NTT DoCoMo Opens RFP for "Super 3G" Equipment for 100 Mbps Downlinks Speed

NTT DoCoMo is accepting proposals from suppliers for development of equipment for "Super 3G" base stations and handsets.



"Super 3G" is expected to provide downlink data rates of over 100 Mbps and uplink data rates of over 50 Mbps, low-latency data transmission, and improved spectrum efficiency. NTT DoCoMo said Super 3G features highly advanced versions of high-speed downlink packet access (HSDPA) and high-speed uplink packet access (HSUPA), which are W-CDMA packet transmission technologies standardized by the 3rd Generation Partnership Project (3GPP).



The 3GPP, a telecommunications standards body, has been in discussion to standardize Super 3G under the name Long Term Evolution (LTE).



DoCoMo, aiming to secure prolonged and efficient use of 3G spectrum resources, is an active member in the LTE discussions. DoCoMo believes Super 3G will allow the company to make a smooth transition to 4G in the future.



The 3GPP plans to release LTE's final specs in 2007, but has completed most of the basic system designs at its June meeting. DoCoMo is thus set to begin developing equipment for practical application of the Super 3G technology.



DoCoMo will select one or more suppliers for Super3G Mobile Stations and Super3G Base Transceiver Stations around October and aims to complete the technology with the selected suppliers before the end of 2009.



The RFP is open until 5 pm, August 23, 2006 (Japan standard time). RFP details (in English) are online.

http://www.nttdocomo.co.jp/english/corporate/procure/offer.html

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Newly Formed BT iNet Targets UK's LAN Market

BT announced the launch of BT iNet, a new venture formed from the integration of BT TNS and BT SkyNet, specialist providers that were acquired by BT in 2005 to enhance its capabilities in the UK's Local Area Networking (LAN) and convergent solutions markets.



BT iNet offers LAN, IP telephony (IPT), wireless networking, managed services and security services to corporate and government organisations throughout the UK. Dave Carrington, former managing director of BT SkyNet, has been appointed managing director of BT iNet and will be responsible for overseeing the company's revenue growth and alignment with BT's other distribution channels. Mike Harris, former managing director of BT TNS, will move to BT Global Services to join the team responsible for managing BT's US$1 billion global relationship with Cisco Systems.


"The launch of BT iNet is a major milestone in BT's long-term strategy to be the leading provider of IP-based network services in the UK," said Tom Craig, president, IP Networking, BT Global Services.

http://www.btplc.com

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Verizon to Spin Off Domestic Print and Internet Yellow Pages

Verizon Communications filed a statement with the Securities and Exchange Commission in a step toward a proposed spin-off of Verizon's domestic print and Internet yellow pages directories to its stockholders. Verizon said it has not yet made a final decision on whether a spin-off will occur, but the company continues to expect to complete a disposition of its directories publishing operations -- which could include the spin-off, a sale or other transaction, or combination of these alternatives -- by the end of 2006. In December 2005, Verizon had announced that it was reviewing strategic alternatives for these operations.



A newly formed wholly owned subsidiary, currently named Verizon Directories Disposition Corporation (Directories Corp.), is headquartered in Dallas and has approximately 7,100 employees. Before the proposed spin-off, Directories Corp. would be renamed. After the proposed spin-off, Directories Corp. and its subsidiaries would continue to operate Verizon's current domestic directories publishing business.

http://www.verizon.com

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Verimatrix Supplies Content Protection for Moscow IPTV

Verimatrix, a supplier of IPTV content protection systems, is working with Russian systems integrator CTI to secure the content of Central Telegraph's IPTV service for Moscow and the Moscow region. The Verimatrix Content Authority System (VCAS), a software-based content protection system, enables Central Telegraph to satisfy all the security demands of content owners when obtaining rights to early-release movies, popular series and other premium content, such as sports coverage.



The service roll-out, which will be made available to Central Telegraph's 60,000 broadband Internet subscribers, will be completed by October 2006. The IPTV service will offer interactive television services such as Video-on-Demand (VOD), premium channels, information and interactive services, as well as traditional broadcast and multicast TV and radio channels.



VCAS is a software-based system that is built on the principles of public key infrastructure (PKI) and X.509 digital certificate
http://www.verimatrix.comhttp://www.cnt.ru

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PMC-Sierra's CFO to Step Down

Alan Krock, Vice President and CFO of PMC-Sierra, will be leaving the company for personal reasons following a reasonable transitional period. Mr. Krock joined the Company in his capacity as VP Finance and CFO in November 2002.



PMC-Sierra also provided an update on its revenue outlook for the second quarter of 2006. For the three-month period ending July 2nd, the company's revenue is expected to be at the mid-point of the revenue range provided during the company's webcast conference call on April 20, 2006 following its first quarter earnings results. At that time, the revenue outlook provided for the second quarter of 2006 was $108 million to $112 million, excluding revenues from the acquisition of Passave Inc. that closed on May 4th, 2006. In addition, it is expected that PMC-Sierra will receive revenues of approximately $8.5 million to $9.0 million from the Passave acquisition in the second quarter of 2006. Full results are expected on July 20th, 2006.

http://www.pmc-sierra.com

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European Commission Cites Progress in Enforcing EU Telecom Rules

The European Commission has closed another 18 cases as Member States have taken steps to comply with EU telecoms rules. These steps range from enabling national telecoms regulatory authorities to promote competition, to protecting telephone users' privacy.



At the same time, five new cases have been opened, four of which concern the non-conformity of national "must-carry" rules with the EU "Universal Service" Directive in Belgium (Wallonia and Brussels), the Netherlands and Finland. In addition, pending proceedings against three Member States (Finland, Latvia and Poland) have been carried forward. European Court of Justice proceedings are being brought against Poland and Latvia, for failing to ensure the publication of a comprehensive directory and a comprehensive inquiry service. Finally, Finland faces infringement proceedings for failing to ensure that its national telecoms authorities have sufficient powers to regulate the market for terminating fixed to mobile calls.



"I am satisfied that national measures to enforce EU telecoms rules are getting results", said Information Society and Media Commissioner Viviane Reding. "It is good news for consumers that comprehensive directory and enquiry services are being made available in almost all Member States. Many users are also now availing themselves of the possibility, foreseen in EU rules, to keep their numbers when switching to cheaper operators. However, we remain vigilant and are launching new infringement proceedings whenever necessary."http://europa.eu.int

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