ISN Telcom Selects Kagoor's Session Border Controllers

ISN Telcom, the Miami based CLEC, has deployed Kagoor's VoiceFlow 1000 session border controllers for its ipFONE VoIP service, which offer unlimited calls to Latin America in addition to the United States, and Canada for a single monthly fee. Kagoor's session border controllers provide network protection and security for ISN's VoIP network. Kagoor's network protection applications include topology hiding, intrusion prevention, call admission control, and protection from denial of service (DoS) attacks. Kagoor also provides its hosted NAT traversal solution, which permits incoming VoIP calls to securely pass through firewalls. With the VoiceFlow network-hosted NAT traversal solution, ISN delivers its customers VoIP service without adding additional premises equipment.


Kagoor's VoiceFlow fully supports all major VoIP protocols (SIP, H.323, MGCP).

by Jim Greenway Kagoor Networks

The Evolution of Session Border Controllers Session border controllers have matured to play an essential role in delivering secure and seamless VoIP service. Most VoIP has been deployed in "islands", either within enterprises deploying VoIP on a LAN or by a carrier using it for its internal network transport. In both cases, the VoIP traffic terminates at a gateway and is converted to PSTN as it leaves the enterprise or the carrier's network. Session border controllers (SBCs) were designed to connect these islands and create an end-to-end VoIP network

http://www.kagoor.com

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SBC & AT&T Argue that Merger in Public Interest

SBC and AT&T filed papers with the FCC kicking off the formal federal review process aimed at determining that the merger is in the public interest. The companies noted that so far, more than 260 consumer, business and civic organizations, as well as state and federal elected officials, have announced their support for the merger.


In the joint filing, the companies argue that the merger is a response to rapid technological changes, extraordinary competition in the marketplace and financial pressures - including the loss of hundreds of thousands of jobs and more than $2 trillion in market value - that have marked the telecommunications industry the past few years.


The companies' filing states "the merger will produce numerous tangible public interest benefits, and it will enhance, not harm, competition in every sector." Specifically, the filing claims:

• The public will benefit from creation of a U.S. communications company with global reach. AT&T's network, which spans more than 50 countries, and AT&T Labs' technological prowess will be combined with SBC's financial strength and local exchange, broadband and wireless capabilities - resulting in a positive impact on investment, employment and productivity for the U.S. economy, benefiting all Americans.



• The merger will strengthen national security. AT&T in particular serves numerous government customers, including the White House, the Departments of Defense and Homeland Security and numerous states from Alaska to New York. This transaction will result in a robust communications company with the resources and expertise necessary to continue to serve those customers with leading-edge services.



• The combined company will be an engine of innovation and investment across the country, speeding the delivery of existing services to customers who might otherwise wait years for them, and prompting the development of new services that would otherwise not exist. The combined company will have greater incentives and ability to provide the fruits of its investment in research and development to all customers.



• And because of the merger, the capabilities, reliability and efficiency available to the largest business and government customers should flow to residential and small business customers. "

Edward E. Whitacre Jr., chairman and CEO of SBC, said "This is a natural and healthy evolution of a dynamic, competitive and restructuring communications industry. It is a direct response to a new competitive reality - and to retail and business customers who have so many more choices in communications today than 10 years ago, when the last federal telecom laws were passed."http://www.sbc.com
http://www.att.com

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Alcatel and Microsoft to Collaborate on IPTV

Alcatel and Microsoft announced a global collaboration agreement aimed at accelerating the rollout of IPTV services for broadband operators worldwide. The companies will offer an integrated IPTV delivery solution. The partners expect their precedent-setting agreement will help expand the quickly-growing ecosystem of IPTV industry partners and enable telecommunication providers to take advantage of global economies of scale fueled by large-scale IPTV deployments planned across the globe.


As part of the agreement, the two companies plan to pursue a series of joint initiatives, including:

• Developing and customizing new applications to meet the unique needs of different cultures and markets around the world,



• Enhancing application and network resilience for better reliability in large-scale deployments,



• Integration of content, security and digital rights management to ensure secure delivery of high-quality content, to and throughout the home,



• Managing quality of service through intelligent video packet handling, and



• End-to-end integration of management systems for the application platforms and all components of the network including the home network.

Alcatel said it will continue developing and supporting its own Open Media Platform (OMP) platform, which already has 24 commercial and trial deployments. The Alcatel Open Media Platform is also a software middleware platform that enables broadband service providers to create, deliver and manage multimedia entertainment services. Going forward, the companies will be recommending their joint solution.
http://www.alcatel.com
http://www.microsoft.com/tv

• In recent months, Microsoft has announced a series of high-profile wins for its IPTV platform, including Taiwan's Chunghwa Telecom, Verizon, SBC, BellSouth, Telecom Italia, KPN, Swisscom/Bluewin and others.



• In 2003, Alcatel acquired iMagicTV, a developer of software for delivering multi-channel digital television over broadband networks, for approximately US$30 million in aggregate. Alcatel already owned approximately 16% of iMagicTV. The iMagicTV IP video solution enables digital TV services, an interactive program guide, video-on-demand, pay-per-view and other interactive information services. iMagicTV is based in Saint John, New Brunswick, Canada.



• In October 2000, Alcatel and Oracle formed Thirdspace, a joint venture targeting interactive, broadband TV.

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Avanex Unveils 10-12.5 Gbps Modulator with 120 km Reach

Avanex introduced a 10-12.5 Gbps Lithium Niobate chirped intensity external modulator, which features an innovative chirp mechanism capable of extending the reach of uncompensated signal transmission to 120 kilometers (over single-mode fiber at 2000 ps/nm). Avanex said conventional modulators such as intrinsically chirped single-drive z-cut modulators have the potential for uncompensated signal transmission only up to 80 to 100 kilometers.


http://www.avanex.com

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Terayon Offers MSO Solution for All-Digital Migration

Terayon Communication Systems introduced an IP-enabled, digital-to-analog multichannel integrated edge decoder (MID) that enables cable operators to accelerate and manage their evolution to all-digital networks, allowing them to deliver more high quality digital video services to their subscribers.


Cable operators currently maintain dual analog and digital headends to transport duplicate digital and analog programming line-ups to their digital and analog video subscribers. This dual carriage not only requires separate digital and analog headend and transmission equipment, but more importantly uses a substantial portion of network capacity for parallel distribution of the analog signals.


Terayon said that with its new CP 7600G platform at the edge of their networks, operators can immediately remove that analog tier and distribute all of their programming only once -- digitally -- across their networks. Deployed at the edge of cable networks -- typically in local headends or hubs -- the CP 7600G decodes the digital signal into a high-quality analog signal for transmission to analog subscribers on the network. Using this approach, operators can consolidate critical functions in the digital domain, such as headend operations and local ad insertion.


Terayon's CP 7600G MID is capable of decoding up to six MPEG-2 digital video services to either NTSC or PAL analog format in a compact, one rack unit (RU) tall chassis. http://www.terayon.com

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MCI and Cisco Collaborate on SMB Solutions

MCI and Cisco Systems will collaborate to enable Cisco channel partners to address the needs of small and medium-sized business (SMB) customers by selling IP-based next generation services. As part of the agreement, MCI and Cisco will identify resources and create the tools, training and programs to improve the channel partner's ability to sell, deploy and support both hosted and premise-based IP solutions that combine MCI services and Cisco technology.

Expanding on its decade-long relationship, MCI and Cisco will work together to create advanced networking services for SMB customers. By combining resources, both companies are able to offer SMBs a larger selection of voice, data and security solutions and products. In addition, both companies plan to offer network-based and premise-based solutions, such as MCI's VoIP service MCI Advantage and Cisco's Call Manager and Call Manager Express.

http://www.mci.com
http://www.cisco.com

• In February 2004, MCI announced its global MPLS-based service -- Private IP -- had earned the Cisco Powered Network designation.

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Amino Secures its PVR Set-Top with Widevine

Amino Communications will begin securing its AmiNET500 PVR set-top boxes with the Cypher Virtual SmartCard from Widevine Technologies.
The AmiNET500 is the first PVR (Personal Video Recorder) for IPTV applications to be fully secured against unauthorized copying of digital content.


The AmiNET500 supports time-shifting, pause and trick-play of live material, instant-record, and instant replay, and scheduled record of up to two streams simultaneously. The AmiNET500 can also act as a home media server by providing RTSP video streams to one or more other set top boxes. All content transmitted using the Widevine Virtual SmartCard solution is stored on the disk in its original encrypted form.


Widevine Cypher's Application Level Encryption allows the encryption properties established by the service operator to persist while content is stored on the AmiNET500, or streamed to a secondary device within the home (such as another set top box). Content is not decrypted until consumed, allowing enforcement and enhancement of the CGMS-A (Content Generation Management System for Analog) robustness rules as they impact digital recorders like the AmiNET500.
http://www.widevine.com
http://www.aminocom.com

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Mangrove Employs Xilinx FPGAs for MPLS Platform

Mangrove Systems is using Xilinx's 90nm Spartan-3 and Virtex-II ProFPGA devices in its latest Piranha and Barracuda MetroMPLS Platforms. The Mangrove platforms combine Metro Ethernet Forum services, MPLS pseudowires, multi-service support and new efficient data-over-transport standards to transform existing SONET and SDH infrastructure into efficient, packet-aware metro and access networks.

http://www.xilinx.com/http://www.mangrovesystems.com/

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Linksys Offers Gig Switches with Remote Monitoring and Fiber Expansion

Linksys announced two new switches for small businesses -- a 16-Port 10/100/1000 Gigabit Switch and a 24-Port 10/100/1000 Gigabit Switch, featuring WebView remote monitoring and fiber expansion. WebView lets administrators control their network remotely through a web browser for configuration and monitoring traffic; while fiber expansion options through the two Mini GBIC ports allow administrators to add mini GBIC SFP Transceivers for longer range, high throughput connections to the main network. Estimated street price is $479.99 and $599.99 respectively.


http://www.linksys.com/var

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Level 3 Announces Agreements to Raise $880 Million in New Capital

Level 3 Communications announced agreements to sell $880 million aggregate principal amount of 10% convertible senior notes due 2011.
The following institutional investors have agreed to buy notes, either on behalf of their advisory clients, for the account of their affiliates or for their own account: Southeastern Asset Management; Davis Selected Advisers, L.P.; Fairfax Financial Holdings; Legg Mason Opportunity Trust; Markel Corporation; MSD Capital, L.P.; and The Torray Companies. The http://www.level3.com

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Cirpack Releases TISPAN Enhancements

CIRPACK released software enhancements for its Class-5 telephony platform enabling wireline telecom operators to deploy TISPAN-compliant architectures. This allows migration of legacy PSTN to global VoIP networks capable of delivering new voice services such as fixed-mobile convergence according to 3GPP's IP Multimedia Subsystem (IMS).


The TISPAN committee is the ETSI core competence centre for migration of fixed networks from circuit-switched to packet-based networks with an architecture that can serve in both.


In a TISPAN architecture, Cirpack switches control IMAP (Integrated Multiservice Access Platforms) using H.248/Megaco to deliver POTS and ISDN telephony from the same access platforms as DSL services. This allows operators to replace their legacy access networks while deploying broadband local loops and extend the reach of VoIP to the edge of their networks, without disrupting users' installation and services.


Cirpack's MultiNode-B is a highly modular Class-5 switch developed in collaboration with IBM.

http://www.cirpack.com/

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WilTel Provides National Capacity for Vonage

WilTel Communications confirmed that it is providing Vonage with a bundled voice and data transport solution. Vonage's service area encompasses more than 2,000 active rate centers in more than 150 global markets. http://www.wiltel.com

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Flag Telecom Selects Alcatel for Terabit Undersea Cable

FLAG Telecom awarded a multi-million dollar turnkey contract to Alcatel for the construction of FALCON, a multi-terabit/s, new generation DWDM submarine cable system.

FALCON will provide multiple landings throughout the Gulf region, with submarine links initially stretching to India in the east and to Egypt in the west. Under the terms of the turnkey contract, won in open tender, Alcatel, already a key supplier to FLAG Telecom, will manage all areas of the cable build, including installation, commissioning and testing. FALCON will span over 10,000 km and will offer significantly more high-quality capacity in the region to help address the growing traffic demands from the accelerating take up of broadband services.

The FALCON network will be built and installed in simultaneous sections using several submarine cable laying ships and initial service will commence by the fourth quarter of 2005. FALCON will incorporate comprehensive protection mechanisms to ensure the highest level of network reliability.

Alcatel will supply its next-generation DWDM submarine line terminal. Alcatel's Optical Multi-Service Node and 1678 Metro Core Connect terrestrial systems will be installed to connect the landing stations. All terrestrial and submarine equipment will be managed by an integrated network management system provided by Alcatel.

http://www.alcatel.com
http://www.flagtelecom.com

• FLAG Telecom is a member company of India's Reliance Group.

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Ikanos Announces 100 Mbps Symmetric over Copper

Ikanos Communications announced a programmable chipset capable of delivering speeds of up to 100 Mbps in both upstream and downstream directions over a single copper line at distances under 3 Kft (0.9km). The increased bandwidth capabilities are attained using advanced signal processing techniques and extended frequency spectrum -- up to 30 MHz, compared with 12 MHz in VDSL and 2 MHz in ADSLx.


The rollout include a chipset designed for Optical Network Units (ONUs) and Optical Line Terminals (OLTs), and another designed for Subscriber Located Equipment (SLE) and Optical Network Terminals (ONTs). Both products, which are part of Ikanos' Fx family of chipsets, support symmetric bandwidth of up to 100 Mbps in 64 Kbps increments. A carrier would use existing copper pairs extending from the ONTs to deliver high bandwidth services.


Significantly, the Ikanos chipset features programmable band plans, enabling equipment vendors to turn specific bands on and off to comply with standard specifications. The chipset also can reduce power levels in bands to minimize noise in the cable binder. This enables co-existence with deployed DSL technologies, especially for in-building deployments where multiple DSL technologies might be present in the riser.
http://www.ikanos.com

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Pingtel Launches VoIP Open Source Provider Program

Pingtel, a provider of open source, commercial-grade enterprise communications solutions, launched a Solution Provider Program to extend its range and reach into the small and medium business and enterprise markets in the U.S. and abroad. Pingtel, which has signed more than 20 solution providers signed to date, said it expects to accelerate the adoption its open source, native SIP enterprise communications platform.


Pingtel delivers enterprise-class SIP PBX, SIP call manager and softphone applications based on open source software from SIPfoundry, Inc., similar to the Red Hat model for delivery of professional-grade Linux. Unlike vertically integrated systems, Pingtel said its open-source based solutions provide open interfaces, allowing customers and VARs to use best-of-breed IP phones, gateways and applications.


Separately, Pingtel announced that AudioCodes has joined its Ecosystem Partner Program. As part of the program, AudioCodes' TP-260/SIP Media Gateway was certified to work with Pingtel's SIPxchange enterprise communications platform. Other Ecosystem partners include Polycom, Vegastream, and Check Point Software Technologies.

Bill Rich

Now You're Talking --The Business Case of Open Source VoIP The days of skyrocketing costs, proprietary call control, vendor lock-ins, and TDM PBXs are slowly drawing to a close, as the idea of voice as a data center solution takes hold, including: commodity servers; voice and voice messaging applications available on any end point (phones, soft phones, mobile phones, PDAs) on a distributed IP network. Finally, Moore's Law will apply to enterprise telephony as costs go down and innovation goes up. A key component to enable voice in the data center is a new generation of open source, SIP-based VoIP solutions. The move to an open source will likely make a serious dent in the $5 billion per year enterprise PBX market

http://www.pingtel.com

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