SBC Selects Motorola and Scientific-Atlanta for IPTV Set-top Boxes

SBC Communications has awarded IPTV set-top box contracts to both Scientific-Atlanta and Motorola. The contracts, awarded by SBC Services Inc., give equal market opportunity to both vendors and continue through the end of 2008. SBC provided a common set of specifications to both vendors to build the set-top boxes. At this time, SBC said it expects to use Motorola set-top boxes initially when it scales the service, with Scientific-Atlanta set-top boxes soon thereafter. Financial terms of the contracts were not disclosed.


The planned IPTV set-top boxes, which will operate the new Microsoft TV IPTV Edition software, allow multiple video streams to be sent to one set-top box. Additionally, because the boxes will operate next-generation compression technology - either MPEG4 or VC1- the Digital Video Recorders (DVRs) are expected to store content approximately twice as efficiently as DVRs provided by other video distributors' DVRs.


Project Lightspeed is the SBC initiative to expand its fiber-optics network deeper into neighborhoods to deliver SBC U-verse TV, voice and high-speed Internet access services. SBC is planning an initial controlled market entry in late 2005 or early 2006. The company plans to add more features and functionality, including whole-home DVR and high-definition functionality, to the SBC U-verse TV offering and enter more markets beginning in mid-2006.


"This is a major technology milestone for IPTV," said Lea Ann Champion, senior executive vice president, SBC IP Operations and Services. "A number of different technology components have come together to ensure the set-top boxes can efficiently support the features and functionality we plan to deliver to our customers."http://www.sbc.com

• In March 2005, SBC awarded a contract to Scientific-Atlanta to provide IP video network equipment that would enable SBC to acquire, process, encode, and distribute digital media content to subscribers. SBC is currently testing this video network equipment as part of an SBC technical trial. Instead of using a traditional broadcast video system, in which all content is continuously sent to every customer's home, SBC companies will use a switched IP-video distribution system. In the switched IP-video network, only the content the customer requests is provided to the customer, freeing up bandwidth to be used for other applications.

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Verizon Wireless and Lucent Conduct EV-DO Rev A Trial

Verizon Wireless and Lucent Technologies completed a test of live, over-the-air calls using CDMA2000 1xEV-DO Revision A technology. CDMA2000 1xEV-DO Revision A is an enhanced version of CDMA2000 1xEV-DO that increases the efficiency, data speeds and capacity of existing EV-DO networks. CDMA2000 1xEV-DO Revision A enables users to receive data (forward link) at speeds of theoretically up to 3.1 Megabits per second (Mbps) and send data (reverse link) at speeds of theoretically up to 1.8 Mbps. These increased reverse link data speeds reduce data latency and will enable operators such as Verizon Wireless to deliver VoIP and other multimedia services on CDMA2000 networks in the future.


The companies plan to conduct a more extensive technology trial in early 2006.


Lucent said its CDMA2000 1xEV-DO Revision A infrastructure will be commercially available in 2006.http://verizon.com
http://www.lucent.com

• In July, QUALCOMM began sampling of its new dual-CPU Convergence Platform chip aimed at a new generation of consumer devices for CDMA2000 1xEV-DO Revision A networks. QUALCOMM MSM7500 chipset is designed form personal multimedia devices ranging from high-end PDAs and Smartphones to wireless computers to portable video players, music centers, gaming consoles, etc.
  
  QUALCOMM said the chip offers the processing capacity needed for capabilities such as an 8.0 megapixel digital camera, camcorder-like video recorder, VGA resolution gaming, and support for major audio and video formats. The chip design integrates an ARM11 applications processor and an ARM9 modem processor. It supports QUALCOMM's Launchpad suite of advanced multimedia, connectivity, position location, user interface and removable storage functionality, and QUALCOMM's BREW solution, which enables the download and monetization of advanced applications and content.

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Juniper Ships its 1,000th T-Series Router

Juniper Networks announced the milestone shipment of its 1,000th T-series core routing platform. The unit will be deployed at KT, which first deployed the T-series in 2002.


Shipping since April 2002, the T-series is currently deployed in more than 100 service provider production networks worldwide.
http://www.juniper.net

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White Rock Offers Upgrade Path for Existing AFC Access Networks

White Rock Networks has developed a retrofit kit for its VLX2006 multi-service access platform which provides an upgrade path to OC-48 transport for existing AFC 240 line cabinets.


Using a pre-packaged kit, the VLX2006 can be installed into existing cabinets, providing carriers with fully protected Gigabit Ethernet, Fast Ethernet, DS1, DS3, OC-3, and OC-12 drops to the cabinet. All optical interfaces can be configured on a port-by-port basis providing flexible deployment options. Once installed using the retrofit kit, the VLX2006 increases network flexibility, extends existing equipment service life, saves fibers by collapsing star networks into rings, increases backhaul bandwidth, fully protects all services, and provides Gigabit Ethernet to every cabinet. The platform is optimized for outside plant deployments, allowing existing cabinet installations to remain in place while carriers begin the transition to high-bandwidth IP services.


"As existing transport networks are stretched to meet the higher bandwidth requirements of the latest-generation IP services, carriers are looking for simple, low-cost ways to extend the service life of existing narrowband remote cabinet installations. White Rock's new retrofit kit for the VLX2006 easily allows our 2 RU, fully hardened and protected OC-48 platform to fit within existing AFC 240 cabinets, significantly expanding capacity for new revenue-generating, Ethernet-based services while also consolidating transport for TDM backhaul of existing systems," said Lonnie Martin, Founder/CEO of White Rock Networks. "The wide array of service interfaces on the VLX2006 supports backhaul applications for existing service equipment while also providing additional ports and transport bandwidth for converged transport and aggregation of packet and circuit traffic. Service providers can share fiber transport facilities for legacy and next-generation access platforms, reducing transport costs while easing the transition to newer IP services."http://www.whiterock.com

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Intel Launches "Digital Communities" Initiative

Intel is launching a "Digital Communities" initiative to help communities use wireless technology and innovative applications to expand and improve services for municipal governments, businesses and citizens.


Under the program, Intel is working with Cisco, Dell, IBM, and SAP to help 13 "pilot" communities design, develop and deploy comprehensive solutions and services to enhance government efficiency, promote economic growth, foster greater community satisfaction and bridge the digital divide. The applications range from automating mobile workers such as meter readers and building inspectors to increasing the safety and enhancing resource management of first responders by remotely monitoring vehicle location to enhancing parent, teacher collaboration for improved student success.


The initial list of Digital Communities includes Cleveland; Corpus Christi, Texas; Dusseldorf, Germany; Gyor, Hungary; Jerusalem, Israel; Mangaratiba, Brazil; Osaka, Japan; Philadelphia; Portland; Principality of Monaco; Seoul, South Korea; Taipei, Taiwan; and Westminster, United Kingdom.


"As wireless technology continues to evolve, local governments are seizing the opportunity to address critical issues in their community including equal and affordable access to broadband and more efficient and effective government services," said Anand Chandrasekher, vice president and director, Intel Sales and Marketing Group.
http://www.intel.com/go/digitalcommunitieshttp://Muniwireless.com

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Tennessee Valley Authority Selects Fujitsu for NGN

The Tennessee Valley Authority (TVA), the largest public power company in the U.S., has awarded a federal contract to Fujitsu Network Communications for a large optical network that links TVA main offices and key substation sites across seven states. TVA will deploy the Fujitsu FLASHWAVE and NETSMART product lines for its next-generation network, which will be constructed in multiple stages over several years.


This new, high-performance optical network will support a wide array of service types, including Gigabit Ethernet connections between routers, Fibre Channel connections between remote backup sites, and SONET/TDM connections that support their Supervisory Control And Data Acquisition (SCADA) system.


Fujitsu's FLASHWAVE 4500 Multi-Service Provisioning Platforms (MSPPs) will be interconnected by high-capacity and geographically large SONET rings. FLASHWAVE 4100 MSPPs deployed at larger substations will provide additional service capacity and interface flexibility.


For larger spans, or in locations where fiber availability is constrained, TVA is deploying the FLASHWAVE 7120 optical extension system, which was recently added to the FLASHWAVE portfolio through an OEM alliance with BTI Photonic Systems. The FLASHWAVE 7120 optical extension system will also support the anticipated growth of the TVA network to 32 wavelengths between various sites.http://us.fujitsu.com/telecom
http://www.tva.gov

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Intelsat Approves HNS Satellite Broadband Platform

Intelsat successfully completed laboratory testing and analysis of Hughes Network Systems' (HNS) DW7000 satellite broadband platform, clearing the way for the system and the Internet Protocol over Satellite (IPoS) standard to be added to the portfolio of broadband technologies Intelsat markets through its worldwide customer base.


The DW7000 family of broadband satellite routers consists of two initial offerings: the DW7700 for high-performance enterprise and government requirements, and the DW7000 for small business and consumer customers.


The IPoS standard is used by the DW7000 family of satellite routers to achieve high bandwidth efficiency, low latency and high quality of service. The platform is able to support more than 35 simultaneous accelerated TCP sessions, more than 45 Mbps of multicast traffic, over 10 Mbps of UDP throughput and more than two Mbps of accelerated HTTP throughput. http://www.hns.com
http://www.intelsat.com

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HomePlug AV Specification Approved

HomePlug AV, a global powerline technology distributing HD and SD video, VoIP and Internet services in home networks using existing electrical wiring, has been finalized and approved unanimously by the Board of Directors of the HomePlug Powerline Alliance. The HomePlug Alliance anticipates that HomePlug AV capability will be designed into consumer products (such as TVs, audio equipment, computers, and networking gear).


HomePlug AV technology was built with contributions from companies that worked as part of the alliance's specification working group (SWG). The SWG further developed a baseline technology that was based on contributions submitted by Arkados, Conexant, Intellon and Sharp. The release of the specification comes nearly three years after the effort was initiated.


HomePlug AV uses a high-efficiency MAC layer, which incorporates both scheduled access (TDMA) with QoS guarantees, and contention access (CSMA) capabilities. This enable multimedia content distribution using a guaranteed bandwidth reservation function, tight control of latency and jitter, and high reliability.


"The HomePlug AV specification is the result of unprecedented cooperative innovation by a combination of global companies, each bringing their own core competencies to the table," said Larry Yonge, vice president of research and development for Intellon Corporation and chair of the HomePlug Technical Working Group (TWG).
http://www.homeplug.org

• In July 2005, In July, The HomePlug Powerline Alliance announced a co-existence solution that allows all powerline communications technologies, including HomePlug 1.0, HomePlug AV, and HomePlug BPL, to efficiently share the powerline network in both to-the-home and in-the-home applications. The solution would allow multiple powerline communications technologies to share the same wire while maintaining transmission speeds and effective QoS. The HomePlug Powerline Alliance has been developing a new HomePlug AV specification, which promises 200 Mbps capacity for sharing HDTV, Digital Audio, and Internet access around a home. The new co-existence technology, which is built-in to the HomePlug AV specification, fully coexists with HomePlug 1.0 data networking devices. When 1.0 devices are detected, the network switches to a Hybrid mode, allowing HomePlug AV devices to control the 1.0 devices and direct their communications, without compromising the AV network performance.

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ColorChip Acquires Lambda Crossing's Optics Plant

ColorChip, a manufacturer of glass-based Planer Lightwave Circuit (PLC) chips and modules for fiber optic communications, has acquired Lambda Crossing's plant. The plant - whose operations had ceased about a month ago - together with its equipment, will be used by ColorChip to mass-produce its chips as soon as development has been completed and the company moves to the manufacturing stage.


ColorChip said it is currently in the process of expanding and shifting its focus from development to mass production. The company will ship its first samples of Meteor II FTTx SOG Transceivers for optical network terminals (ONT/ONU) to selected customers later this month. The transceiver is based on ColorChip's SystemOnGlass (SOG) technology -- a mountable glass chip that integrates commercial laser diodes, photodiodes, and a minimum number of other electronic and electro-optic components - using no free space elements whatsoever.


ColorChip is also shipping PLC splitters - based on the company's breakthrough Ion-Exchange process - mainly to the FTTx, CATV, analog and digital PONs markets. These splitters provide today's highest levels of reliability and performance.
http://www.color-chip.com

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Marvell Posts Quarterly Revenue of $390.5 million, up 31.4% YoY

Marvell Technology reported record net revenue for the second quarter of fiscal 2006 of $390.5 million, an increase of 31.4% over net revenue of $297.2 million for the second quarter of fiscal 2005 and a 7.0% sequential increase from net revenue of $364.8 million for the first quarter of fiscal 2006. Net income (GAAP) was $77.3 million, or $0.25 per share (diluted), for the second quarter of fiscal 2006, compared with a net income under GAAP of $28.6 million, or $0.10 per share (diluted), for the second quarter of fiscal 2005.


"Q2 was another very successful quarter for Marvell," stated Dr. Sehat Sutardja, Marvell's President and CEO. "We currently enjoy strong growth and momentum from both the Enterprise and Consumer markets and are focused on the continued solid execution of our business strategies."


Revenue for the second quarter was a record for Marvell and represented the 31st consecutive quarter for sequential revenue growth.
http://www.marvell.com

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Ennis Resigns with AT&T for 41-site IP VPN

Ennis , one of the largest private-label printed business product suppliers in the U.S., selected AT&T to continue providing an IP VPN linking its 41 facilities located throughout 16 states, Mexico and Canada. Terms were not disclosed.
http://www.att.com

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Connexion by Boeing Names New Head for Commercial Business

Connexion by Boeing named Lianne Stein as vice president, Commercial Aviation Business, where she will be responsible for Connexion's Commercial Aviation channel, which provides high-speed Internet service to commercial airlines worldwide. Most recently, Stein was the vice president of Boeing Commercial Airplanes for Washington D.C. Operations. In this role, Stein was responsible for all Boeing commercial aircraft activities in Washington, D.C., relating to commercial aircraft sales campaigns, U.S. government advocacy, public policy and the U.S. Export-Import Bank. Prior to joining Boeing in 2001, Stein served as vice president and senior European marketing representative for one of the largest commercial aircraft leasing companies, International Lease Finance Corporation (ILFC).
http://www.connexionbyboeing.com/

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Marvell Introduces Highly Integrated VoIP Chip

Marvell introduced a family of highly integrated VoIP solutions.. The Marvell 88W8618 is designed for ultra-low power Voice over WLAN (VoWLAN) handsets. Marvell estimates the chip will extend handset talk time by a factor of three versus competitive solutions.


Other members of the Marvell 88W86 family are targeted at VoIP residential gateways. Each product integrates VoIP processing, low power WiFi circuitry, a high-performance host CPU and peripherals into single system-on-a-chip (SoC) solutions.


All of the devices have on-chip security processing engines to support WLAN encryption standards such as AES/CCMP and WPA/TKIP, and a Quality of Service (QoS) engine to support priority voice services.


The VoIP chips also offers AutoLink, a one-click solution for setting up, configuring and enabling a secure WPA or WPA2 wireless network. In addition, Marvell BoostMode technology increases throughput and allows up to twice the range of current 802.11g solutions. Marvell VoWLAN solutions will also support advanced features for enhanced QoS such as WMM, APSD, as well as other 802.11e specifications.


The devices are currently sampling.
http://www.marvell.com

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EAS Group to Acquire Brooktrout for $173 Million

EAS Group, the privately held parent of Excel Switching Corporation, agreed to acquire Brooktrout for $173 million. Brooktrout stockholders will receive $13.05 in cash for each share of Brooktrout common stock, representing a 38% premium over the closing price of Brooktrout common stock on August 17, 2005.


Excel is a worldwide provider of carrier-class, open services platforms, media gateways and media servers.


Brooktrout specializes in media processing, call control, signal processing, and fax communications. The company is based in Needham, Massachusetts.


The companies said their merger would create a leader in enabling technologies for both traditional and next-generation communications networks, with a broad portfolio of products and solutions to help both service provider and enterprise customers offer new applications and enhanced services.
http://www.xl.com
http://www.brooktrout.com

• In June 2003, Excel Switching Corporation was spun out of Lucent, returning to its roots as an independent supplier of carrier-class, open services platforms for communications networks. The company offers a Converged Services Platform that is used to deliver carrier applications such as RBOC voice mail services, pre-paid calling cards, tandem/international gateway switching, multiparty audio conferencing, media server and advanced directory assistance services. Lucent had acquired Excel Switching in 1999. EAS Group's investors include Oak Investment Partners, TowerBrook Investors, L.P., and Anshutz Investment Company.



• In 2004, Brooktrout acquired SnowShore Networks, a start-up offering a line of media server and media firewall products aimed at service provider applications. Snowshore's media servers are designed to integrate rich content from the Web and distributed network databases into voice services enabling the creation of converged enhanced services. Capabilities include network announcements, auto-attendant, voice messaging, pre-paid calling, integrated voice recognition, IP Centrex, audio/Web conferencing, unified communications.

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China Telecom USA Continues to Expand Operations

China Telecom USA announced the opening of a regional office in Atlanta, Georgia, and another in Austin, Texas. These offices have been opened to better serve multi-national companies and Global 1000 accounts in these regions with operations in Asia.


China Telecom USA has tapped two senior telecom sales executives, each with more than 20 years of experience in the telecom sector, working for Tier 1 companies such as AT&T, Sprint, SingTel and Telecom Malaysia, to lead these regional offices.


China Telecom said it has the most network capacity of any carrier between North America and China. China Telecom has 60 Gbps of capacity on submarine cables. China Telecom also owns and operates multiple, diverse cable systems between North America, Hong Kong and China. http://www.chinatelecomusa.com/

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