IBM Demos RF Graphene Transistor at 100 GHz

Researchers at IBM demonstrated a radio-frequency graphene transistor with the highest cut-off frequency achieved so far for any graphene device - 100 billion cycles/second (100 GigaHertz). Graphene is a single atom-thick layer of carbon atoms bonded in a hexagonal honeycomb-like arrangement. IBM said this two-dimensional form of carbon has unique electrical, optical, mechanical and thermal properties and its technological applications are being explored intensely.

The wafer-scale, epitaxially grown graphene transistor was created with processing technology compatible to that used in advanced silicon device fabrication.

IBM said it is noteworthy that the frequency performance of the graphene device already exceeds the cut-off frequency of state-of-the-art silicon transistors of the same gate length (~ 40 GigaHertz).
http://www.ibm.com

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NTT Surpasses 12.8 Million Optical Access Lines

NTT ended 2009 with 12.779 million FLETs Hikari optical access lines in service, up from 11.1 million nine months earlier. Meanwhile, the number of ADSL accounts fell to 3.55 million, down from d3.99 million nine months earlier.


Citing stiff competition, NTT Group's consolidated operating revenues for the three-month period ended December 31, 2009 were 2,527.6 billion yen (a decrease of 1.6% from the same period of the previous fiscal year), consolidated operating expenses were 2,226.2 billion yen (a decrease of 3.2% from the same period of the previous fiscal year), consolidated operating income was 301.3 billion yen (an increase of 11.9% from the same period of the previous fiscal year), and consolidated net income before income taxes was 298.3 billion yen (an increase of 9.0% from the same period of the previous fiscal year). Consolidated net income attributable to NTT was 136.8 billion yen (a decrease of 0.7% from the same period of the previous fiscal year).


In the fixed-line communications market, the company stressed its expansion of optical services and the accompanying shift from existing fixed-line telephones to optical IP telephones.


NTT endeavored to expand its "FLET'S Hikari Next" service area and the sale of services such as video distribution services that take advantage of the capabilities of its NGN.


NTT East commenced provision of access services with downstream transmission speed of up to 200Mbps, including "FLET'S Hikari Next Family High-speed Type".


NTT said Japan's mobile communications market has continued to mature in line with the rise in cellular penetration rate and increased competition among operators.


Under these market conditions, NTT DOCOMO released 20 different models in its "2009 winter/spring handset" lineup, introducing new features and services, such as the Auto-GPS function that enables the delivery of information linked to user's current location, and "MyArea" wireless coverage, which uses small femtocell base station1 to create a private FOMA area in the home as a stable wireless environment for high-speed packet communication, and to detect registered phones entering/leaving the private FOMA area.


In addition, NTT DOCOMO has taken various steps aimed at enhancing customers' satisfaction, such as the launch of "Mail Tsukai-hodai" ("all-you-can-use mail"), which allows FOMA users to send and receive i-mode mails within Japan on an unlimited basis for a flat monthly rate, as part of its efforts to provide customers with more affordable and easy-to-use billing options.


As a result of these measures, the number of cellular services subscriptions reached 55.44 million, of which 52.05 million were FOMA subscriptions, accounting for 93.9% of all subscriptions.
http://www.ntt.co.jp

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Telegent's Latest Analog Mobile TV Chip -- 6x6mm

Telegent Systems, a start-up based in Sunnyvale, California, introduced its third generation analog mobile TV receiver chip based on 65nm CMOS process technology. The chip delivers free-to-air analog TV and FM broadcast reception on mobile devices, enabling consumers to enjoy live television programming -- whether news, sports, soap operas or movies -- while on the go.


Telegent's TLG1121 provides global support for NTSC, PAL and SECAM TV broadcasts. The third generation device features a 6 x 6 mm package, reducing size by 25 percent compared to Telegent's second generation solution while consuming 25 percent less power from the battery. The smaller package size provides manufacturers greater flexibility in PCB layout, enabling smaller, sleeker handset designs. Sampling begins in Q2.


Telegent said its mobile TV solution even delivers stable picture quality while in transit at speeds up to 430 km/h.


"The third generation of our analog mobile TV technology builds on the breakthrough we have delivered in picture quality and mobility while achieving further reduction in size and power consumption," said Samuel Sheng, Telegent's president and chief executive officer. "The TLG1121 will enable the next generation of mobile TV devices with longer viewing times and innovative designs, while meeting consumer requirements for viewing experience under both stationary and mobile conditions."http://www.telegent.com

• In November 2009, Telegent Systems filed SEC papers for a proposed initial public offering of its common shares.



• In October 2009, Telegent Systems reported a rapid uptake in its free-to-air analog mobile TV products, shipping a record 50 million mobile TV receivers since mid-2007.

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comScore: Hulu Surpasses 1 Billion Monthly Video Streams

Online video viewing in the U.S. reached a record level in December 2009, with 33.2 billion videos viewed during the month by nearly 178 million U.S. Internet users, according to the latest figures from comScore.


Some notable numbers reported by comScore:

• Google Sites continued to rank as the top U.S. video property in December, delivering 13.2 billion videos, with YouTube.com accounting for nearly 99 percent of all videos viewed at the property.



• Hulu ranked second with more than 1 billion videos viewed, an all-time high for the property, and representing 3.0 percent market share.



• Microsoft Sites ranked third with 561 million (1.7 percent), followed by Fox Interactive Media with 551 million (1.7 percent) and Yahoo! Sites with 539 million (1.6 percent).



• The average U.S. Internet viewer watch 187 videos during December.



• The average Hulu viewer watched 22.9 videos during the month, representing another all-time high for the property.



• The duration of the average online video was 4.1 minutes.

http://www.comscore.com

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Huawei Introduces a New 20G/40G Metro Services Platform

Huawei introduced a new 20G/40Gbps metro services platform (MSP).


The CX600-X1 and CX600-X2 (CX600-X1/X2)is designed for IP intelligence at the metro edge. The compact platform offers a hardware-based, non-blocking switching routing with 20G/40G of forwarding capacity. Huawei said this can be expanded to 40G/80G in the future. Interface options include E1, CPOS, FE, GE, and 10GE, with rich Layer 2 and Layer 3 features (VLL, VPLS, L3VPN, PWE3, multicast and IPV6).


Huawei's CX600-X1/X2 also features built-in support for all-scenario clock synchronization, including IEEE 1588v2.


"By leveraging our experience and expertise in optical transmission, access, and IP, Huawei will continue to provide leading end-to-end networking solutions to carriers around the globe and to achieve mutual success with our customers," said Zha Jun, president of Network, Huawei.
http://www.huawei.com

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Ericsson Pushes HSPA to 84 Mbps

Ericsson has achieved a new performance record of 84 Mbps downstream using High Speed Packet Access (HSPA) technology. The 84 Mbps set-up will be demonstrated at the upcoming Mobile World Congress in Barcelona. At the same event last year Ericsson showed the world's first 42Mbps HSPA demo that is currently commercially available and being rolled-out by operators across the world.


The 84 Mbps achievement is made possible using Multiple-In Multiple-Out (MIMO), higher-order modulation and multiple carrier techniques. Multi-carrier technology enables the recipient to receive data on 2, 3 or more frequencies simultaneously.


On January 20, operator 3 in Scandinavia announced that it has chosen Ericsson for the rollout of its 84Mbps HSPA network. The rollout covers all of Denmark and four major cities in Sweden. First phase of the rollout starts first quarter 2010. Commercial deployments of HSPA with 84Mbps can be expected the first half of 2011.
http://www.ericsson.com

• Ericsson supplies RAN equipment to half of the operators worldwide who have launched HSPA to date.

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FCC Budget for FY 2011 Rises to $352.5 Million

The FCC requested a budget of $352.5 million for FY 2011.


This compares with $335 million appropriated for FY 2010 and $342 million appropriated for 2009. There are 1,980 Full Time Equivalent (FTE) positions in the FY 2011 budget compared with 1,905 FTEs in FY 2010 and 1,810 FTEs in FY 2009.
The FY 2010 Appropriation for the FCC authorized $335.8 million in the collection of regulatory fees. The FY 2011 budget proposes an increase to regulatory fees to a level of $351.5 million.



The FCC said its FY 2011 budget proposal would cover these special initiatives, in addition to its regular work:

• Continuing the work of the National Broadband Plan and broadband map;
• Implementation of a spectrum inventory initiative and emergency response interoperability
  center;



• State-of-the-art consumer information programs, seizing the opportunities provided by new
  media and advanced information technology;



• New investment in the people and technology necessary to overhaul the agency's antiquated
  systems for data collection, processing, analysis, and dissemination;



• New expertise and new tools required to ensure that the FCC is able to be a model of
  excellence, openness, and transparency domestically and internationally.



• Mandatory increases in salaries and benefits and inflationary increases for contractual services.

http://www.fcc.govhttp://hraunfoss.fcc.gov/edocs_public/attachmatch/DOC-296111A1.pdf

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