intellectual property and certain product elements into its growing video-centric product portfolio. As a result of the transaction, Tut Systems will retain...

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France Telecom Tops 6.3 Million ADSL Lines

France Telecom reported strong growth in wireless and broadband services for full year 2004. Consolidated revenues increased 4.1% on a comparable basis to EUR 47.2 billion.As of year end 2004, France Telecom had 6.3 million ADSL lines in France, including 2.9 million for its Wanadoo service. There were 5.1 million broadband customers for the group in Europe, and 260,000 Livebox home broadband gateways distributed in Europe.France Telecom's "Ma Ligne tv" (TV over ADSL) service reached a total of 75,000 clients at year end, including 35,000 that...

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France Telecom to Acquire 100% of Equant, Sell Stake in Directory

France Telecom signed a definitive agreement with Equant for the acquisition of all of the assets and liabilities of Equant for a total aggregate consideration of EUR 578 million for the portion not yet owned by France Telecom. The deal represents an implied share price to Equant shareholders of EUR4.30 per share. Separately, France Telecom finalized the sale to institutional investors of 22,303,169 shares of PagesJaunes that it holds directly, representing 8% of the capital of PagesJaunes Groupe, through an accelerated placement. The placement...

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McLeodUSA Expands VoIP in 37 Markets

McLeodUSA has expanded its Preferred Advantage Dynamic Integrated Access to business customers in 37 markets across the company's 25 Midwest, Southwest, Northwest and Rocky Mountain state footprint. McLeodUSA first launched the VoIP service in the Denver, Dallas, Detroit and Chicago markets, which were launched late in 2004. http://www.mcleodusa....

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FCC Not to Impose a Dual Carriage Requirement on MSOs

The FCC decided not to impose a "dual carriage" requirement on cable operators, which would have required them to simultaneously carry broadcasters' analog and digital signals. The FCC reasoned that mandatory dual carriage is not necessary either to advance the governmental interests as identified by Congress and the Supreme Court, or to achieve the digital television transition. The FCC also affirmed its prior determination that cable operators are not required to carry more than a single digital programming stream from any particular broadcaster....

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FCC Seeks Faster Rollout of Wireless Broadband

The FCC's Wireless Broadband Access Task Force issued a list of recommendations that the FCC could adopt to speed the deployment of wireless broadband services to consumers across America. These recommendations include:Promote voluntary frequency coordination efforts by private industry for license-exempt spectrum -- such as those already successfully underway in some of the more congested parts of the country -- to mitigate potential interference among users.Promote voluntary industry best practices among unlicensed users to maximize the potential...

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FCC Considers Intercarrier Compensation Proposals

The FCC has begun evaluating several proposals aimed at replacing the outmoded system of intercarrier payments with a uniform regime suited for competitive markets and new technologies. The current system relies on per-minute intercarrier payments that distinguish between different types of carriers and services, such as local and long-distance, or wireless and wireline, even though these distinctions often have no bearing on the cost of providing service. Furthermore, new technologies, such as Internet telephony, and new service offerings, such...

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8x8 Enhances Packet8 VoIP Service

8x8 announced the addition of three new calling features for its Packet8 residential broadband telephone and videophone services:Phone-Based Management for Call Routing and Voicemail Configuration --allows subscribers to manage the configuration of their account by phone following voice prompt instructions. Toll Free Service Plan -- subscribers can inexpensively acquire toll-free number service for business or personal use in conjunction with any calling plan. The Packet8 Toll Free Service Plan includes 100 minutes of inbound toll-free calls...

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WSJ: Verizon Floats Bid for MCI

Verizon Communications has floated an informal offer to acquire MCI for about $6.3, according to The Wall Street Journal. The bid is priced near the offer made recently by Qwest Communications, although the report concludes that Verizon is a stronger potential partner for MCI and therefore its bid is likely to be favored. Neither company has commented on the merger rumors.http://www.wsj....

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BT Adds 813,000 DSL Lines in Q4 2004

BT added a record 813,000 DSL connections in the three month period ending 31-December-2004, representing a new connection every 10 seconds of every day during the quarter. BT now expects to achieve 5 million broadband DSL connections a year ahead of its original target.Some highlights of BT's quarterly financial report:Group turnover was up 3%, excluding the impact of mobile termination rate reductions, at £4,584 million. Turnover was marginally up including the impact of mobile termination rate reductionsNew wave turnover was £1,135 million,...

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Sprint Outlines 2005 Plan

The U.S. telecom market is poised for growth in 2005, said Gary Forsee, Sprint's CEO, at the company's annual investment community meeting in New York, "particularly as consumers desire more and more data applications like gaming, special ringers and video streaming and as businesses increasingly insist upon an integrated communications experience in the office and on the go."Sprint outlined the following financial expectations for 2005:Sprint continues to anticipate full-year low single-digit consolidated net operating revenue growth in 2005....

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Nokia Enables Localized Ads & Services on Smartphones

Nokia is introducing a Local Marketing Solution that will deliver localized and timed ads and services to customers' smartphones via short-range radio technologies, such as Bluetooth. The Nokia Local Marketing Solution enables mobiel operators and service providers to advertise their own and partner services in relevant places, at relevant times, on smartphones. Nokia offered several examples of its Local Marketing Solution. For instance, in the morning, a user receives the bus schedule into her smartphone as she approaches the bus station. On...

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Nokia Previews Fixed/Mobile Convergence at 3GSM

Nokia is launching a number of new products at next week's 3GSM World Congress in Cannes, including many aimed at fixed/mobile convergence based on the IMS architecture. These products include:The Nokia Telecommunications Application Server (TAS), a SIP application server that makes possible the convergence of legacy voice and SIP-driven VoIP communications by providing mobile telephony services independent of access. The TAS could be used to offer fixed and mobile VoIP end-users the same kind of telephony services as in today's mobile networks,...

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BinOptics Receives $10 Million in Series B Funding

BinOptics, a start-up based in Ithaca, New York, $10 million Series B funding for its development of integrated microphotonic chips for datacom, telecom, and optical storage applications. BinOptics products are manufactured using a proprietary etched facet technology, which the company said significantly reduces the cost of production, testing, and handling compared to conventional laser processing. The technology also enables monolithic integration of multiple functions on a single chip because of its flexibility and high yield. The company's...

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