European Parliament Approves New Telecom Rules

The European Parliament approved a major overhaul of EU telecoms rules by 510 votes to 40, with 24 abstentions. The new rules, which are expected to be implemented over the next 18 months, are aimed at strengthening the rights of phone users and Internet surfers and boosting competition among telecoms firms. "This legislative package is a prime example of how the work we are doing as European legislators has an impact on the daily life of citizens....

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NSN and LG Undertake LTE Testing in 2100 MHz for Japan

Nokia Siemens Networks and LG recently completed end-to-end LTE interoperability tests in the 2100 MHz frequency band, which is the spectrum where first commercial deployments are expected in Japan. The tests demonstrated the interoperability of Nokia Siemens Networks LTE radio equipment and Evolved Packet Core network elements with an LTE USB Datacard from LG Electronics. They were conducted at the Nokia Siemens Networks LTE center of competence in Oulu, Finland, with support from the R&D team in Ulm, Germany. As a next step, field trials...

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Clearwire Secures Additional $2.8 Billion through Bond Offerings

Clearwire secured additional $2.8 billion in new capital through the issuance of senior secured notes due 2015."Today, we are proud to have secured an additional $920 million in debt financing, which, when coupled with the $1.56 billion of recently announced equity financing and the $1.85 billion of debt financing that we closed on today, demonstrates our ability to access the capital markets on attractive terms and in sufficient size to meet our...

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Windstream to Acquire Iowa Telecom for $1.1 Billion

Windstream agree to acquire Iowa Telecom for approximately $1.1 billion.Iowa Telecom serves about 256,000 access lines, about 95,000 high-speed Internet customers and about 26,000 digital TV customers. Windstream serves approximately 3 million access lines. Iowa Telecom shareholders will receive 0.804 shares of Windstream stock and $7.90 in cash per each Iowa Telecom share under terms of the agreement approved by the boards of directors of both...

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IEEE Sends 40 Gbps and 100 Gbps Ethernet Standards to Ballot

The IEEE 802 Executive Committee has forwarded the draft 40 Gbps and 100 Gbps standard for sponsor balloting Once the Sponsor ballot has been completed, the draft standards will be submitted for approval by the IEEE-SA Standards Board as an IEEE standard.IEEE P802.3ba will be known by its full name of "IEEE Standard for Information Technology - Telecommunications and Information Exchange Between Systems - Local and Metropolitan Area Networks -...

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Sprint Closes Acquisition of Virgin Mobile USA

Sprint Nextel completed its previously announced acquisition of Virgin Mobile USA, strengthening its position in the growing prepaid segment by bringing together the iconic Virgin Mobile brand with Sprint's Boost Mobile business. http://www.sprint....

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EXFO Expands 40 Gbps OTN Test Capabilities

EXFO Electro-Optical Engineering (EXFO) has enhanced its FTB-8140 Transport Blazer 40/43 Gigabit SONET/SDH/OTN Test Module with full ODU multiplexing capability as well as independent transmission/reception settings. With the ODU multiplexing functionality on the FTB-8140 Transport Blazer, service providers can now test ODU1 and ODU2 containers within the OTU3 signal. EXFO said its FTB-8140 Transport Blazer now offers flexibility so that SONET/SDH payloads as well as 10 Gigabit Ethernet can be mapped into the ODU1 or ODU2 containers, ensuring...

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Tata and Middle East Operators Plan New Undersea Cable

Tata Communications announced a strategic partnership with several of the major telecom operators in the Middle East to construct a new cable system into the Gulf. The new cable will link the region's major business hubs and city centres via Tata's Global Network (the TGN).Tata's partners for the new TGN Gulf Cable System include Bahrain Internet Exchange, Nawras of Oman, Qatar Telecom, Mobily of the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia and Etisalat of the United...

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Virgin Media Selects TiVo For Next Gen TV Platform

TiVo will become the exclusive provider of middleware and user interface software for Virgin Media's next generation set top boxes. Virgin Media will become the exclusive distributor of TiVo services and technology in the United Kingdom. Under the mutually exclusive agreement, TiVo will develop a converged television and broadband interactive interface to power Virgin Media's next generation, high definition set top boxes. Virgin Media said it anticipates launching its first TiVo co-branded product in 2010. The terms of the deal were not disclosed....

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IBM Opens Telecom Development Centers in China, South Africa, Malaysia and France

IBM officially opened new telecommunications development centers in China, South Africa and Malaysia to help Communication Service Providers (CSPs) create new business models while improving the customer experience and operational efficiencies. IBM also announced a dedicated center in France for solutions based on products and services from Comverse, a supplier of software and systems for the telecom industry.The new telecom development centers offer a range of new telecommunications software solutions based on IBM's Service Provider Delivery Environment...

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