Ericsson Completes HD Voice Call on CDMA

Ericsson completed a CDMA wideband High Definition (HD) voice call using the Enhanced Variable Rate Codec Narrowband-Wideband (EVRC-NW) codec. The lab demonstration marks a first first for the CDMA industry.


CDMA HD voice delivers speech in a wider spectral range of 50Hz to 7000Hz.


"We have demonstrated the first high-definition CDMA voice call in the world over an Ericsson network utilizing the new EVRC-NW 3GPP2 standard codec and ensuring interoperability with existing functionality while easing the rollout of future wideband services." says Surya Bommakanti, Vice President, Product Area Core, BU CDMA Mobile Systems, Ericsson. "This is the starting point of a voice quality revolution that will significantly enhance CDMA networks as we know them today."


The Ericsson CDMA development team collaborated with Qualcomm for the HD voice over CDMA demonstration.
http://www.ericsson.com

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GLG: Sprint's Project Leapfrom

The Gerson Lehman Group published a note discussing Sprint's "project leapfrog", which reportedly will involve removing iDEN base stations and moving to LTE with its 800 MHz spectrum. The carrier reportedly has been discussing network sharing/acquisition options with Clearwire, Lightsquared and T-Mobile.
http://www.glgroup.com

• In December 2010, Sprint unveiled its "Network Vision" for consolidating its infrastructure and spectrum into a single, more cost-effective and flexible network. Sprint also announced the selection of Alcatel-Lucent, Ericsson and Samsung as key partners to enable this transformation.
  
  
  The key idea behind Sprint's "Network Vision" is to operate a single network. Sprint currently uses separate equipment to deploy services on 800 MHz spectrum, 1.9 GHz spectrum and, through its relationship with Clearwire, 2.5 GHz spectrum. The New Vision blueprint calls for the deployment of multimode base stations for delivering 3G/4G services across all of these bands. New remote radio heads at the cell sites would be connected with fiber rather than coaxial risers. The consolidated cell site would be significantly more energy-efficient.
  
  
  Sprint intends to repurpose some of its 800MHz spectrum for CDMA service, thereby enhancing coverage, particularly the in-building experience for customers. Augmenting its 1.9GHz footprint with 800MHz, Sprint expects its CDMA coverage density will increase throughout the country.
  
  
  Regarding its iDEN network and push-to-talk, Sprint expects to launch the next-generation of PTT services in 2011 on the CDMA network, offering customers sub-second call set-up time along with robust data capabilities. There are no immediate plans to force migrate iDEN customers to the CDMA network, but Sprint expects its PTT device/app portfolio on the CDMA network will continue to evolve to include high-bandwidth data services.
  
  
  "Network Vision builds on our legacy of wireless innovation and represents the next step in the evolution of our networks to best meet unprecedented growth in mobility services. We are well- positioned to take advantage of new technology, chipsets, devices and applications. Working with these three partners, we expect to deliver to our customers the most cutting-edge network capabilities available today and in the future."
  
  
  The financial impact of the Network Vision plan includes a total, estimated incremental cost over the deployment period to be between $4 billion and $5 billion. Sprint estimates the total net financial benefit over a seven-year period will be between $10 billion and $11 billion.
  
  
  The vendor contracts with Alcatel-Lucent, Ericsson and Samsung includes purchases of hardware, software and services. These contracts are divided geographically:
  
  
  Alcatel-Lucent: New York City, Philadelphia, Boston, Washington, D.C./Baltimore and Los Angeles
  
  
  Ericsson: Atlanta, Miami, Houston, Kansas City and Dallas
  
  
  Samsung: Chicago, Denver, Pittsburgh, San Francisco and Seattle.

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Video: Juniper's Converged Supercore

Presented by Luc Ceuppenns, VP, Product Marketing, Juniper Networkshttp://www.juniper.net

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India's Reliance Deploys Cisco ASR 5000, 7600, ME 3800X Routers

Reliance Communications has deployed the Cisco ASR 5000, Cisco 7600 and Cisco ME 3800X Series routers in its new 3G networks. The deployment also paves the way for Reliance's implementation of the recently announced Cisco® MOVE (Monetization, Optimization, Videoscape Experience) framework. The Cisco ME 3800X Series Carrier Ethernet Switch Router is a converged, full-featured aggregation platform purposely designed for the mobile, business, and residential markets. Financial terms were not disclosed.http://www.cisco.com

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Sprint Enhances Managed Security for Businesses

Sprint expanded its portfolio of managed security solutions for businesses by partnering with CompuCom as a Managed Security Service Provider (MSSP). Through the relationship, Sprint and CompuCom will deliver new and cutting-edge security solutions for businesses, including:

• Sprint Secure Unified Threat Management (UTM) – Fully managed solution that uses a single device to manage security strategy. UTM services work together as a system to provide better visibility and protection against network threats. Services can include firewall, VPN, Intrusion Detection/Prevention, Antivirus/Antispyware, AntiSpam, Web Filtering, Application Control, and Data Loss Prevention.



• Sprint Secure Log Management and Compliance – Comprehensive solution that helps identify and mitigate threats at the network, host and application layer, as well as address industry and government compliance requirements for log monitoring, collection and storage.



• Sprint Secure Vulnerability Monitoring – Monitoring service that identifies and tracks the presence of vulnerabilities in system resources and the applications that run within servers, networks and desktops. Devices on the customer network are scanned on regular intervals, and corrective measures taken when needed to curb the occurrence and potential effects of security incidents.



• Sprint Secure PCI-DSS Scanning and Assessment – A comprehensive assessment of business security needs, and the development and implementation of a security strategy that helps to ensure compliance with PCI-DSS requirements.



• Sprint Secure Managed Host-Based Antivirus/AntiSpam – Managed Security experts stationed in the Sprint Security Operations Center remotely monitor and manage an organization's servers, hosting, Antivirus/AntiSpam and other web-filtering applications. The remote systems management service utilizes best practices and standard monitoring and management toolsets to optimize server performance and availability.

http://www.sprint.com

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Rustock Botnet Taken Down -- up to 1 Billions Spams per Day

The notorious "Rustock" botnet, which used approximately one million infected PCs under its control to send up to a billion spam messages per day, has been taken out by Microsoft's Digital Crimes Unit (DCU) and law enforcement authorities. Writing in a blog post, Richard Boscovich, a Senior Attorney, Microsoft Digital Crimes Unit, describes how Operation b107 went about tracing the origins of the botnet, securing legal standings against the perpetrators, and obtaining a court order to work with the U.S. Marshals Service to physically capture evidence onsite and, in some cases, seize affected servers from hosting providers in seven cities across the U.S. http://tinyurl.com/4awhzwrhttp://www.microsoft.com

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RSA Reports Attack on its SecurID Two-factor Authentication

RSA's own security systems have been the victim of an extremely sophisticated cyber attack and this possibly compromises its two-factor, SecurID Authentication product.



In an open letter to customers, RSA's Executive Chairman, Art Coviello, said that the attack penetrated its system and that certain information specifically related to its SecurID two-factor authentication products was extracted.



RSA believes the information extracted does not enable a successful direct attack on any of its RSA SecurID customers. However, the company warns that this information could potentially be used to reduce the effectiveness of a current two-factor authentication implementation as part of a broader attack.



The company does not believe its customers' security related to other RSA products has been similarly impacted. http://www.rsa.com/node.aspx?id=3872

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ZTE's 2010 Revenue Rises 21% to US$10.7 Billion

ZTE Corporation reported annual revenue of RMB 70.264 billion (USD 10.609 billion) in 2010, representing an increase of 21% (in USD rate) against 2009. Net profit was RMB 3.250 billion (USD 490.74 million), representing an increase of 32.22% compared with 2009. Basic earnings per share were RMB RMB1.17 (USD 0.177).



ZTE's revenue from domestic operations in China amounted to RMB 32.198 billion (USD 4.861 billion), representing year-on-year growth of 5.90%. Hot areas in domestic sales included 3G, government and enterprise network sales. During the reporting period, ZTE also began supplying high-end data equipment such as T8000 and M6000 to the three major national carriers in large volumes, while its smart terminal equipment also gained significant market recognition.



ZTE's revenue from its international operations grew 27.45% to RMB 38.066 billion (USD 5.747 billion) and accounted for 54.18% of total operating revenue. For the first time, the US and European markets contributed the largest portion of overseas revenue. These markets recorded year-on-year growth of 50% which accounted for 21% of total operating revenue.



ZTE Chairman Mr. Hou Weigui, said: "In the coming year, the Group will proactively respond to the dynamic requirements of customers and strengthen strategic cooperation in response to the profound changes in the global telecommunications market. Other areas of focus will also include the recruitment and development of high-caliber staff, product differentiation as well as cost-effectiveness and quality of ZTE's solutions. We aim to achieve an excellent performance to benefit society and our shareholders."http://www.zte.com.cn

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Dell'Oro: Microwave Transmission Report

http://www.delloro.com

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