Sunday, August 2, 2009

Calix and Hatteras Partner on Mid-band Ethenet for Rural IOCs

Hatteras Networks, which offers mid-band Ethernet solutions for enterprise access and next-generation mobile backhaul, and Calix announced an industry partnership, Hatteras' products have been certified in the Calix Compatible Solution Assurance Program. The joint solution and the joint development efforts include interoperability of the Hatteras EoC solution with the Calix E5-120 and the integration of both companies' products into the ODC-100 cabinet.


Customers of both companies are participating in BTOP, the portion of stimulus monies identified in the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act (ARRA) of 2009 for the advancement of broadband services in un-served and underserved communities as well as for improved access to broadband by public safety agencies. The BTOP provides $4.7 billion to be distributed by the National Telecommunications and Information Administration (NTIA) and $2.5 billion to be administered by Rural Utilities Service (RUS).


"We are excited about partnering with a well established player like Calix and becoming a certified member of their Calix Compatible Solution Assurance Program. Our partnership is in direct response to our customers' requests," said Vijay Raman, Vice President of Marketing and Product Management at Hatteras Networks. "Partnering with other access vendors for compatibility is especially important to our customers' efforts to win Federal stimulus grants."http://www.calix.com
http://www.hatterasnetworks.com

Trans-Eurasia Information Network Deploys Juniper Routers

Juniper Networks' M Series Routers and EX Series Ethernet Switches have been selected by TEIN3, which provides a dedicated high-capacity Internet network for research and education communities across 11 countries throughout the Asia-Pacific region. TEIN3 offers Asia-Pacific a gateway for global collaboration, enabling more than 30 million users in 4,000 research and educational organizations across the region to participate in joint projects such as the fight against malaria, forecasting extreme weather conditions and improving health via telemedicine. The TEIN3 project is coordinated by DANTE, a not-for-profit organization that operates regional networking projects in Europe, Latin America and the southern Mediterranean rim.
http://www.juniper.net

Dell'Oro: 10 Gbps Ethernet LAN on Motherboard Forecast

A newly published report by Dell'Oro Group is forecasting that 10 Gbps Ethernet LAN on Motherboard (LOM) shipments will surpass those of network adapter cards by the end of this year. The report, which provides a 5-year market forecast, indicates that blade servers will be the catalyst for driving the initial ramp of LOMs, with rack and tower servers contributing to subsequent volumes.


"Although blade server shipments are a small portion of overall server unit shipments, the volumes on this class of server as projected through 2011 are still large enough to drive 10 Gbps Ethernet LOM shipments above that of 10 Gbps Ethernet adapter card shipments," said Seamus Crehan, Vice President at Dell'Oro Group.
http://www.DellOro.com

Agilent Introduces TD-LTE Drive Test System

Agilent Technologies announced TD- LTE Receiver Measurements as a software upgrade to its Agilent E6474A Drive Test Network Optimization Platform.


The software can be used on Agilent W1314A receivers to quickly verify base-station RF coverage, plot accurate coverage maps and validate planning in the early development of LTE networks. This new option builds on the existing FDD-LTE measurements in the Agilent solution to provide both FDD-LTE and TD-LTE measurements on a single measurement platform.


The W1314A receiver with the software enhancement will not only measure LTE P-SCH, S-SCH RSSI and LTE Cell-ID, but provides simultaneous measurements of the older 2G and 3G networks as well.

The Agilent drive test platform already supports HSPA+, UMTS, 1xEV DO and TD-SCDMA.
http://www.agilent.com

AT&T Enhances Network-Based Firewall

AT&T has enhanced security features and functionality for its network-based firewall offering. AT&T's Network-Based Firewall service is a fully managed, cost-effective solution that allows customers to manage and control individual users' access to the Internet and help prevent unauthorized access into their corporate AT&T network, without the expense of premises equipment.


New features include:

  • Anti-virus scanning of instant messaging applications, including ICQ, MSN, Yahoo! and AOL Instant

  • Expanded URL filtering, allowing or blocking access to more than 80 categories of Internet Web sites.


  • User Authentication to set policy controls over user level access to the Internet.

  • Inline scanning of HTTP and FTP content for common virus, spyware and malware threats and vulnerabilities.


  • Active Intrusion Detection and Intrusion Prevention Services (IDS/IPS), providing customizable policies and proactive investigational analysis and mitigation support


  • Additional security features and functionality, enabling customers to better manage their network security infrastructure.
http://www.att.com

SureWest Sells its Fixed Wireless Internet Assets to Yonder Media

SureWest Communications, which serves the Sacramento, California region, has sold its fixed wireless Internet access business unit to Yonder Media, a broadband Internet provider focused on providing broadband access services in rural communities.


SureWest said the sale is part of it's strategy of divesting non-core assets, which includes the sale of its Wireless business and Wireless Towers in 2008, and the sale of its Directory Publishing business in 2007. SureWest continues to review other assets, including real estate, that are no longer necessary to serve the company's customers and grow the business. SureWest plans to use the net proceeds from the transaction to continue its focus on the growth of its core broadband segment. As a result of the sale of the fixed wireless Internet assets, Yonder Media and SureWest have also developed a long-term business relationship which creates recurring monthly Broadband Business revenue for SureWest.
http://www.surewest.com
http://www.yondermedia.com

Clearwire to Launch 10 More Markets in September

On September 1, Clearwire Communications will launch its "CLEAR" 4G WiMAX service in Boise, Idaho; Bellingham, Wash.; and eight markets throughout Texas, including: Abilene, Amarillo, Corpus Christi, Lubbock, Midland/Odessa, Killeen/Temple, Waco and Wichita Falls.


Clearwire plans to bring CLEAR to 80 markets covering up to 120 million people by the end of 2010. In addition to the markets announced today, consumers and businesses can now purchase the company's 4G services online and at various retail locations in Atlanta; Baltimore; Las Vegas and Portland, Oregon.
http://www.clearwire.com

Telstra Selects Openwave's Mobile Analytics Solution

Telstra, has selected Openwave Mobile Analytics to aggregate subscriber data and behavioural information across a variety of data sources, including on portal and open Internet browsing, mobile email messaging, video and audio streaming, device type, demographics and location to provide a 360-degree view of their mobile subscriber base. Openwave Mobile Analytics also provides Telstra with insight into the operational aspects of their mobile broadband network, allowing them to control network operations more efficiently by optimizing present capacity and managing ongoing bandwidth demands.
http://www.openwave.com

Netflix Signs Streaming Deal with Disney-ABC

Netflix reached an agreement with Disney-ABC Television Group to stream several of ABC's most popular TV series to its subscribers. The deal will allow Netflix members to watch the first five seasons of ABC's "Lost," seasons four and five of "Desperate Housewives," season five of "Grey's Anatomy," and seasons one and two of "Legend of the Seeker."


Netflix currently has a library of over 12,000 movies and TV episodes available for streaming. http://www.netflix.com

Huawei Integrates LSI's Media Processors

Huawei Technologies has selected LSI Corporation's StarPro 2600 multicore media processors for use in its next-generation wireless and wireline equipment.


LSI's portfolio of SP2600 processors consists of multicore, system-on-chip devices designed to optimize mobile and enterprise media processing. The family combines advanced features, high performance, scalability (to 12 DSP cores per chip) and low power consumption into a comprehensive, cost-effective media gateway platform.
http://www.lsi.com/networking_home/index.html

EZchip Reports Q2 Results

EZchip Semiconductor, which supplies network processors, reported Q2 revenues of $6.7 million, compared to $8.0 million in the second quarter of 2008, and $9.8 million in the first quarter of 2009. The lower quarterly revenues follow EZchip's principal customer's decision to temporarily reduce the purchase of processors from the company during most of the second quarter and instead to consume existing inventory. There was a net loss (GAAP) of $0.7 million. Net income, on a non-GAAP basis, was $1.2 million for the quarter

Eli Fruchter, CEO of EZchip commented, "I am pleased to report that the temporary decline in orders from our principal customer ended in May, and, starting from June, we witnessed a strong increase in orders from this customer and from other customers. This strong order pickup underscores our belief that the second quarter revenue shortfall was a singular event and we expect to return to, and potentially exceed, first quarter 2009 revenue levels already in the third quarter. In terms of profitability, we achieved this quarter healthy profit margins, enabling us to generate, despite the revenue shortfall, non-GAAP net income of $1.2 million and strong cash flow of $5 million, enabling us to end the quarter with a strong net cash position of over $55 million."


"During the quarter, revenues from Marvell, the supplier of our specialized NP-3 processor to a leading CESR market player, grew considerably and exceeded $1 million, contributing, for the first time, more than 10% of our quarterly revenues. While these are still early days for the NP-3, with an expected lumpiness between the quarters, we believe that Marvell, through its sales to this leading CESR player has the potential to become our largest customer in the long term."http://www.ezchip.com

Infineon Debuts Energy Efficient Gigabit PHY

Infineon Technologies introduced a Gigabit Ethernet Physical Layer (PHY) integrated circuit (IC) designed to improve energy efficiency. The new IC targets all major broadband applications, including xDSL and PON Routers in home gateway solutions, IP phones, PC motherboards, and consumer applications like IP-TVs, IP set-top boxes, game consoles and printers.


Infineon said its XWAY PHY11G is the first IC on the market to implement the Energy Efficient Ethernet (EEE) guidelines, which are based on the upcoming IEEE 802.3az standard. The Infineon PHY reduces its energy use by up to 90 percent (50 mW instead of 500 mW) during periods of idle, when there is no data traffic over the Ethernet link. Typical Gigabit PHY ICs now in the market do not have this low power mode. When operating under full load, the Infineon solution consumes at least 25 percent less energy compared to existing solutions, spending less than 400mW in total.


According to market studies, typical households have their home networks turned on 24/7, whereas the actual usage is less than one percent. With EEE implemented, devices enter low power mode when no data is sent.


"Support for Energy Efficient Ethernet is the most important feature of the XWAY PHY11G, since it will help our customers deliver value in terms of actual energy savings for purchasers of home network gear. For example, if the 150 million PHYs in home networks today were replaced by our Infineon solution, it would save 500 Gigawatt-Hours a year, which is equivalent to the yearly capacity of a coal-burning power plant," said Christian Wolff, President of the Wireline Communications Division at Infineon Technologies.


Infineon also offers the XWAY PHY22F, a dual-port Fast Ethernet PHY with the same EEE features.


Samples of the XWAY PHY11G and XWAY PHY22F will be available in Q4 2009 with volume production expected to start in Q1 of 2010.
http://www.infineon.com

New Alliance Seeks Pixel Accurate User Interfaces

Broadcom, Cisco, DIRECTV and Samsung are the founding members of a new RVU Alliance that will develop and make available technical specifications for the distribution of digital audio/video home networked entertainment content augmented with pixel accurate remote user interface graphics.


The goal is to develop a specification for a full-featured "pixel accurate" Remote User Interface (RUI) that will form the core of the new RVU technology.


The RVU protocol is based on a client-server architecture. Pixel accurate RUI technology would ensure an identical user experience on all RVU-based thin client CE devices throughout the connected home, including digital TVs (DTVs), digital media adapters (DMAs) and set-top boxes (STBs).


The RVU Alliance said its work will complement existing industry interoperability initiatives, including the efforts of the Digital Living Network Alliance (DLNA). The RVU specification requires DTCP over IP content protection.


A whitepaper is available online.
http://www.rvualliance.org

XO Expands MPLS IP-VPN Reach with Partner Agreements

XO Communications has expanded its domestic and international MPLS network capabilities with a series of domestic and international partner agreements. As a result of these arrangements, XO Communications now has coverage in all 50 states and 22 countries on five continents.


XO Communications confirmed that it has signed MPLS partnership deals in the past year with two leading domestic and international carriers. One agreement was focused on rounding out XO's domestic footprint, while the other focused on expanding the company's reach overseas. XO's international coverage area now includes Australia, Bermuda, Brazil, Canada, China, Colombia, Denmark, France, Germany, Hong Kong, Ireland, Israel, Japan, Mexico, Netherlands, Singapore, Spain, Sweden, Switzerland, Taiwan, Thailand and the United Kingdom.


"In today's global marketplace, it's more critical than ever before that enterprises leverage technology to ensure they have uninterrupted and secure communications capabilities in place -- be it in the U.S. or abroad," said Vince Margiotta, vice president of product marketing at XO Communications. "XO Communications' expanded network footprint will provide our multinational customers with increased global access, combined with our high quality service and competitive rates."http://www.xo.com

Telstra Completes 100Gbps Trial with Nortel

Telstra and Nortel completed a trial of 100 Gbps and 40 Gbps optical transmission technology. The 100 Gbps trial used a continuous 2,038 km link between Adelaide and Sydney, while the 40 Gbps trial took place over 3,370 km looped-back section of the Sydney to Adelaide route. Both trials used Nortel's DWDM equipment over Telstra's underlying optical network.
http://www.telstra.com
http://www.nortel.com

Calix and Hatteras Partner on Mid-band Ethenet for Rural IOCs

Hatteras Networks, which offers mid-band Ethernet solutions for enterprise access and next-generation mobile backhaul, and Calix announced an industry partnership, Hatteras' products have been certified in the Calix Compatible Solution Assurance Program. The joint solution and the joint development efforts include interoperability of the Hatteras EoC solution with the Calix E5-120 and the integration of both companies' products into the ODC-100 cabinet.


Customers of both companies are participating in BTOP, the portion of stimulus monies identified in the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act (ARRA) of 2009 for the advancement of broadband services in un-served and underserved communities as well as for improved access to broadband by public safety agencies. The BTOP provides $4.7 billion to be distributed by the National Telecommunications and Information Administration (NTIA) and $2.5 billion to be administered by Rural Utilities Service (RUS).


"We are excited about partnering with a well established player like Calix and becoming a certified member of their Calix Compatible Solution Assurance Program. Our partnership is in direct response to our customers' requests," said Vijay Raman, Vice President of Marketing and Product Management at Hatteras Networks. "Partnering with other access vendors for compatibility is especially important to our customers' efforts to win Federal stimulus grants."http://www.calix.com
http://www.hatterasnetworks.com