Indosat Selects NSN for 3G Service Delivery Platform

Indosat, one of the leading service providers in Indonesia,

has selected Nokia Siemens Networks to implement a 3G Service Delivery Platform (SDP) in its network. Based on Nokia Siemens Networks' Service Delivery Framework ecosystem, the solution comprises content management, a video gateway, a video portal, video streaming, messaging gateway platform, charging and partner management as well as best-of-breed products from selected partners for a comprehensive solution to meet Indosat's customers' needs. Financial terms were not disclosed.


Under the contract, Nokia Siemens Networks will ensure the systems integration of the platform into Indosat's network and provide maintenance and competence development and training services to the customer.


Indosat will use the platform to bring to market different types of rich content from their content partners to its customers. The full platform also has the capability to enable Indosat to migrate their existing 2G content providers, creating a dynamic 2G and 3G service delivery platform for their subscribers.http://www.nokiasiemensnetworks.com/

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Romtelecom Deploys Cisco CRS-1

Romtelecom, the incumbent carrier in Romania, has implemented a new Cisco Internet Protocol Next-Generation Network (IP NGN), based on the Cisco CRS-1 Carrier Routing System. With support from Cisco's Advanced Services department, Romtelecom is proactively preparing for an increase in broadband demand and business users' requirements for new, highly secure services, such as high-availability virtual private networks (VPNs). Financial terms were not disclosed.http://www.cisco.comhttp://www.romtelecom.ro

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India's Spice Telecom Deploys Veraz Controlswitch

Spice Telecom, a mobile operator in India, has deployed the Veraz ControlSwitch and I-Gate 4000 media gateways for a national and international MPLS-based long distance network. Spice Telecom currently offers mobile services in the states of Punjab and Karnataka. Financial terms were not disclosed.


Veraz's platform provides Spice with a flexible IP-based solution that helps protect and improve voice profitability via efficient network operations and a twelve fold increase in voice capacity. A single ControlSwitch is spanning sixteen sites throughout northern India, with SS7 signaling and EMS module redundancy in two sites for full disaster recovery.


Wipro Infotech deployed the turn key solution for Spice Telecom on the Veraz platform, along with interconnect billing and Lawful Interception. A comprehensive 24 x 7 NOC is setup for complete life cycle support for Spice, providing tools like network performance dashboard, network monitoring capabilities, and reports.http://www.veraznet.comhttp://spicetele.com/

• Telecom Malaysia is a 39% stakeholder in Spice Telecom.

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NEC Electronics Introduces H.264 Chips for STBs

NEC Electronics introduced two new image-processing chipsets based on its enhanced multimedia architecture (EMMA) platform and optimized for set-top boxes (STBs) and digital TVs (DTVs) supporting the H.264 video compression standard. The EMMA3SL/SD system-on-chip (SoC) supports standard-definition video broadcasts, while the EMMA3SL/HD SoC supports high-definition broadcasts. The devices are the latest additions to NEC Electronics' family of H.264-compliant EMMA3 SoCs, which have achieved market success since 2006 in blue laser DVD players and high-definition TV (HDTV) products.


In addition to having an H.264-compliant video decoder, the devices combine all of the key functions needed to receive and decode digital broadcasts, including built-in digital signal processors (DSPs) that enable systems using Dolby Digital Plus or high-efficiency advanced audio coding (HE-AAC) to play back high-quality audio streams even at low transfer rates.http://www.necel.com

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Barracuda Spam Firewall Scales to 100,000 Concurrent Email Users

Barracuda Networks introduced a high-performance spam firewall appliance designed for Internet Service Providers (ISPs) and other large organizations with up to 100,000 concurrent email users and 5,000 domains.


The Barracuda Spam Firewall 1000 is priced at $89,999 with no per user licensing fees. It comes in a 2U full-size form factor and includes 200 GB message log storage and 750GB storage capacity for quarantined messages. Advanced capabilities include redundant hot swap power supplies, and dual gigabit Ethernet ports. Multiple Barracuda Spam Firewall 1000 models can be clustered for both scalability and redundancy.http://www.barracuda.com

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Mocana Raises $7 million for Networked Device Security

Mocana, a start-up based in San Francisco, closed $7 million in venture funding for its security software protection for networked devices.


Mocana is focused on the security threat represented by non-PC "things" connecting to the network, like PDAs, routers, DVRs, printers, iPods, and even cars or digital picture frames. Each one of these new devices represents a "soft target" for hackers and an easy way in to the rest of the network. This is because third- and fourth-generation attack techniques are being unleashed upon millions of non-PC devices armed with first-generation security, at best.


Mocana offers a Device Security Framework (DSF) that secures communications to and from any device connected to the network, as well as the data and applications residing on those devices. This latest round of financing will be used to enhance and expand the 20 security components that currently make up Mocana's DSF so that manufacturers and service providers can ensure that security is inherent in the device, to protect against existing and emerging threats.


The new funding was led by Southern Cross Venture Partners. Mocana's only previous institutional investor, Shasta Ventures also provided investment for this round, increasing their ownership position in the company and bringing Mocana's total capital backing to $12.1M.http://www.mocana.com

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Sandvine Offers Application Agnostic "Fair Share" Traffic Management

Sandvine introduced new "FairShare" capabilities to help broadband service operators ensure fair usage in the shared access network .


Sandvine's "FairShare" works with the company's suite of Traffic Optimization solutions using an application-agnostic approach. FairShare automatically responds to the changing network environment and subscriber usage patterns in real-time. It collects subscriber usage metrics from various sources and analyzes the data according to configurable parameters. Based on the results, FairShare dynamically modifies policies to balance available bandwidth and resources among subscribers.


"Sandvine FairShare incorporates more decision factors and more policy options that enable broadband providers to ensure fair allocation of network resources and optimize network efficiency," said Don Bowman, Sandvine Chief Technology Officer. "FairShare's approach is unique because it can implement both application-aware and application-agnostic network management strategies. FairShare takes into account the three key dimensions of traffic - speed, latency and jitter -- to ensure the reliable delivery of the broadest range of applications with the highest level of overall subscriber satisfaction, especially during periods of heavy usage."http://www.sandvine.com

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China Telecom Gains 650K Broadband Users, Loses 880K Fixed Lines in April

China Telecom was serving 38.36 million broadband lines as of 30-April-2008, an increase of 650,000 over the preceding month. However, the carrier continues to lose fixed access lines at an even faster pace that the broadband gain, down by 880,000 for the month.


http://www.chinatelecom-h.com/

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Intelsat's Galaxy 18 Successfully Launched

Intelsat's Galaxy 18 satellite was successfully placed into orbit by a Zenit-3SL rocket that lifted off Sea Launch's Odyssey platform in the Pacific Ocean.


The satellite, built by Space Systems/Loral, will operate from 123 degrees west and serve programmers, government and corporate broadband customers in the continental United States, Alaska, Hawaii and Puerto Rico. It carries 24 C- and 24 Ku-band transponders allowing for increased power and flexibility for video and data transmissions. This is Intelsat's first satellite launch of 2008.


Galaxy 18 will join Intelsat's Galaxy fleet which is comprised of 16 other satellites that cover North America, Central America and the Caribbean.http://www.intelsat.com/http://www.sea-launch.com

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AT&T Nears Completion of HSUPA Rollout

By the end of June, AT&T expects to complete it deployment of High Speed Uplink Packet Access (HSUPA) technology in the six remaining markets across its 3G network. AT&T's HSUPA enables uplink speeds between 500 and 800 Kbps. The new upload speeds complement AT&T's 3G download capabilities, which currently offer up to 1.4 Mbps across all markets for customers who have capable devices, such as AT&T's LaptopConnect wireless modems.


The AT&T 3G network is currently available in more than 275 markets. By year-end, the AT&T 3G network will be available in nearly 350 markets.
AT&T noted that between 2005 and 2008, it will have invested more than $20 billion in network improvements and upgrades -- an average of $5 billion a year. AT&T recently turned down its older TDMA network, and that will allow the company to reuse valuable 850 MHz spectrum to expand and enhance 3G markets.http://www.att.com

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AT&T Adds Alternative-Fuel Vehicles to its Fleet

AT&T plans to add 105 alternative-fuel vehicles to the corporate fleet of its operating companies. The vehicles, which will roll out in more than 30 cities across the U.S. beginning in June, include three types of alternative-fuel vehicles.


The alternative-fuel vehicles consist of 25 Compressed Natural Gas (CNG) vans, 65 electric hybrid Original Equipment Manufacturer (OEM) vehicles -- Ford Escapes and Toyota Priuses -- and 15 electric hybrid conversion work trucks.


AT&T estimates that its use of these alternative-fueled and more fuel-efficient vehicles will reduce greenhouse gas emissions by 124 metric tons and conserve nearly 34,395 gallons of fuel annually.


AT&T said the alternative-fuel vehicle represent one way the company is working to minimize the environmental impact of its operations. AT&T is also working to minimize energy consumption in company buildings, IT systems and networks, and the company is evaluating alternative energy sources such as wind and solar power. Thehttp://www.att.com

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Ofcom Deregulates the UK's Wholesale Broadband Market

Ofcom , the official regulator and competition authority for the UK communications sector, announced the removal of regulations for wholesale broadband access in areas of the UK which are served by effective competition.


Ofcom said the regulatory environment it has put in place has resulted in significant competition which has matured at different rates across the UK. The most competitive areas tend to be those where there is high population density, in particular large towns and cities and business districts. Following a public consultation, Ofcom will deregulate almost 70 percent of the UK wholesale broadband market where there is now strong competition.


The measure will affect those parts of the country which are now served by four or more wholesale broadband providers and where no single company has significant market power. In these areas customers are protected by the disciplines of effective competition.


However, some parts of the country do not enjoy this level of competition. Where there is less competition and where a company still has significant market power, Ofcom will maintain regulation designed to promote retail competition. This requires BT and KCOM, in Hull , to provide a wholesale product to other providers on a fair and reasonable basis, thus allowing these providers to offer retail services.


"This is a major step forward in the UK broadband market reflecting the success we have had in promoting effective competition. It shows that we are determined to deregulate wherever we can do so in a way that is consistent with the broader public interest," said Ed Richards, Ofcom Chief Executive.http://www.ofcom.org.uk

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