European Commission Promotes Broadband over Powerline

Hoping to open the market to new suppliers of broadband services, the European Commission issued a recommendation designed to clarify rules on using electric power cables to carry data services. Specifically, the EC is requiring Member States to remove "any unjustified regulatory obstacles, in particular from utility companies, on the deployment of broadband power line communications systems." Power Line Communications (PLC) is a broadband access technology that uses the low and medium voltage electricity grid to transmit voice, data and video....

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Siemens Acquires Myrio for IPTV Middleware

Siemens Communications has acquired Myrio, a supplier of IPTV middleware, for an undisclosed sum. Siemens Venture Capital made a strategic investment in the Seattle-based start-up in late 2003. Myrio specializes in middleware and applications for home entertainment solutions, which includes components to create a compelling consumer experience and provide network operators with the management systems for pricing, packaging and applications development....

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Micromuse to Acquire Quallaby for Fault Management

Micromuse agreed to acquire Quallaby, a privately-held software company based in Lowell, Massachusetts, for $33 million in cash.Quallaby supplies network performance management and service level reporting software for service providers. Micromuse's Netcool software suite provides realtime end-to-end network visibility and troubleshooting for enterprise and service providers. Micromuse said the acquisition would advance its ability to manage converged IP services through an integrated console that combines Micromuse's Netcool realtime fault management...

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Motorola Labs Launched in Bangalore

Motorola announced the opening of an applied research lab in Bangalore. This lab, the 11th for Motorola and the company's first in India, augments Motorola's existing India R&D infrastructure of more than 1700 software engineers.http://www.motorola....

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Comcast and Time Warner Near Deal on Adelphia

Comcast and Time Warner reportedly neared an $18 billion deal for bankrupt Adephia, the fifth largest U.S. cable operator. Adelphia serves customers in 31 states and Puerto Rico, serving more than 5 million customers, including in the Los Angeles area, where it is the largest cable operator. A deal might give Comcast a way to unwind its 21% stake in Time Warner. Comcast would get more subscribers in exchange for the shares. Time Warner would also grow its subscriber base. A deal would require the permission of the bankruptcy court.New York-based...

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Cablevision Confirms Closure of VOOM HD Satellite Service

Cablevision Systems confirmed plans to shut down its VOOM HD satellite TV at the end of April. Cablevision's chairman and founder Charles Dolan had fought to keep the venture alive, or to sell it, while the company's board of Directors, led by James Dolan (the son), had sought to shutter the money-losing satellite division. http://www.cablevision.com In January 2005, EchoStar Communications agreed to acquire Cablevision's direct broadcast satellite and certain other related assets for $200 million. The deal includes the Rainbow 1 satellite, located...

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BT acquires CW Business Solutions in Spain

BT has acquired Cable and Wireless Business Solutions group in Spain for EUR 6 million. CW Business Solutions provides major corporate and public sector organisations with networked IT services such as the design and implementation of LAN/WAN propositions within single managed solutions. It also provides connectivity and hosting, including business continuity and disaster recovery services, to some of the main media companies and enterprises in Spain. The company claims 170 corporate clients. http://www.btplc....

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