Nominum Enhances its DHCP Server with IPv6

Nominum has enhanced its commercial-grade Dynamic Host Configuration Protocol (DHCP) server with support for DHCPv6 and extensive new management capabilities that allow network operations staff to make the best use of precious IP addresses.


Personal computers have long used DHCP for connecting to the Internet, but now a multitude of new devices such as smart phones, VoIP devices, and netbooks also depend on it to get network access. With IPv6 gaining traction, hundreds of millions of additional devices will need connectivity and configuration parameters; and common applications such as voice over IP are not tolerant of any down time.


Nominum said most existing DHCP servers are significantly challenged supporting IPv4 networks, lacking the underlying architecture to allocate and manage IP addresses and host configuration parameters while maintaining performance at massive scale; these requirements are magnified with IPv6. Nominum developed a special in-memory database for DCS that is completely optimized to deliver high performance. A transaction log is maintained on the server's hard disk so the database can be recovered instantly in the event of a system crash. In addition, DCS has open interfaces to integrate with databases commonly used in conjunction with DHCP servers such as RADIUS, provisioning databases, or LDAP.


New features in Nominum's Dynamic Configuration System (DCS) include:

• SNMP-based management with alerts (traps) for critical notification of events



• Abandoned addresses to flag potential problems on the network or detect DoS attacks



• Notification when a "remaining address" threshold is exceeded to allow high service levels to be maintained with an absolute minimum of IP addresses



• High performance Dynamic DNS (DDNS) support for IPv4 and IPv6 allows automated updates of host information in authoritative DNS servers



• Complete standards-based support for both DHCPv4 and DHCPv6 as well as IPv4 and IPv6 transport on a single server

http://www.nominum.com

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Ericsson Secures US$625 Million Loan from Swedish Export Credit Corp.

Ericsson signed a long-term bilateral loan of USD$625 million with SEK (The Swedish Export Credit Corporation), partially backed by EKN (The Swedish Export Credit Guarantee Board) working capital guarantee. Ericsson has signed a USD denominated 625 million seven-year loan with SEK. Ericsson said it intends to use the proceeds of the offering for refinancing of bonds maturing within the current and next year and for general corporate purposes. The loan will lengthen Ericsson's average debt maturity profile and provide a more efficient capital structure.
http://www.ericsson.com

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European Commission Seeks Public Input on Next Gen Access (NGA) Networks

The European Commission has launched a public consultation on its revised proposals for the regulation of Next Generation Access (NGA) broadband networks.


A previous public consultation held during the last quarter of 2008 confirmed general support for the objective of the Commission to achieve a common regulatory framework for NGA in order to foster timely investment in very high speed networks while ensuring that the competitive structure of the market is maintained. In the light of comments from stakeholders, the revised draft Recommendation includes mechanisms to allocate the investment risk between investors and operators seeking access to NGA networks.


The revised draft Recommendation would include mechanisms to allocate investment risk between investors and access seekers. In particular, to foster market-driven investment outside densely populated areas, the draft Recommendation defines conditions under which co-investment schemes could be deemed pro-competitive. Under the draft Recommendation, deployment by the dominant operator of multiple fibres could justify less stringent regulatory obligations. The competitive advantage of having multiple fibres in the ground is that it allows immediate and undistorted infrastructure competition.


In addition, the revised draft Recommendation endeavours to develop a pan-EU common regulatory approach, which telecoms regulators would adapt to national market conditions. The approach proposed by the Commission aims at driving infrastructure-based competition where it is possible and efficient, while ensuring a seamless migration from copper to fibre-based networks.


EU Telecoms Commissioner Viviane Reding said: "High speed fibre networks are the new generation of broadband infrastructures in Europe. In order to give citizens and businesses across Europe access to fast broadband Internet, very large sums of private and also public money will need to be injected in the coming years. Investors therefore need to know the rules of the game. The aim of the planned Commission Recommendation on next generation access is to provide legal certainty for all players by providing national regulators across Europe with clear guidance on the regulatory approach to be taken. I call on all stakeholders to contribute actively to the new public consultation in order to help us achieve the right balance between effective competition in the broadband market and giving the right incentives for sustainable investment in Europe's high speed networks."http://www.europa.eu

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Michigan's Merit Network Deploys Juniper EX, M and MX Series

Merit Network, a Michigan-based non-profit provider of high-performance networking and services, has deployed Juniper Networks' EX Series Ethernet Switches, M Series Multiservice Edge Routers and MX Series Ethernet Services Routers. the installation more than doubled the capacity of Merit's research and education network to support new services for its Members and manage growing application demands.


Merit will be able to support next-generation, bandwidth-intensive applications such as high-definition classroom video conferencing and virtual field trips. Additionally, the increased capacity allows Merit to grant Members full access to Internet2, the U.S. advanced networking consortium, without causing network congestion.
http://www.juniper.nethttp://www.merit.edu

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Sprint Nextel to Divest iDEN Assets in Parts of Midwestern States

Sprint Nextel is seeking a buyer for certain of its Integrated Digital Enhanced Network (iDEN) assets in parts of several Midwestern states.

The sale of these assets will bring Sprint into compliance with an Illinois court ruling requiring the company to cease owning, operating or managing the Nextel National Network in markets primarily located in parts of Illinois, Iowa, Michigan and Nebraska. Sprint said the sale would have an minimal impact on its financial results.
http://www.sprint.com

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Paul Geason appointed Group Managing Director of Telstra Wholesale

Paul Geason has been appointed to Group Managing Director, Telstra Wholesale, effective from June 30. Mr Geason has been Executive Director, Convergent Sales at Telstra Enterprise and Government (TE&G) since returning to Telstra in August 2006. In this role, he has been responsible for the marketing and sale of voice, data, mobile and unified communications to Telstra's enterprise and government customers.


Prior to re-joining Telstra in 2006, Mr Geason was Senior Vice President of Sales at Netcracker in Boston.
http://www.telstra.com

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Australia's Regulatory Reform Submissions Published

A public discussion paper for Australia's National Broadband Network: Regulatory Reform for 21st Century Broadband paper have been published. The Regulatory Reform paper canvassed a range of options for reforming the critical competition and consumer-protection arrangements for the telecommunications sector. More than 120 submissions were received from a range of individuals, industry players and other stakeholders.


"There has been an extremely strong response to the Government's public consultation on the future of Australia's telecommunications regime," the Minister for Broadband, Communications and the Digital Economy, Senator Stephen Conroy, said.


"The submissions support the Government's conviction that regulatory reform is urgently required to deliver better outcomes for consumers while the National Broadband Network is being rolled out."


"The Government is giving careful consideration to the submissions put forward. We are determined to proceed with our reform agenda and we will be working hard to introduce legislation this year."


"The regulatory reforms we are now developing will improve competition and service during the transition to the National Broadband Network," Senator Conroy said.


"The National Broadband Network will form the foundation for Australia's future broadband market and our participation in the digital economy by delivering high-speed broadband to every home, workplace and school."


Submissions to the National Broadband Network: Regulatory Reform for 21st Century Broadband discussion paper are available online.
http://www.dbcde.gov.au/nationalbroadbandnetwork

• The Australian government rejected all five bids for the next generation national broadband network and instead announced plans to build the A$43 billion (US$30.7 billion) FTTP network itself.
  
  
  Under the Rudd Government's new national broadband network every house, school and business in Australia will get access to affordable fast broadband. The plan calls for the government to set-up a new entity that would install fiber connections to ninety percent of Australian homes and businesses over an eight year period. The network will deliver wholesale services of 100 Mbps or better. Locations outside the fiber footprint would be served by high-speed (12 Mbps) wireless connections. Private investors could take a minority stake in the project and after five years the government would sell its majority stake. The Government's investment in the company will be funded through the Building Australia Fund and the issuance of Aussie Infrastructure Bonds (AIBs), which will provide an opportunity for households and institutions to invest in the national broadband network.
  
  
  Australia's Prime Minister Kevin Rudd described the initiative as the largest infrastructure project ever undertaken by the Australian government.
  The project is expected to create 25,000 and possibly as many as 37,000 jobs during the peak of installation.



• In December 2008. Telstra was excluded from any further consideration in Australia's National Broadband Network (NBN) Request for Proposals (RFP) process. Senator Stephen Conroy, Austalia's Minister for Broadband Communications and the Digital Economy, said Telstra "excluded itself" from the NBN process for failing to submit a Small and Medium Enterprise (SME) Participation Plan, which is one of five mandatory requirements of the RFP. He also confirmed that the five proponents who have made public statements about their participation in the process Acacia, Axia, Optus-Terria, TransACT and the Tasmanian Government have all met the requirements and conditions for participation.
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Nokia Life Tools Make Commercial Launch

After a successful pilot in the state of Maharashtra, Nokia announced the commercial launch of its pioneering Nokia Life Tools service in India. The service will be rolled out first in Maharashtra in association with the Maharashtra State Agricultural Marketing Board (MSAMB). Designed specifically for the emerging markets, Nokia Life Tools is a range of Agriculture, Education and Entertainment services sharply addressing the information gaps of target consumers.


The Nokia Life Tools Agriculture service offers consumers a choice of 2 plans. The basic plan, available across India at Rs 30/month, provides daily weather updates and relevant agriculture-related news, advice and tips. The premium plan, at Rs 60/month, will be available in 10 states, including Maharashtra, and provides the closest market prices for three crops chosen by the subscriber, as well as weather, news, advice and tips.


The Nokia Life Tools Education service, available throughout India, offers three components: Learn English, with basic, intermediate and advanced levels; Exam preparation, which offers students tips and advice for ICSE, CBSE and State Board-level exams mapped to the relevant curriculum; and General Knowledge, which gives subscribers useful information about the world around them. Each of the Education services will be offered at Rs 30/month. Information and content from multiple local and international companies will be aggregated and delivered to Nokia Life Tools by EnableM.


The Nokia Life Tools Entertainment service at launch will include Astrology, News, Jokes, Cricket and ringtones, offered at existing market prices. The content is aggregated and brought to Life Tools by OnMobile. The complete Nokia Life Tools solution will be available on the newly launched Nokia 2323 classic and Nokia 2330 classic devices, and will be later expanded to other Nokia devices.


Nokia Life Tools service will be expanded to select countries across Asia and Africa later in 2009 and beyond.
http://www.nokia.com

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