Nortel and IBM Offer Tivoli Netcool Carrier VoIP Manager software

Nortel announced a new service assurance solution combining IBM Tivoli Netcool Carrier VoIP Manager software with network consulting and integration services from Nortel. The implementation combines IBM Tivoli Netcool Carrier VoIP Manager, Nortel's Tivoli Netcool-based Common Management Platform and Nortel Global Services to provide greater visibility and control across multi-technology, multi-vendor networks.


The initial version of IBM Tivoli Netcool Carrier VoIP Manager supports Nortel's Communication Server 2000 IP Multimedia Softswitch.


http://www.nortel.comhttp://www.ibm.com

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Finisar and Optium to Merge, Consolidation of Optical Component Suppliers

Finisar and Optium Corporation agreed to an all-stock merger, creating one of the largest suppliers of optical components, modules and subsystems for the communications industry. Finisar is a leading supplier of components in the storage and data networking industries and Optium holds a leadership position in the telecommunications and CATV industries.


Under the deal Optium stockholders will receive 6.262 Finisar shares for each Optium share they own. Optium options and warrants will represent a corresponding right to acquire a number of Finisar shares based on the exchange ratio. Finisar is expected to issue approximately 160 million common shares in the proposed combination. Upon completion of the combination, Finisar shareholders will own approximately 65% of the combined company and Optium shareholders will own approximately 35% of the combined company. Shares of the combined company will continue to trade on the NASDAQ Select Market under the symbol: FNSR. The combination is intended to qualify as a tax-free reorganization for Federal income tax purposes.


Based on the twelve months through January 2008 reported by each company, the combined company had revenues of approximately $554 million. Based on revenues expected to be reported for the most recent quarter, annualized revenues for the combined company would total approximately $660 million. The combined company will have approximately 5,000 employees world-wide.


Finisar is based in Sunnyvale, California and has approximately 4,500 employees.


Optium is headquartered in Horsham, PA and has offices in Sydney, Australia and Nes Ziona, Israel. Optium has approximately 400 employees.http://www.Finisar.comhttp://www.optium.com

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Nokia Siemens Networks Supplies 3G to Tahiti

Nokia Siemens Networks was selected by MARA Telecom to design, build and operate a complete greenfield mobile network in order to offer high-end 3G services in French Polynesia. Within three years, the project is expected to serve up to 100,000 subscribers in the main islands of the French Polynesia. Under the contract, Nokia Siemens Networks will provide MARA TELECOM with a 3G end-to-end solution, including network equipment, applications and a full range of services, comprising network design, implementation, operation as well as training and competence transfer. Financial terms were not disclosed.


MARA TELECOM, the first mobile network operator to be granted a 3G license in French Polynesia, aims to be commercially operational by December 2008 with High Speed Downlink Packet Access (HSDPA) functionality providing the end users with an unrivaled mobile connection speed to the Internet and services.

http://www.nsn.com

• In January 2008, The French Polynesian operator Office des Postes & Télécommunications (OPT) selected Alcatel-Lucent to roll out a new, high-speed submarine cable network linking Tahiti in French Polynesia to Hawaii. The "Honotua" network will deliver an ultimate capacity of 32 x10 Gbps. It will be composed of an international link between Tahiti and Hawaii (4,650 km) and a domestic connection (305 km) linking some of the islands in the French Polynesian archipelago. Completion is scheduled for 2010. The project is valued at EUR 72.2 million.

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Salira Introduces Multi-wavelength EPON Solution

Salira Systems introduced a multi-wavelength EPON solution that uses Coarse Wave Division Multiplexing (CWDM) to increase bandwidth capacity dramatically without any upgrades to the outside plant.


Salira's MW-PON increases the bandwidth capacity from 1 Gbps to 4 Gbps for each PON link. Traffic is carried over four wavelengths, thereby quadrupling bandwidth that can be transmitted over a single fiber optic cable. Moreover, MW-PON's bandwidth capacity is symmetric, meaning that end-users can upload data at the same enhanced speeds. Salira uses SFP modules on the CPE side to allow service providers to re-assign equipment easily as conditions change.


Salira said that unlike DWDM solutions that are costly to implement and change, its MW-PON solution gives operators the ability to easily re-assign equipment at both the head end and at the customer premises for maximum flexibility.http://www.salira.com

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Siemens Launches Outdoor WiMAX Modem

Siemens Home and Office Communication Devices (SHC) introduced an outdoor Gigaset SE680 WiMAX modem. It is based on the IEEE 802.16-2005 standard, complies with Wave 2 specifications, including MIMO (Multiple Input / Multiple Output) A and B, and supports beamforming. The product is designed for small enterprises or for bridging large distances.

The Gigaset SE680 WiMAX outdoor modem enables data rates of up to 20 Mbps and is available as of summer 2008 for the 2.5 and 3.5 GHz frequency bands. It conforms to Wave 2 specifications and, with its two integrated antennas, supports MIMO (Matrix A and B) and adaptive beamforming so that the signal is amplified between the base station and WiMAX end-user devices. If desired, an external antenna can also be connected to increase the range. Such antennas produce a gain of up to 18 dBi at 3.5 GHz or 15 dBi at 2.5 GHz.


An acoustic signal output via the computer during installation helps ensure optimum alignment of the outdoor modem. The compact modem is easy to install, and Power over Ethernet reduces cabling.http://www.gigaset.siemens.com/provider

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Lockheed Martin Wins $1.4 Billion Contract to Build GPS III Space System

The U.S. Air Force selected a team led by Lockheed Martin to build the next-generation Global Positioning System (GPS) Space System program. GPS III promises improved position, navigation, and timing services for both military and civilian users worldwide. The system is also being developed to provide advanced anti-jam capabilities, yielding superior system security, accuracy and reliability.


Under the $1.4 billion Development and Production contract, the team of Lockheed Martin Space Systems Company, ITT Corporation, and General Dynamics, will produce eight GPS IIIA satellites, with first launch projected for 2014. Eight GPS IIIB and 16 GPS IIIC satellites are planned for later increments, with each increment including additional capabilities based on technical maturity.


When fully deployed, the GPS III constellation will feature a cross-linked command and control architecture, allowing the entire GPS constellation to be updated simultaneously from a single ground station. Additionally, a new spot beam capability for enhanced military (M-Code) coverage and increased resistance to hostile jamming will be incorporated.


Lockheed Martin said its GPS III program management and spacecraft development effort will occur at its facilities in Newtown, Pa, with final assembly, integration and test located in Denver. The company's Sunnyvale, California operations will provide various spacecraft components and a launch support team will be based at Cape Canaveral, Fla. Lockheed Martin's flight-proven A2100 bus will serve as the GPS III spacecraft platform.


ITT will provide the navigation payload, and General Dynamics Advanced Information Systems will provide the Network Communications Element (NCE) which includes the UHF Crosslink and Tracking Telemetry & Command (TT&C) subsystems.http://www.lockheedmartin.com

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Comcast Awards DOCSIS 3.0 Contract to Arris

Comcast awarded a purchase agreement to Arris

for its latest generation DOCSIS 3.0 C4 Cable Modem Termination System (CMTS) chassis supporting downstream speeds of up to 160 Mbps using channel bonding technology. Arris said a graceful enhancement process allows the cost-effective introduction of this major technology upgrade to the existing installed base of C4 CMTS. Financial terms were not disclosed.http://www.arrisi.com/get/c4

• In April 2008, Comcast launched "wideband" Internet service at up to 50 Mbps downstream and 5 Mbps upstream in its first market -- the Twin Cities region of Minnesota. The service leverages DOCSIS 3.0 technology. Comcast said it expects to deliver even faster speeds of up to 100 Mbps to its customers over the next two years with the capability of delivering higher speeds of 160 Mbps or more in the future.

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Russia's MTS Reaches 85.68 million Mobile Users

Mobile TeleSystems (MTS), the largest mobile phone operator in Russia and the CIS, was serving 85.68 million users on April 30, 2008.


The company said it added 740,000 users during the month of April alone. The total number of subscribers is up 15% year over year. MTS has 60 million of its users in Russia and 19.5 million in Ukraine. The Moscow area alone counts nearly 14 million MTS users.http://www.mtsgsm.com/

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Qualcomm Wins 40 MHz of L-Band Spectrum in UK Auction

Qualcomm has acquired 40 MHz (1452-1492 MHz) of L-Band radio spectrum recently auctioned by UK communications regulator Ofcom, at a cost of GPB 8,334,000. The L-Band spectrum license acquired by Qualcomm covers the entire United Kingdom and is technology neutral, thereby enabling Qualcomm to use the spectrum for innovative technologies, depending on its assessment of market needs in the United Kingdom.


"Winning this license creates an opportunity for Qualcomm to explore emerging business models and advanced mobile technologies," said John Caterer, managing director, UK, Qualcomm Europe, Inc. "If we can help the market to harness this potential, we will see additional opportunities for service providers using a variety of technologies. This will ultimately benefit consumers, offering them high quality services and a range of creative applications."
http://www.qualcomm.com

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