Deutsche Telekom Laboratories Expands

Deutsche Telekom Laboratories (T-Labs), Deutsche Telekom's central research and development institute affiliated to TU Berlin, has added three more professors to its staff. The company announced the following appointments:


Dr. Axel Küpper (40) assumes responsibility for Service-centric Networking at Deutsche Telekom Laboratories and will head TU Berlin's department for the same field. His aim is to study and develop new methods, technologies and platforms for provision, operation and networking of future services, both within a global, ubiquitous Internet and in other communications networks (such as ad-hoc networks). Axel Küpper's work will focus on developing new application scenarios for services-centric networking and on enhancing various services concepts, such as cloud computing and location-based services. In addition, it will concentrate on integrating and evaluating relevant service platforms and their functions in line with need, with the aim of gaining new findings about their practical applications.


Dr. Tansu Alpcan (34) has been appointed to a post in the area of Autonomous Security at TU Berlin and Deutsche Telekom Laboratories. He develops mathematical models for enhancing protection of IT networks against attacks.


Dr. Alexander Raake (38) will focus on technical quality aspects of voice, audio and video transmission in modern telecommunications systems, including such applications as Internet telephony and Internet TV. His work will be aimed at developing user-friendly multimedia services that fulfill users' quality expectations.
http://www.telekom.de

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Continuous Computing Offers TDD-LTE Source Code

Continuous Computing released an upgraded version of its "Trillium" Long Term Evolution (LTE) eNodeB protocol software, which now includes support for the Time Division Duplex (TDD) variant of LTE, known as TD-LTE.

Continuous Computing said a TDD version of LTE is not exclusively aimed at China. WiMAX operators are also expected to leverage TD-LTE. Unlike in the 3G market where TDD variants of the WCDMA standard are being deployed only in certain regions, TD-LTE is expected to have broad applicability due to the availability of unpaired spectrum around the globe. While FDD requires paired spectrum (one carrier for downlink and one for uplink), TDD employs unpaired or shared spectrum using time slots to manage interference.


Concurrently, the company is now offering its Trillium Advanced LTE Media Access Control (MAC) Schedulers suite, a set of six optimized schedulers, as well as an upgrade to the MAC scheduler interface, which helps network equipment providers (NEPs) to meet growing scalability requirements by creating their own scheduler implementations and running MAC and the MAC scheduler as independent execution modules.


Continuous Computing said one of the key breakthroughs in achieving LTE's promised data rate performance is the MAC scheduler, which permits efficient and optimal allocation of resources on the air interface. Resources are scheduled once per millisecond and on a per-user basis, making this function both processor-intensive and time-restrictive. By providing six proven implementations of different scheduling algorithms and allowing NEPs to define their own unique algorithms, Continuous Computing is accelerating time-to-market and enabling product differentiation. De-coupling the LTE MAC and MAC scheduler functions also enables NEPs to scale the scheduler independently as the number of users increase.


"With 13 LTE design wins and counting, Continuous Computing is focused on maintaining its leadership position in LTE through consistent investment in product evolution, including performance optimization, compliance upgrades and feature enhancements," said Manish Singh, VP Product Line Management at Continuous Computing.
http://www.ccpu.com/products/trillium/lte.html

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BelAir Networks Hires AT&T Wi-Fi Exec

BelAir Networks, which supplies Wi-Fi systems for service providers, has hired Greg Williams as its senior vice president, corporate and business development. Greg will focus on BelAir Networks tier 1 service provider customers worldwide, supporting integration of the company's licensed and license-free wireless products into customers' networks and businesses.


Recently, as executive vice president, business development at AT&T's Wi-Fi subsidiary, Williams' responsibilities included deploying new Wi-Fi networks for 3G offload. Greg has also served as Chairman of two key wireless industry associations: UWCC (now 3G Americas) and the WAP Forum (now the Open Mobile Alliance). Greg's service provider career spans more than two decades and includes senior management positions focused on wireless and internet services, technology, operations, and business development at AT&T, Wayport, SBC and Prodigy.
http://www.belairnetworks.comhttp://

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Vodafone Qatar Installs Alcatel-Lucent's Solar/Wind Mobile Base Station

Vodafone Qatar has deployed a "green" mobile base station from Alcatel-Lucent that integrates solar and wind energy.


The solution is provided by Alcatel-Lucent's Alternative Energy Program. The wind turbine at the Qatar site has been mounted at the top of the existing mast to leverage higher winds. The energy controller brings intelligent control to simultaneously draw power from both the photovoltaic panels and wind turbine, based on solar intensity and wind speed, making the most -- at every second -- of the two sources' fluctuating availability. The system also carefully monitors battery charging cycles and diesel generator maintenance runs so as to maximize their lifespan. A full monitoring system enables real-time tracking of all weather and energy parameters; a key component to enabling large scale deployments.


This initiative is part of a wider green technology program led by Vodafone Group to deploy green energy sources in all of its affiliates worldwide.
http://www.alcatel-lucent.com
http://www.vodafone.com

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Microsoft Proposes "The Cloud Computing Advancement Act"

Microsoft is urging the U.S. Congress and the information technology industry to act now to ensure that the burgeoning era of cloud computing is guided by an international commitment to privacy, security and transparency for consumers, businesses and government.


During a keynote speech to the Brookings Institution policy forum, Brad Smith, senior vice president and general counsel at Microsoft, called for a national conversation about how to build confidence in the cloud and proposed the Cloud Computing Advancement Act to promote innovation, protect consumers and provide government with new tools to address the critical issues of data privacy and security. Smith also called for an international dialogue on data sovereignty to guarantee to users that their data is subject to the same rules and regulations, regardless of where the data resides.


Microsoft's proposed legislation calls for the following:

• Improvements in privacy protection and data access rules to ensure users' privacy, starting with reforming and strengthening the Electronic Communications Privacy Act to clearly define and provide stronger protections for consumers and businesses;



• Modernization of the Computer Fraud and Abuse Act so law enforcement has the tools it needs to go after malicious hackers and deter instances of online-based crimes;



• Truth-in-cloud-computing principles to ensure that consumers and businesses will know whether and how their information will be accessed and used by service providers and how it will be protected online;



• Pursuit of a new multilateral framework to address data access issues globally.

http://www.microsoft.com

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Verizon Applauds FCC Video Programming Ruling

Verizon applauded the new FCC video distribution decision.


"This is a big-time victory for television sports fans. The FCC's decision to make must-see regional sports programming, including high-definition feeds, presumptively available to competitors, puts viewers in the driver's seat. This ruling means that consumers will no longer have to stick with their incumbent cable provider in order to watch local teams in high definition," stated Kathleen Grillo, Verizon senior vice president of Federal Regulatory Affairs.
http://www.verizon.comhttp://

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Department of Commerce Awards $63 Million in Broadband Grants

The Department of Commerce's National Telecommunications and Information Administration (NTIA) announced grants totaling $63 million to expand broadband access and adoption in Massachusetts, Michigan and North Carolina.


Funded by the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act, NTIA's Broadband Technology Opportunities Program (BTOP) provides grants to support the deployment of broadband infrastructure in unserved and underserved areas, enhance and expand public computer centers, and encourage sustainable adoption of broadband service. These investments will help bridge the technological divide, boost economic growth and create jobs.


New grant recipient include:

• Massachusetts, University of Massachusetts-Lowell: $780,000 broadband adoption grant with an additional $196,000 in applicant-provided matching funds to promote broadband awareness and computer literacy among vulnerable populations, including the nation's second largest Cambodian population, low-income and at-risk youth, the unemployed, residents without college degrees, and seniors in Lowell and Merrimack Valley. As part of the program, University of Massachusetts--Lowell students will work in local computer centers with at-risk youth and seniors to develop appropriate training and outreach materials.



• Michigan, Merit Network.: $33.3 million infrastructure grant with an additional $8.3 million in matching funds to build a 955-mile advanced fiber-optic network through 32 counties in Michigan's Lower Peninsula. The project also intends to directly connect 44 community anchor institutions and will serve an area covering 886,000 households, 45,800 businesses, and an additional 378 anchor institutions.



• Michigan, Michigan State University: $895,000 public computer center grant with an additional $235,000 in matching funds to expand 84 existing library computer centers and establish four new computer centers. Computer center sites were selected by targeting underserved and high-unemployment population areas and then focusing on those libraries with the greatest need for additional computing capacity. The project will add 500 new workstations at these targeted public computer centers throughout the state and serve nearly 13,000 additional users per week.



• North Carolina, MCNC: $28.2 million infrastructure grant with an additional $11.7 million in matching funds and in-kind contributions to build a 494-mile middle-mile broadband network passing almost half the population of North Carolina in 37 counties. The network will build new rings in the western and eastern regions of the state, which will connect to 685 miles of existing infrastructure in the urbanized central region, expanding the reach of the North Carolina Research and Education Network (NCREN), an established broadband service for community anchor institutions in the state.

NTIA received nearly 1,800 applications during the first BTOP funding round and is currently awarding grants on a rolling basis. Including today's announcement, NTIA has now awarded 15 grants totaling approximately $200 million under the program. A second round of BTOP applications will be accepted through March 15, 2010.
http://www.ntia.doc.gov/

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MCNC Awarded $28.2 Million in Broadband Recovery Funds

MCNC, which operates the North Carolina Research and Education Network (NCREN), one of the nation's first statewide education and research networks, has been awarded $28.2 million in American Recovery and Reinvestment Act (ARRA) Broadband Recovery Funds. NCREN provides broadband communications technology services and support to K-12 school districts, higher education campuses, academic research institutions, and public health facilities across the state.


MCNC raised $11.7 million in matching funds for its successful application through private sources, including $4 million from the MCNC endowment, making the total project a $40 million investment in North Carolina's broadband infrastructure.


MCNC will begin immediately to undertake the work of planning and building the new middle-mile fiber. Construction is expected to last up to three years. The new fiber build will be an essential element in North Carolina's plans to reach citizens and community anchor institutions that currently have limited broadband access.


Within the next 60 days, MCNC will issue several requests for proposal (RFP) for the design, construction and operation of the network. These RFPs have the potential to create more than 230 engineering/construction jobs.


The new fiber build will traverse 37 counties in southeastern and western North Carolina.


"We are pleased to learn of the BTOP award to MCNC," said Mike Murphy, chairman of the MCNC Board of Directors. "The 480 miles of new fiber throughout the western and southeastern part of North Carolina will ensure that our K-12 schools, universities, community colleges, university hospitals, and other community anchor institutions (libraries, public health) will have access to unlimited amounts of bandwidth now and into the future. All North Carolinians will benefit from the public/private partnership that created this application."https://www.mcnc.org/http://

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FCC Establishes New Rules for Video Distribution

The FCC is establishing new rules to allow DBS providers, telcos and other competitors to obtain more of the "must have" programming they need to offer viable alternative video packages to consumers and an opportunity to file complaints if the programming is withheld.


Previously, a loophole in the Program Access rules enabled cable-TV operators to lock up local sports events and other popular programming and withhold them from rival providers.


The FCC said its new Order promotes competition, fosters innovation and empowers consumers, all while creating a fair process for the commission to handle pending and new claims in a speedy and just manner.


FCC Chairman Julius Genachowski stated: "Today's action represents a major step toward realizing the promise of a competitive marketplace for video services -- while also supporting innovation in the video marketplace. Our new rules are structured to preserve incentives for cable operators to develop innovative programming such as local news networks. The new rules also create a fair process for the Commission to adjudicate claims."http://www.fcc.gov

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FCC Launches Consumer Task Force

The FCC has launched a Consumer Task Force to ensure that commission proceedings take
account of consumer interests and that consumer protection and empowerment policies apply
consistently and reasonably across technologies and bureaus at the FCC. The Consumer Task Force will also ensure that the public is able to engage fully in FCC processes.
http://www.fcc.gov

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China Begins Censoring SMS, Service Resumes in Xinjiang

China Mobile and China Unicom has begun censoring text messages of its users, according to the People's Daily Online. Government departments have issued to the mobile operators a list of 13 standards for "vulgar content" and provocative messages.


In addition, China Daily newspaper reported that SMS has been restored in Xinjiang Province. All Internet, SMS and international telephone service in Xinjiang were suspended in July 2009 following the riots there.http://english.peopledaily.com.cnhttp://www.chinadaily.com.cn

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Baidu Sues Register.com Over DNS Cyber-Attack

Baidu, China's leading search engine, filed a lawsuit in New York against Register.com, the domain name registrar for its site. Baidu alleges that gross negligence by Registrar.com enabled a cyber-attacker on January 12 to re-direct traffic from its site to a hacker site on which a political statement was posted by the "Iranian Cyber Army." Baidu is seeking monetary damages.
http://www.baidu.com

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u²t Photonics Samples 100G Receiver

u²t Photonics AG has begun sampling a 100 Gbps coherent photoreceiver for long-haul 100 Gbps transport platforms. The new receiver uses the DP-QPSK (Dual-Polarization Quadrature Phase Shift Keying) modulation format.


u²t confirmed that both sub-system and equipment manufacturers are currently testing the product.


The company noted that DP-QPSK applications has proven advantages in terms of reach and spectral efficiency, and is widely accepted as the technology of choice for the next generation 100 Gbps transmission systems.


u²t has been a significant contributor for the development of the Implementation Agreement on 100G long-distance integrated photonics receivers within the Optical Internetworking Forum.


u²t is based in Berlin, Germany.
http://www.u2t.dehttp://

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