Singapore's StarHub Implements 3G Direct Tunnel with NSN

Singapore-based StarHub has migrated its 3G core network to a flat network architecture using Nokia Siemes Networks' Direct Tunnel solution. This expansion will strengthen StarHub's HSPA+ (High Speed Packet Access)-based wireless broadband service, which offers speeds of 21 Mbps and up. Financial terms were not disclosed.


"Data traffic has increased exponentially over the last two years, and StarHub is now geared to handle the current and future traffic needs of its subscribers. What's more, there is no need to invest substantial amounts of money to build capacity to handle the increased data throughput. It's really thanks to this innovative software offering from Nokia Siemens Networks that routes 3G data traffic effectively, improving the user experience while reducing capital and operating expenses," said Peter Cook, Vice-President of Integrated Network Engineering, StarHub.


Direct Tunneling allows user data traffic to bypass the Serving Gateway Support Node (SGSN), which, in traditional packet core setups, is responsible for both signaling and routing user data. When user data bypasses the SGSN, it reduces the load on the SGSN capacity and lowers transmission network costs. Further, with Nokia Siemens Networks as StarHub's incumbent packet core solution vendor, the Direct Tunneling functionality is a mere software upgrade for the operator.
http://www.nokiasiemensnetworks.com

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Zeugma Adds SmartBoost Capability its Service Delivery Router

Zeugma Systems introduced a SmartBoost capability that enables its service delivery router (SDR) to instantly increase the bandwidth to an individual broadband subscriber. The new capability leverages the Zeugma Services Node's (ZSN's) Open Application Sandbox (OAS) and robust traffic management capabilities providing the ability for subscribers to self-provision temporary bandwidth increases. Subscribers could signal their desire for more bandwidth via a Web-browser, the set-top box interface or web-enabled smart phones, such as the iPhone.


Zeugma said its SmartBoost capability is far simpler for a network operator to implement than previous industry attempts to deliver individualized subscriber bandwidth shaping. Previous approaches require modification to a myriad of devices such as broadband remote access servers (BRAS), policy servers, and access nodes, which severely complicates implementation, driving up both cost and time-to-market. Zeugma's Smart Series applications run within the Zeugma Open Application Sandbox (OAS) to provide granular choices for defining basic and advanced broadband services. Other Zeugma Smart Series applications include SmartVideo, SmartMeter, SmartVOIP, and SmartMonitor.


Texas-based Hill Country Telephone is implementing the new SmartBoost capability.
http://www.zeugmasystems.com

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Mobile Hard Drives Reach 1 TB Capacity

WD introduced the industry's first 2.5-inch hard drive reach 1 TB capacity. A 750 GB WD Scorpio Blue model also will be available.


The WD Scorpio Blue 750 GB and 1 TB hard drives have a 12.5 mm form factor and are designed for use in portable storage solutions, such as the newly released My Passport Essential SE Portable USB Drives. Other applications include select notebooks and small form factor desktop PCs, where quiet and cool operation are important. Both WD Scorpio Blue drives deliver high-performance with a 3 Gbps transfer rate.


The manufacturer's suggested retail price (MSRP) for the WD Scorpio Blue 1 TB drive is $249.99 USD and for the 750 GB version it is $189.99 USD.
http://www.westerndigital.com

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Australia Picks Mike Quigley to Head National Broadband Network Initiative

The Australian government has appointed Mike Quigley as the Executive Chairman of the company established to deliver the National Broadband Network (NBNCo).


Quigley most recently served as President and Chief Operating Officer of Alcatel-Lucent. As a long-term Alcatel executive, he was instrumental in the merger with Lucent Technologies. During the course of his career, Mr. Quigley has led the development and integration of large scale Fibre-To-The-Premise (FTTP) and Fibre-To-The-Node (FTTN) implementations for some of the largest U.S. carriers.
http://www.minister.dbcde.gov.au/

• 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.

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Corning's Telecom Sales Increase 14% Sequentially to $437 Million

Corning's telecommunications segment sales in Q2 2009 were $437 million, an increase of 14% over the previous quarter. In its quarterly financial report, Corning said it experienced strong demand for optical fiber and cable in China. In North America, the company saw increased demand for its fiber-to-the-home products.
http://www.corning.com

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BigBand Unveils Converged Video Exchange Software Control Plane

BigBand Networks introduced its Converged Video Exchange (CVEx), an intelligent software control plane that provides a unified means to deliver and manage linear and non-linear video services across the network edge, to traditional MPEG set-top boxes (STBs) and next-generation IP devices.


BigBand said it developed the CVEx to remove the boundaries between disparate video service types by dynamically controlling the allocation of all RF and IP video services within a single bandwidth pool. The software is designed to offer a single control plane as operators move toward eliminating the dedicated bandwidth silos for individual services such as Video on Demand (VOD), Switched Digital Video (SDV) and IPTV, while simultaneously improving spectrum utilization.


Key capabilities of the CVEx platform include:

• A common interface and single means to rapidly deploy and ensure a quality video service experience across traditional MPEG set-top boxes and next-generation IP devices including PCs, TVs and ultimately, to mobile devices;
  
• Allows for bandwidth to be pooled and reallocated on an as-needed basis; and
  
  
• Provides subscriber and video service measurement tools that cross multiple data planes with holistic views of program and service behaviors, network resource usage and "what if" scenario planning.

The initial implementation of the CVEx platform will include application sharing between RF applications with subsequent functionality added as the industry further evolves toward IP.
http://www.bigbandnet.com

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ADTRAN Supplies Total Access 5000 to Iowa's Walnut Communications

Walnut Communications, a network operator serving west central Iowa, has selected Adtran's Total Access 5000 Multi-Service Access and Aggregation Platform (MSAP) for next-generation access and Ethernet transport throughout its network. Financial terms were not disclosed.


Walnut will utilize ADTRAN's enhanced Pseudowire Emulation Edge to End (PWE3) technology via the Total Access 5000 for TDM service delivery and Ethernet transport over fiber. Walnut will also utilize the Total Access 5000's eSHDSL capabilities to provide high-bandwidth services to local businesses using Ethernet in the First Mile (EFM) for Ethernet service delivery.
http://www.adtran.com

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UNH-IOL Builds IPv6 Test for U.S. Government Compliance

The University of New Hampshire InterOperability Laboratory (UNH-IOL), in collaboration with the National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST), has just completed a test review event confirming the first test specifications for the US Government IPv6 (USGv6) Test Program. The new specifications resulting from the test review event will be used to test products for USGv6 compliance.


As of July 2010, U.S. Government agencies will require IPv6 compliant products in IT acquisitions. In light of this, the USGv6 Test Program, utilizing the NIST USGv6 profile, will provide government buyers and agencies guidance on the status of IPv6 in equipment they are purchasing.


The USGv6 Test Program calls for IPv6 vendors to arrange for both conformance and interoperability product testing in order to comply with the profile. The USGv6 Test Event, held at the UNH-IOL, focused on interoperability product testing. It allowed vendors to pre-test USGv6 interoperability test specifications, lend technical expertise to interoperability test specification development, and gain a higher level of confidence of compliance before mandates. The USGv6 Test Event provided both the participants and test labs the opportunity to preview the interoperability portion of the USGv6 Test Program in a live test.
http://www.iol.unh.edu

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Huawei Opens LTE Laboratory in North America

Huawei inaugurated a Long Term Evolution (LTE) laboratory located in Richardson, Texas. Initially established with prototype equipment in fall of 2008, the facility has been upgraded to fully support commercial product releases for North America. The lab recently implemented Huawei's first commercial LTE solution release targeted at operators in the United States and Canada. Additionally, local research and development teams are now able to work more closely with North American operators to rigorously test LTE systems before delivery.


"It is a key step forward in our readiness to support customers launching LTE in the United States and Canada with local facilities and resources," said Carl Liu, Executive Vice President of Huawei North America. "Building on the LTE field trial we did in AWS (Advanced Wireless Services) spectrum in the U.S. last year, we are very pleased to be able to offer the latest in LTE multi-band technology as carriers partner with Huawei to deliver advanced mobile broadband services."


The state-of-the-art lab is equipped with Huawei's SingleRAN DBS3900 eNodeB, USN 9810 unified service node, UGW 9811 unified gateway, M2000 element management system and the latest versions of commercial software. Huawei's industry-leading SingleRAN solution incorporates software-defined radio technology to support CDMA/LTE and UMTS/LTE dual-mode operation, which Huawei first demonstrated in AWS spectrum at CTIA Wireless 2008.
http://www.huawei.com

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Tellabs Reports Q2 Revenue of $385 Million, Down 11% YoY

Tellabs' second-quarter 2009 revenue totaled $385 million, compared with $432 million in the second quarter of 2008. Tellabs earned $16 million or 4 cents per share on a GAAP (U.S. generally accepted accounting principles) basis, compared with $39 million or 10 cents per share in the year-ago quarter, which included a tax benefit of 9 cents per share.


The company said more than half of overall revenue came from growth products, including the Tellabs 6300, 7100, 8600 and 8800 systems and professional services.

GAAP gross profit margin was 43.5% in the second quarter of 2009, compared with 34.7% in the year-ago quarter. The company generated $64 million in cash from operations and added $58 million to its cash, cash equivalents and marketable securities, which rose to more than $1.2 billion.

For the second quarter of 2009, Broadband segment revenue was $210 million, Transport segment revenue was $119 million and Services segment revenue was $56 million.
http://www.tellabs.com

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Mobile Initiative for East Africa's Lake Victoria

Zain, and Ericsson, in an initiative coordinated by the GSM Association, have kicked off an effort to improve public security and bring development across the Lake Victoria region by extending the mobile network coverage. This initiative is expected to fuel economic and social development of the lakeside communities and potentially reduce the number of fishing-related deaths each year.


The expanded mobile coverage will comprise the area of the lake where 80 percent of fishing activities take place, allowing communication and SMS exchange to and from phones. Thanks to the project, the Lake Victoria region now has an additional 21 energy-efficient sites, with three of them solar powered. A Rescue Coordination Centre has been established. Local stakeholders supporting the project include the International Maritime Rescue Federation (IMRF) and its local representative the National Lake Rescue Institute (NLRI).


Lake Victoria is the second largest lake in the world with nearly 200,000 fishermen, 35 million people living along its shores and a fishing fleet of more than 70,000 boats.


"As the East African community gets connected to undersea cables for the first time, the communities of Lake Victoria can now access a mobile safety net," said Gabriel Solomon, Senior Vice President GSM Association. "It is now incumbent upon the governments of East Africa to leverage this network by partnering with the private sector and delivering a rainbow of new services."http://www.ericsson.com

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Swisscom Invests in Quantenna for Whole-Home 4x4 MIMO

Swisscom has made a strategic investment in Quantenna Communications, a start-up developing silicon for high-speed, wireless high definition (HD) video home networking. The investment expands Quantenna's Series C funding round, which also includes previous announced investors Grazia Equity, Sequoia Capital, Sigma Partners, Southern Cross Venture Partners and Venrock Associates. To date, Quantenna has raised over $44 million.


Quantenna leverages dynamic digital beamforming to deliver very high-speed wireless coverage throughout the whole home for sharing high definition (HD) video and multimedia content between home gateways and TVs. Quantenna's silicon is targeted at devices such as home residential gateways, set-top boxes, routers, HDTVs and consumer electronic devices, which all require high bandwidth and reliability to support whole home HD video distribution and networking over standard Wi-Fi networks.
http://www.quantenna.com

• In May, Quantenna Communications named David French as its new CEO, succeeding Dr. Behrooz Rezvani, who will continue his role as president of Quantenna and chairman of the Board of Directors. French brings more than three decades of semiconductor experience to Quantenna. Most recently, he was president and CEO of Cirrus Logic Inc., a leading fabless semiconductor public company. Under French's leadership, Cirrus Logic emerged as a world leader in audio integrated circuits, such as audio converters and audio digital signal processors, as well as industrial mixed-signal and embedded ICs. Prior to Cirrus Logic, French was the vice president and general manager at Analog Devices Inc.

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CopperGate joins HomeGrid Forum Board

The HomeGrid Forum, which promotes the ITU-T's G.hn standardization efforts, has expanded its Board of Directors with the addition of CopperGate Communications. CopperGate joins Best Buy, BT, Infineon, Intel, Panasonic, and Sigma Designs in leading the HomeGrid Forum.


CopperGate Communications offers standards-based chipsets enable carrier-class distribution of broadband digital content over all three types of existing wires in the home: coax, phone, and power. The company sells its technology to OEMs for use in set-top boxes, residential gateways, optical network terminators and Ethernet bridges.


The G.hn standard aims to deliver a single unified technology for the wired home network that addresses key issues of service providers, electronics manufacturers, and consumers alike. Through one worldwide standard, G.hn will unify the networking of content and devices over any wire -- coax cable, phone and power lines. G.hn enables service providers to deploy new offerings including IPTV more cost effectively; allows consumer electronics manufacturers to provide powerful devices for connecting all types of entertainment, home automation and security products throughout the house; and greatly simplifies consumer purchasing and installation processes.
http://www.HomeGridForum.orghttp://www.copper-gate.com

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Solarflare Appoints VP of Engineering

Solarflare Communications, a start-up developing low-power 10 Gigabit Ethernet (10GbE) silicon, appointed Danny Shamlou as senior vice president of engineering. Prior to Solarflare, Shamlou served as general manager and engineering vice president at Mindspeed and Conexant. Recently, Shamlou worked for Starport Systems as vice president of engineering, where he led the development of ultra high-frequency radio frequency identification SoC devices and a 65 nanometer XFI SERDES IP core. He has a bachelor's degree from the University of Tennessee and a master's degree from Georgia Institute of Technology.
http://www.solarflare.com

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Verizon Offers Free Wi-Fi for Broadband Customers

Verizon has begun offering free Wi-Fi connectivity at its public hotspots to its broadband customers.


New Verizon FiOS Internet customers who order an up-to- 25/15 Mbps or faster connection, or new HSI customers who order an up-to- 3 Mbps/768 Kbps or up-to- 7.1 Mbps/768 Kbps connection, can connect to the new Verizon Wi-Fi hot spots, at no additional charge as part of their broadband service.


The new WiFi service is also available free of charge for existing FiOS Internet customers with up-to-20 Mbps or faster packages and existing HSI customers who have either an up-to-3 Mbps or up-to- 7.1 Mbps package.
http://www.verizon.com

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Verizon Sees Continued Consumer Spending as Business Weakens

Despite the U.S. recession, consumer demand for wireless, broadband and video products continued to grow in Q2 at Verizon Communications, while sales at Verizon Business weakened.


Verizon's total operating revenues grew 11.3 percent to $26.9 billion, compared with the second quarter 2008, including revenues from Alltel Corporation, which was acquired in January 2009. On a pro forma basis (determined by consolidating the operating results of Verizon and the former Alltel as though the acquisition had occurred on Jan. 1, 2008), operating revenue growth was 1.9 percent. Verizon reported diluted earnings per share (EPS) of 52 cents in the second quarter 2009, compared with 66 cents per share in the second quarter 2008. On an adjusted basis (non-GAAP), second-quarter 2009 earnings were 63 cents per share, compared with second-quarter 2008 earnings of 67 cents per share.


"Verizon posted continued strong wireless revenue growth and new levels of sales success with FiOS in the second quarter," said Verizon Chairman and CEO Ivan Seidenberg. "This resilience in consumer demand for our wireless, broadband and video products has again produced overall revenue growth despite cyclical impacts, especially in business markets. Verizon's continued strong cash flow reflects the exceptional focus and disciplined execution across our business."


Some operational highlights:


Wireless


Wireless retail (non-wholesale) gross customer additions were up 26.0 percent over the second quarter of 2008. On a pro forma basis, retail gross customer additions were down slightly, by 0.6 percent, due in part to fewer additions in the business market.

Verizon Wireless had 87.7 million customers at the end of the quarter, an increase of 27.7 percent year over year and 7.9 percent on a pro forma basis.

Wireless revenues totaled $15.5 billion, up 27.7 percent year over year and up 7.6 percent on a pro forma basis. Service revenues were $13.3 billion, up 27.2 percent year over year and up 9.0 percent on a pro forma basis, as demand continued to grow for data services. Data revenue grew to $3.9 billion, up 52.6 percent and up 33.2 percent on a pro forma basis.

Service ARPU (average monthly service revenue per user) decreased 0.8 percent year over year to $51.10. On a pro forma basis, service ARPU was up 0.6 percent. Total data ARPU was $14.96, up 18.9 percent year over year and up 22.8 percent on a pro forma basis.

In the second quarter, data revenues grew to 29.3 percent of all service revenues, up from 24.0 percent in the second quarter 2008 on a pro forma basis.

During Q2, Verizon Wireless customers sent or received nearly 146 billion text messages. Customers also sent more than 2.5 billion picture/video messages and completed 40 million music and video downloads during the quarter.


Wireline

• Verizon added 303,000 net new FiOS Internet customers, a record number for the second consecutive quarter. By the end of the second quarter, the company had 3.1 million FiOS Internet customers, an increase of 56.1 percent compared with June 30, 2008.



• FiOS Internet sales penetration (sales as a percentage of potential customers) increased to 28.1 percent, compared with 23.5 percent at June 30, 2008. FiOS Internet was available for sale to 11.0 million premises by the end of the quarter.



• Verizon added 300,000 net new FiOS TV customers. The company had 2.5 million FiOS TV customers by the end of the quarter, an increase of 82.1 percent compared with June 30, 2008.



• FiOS TV sales penetration increased to 24.6 percent, compared with 19.7 percent as of June 30, 2008. FiOS TV service was available for sale to 10.3 million premises by the end of the quarter.



• Revenue growth from broadband and video services boosted consumer ARPU to $72.59 in the second quarter 2009, a 13.7 percent increase year over year. FiOS ARPU remained strong at more than $135.



• Sales of strategic business services -- such as IP, managed services, Ethernet and security solutions -- generated $1.5 billion in revenue in the quarter, up 3.0 percent from the second quarter 2008.



• Broadband connections totaled 9.1 million in the second quarter, a 9.4 percent increase year over year and a net increase of 186,000 from the
  first quarter 2009. This includes a decrease of 117,000 DSL-based Verizon High Speed Internet connections from the first quarter, which
  was more than offset by the 303,000 increase in FiOS Internet customers.



• During the quarter, Verizon installed 26 Private IP edge switches for a total of 705 across 59 countries. It also expanded its global mesh networks, completed 1,488 miles of ultra-long-haul network in Europe, expanded remote access services to India and had suppliers begin laying cable for the 15,000-kilometer (9,000-mile) Europe India Gateway submarine cable.

On Tuesday, July 28, Verizon Wireless will host a Verizon Developer Community conference and webcast to facilitate application development for use on the Verizon Wireless 3G and 4G networks.
http://www.verizon.com

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Rayspan Raises $12.5 million for Better Antennas

Rayspan, a start-up based in San Diego, raised $12.5 million in venture funding for its work with metamaterial air interface for wireless communications.


Rayspan said its metamaterials provide breakthrough improvements in antenna and RF front-end component miniaturization, performance, cost reduction and ease of manufacture. The technology support a full range of fixed and mobile wireless WAN and LAN applications including all 2/3/4G cellular handsets, WiFi, Bluetooth and GPS.


The new Series B financing was led by new investor Khosla Ventures, who was joined by existing Rayspan investor Sequoia Capital as well as individual private investors. http://www.rayspan.com

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