Comcast Trims Guidance, Cites Challenging Market Conditions

Citing an increasingly challenging economic and competitive environment, Comcast trimmed its financial guidance.



Revenue Generating Units (RGUs) are now expected to increase by approximately 6 million to 57 million, versus previous guidance of approximately 6.5 million additions. This represents a significant increase compared to the 5 million RGUs added in 2006. Comcast said this RGU growth is expected to contribute to cable revenue growth for 2007 of approximately 11%, compared to previous guidance of at least 12%, cable operating cash flow growth of approximately 13% as compared to previous guidance of at least 14%, and consolidated operating cash flow growth of approximately 13% as compared to previous guidance of at least 13%.



Cable capital expenditures are expected to be approximately $6.0 billion for the year, a 5% increase from originally issued guidance, reflecting increased advanced digital set-top box purchases, the Company's digital acceleration program, expanded network enhancements and acquisition-related investments.



Reflecting the impact of all the items described above, Comcast's consolidated Free Cash Flow is expected to be approximately 80% of 2006, compared to previous estimates of 2007 consolidated Free Cash Flow of at least 90% of 2006.

http://www.comcast.com

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Cisco Unveils Role-Based Enterprise Security Architecture

Cisco announced a new role-based security architecture that integrates identity and role-based security measures for scaled implementation across enterprise networks.



The Cisco TrustSec architecture creates a trusted enterprise network encompassing Cisco switches along with Cisco routers and Cisco Unified Wireless Network controllers as a foundation for authenticating users, assigning roles, enforcing access policies and delivering integrity and confidentiality to network traffic. Key attributes of Cisco TrustSec include:

• Role-Aware Secure Campus Access Control: Anytime, anywhere access to the network is determined by an individual's role in the company. This "role aware" network helps enforce identity-based security policies pervasively across the network regardless of the network access method or device (wired, wireless, mobile, laptop, printer).



• Converged Policy Framework: Various authentication mechanics are converged into a single central policy engine that dynamically communicates across the entire switch infrastructure. This framework addresses the information technology (IT) challenge of managing policies consistently across the network by greatly simplifying the management of identity policies over disparate authentication methods.



• Pervasive Integrity and Confidentiality: Helps maintain the integrity and confidentiality of data as it moves through all points in the network. This safeguards against data leakage, supports regulatory requirements and increases the privacy of the network itself.

Cisco also announced industry relationships with Intel and Ixia to increase interoperability with this architecture.htt://www.cisco.com

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Cisco Names Ex-Motorola Exec as CTO

Cisco announced the appointment of Padmasree Warrior as chief technology officer (CTO). Warrior comes to Cisco from Motorola where she was executive vice president and chief technology officer. She was named Motorola's CTO in 2003 and held numerous positions at the company over her 23 year career, including corporate vice president and general manager of Motorola's energy systems group and corporate vice president and chief technology officer for Motorola's Semiconductor Products Sector (SPS). Warrior holds a M.S. degree in chemical engineering from Cornell University and a B.S. degree in chemical engineering from the Indian Institute of Technology (IIT) in New Delhi.

http://www.cisco.com

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Broadcom Spins New 65nm Chip for Satellite HD STBs

Broadcom announced a new single-channel, multi-format high definition (HD) satellite receiver chip for low cost satellite set-top boxes (STBs). The new satellite system-on-a-chip (SoC) uses 65 nanometer (nm) process technology and integrates a single tuner/demodulator, as well as the latest AVC (advanced video coding) decoder with support for multiple video formats. Broadcom said it has reduced power consumption by more than 50% over competing solutions while lowering system bill of materials (BOM) cost.



The new single-chip Broadcom BCM7325 satellite receiver enables unmatched functionality for direct broadcast satellite (DBS) set-top boxes and supports multiple formats including the DVB-S, DVB-S2 and 8PSK standards. http://www.broadcom.com

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XO Deploys Sonus' Network Border Switch

XO Communications has deployed Sonus' Network Border Switch (NBS), an IP-based solution that combines session control, PSTN gateway services and security into a single, high performance, highly scalable, carrier-class solution.



XO's IP voice network carried more than 15 billion minutes of IP voice traffic in 2006, and is currently carrying approximately 1.6 billion minutes of IP voice traffic every month.
http://www.sonusnet.com

• In August, Sonus unveiled the latest version of its NBS platform, available on both the GSX9000 and GSX 4000 platforms. The new version includes new features to support direct media, Denial of Service (DoS) protection for access networks and consumer VoIP deployments, advanced encryption support for call set-up, and additional Secure Real Time Protocol (RTP) to protect call content. In addition, the platform upgrade includes new features for advanced management and Operational System Support (OSS) functionality.

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Fujitsu and Taiwan's III Collaborate on WiMAX

Fujitsu and Taiwan's Institute for Information Industry (III), a non-governmental organization jointly sponsored by the Taiwan government and prominent private enterprises, agreed to establish a new company in Taiwan that will develop application platforms and provide engineering support based on WiMAX technology from Fujitsu and III.



The new joint venture, scheduled to be established in March 2008, will leverage Fujitsu's WiMAX SoC solutions and III's software technologies. It will develop WiMAX application platforms and provide them to ODM vendors in Taiwan. Since numerous global brand equipment vendors are using Taiwanese ODM vendors as manufacturing partners, it is expected that application platforms and localized engineering support provided by the new company will spur the rapid growth of the global WiMAX industry.



The new joint venture's initial target applications will include mobile WiMAX handsets, and femto/pico base stations.

http://www.fujitsu.com

http://www.iii.org.tw/

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Veraz Appoints VP of Marketing

Veraz Networks has appointed Dawn Hogh as its new Vice President of Marketing. Previously, she served as Vice President of Marketing and Business Development at OpVista. Ms. Hogh has also held senior executive positions at Ciena as Senior Vice President, Product Management and Marketing, Kestrel Solutions as Vice President, Marketing, and Lucent Technologies, as Vice President, Market Management.
http://www.veraznetworks.com/

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Japan's University of Tsukuba Deploys Juniper M120

Japan's University of Tsukuba has deployed Juniper Networks M120 multiservice edge router and Integrated Security Gateway (ISG) 2000 security appliance to connect to Japan's nationwide SINET3 research and education (R&E) network. The Juniper network infrastructure upgrades the University's campus connectivity to external networks with support for advanced IP services, more robust network security and 10 Gigabit Ethernet speeds.



The SINET3 infrastructure, using Juniper Networks T-series core routers, connects more than 700 universities and R&E institutions throughout Japan and links the country's R&E community with the rest of the world.



The Juniper Networks ISG 2000 is a high-performance integrated security gateway that provides firewall and IPSec VPN performance for the latest Internet applications and multimedia content. http://www.juniper.net

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Motorola Supplies Mobile WiMAX for Mobilink in Pakistan

Pakistan's Mobilink, an Orascom Telecom company, selected Motorola to deploy a WiMAX 802.16e-2005 access network. Under the agreement, Motorola will design, plan, deploy and optimize a WiMAX network for Mobilink, deliver integration and support services as well as indoor and outdoor customer premises equipment (CPE) units to enable faster adoption of the operator's WiMAX offering. Financial terms were not disclosed but the total amount of the purchase price will be financed by Motorola.



The new Motorola-based 802.16e-2005 WiMAX network will cover major metropolitan areas such as Lahore and Islamabad, enabling Mobilink to extend its current service offering beyond cellular and data offerings to high speed broadband and VoIP services for fixed line residential and business subscribers.



Motorola has been a long-term supplier to Mobilink.



This is Motorola's second WiMAX 802.16e network in Pakistan, with the first being a turnkey end-to-end nationwide WiMAX/IMS network awarded in 2006. This is also Motorola's fourth commercial WiMAX deployment in the Middle East and Africa region.



Motorola noted that it is currently involved in more than 55 WiMAX engagements, including 43 active trials.

http://www.motorola.com

• Motorola supplies WiMAX systems to Pakistan's Wateen Telecom.



• In November, Dragonwave announced that Mobilink, a subsidiary of Orascom Telecom Holding, has selected its Horizon Compact high capacity IP backhaul product to provide 270 wireless backhaul links for a new nationwide WiMAX Network in Pakistan. Initial rollout will begin in the cities of Islamabad, Karachi and Lahore. Financial terms were not disclosed. DragonWave's Horizon Compact product will be used to enable Mobilink to backhaul traffic from their nationwide WiMAX deployments with a native IP backhaul solution. DragonWave's solution is providing high capacity IP backhaul as a fiber replacement and an economical and efficient way to provide full coverage across the country.



• In September, Pakistan Mobile Communications Limited (Mobilink), the leading mobile operator in Pakistan and a wholly owned subsidiary of Orascom Telecom Holding, awarded a contract to Alcatel-Lucent participate in deploying Pakistan's first live network based on the Universal 802.16e-2005 WiMAX solution. The network will cover major cities in Pakistan, including Karachi, the nation's financial capital and the major business center. Based on the latest IEEE 802.16e-2005 standards (also called Rev-e), the new WiMAX network will be deployed in the 3.5 GHz spectrum.

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Mexico's Federal Electricity Commission Leases Fiber to AXTEL

Mexico's Federal Electricity Commission (CFE) has agreed to lease its fiber optic network to AXTEL, a fixed-line integrated telecommunications competitor in Mexico. The deal gives AXTEL the ability to provide additional virtual private network (VPN) and data services via CFE's extensive fiber optic network.



AXTEL provides local and long distance telephony, broadband Internet, data and built-to-suit communications solutions in 27 cities and long distance telephone services to business and residential customers in over 200 cities.

http://www.axtel.com.mx

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Blackwave Raises $16 Million for Internet Video Storage

Blackwave (formerly Acinion), a start-up based in Acton, Mass., raised $16 million in Series B financing for its storage and delivery infrastructure solutions for Internet video. The company claims its infrastructure technology increases video delivery efficiency by a factor of ten while dramatically reducing the cost of content delivery. Blackwave plans to roll out its Internet video storage and delivery systems in the first quarter of 2008. Product details have not been disclosed.



The new financing was led by Sigma Partners and joined by both of its Series A financing investors -- Globespan Capital Partners and IDG Ventures Boston.



Blackwave CEO Robert Rizika noted that the company's solutions "take a smarter approach to Internet video storage by focusing on access. By managing content at the title level, we are able to increase performance ten-fold in the existing system footprint."http://www.blackwave.tv

• Blackwave is headed by Robert Rizika, who previously served as Senior Vice President, Worldwide Sales & Entertainment Strategy for Macrovision. Its technical team is led by David Carver, previously Director of Research and Development at SeaChange International from 2000 to 2004, and Branko Gerovac, who was Vice President of Research and Chief Technology Officer for SeaChange International from 1999 to .

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ADC Introduces 1x64 Splitter for FTTx

ADC introduced a 1x64 splitter module that allows carriers to double the number of customers served from a single splitter and reduce the feeder fibers needed for the network. The new splitter is designed for all indoor and outdoor applications in FTTX networks and fits into a centralized splitting passive optical network (PON) architecture.



The 1x64 splitter is designed using ADC's patented OmniReach plug-and-play module that reduces installation and service turn-up time. Additionally, the new module offers improved performance with low insertion loss and meets both Telcordia GR-1209 and GR-1221 standards.

http://www.adc.com

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Verizon FiOS TV Adds HD VOD, 1,000 Title Expected in 08

Verizon has begun offering high-definition video-on-demand in many of its FiOS TV markets. HD VOD is now available over the FiOS TV systems in Richmond and Virginia Beach, Va.; Tampa, Fla.; Fort Wayne, Ind.; and Pittsburgh. Further HD VOD rollouts are expected in in the Washington, D.C., metro area, Massachusetts and Rhode Island; and to Verizon's remaining FiOS TV markets next year.



The initial HD VOD library contains around 75 HD titles, including a mix of free programs and recently released blockbusters. The company said it hopes to offer 1,000 HD VOD by the end of next year.



http://www.verizon.com

• In November 2007, Verizon announced plans for a fivefold increase in the number of HD channels carried by its FiOS TV service. In the spring of 2008, Verizon will begin expanding its HD lineup as well as the sports and multicultural program offerings on FiOS TV. Verizon initially will double the current number of HD channels, on a market-by-market basis, to more than 60, including additional sports channels. Verizon expects to have more than 150 HD channels by year-end 2008 as it continues to add to its HD lineup and programmers launch new channels. The company also will add standard-definition sports, multicultural and other programming during the year.

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France Telecom Confirms 2007 Financial Targets

France Telecom confirmed that it achieved its financial targets for the year, with 2007 organic cash flow rising by 10% to 7.5 billion euros. The following targets have also been confirmed: stabilization of the Gross Operating Margin rate compared with 2006; and maintaining the rate of investment at about 13% of revenues.



For 2008, France Telecom said its objective is to generate organic cash flow of at least 7.5 billion euros. In the context of growth in Group revenues in line with that of its markets, this objective is based on stabilizing the Gross Operating Margin rate compared with 2007 and maintaining investment expenditure at about 13% of revenues.



The company also noted that Orange has sold 30,000 iPhones in the first 5 days of product availability in France. Of these, 48% of iPhone sales have led to a new Orange line subscription, and 80% of customers sign up for a dedicated "Orange for iPhone" plan at the same time.



In a statement, Didier Lombard, Chairman and CEO of France Telecom, said: "France Telecom is clearly a driving force in the revolution that is underway in the world of telecommunications, characterized by a proliferation of players and uses increasingly focused on greater convergence."http://www.francetelecom.com

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BT to Acquire Singapore's Frontline Technologies for IT Integration

BT plans to acquire Frontline Technologies, one of the leading providers of end-to-end information technology (IT) services within the Asia Pacific region, for approximately S$202 million (US$139 million. Frontline provides IT consulting, infrastructure services, systems integration and IT outsourcing to local, regional and multinational customers. The company, which is listed on the main board of the Singapore Exchange, has operations in China, Hong Kong, India, Indonesia, Malaysia, Singapore, the Philippines, Taiwan and Thailand.

.

http://www.btplc.com

http://www.frontline.com.sg/

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India's BSNL Deploys Redback for Up to 2.5 Million Broadband Subscribers

India's Bharat Sanchar Nigam Ltd (BSNL) will use Redback's SmartEdge family of multi-service edge routers to deliver broadband services for up to 2.5 million business and residential users. Under the new deal, BSNL plans to deploy Redback's SmartEdge 800 multi-service edge routers for multiple broadband services to more than 200,000 broadband customers in Bangalore and Chennai, India. By the end of 2007, Redback will help BSNL add more than 2.5 million broadband subscribers. Over the next three years, BSNL hopes to sign up to six million broadband subscribers.



Separately, Redback noted that it now manages more than 50 percent of India's 2.4+ million fixed broadband subscribers.



In addition, Redback announced the hiring of Krishna Kumar Peringhat as a South Asia Country Manager. Peringhat was previously with UTStarcom India Telecom (Pvt) Limited, where he held different sales and product management leadership positions. He also previously worked in sales and product management for Nortel Networks, in both India and the United States.htt://www.redback.com

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