Infineon and Kineto Test IMS over UMA

Infineon Technologies and Kineto Wireless demonstrated the delivery of several IMS-based applications using Unlicensed Mobile Access (UMA) technology to show the seamless handover between mobile and Wi-Fi access networks.IMS is the open, standardized IP multimedia and telephony core network specification for mobile and fixed operators that is defined by 3GPP (3rd Generation Partnership Project). UMA is the 3GPP global standard for Mobile/Wi-Fi convergence that enables mobile subscribers to roam and handover between cellular networks and WLANs using...

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Deutsche Telekom Faces Major Staff Reductions, 32,000 Cuts in 3 Years

Deutsche Telekom announced a major staff reduction program that will see employment levels fall by 32,000 workers in Germany over the next three years. This includes about 7,000 employees whose positions will be outsourced from DT subsidiary Vivento on a permanent basis. These employees will no longer work for Deutsche Telekom, but for other companies. One example of this are the Vivento Call Centers. While a further 25,000 employees are to leave the Group, around 6,000 new staff are to be employed. The new positions might include young technical...

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Tropic Networks Names David Orr as Chairman

Tropic Networks, a developer of Wavelength Tracker powered DWDM systems, named David Orr as is Executive Chairman. Before joining Tropic Networks, Mr. Orr was an operating partner at JP Morgan Partners. Previously, he served as CEO and President of Alcatel North America from 1991 to 1997, CEO and President, Broadband Technologies from 1998 to 2001, and CEO and President of Metro-Optix, which was acquired by Xtera Communications in 2003.http://www.tropicnetworks.comTropic Networks, which is based in Ottawa, Ontario, Canada, developed a Reconfigurable...

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Pandatel Adds 10 Gbps Modules to WDM Platform

Pandatel AG introduced a 10 Gbps DWDM-module for its YUMIX 4ooo optical transmission platform. The 10 Gbps module is based on XFP technology and enables DWDM technology over 40 and 80 km. The protocols provided by YUMIX 10G modules are 10 Gigabit Ethernet, OC-192, and STM-64. http://www.pandatel....

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Comcast Sees Growth in VOD & Premium Services, Tops 8 Million Broadband Users

Citing strong consumer demand for new digital features including Comcast ON DEMAND, HDTV programming and digital video recorders (DVRs), Comcast Cable reported revenue of $5.3 billion for the quarter ended September 30, 2005, representing a 9.8% increase from the third quarter of 2004. Video revenue increased $184 million or 5.7% to $3.4 billion in the third quarter of 2005, driven by higher monthly revenue per basic subscriber and a 12.4% increase in the number of digital customers. Comcast Cable added 307,000 new digital customers in the third...

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ntl Cites Demand for Triple Play Services

ntl reported Q3 revenue of GBP 482.7 million, down 3.2% compared to the prior year period due to lower business revenue. Consumer revenue in the third quarter was GBP 377.5 million, with strong broadband revenue offsetting lower revenue in telephony and TV. Net residential customers increased by 53,900 (41,400 on-net) to end the quarter with 3.32 million customers (3.10 million on-net), a 6.9% increase over Q3 2004 (2.8% on-net).ntl added 140,500 net RGUs (121,300 on-net), ending the quarter with 6.32 million RGUs (6.09 million on-net), a 7.0%...

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ECI Telecom Reports Q3 Revenue of $162 Million, up 26% yoy

ECI Telecom reported Q3 2005 revenue of $162 million, a 26% increase from the $128 million recorded in the third quarter of 2004 and up 6% compared to the $153 million recorded in the second quarter of 2005. Net income for the third quarter of 2005 reached $6.2 million, or $0.05 per share on a fully diluted basis, compared with third quarter 2004 net income of $6.0 million, or $0.05 per share and compared with $15.6 million, or $0.13 per share, in the second quarter of 2005. Optical Networks: Revenues for the Optical Networks Division totaled...

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Mexico's MCM Deploys Juniper/Lucent for IP/MPLS

MCM Telecom has deployed Juniper Networks' M-series Multiservice Edge routers to upgrade its IP/MPLS routers in Mexico City. The carrier operates metropolitan fiber optic networks in Mexico City, Monterrey, and Guadalajara and offers a complete range of voice and data services to businesses. Services include IP-based voice solutions, business-focused high capacity data services, and point-to-point and point-to-multipoint optical network transport.Working with Lucent, MCM has deployed Juniper Networks M10i and M7i Multiservice Edge Routers. ht...

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HNS Acquires Additional Capacity Aboard SES AMERICOM AMC-9 Satellite

Hughes Network Systems HNS has contracted for additional transponders aboard the AMC-9 satellite to serve its growing base of DIRECWAY broadband satellite customers throughout North America. SES AMERICOM also announced its full support of HNS's new DIRECWAY DW7000 broadband platform and the global Internet Protocol over Satellite (IPoS) standard on which it is based, as part of an ongoing effort to deliver high-speed, high quality satellite connections virtually anywhere.Under the multi-year agreement, HNS, the world's largest provider of satellite...

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SBC to Use IBM Servers in Project Lightspeed

Speaking before a group of industry analysts hosted by IBM in New York,Andy Geisse, chief information officer, SBC Services, confirmed that the next phase of Project Lightspeed - a controlled market entry - is set to begin around the end of 2005/early 2006 in neighborhoods in San Antonio, Texas with a limited number of subscribers. SBC companies expect to scale the offerings beginning in mid-2006 - adding features and functionality and entering more markets across the companies' 13-state operating region.Some other updates on Project Lightspeed:IBM...

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FCC Asserts its Authority over Local Video Franchises

With the goal of spurring competition with cable companies and accelerating broadband rollouts, the FCC initiated its rulemaking process to address the issue of local franchising for video services. The FCC has tentatively concluded that the Communications Act prohibits local authorities from refusing to award a franchise, and that it regulates a broader range of behaviors. The FCC believes this legislation empowers it "to take steps appropriate to ensure that the local franchising process does not serve as an unreasonable barrier to entry for...

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FCC Modifies Digital Tuner Requirements to Advance DTV Transition

FCC amended its rules to move the date on which all TV receivers must include the capability to receive digital television signals forward four months to March 1, 2007 and to apply the tuner requirement to all television receivers, regardless of their size. This action is intended to further the Commission's efforts to ensure that consumers are able to receive off-the-air digital broadcast television services as soon as possible. The digital television reception requirement, which is also often termed the DTV tuner requirement, is being implemented...

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Route1 Introduces USB Thin-Client MobiKEY for Remote Computing

Toronto-based Route1 introduced its "MobiKEY USB thin-client for instant, secure remote computing. The device plugs into a USB port to turn any Internet-connected Microsoft Windows computer into a secure Virtual Private Office, with computing, applications and data located elsewhere behind a firewall.The MobiKEY device auto-runs from on-board read-only memory and its SIM Smart Card authenticate users with Route1's MobiNET service, which allows office...

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FolderShare for File Synchronization Service

Microsoft has acquired FolderShare, a start-up owned and operated by Austin, Texas-based ByteTaxi, for an undisclosed sum. FolderShare is a service that allows you to securely keep files synchronized between your devices, share files with friends or colleagues, and remotely download your files from any web browser. The FolderShare service also enables private, remote access to customers' own files from any Web browser. http://www.microsoft.comhttps://www.foldershare....

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DIRECTV Adds 263,000 Subscribers in Q3

DIRECTV added 1.1 million (gross) and 263,000 (net) subscribers in Q3, demonstrating continued consumer demand for its satellite TV service. The subscriber additions were slightly lower than the same period a year ago primarily due to more stringent credit policies implemented during Q2 2005. Average monthly churn in the quarter increased to 1.89% principally due to higher involuntary churn from customers with lower credit scores attained in 2004 and early 2005, and a more competitive marketplace. After accounting for this churn, DIRECTV U.S. added...

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Level 3 Provides Fiber Backbone for DirecTV's HD Launch

DIRECTV selected Level 3 Communications to provide a nationwide fiber backbone supporting its expansion into HDTV. Financial terms were not disclosed.Under the agreement, Level 3 will upgrade and augment the DIRECTV backbone to support and aggregate HDTV signals from local markets for rebroadcast to DIRECTV customers. Level 3 has worked with DIRECTV since 1999 and currently provides a substantial portion of DIRECTV's existing private line backbone that supports its standard definition television (SDTV) services.DIRECTV has initially acquired Level...

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IBM Harnesses "Slow Light" for Optical Communications

Researchers at IBM were able to slow light down to less than 1/300th of its usual speed by directing it down a carefully designed channel of perforated silicon called a "photonic crystal waveguide." The photonic crystal waveguide is a thin slab of silicon punctuated by regular arrays of holes that scatter light. The pattern and size of the holes gives the material a very high refractive index -- the higher the refractive index, the slower the light....

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Microsoft to Acquire media-streams.com for VoIP

Microsoft agreed to acquire media-streams.com AG, a software company based in Zurich, Switzerland, that develops VoIP applications. Financial terms were not disclosed.Microsoft said it plans to apply media-streams.com's technology, people and intellectual property to accelerate the delivery of its unified communications vision, bringing together various modes of communication (email; instant messaging; short message service; voice/telephony; and audio, video and Web conferencing). The technology will help Microsoft deliver an improved integrated...

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