White Rock Offers Per Port Ethernet or SONET Optical Transport

White Rock Networks has enhanced its Multi-Service Optical Access platform by adding the capability to configure any service port to deliver either Ethernet or SONET services, allowing service providers to incrementally transition from TDM to IP-based access without the need to replace existing access equipment.


All eight optical service ports on White Rock's VLX2006 can now support any combination of Gigabit Ethernet, Fast Ethernet, OC-3 or OC-12 SONET services by simply inserting the desired SFP laser. When delivering a Fast Ethernet or Gigabit Ethernet, each port supports full Layer 2 Ethernet switching and VLAN functionality including White Rock's unique Ethernet physical layer protection capabilities. When delivering OC-12 or OC-3 interfaces, each port supports full SONET functionality including equipment protection and 1+1 fiber protection.


Legacy access systems (such as DLCs or DSLAMs) can be fed from the VLX2006 using DS1, DS3, OC-3 or OC-12 native TDM interfaces, while the system simultaneously provides high capacity Ethernet transport and aggregation for the latest generation IP-based access platforms.


White Rock said Ethernet applications can be flexibly provisioned to support much more than just basic point-to-point transport. The VLX2006 provides efficient transport of IPTV services by distributing video traffic to all nodes on a ring using just a single copy of each channel. Transparent LAN Services, VPN tunneling, Distributed LANs and other business applications can also be built across multiple access rings using the VLX2006's integrated VLAN switching capability, avoiding the need to pass traffic off to external Ethernet switches thereby reducing the carrier costs of delivering and maintaining value-added Ethernet services. http://www.whiterock.com

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Terawave Launches 2.5 Gbps GPON

Terawave Communications introduced its new GPON access platform for the delivery of triple play services. The new GPON product family includes a small footprint Optical Line Terminal (OLT) capable of simultaneously aggregating and grooming the traffic of several PONs onto the core IP and TDM networks and a family of Optical Networking Units (ONUs) specifically developed to address the needs of residential, small, medium and large business users. The platform complies with the new ITU-T G.984 GPON standard.

http://www.terawave.com

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FCC Names Media Bureau Chief

FCC Chairman Kevin J. Martin announced his intention to appoint Donna Gregg as the Media Bureau Chief, Roy Stewart as Senior Deputy Chief of the Media Bureau and Deborah Klein as Deputy Chief of the Media Bureau. Gregg previously served as Vice President of Legal and Regulatory Affairs and General Counsel of the Corporation for Public Broadcasting and as a partner in the communications practice of the Washington, D.C. law firm of Wiley Rein & Fielding. She began her legal career as a staff attorney in the Commission's former Cable Television Bureau.
http://www.fcc.gov

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NTT Com Runs GMPLS on Cisco 12000 Series Routers

NTT Communications has demonstrated the use GMPLS to control network settings between Tokyo and Osaka on Cisco 12000 Series routers.


GMPLS is an emerging technology that extends the benefits of MPLS to provide signaling and routing capabilities for devices in both optical and IP network domains.


In the trial, NTT Com deployed GMPLS control plane including the Cisco12000 routers over its commercial wide-area synchronous digital hierarchy (SDH) optical network. As a result, GMPLS technology provided autonomous network-control functions, which can significantly reduce the workload required of operators designing how lines are established and how settings are changed on each node.


The GMPLS control plane functionality has been available as a supported feature on a number of Cisco devices such as the Cisco ONS multiservice provisioning platforms (MSPPs) and routers running Cisco IOS and Cisco IOS XR operating systems such as the Cisco 12000 Series routers.


"NTT Com's demonstration of GMPLS technology is an exciting yet practical example of how networking innovation can be applied to solve challenges facing service providers today," said Tony Bates, vice president and general manager of the Carrier Core and Multiservice Business Unit at Cisco Systems.
http://www.cisco.com
http://www.ntt.co.jp

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Ericsson Acquires NetSpira to Strengthen Mobile Data Offering

Ericsson acquired NetSpira Networks, a start-up software developer based in Spain, for an undisclosed sum. NetSpira's technology enables content and event-based charging and control with minimal impact on network operators' infrastructure. NetSpira's Enhanced Control Solution (ECS) is already being used commercially by EURtel Praha in the Czech Republic, Pannon in Hungary, Virgin Mobile in the US, Vodafone in Spain, MobileOne in Singapore, Telefonica Moviles in Spain and Optimus in Portugal, along with other prominent operators in the Americas and Asia Pacific.


Ericsson said NetSpira's technology will be integrated into its Gateway GPRS Support Node and mobile data offerings, enabling operators to provide easily understandable charging for services such as Java downloads, web access and MMS.
http://www.ericsson.com/press

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WildBlue Installs its First Broadband Satellite Customer

WildBlue Communications activated the first customer for its broadband satellite service. Colorado's Bijou Telephone Cooperative (Bijou), a member of the National Rural Telecommunications Cooperative (NRTC), installed WildBlue's first customer and will be the first to offer the WildBlue service to their customers.


WildBlue will offer three service packages to consumers and small businesses: Value Pack -- $49.95 per month for download speeds up to 512 kbps and upload speeds up to 128 kbps; Select Pack -- $69.95 per month for download speeds up to 1.0 Mbps and upload speeds up to 200 kbps; and Pro Pack -- $79.95 per month for download speeds up to 1.5 Mbps and upload speeds up to 256 kbps. All packages include ISP services. WildBlue will initially offer its equipment package for $299.00 and professional installation for $179.95. Free installation will be offered by NRTC members as a special rollout promotion.

http://www.wildblue.com/

• WildBlue launched its service aboard the U.S. capacity of Telesat's Anik F2 satellite launched in July 2004. WildBlue-1, WildBlue's second satellite, is being built by Space Systems / Loral.

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BellSouth Awards Westell New Supplier Contract

BellSouth selected Westell Technologies to supply its VersaLink Gateway for BellSouth DSL subscribers. The product integrates a DSL modem with a remotely manageable QoS-aware multi-port router that provides 802.11g wireless networking. The announcement builds upon a relationship that has been in place for several years and follows a previous contract award last November for Westell's ProLine DSL modem product line. http://www.bellsouth.com/http://www.westell.com/

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NETGEAR Ships Over 1 Million ADSL Gateways

NETGEAR has now shipped over one million residential ADSL gateways. The company has a widespread presence in the EMEA and Asia-Pacific markets through a network of over 4,200 retail outlets and more than 20,000 value-added resellers. http://www.netgear.com

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