Polaris Wireless Opens Regional HQ in Dubai

Polaris Wireless, which supplies high-accuracy, software-based wireless location solutions, has opened a regional headquarters in Dubai Internet City, Dubai, U.A.E. to serve the growing demand from customers in the Middle East and Africa.


The company enables real-time, high-accuracy location to assist authorized law enforcement agencies (LEA's) in criminal investigations and antiterrorist activities. The easy to deploy, easy to maintain, Polaris Wireless Location Signatures (Polaris WLS™) solution identifies the location of a wireless device to within 50 meters and delivers the best software-based location in dense urban and indoor environments.
http://www.polariswireless.com

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Cisco Unveils IP NGN Video Optimized Transport

Cisco outlined its approach for a zero-loss video-optimized transport architecture for service providers and broadcasters. The need for the solution is driven by the explosive growth in video traffic over IP backbones, which Cisco forecasts will grow more than 500 percent to almost half a zettabyte over the next five years. This represents more than half of all IP traffic and by 2014 will generate an estimated $250 billion in revenue.


The Cisco Internet Protocol Next-Generation Network (IP NGN) Video Optimized Transport promises to monitor, detect and isolate video-quality impairments over standards-based carrier-grade Ethernet infrastructure.


It accomplishes this using three Cisco technologies for optimizing medianets, specifically Cisco Multicast-Only Fast Reroute (MoFRR), which provides a simple and efficient method for transport of reliable video streams in secondary distribution video applications; hitless switchover or Cisco Live-Live, which provides spatial redundancy for video streams and is useful in contribution video applications; and inline video monitoring (Cisco VidMon), which provides a network-based mechanism for monitoring of video quality.


To handle packet loss for high-quality IP video transport, Cisco is proposing Multicast-Only Fast Reroute (MoFRR), which it claims will ensure sub-50-msec multicast video convergence time with minimal configuration or operational overhead. This will provide video path protection from the video source to the receiver router during both link and node failure. Cisco said MoFRR needs to be enabled only on the last-hop receiver router and does not require any configuration or protocol-level interaction with other routers.


To provide efficient, inline video monitoring, Cisco is proposing network-based monitoring through the router transport line card. This approach is cheaper and more scalable than blade-based network monitoring solutions, according to the company, and if a video anomaly is detected it can automatically switch over to the backup path automatically and instantly, without any manual intervention.


A whitepaper is available on the Cisco website.
http://www.cisco.com

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Cisco Internet Router in Space Completes Update

Cisco completed the first-ever
software upgrade of an IP router aboard a commercial satellite while in orbit.
The IOS software upgrade involved the Cisco 18400 Space Router, a radiation-tolerant IP router, on-board Intelsat 14, a geostationary communications satellite. The capability to upgrade the software of the Cisco router and onboard modem from the ground increases the flexibility of the system to implement future capabilities and the lifespan of the communications system.

Cisco recently teamed up with Astrium to study the applications of space-based routers. In October, Cisco and Astrium successfully demonstrated IRIS services such as multicasting, which enables the delivery of information to a group of destination computers simultaneously in a single transmission.

In addition, Cisco completed the industry's first VoIP call made without the use of any terrestrial infrastructure to route the call. The call was completed using Cisco Unified Communications Manager Express.
http://www.cisco.com

• In January 2010, Cisco announced the first successful in-orbit test of its Internet Routing in Space (IRIS) technology. The test was conducted on-board Intelsat's new IS-14 GEO satellite, which was launched on Nov. 23, 2009
  
  
  Cisco IRIS is a program to build a radiation-tolerant IP router for satellite and related spacecraft. The IRIS payload will support network services for voice, video and data communications, helping enable government agencies, military units and allied forces to communicate with one another using Internet Protocol and existing ground equipment.
  
  
  The company noted that IRIS can route data to multiple ground receivers in a single step, eliminating the need to double-hop to a teleport and therefore reducing latency and increasing transponder utilization. The software on the Cisco router and onboard modem can be upgraded in orbit, which increases flexibility.
  
  
  The IRIS program is a Department of Defense Joint Capability Technology Demonstration (JCTD) managed by Cisco and Intelsat General Corp. The IRIS payload will convert to commercial use following the three-month JCTD ending in April 2010.

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Vodafone Qatar selects Alcatel-Lucent for FTTH

Vodafone Qatar has named Alcatel-Lucent as its sole supplier for its expansion into the fixed broadband market with an entirely new FTTH network based on GPON and point-to-point Gigabit Ethernet technology. Alcatel-Lucent's IP Multimedia Subsystem (IMS) solution will then be used to link the new infrastructure with Vodafone Qatar's existing mobile network.

Vodafone Qatar is also working with Alcatel-Lucent to upgrade its mobile network. A total of 50 new sites have been deployed in 2010 (reaching more than 410) to handle this year's 35% increase in voice traffic and the five fold increase in data usage. Through the network expansion Vodafone Qatar is ready to support 1 million 2G and 3G subscribers.
http://www.alcatel-lucent.com
http://www.vodafone.com.qa/

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DOCOMO Enters Ebook Venture

NTT DOCOMO is entering a joint venture with Dai Nippon Printing Co. and CHI Group Co. to sell e-books to its wireless customers. The joint-venture firm, named 2Dfacto, will begin selling electronic books online from early January 2011. DNP will invest 51%, DOCOMO 40% and CHI 9%. 2Dfacto will use DNP's existing online "honto" bookstore for electronic books, and will be enhanced with mobile data-distribution and payment systems from DOCOMO. Seven of the latest mobile devices offered by DOCOMO already support the coming service: Xperia, GALAXY S, REGZA Phone, LYNX 3D, Optimus chat, GALAXY Tab and SH-07C.
http://www.ntt.co.jp

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10X10 MSA Targets Low-Cost 100 Gbps Transceivers

A new 10x10 Multi-Source Agreement industry group has been formed to establish compatible sources of low-cost, low-power, pluggable 100G optical transceivers based on 10 optical lanes at 10G. Initial backers include Brocade, Google, JDSU, and Santur.


The 10x10 MSA is targeting a 2km reach to bridge the gap between 100m multi-mode and 10km single-mode solutions.
Unlike 100m multi-mode based on ribbons of fiber, the 10x10 MSA operates on a conventional Single Mode Fiber (SMF) enabling extended reach of 2Km. Compared with other single-mode 100G implementations, this approach does not require 25G electronics such as gearbox ICs to convert 10G data streams to intermediate 25G lanes.



Scott Kipp, Brocade standards representative and Chair of the 10X10 MSA, said: "The 10X10 MSA is ready to define a new price and performance trajectory for 100GbE that will significantly accelerate the adoption and economics of 100G deployment. Leveraging 10G technology helps the 10X10 MSA provide the lowest cost solution in terms of bandwidth per meter and bandwidth per Watt."


Santur CTO Milind Gokhale said, "The 10X10 MSA is exciting because it provides a roadmap for cost reduction of 100G optical interconnects. Using parallel optics that runs at the same rate as electrical lanes avoids the excess cost and power associated with gearbox devices and brings significant cost relief to 100G equipment."http://www.10x10msa.org

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CTIA Announces 2011 Officers

CTIA-The Wireless Association announced the following new officers for 2011:


Dan Hesse, CEO of Sprint Nextel Corporation, chairman; Pat Riordan, president and CEO of Cellcom, vice chairman; Mary Dillon, president and CEO of U.S. Cellular, secretary; and Bret Comolli, chairman of Asurion, treasurer. Ralph de la Vega, president and CEO of AT&T Mobility and Consumer Markets, will serve as chairman emeritus.


Newly-elected Executive Committee members representing wireless carriers include Frank O'Mara, CEO of Allied Wireless Communications Corporation; F.J. Pollak, president and CEO of TracFone Wireless, Inc.; and Ron Smith, president of Bluegrass Cellular, Inc. The members that were elected to represent other suppliers include Philip Christopher, president and CEO of Personal Communications Devices, LLC; Tony Holcombe, president and CEO of Syniverse Technologies; and E.Y. Snowden, president and CEO of Tatara Systems, Inc.
http://www.ctia.org

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ADC's DAS Solutions Support Verizon's LTE Service Rollouts

ADC confirmed that it is a preferred provider of 700 MHz single-input single-output (SISO) and multiple-input multiple-output (MIMO) solutions for Verizon Wireless' LTE service rollouts across the United States. More than 100 of ADC's InterReach and FlexWave distributed antenna systems (DAS) have been deployed in major stadiums, urban core areas, and other locations such as the New Meadowlands Stadium and Denver International Airport, where Verizon is rolling out LTE services.


ADC said its DAS solutions are a highly efficient and cost-effective way to deliver LTE services because they extend LTE signals out from centralized base stations using highly reliable, low-maintenance antennas. Rather than placing femtocells or picocells in thousands of locations, wireless service providers can reduce backhaul and operational expenses by extending signals out from centralized base stations. And rather than having to run a complete set of cabling for each service to be provided as with other DAS systems, ADC DAS solutions support multiple protocols with a single run of low-cost fiber optic and CATV cabling.
http://www.adc.com

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Near Field Communication Specifications Published

The NFC Forum, a non-profit group that advances the use of Near Field Communication (NFC) technology, announced the publication of four technical specifications that further define the modular architecture and interoperability parameters for NFC devices and protocols. The NFC Forum has now developed and adopted a total of 15 specifications.


The NFC Forum also launched a Certification Program to help bring applications to market.
http://www.nfc-forum.org/specs

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Tail-f Systems Appoints CEO

Tail-f Systems, a Swedish company specializing in configuration management software for networking equipment and network management systems, appointed Fredrik Lundberg as its new CEO. He replaces Hakan Millroth, who will return to his role as technology visionary in the position of CTO. Prior to joining Tail-f Systems, Lundberg held executive positions at Syncron International, Accenture, and HP. His in-depth understanding of the telecom industry, systems integration, and operations systems and software will help propel Tail-f Systems' growth.
http://www.tail-f.com

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Verizon Names Anthony Melone as CTO

Verizon Communications announced the appointment of Anthony Melone as executive vice president and chief technology officer, with responsibility for Verizon's technology roadmap, including overall platforms integrity and architecture, and product innovation.


Melone was previously senior vice president and chief technical officer for Verizon Wireless. He succeeds Shaygan Kheradpir, effective immediately, following Kheradpir's announcement that he plans to retire this month after a 23-year career with Verizon and its predecessor companies.


Melone was appointed Verizon Wireless CTO in 2007, and he has most recently headed the LTE rollout. Prior to this, he served as vice president of network operations, with responsibility for Verizon Wireless' nationwide network operations, including overall quality assurance, implementation of new products and services, and regulatory compliance.
http://www.verizon.com

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Google's Chrome Notebook to Bundle 100MB/Month of 3G VZ

Google's upcoming Chrome notebooks will offer 100MB of 3G wireless service provided by Verizon Wireless. A pilot program is being launched for a limited number of participants in the U.S.
http://www.google.com

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