EC Telecom Rules: More Progress on Emergency 112 Caller Location Info

The European Commission cited progress on the issue of European emergency number 112 caller location information. Following action from the European Commission, caller location information for mobile calls is now available in Latvia and that the issue is being tackled with urgency by the authorities in Poland. The issue of caller location information in these two countries will no longer be taken to the European Court of Justice. There are five Member States in which caller location information for 112 calls from mobile phones is not yet available....

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Europe's GÉANT Extends Global Connections

GÉANT, the advanced pan-European backbone network connecting National Research and Education Networks (NRENs) across the continent, is now linking up to similar networks world-wide with the aim of creating a single global research network. GÉANT currently connects 34 national research networks using multiple 10 Gbps wavelengths and linking some 3,500 universities and their 30 million users. High-speed links will now be established with regional...

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Mario Rosso appointed new CEO of Tiscali

Tiscali announced the appointment of Mario Rosso as its new CEO, replacing Tommaso Pompei, who has stepped down after two years at the post. The company also confirmed its intention to pursue a strategic plan in light of the ongoing consolidation process in the telecommunication arena in Europe.http://www.tiscali....

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Harris Stratex to Resell Brix Networks' Service Assurance Products

Harris Stratex Networks has agreed to resell Brix Networks' converged service assurance products as part of its NetBoss network management offering. The two companies have also integrated Brix Networks' BrixWorx analysis and correlation software engine with the NetBoss product suite. The combined BrixWorx/NetBoss offering provides IP service and network performance visibility, network management, and service impact analysis - plus automated service level agreement (SLA) capabilities.http://www.brixnet....

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Covad Shareholders Approve Buyout by Platinum Equity

Shareholders in Covad Communications holding a majority of the company's outstanding shares approved Covad's acquisition by an affiliate of Platinum Equity for $1.02 per share in cash. The deal remains subject to the satisfaction of customary closing conditions, including approval of the Federal Communications Commission and state public utility commissions in many of the states in which Covad operates. Covad confirmed that the required FCC and state commission filings have been completed and that it is awaiting approval from the FCC and two remaining...

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Akamai Wins Patent Case Against Limelight

The U.S. District Court of Massachusetts ruled in favor of Akamai in a patent infringement case against Limelight Networks. Both companies operate content delivery networks. The jury awarded Akamai $45,526,946 in damages, plus interest, for infringing U.S. Patent No. 6,108,703. http://www.limelightnetworks.c...

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FCC Publishes Studies on Spectrum Management Issues

The FCC's Office of Strategic Planning and Policy Analysis (OSP) released three working paperson two important spectrum management issues:Working Paper #41, "Enhancing Spectrum's Value Via Market-informed Congestion Etiquettes"and Working Paper #42, "Modeling the Efficiency of Spectrum Designated to License Use andUnlicensed Operations," examine ways in which spectrum designated to licensed and unlicensed use canbe more efficiently used. Under the examined environment, theory predicts that society leaves half of the value it canreceive from spectrum...

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Tata Consultancy Services to provide R&D for Nokia Siemens Networks

Nokia Siemens Networks announced a multimillion Euro outsourcing agreement with Tata Consultancy Services (TCS) to transfer product engineering and R&D services as well as parts of the Operations and Business Software (OBS) business unit activities from Nokia Siemens Networks to TCS. The reassigned parts belong to the Nokia Siemens Networks development center in Düsseldorf, Germany, including 90 employees who will be transferred to TCS as part of this engagement.Nokia Siemens Networks said the transfer of R&D capabilities to trusted business...

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Telefónica Reaches 169 million Wireless, 10.2 million Retail Subscribers

Telefónica reported strong 2007 financial results driven by an expanding customer base (+12.5%), revenues (+6.7%), OIBDA (+19.3%), OI (+42.1%) and net profit (+42.9%), all up compared with 2006. Telefónica had a total of 228 million accesses, of which 169 million were wireless telephony accesses and 10.2 million retail broadband accesses.Telefónica has also improved its shareholder remuneration policy and launched a new share buyback program for 100 million shares up to first half of 2009. This will be complemented by a dividend payment of 1 euro...

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Soapstone Releases Beta Version of its Control Plane Software

Soapstone Networks, which is a business unit of Avici Systems, released the beta version of its Provider Network Controller (PNC) multi-vendor, multi-technology dynamic control plane. Soapstone said the new product would help automate the entire service lifecycle by providing state of the art provisioning, monitoring and repair, network fault to service correlation, performance, optimization, and planning software to carrier and enterprise customers. Net One Systems, one of Japan's leading networking and systems integration providers is a beta...

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France's Cegelec Selects Juniper for Remote Access

Cegelec, a French technology services company, has selected Juniper Networks' secure routing and remote access solutions to improve the quality and accessibility of network resources for corporate users at hundreds of sites throughout Europe. The Juniper SSG security appliances link approximately 12 international branch sites, in addition to more than 150 small office-home office sites in France and other countries. The Juniper Networks NetScreen-Security Manager solution was also deployed to provide centralized management of the SSG network, enabling...

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Avanex Offers Compact EDFA Module for 40 Gbps Transponders

Avanex unveiled a compact power transient-suppressed EDFA featuring improved 40 Gbps receiver sensitivity. The amplifier has a gain of 27dB and output power up to 15dB in a compact package designed for integration into 40 Gbps line cards. Advanced power control suppresses input transients of +/-6dB to less than +/-1dB, extending the automatic gain control capabilities of the existing PureGain 1600 platform upon which it's built.http://www.avanex....

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Avanex Releases 10G XFP Transceivers for 40km and 80km

Avanex released new 10G XFP transceivers suitable for 40km and 80km transmission applications in access and metropolitan networks. The new PowerPort 2080, for TDM applications, and the PowerPort 2180 for DWDM applications, are 10 Gbps EML-based transceivers that combine leading-edge optics and RF electronics to create a high performance and lower power-dissipation reach capability up to 80km. http://www.avanex....

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Hitachi and Opnext Introduce 4 x 25 Gbps Laser for 100 Gbps Interface

Hitachi and Opnext announced the first wide temperature range operation of 1310-nm 25 Gbps EA-DFB lasers for 100 Gbps Ethernet 10km single-mode fiber (SMF) application. The companies noted that a 10km SMF (single mode fiber) 100 Gbps Ethernet specification is already being discussed in the IEEE 802.3ba taskforce. To achieve the 100 Gbps rate, Hitachi and Opnext are using four channels of 1310-nm 25 Gbps via WDM. The companies have demonstrated EA-DFB lasers operating at 25 Gbps with wavelengths of 1290-, 1310-, 1330- and 1350-nm. The 25 Gbps operation...

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HomePlug and Panasonic Submit Powerline Proposal to IEEE

The HomePlug Powerline Alliance and Panasonic are hoping that the IEEE will advance their jointly-submitted proposal for the creation of an international standard for In-Home and Access powerline communication technologies. Following a vote in mid-October, the IEEE P1901 work group rejected all other proposals, leaving the HomePlug/Panasonic proposal as the only remaining proposal under consideration. The next IEEE meeting will be taking place March...

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Sonus Posts Preliminary Q4 Sales of $97 Million

Sonus Networks reported preliminary Q4 revenue of $97.1 million, compared with $76.6 million in the third quarter of fiscal 2007 and $79.0 million for the fourth quarter of fiscal 2006. Revenues for the year ended December 31, 2007 are expected to be $320.3 million, compared with $279.5 million for the year ended December 31, 2006. Sonus is not providing detailed GAAP or non-GAAP financial results for the quarter or full year at this time, as the audit of the company's financial statements for the fiscal year ended December 31, 2007 has not yet...

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UTStarcom Sees Growth in Q4 2007

UTStarcom reported Q4 2007 net sales of $806 million as compared to $704 million in the fourth quarter of 2006. Gross margins for the fourth quarter 2007 were 12.7% as compared to 11.1% in the fourth quarter of 2006. Net loss for the fourth quarter of 2007 was $24.6 million, or a loss of ($0.20) per share, as compared to a loss of $42 million, or ($0.35) per share in the fourth quarter of 2006.et sales for the full year 2007 were $2.5 billion as compared to $2.5 billion in 2006. Gross margins for the full year 2007 were 13.0% as compared with 15.7%...

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Level 3 and IBM Announce Patent Cross-License

Level 3 Communications and IBM announced a long-term patent cross-license agreement.Under the deal, IBM granted Level 3 licenses to IBM's approximately 42,000 pending and issued patents which cover a broad range of telecommunications services and technologies. In turn, Level 3 granted IBM licenses to those of Level 3's more than 850 pending and issued patents which cover a broad range of information handling systems. The licenses will last as long as the lives of the respective patents. Other terms of the cross-license agreement were not discl...

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Sprint Takes $29 Billion Impairment Charge as Subscribers and Profitability Decline

Sprint will take a goodwill impairment charge of $29.7 billion to write-down the value of its Nextel acquisition. The company reported declines in subscribers and profitability in Q4 2007 and announced steps it is taking to stabilize its financial situation, including canceling any dividends for the foreseeable future.The company reported Q4 2007 net revenue of $9.8 billion, compared to $10.4 billion in the fourth quarter of 2006. Full-year 2007...

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Deutsche Telekom Posts 2007 results

Deutsche Telekom reported Q4 and full-year financial results for 2007, posting adjusted EBITDA of EUR 19.3 billion, which is about the same as in 2006 and ahead of its guidance of EU 19 billion. Free cash flow before dividends increased to EUR 6.6 billion, also just ahead of the company's prior guidance. The company cited double-digit growth in mobile communications abroad and bright prospects in broadband and IP television, offset by continuing...

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Sprint Launches its $99.99 ''Simply Everything'' Plan

Sprint introduced a domestic unlimited pricing plan that gives customers unlimited voice, data, text, e-mail, Web-surfing, Sprint TV, Sprint Music, GPS Navigation, Direct Connect and Group Connect for $99.99 a month."Wireless today is about much more than just voice. It is about data services - texting, email, video, pictures, music, navigation, surfing the Web and more. Customers want these applications, but without complexity and without having...

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Agilent Teams with Azimuth to Offer FMC Test Solution

Agilent Technologies is teaming with Azimuth Systems to create a fixed-mobile convergence (FMC) test solution. The FMC test solution is expected to be commercially available in the second quarter of 2008 and will combine Agilent's 8960 Wireless Communications Test Set with the Azimuth FMC Performance Test Suite.The Agilent 8960 Wireless Communications Test Set is a one-box test set for wireless device development, manufacturing and repair of all major 2G, 2.5G, 3G and 3.5G wireless technologies. The Azimuth FMC Performance Test Suite includes a...

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NTELOS Implements Ciena's FlexSelect

NTELOS, a Virginia-based integrated telecommunications provider, has selected Ciena's CN 4200 FlexSelect Advanced Services Platform family for its access and metro networks. The classic CN 4200 chassis has already been deployed in NTELOS' network upgrade, with plans to add the CN 4200 MC and CN 4200 RS chassis to support growing customer demand for high-bandwidth, Ethernet-based services such as broadband data, IPTV and evolving on-demand services....

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AT&T Sees Rapid Rise in IP Traffic

AT&T has experienced an explosive growth in network traffic over the past two years, said John T. Stankey, AT&T Group President - Telecom Operations, speaking at the Merrill Lynch Communications Forum in New York City. Consumer broadband traffic has risen 145% in the past 2 years, while business traffic rose 60% in 2007 over 2006. Wireless data traffic was up 4X in 2007 over 2006. AT&T now delivers connectivity to over one billion devices...

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Sunrise Introduces Home Network Triple Play Readiness Assessment Test

Sunrise Telecom introduced a portable handheld test set designed to speed accurate verification of home networks for triple play deployments. Field technicians can use the test set for various home network configurations, including Ethernet, WiFi, HomePNA and home wiring. Key tests include:Home Wiring Testing -- identifies shorts, grounds and cable terminations, checks cable loss, verifies POTS voltage and places callsHomePNA Analysis -- validates HomePNA copper and coaxial connectivity and performance for the entire HPNA network by measuring...

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ECI Debuts FTTB Multi-service Access Platforms

ECI Telecom has added two new GPON and gigabit Ethernet (GbE) optical network units (ONUs) for fiber-to-the-building (FTTB) deployments to its broadband access product suite. The new G-PoweRAM 48V is optimized for large multi-dwelling units (MDUs) in densely populated areas. This ONU, which features GPON connectivity to the building and VDSL2 within the premises, allows service providers to support as many as 48 subscribers on one unit. The G-PoweRAM 48V is based on network-processor technology, supporting advanced multi-play service-enabling intelligence...

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Proofpoint Closes $28 Million for Enterprise Messaging

Proofpoint, a start-up based in Sunnyvale, California, .closed a $28 million financing round for its unified email security and data loss prevention solutions. Proofpoint offers an email security and DLP solution for enterprises, universities and government organizations. and its products are controlled by a single management and policy console. The new funds will be used to accelerate Proofpoint's continued global expansion, customer acquisition and product development initiatives.The funding round was led by new investor DAG Ventures. All previous...

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Akimbo Refocuses on Internet VOD Software

Akimbo introduced an Internet VOD software solution for content providers' own websites. The Akimbo solution includes advertising system and supports multiple business models including ad-supported, transactional, subscription, download-to-own, download-to-burn, pay-per-minute, gift cards, account credits, etc.To support the development of this new solution, Akimbo secured new financing led by investors including Draper Fisher Jurvetson, Kleiner Perkins Caufield and Byers, and Zone Ventures.http://www.akimbo....

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Verizon Business Offers Microsoft Windows Server 2008 Managed Hosting

Verizon Business will be among the first carriers to introduced a Microsoft Windows Server 2008 managed hosting service beginning this spring. The companies said Windows Server 2008 will give Verizon Business more control over security for its customers by better safeguarding data and protecting against server failure and intrusion.The latest iteration from Microsoft includes enhancements that allow Verizon Business to offer customers a more streamlined...

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Alcatel-Lucent Reports Optical Transmission Record: 16.4 Tbps over 2,550 km

In papers presented at this week's OFC/NFOEC conference in San Diego, Alcatel-Lucent reported optical networking milestones, including a new optical transmission record and three novel new photonic integrated circuits.In a post deadline paper, Bell Labs researchers in its Villarceaux, France center, in partnership with Alcatel-Thales' III-V Lab and the optical solution company Kylia announced the successful transmission of 16.4 Terabits per second of optical data over 2,550 km. This transmission was achieved using 164 Wavelength-Division Multiplexed...

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Alcatel-Lucent Boosts GPON card Switching Capacity to 250 Gbps

Alcatel-Lucent enhanced its 7342 Intelligent Services Access Manager Fiber to the User (ISAM FTTU) GPON platform with a new 250 Gbps switching capacity per network termination (NT) module and support for load sharing between the two NTs in a single shelf. The enhancements help guarantee the platform's non-blocking, future-proof characteristics for the deployment of IPTV, video-on-demand and other broadband services. Both can be added to the Alcatel-Lucent GPON shelves that are currently being shipped.Alcatel-Lucent also enhanced the platform's...

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Nortel Reports Q4 Numbers, Announces Job Cuts

Nortel reported Q4 2007 revenue of $3.20 billion, down 4 percent year over year. Revenue was $10.95 billion for the full year, down 4 percent; however, excluding the impact of the UMTS Access divestiture, revenue increased by 2 percent in the quarter and grew by 2 percent for the full year. Compared to the third quarter of 2007, revenue grew by 18 percent. Nortel achieved Q4 Operating Margin (OM) of $244 million, an increase of 339 basis points...

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Arcadian Networks Names CEO, Targets Wireless Monitoring for Energy Sector

Arcadian Networks, a privately held wireless telecommunications carrier, appointed Ed Solar as its new CEO. Mr. Solar, who joined the company in November 2007 as Senior Vice President, Sales and Marketing, replaces co-founder Gil Perez, who will remain with the company as Chairman of the Board. Prior to joining Arcadian Networks, Solar served as Vice President, Sales and Marketing for Cellnet Technology Inc., which was acquired in early 2007 by Bayard Inc. for $705 million.Arcadian Networks offers IP-based, wireless broadband field automation services...

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Tellabs Names Robert W. Pullen as CEO

Tellabs has appointed Robert W. Pullen as its new CEO, replacing Krish A. Prabhu, who announced his resignation last November.Pullen, 45, began his career at Tellabs in 1985 as an electrical engineer. He has held a series of increasingly responsible positions in engineering, sales, marketing and services. Prior to being named CEO, Pullen was vice president and general manager of global services. From 2002 to 2005, he was senior vice president of...

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Ikanos Enables Multi-mode VDSL2/ADSL2+ Residential Gateways

Ikanos Communications introduced a single-chip Integrated Front End (IFE) that enables a new class of residential gateway capable of VDLS2 performance while simultaneously meeting DSL Forum's stringent ADSL2+ and ADSL performance specifications (TR-100 and TR-067 respectively). This multi-mode gateway capability simplifies the equipment purchasing requirements for service providers who are currently delivering ADSL or ADSL2+ and planning a future...

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Ixia's iSimCity Targets City-scale Triple Play Testing

Ixia opened "iSimCity," a proof-of-concept (PoC) lab capable of conducting city-scale testing of high performance, converged multi-play networks. The new facility in Santa Clara, California, allows customers to access thousands of test ports and aggregate traffic in the range of 10-100 Gbps, emulate hundreds of thousands of subscribers/users and generate millions of routes with thousands of routing peers. They also can conduct system testing by emulating...

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JDSU Introduces Agile Optical Network (AON) SuperBlade

JDSU introduced its Agile Optical Network (AON) Superblade concept -- all major functions required for optical network transport integrated onto a single blade, significantly reducing size, cost and power requirements for network equipment manufacturers (NEMs) and service providers.The AON Superblade will include very small blocks of wavelength selective switch (WSS) technology that JDSU has invented called the Nano WSS, erbium-doped fiber amplifier...

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Microsoft's Windows Server 2008 Integrates with Cisco WAAS

Microsoft is collaborating with Cisco to offer Windows Server 2008 with Cisco WAN optimization in a solution for branch office environments. Specifically, Cisco will embed a virtualization component within its Wide Area Application Services (WAAS) appliance family that will help customers to host Windows Server 2008 services within their existing network infrastructure for branch offices. Cisco WAAS is an application acceleration and WAN optimization solution that optimizes TCP performance.The two companies intend for Cisco to offer Windows Server...

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Emerson Unveils Centellis 500 MicroTCA System

Emerson Network Power unveiled its "Centellis 500" MicroTCA system featuring an injection molded plastic enclosure that houses a MicroTCA backplane, fans, power module, MCH, PrAMC 7211 processor Advanced Mezzanine Card (AMC) and three additional AMC payloads.The Centellis 500 is a completely MicroTCA system available for under $5,000, or about half the price of previous generation MicroTCA systems.Applications include IP-PBX, Packet Processing,...

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Siemens Enterprise Communications Announces Job Cuts, Exits Hardware

Siemens Enterprise Communications GmbH & Co KG (SEN), a wholly owned subsidiary of Siemens AG, will undergo a major restructuring in a bid to transform itself from a hardware supplier to a software and solutions provider to fit changed market conditions. Siemens AG confirmed that it is also seeking to find a suitable partner for SEN. "We will begin accelerating the reorientation of SEN and the related restructuring activities under the control of Siemens to ensure that personnel measures associated with these changes will be as socially compatible...

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Brasil Telecom GlobeNet Selects NSN for Optical Backbone

Brasil Telecom GlobeNet will deploy Nokia Siemens Networks' SURPASS hiT 7300 DWDM platform in North America. Other components of the turnkey solution are Nokia Siemens Networks' Telecommunications Network Management System and a services package including network design, commissioning, installation as well as training and extended care. Financial terms were not disclosed.Nokia Siemens Networks has already begun deployment of the SURPASS hiT 7300...

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AT&T iBuilds Bandwidth Capacity at top Carrier-neutral Hotels

AT&T is expanding capacity to deliver key services, such as long-haul private line and Managed Internet Services (MIS), in most of the 26 carrier-neutral hotels nationwide in which it has a presence. These hotels are located primarily in key metropolitan markets, such as Atlanta, Boston, Chicago, Dallas, Miami, New York, San Francisco and Seattle. Carrier-neutral hotels are facilities at which multiple carriers interconnect and make their telecommunications...

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Verizon Tests Automated Fiber-Optic Cross Connections (AFOX)

Verizon has completed a trial of automated fiber-optic cross connects, or AFOX, which is a technology for remotely performing such tasks as switching traffic from working fibers to spare fibers, finding alternative fiber routes, connecting test equipment to network elements, and sending test signals through fiber at unmanned sites.While automated fiber-optic cross connects improve fiber management, the technology also changes the way network elements...

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Wisair Secures $24 Million for UWB

Wisair, a start-up based in Tel-Aviv, secured $24 million in new funding for its single-chip based Ultra Wideband (UWB) and Wireless USB (WUSB) solutions.Wisair's product set includes a single-die CMOS chip for both host and device Wireless USB applications. The production-ready chip, based on WiMedia and Certified Wireless USB standards, integrates UWB PHY (including RF), MAC and Wireless USB subsystems. The device could enable a range of Wireless USB applications, including battery-powered, portable devices. The device is implemented in digital...

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iTunes Now Number Two Music Retailer in the US

Apple's iTunes is now the number two music retailer in the US, behind only Wal-Mart, based on the latest data from the NPD Group. Apple also announced that there are now over 50 million iTunes Store customers. iTunes has sold over four billion songs, including 20 million songs sold on Christmas Day 2007 alone.http://www.apple....

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AT&T Supplies MPLS Network for Deutsch

AT&T announced a 2-year contract to provide an MPLS service for Deutsch, a multinational electronics corporation. The service will link Deutsch's facilities in the U.S., Germany, Italy, India, Japan, Mexico, Israel and the U.K. Once the AT&T VPN solution is fully deployed, Deutsch plans to introduce VoIP services, such as local and international calling, mobile call routing, telecommuting, centralized Internet access, video streaming, virus control, content-filtering and spam management. Financial terms were not disclosed.http://www....

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ColorChip Offers GEPON PX20 Transceiver

ColorChip introduced its GEPON (EPON) PX20 transceiver for the FTTH market. ColorChip's transceivers are based on its "SystemOnGlass" concept, which simplifies the design and manufacturing process compared with the traditional bulk optic solutions. The transceivers support Digital Diagnostic & Monitoring (DDM) providing diagnostic and monitoring capabilities for power supply, temperature, transfer and receive status, alert towards end of life and more. The product is SFF-8472 compliant.http://www.color-chip....

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Hughes Introduces WAN Optimization and Application Acceleration Technology

Hughes Network Systems has added new WAN optimization and application acceleration capabilities to its suite of HughesNet Managed Network Services. Unlike competing solutions which typically require an additional acceleration appliance at every location or are limited to a single broadband access technology, the new capabilities are integrated into access routers at each location. Enterprise customers can set application level prioritization, a capability normally associated with leased-line MPLS networks, on more cost-effective broadband IP VPN...

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Juniper Debuts Control Plane Scaling Platform

Juniper Networks unveiled its JCS 1200 high-performance Control Plane Scaling Platform aimed at solving a fundamental problem of scaling core networks. As service providers seek to deliver multiple services concurrently across a converged IP infrastructure, each service must contend for a fixed amount of control plane capacity in the underlying routing infrastructure. The Juniper Networks JCS 1200 addresses this challenge by providing a standalone,...

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OIF's UNI 2.0 Implementation Agreement Delivers to Emerging Carrier Ethernet Market

The Optical Internetworking Forum has ratified the UNI (User-Network Interface) 2.0 Implementation Agreement (IA), enabling users to signal for enhanced transport services from an optical network service provider. UNI 2.0 complies with the ITU-T ASON architecture, and supports all UNI 1.0 signaling with additional protocol extensions for the following new UNI 2.0 features:Support for Ethernet clients, providing both Ethernet Private Line (EPL) and...

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Cisco Announces 40-Core "QuantumFlow" Processor

Cisco disclosed plans for a programmable processor that packs 40 cores on a single chip and can perform up to 160 simultaneous processes.The forthcoming Cisco QuantumFlow Processor, which the company said has been more than half a decade in the making, was designed by a team of more than 100 Cisco engineers and has led to more than 40 patent submissions. Many of the same engineers who developed the Cisco Silicon Packet Processor (SPP) for the Cisco Carrier Routing System (CRS-1), which debuted in 2004, also worked on the Cisco QuantumFlow Processor....

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Google Joins Global Consortium Planning New Pacific Cable System

A consortium of six international companies, including Bharti Airtel, Global Transit, Google, KDDI Corporation, Pacnet and SingTel, have executed agreements to build a high--bandwidth subsea fiber optic cable linking the United States and Japan. Construction of the new Trans--Pacific cable system -- dubbed "Unity" -- will cost an estimated US$300 million. Unity is expected to initially increase Trans--Pacific lit cable capacity by about 20 percent, with the potential to add up to 7.68 Tbps of bandwidth across the Pacific. The new five fiber pair...

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Verizon's Wholesale Unit Offers ROADM-based Integrated Optical Service

The Verizon Partner Solutions group, Verizon's wholesale business unit, is now offering Verizon Integrated Optical Service using reconfigurable optical add/drop multiplexers (ROADMs) to create nodes, or access points, where data from virtually any transport feed -- from DS1s to SONET at speeds up to OC-192, and from 10 Mbps up to 10 Gbps for Ethernet -- are merged onto a dedicated optical network custom-built for each customer.The complexity of billing...

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FCC Debates Broadband Management and Net Neutrality

The FCC hosted an open meeting at Harvard Law School to considered the issue of Net Neutrality, network management, and, in particular, Comcast's role in limiting and/or slowing BitTorrent traffic from its subscribers. Panelists presenting their views included FCC Commissioners, Comcast's David L. Cohen, Verizon's Tom Tauke, BitTorrent's Eric Klinker, Sony's Scott Smyers, and noted speakers from Harvard Law School, Columbia Law School, University of Pennsylvania Law School, and M.I.T..A archived webcast of the event will be posted on the FCC site...

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Nokia Unveils "Morph" Nanotech Material Prototypes

Nokia Research Center (NRC) and the University of Cambridge (UK) unveiled "Morph", a joint nanotechnology concept that demonstrates how future mobile devices might be stretchable and flexible, allowing the user to transform their mobile device into radically different shapes. The joint research is focused on flexible materials, transparent electronics and self-cleaning surfaces. Nokia believes that certain elements of Morph might be available to...

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Riverbed's RiOS 5.0 Update Adds Performance, Virtualization and Visibility Features

Riverbed Technology released version 5.0 of its Riverbed Optimization System (RiOS), enabling its Steelhead product line to provide application-level protocol optimization for Microsoft Exchange 2007. The upgrade also adds new scale, simplicity and security features, including the new RiOS Services Platform (RSP) for delivering virtualized edge services without the need to deploy additional branch office servers.In the area of application-level...

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JDSU Introduces 10 Gbps Stressed Receiver Sensitivity (SRS)

JDSU introduced stressed receiver sensitivity (SRS) functionality to its TestPoint 10Gbps product line. Stressed receiver sensitivity is IEEE's requirement for 10 GigE receivers to function properly in the presence of optical signals that contain impairment such as vertical eye closure and jitter. The JDSU TestPoint 10Gbps with SRS tests a receiver's compliance to the standard, supporting both unframed and framed test patterns (with SRS it provides transponder testing in unframed environments and system and line card testing in framed protocol...

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Brightstar to Distribute Huawei's Terminal Products

Brightstar, which provides customized distribution and supply chain solutions for the wireless industry, will distribute Huawei's terminal products in key regions around the world. This deal covers the sale of Huawei's wireless terminal products in all leading regions worldwide. Brightstar will collaborate closely with Huawei to explore key markets, deliver Huawei products to leading mobile operators and help Huawei to promote its products in the marketplace.http://www.huawei....

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Brasil Telecom Selects Alcatel-Lucent

Brasil Telecom awarded a major contract to Alcatel-Lucent to provide Operations and Maintenance (O&M) services for the carrier internal plant (including wireless, wireline and data networks), as well as their outside plant. Based on the agreement Alcatel-Lucent will take care of 100 percent of Brasil Telecom infrastructure, including detailed O&M for the operator's wireless network (voice, data and core); switches and transmission (for fixed...

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Tellabs Offers 40 Gbps Transponder

Tellabs announced a 40 Gbps transponder module for its Tellabs 7100 Optical Transport System (OTS). With the new plug-in module, the Tellabs 7100 OTS delivers an increase in bandwidth from 440 Gbps to 1.76 Tbps. The new 40 Gbps transponder module is expected to be commercially available in June 2008.http://www.tellabs....

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Motorola Acquires Digital Cable Set-Top Box Manufacturer in China

Motorola acquired the assets related to digital cable set-top products of Zhejiang Dahua Digital Technology and Hangzhou Image Silicon (collectively, Dahua Digital). Terms of the transaction were not disclosed.Dahua Digital is a privately held, developer, manufacturer, and marketer of cable set-tops and related low cost integrated circuits for the emerging Chinese cable business. Its product line includes basic set-tops, two-way interactive set-tops and the high-end media-center class of products. Dahua Digital also has a substantial China cable...

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NEC Introduces "Light IMS" for Next Generation Network Service Convergence

NEC Corporation of America (NEC) introduced its Service Convergence Integrated Platform (SCI-P), a new converged multimedia and SIP-based solution for mid-tier North America telecom carriers. The SCI-P is intended as a "starter" framework for IMS. The platform consolidates NEC's carrier-grade call processing quality, an HP blade-server architecture, an Internet Engineering Task Force (IETF)-based SIP server, an operations, maintenance, billing and...

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Verizon Business Implements Optical Mesh for Pacific Undersea Cable System

Verizon Business has implemented an optical mesh with five paths on the trans-Pacific portion of its global network to provide more diverse routes to benefit large business and government customers. This network architecture provides route diversity across the five paths in the event of a cable cut or other network disruption. Previously, the trans-Pacific transport network used a ring configuration to provide redundant paths. However, that architecture...

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One Minute Video: What is an IPSec VPN?

One Minute Video presented by Glenn Gibson, Juniper Networks -- What is an IPSec VPN?Jargon Bus...

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Arieso Raises £5million for Self Optimizing Wireless Networks

Arieso, a start-up based in Newbury, UK, secured £5 million in a Series B funding for its software for optimizing the quality of service for mobile cell phone users. By simulating network use, Arieso specifies the optimal setup for individual base stations to improve performance from the existing network, and can assess the return on investment of any additional sites. O2 Group, Telefonica, AT&T Mobility, Sprint, Vodafone and Qualcomm are among...

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BaySpec Offers 10/40Gbps Optical Channel Performance Monitor

BaySpec announced commercial availability of its 40 Gbps "IntelliGuard" Optical Channel Performance Monitor (OCPM) with enhanced 10/40Gbps modulation discernment capability. With over 8,000 units in the field, devices offer proven performance with built-in flexibility for the future. Devices are Telcordia GR-1209/1221-CORE qualified. The company said its 10/40G discernable OCPMs enable significant operating cost reduction in the price sensitive Metro Core market where current demand is strongest.http://www.bayspec....

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Ericsson's Board Proposes 1:5 Reverse Stock Split

Ericsson's Board of Directors is a 1:5 reverse stock split, implying that five A shares and five B shares respectively will be consolidated into one A share and one B share respectively. The issue is to be considered at the shareholders annual meeting in April. Ericsson noted that as a result of the rights issue in 2002, the number of shares in the company increased from approximately 8 billion shares to more than 16 billion shares. Further, the ratio between the B share and an American Depositary Share (ADS), traded on NASDAQ, was changed from...

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Alcatel-Lucent Installs 200th Solar-powered Radio Site in Senegal

Alcatel-Lucent announced the commissioning of its 200th radio site powered by solar energy. The site in Senegal - including base station, microwave and all other electrical components - is completely powered by the sun, providing telecom services to remote communities on the island of Bettenty and surrounding Saloum islands that previously had no access to wireless communications services. Alcatel-Lucent said its GSM solution can operate with power consumption levels up to 40% less compared to other vendors with no decrease in traffic flow or extent...

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Infinera's Photonic IC Roadmap Predicts Capacity Doubling Every 3 Years

Infinera announced a product roadmap for its Photonic Integrated Circuit (PIC), predicting that its capacity will continue to double every three years -- a phenomenon the company is referring to as Kish's law, after Dr. Fred Kish, one of the developers of the PIC and Infinera's VP of PIC development and manufacturing. Infinera current PICs offer a capacity per chip of 100 Gbps and serves as the heart of the Infinera DTN Digital ROADM and Wavelength...

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NeoPhotonics Announces 40 mW Widely Tunable Laser for 40 Gbps systems

NeoPhotonics introduced a new high power tunable laser for DWDM (dense wavelength division multiplexing) networks that has an output power of 40 mW and other features ideal for DQPSK coding and 40 Gbps systems. The 40 mW rating is twice the output power of a standard ITLA, Special coding used in some 40 Gbps transmission requires higher optical power to overcome higher loss from additional optical components. In addition, 40 Gbps systems are much more sensitive to dispersion than 10 Gbps systems and require narrower linewidths and higher Side...

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CoreOptics introduces Optical Distortion Equalization Technology

CoreOptics, which supplies 40 Gbps and 10 Gbps optical networking subsystems, announced availability of the second generation of its Maximum Likelihood Sequence Estimation (MLSE) technology for deployment in metro/regional optical networks.CoreOptics currently offers 10 Gbps DWDM, 40 Gbps Single Channel Short Reach and 40/43G DWDM transponder modules. The company's product portfolio also includes 43 Gb/s Ultra-FEC, 40G Mux/DeMux for 4x10G client signals and Interface Converter supporting SFI-5s, SFI-4, XFI to enable building of next generation...

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Japan Launches "KIZUNA" Broadband Satellite

The Japan Aerospace Exploration Agency (JAXA), in conjunction with Mitsubishi Heavy Industries, successfully launched the "KIZUNA" broadband Internet satellite from the Tanegashima Space Center in Japan.The KIZUNA geostationary satellite, which is also designated as the Wideband Internetworking Engineering test and Demonstration Satellite (WINDS), is designed to deliver residential services in remote areas of Japan at a maximum speed of 155Mbps (receiving) / 6Mbps (transmitting) using 45-centimetre aperture antennas. The satellite is further capable...

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Russia's VimpelCom Selects Ericsson for WCDMA/HSPA

Russia's VimpelCom selected Ericsson for the supply and implementation of a WCDMA/HSPA network, plus associated services, to cover seven out of nine macro regions across Russia, including Moscow, the North Caucasus, Siberia, Volga, Northwest Russia, South Russia and the Urals. Under the five-year agreement, Ericsson will supply a WCDMA/HSPA radio access and core network, including circuit-switching and packet-switching, and subscriber management system Home Location Register (HLR). Ericsson will also be responsible for a range of telecom services,...

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Motorola Appoints CFO

Motorola appointed Paul J. Liska as its new chief financial officer (CFO). Tom Meredith, the company's acting CFO will continue as a non-management board member.Prior to joining Motorola, Mr. Liska served as an industrial partner for various private equity firms including MidOcean Partners, CVC Capital Holdings and Ripplewood Holdings LLC. From 2004 to 2006, Mr. Liska served as executive chairman of US Freightways until its purchase by Yellow Roadway Corporation and served in various capacities with Weekly Reader Companies, including executive...

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Cablevision Offers SMBs Up to 12 Lines of VoIP

Cablevision Systems, the cable operator servicing the New York metro area, is now offering small and medium-sized business customers across its entire service area up to 12 lines of its Optimum Voice phone service. Each line features flat-rate, unlimited local and long-distance calling and advanced calling features like Caller ID, call waiting and enhanced voicemail.Cablevision is also offering SMBs its Optimum Online Internet access service at up to 30 Mbps downstream and 5 Mbps upstream, as well as static IP addresses.http://www.cablevision....

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Brightcove Endorses Google AdSense for Video Beta

Brightcove voiced its support for the newly announced AdSense for video beta program, Google's contextual advertising technology for online video. AdSense for video provides contextual text overlays for online videos.Google's AdSense for video beta is currently available through Brightcove in a limited beta release with select customers. The company said they plan to make the feature generally availability to publishers in 2008.http://www.brightcove.comhttp://www.google....

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Motorola Unveils DOCSIS 3.0 CPE

Motorola unveiled its line of DOCSIS 3.0-based customer premises equipment (CPE) designed to work with the Motorola DOCSIS 3.0 CMTS platform and other DOCSIS 3.0-qualified CMTS industry solutions. Motorola has announced several pre-DOCSIS 3.0 commercial deployments to date. Motorola said it is supporting all DOCSIS 3.0 features, including channel bonding, IPv6, and advanced encryption services. The modems enable channel bonding of up to four downstream...

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