European Commission Seeks Input on Digital Divide

The European Commission has opened a public consultation on policy measures needed to bring high-speed internet access to Europe's under-served areas. There are now 40 million broadband lines in the EU, an increase of 70% over the past year, thanks to competition. Broadband coverage is increasing fast, but on average it still excludes about 15% of EU15 population, and certainly a higher percentage when taking new Member States into account. Commercial deployment in remote and scarcely populated areas has been constrained by high costs. The EC believes market forces will drive further deployment, although some areas of the EU will suffer delayed coverage or will be excluded altogether from broadband rollout.


The European Commission has just published a "Digital Divide" report examining the pros and cons of government initiatives for extending broadband coverage. Public input is sought by September 16, 2005.http://europa.eu.int/information_society/eeurope/i2010/digital_divide/index_en.htm

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European Commission Opens More Spectrum for Wi-Fi

The European Commission decided to make available a substantially greater amount of radio spectrum in the 5 GHz range throughout the European Union for Wi-Fi.


The Commission decision, which is to be implemented by Member States by 31 October 2005, makes two specific frequency bands (5150-5350 MHz and 5470-5725 MHz) available in all Member States for wireless access systems. A large amount of flexibility is provided with respect to what type of service or network topology the technology is used for.


The decision also introduces spectrum management approaches, by requiring the application of "intelligent" techniques to protect other radio spectrum users against harmful interference, such as military radar and satellite services.


Other major markets, such as Japan and the US, are implementing similar rules for the 5 GHz bands based on- the outcome of the World Radiocommunications Conference 2003. A large market in the EU will encourage other countries to align themselves to the same specifications.http://europa.eu.int/information_society/policy/radio_spectrum/index_en.htm

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Agilent Offers High-Speed Serial Pulse Data Generator

Agilent Technologies introduced a high-speed, serial pulse data generator with stimulus capability up to 7 GHz, enabling computer and semiconductor test engineers to accurately characterize components being developed for the next-generation serial buses used in high-speed transmission systems.


Agilent said its new device allows engineers, for the first time, to conduct reliable and accurate physical layer tests by providing precision low-jitter signals and offering full control of data streams for stress tests. Linear delay modulation is used to enable fast and ultra precise jitter tolerance and jitter transfer measurements.
Versatile, high-quality and the most precise data signals are the key contributions of the 7 GHz pulse data generator. Other features include:

• Data formats RZ, R1 and NRZ, with flexible parameters and fast transition times for high-quality waveforms and eye diagram measurements.



• Pattern and sequence capabilities enabling stimulus signals for the entire range of digital high-speed serial buses.



• Linear delay modulation up to 1 GHz for jitter tolerance testing.

http://www.agilent.com/find/7G_Pulse

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Motorola to Provide $30 Million Network Upgrade in Kuwait

Kuwait's Mobile Telecommunications Company (MTC) signed contracts with Motorola in the Middle East and Africa worth more than US$30 million as part of a network expansion initiative. MTC will deploy Motorola solutions to boost the capacity, availability and voice quality of its network in Kuwait, while enabling 2.5G expansion capabilities for its more than 1.5 million subscribers.


MTC will be among the first telecom operators in the Middle East to deploy Motorola's Adaptive Multi Rate (AMR) solution, which is designed to improve voice quality especially in more remote areas, at the edge of the network's coverage range, as well as in buildings. MTC has been a Motorola customer for more than a decade.
http://www.motorola.com

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Cisco Board Sets Retirement Age of 70

Cisco Systems' Board of Directors adopted a policy that no individual will be eligible to be nominated or renominated for election to the Board of Directors after his or her 70th birthday. In the case of the current Chairman of the Board, John P. Morgridge, age 71, the policy will take effect for nominations for the 2006 Annual Meeting of Shareholders expected to be held November 2006.


Based on the new policy, Vice Chairman Donald T. Valentine and board member James F. Gibbons will not be eligible for renomination for Cisco's 2005 Annual Meeting of Shareholders in November 2005. Both directors intend to remain on the board through the date of the Annual Meeting, and Cisco expects to reduce the number of authorized directors from 13 to 11 at that time.

http://www.cisco.com

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Yipes Adds Boston POP

Yipes Enterprise Services has begun service expansion into Boston with a new downtown POP, scheduled to be operational by the end of Q3 2005.


In April, Yipes launched FinancialConnect!, a scalable network solution that provides banks, brokers, hedge funds, institutional investors and investment managers with simple, scalable and cost-effective access to the largest financial Exchanges, Electronic Communication Networks, liquidity pools and trading platforms.


Yipes currently serves 128 cities worldwide and in June, announced a new international POP in London. http://www.yipes.com/

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Cogent Acquires Transatlantic 10 Gbps Wavelength from Hibernia

Cogent Communications has purchased a 10 Gbps wavelength service from Boston to London from Hibernia Atlantic. Financial terms were not disclosed.


Hibernia Atlantic owns and operates a direct trans-Atlantic cable route from the US and Canada to Ireland and the UK. http://www.hiberniaatlantic.com/

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NEC Develops Litebird Mobile Router

NEC announced a "Litebird" mobile router that enables seamless broadband communication from high-speed vehicles using fast handoffs to wireless LANs and 3G networks. Use of this mobile router achieves a next-generation ubiquitous networked environment where uninterrupted communication is allowed even on high-speed moving objects. NEC said it has demonstrated seamless mobile IP roaming with stable rates of over 6 Mbps while moving at 200 km/h. Applications could include train-based services and realtime multimedia communications in emergency vehicles, such as ambulances.
http://www.nec.co.jp/press/en/index.html

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Telcordia Appoints CFO

Telcordia Technologies announced the appointment of Mark T. Greenquist as Senior Vice President and CFO. Previously, Greenquist was Senior Vice President and CFO at Symbol. He also served as Executive Vice President and CFO at Agere Systems and Vice President of Finance and CFO for General Motors, Europe.
http://www.telcordia.com

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