Qualcomm's Next Snapdragon with 3G/LTE Supports Windows 8

Qualcomm's next generation dual-core and quad-core Snapdragon family of smart mobile processors, including the MSM8960 with integrated 3G/LTE modem, is being designed to power devices running the next version of Windows. Specific functionality will support power efficiency modes and multitasking modes in Windows 8.


"Qualcomm and Microsoft have a long and productive history of collaboration focused on driving innovation forward, and we are pleased to be among the leaders of the next evolution of mobile computing," said Luis Pineda, senior vice president of product management, computing and consumer products at Qualcomm. "Our upcoming family of Snapdragon processors is intelligently integrated, optimized for mobile and built smarter, making it the ideal processor to address consumers' growing demands for new, innovative experiences and usage scenarios that we believe will be delivered by the next version of Windows."


The first processor in the Snapdragon family to power devices using the next version of Windows will be the MSM8960, which is sampling this month, followed by the quad-core Snapdragon APQ8064, which is anticipated to sample in early 2012.
http://www.qualcomm.com

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BT and ZTE Form Research Partnership

BT and ZTE have entered into a research partnership to explore the next generation of fixed line, wireless and mobile telecommunications services.


"This is another example of BT's commitment to open innovation - combining with outstanding partners, customers and academic bodies to develop exciting new services and constantly improve the customer experience. We've been very impressed with the knowledge and sophistication of ZTE's team and, by combining our complementary strengths and expertise on a range of research projects, we expect this partnership to be very fruitful for both ourselves and our respective customers," stated Clive Selley, CIO BT Group.
http://www.zte.com.cn

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Ericsson: 670 Million Mobile Users in China Increasingly Seek Data Access

In rural China, 670 million mobile subscribers – equivalent to half of the country's population – have started actively demanding internet access anytime, according to an extensive study by Ericsson Consumer Lab.


Some highlights of the study:

• In rural China, ownership of fixed-line phones has declined to 46 percent, while ownership of mobile phones has increased to 90 percent.



• Ownership of home PCs has reached 31 percent, and 16 percent of respondents indicated that they planned to purchase a PC in the next 12 months.



• Individual entertainment such as using a PC to browse the web, or a mobile phone to chat online, is becoming more popular among rural Chinese residents.



• In all, 41 percent of the respondents said that "Internet access anytime, anywhere" was very important to them.

The study covers rural areas in 18 provinces across China, including interviews with more than 2,000 local villagers. Further details are online.
http://www.ericsson.com/news/110601-ict-revolution_244188810_c

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Gigaset Releases DECT Cordless Phone with Social Media Features

Gigaset Communications GmbH, a spinout of Siemens that was later acquired by Arques Industries AG, released a hybrid landline DECT phone system in the U.S. market featuring social networking updates on its screen and the ability to handle four parallel calls at once (three VoIP calls and one PSTN call).


The new Gigaset C610A IP DECT telephone supports High-Definition Sound Performance (HDSP) using the G.722 CODEC to deliver exceptional quality audio when calling via the Internet. Up to six VoIP accounts and six DECT handset registrations can be configured on the system. Each VoIP account can have a distinctive ring assigned to it.


Gigaset also operates is own closed, softswitch network that allows any Gigaset IP phone to call any other Gigaset IP phone worldwide for free. The new Gigaset C610A support HD voice over this extension number network.

The social media functionality provides updates from Facebook and Twitter right on the handset. In addition, a room monitoring function automatically dials another extension or a pre-determined phone number when noise is detected.


The C610H handset that comes with the C610A IP system has a 1.8-inch color display, a standard 2.5mm headset jack and storage for up to 150 phone numbers.
http://www.gigaset.com

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Tekelec Names Ron De Lange as CEO

Tekelec has appointed Ron de Lange as president and chief executive officer (CEO), replacing Krish Prabhu, Tekelec's interim CEO and a Board member, who will step down from his Board seat as planned.


Ron de Lange joined Tekelec in July 2005 as president and general manager for the Network Signaling Group and was promoted to executive vice president Global Product Solutions in 2007, where he served as the primary architect of the company's product strategy. Prior to Tekelec, Ron spent 24 years at Lucent Technologies, where he held a number of leadership roles. He directed next-generation strategy, devising cross-functional convergence solutions and has managed multiple functions, including sales, marketing, manufacturing and finance.
http://www.tekelec.com

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Cisco: Global Internet Traffic to Quadruple by 2015

Total global Internet traffic will quadruple by 2015, reaching 966 exabytes per year, nearly a zettabyte, according to the newly released Cisco Visual Networking Index Forecast, 2010-2015.


The traffic growth is driven by four primary factors, according to Cisco. They are:

• An increasing number of devices: Cisco expects that by 2015 there will be nearly 15 billion network connections via devices -- including machine-to-machine -- and more than two connections for each person on earth.



• More Internet users: By 2015, there will be nearly 3 billion Internet users --more than 40 percent of the world's projected population.



• Faster broadband speed: The average fixed broadband speed is expected to increase four-fold, from 7 megabits per second in 2010 to 28 Mbps in 2015. The average broadband speed has already doubled within the past year from 3.5 Mbps to 7 Mbps.



• More video: By 2015, 1 million video minutes --the equivalent of 674 days -- will traverse the Internet every second.

For this year's report, Cisco used an iterative forecasting model that was more focused on connection metrics (such as sessions and transactions) rather than on consumer metrics.

Some additional highlights of the report:


* Global IP traffic is expected to reach 80.5 exabytes per month by 2015, up from approximately 20.2 exabytes per month in 2010.


* Average global IP traffic in 2015 will reach 245 terabytes per second, equivalent to 200 million people streaming an HD movie (1.2 Mbps) simultaneously every day.


* By 2015, the Asia Pacific region will generate the most IP traffic (24.1 exabytes per month), surpassing last year's leader, North America (22.3 exabytes per month), for the top spot.


* The fastest-growing IP-traffic regions for the forecast period (2010 – 2015) are the Middle East and Africa (which had a 52-percent compound annual growth rate, for an eightfold growth), surpassing last year's leader Latin America (48 percent CAGR, sevenfold growth).


* The global online video community will increase by approximately 500 million users by 2015, up from more than 1 billion Internet video users in 2010.


* In 2010, PCs generated 97 percent of consumer Internet traffic. This will fall to 87 percent by 2015, demonstrating the impact that devices like tablets, smartphones and connected TVs are having on how consumers access and use the Internet.


* Accessing the Internet on Web-enabled TVs continues to grow and by 2015, 10 percent of global consumer Internet traffic and 18 percent of Internet video traffic will be consumed via TVs.


* Global advanced video traffic, including three-dimensional (3-D) and high-definition TV (HDTV), is projected to increase 14 times between 2010 and 2015.


* Global mobile Internet data traffic will increase 26 times from 2010 to 2015, to 6.3 exabytes per month (or 75 exabytes annually).


* By 2015, global peer-to-peer traffic will account for 16 percent of global consumer Internet traffic, down from 40 percent in 2010.


* Business IP video conferencing is projected to grow six fold over the forecast period, growing more than two times as fast as overall business IP traffic, at a CAGR of 41 percent from 2010 to 2015.

By 2015, TVs will account for over 18 percent of Internet video traffic, demonstrating the impact of web-enabled TVs as a viable online option for many consumers (bigger screens support better video experiences). This trend also represents the evolution of video on the Internet-from low-quality, short-form content and clips to high-quality, long-form programs and movies.

* Mobile data traffic will be nearly 8 percent of global IP traffic by 2015, growing from 1.2 percent of global IP traffic in 2010.
http://www.cisco.com

• In June 2010, Cisco's Visual Networking Index Forecast predicted that global Internet traffic will increase more than fourfold to 767 exabytes, or more than 3/4 of a Zettabyte, by 2014. Cisco said this growth in traffic would continue to be dominated by video, exceeding 91 percent of global consumer IP traffic by 2014 -- especially HDTV and 3DTV. By 2014, 3-D is forecast to comprise 4 percent of total consumer Internet video traffic, while HDTV will account for 38 percent.



• In June 2009, Cisco's Visual Networking Index Forecast predicted that global IP traffic will increase fivefold by 2013 driven by expanded usage of interactive media, and the explosion of video content across multiple devices. This would put the total IP traffic volume at 667 Exabytes per year or 56 exabytes per month -- the equivalent of 10 billion DVDs worth of data per month traversing networks.



• In June 2008, Cisco's Visual Networking Index Forecast predicted that global IP traffic would increase at a combined annual growth rate (CAGR) of 46 percent from 2007 to 2012, nearly doubling every two years -- a six fold increase from 2007 to 2012. This will result in an annual bandwidth demand on the world's IP networks of approximately 522 exabytes, or more than half a zettabyte.

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Lantiq Powers First CAT-iq 2.0 Home Gateway for DT

Lantiq's XWAY and COSIC silicon will power the industry's first home gateway certified by the DECT Forum as compliant with the CAT-iq 2.0 profile. Specifically, Deutsche Telekom will upgrade its Speedport W 504V home gateway to be CAT-iq 2.0 compliant in its service area beginning this summer.



Two Lantiq single-chip devices are used in the home gateway. The Lantiq COSIC Modem is an integrated CAT-iq solution featuring a baseband controller, RF transceiver and a power amplifier on a single chip. This can be used with any of the Lantiq XWAY xRX family of CPE products for xDSL gateways. Lantiq's embedded VoIP engine is the DECT software stack which serves as the engine at the heart of the CAT-iq implementation and is supported with a toolkit for application integration.



CAT-iq is a next generation cordless phone technology for advanced IP-based communications, beginning with wideband, HD-quality voice services and expanding to a rich suite of voice services and data-driven applications. Features of CAT-iq 2.0 include multi-line support, easy pairing and phonebook synchronization. As future CAT-iq profiles are released, service providers will be able to push new voice and data services to consumers that essentially make cordless phones part of a broadband intelligent home network.http://www.lantiq.com

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Sunrise Telecom Adds Mobile Backhaul Verification Tools

Sunrise Telecom has enhanced its RxT test platform with new capabilities for mobile backhaul installation and service activation, including for trunks used to support LTE.



The RxT includes network verification capabilities for legacy Time Domain Multiplexing E1/T1, and SONET/SDH interfaces used in second and third generation (2G and 3G) mobile networks. It also provides IntelliSAM -- a comprehensive ITU-T Y.1564 Carrier Ethernet service activation test capability along with a unique bandwidth profile measurement algorithm developed to dramatically surpass the carrier Ethernet activation methodology previously offered in RFC2544.



"The first of its kind, the RxT's mobile backhaul verification capability increases productivity by allowing technicians to seamlessly keep pace with next generation backhaul systems and successfully manage the transition from E1/T1 and SONET/SDH to Ethernet," said Bahaa Moukadam, Sunrise Telecom's chief executive officer. "Technicians need end-to-end visibility in the network to quickly identify problems, decrease mean time to repair and avoid service level agreement penalties."



Sunrise Telecom's mobile backhaul solution includes the RxT-2270 E1, RXT2380 SONET/SDH, the RXT2500 Dual 1GE and the RXT5000 10GE modules, which are all available today through the company's worldwide distribution channels. The recently introduced IntelliSAM, the most comprehensive Carrier Ethernet service activation methodology helps verify service level agreements. This single platform solution reduces training time due to the familiar user-interface across all technologies.http://www.sunrisetelecom.com

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Ethernet Alliance Completes 40 & 100 GigE Interoperability Event

The Ethernet Alliance reported substantial success for a Higher Speed Ethernet (HSE) subcommittee interoperability plugfest for products designed to support IEEE Std. 802.3baTM-2010, 40 and 100 Gbps Ethernet. The testing was held during the week of April 18th to verify the interoperability of test equipment, switches, routers, NICs, transceivers and cabling supporting 40 and 100 Gigabit Ethernet.



"This interoperability event demonstrates that the HSE ecosystem is continuing to mature," said David Schneider, marketing chair of the Ethernet Alliance's Higher Speed Ethernet subcommittee. "The fact that many systems were able to interoperate indicates that widespread deployment will soon be a reality."



"The ratification of the IEEE Std 802.3baTM-2010 standard was a step in the development of the 40 and 100 Gigabit Ethernet ecosystem," said John D'Ambrosia, who chaired the IEEE P802.3ba 40 Gbps and 100 Gbps Ethernet Task Force, and Chief Ethernet Evangelist of Force10 Network's CTO Office. "As these Ethernet Alliance events demonstrate, the technology behind the 40 Gbps and 100 Gbps Ethernet standard advances Ethernet's long legacy of interoperability and robustness."



Fourteen Ethernet Alliance members participated, including Berk-Tek Systems (a Nexans Company), Broadcom, Brocade, Extreme Networks, Ixia, JDSU, Juniper Networks, Mellanox Technologies, Opnext, Panduit, Siemon, Spirent Communications, TE Connectivity (TE – formerly Tyco Electronics) and Volex Group plc.



Cables tested met or exceeded IEEE Std. 802.3ba, and bit error ratio tests (BERT) were used in the transceiver and cable tests to verify link-level error-free operation within the requirements of IEEE Std. 802.3ba. Basic layer 3 traffic was used to verify system-level error-free operation.



Ixia, JDSU, and Spirent provided 40 and 100 Gbps test ports, Broadcom, Brocade, Extreme Networks, and Juniper Networks provided 40 and 100 Gbps switch and router ports, and Mellanox provided 40 Gbps NICs.



Transceivers from Opnext, TE and one other optics vendor were included in the testing.



Copper and optical cables, including OM3 and OM4 multimode fiber and direct attached copper, passive and active cable assemblies along with direct attach active optical cable assemblies were contributed by Berk-Tek, Panduit and Siemon.



This is the second such interoperability event hosted by the Ethernet Alliance; the first event was held in September of 2010.http://www.ethernetalliance.org

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Google Discloses Phishing Attack on Gmail

Google described a new phishing attack that has been used to collect Gmail user passwords. The campaign that appears to originate from Jinan, China. In a blog posting, Google said the attack affected the personal Gmail accounts of hundreds of users including, among others, senior U.S. government officials, Chinese political activists, officials in several Asian countries (predominantly South Korea), military personnel and journalists.http://googleblog.blogspot.com/

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Alcatel-Lucent Debuts AppGlide Video Analytics service

Alcatel-Lucent introduced AppGlide Video Analytics, a new managed service to help broadband service providers measure the quality of experience (QoE) for both free and paid online video from an end-user viewer's perspective.



The new service, available for trial now, identifies content delivery-quality issues. The cloud-based solution combines data from video player plug-ins, QoE agents, content-delivery network devices (CDNs) and routers to deliver a truly holistic view of quality of experience for subscribers. In addition, it provides insights into viewing trends, content usage, CDN and network performance. It shows the volume and quality of video being delivered; gives visibility into viewer behaviors (what is being watched, how long, why viewers stopped watching etc.); and helps service providers monitor, and isolate CDN performance.



"Having access to the individual data sources is meaningful but—according to service providers we've spoken with—the cross-correlation of this information is powerful and unique to AppGlide," said Mark Peterson, general manager of the Alcatel-Lucent AppGlide venture. "For example, being able to see that a viewer stopped watching a video after only a few minutes, and this coincided with poor quality-of-experience will enable the provider to take very specific remedial steps."



AppGlide Video Analytics was developed and commercialized by Alcatel-Lucent's Ventures organization, which is part of Bell Labs.http://www.alcatel-lucent.com

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Romania's Romtelecom to Deploy ADVA's Agile Optical Core

Romania's Romtelecom has selected ADVA Optical Networking's FSP 3000 Agile Core transport solution to enable multiple critical networks in Romania, including several county-wide rings, a nationwide network throughout the country and an international link connecting Romania and Germany.



In addition to the high-speed offered by the 100 Gbps capability, the FSP 3000's DWDM, multi-degree ROADM (reconfigurable optical add/drop multiplexer), control plane, protection, restoration, end-to-end service provisioning and management functionalities provide Romtelecom with a high degree of network automation.



"We sought to consolidate around a single vendor backed by a complete support offering, and ADVA Optical Networking was the best-suited choice," said Wolfgang Breuer, chief technical officer at Romtelecom. "Our portfolio is wide and growing. Only ADVA Optical Networking provides a globally proven core solution with such valuable agility to support our service offering. This new FSP 3000-based solution helps us to improve our time-to-market and deliver high-capacity services of any protocol, with a clear and graceful migration to 100Gbit/s in the future."http://www.advaoptical.com http://www.romtelecom.ro

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Japanese ISPs Test 100 Gigabit Ethernet Internet Exchange

Leading Japanese ISPs, including Internet Multifeed Co. (MF), Internet Initiative Japan Inc. (IIJ) and NTT Communications, completed a 100 Gigabit Ethernet Joint Interoperability test. The event was described as a success and is expected to lead to the commercial rollout of 100GigE exchange points in Japan.



The companies noted that they are already bundling multiple 10GigE interfaces to keep up with peering demands.



The test was conducted using routers, switches and packet generators provided by Brocade Communications, Cisco, Juniper Networks and Toyo Corporation. Spirent Communications supplied the packet generator and test gear.



MF, IIJ and NTT Com interconnected routers and switches capable of 100 Gigabit provided by Brocade, Cisco and Juniper and tested the interoperability of physical and network layer, interoperability with optical switch, routing exchange and redundant IX topology while exchanging 100 Gigabit traffic.http://www.ntt.co.jp

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COMPTEL Weighs In Against AT&T + T-Mobile Deal

AT&T's proposed acquisition of T-Mobile would not serve the public interest and should be blocked by regulators, according to COMPTEL, an industry organization representing competitive carriers and their suppliers.


In a filing with the FCC, COMPTEL argues that the deal would create a significant increase in horizontal market concentration in the mobile telephony/broadband services market by reducing the number of national competitors from four to three, increasing AT&T's market share from 32 percent to 43 percent and vesting control of more than 77 percent of the wireless lines in service in two carriers -- AT&T and Verizon Wireless. As the sole, national GSM operator, other regional carriers would have no choice but to secure roaming agreements with AT&T. The mega-carrier would also be in a position to control access to backhaul facilities in many markets, according to COMPTEL, and this could lead to exorbitant prices for special access services.
http://www.comptel.org/

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France Telecom-Orange Outlines 2015 "Conquest" Plan

France Telecom-Orange's strategic and financial ambitions for the 2011-2015 period will be characterized by an initial "adaptation" phase (2011-13) of network investments followed by a "conquest" phase (2014-15) during which its goal will be the return to sustained growth of both revenues and operating cash flow. The company's CAPEX plans are forecast to be EUR 18.5 billion in the first phase compared to EUR 10.8 billion in the second phase. This translates to a CAPEX/Sales ratio of approximately 13.4% in the initial phase compared to 11.0% in the second phase.


As part of its Conquests 2015 Investor's Day, executives at France Telecom-Orange outlined the following objectives:


1. During the adaptation phase (2011-2013), the company aims to progressively accelerate revenue growth
over the period (CAGR of +0.6%) with EBITDA stabilized in 2013 above the 2011 level. The Group's goal is to achieve a cumulative EBITDA of around 45 billion euros in the 2011-2013 period.


This goal notably accounts for the implementation of a new performance plan and the
benefits expected from the ramp-up of the procurement joint venture with Deutsche Telekom.
Overall, the Group forecasts gross savings of at least 3 billion euros by 2015 (including over 2
billion euros by the end of 2013) versus the cost base in 2010.


From 2011-2013, the Group forecasts cumulative CAPEX of around 18.5 billion euros,
including 1 billion euros for fiber deployment in France. This represents an average rate of
CAPEX to revenues of 12.6% over the period (excluding FTTH in France). The rate of
investment is expected to peak in 2012 (~14%) as the deployment of fiber accelerates and
the Group fulfills its network coverage and capacity objectives.


Taking these items into consideration, the Group announces cumulative operating cash flow
guidance (EBITDA – CAPEX) of around 27 billion euros over the 2011-2013 period, excluding
exceptional items.


2. During the 2014-2015 "conquest phase", the group expects revenue growth rate of +2.7% (2013-2015 CAGR), with
a return to growth in France and in the Enterprise segment, and a continued solid contribution from Europe and AMEA; EBITDA, with 3.4% growth (2013-2015 CAGR).


CAPEX, with the return to a normalized investment level of 10% over the period, equal to
approximately 9.8 billion euros (excluding FTTH in France, which represents an additional
point, for a total CAPEX rate of 11% equal to 10.8 billion euros); and operating cash flow, with a CAGR of +9% over the 2013-3015 period.


"Our Conquests 2015 business plan now moves into an adaptation phase that is
preparing the ground for a subsequent, even more decisive conquest phase. In the pursuit of our
ambitions, we will be able to capitalize on a number of positive factors between now and 2015.
These include the economic outlook in the countries in which we operate, an increasingly favorable
regulatory environment, the quality of our networks, strategic new growth opportunities that we have
identified, as well as our new strategy for building partnerships with other players in the digital
ecosystem. I am certain, as always, that the competence and commitment of our 170,000
employees will enable us to meet these objectives," stated Stéphane Richard, Chairman and CEO of France Telecom-Orange.


Some additional data points:

• France Telecom-Orange now has 169,000 employees worldwide, of which 39% frontline staff



• 210 million customers



• operating in 35 countries



• 7,000 Orange branded stores



• 300 TB of mobile traffic per day



• 98% 3G+ coverage of France's population by end of 2011



• FT-Orange targets at least €3bn in gross savings by 2015 vs. 2010 cost
  base.

http://www.francetelecom.com

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Nokia Cuts Outlook as Device Sales Fall

Nokia cut its financial guidance for its second quarter and full year 2011 citing substantially weaker sales of mobile devices and services. The company attributed the decline to competitors across multiple price categories, particularly in China and Europe; a product mix shift towards devices with lower average selling prices and lower gross margins; and pricing tactics by Nokia and certain competitors. Nokia was unable to predict an annual target for 2011 given the current uncertainty and the major product transition underway.


"Strategy transitions are difficult. We recognize the need to deliver great mobile products, and therefore we must accelerate the pace of our transition," said Stephen Elop, president and CEO of Nokia. "Our teams are aligned, and we have increased confidence that we will ship our first Nokia product with Windows Phone in the fourth quarter 2011."


The updated guidance includes:


Nokia now expects Devices & Services net sales to be substantially below its previously expected range of EUR 6.1 billion to EUR 6.6 billion for the second quarter 2011.


Nokia now expects Devices & Services non-IFRS operating margin to be substantially below its previously expected range of 6% to 9% for the second quarter 2011 -- the figure could be around breakeven.


Nokia's previous targets for the third quarter, fourth quarter, and full year 2011 were: 1) Net sales in Devices & Services to be at approximately the same level in the third quarter 2011 as in the second quarter 2011, and seasonally higher in the fourth quarter 2011, compared to the third quarter 2011; 2) Devices & Services non-IFRS operating margin to be between 6% and 9% in 2011. These targets are no longer valid.


Nokia has taken price actions on its current smartphone portfolio, and Nokia is intensifying its focus on retail point-of-sales marketing.


Nokia started shipping its new dual-SIM devices last week.


The company notes continued progress on its Windows Phone strategy, and predicts the first Nokia Windows Phone will ship in the fourth quarter 2011.
http://www.nokia.com

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CWA Lobbies for AT&T/T-Mobile Merger

The Communications Workers of America believes the merger of AT&T and T-Mobile will create as many as 96,000 new, quality jobs, accelerate broadband build out, and improve wireless communications and innovation.


In a filing submitted to the FCC, the CWA cited a new analysis by the Economic Policy Institute shows that the merger will create about 12,000 quality jobs per billion dollars invested in a wireless network. The study says the additional $8 billion in capital expenditures that AT&T has committed to invest in wireless broadband buildout will create up to 96,000 jobs.
http://www.cwa-union.org

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Australia's NBN Co Picks Ericsson for Rural Broadband Wireless

NBN Co, which is building Australia's national broadband network, has awarded a 10-year contract to Ericsson to design, build and operate a 4G fixed-wireless network. The deal is valued at up to AUS $1.1 billion.



The fixed-wireless broadband network will deliver up to 12 Mbps downstream to locations not reachable by fiber. Broadband satellite will also be used as part of the NBNCo plan.



Design of the fixed-wireless network has already started although exact locations for initial rollout won't be announced for several month following the completion of detailed network planning and consultation with local communities.



NBN Co Head of Corporate Services, Kevin Brown said: "It's only right that those parts of the country with some of the poorest access to high-speed broadband should be among the first to receive the National Broadband Network either via satellite or the fixed-wireless solution we are announcing today.



"Those receiving our fixed-wireless service will benefit from the latest 4G fixed-wireless technology, LTE. While wireless spectrum is shared between users, unlike a mobile network, fixed-wireless will allow us to plan a network for a more predictable number of users in a given area. This gives us greater consistency in the speed and quality of service the NBN Co network will provide to each user."



NBN Co has initially entered into a turnkey arrangement for at least 12 months to enable a fast start to construction and delivery. Over time NBN Co intends to assume greater responsibility for construction and operation of this world-leading infrastructure.
http://www.nbnco.com.au

• NBN Co announced in February that it had acquired wireless spectrum from AUSTAR that is sufficient to meet most of its needs for the fixed-wireless services. Spectrum has still to be acquired for WA and the Northern Territory, however the Australian Communications and Media Authority has initiated a public process for the allocation of spectrum in these locations that would be suitable for fixed-wireless services.

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Broadcom Develops 1G-EPON SoC

Broadcom unveiled a system-on-a-chip (SoC) solution for the Ethernet Passive Optical Network (EPON) market – China's fastest growing broadband technology.



The new BCM53600 series is the first in a family of highly optimized, 1G to 10G scalable, and fully integrated single chip PON MDU SoCs. The highly integrated 1G-EPON SoC offer TR-101, TR-156, and CTC2.1 specification compliance. It delivers end-to-end quality of service (QoS), classification, filtering, and security. IPv6 support provides a future-proof solution for next generation deployments and service upgrades. Multiple interfaces provide flexibility for a smooth transition to evolving technology and multiple deployment scenarios including VDSL, VoIP, 10G-EPON and GPON.
http://www.broadcom.com

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Eutelsat's Ka-band Satellite Goes Live -- up to 10 Mbps

Eutelsat Communications announced commercial activation of its KA-SAT High Throughput Satellite, marking the official launch of its new-generation Tooway broadband service across Europe.



Up to 10 Mbps downstream and 4 Mbps upstream is immediately available for consumers irrespective of location across Europe and the Mediterranean Basin. The service is sold by various channel partners in each national market. The Tooway system can also be used for Voice over IP and IPTV. With a dual-feed (Ku-Ka), Direct-to-Home reception of television channels from adjacent broadcast satellites is also possible.



Michel de Rosen, Eutelsat CEO commented on the entry into service: "The entry into service of KA-SAT, the world's most powerful spotbeam satellite, turns a new page in affordable and immediately available IP solutions, and places Europe at the forefront of high-capacity satellite technologies that can serve to quickly close the broadband gap. We look forward to working with our service and technology partners to unleash the huge potential of this new pan-European wireless infrastructure."

http://www.eutelsat.com

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NetLogic Releases LTE Base Station Processors

NetLogic Microsystems announced volume production of XLP316L multi-core, multi-threaded processors for LTE base stations. The multi-core processor integrates 16 high-performance NXCPUs and a quad-issue, quad-threaded processor architecture with superscalar out-of-order execution capabilities for delivering high performance Layers 2-7 processing for mobile wireless infrastructure.



NetLogic' XLP316L processor also offers a number of base station-specific features, such as an advanced floating point unit (FPU), Kasumi and SNOW3G security protocol acceleration and a low-latency Serial RapidIO (SRIO) interface.



The design uses NetLogic's high-speed, low-latency Enhanced Fast Messaging Network to enable efficient, high-bandwidth communication among the 16 NXCPUs and to support billions of in-flight messages and packet descriptors between all on-chip elements. A unique tri-level cache architecture with more than 6 Megabytes of fully coherent on-chip cache delivers 40 Terabits per second (Tbps) of extremely high-speed on-chip memory bandwidth. A 72-bit DDR3 interconnect that yields more than 100 Gbps of off-chip memory bandwidth.



"The receipt of orders for volume production from our leading customers for the XLP316L processor, just months after its announcement, is a testament to the compelling benefits of the product and to its success in addressing the critical requirements of advanced LTE networks," said Chris O'Reilly, vice president of marketing for NetLogic Microsystems.http://www.netlogicmicro.com

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Vitesse's SimpliPHY 1G Devices Support 1588v2 and Ethernet/MPLS

Vitesse Semiconductor has expanded its Carrier Ethernet physical layer (PHY) portfolio with new Gigabit Ethernet (GE) devices offering an upgrade path for network equipment requiring IEEE 1588v2 timing synchronization and Ethernet/MPLS Operations Administration and Maintenance (OAM) features.



The new SimpliPHY 1G devices, the dual-port VSC8572 and quad-port VSC8574, support accurate timing distribution in wireless backhaul, data center, industrial automation, smart grid and other applications that leverage real-time services over newer packet-based networks. The two new devices complement the previously announced VSC8488-15 and VSC8494.



With the ability to handle encapsulations, such as Q-in-Q, IP/MPLS and MPLS Pseudowire, common in packet-based networks, the VSC8572 and VSC8574 deliver packet monitoring capabilities that enable service providers to reliably monitor services to Service Level Agreement contracts. Additionally, the devices offer full IEEE 1588v2 network synchronization support with one-step and two-step time stamping with accuracy better than 10ns in
1000BASE-T mode, sufficient for WiMAX and LTE backhaul and other timing critical applications.



"For businesses that need to deliver real-time services to customers over the Internet, such as the provision of cloud computing services, the customer experience can be improved by leveraging accurate key performance indicators and end-to-end service verification in the network equipment," said Brian Jaroszewski, senior product marketing manager at Vitesse. "Vitesse's goal is to provide a seamless upgrade path for equipment vendors and service providers to improve their networks with accurate OAM monitoring and precision timing features necessary for next-generation services over lower-cost packet networks."



Vitesse also offers a broad portfolio of Layer-2 and Layer-3 Switches with support for IEEE 1588v2 and Ethernet/MPLS OAM. The portfolio of physical layer devices offers timing accuracy improvements and cost savings at the system level by implementing these features in physical-layer silicon, thus allowing a simpler upgrade path to add these capabilities to existing equipments without changing switch, MAC, or processor silicon.



The devices will be available in 17-mm-square BGA packages. Sampling is underway.http://www.vitesse.com

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IEEE Ratifies 802.3bf - Ethernet Support for Time Distribution and Synchronization

The IEEE ratified 802.3bf-2011, offering Ethernet support for time synchronization protocols. An amendment to the IEEE 802.3TM Ethernet standard, IEEE 802.3bf provides the hardware support for time distribution and synchronization protocols, e.g., IEEE 1588 and IEEE 802.1AS -2011. This amendment to the IEEE 802.3 Ethernet standard paves the way for the rapid adoption of the IEEE 802.1TM Audio/Video Bridging (AVB) protocol technologies in existing and future networks.



"The audio and video communities have been using Ethernet technologies for years as a high-performance, low-cost transport. IEEE 802.3bf-2011 and the IEEE 802.1 AVB protocol suite allow for precise timing across the network-a critical function for delivery of high-quality audio and video in real time. For the first time, this can be accomplished using interoperable IEEE 802 technologies, rather than many proprietary and incompatible solutions," said Steve Carlson, Chair, IEEE 802.3bf Task Force, President, High Speed Design, Inc.http://www.ieee.org

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Chattanooga's EPB Plans Smart Grid with Alcatel-Lucent Bell Labs

EPB, Chattanooga's electric power distributor and communications provider, is working with Alcatel-Lucent's Bell Labs on tools to help consumers manage their energy usage in detail. EPB currently is building an advanced and automated smart grid network with widescale deployment of sensors and control devices. Coupled with pervasive broadband communications, the smart grid network will provide the utility the ability to measure, monitor and control their electricity distribution network in real time at fine levels of detail.



Alcatel-Lucent's Bell Labs is developing advanced analytical techniques and tools to help EPB even further mine the wealth of information from smart meters, Supervisory Control and Data Acquisition (SCADA) systems and other data to help reduce electric service outages, help EPB's customers manage energy costs, manage power consumption during peak consumption periods, and improve operational efficiencies.



Alcatel-Lucent is also providing EPB with a GPON infrastructure that delivers residential services at up to 1 Gbps -- the fastest in the U.S. The 1 Gbps service is priced at $350 per month. EPB also offers 100, 50, and 30 Mbps.

http://www.alcatel-lucent.com http://www.epb.net

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Vitesse Expands its EcoEthernet PHYs

Vitesse Semiconductor continues to build its portfolio of energy-efficient SimpliPHY family of Gigabit Ethernet (GE) physical layer devices.



Vitesse's EcoEthernet 2.0 silicon, which is designed for enterprise LAN, data center and carrier Ethernet switches, optimizes performance for all link speeds, while providing unique energy-saving capabilities for temperature monitoring, smart fan control, and adjustable LED brightness. EcoEthernet is compliant to the Energy Star framework with unique features such as "PerfectReach", an intelligent cable length algorithm that saves power based on the reach of a connection and "ActiPHY", which reduces power consumption by 75 percent or more for unconnected ports.



The two-port VSC8552 and four-port VSC8504 devices support dual media copper and fiber ports. Vitesse's EcoEthernet 2.0 technology enables power dissipation between 160mW and 400 mW per port depending upon traffic utilization levels for an active link over twisted-pair copper wiring. The VSC8552 features an RGMII-to-SGMII conversion mode for a low-power solution. Similarly, the VSC8504 can perform SGMII-to-QSGMII conversion.




Sampling is underway for the lead-free RoHS 6 devices, which come in 17-mm-square 256-pin BGA packages.



"Network equipment vendors across all segments are looking for ways to reduce system power and increase system efficiency," said Dinesh Kannappan, product marketing manager at Vitesse. "Vitesse is committed to remaining at the forefront in green innovations, which helps our customers gain a competitive edge and bring differentiated energy-efficient network solutions to market."http://www.vitesse.com

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Cortina 's 4th Generation EPON ONU

Cortina Systems unveiled its 4th generation EPON ONU featuring new power saving capabilities compliant with SIEPON's power saving feature and supports the new IEEE Energy Efficient Ethernet standard. The device could be used for home gateways of EPON-enable mobile backhaul, or business Ethernet surfaces.



The single chip EPON ONU offers a 500MHz CPU and multiple embedded memory options, has a flexible architecture that allows it to be used as a SFU (Single Family Unit), IP Voice and Video, HGU (Home Gateway Unit), and MDU (Multi-dwelling Unit). It features a VoIP interface that can support up to 4 instants of conversation. It also supports the IEEE802.3az Energy Efficient Ethernet as well as the SIEPON's power saving mode.



Cortina noted that the new EPON ONU could also be used for mobile backhaul and business connectivity applications as it supports 1PPS/ToD timing synchronization based on China Telecom V2.1 EPON Specification and IEEE 802.1AS. The rich feature set and the low BOM cost make the chip an ideal candidate for a single platform solution for a one-port ONU to a full featured triple play home gateway.



"Carriers are implementing PON as a way to deliver fast optical connections to support end users demand for both high speed bandwidth and advance services," said Rick Li, Vice President Marketing, Cortina Systems. "Not only does the CS803x reduce BOM costs by embedding the memory, it supports IPv4/IPv6 co-existence for seamless migration from IPv4 to advanced IPv6 services and a powerful processor for VoIP service. The CS803x provides a solution for the FTTx industry with leading benchmark of performance over power and cost."http://www.cortina-systems.com

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Qualcomm Atheros Debuts Tri-Band Wi-Fi Chip with In-room 60 GHz

Qualcomm Atheros introduced the industry's first tri-band Wi-Fi chipset that integrates the multi-gigabit performance of in-room 60 GHz band with seamless handoff to 2.4 GHz and 5 GHz band Wi-Fi.



The new AR9004TB solution, which was developed in partnership with Wilocity, a developer of 60 GHz multi-gigabit wireless chipsets, could support a range of applications, from I/O to video to networking, at the same speeds as equivalent wired connectivity technologies.



This could include devices using 802.11n Wi-Fi for whole home connectivity along with 802.11ad for networked synchronization of HD movies in seconds (versus tens of minutes), I/O connection to USB3/SATA hard drives, instant "sync and go" between mobile platforms, streaming display to projectors/TVs/monitors, and high-performance wireless docking.



The 60 GHz technology found in AR9004TB is based on the latest specifications from the Wireless Gigabit Alliance and IEEE 802.11ad and will be Wi-Fi Alliance certified. The AR9004TB also supports the latest Bluetooth 4.0 specification, which includes both high-speed and low-energy operation to extend personal area connectivity to a variety of devices. It includes a new message-based coexistence interface that allows superior interference avoidance and cancellation for Wi-Fi and Bluetooth coexistence.



"The new AR9004TB solution strengthens and expands our industry-leading portfolio of wireless and wired connectivity technologies for consumer and enterprise devices," said Amir Faintuch, senior vice president and general manager, consumer business unit, Qualcomm Atheros. "By incorporating 60 GHz multi-gigabit transfer with proven 802.11n Wi-Fi technologies, Qualcomm Atheros and Wilocity are creating an even more valuable offering for customers looking to expand their presence in the market. AR9004TB will allow users to enjoy new generations of rich applications in the home and at work while also helping keep their devices and information fully synchronized."

http://www.atheros.com

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Sony's PlayStation Network Fully Restored this Week

Sony Network Entertainment International will fully restore all PlayStation Network services in the Americas, Europe/PAL territories and Asia, excluding Japan, Hong Kong, and South Korea by the end of this week. The company said it has implemented considerable security enhancements to the network infrastructure, as well as conducted testing of the payment process and commerce functions.



The first phase of PlayStation Network and Qriocity restoration began on May 15 in the Americas and Europe/PAL territories, followed by Japan and Asian countries and regions on May 28, when the company brought partial services back online.
http://www.sony.com

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Mavenir to Acquire Airwide for Mobile Messaging

Mavenir Systems has acquired privately-held Airwide Solutions, a supplier of mobile messaging solutions for an undisclosed sum.


"With this acquisition, Mavenir Systems will strengthen its already advanced product portfolio and will be well positioned to support global mobile operators in their evolution to 4G networks," said Pardeep Kohli, president and CEO, Mavenir Systems. "Our increased global presence and our combined experience will instill a greater confidence in our customers as they rely on Mavenir to launch innovative LTE services quickly and cost effectively."


"We look forward to helping our combined customers in their transition to LTE with products such as our recently announced trio of Voice over LTE (VoLTE) solutions," added Kohli.
http://www.mavenir.com

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Cavium Debuts PureVu Processors for WiFi-Based Wireless Display and Home Video

Cavium Networks introduced its new line of "PureVu" CNW66xx SoC video processors capable of addressing the growing market demand for universal wireless display receivers at a low price point with up to 1080p resolution.


The new ARM CPU core-based processor family can support a wide range of home networking and wireless video transmission protocols including Cavium's WiVu, WiFi Alliance 802.11-based wireless display standard (WFD), and DLNA. The multi-format video processing engine is capable of decoding up to 1920x1080 p30/i60 resolution for a wide range of video standards including MPEG2, H.264, MPEG4, AVS, VC-1, and MJPEG.


Cavium also offers a separate processor line that targets high-end, fully interactive, 2D and 3D home theater solutions.
http://www.caviumnetworks.com.

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NTT Com Adds SIP Trunking Plan

NTT Communications is enhancing its Arcstar Unified Communications Services with a new SIP Trunking Plan that allows Arcstar( Global IP-VPN users to dial external lines for high-quality, low-rate voice communications worldwide beginning May 31. The service initially will be offered to customers in Singapore and then gradually expanded to cover other regions, making the plan available worldwide by March 2012. Incoming calls from external lines will be covered under the plan from April 2012 at the earliest.



NTT Com said its new SIP Trunking Plan will reduce total cost of ownership by unifying voice and data communications over Arcstar Global IP-VPN. Operation and maintenance will also be simplified by this one-stop, end-to-end solution combining the necessary systems and hardware for voice and data, including network and devices (VoIP gateway).



Arcstar Unified Communications Services currently offer IP-based internal dialing among global offices, including within Japan, under the Extension Plan. The newly expanded Arcstar Unified Communications Services will provide globally seamless unified voice, video, web conferencing, voice messaging, presence and instant messaging for Arcstar Global IP-VPN, backed by NTT Com's extensive experience and expertise in networks, cloud computing and data centers.http://www.ntt.com/index-e.html

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Telefonica O2 Launching LTE in Rural Germany

Telefónica Germany is launching LTE service on 1 July 2011 in "white spot" areas of the countryside where broadband has not been available to date.



The "O2 LTE at Home" service will provide 7.2 Mbps in the downlink. During the first six months, the new services cost only EUR 29.90 per month with a 10 GB per month cap. The fee will be EUR 39.90 per month thereafter. A LnTE wireless router is priced at EUR 49.90 with a two-year contract.
http://www.telefonica.com

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Mavenir Systems Raises $40 Million for LTE Solutions

Mavenir Systems, a start-up based in Richardson, Texas, raised $40 million in its fifth round of funding.



The company's Mavenir mOne Convergence Platform enables mobile operators to deploy enhanced voice, video and messaging services across any generation of mobile devices and broadband access networks. The Mavenir mOne™ supports a wide range of applications and functionalities to deliver services over 2G, 3G, WiFi and LTE networks – such as Voice over LTE (VoLTE) , LTE Messaging, Mobile Video, Rich Communication Suite (RCS) and Converged IP Messaging (CPM) – all from a single platform.



The new funding will fuel Mavenir's continued expansion into fast-growing 4G/LTE markets. The company said it currently has over 120 mobile operator customers worldwide, including a recently announced win with MetroPCS for LTE messaging.



New investor August Capital leads this round that includes North Bridge Venture Partners, Austin Ventures, Alloy Ventures, Greenspring Associates and Cross Creek Capital that also joins as a new investor. Mavenir has now raised a total of $105 million since October 2005.



"This is a key investment round that enables Mavenir Systems to make significant strategic growth moves that further strengthen our portfolio, resource and client base in the LTE wireless infrastructure space," said Pardeep Kohli, president and CEO, Mavenir Systems. "Our acquisition of Airwide Solutions increases our global presence and with our combined experience, will instill a greater confidence in our customers as they rely on Mavenir to launch innovative LTE services quickly and cost effectively."http://www.mavenir.com

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Broadcom Shows First 40nm Wi-Fi and Bluetooth Combo Chip

Broadcom introduced its BCM43142 "InConcert" combo chip that combines Wi-Fi Direct connectivity with seamless proximity-based pairing, dramatically simplifying wireless connectivity in the home. The combo chip supports a variety of platforms including next generation Windows and Android-based systems. It is the first 40nm Wi-Fi Bluetooth Combo Chip for notebooks and netbooks.



While nearly all smart phones already include combo chips, a study by ABI Research finds that demand for single-die Bluetooth and Wi-Fi combo chips will continue to grow by 15 percent CAGR between 2009 and 2015. The ABI Research study also indicates that more than 75 percent of the combined notebooks and netbooks shipments in 2013 will have both Bluetooth and Wi-Fi. Broadcom now extends this capability to address Windows and Android-based PCs and notebooks and netbooks with its fourth generation Bluetooth-Wi-Fi combo chip.http://www.broadcom.com

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Lockheed Martin Confirms Tenacious Cyber Attacks, Links Seen to RSA SecureID Breach

Lockheed Martin confirmed a sophisticated cyber attack that against its remote access systems that began on May 21. The company said its information security team detected the attack almost immediately, and took aggressive actions to protect all systems and data. Lockheed Martin insists that its systems remain secure; no customer, program or employee personal data has been compromised. The company continues to work around the clock to restore employee access to the network, while maintaining the highest level of security.




Industry analysts believe the attack may be linked to the data breach reported by the RSA Security division of the EMC Corporation on March 17. RSA stated that its its own security systems were penetrated by an extremely sophisticated cyber attack, data was extracted, and this possibly compromised its two-factor, SecurID Authentication product.



In a research note at the time, NSS Labs said it believes the RSA attack had been "a strategic move to grab the virtual keys to RSA's customers – who are the most security conscious in the world. One or several RSA clients are likely the ultimate target of this attack. Military, financial, governmental, and other organizations with critical intellectual property, plans and finances are at risk… NSS Labs expects a string of breaches stemming from this event."



In an updated report, NSS Labs said this new attack is especially concerning because the Lockheed attacker will be authenticating as a trusted user. As such, existing security technologies, which look for "intrusions", will not be able to detect this kind of attack. The company predicts further trouble for companies using RSA's SecurID two-factor authentication.http://www.nsslabs.com/http://www.lockheedmartin.com

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WSJ: Comcast Tests Tech Overhaul

Comcast will starting using the MIT campus as a proving ground for an IP content delivery architecture, according to The Wall Street Journal. The trial, which will deliver Comcast's live TV service to any IP-connected device, could pave the way to a new distribution paradigm for Comcast where content delivery is not tied to its own physical cables. http://www.wsj.com

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Pacific Crossing Restores North Cable

Pacific Crossing has restored the PC-1 North cable, which links Ajiguara, Japan with Harbour Pointe, Washington. Restoration work is now underway on PC-1 West, which runs along the coast of Japan. Both cables were damaged in the earthquake and tsunami of March 11. Service on PC-1 South and PC-1 East is unaffected by this interruption.
http://www.pc1.com/

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Cablevision Proposes Reform of Content Carriage Requirements

Cablevision Systems is proposing a set of regulatory changes that would limit the ability of broadcaster to bundle content with must-carry provisions.


In a filing with the FCC, Cablevision proposed the following:


Forbid tying – end the practice of requiring the carriage of unrelated cable channels, owned by broadcasters, in order to also carry their broadcast networks. This practice has allowed broadcasters, who enjoy free spectrum and other advantages, to raise consumer costs by forcing carriage of their channels of limited interest in exchange for access to major broadcast networks and "must see" programming.


Require transparency – end the practice of allowing broadcasters to keep their prices for carrying broadcast stations secret. Retransmission fees should be public.


Forbid discrimination – allow broadcasters to continue to set the price of carriage, but do not allow them to discriminate among cable and satellite providers based on size or other factors.


"The days of secret pricing that, among other things, requires consumers to pay for additional cable channels before they can receive a broadcast channel should come to an end," said Tom Rutledge, Cablevision's chief operating officer. "Broadcasters should not be able to keep the prices they charge hidden or to discriminate between distributors in a given market. Our simple reforms would end these practices, and we urge the FCC to consider this consumer friendly approach."http://www.cablevision.com

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Marvell Posts Revenue of $802 Million, Down 6%

Marvell Technology Group reported revenue the first quarter its fiscal 2012 of $802 million, a 6 percent decrease from $856 million in the first quarter of fiscal 2011, ended May 1, 2010, and a 11 percent sequential decrease from $901 million in the fourth quarter of fiscal 2011, ended January 29, 2011.


GAAP net income was $147 million, or $0.22 per share (diluted), for the first quarter of fiscal 2012, compared with GAAP net income of $206 million, or $0.30 per share (diluted), for the first quarter of fiscal 2011. GAAP net income in the fourth quarter of fiscal 2011 was $223 million, or $0.33 per share (diluted).


"The results for our first quarter reflected the typical seasonality of our consumer centric end markets," said Dr. Sehat Sutardja, Marvell's Chairman and Chief Executive Officer. "Even at this low point in the revenue cycle, we were an industry leader in profitability for both operating and cash flow margins, demonstrating the strength of our long-term business model. We remain confident that the investments we are making such as in TD-SCDMA and SSD will result in improved results throughout the year."http://www.marvell.com

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MobileIron Raises $20 Million, Adds 200 Customers in 90 Days

MobileIron, which supplies a smartphone management system for enterprises, has raised $20 million in Series D funding. All four of MobileIron's current investors, Foundation Capital, Norwest Venture Partners, Sequoia Capital and Storm Ventures, participated in the round.


MobileIron provides the foundation to manage corporate data on mobile devices, and an Enterprise App Storefront for app discovery and deployment. The company said it is experiencing rapid growth, adding 200 enterprise customers in 90 days and increasing its workforce by 30 percent.


The funding will be used to drive rapid global growth, accelerate initiatives for existing and emerging mobile platforms, and meet the rapidly growing worldwide market demand for mobile device management and security.


"MobileIron manages some of the largest iOS and Android deployments in the world and, from what we've seen among our customers and channel partners, this is only the beginning," said Bob Tinker, CEO, MobileIron. "We are investing in growth to be the go-to leader for enterprise customers for mobile management, security and apps."http://www.mobileiron.com

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Google Unveils its Mobile Wallet, Sprint is First Carrier to Support

Google, in partnership with Citi, MasterCard, First Data and Sprint, unveiled its mobile payment system.




Google Wallet is a mobile app that uses near field communication (NFC) on the phone. At launch, Google Wallet will be compatible only with Google's own Nexus S 4G, which is available in the U.S. exclusively on Sprint's network. Payments are enabled by either Citi MasterCard or a Google Prepaid Card. Merchants will need the MasterCard PayPass system to collect the NFC payments.


Payment card credentials are stored in an encrypted format on a "Secure Element" chip on the mobile phone. This chip is different than the memory which is accessible by the Android operating system. The user will need to enter a PIN whenever making a payment to the contactless reader.

Sprint is supporting Google Wallet, although the carrier said it is working with others in the mobile payment ecosystem as well.
http://www.google.com/wallet/

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Ofcom: Average Mobile Broadband = 1.5 Mbps

Mobile broadband users in the U.K. experienced an average download speed of 1.5 Mbps. according to a study conducted by Ofcom between September and December 2010 in partnership with broadband monitoring specialists Epitiro. Basic webpages took on average 8.5 seconds to download.


However, in good 3G coverage areas, Ofcom found that average mobile broadband speeds were 2.1 Mbps, falling to an average of 1.7 Mbps during the peak evening period of 8-10pm. Basic web pages took on average 2.2 seconds to download.


This report looks specifically at the performance of mobile networks using dongles and datacards and does not consider smartphones. Ofcom is planning to undertake further research into mobile broadband, including the performance of smartphones.


Ofcom consumer research shows that 17 per cent of UK households are using mobile broadband to access online services, with 7 per cent using it as their only means of internet access, compared to 3 per cent in 2009.
The research involved over 4.2 million tests and measured average speeds as well as the performance of the five mobile operators in areas of good 3G network coverage.http://media.ofcom.org.uk/news/

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AT&T Defends T-Mobile Acquisition on Capitol Hill

AT&T's acquisition of T-Mobile USA will benefit consumers by ushering in a vastly more capable and expansive LTE network, said Randall Stephenson, Chairman, Chief Executive Officer and President of AT&T.


In testimony before the U.S. House Judiciary Committee, Stephenson said increased efficiency in spectrum use is at the heart of the merger. AT&T argues that the combined spectrum of both companies is essential for "maintaining the virtuous cycle of wireless innovation."


AT&T is committed to prove LTE to more than 97% of the U.S. population -- nearly 55 million more than pre-merger plans and more than one million more than its nearest competitor.


AT&T will deliver the benefits of mobile broadband by using "the only unionized work force of any major carrier in America", which explains why the Communications Workers of America, AFL/CIO and other unions are supporting the merger.


To address the issue of reduced competition, Stephenson said all T-Mobile customers will have the option of retaining their existing plans or switching to an AT&T plan. T-Mobile USA has not announced plans to launch LTE.


Rene Obermann, CEO of Deutsche Telekom, testified that T-Mobile USA has steadily lost market share over the past two years, leaving it as a weakened competitor and without a clear path to LTE deployment. It is likely to face a spectrum crunch in several key markets going forward. Deutsche Telekom thus faced a tough choice, as it does not intend to divert funds from its core European operations for a major rebuilding in T-Mobile USA. This means that without a strong partner like AT&T, T-Mobile USA would struggle to be a viable competitor.


Steven K. Berry, President and CEO Rural Cellular Association, testified that the merger will "diminish competition among the largest national providers, but also undermine the ability of rural and regional carriers to compete by making it more difficult – if not impossible – to secure roaming rights and to offer cutting-edge, interoperable handsets." Rural carriers will be even more at the mercy of the two national "super carriers" and at a disadvantageous position in negotiating roaming rights.


Ms. Parul P. Desai, Communications Policy Counsel Consumers Union, agreed that combining the second and fourth largest wireless carriers would result in a "highly concentrated" market, as defined by merger guidelines from the Department of Justice and Federal Trade Commission. She predicts this will lead to higher prices, not just for T-Mobile customers, but across the board.


Joshua Wright, Professor at George Mason University School of Law, disagreed, testifying that unilateral pricing increases appear unlikely to result from the merger given the continued competition from Verizon Wireless, Sprint, MetroPCS, Leap and others. He also pointed to the alternative if the merger does not go through -- namely, spectrum constraints that is likely to lead to higher prices as a disincentive for high bandwidth users.
http://www.att.com

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Infonetics: Carrier Ethernet Equipment Sales Top $26 Billion in '10

In 2010, carriers spent $26.5 billion on carrier Ethernet equipment and this figure is set to rise to $37.5 billion in 2015, according to a new report from Infonetics.



Some highlights of the report:

• Cisco continues its commanding lead in the carrier Ethernet switch market, taking in nearly half of worldwide revenue in 1Q11; Juniper is a strong 2nd.



• The Ethernet access device (EAD) market is forecast by Infonetics to grow at an 18% compound annual growth rate (CAGR) from 2010 to 2015, as a direct reflection of growing carrier Ethernet connections to businesses, backhaul from buildings and DSLAMs, and a growing mobile backhaul application.



• ADVA is the #1 player in the global EAD market, followed by Ciena.

"The growth in service provider investments in carrier Ethernet equipment continues to outpace that of other telecom equipment, with annual global spending expected to reach $37.5 billion in 2015. The largest investments are in routers, carrier Ethernet switches (CES), and optical gear. Ethernet microwave is the fastest growing segment due to its use for mobile backhaul," notes Michael Howard, co-founder and principal analyst for carrier networks at Infonetics Research.http://www.infonectics.com

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Dell'Oro Tracks Rise of FCoE -- Now 7% of New Servers

Approximately 7 percent of servers, or 150,000 units, shipped with Fibre Channel over Ethernet (FCoE) capable network connections in the first quarter of 2011, according to a new report from Dell'Oro Group. Most of those server connections were driven by HP blade servers with Emulex FCoE LAN on Motherboard (LOM). Not all HP's blade servers were operating FCoE, but the rate of adoption more than doubled sequentially during the quarter.


"HP, in its first full quarter of end-to-end FCoE connectivity in its ProLiant BladeSystem, captured 23 percent of FCoE switch market port shipments," said Tam Dell'Oro, President of Dell'Oro Group. "Cisco, the "small but mighty" blade server market new entrant, differentiates its UCS blade servers by connecting them all with FCoE, and is the market share leader in overall FCoE switch shipments," added Dell'Oro.


The report discusses the remarkable growth in FCoE during the first quarter amidst Cisco just beginning its product transition to its new generation FCoE switches. It also discusses the progress of Dell and IBM FCoE connectivity within the blade servers.
http://www.delloro.com

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Dell'Oro: Optical Transport Market up 10% YoY to $3 Billion in Q1

Worldwide optical transport equipment market revenues grew 10 percent year-over-year to $3 billion in the first quarter of 2011, according to a newly published report from Dell'Oro Group. The study predicts that the market will grow 9 percent to over $13 billion by year-end.


"As expected, the optical market declined sequentially in the first quarter due to seasonality, but grew a healthy 10 percent year-over-year in 1Q11," said Jimmy Yu, Sr. Director of Optical Transport research at Dell'Oro Group. "This was the third consecutive quarter of year-over-year growth for the Optical Transport market following the market slump that began in 4Q08 which extended through the middle of 2010. There was strong demand for optical equipment in North America and Latin America, where revenues were 17 percent and 34 percent higher, respectively, over the same period last year. The only region that showed a weak start to the year was China, where we estimate that optical sales declined 16 percent year-over-year," added Mr. Yu.


The report also indicates that Huawei's market share in 1Q11 declined by seven percentage points compared to the year-ago quarter to 18 percent, and that Alcatel-Lucent's market share increased by two percentage points to 17 percent. The manufacturers with the third and fourth highest market shares were Ciena and ZTE.
http://www.delloro.com

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YouTube: 3 Billion Views per Day, up 50% YoY

Google released some remarkable stats about YouTube, including:

YouTube is now delivering 3 billion views per day, a 50% increase over last year.

More than 48 hours of video are uploaded to YouTube , every minute, a 37% increase over the last six months and 100% over last year.

YouTube is celebrating its six year anniversary.
http://www.youtube.com

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Freescale Prices IPO at $18 Per Share

Freescale Semiconductor (NYSE: FSL) priced its initial public offering of 43,500,000 common shares at $18 per share.


The common shares are expected to begin trading on May 26, 2011, on the New York Stock Exchange under the symbol "FSL."http://www.freescale.com

• For Q1 2011, Freescale Semiconductor reported net sales for the first quarter of 2011 of $1.19 billion, compared to $1.18 billion in the fourth quarter of 2010 and $1.02 billion in the first quarter last year.   The loss from operations for the three months ended April 1, 2011 was $3 million, compared to
  a profit of $17 million in the fourth quarter of 2010 and a loss of $61 million in the first quarter
  of 2010. The net loss for the first quarter of 2011 was $148 million, compared to a loss of $10.

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CASSIDIAN and Alcatel-Lucent Target 400 MHz LTE for Emergency Responders

Cassidian and Alcatel-Lucent are jointly developing an LTE mobile broadband solution for emergency response and security communications systems operating in the 400 MHz spectrum band. The system will be able to support mobile video security, location-based video services and smart vehicle integration of devices and applications to complement the current voice and data systems.



Cassidian will develop radio heads and terminals specific to the needs of these systems in the 400 MHz spectrum, which ensures deep coverage and wide bandwidth services. Cassidian will also lead marketing and sales efforts for the solution in the public safety and defence markets where the 400 MHz spectrum is in use. Alcatel-Lucent will leverage its leadership in LTE to jointly integrate and validate the entire solutions and will lead marketing and sales efforts in transportation, energy and other industries.http://www.alcatel-lucent.com http://www.cassidian.com

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South Africa's Cell C Deploys GSM 900/1800MHz and DC-HSPA+

Cell C which is one of the top three mobile operators in South Africa, is the first mobile operator to operate a GSM 900MHz/1800MHz dual-band network. The GSM/UMTS 900M network uses ZTE's SDR base-stations, which simultaneously support both GSM and UMTS, and allows migration to HSPA+/LTE.　



Last July, ZTE and Cell C jointly announced Africa's first HSPA+ 900MHz network, which was upgraded to 42M DC-HSPA+ in less than a year.http://www.zte.com.cn

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AT&T to Launch LTE in 5 Markets this Summer

AT&T announced plans to launch LTE in five markets this summer -- Dallas, Houston, Chicago, Atlanta and San Antonio. It plans to add 10 or more markets in the second half of the year. Trials have delivered performance that is consistent with others. This would give AT&T an LTE footprint covering 70 million Americans by year-end.



In a presentation at a Barclays Conference, John Stankey noted that the average actual speed on the nationwide AT&T has improved by 40% thanks to upgrades to HSPA 7.2 and more recently HSPA+.http://www.att.com

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Extreme Networks Adds FCOE Support

Extreme Networks has added support for Fibre Channel over Ethernet (FCoE) protocols in multi-vendor environments. The company recently launched its Extreme Networks "Open Fabric" data center solutions providing increased scale, virtualization, and automation to maximize performance and efficiency.



Extreme Networks also recently completed testing in conjunction with the Fibre Channel Industry Association (FCIA) FCoE Plugfest, held at the University of New Hampshire Interoperability Lab (UNH-IOL). This Plugfest focused on end-to-end tests that included FCoE with multiple FCFs (Fibre Channel Forwarders), Extreme Networks and other vendors Data Center Bridging (DCB) Ethernet switches and high availability configurations. The Plugfest provided an environment where leading Fibre Channel and Ethernet vendors came together to work in partnership on their respective FCoE products to ensure both interoperability and configurability between vendors. A total of 14 companies participated in the testing.



"Broad vendor interoperability testing and acceptance of emerging storage network technologies such as FCoE are critical to the wide scale adoption of converged storage networks," said David Ginsburg, sr. vice president of strategic marketing for Extreme Networks. "The successful testing of both FCoE and iSCSI with Extreme Networks DCB Ethernet switches in recent months at UNH IOL helps validate our Open Fabric approach."
http://www.extremenetworks.com

• The Extreme Networks Open Fabric data center architecture incorporates standards-based OpenFlow technology to simplify network provisioning and supports Data Center Bridging (DCB) to provide consolidation of LAN and storage fabrics in the data center, including iSCSI and FCoE. The company said its design goals with this new architecture were to scale for huge switching capacity, support vast number of highly dynamic virtual machines, while leveraging standards-based technologies and existing investments. The Extreme Networks Open Fabric data center solution leverages the ExtremeXOS operating system end-to-end and emphasizes wire-speed switching of Virtual Machines (VMs), intelligence to automate VM mobility through XNV, standards-based, non-blocking high density 10Gbs server connectivity and non-blocking high density 40Gbs fabric interconnect with multi-path forwarding that is also designed to evolve for 100GbE.

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Alcatel-Lucent Wins Managed Services Contract with China Unicom - Fujian

Fujian Unicom – a wholly-owned subsidiary of China Unicom – has selected Alcatel-Lucent to manage its mobile and fixed networks in the booming cities of Xiamen and Nanping in south-east China.


"With our extensive experience of multi-vendor network maintenance, Alcatel-Lucent will become a single point of contact for maintaining Fujian Unicom's networks in Xiamen and Nanping, helping reduce the complexity and costs associated with managing large networks on this scale. This strengthens our position as a leader in managed services in China and underlines our strong local presence through Alcatel-Lucent Shanghai Bell, our Chinese flagship company," stated Rajeev Singh-Molares, President, Asia Pacific, Alcatel-Lucent.


Alcatel-Lucent noted that it currently provides management to more than 100 networks, supporting more than 250 million subscribers in the process. Major customers include E-Plus, Oi (formerly Brasil Telecom), Mobily, Telecom New Zealand, Orange Austria, Orange Switzerland, Reliance, Sunrise Switzerland, Bharti Airtel and Vivacom.
http://www.alcatel-lucent.com

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