Alcatel Supplies WiMAX network in Austria

WiMAX Telecom GmbH, a subsidiary of Swiss WiMAX Telecom AG, selected Alcatel to deploy a turnkey WiMAX network. The first phase of the deployment is expected to be complete later this month. The network will deliver symmetric data throughput of up to 2 Mbps per user. WiMAX Telecom GmbH was the sole provider to obtain the nationwide rights to the WiMAX frequencies in Austria at the auction of October 4, 2004. This is the first commercial broadband wireless access system using the new WiMAX standard in Austria. http://www.alcatel.com In February...

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Alcatel to Upgrade Cable Linking Africa, Europe and Asia

Alcatel was awarded a multi-million US dollar turnkey contract to upgrade the SAT-3/WASC/SAFE undersea cable system linking West & Southern Africa, Europe and Asia. The SAT-3/WASC/SAFE submarine cable, for which Alcatel has been a major supplier since 1999, is composed of two segments - SAT-3/WASC in the Atlantic Ocean and SAFE in the Indian Ocean, which together span 28,000 km. Alcatel will upgrade the SAT-3/WASC WDM submarine terminals for the segment linking Portugal to South Africa with branches in Spain, Senegal, Cote d'Ivoire, Ghana,...

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FCC Action in Response to Hurricane Katrina

In response to the destruction of Hurricane Katrina, the FCC announced several actions that it is taking:posted a web page with consumer information that may be helpful to the general public during this emergency situation, including links to amateur radio organizations who may provide alternative communications servicesthe FCC's Office of Engineering and Technology will put in place procedures to help emergency communications services resume and maintain operations in the areas impacted by the hurricanethe FCC's Media Bureau will provide relief...

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Deutsche Telekom Plans 50Mbps BB, 3G HSDPA, SIP Phones and Fixed Mobile Convergence

In conjunction with this week's Internationale Funkausstellung (IFA) in Berlin, Deutsche Telekom outlined its plans for high-speed broadband, wireless and converged network services.Fixed Network: Deutsche Telekom plans to invest up to three billion EURs in its German broadband fixed network over the next few years to boost its Triple Play offering. The company expects to push broadband rates to up to 50 Mbps. Pilot trials are currently underway...

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WSJ: SBC Might Change Name to AT&T

SBC Communications is leaning towards adopting the AT&T name following its pending acquisition of the firm, according to The Wall Street Journal. The SBC corporate brand is not widely recognized outside of its home territory, whereas AT&T is a widely known worldwide. http://www.wsj....

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Ciena Reports Revenues of $110.5 million

Ciena reported quarterly revenue of $110.5 million, representing a 6.4% sequential increase from fiscal second quarter revenue of $103.8 million, and an increase of 46.2% over the same period a year ago when the company reported sales of $75.6 million.Ciena's reported net loss (GAAP) for the fiscal third quarter was $51.0 million, or a net loss of $0.09 per share. This loss compares to a GAAP net loss of $141.5 million, or a net loss of $0.25 per share, in the same period a year ago. Overall gross margin improved from 26.2% in the second fiscal...

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Skype Signs up its First Mobile Network Partner -- Germany's E-Plus

Skype announced a landmark partnership with E-Plus, Germany's third largest mobile phone network with 9.8 million subscribers, which marks an important step in Skype's global mobile strategy to move beyond the desktop.Starting in October, Skype software will be bundled with E-Plus' flat-rate data service, allowing people to gain both a high bandwidth Internet connection and free, high-quality Skype calling over E-Plus' mobile network. The flat-rate data service is available throughout Germany for EUR 39.95 per month. Skype will be the only company...

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Unwired Australia Plans 802.16e-based Mobile WiMAX with Navini

Unwired Australia, which operates a wireless broadband network spanning more than 1,200 square miles in Sydney and the surrounding region, will bring 802.16e-based Mobile WiMAX solutions to the Australian marketplace, in partnership with Navini Networks.As part of this partnership, Navini will work to seamlessly and rapidly transition Unwired Australia to the IEEE 802.16e Mobile WiMAX standard through Navini's Ripwave-MX product line.Navini has already announced its Ripwave-MX product line which includes dual mode CPEs, PCMCIA cards and software-upgradeable...

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QUALCOMM Enhances 3G Call Quality with Philips' LifeVibes Software

QUALCOMM has integrated Philips' LifeVibes Voice sound enhancement software onto its Mobile Station Modem (MSM) chipsets. The echo-canceling technology is designed to improve the acoustic performance of 3G mobile handsets and improve the clarity of conference and hands-free calls.QUALCOMM said the echo-canceling sound enhancement technology would enable users to make clear and full-duplex conference, videoconference and hands-free calls without audial interference from stationary background noise. QUALCOMM will initially provide support for echo-cancellation...

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NETGEAR Joins WiMAX Forum

NETGEAR has joined the WiMAX Forum as a principle member. The company is among the first vendors that provide networking solutions for homes and small- and medium-sized businesses to join the WiMAX Forum."As with MIMO and OFDM, WiMAX is another example of how NETGEAR positions itself ahead of the technology curve in developing solutions for emerging wireless standards," said Patrick Lo, NETGEAR's chairman and chief executive officer. "WiMAX is a potentially significant technology that could revolutionize the way people get broadband access."h...

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China Taizhou CATV Deploys Flexlight GPON

Taizhou CATV, a major service provider and CATV operator in China's Jiangsu province, is deploying a 2.5 Gbps GPON using technology from FlexLight Networks. The network provides full 2.5 Gbps bandwidth with guaranteed quality of service for existing TDM services while allowing Ethernet services to be deployed.Taizhou CATV is currently delivering leased line and Fast Ethernet services to their government, enterprise and educational customers in the Taizhou metropolitan area. http://www.flexlight-networks....

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Lucent Supplies VoIP to Korea's Hanaro Telecom

Hanaro Telecom, Korea's second largest wireline and broadband service provider, will deploy Lucent's VoIP solution to offer enterprise services. Lucent said its solution can enable Hanaro to provide traditional business voice services, such as call forwarding and conference calling, as well as IP-based features that can include interactive voice response, one-number calling and Web-based integrated business features that allow customers to manage their voice services via their computers.The deployment will include the Lucent Feature Server 3000,...

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Verimatrix Introduces Digital Watermarking for IPTV

Verimatrix, a developer of content protection and security solutions based in San Diego, announced an additional level of digital watermarking capabilities that detect piracy to the culpable individual's set-top box. As an optional component to the Verimatrix Content Authority System (VCAS), the user-specific digital watermarking system is the industry's first to embed an electronic fingerprint in video content as it is played back at the set-top box.Verimatrix protects content and video streams, as well as detects digital piracy at its point of...

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Harris to Acquire Leitch

Harris Corporation agreed to acquire Leitch Technology, a provider of professional digital video solutions based in Toronto, for a cash price of C$14.00 per share amounting to total consideration of approximately C$592 million. The deal represents a premium of 44 percent over the twenty-day volume weighted average trading price of C$9.72 for Leitch shares on the Toronto Stock Exchange."This acquisition further positions Harris to lead the broadcast industry's transition to high-definition digital services," said Howard L. Lance, chairman, president...

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BellSouth: 180 Central Offices on Generator Power, 870,000 Lines Out

BellSouth is concentrating on repairing major cables, ensuring telephone switching centers continue to have back-up power until commercial power can be restored, as well as getting communications established for emergency personnel, city and government officials and hospitals.The total number of projected lines impacted in Louisiana is about 1,000,000. Approximately 130,000 lines have been cleared to date as power is restored, and 870,000 lines remain out of service. The actual time it will take to restore service depends upon BellSouth's access...

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