Optus Australia Tests LTE 2100 MHz, Acquires Licences

SingTel's Optus division has tested LTE operating in 2100 MHz spectrum using equipment from Nokia Siemens Networks.The field testing, which occurred in Sydney, Australia, used pre-commercial LTE USB dongles over 10 MHz of spectrum. The test achieved peak download speeds of over 50 Mbps and upload speeds of 20 Mbps. The companies also noted that the LTE trials, conducted in metropolitan Sydney, showed significantly reduced network latency, improved...

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FCC to Consider Wireless Backhaul Barriers

At its next meeting on August 5th, the FCC will consider a Notice of Proposed Rulemaking seeking to remove regulatory barriers to the use of spectrum for wireless backhaul and other point-to-point and point-to-multipoint communications. http://www.fcc....

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FCC to Invest $400 /million annually in Rural Healthcare Broadband

The FCC announced plans to invest up to $400 million annually to enable doctors, nurses, hospitals andclinics to deliver health care to patients in rural areas using broadband facilities. The initiative is one of four programs in the Universal Service Fund administered by the FCC. The Notice of Proposed Rulemaking would bring affordable broadband connectivity to more than 2,000 rural hospitals and clinics. The FCC said it can do so without increasing the projected size of the overall universal service fund. http://www.fcc....

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FCC Explores Mobile Satellite Service (MSS) Spectrum

The FCC kicked off a proceeding to help make 90 megahertz of prime spectrum available for mobile broadband deployment by considering the use Mobile Satellite Service (MSS) spectrum in three bands -- the 2 GHz band, Big LEO band, and Lband.A new Notice of Proposed Rulemaking (NPRM) outlines two proposals that would remove regulatory barriers to terrestrial (i.e. land-based) use and promote additional investments in the MSS bands, while retaining sufficient...

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Vodafone to Make its Location based Services Software Open Source

Vodafone Group announced plans to make its location based services software open source. The company said its aim is to offer other organisations the opportunity to use a code base which has been developed over the past decade so that they can build new and innovative navigation products which widen choice for consumers.b"Given our decision to stop developing turn by turn location based services as part of our core business, it seemed an obvious...

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Australia's NBN Picks Contractors for First Sites

Australia's National Broadband Network (NBN) awarded construction contracts for three of the five first release sites for its FTTH rollout. These are Silcar Pty Ltd, Armidale NSW; Transfield Services, Minnamurra/Kiama Downs, NSW and ETSA Utilities, the South Australian power distribution network operator in Willunga. In the fourth site, Ergon Energy will construct the passive optical fibre network in Townsville. For the fifth site, Brunswick in...

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NTT to Acquire Dimension Data for Enterprise Services

NTT agreed to acquire Dimension Data, an international provider of IT infrastructure services, for approximately £2.1 billion in cash, representing an 18% premium to the company's stock on the preceding day.NTT Group is the largest provider of fixed and mobile voice-related services, internet protocol/packet communications services, sales of telecommunications equipment, system integration and other telecommunications related services in Japan and...

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IBM Introduces Network IPS Appliance

IBM is introducing a new security network intrusion prevention system (IPS) that consolidates intrusion prevention with data and web application security into a single, optimized appliance. The hardware appliance comes preloaded and preconfigured with IBM security software and extends the capabilities of the IBM X-Force research team to deliver high-performance network security at lower costs.IBM said its appliance allows clients to manage a variety of network security capabilities, such as automated Virtual Patch technology that can sense and...

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TIA Lobbies Against Changes to Current Broadband Regulatory Structure

The Telecommunications Industry Association (TIA) is urging the FCC to maintain the current, long-standing regulatory status of broadband Internet access service. TIA believes that FCC Chairman Julius Genachowski's recent "Third Way" proposal to reclassify broadband under a new regulatory regime "would imperil American jobs as manufacturers face an uncertain regulatory climate, dampening investment in an industry that has been tapped by President...

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Globecomm Awarded $8.7 Million Ka-Band Infrastructure Contract

Globecomm Systems announced an infrastructure contract from a foreign government valued at $8.7 million.Specifically, Globecomm will design and install multiple Ka band antennas and related subsystems for the unnamed country. The contract scope includes a turnkey RF electronics install for fixed and vehicle mounted Ka bandterminal systems, monitoring & control software which will control all subsystems and allow remote monitoring andcontrol from distant operational centers and life cycle support. http://www.globecommsystems....

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