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 2005, Alcatel announced an OEM agreement to resell Alvarion's WiMAX-ready solution based on WiMAX 802.16-2004 ("Rev d") standard. Financial terms were not disclosed. As a first positive market recognition of this new OEM agreement, both companies also disclosed today that Alcatel has been selected to run several WiMAX pilot deployments in Europe. Among those, one will be delivered to TDF (the French broadcast service provider) and RATP (the Paris public transport agency) in France.

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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, Benin Republic, Nigeria, Cameroon, Gabon and Angola. Alcatel will also upgrade the existing synchronous digital hierarchy (SDH) equipment and network management for the SAT-3/WASC/SAFE global network, including the SAFE segment which links Cape Town in South Africa to Penang in Malaysia and lands in South Africa, Reunion, Mauritius and India.


"This proposed upgrade is testimony to the fact that SAT-3/WASC is indeed a success story which has facilitated economic and communications growth in the region and will continue to do so for many years in the future as made possible by the upgrade." stated Johan Meyer, Management Committee Chairman of the SAT-3/WASC/SAFE consortium.
http://www.alcatel.com

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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 services




• the 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 hurricane




• the FCC's Media Bureau will provide relief to multichannel video programming distributors (MVPDs), television and radio broadcasters by allowing systems and stations to operate and restore communications as needed in areas impacted by the hurricane. This include rules that permit FM and TV stations to erect temporary antennas without prior authority from the FCC. Also allows AM stations to use a horizontal or vertical wire or a non-directional vertical element of a directional antenna as an emergency antenna.




• extended the regulatory fee filing window for those in affected areas


• granted a temporary waiver of numbering rules to allow carriers in those three states, and the numbering administrators that support them, to port telephone numbers geographically outside of rate centers during this period of service disruption.


• waived local number portability and number assignment rules to the extent necessary to permit carriers to port customers' numbers to remote locations, on a temporary basis .
  
• implemented procedures to grant temporary authority for satellite Earth and Space Stations that need to initiate, resume, and maintain operations in the areas impacted by Hurricane Katrina
• implemented procedures to grant temporary authority for submarine cables and international routes that need to initiate, resume, and maintain operations in the areas impacted by Hurricane Katrina

http://www.fcc.gov

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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 in Stuttgart und Hamburg offering speeds of up to 25 Mbps. T-Com intends to provide Germany's 50 largest cities with high-speed broadband lines by 2007. By mid-2006, the first cities will be connected to the new optical fiber network, enabling the faster access speeds.




IPTV: T-Online is launching the "T-Online S 100" Media Receiver, an IP streaming set-top box that enables home entertainment via DSL. The Media Receiver is included in the T-Online Vision package together with a splitter for connection to both the DSL network and the Speedport W 500V - a combination of DSL modem, router and DSL phone adapter. The T-Online Vision package will be available for purchase in specialist stores as a starter deal for EUR 49.95 starting in November.


Customized Info Center: New T-Online 6.0 access software is also being released with broadband applications such as T-Online Internet Telefon 6.0, T-Online DSL Manager 6.0 and the T-Online Info Cockpit 6.0. The Cockpit application features a "sidebar" window that provides individualized information through variable mini-programs, or widgets.


Mobile Broadband via HSDPA: Plans for mobile access to the Internet via UMTS are also gaining steam. The company now anticipates the commercial launch of UMTS with HSDPA at the CeBIT trade fair next Spring. Initially, connections will reach up to 1.8 Mbps and will gradually be increased to up to 7.2 Mbps. By then, T-Mobile plans to extend its TV offerings for mobile devices in Germany. A special, innovative TV service will be in place for the 2006 soccer World Cup. T-Mobile is also working on business models to reach wider customer groups with digital radio technologies such as DVB-H and DMB.



Fixed Mobile Convergence: New Voice products include a "Dual Phone" that can communicate via the fixed-network and Wi-Fi along with GSM - one number and one device both at home and on the road. At home, customers make calls through the fixed network, and at a Hotspot, say in an airport or station, they access the Internet via W-LAN - this means better voice quality. And on the go, customers make calls using the tried-and-true GSM technology. The dual phone enables customers to continue using their DSL/WLAN hardware, as well as new value-added services. For example, the synchronization feature with the Outlook address book, video telephony or access - even on the go - to centrally stored MP3 files on their PC. Voicemail calls made at home are free. The Dual Phone device is to be launched in the 2nd quarter of 2006.




SIP Phone Service: Deutsche Telekom also will begin offering a SIP-Phone that not only handle voice and video communications, but also emails, faxes, SMS and MMS. All these message types can be stored in a central "answering machine." The SIP phone will also offer fast access to numerous information and entertainment services: the latest head-lines, traffic information, emergency service information, and shopping and activity tips. Games are also available.


New Tariffs:T-Com and T-Mobile are launching new tariffs in Germany, including a voice flat rate and packages combining the advantages of mobile and fixed-line communications. T-Com will be introducing an flat rate plan in the fall (starting October 6). The T-Net with voice telephony flat rate plan is likely to be just under EUR 40, and the flat rate for an ISDN connection with voice is expected to be around EUR 48. In addition, the minute-based package included in the Call Time rate option in connection with T-ISDN will be doubled effective September 1, 2005.


"Our vision is to give the customer access via one single line - i.e. our broadband connection - to the wealth of the multimedia world, using a range of devices: at present telephones, televisions, PCs, video telephones and multimedia boxes. The benefits of this for our customers are obvious. They will have easy access to superfast Internet, video, games offers, high-quality general entertainment and interactive learning," said Walter Raizner, Member of the Board of Management responsible for Broadband/Fixed Network at Deutsche Telekom.
http://www.telekom.de

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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.com

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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 quarter to 34.1% in the third quarter.


"Signs that we are executing our plan and that our application-focused, network specialist approach to the market is on target, are evident in our fiscal third quarter results," said Gary Smith, Ciena's president and CEO.
http://www.ciena.com

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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 offering calls over the Internet on the E-Plus mobile network.


Skype said it has 2.8 million users in Germany.
http://www.skype.com
http://www.eplus.de

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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 base stations that promise to 'future-proof' operators' move to mobile WiMAX. The first dual mode CPEs have already been shipped.


Unwired Australia currently has some 28,000 subscribers. http://www.navini.com/http://www.unwired.com.au

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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 software on Enhanced Multimedia Platform MSM6550 and MSM6275 chipsets, both of which are compatible with CDMA2000 and WCDMA (UMTS) networks. Additional acoustic performance improvements to remove background noise using a dual-microphone spatial filter are planned for the Convergence Platform, achieved through the integration of another LifeVibes Voice product, the Noise Void background noise eliminator.
http://www.qualcomm.com/

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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."http://www.netgear.com

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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.com

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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, as well as technology from Lucent partners BroadSoft and Acme Packet. Lucent has provided Hanaro with broadband access, optical networking, switching since 1998 and now a VoIP solution for its network. Lucent Worldwide Services will provide professional services including engineering and installation for the deployment.
http://www.lucent.com
http://www.hanaro.com

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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 origin, with carrier-class solutions designed specifically for today's bi-directional IPTV networks. Verimatrix developed VCAS as a software-based content security solution built on the principles of Public Key Infrastructure (PKI) and X509 digital certificates combined with digital watermarks. VCAS inserts three different types of watermarks so that the complete history of a media file can be determined: within the primary data center, at each edge site (or point-of-presence), and a third watermark, called a user-specific watermark, on each client device.


The user-specific digital watermark is a machine readable electronic fingerprint, which is embedded in the video stream. The watermark is invisible to the naked eye, but survives the transition from digital to analog and also commonly-used transcoding methods. The absence of one or more watermarks means that acts of piracy are being conducted before the media file arrives at the individual's set-top box.


"The IPTV market has gained so much momentum that content providers are now requiring operators to employ proven security measures before granting rights to premium content. The addition of user-specific watermarking to pinpoint individuals attempting to steal content has gotten the attention of IPTV operators and studios," said Tom Munro, CEO of Verimatrix, who was appointed to the role in March 2005.


Verimatrix is also announcing its expansion into Europe with the opening of a sales and support office west of London. Verimatrix has an OEM relationship with Siemens AG.
http://www.verimatrix.com

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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 and chief executive officer of Harris. "Leitch has a veteran management team with strong domain knowledge and has launched important new products to meet the changing needs of the digital marketplace. Our combined products and systems serve every segment of the increasingly complex supply chain that brings digital audio, video and data content to consumers. This acquisition clearly establishes Harris as the company that broadcasters turn to as they upgrade their equipment and software systems to operate in a digital environment."http://www.leitch.com/http://www.harris.com

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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 to the affected areas, the availability of electric power, and, ultimately, the extent of physical damage encountered by BellSouth's repair teams. This includes damage to terminals, poles, cables and drop lines to customer homes. No update was available for Mississippi.


On Wednesday, BellSouth reported that 180 of its central office locations are currently running on generator due to a loss of commercial power in affected areas. BellSouth maintains generators in all of its central offices and back-up power sources to remote terminals. The back-up power to remote terminals lasts approximately 8 to 10 hours.


"This is not a normal hurricane restoration situation," said Bill Smith, Chief Technology Officer.


The company said it is coordinating with wireless providers to improve communications in the hardest-hit areas.


BellSouth has about 13,000 employees in Louisiana, Mississippi and Alabama who have been affected by the storm. To aid its employees, BellSouth will set up several "tent cities" in severely affected areas. These cities will provide BellSouth employees and their families with necessities such as food, shelter and clothing, in addition to cash loans and employee assistance programs.
http://www.bellsouth.com

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