Wednesday, August 15, 2007

Verizon Wholesale Offers Automated Optical Circuit Provisioning in NYC

Verizon launched a "Bandwidth on Demand" optical service in the New York City metropolitan region for wholesale customers. Offered through Verizon Partner Solutions, the new Bandwidth on Demand service promises to reduce the time it takes to establish DS-3 circuits as well as SONET and Ethernet circuits from weeks to hours and, in some cases, minutes. Verizon said it has modified its traditional ordering-and-billing processes to accommodate the flexibility of Bandwidth on Demand.



The new service leverages an intelligent control plane in the optical network. A request for a new circuit can be forwarded to a single control-plane- enabled network element, eliminating the need to perform a number of manual steps at multiple locations, as previously required. Instead, the request is routed to the appropriate end points of the proposed circuit, and intermediate control-plane network elements are queried for available bandwidth to establish the end-to-end circuit. Once the circuit path is successfully determined, cross-connects are automatically established in each network element, equipment options are provisioned, and service is generally established within a matter of hours, if not minutes.



Specifically, Verizon's Bandwidth on Demand is an implementation of an Optical Transport Network (OTN) architecture, which is an end-to-end all optical transport network including the loop and Interoffice Facility (IOF)) and Next Generation Add Drop Multiplexer (NGADM) network elements with control plane functionality. The implementation is based on ITU-T G.807 and G.8080 architectural guidelines.



Once an initial circuit for the wholesale customer is established, Verizon is allowing the customer to order and be billed for bandwidth that remains entirely on the Bandwidth on Demand network when they require it for as short a period as one day. Previously, customers had to purchase a dedicated, private-line facility over a longer period of time.



In the near future, Verizon Partner Solutions also plans to offer what is known as a dynamic reroute option. With this option, single-path designs would be used through the network, with the ability to automatically and dynamically reroute data and voice traffic around a problem in the circuit's path.

http://www.verizon.com/wholesale/bandwidth

Thomson Presents New MPEG2 Decoding Chip for STBs

Thomson is introducing a new decoding chip for MPEG2 standard definition (SD) applications at IBC 2007. Equipped with five outputs and advanced security features, the IC is optimized for Personal Video Recording (PVR) and Digital Video Recording (DVR) applications including satellite, IP and cable set-top boxes. The chip offers dual USB 2.0 and Serial Advanced Technology Attachment (SATA) interfaces. An Ethernet interface provides access to a home network or shared storage devices.
http://www.thomson.net

Covad Wireless Announces New 2.0 Mbps Service

Covad Wireless announced the availability of a "Super-T" 2.0 Mbps service that is competitively priced with traditional landline T-1 services while offering up to 33% more speed. Pricing for the Super-T 2.0 starts at $399 for a three-year contract term and goes up to $429 for a one-year contract.



Covad Wireless serves 3,600 small and medium-sized businesses in the San Francisco Bay Area, the greater Los Angeles area, the Chicago suburbs, and Las Vegas.

http://www.covadwireless.com

NextWave Releases WiMAX Chipset

NextWave Broadband began shipping samples of its NW1000 Series WiMAX chipset, comprised of the NW1100 baseband system-on-a-chip (SOC), matched NW1200 multi-band RFIC, and associated system software, to consumer electronics and mobile device manufacturers. The chipset is based on the 802.16e standard and supports the major worldwide WiMAX spectrum allocations of 2.3 GHz (including the WCS band in the U.S.), 2.5 GHz (including the EBS/BRS band in the U.S.), and 3.4 -- 3.8 GHz.

http://www.nextwave.com


Narus Elects Charles Picasso to Board

Narus elected Charles Picasso to its Board of Directors as non-executive Chairman. Picasso is the retired president and chief operating officer (COO) for Information Handling Services (IHS), a leader in developing and implementing engineering, technical and regulatory information solutions for customers in more than one-hundred countries. Prior to IHS, Picasso was COO of Digital Island Inc., where he introduced hosting services in key markets. Mr. Picasso has also served as the senior vice president for AT&T Global Information Solutions and president and chief executive officer for AT&T Istel, managing AT&T's professional services organization in Europe.

http://www.narus.com

Riverbed Appoints Mark Floyd to Board

Riverbed Technology has appointed Mark Floyd to its board of directors. The addition of Floyd expands Riverbed's board to eight directors. Floyd, 51, served as the CEO of Entrisphere, a communications equipment company that was acquired by Ericsson in February 2007. Floyd also served as CEO of Efficient Networks, which he led for nearly seven years until its acquisition by Siemens in 2001. Floyd currently serves on the board of directors of Tekelec and Carrier Access. He also serves as a Venture Partner at El Dorado Ventures.

http://www.riverbed.com

Zarlink Sells its Equity Interest in Mitel Networks for $12.9 Million

Zarlink Semiconductor has sold its equity interest in Mitel Networks for US$12.9 million, following the approval of the merger of Mitel and Inter-Tel. Zarlink obtained ownership of 10 million common shares of Mitel through the sale of its Systems Business in Fiscal 2001.

http://www.zarlink.com

Sprint to Build "XOHM" WiMAX Brand

Sprint will market its upcoming WiMAX services under the "XOHM" (pronounced ZOAM) brand. A soft launch of the WiMAX network is expected by the end of 2007 in the Chicago and Baltimore/Washington markets. XOHM commercial services are expected to be available beginning in the first half of 2008. Sprint expects that its WiMAX services will deliver speeds up to five times faster than current third-generation wireless devices.



At a company sponsored Technology Summit, Sprint executives outlined plans for the coming WiMAX launch and demonstrated the "Pivot" Sprint wireless services that are now being marketed by joint venture partner cable companies. Pivot service is now available in 20 markets and the company plans to extend it to at least 40 markets by year-end.




Barry West, President of 4G Mobile Broadband and Sprint's Chief Technology Officer, said Sprint continues to seek a broad WiMAX ecosystem of chipsets, devices, networks, services/content and distribution partners. West said that ecosystem partners have committed to embed 50 million WiMAX chipsets in devices.



Under its planned network sharing agreement with Clearwire, which was announced last month, Sprint Nextel currently expects the network buildout to reach 100 million people by the end of 2008 with Sprint providing coverage to 70 million and Clearwire to 30 million people. Sprint's coverage is expected to grow to approximately 125 million people by the end of 2010.



Sprint Nextel also announced updated financial targets for its WiMAX business, reflecting final execution of the agreement with Clearwire:

  • The company expects to generate between $2B and $2.5B in revenues for the fiscal year 2010 with more than 80% generated from new lines of business.


  • The company expects that the WiMAX initiative will be positive for Operating Income Before Depreciation and Amortization (OIBDA) in 2010.


  • Sprint Nextel expects to invest approximately $2.5 billion in capital for WiMAX through year-end 2008. Beyond 2008, network build is expected to be increasingly success-based. The company currently expects that extending its coverage to approximately 125 million people by year-end 2010 would require an additional capital expenditure of approximately $2.5 billion.


  • The WiMAX initiative is expected to generate positive Free Cash Flow beginning in 2011 as the annual OIBDA contribution is expected to exceed capital expenditures, working capital and other cash requirements.
http://www.sprint.com
  • In July 2007, Sprint announced plans to work with Google to spur new mobility and location-assisted services over its forthcoming WiMAX network. Sprint's WiMAX network bandwidth, location detection and presence capabilities will be matched with Google's communications suite - Google Apps - that combines the Gmail, Google Calendar and Google Talk services. Sprint also confirmed plans to provide open standard APIs (application programming interfaces) to its go-to-market partners and the Internet developer community to create customized products for browsable devices, facilitating the delivery of personalized and interactive services to consumer, business, public safety and government customers. These services will be available in a variety of WiMAX embedded devices, including connection cards, stand-alone modems, laptop computers and consumer electronic devices such as personal media players, mobile Internet devices, gaming devices and phones. Eventually, the WiMAX service will be available in vehicles for navigation information, news and entertainment.



Skype Suffers Widespread Outage Attributed to Flaw in Client Software

Skype suffered a widespread outage on Thursday which the company attributed to a deficiency in an algorithm within its peer-to-peer networking software. The algorithm controls the interaction between the user's own Skype client and the rest of the Skype network.



Skype said its system had not crashed nor was it the victim of a cyber attack. Initial estimates were 12 to 24 hours to restore service.

http://www.skype.com

SingTel Reaches 438,000 Broadband Lines, 54% Local Share

Singapore Telecommunications Limited (SingTel) reported Q2 operating revenue for the quarter amounted to S$3.57 billion, up 11% compared with the corresponding period last year. This was achieved on the back of 10% revenue growth from the Singapore operations and a stronger Australian dollar. Some highlights:

  • For SingTel, data and Internet revenue grew 13% to S$335 million, driven by higher corporate data spending and increased Internet revenues.


  • Internet revenue for the quarter grew 14 percent to S$99 million as broadband subscription continued to increase.


  • As at 30-June-2007, there were 438,000 broadband lines, an increase of 4.0 per cent or 17,000 lines from a quarter ago. Compared to a year ago, the increase was 66,000 lines or 18 per cent.


  • Broadband market share in Singapore as of 30-June-2007 was 53.7 percent, up slightly from 53.4 per cent a quarter ago.


  • SingTel's Wireless@SG service added 284,000 customers, of which 141,000 do not currently subscribe to SingNet's residential broadband service. To date, SingTel has expanded its wireless coverage to some 1,500 hotspots.


  • Prepaid mobile share as at 30 June 2007 grew 2.8 percentage points to 31.7 per cent -- a significant increase in a highly competitive market.


  • The number of 3G subscribers shot up by 78,000 or 17 per cent from a quarter ago to 544,000. This represented 42 per cent of SingTel's postpaid mobile base as at 30 June 2007 as compared to 37 per cent a quarter ago.


  • The aggregate number of mobile subscriber for the SingTel Group reached 136.35 million as at 30 June 2007.
http://www.singtel.com

DIRECTV Partners With CURRENT for Broadband Over Powerline

DIRECTV announced a wholesale distribution agreement that enables it to offer its customers CURRENT's BPL (Broadband Over Powerline) high-speed Internet service and VoIP services. DIRECTV customers will be able to access the Internet by plugging a BPL modem into virtually any outlet in their home.



Under the deal, DIRECTV will have access to CURRENT's BPL network, initially in the Dallas/Fort Worth BPL network that will cover approximately 1.8 million homes and businesses over the next several years. DIRECTV will be able to market a bundle that includes DIRECTV high-speed Internet and VoIP services to its residential customers. In addition, the agreement provides DIRECTV the ability to add other geographic markets as CURRENT builds out its network.



The companies said the access speeds would be comparable to today cable modem offerings.

http://www.directv.com

http://www.currentgroup.com
  • CURRENT's investors include Duke Energy Corporation, EarthLink, EnerTech Capital, Google, Goldman, Sachs & Co., General Electric Company, Hearst Corporation, Liberty Associated Partners (an investment partnership between Liberty Media Corporation and the Berkman family) and TXU Corp, among others.