NEC Picks Vyatta Provides Virtual Networking Foundation

Vyatta's virtual routing and security software has been selected as the foundation network level of NEC Networks & System Integration Corporation's (NESIC) Consolidated Network Services (CNS).


The CNS combines high-performance x86 servers, a VMware virtualization platform, and network virtual appliances from Vyatta, Citrix and Checkpoint into a single virtual server. The platform integrates Vyatta's virtual firewall, routing and VPN capabilities for enterprise branch deployments.
http://www.vyatta.com

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Nokia Siemens Networks Develops Self-Organizing Tool for LTE Networks

Nokia Siemens Networks has developed its SON (Self Organizing Networks) capability for LTE networks. SON bypasses time-consuming manual processes in network set-up and operations. This includes automatic network configuration for handover processes, balancing mobile traffic load and minimizing the need for drive tests.


Nokia Siemens Networks' LTE SON offering is based on a hybrid concept of both centralized and localized SON mechanisms. The company said operators will benefit from faster time-to-market with operations relieved from error-prone and time-consuming manual processes. First LTE features of the Nokia Siemens Networks SON suite, which also supports GSM and WCDMA networks, are already available in the market for commercial use.


"LTE is the future of mobile network technology. We understand the strong potential it holds in redefining connectivity and revolutionizing information exchange between users across the world while on the go," said Thorsten Robrecht, head of LTE product management, Nokia Siemens Networks. "In keeping with our commitment to fuel the growth of LTE, our LTE functionality as part of the SON suite complements an already strong portfolio, enabling operators to cost-efficiently improve network quality for delivering seamless and fast connections."http://www.nsn.com

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Nokia Siemens Networks Partners with Cisco on Mobile Backhaul

Nokia Siemens Networks has integrated its microwave backhaul system with cell site and aggregation routers from Cisco to boost mobile backhaul capacity. The combined all-IP backhaul solution has completed full interoperability testing and can be provided directly by Nokia Siemens Networks.


Nokia Siemens Networks' FlexiPacket Microwave requires only a small amount of hardware to be installed in existing base stations and offers a packet data capacity of up to 1Gbps.


The Cisco MWR 2941-DC Mobile Wireless Router is a compact, high-performance, and modular cell-site access platform. The Cisco 7600 Series Routers offer IP/MPLS features to support scalable personalized IP services at the network edge.


"The combination of Nokia Siemens Networks' FlexiPacket Microwave with Cisco routers shows how multi-vendor networks can be migrated to next-generation all-IP or Carrier Ethernet networks to offer high-capacity and superior quality data services," said Vesa Tykkyläinen, head of Microwave Radio Transport at Nokia Siemens Networks. "Additionally, operators will be able to roll out services rapidly to enhance the end-user experience."http://www.nsn.com

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Elektrobit Shows Ruggedized VoIP Phones

EB, Elektrobit Corporation, introduced a Tough VoIP Field Phone and a Tough VoIP Desktop Phone designed for military communications.

EB Tough VoIP Field Phone comes with an integrated speaker, Ethernet and SHDSL connectivity. The phone enables several innovative applications, including greater levels of voice and broadband services in the field; streaming video, maps, real-time data, and situational awareness; and local Ethernet connection for other devices.

EB Tough VoIP Desktop Phone is equipped with an integrated speaker and Ethernet connectivity. It can be wall-mounted in vehicles.
http://www.elektrobit.com

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Tata and BT Interlink Telepresence Exchanges

Tata Communications and BT agreed to interlink their Telepresence services, allowing customers on either of their existing video exchanges to establish conferences with customers on the other's video exchange. The collaboration will provide each organization with open access to a much broader network of businesses.


Both Tata Communications' and BT's video exchanges are based on Cisco's immersive video collaboration technology.


Cisco said this represents a major step towards open, ubiquitous connectivity between Telepresence endpoints, regardless of their parent network.


Jeff Prestel, General Manager, BT Conferencing, Americas, says, "BT's agreement with Tata Communications is strategic and paves the way for the video industry to expand and truly deliver a highway of video connectivity to end users. http://www.btplc.com
http://www.tatacommunications.com

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SAP AG Certifies Verizon's Computing-as-a-Service

SAP AG has certified Verizon Business' cloud-based on-demand Computing as a Service, or CaaS, platform for the delivery of SAP business applications. Verizon Business is the first global provider to receive SAP certification of its cloud services.


As a SAP-certified provider of cloud services, Verizon Business will provide support of the entire SAP solution portfolio, including business software applications for customer relationship management, enterprise resource planning, product lifecycle, supply chain and corporate services.


To achieve this designation, Verizon's CaaS infrastructure went through extensive testing to validate the operational integration of the cloud-computing platform with supported applications, including portal linkages, support flows and automated service management processes enabled by e-bonding, or direct system-to-system connections between Verizon CaaS and solutions in use at end-user companies. The audit also included a technical review of the physical and logical security processes supporting Verizon CaaS, as well as its portal and underlying infrastructure including servers, software and storage capabilities.
http://www.verizonbusiness.com

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HomeGrid Forum Partners with BroadBand Forum

The HomeGrid Forum and the Broadband Forum have agreed to develop and deliver to the market, later this year, a global compliance and interoperability testing program for products using G.hn technology -- ITU-T's unified wired home networking standard, which aims to unify the home networking of content and devices over any wire -- coaxial cable, phone lines, and power lines.


The Broadband Forum will support HomeGrid Forum's validation of G.hn products, their promotion of product conformance and interoperability, and help expedite the total time to market for HomeGrid Forum Certified products of all types. The compliance and interoperability program will enable HomeGrid Forum to certify a wide variety of products indicated with the HomeGrid Certified logo. Through this program, manufacturers will have defined guidelines to design, test, and develop G.hn products for market introduction. The HomeGrid Certified program, with the support of the Broadband Forum, will help facilitate adoption of G.hn in the market.


"The Broadband Forum has 15 years of interoperability experience, and our work spans from the core to the user. In our Connected Home Initiative, work has always supported various LAN technologies, and this collaboration is a natural outgrowth of our focus on supporting industry standards that allow for seamless networking of content throughout the home." said Robin Mersh, COO of the Broadband Forum.
http://www.homegridforum.orghttp://www.broadband-forum.org

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Verizon Wireless Chooses CETECOM to Provide LTE Testing

Verizon Wireless has selected CETECOM as a laboratory to test devices for operation on its forthcoming LTE network. Specifically, CETECOM will validate that the devices meet the minimal performance and conformance specifications necessary to operate on the Verizon Wireless LTE network.


Any organization considering offering devices on the upcoming Verizon Wireless LTE network will be able to work with CETECOM engineers. Additional details on when a device can be submitted for approval will be available at a later date.
http://www.verizonwireless.com
http://www.cetecom.com

• In March 2010, Verizon Wireless announced its selection of 7 layers as a laboratory to test devices for operation on its LTE network. 7 layers will validate that the devices meet the minimal performance and conformance specifications necessary to operate on the Verizon Wireless LTE network.

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Verizon Business Introduces Cloud-based "Storage-as-a-Service"

Verizon Business is introducing a new cloud-based storage service for enterprises. The pay-as-you-go Verizon Cloud Storage delivers a flexible solution for managing and retrieving data over the Internet. It also helps organizations address data retention requirements mandated by increasing regulatory and compliance requirements.


Verizon Cloud Storage, available in the U.S. and 16 countries around the globe beginning in July, offers strong physical and logical security such as secure multitenant file system and encrypted data transfers. The new service supports multiple methods for accessing stored data, including software, application programming interfaces and third-party applications, and offers enterprises the option to select where data is stored.


Verizon Business will initially leverage the Storage Delivery Network from Nirvanix, a premier enterprise cloud storage service provider. Later this year, Verizon is targeting deployment of additional Nirvanix managed storage nodes in its U.S. and European data centers, with additional nodes planned for deployment in the Asia-Pacific region in 2011.


"The current methods of storing huge and growing volumes of enterprise data are simply not sustainable from either a cost or management perspective," said Joseph S. Crawford, executive director -- IT solutions product management, Verizon Business. "Verizon Cloud Storage is a game-changer for enterprises, offering IT departments a cost-effective and simpler way to store data. Our new cloud storage service is yet another example of our vision to deliver IT services via an 'as-a-service' model."http://www.verizonbusiness.com

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Atheros Wins $4.5 Million DoE Grant for Smart Grid

Atheros Communications has been awarded a $4.5 million grant from the U.S. Department of Energy (DoE) to develop powerline chips designed to provide two-way data communications over existing AC wiring, a vital element for Smart Grid applications. The chips -- based on the Green PHY specification now approved and published by the HomePlug Powerline Alliance -- will meet the low-power, high-reliability requirements of the utilities industry and comply with the IEEE 1901 global networking standard.


Atheros will match the initial $4.5 million investment to develop the industry's first HomePlug Green PHY-based chip. The solution will feature dramatically lower power consumption (75% power reduction over current HomePlug AV solutions), robust coverage, and the extended temperature range needed for outdoor meters. With scalable data rates from 250 Kbps to 10 Mbps, the Atheros chip will enable communications across existing electrical wiring including 120/240 VAC or 24 VAC low-voltage wiring to thermostats.


Atheros said its Green PHY-based powerline technology enables two-way data communications among smart meters and in-home systems and appliances (such as air conditioning, water heaters, pool pumps, and washers and dryers) over powerline-based Home Area Networks.
http://www.atheros.com

• In December 2009, Atheros Communications completed its acquisition of Intellon Corporation, adding powerline communications (PLC) solutions for home networking, networked entertainment, broadband-over-powerline (BPL) access, Ethernet-over- Coax (EoC) and smart grid management applications.



• Intellon, which is based in Orlando, Florida, specializes in powerline communications, providing HomePlug compliant and other powerline integrated circuits for home networking, networked entertainment, BPL access, Ethernet-over-Coax (EoC), smart grid management and other commercial applications. Intellon created and patented the baseline technology for HomePlug 1.0, and is a major contributor to the baseline technology for the 200-Mbps PHY-rate HomePlug AV powerline standard and the draft IEEE P1901 powerline standard. The company has sold more than 34 million HomePlug-based ICs to date.

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Taiwan's Chunghwa Selects D-Link/Ikanos Equipment

Chunghwa Telecom, Taiwan's largest telecommunications operator, has selected Ikanos-based VDSL2 central office (CO) products and customer premises equipment (CPE) from D-Link for its high-speed multimedia service deployments. The Ikanos-based modems and IP DSLAMs are being utilized by Chunghwa Telecom in its next-generation fiber and VDSL network deployment, planned for roll out in the second half of 2010.


D-Link is using Ikanos' Fusiv Vx180 communications processor in its VDSL2 modem, the DSL-6541K. Ikanos' Fusiv Vx180 is a low-power, single-chip communications processor that incorporates a MIPS-based CPU core capable of 500 MHz processing speeds, digital signal processor (DSP)-based VoIP capabilities and security.


D-Link's DEV-3726K 24-port IP DSLAMs being deployed by Chunghwa Telecom include Ikanos' low power broadband DSL CO chipsets. These chipsets incorporate Ikanos Quality Video (iQV) technology --- a combination of ITU G.inp compliant retransmission and Rapid Rate Adaptation (advanced ITU-T compliant SOS, SRA and Bitswap) technologies. This enables the chipset to intelligently adjust its data rate instantly to provide optimal quality in any line condition. Ikanos said that even in very noisy conditions, its iQV maintains image quality with no degradation. Additionally, the chipsets support 100 Mbps symmetrical performance and enhanced impulse noise protection (INP) schemes.
http://www.ikanos.com
http://www.dlink.com

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Starbucks Offers Unlimited, Free Wi-Fi in U.S.

Starbucks will begin offering free, one-click, unlimited Wi-Fi at all company-operated Starbucks stores in the United States. The network is provided by AT&T. No username or password is needed to sign-on to the service. Starbucks will also be providing its guests with premium content from partners, including Yahoo!, the Wall Street Journal, Apple and Zagat.
http://www.starbucks.com

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NSN Adds MPLS-TP Packet Capabilities to hiT 7300 DWDM

Nokia Siemens Networks has added a packet optical transport solution (P-OTS) capability to its hiT 7300 DWDM platform. Integrating packet data handling the its optical transport platform enables traffic to move more efficiently through an operator's network, rather than needing to be processed by routers at each stage.


NSN said its next-generation P-OTS is achieved through the integration of Multilayer Protocol Label Switching -- Transport Profile (MPLS-TP) functionality and protocol-agnostic switching that allows the hiT 7300 DWDM platform to handle both packet- and circuit-switched traffic with the same efficiency. It combines the scalability of photonic switching with the flexibility of electrical switching capacity from 1.5Tbps to 24Tbps. In addition, the integrated Optical Data Unit (ODU) cross-connect functionality aggregates low-speed traffic and efficiently fills high capacity transport channels which means the installed optical network can handle more traffic.


"With internet traffic growing fast and average revenues per subscriber declining, cost per bit is the most pressing issue for service providers," said Uwe Fischer, head of Optical Networks Product Management at Nokia Siemens Networks. "This combination of MPLS-TP and optical technology allows the most cost-efficient transport of data traffic over a DWDM optical transport network. We allow service providers to implement a flexible transport architecture with the agility and scalability necessary to meet the dynamic requirements of their subscribers."http://www.nsn.com

• In March 2010, Nokia Siemens Networks unveiled its hiT 7300 coherent 40G transponder for integration into the hiT 7300 DWDM platform, which has been deployed for more than 80 customers worldwide. The company said its hiT 7300 coherent 40G transponder platform is easier to install than existing systems because it does not require the costly and time-consuming fiber measurement. In new deployments, operators can avoid even the need for dispersion compensating modules, leading to low-latency connections, simplified amplifier design and overall reductions in deployment costs and footprint.



• In addition, the Nokia Siemens Networks transponder supports 40G transmission over older fiber -- dating back to the 1990s and earlier -- unlike existing systems. It utilizes the installed network infrastructure, thereby protecting the operator's investments by using" coherent transmission" technology, in particular a modulation format called CP-QPSK (coherent polarization multiplexed quadrature phase shift keying).

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