Sunday, November 13, 2011

Orange Offers Facebook Phones in 15 Countries

Orange is launching phones with deep Facebook integration for Africa and Europe. The "social" phones will be priced at under €100 and marketed in more than 15 countries. The new range includes the ALCATEL ONE TOUCH 908F Android smartphone, one of the most affordable Android smartphones available, exclusive to Orange.


"The rise of the smartphone and the explosion of social networks have completely changed how people keep in touch and share content. Until now many consumers across Africa and Europe have not had access to a phone that offers deep Facebook integration at an affordable price,�? said Yves Maitre, Senior Vice President of Mobile Multimedia and Devices, Orange.
http://www.orange.com

Orange Offers Facebook Phones in 15 Countries

Orange is launching phones with deep Facebook integration for Africa and Europe. The "social" phones will be priced at under €100 and marketed in more than 15 countries. The new range includes the ALCATEL ONE TOUCH 908F Android smartphone, one of the most affordable Android smartphones available, exclusive to Orange.


"The rise of the smartphone and the explosion of social networks have completely changed how people keep in touch and share content. Until now many consumers across Africa and Europe have not had access to a phone that offers deep Facebook integration at an affordable price,�? said Yves Maitre, Senior Vice President of Mobile Multimedia and Devices, Orange.
http://www.orange.com

Procera Develops Analytics Tool

Procera Networks, which offers its PacketLogic intelligent policy enforcement platform to carriers, introduced a report generating analysis package. The PacketLogic Report Studio provides insight into network traffic for capacity planning, marketing analysis, etc. It generates reports using data gathered by the PacketLogic Intelligence Center as well as from external sources.


Procera's reports add value by providing snapshots of network and subscriber behavior over a specific time period or over specific links, said Cam Cullen, Procera's Vice President of Global Marketing. For example: "How many subscribers in Manhattan are heavy Facebook users and would be candidates for a 'Facebook for Free' plan, and what would my financial exposure be based on their data consumption?" http://www.proceranetworks.com

O2 Launches LTE Trial in London

O2 activated an LTE trial network in central London. About 25 sites are being switched on this month covering a combined area of 40 square kilometres, stretching from Hyde Park to The O2 in Greenwich. The trial will run for the next nine months, ahead of next summer's Olympic Games. An auction of 4G spectrum in the UK is expected in the meantime.


The O2 4G trial will use the 2.6GHz spectrum band under a Test and Development licence granted to O2 by OFCOM, and is an extension of O2's earlier 4G trials in Slough that have been running since 2009. The 2.6GHz band supports the maximum 20MHz RF bandwidth for LTE, which allows 4G speeds of up to 150Mbps.


Telefónica UK's 4G trial network has been deployed using equipment supplied by Nokia Siemens Networks for both the Radio and Core network elements. Backhaul for the 4G trial network has been provided using Microwave Radio Equipment from Cambridge Broadband Networks Limited, NEC and Nokia Siemens Networks.


"Today's launch of the UK's first 4G London trial network demonstrates our commitment to delivering 4G to our customers at the earliest opportunity. The work we are doing now will lay the foundations for our commercial 4G network when it launches in the UK," stated Ronan Dunne, Chief Executive Officer of Telefónica UK (O2).


O2 plans to equip hundreds of consumers, businesses and venue owners with LTE devices to test the network. http://www.o2.co.uk/

  • O2 is a division of Telefónica.


  • O2 employs around 11,000 people in the UK and has 450 retail stores.


  • O2’s UK 3G (HSPA+ 900 / 2100 MHz) network currently provides voice and high speed data services of up to 14.4Mbps (21Mbps in the coming months) to over 84% of the UK population.


  • In January 2011, Telefónica O2 UK has awarded a three-year contract to Nokia Siemens Networks to modernize its radio network, expanding capacity, coverage and performance. The upgrade with use NSN's Flexi Multiradio Base Station and Radio Network Controller. The deal means Nokia Siemens Networks will provide approximately two-thirds of O2's 3G access network in the UK, covering the south of England. Nokia Siemens Networks is currently the sole vendor for O2's nationwide GSM network.

AT&T Launches LTE-enables Samsung Galaxy Tab 8.9

T&T* introduced its second 4G LTE-enabled tablet for customers, the Samsung Galaxy Tab 8.9, priced at $479.99 with a two-year commitment. As part of an initial promotion for the Android tablet, AT&T is providing a Samsung Galaxy S II Skyrocket or Samsung Galaxy S II smartphone at no cost, although a two year agreement is also required on the smartphone. AT&T noted that it has topped its goal to offer 20 4G devices this year. The addition of the new 4G LTE devices brings the 4G device total to 24. http://www.att.com

Cortina Debuts 100G Transport Processors

Cortina Systems introduced a family of highly integrated transport processors supporting 10G, 40G, and 100G signals and aimed at a new generation of converged OTN and Ethernet platforms. Sampling is underway and commercial shipments are expected in the first half of 2012.


Cortina's new CS605x processors are designed for highly-efficient line cards supporting 10G, 40G, and 100G
wavelengths and providing a direct interface to 100G and 40G Optical Modules, and 100G NPUs. The processors support 100G (OTU4 & 100GE) and 3x40G (OTU3 & 40GE) interfaces and can be used for aggregating and mapping multiple protocols and client applications at the 10 Gbps, 40 Gbps, and 100 Gbps rates.


Use cases could include DWDM transport systems, Carrier Ethernet Switch Routers, Packet Optical Transport platforms and customized solutions for the submarine and long-haul markets.


Key features of the device include:



  • Support for OTN – 10G/40G and 100G Framing and Mapping


  • 100G Ethernet and 3x40G Ethernet PCS/MAC termination with performance monitoring and networking support


  • Support for IEEE 1588v2 Transparent Clock mode, as defined in IEEE P1588D2.2


  • Integrated Jitter Attenuation and clean up PLLs providing significant savings in board real estate, cost, and power


  • High-Gain 100G Forward Error Correction (100G HG-FEC)


  • Direct interface to 100G and 40G optical modules supporting OTL4.10, CAUI, OTL3.4, and XLAUI interfaces


  • A 120G-capable Interlaken packet interface to NPUs, TMs and FPGAs.


"As Optical and Ethernet networks converge at 100G, Carriers require cost effective solutions that support an unprecedented level of integration to both meet standards and enable the deployment of high quality, data intensive services while reducing operational costs," said Arun Zarabi, Vice President at Cortina Systems. http://www.cortina-systems.com

VimpelCom Appoints Deputy CEO

VimpelCom appointed Jan Edvard Thygesen as Deputy Chief Executive Officer and Chief Operating Officer, effective January 1, 2012, replacing Khaled Bichara, who will be stepping down as planned following his successful efforts in the post acquisition integration of the operations of VimpelCom and Wind Telecom.


Thygesen joins VimpelCom from Telenor, where he currently is Executive Vice President and Head of Central and Eastern European operations.

http://www.vimpelcom.com

  • VimpleCom currently offers wireless, fixed, and broadband services in Russia, Ukraine, Kazakhstan, Uzbekistan, Tajikistan, Armenia, Georgia, Kyrgyzstan, Vietnam, Cambodia, Laos, Algeria, Bangladesh, Pakistan, Burundi, Zimbabwe, Central African Republic, Italy and Canada. The company provides services under the "Beeline", "Kyivstar", "djuice", "Wind", "Infostrada", "Mobilink", "Leo", "Banglalink", "Telecel", and "Djezzy" brands.


  • Earlier this year, Russia's Vimpel-Communications completed its previously announced deal with Egyptian billionaire Naguib Sawiris to acquire Weather Investments S.p.A, which owns 51.7% of Orascom Telecom (Egypt) and 100% of Wind Telecomunicazioni (Italy). The US$1.495 billion cash deal, which was first announced in October 2010, was financed from Vimpelcom's existing cash balances and new debt facilities.


    Vimpelcom said the acquisition will make it the world's sixth largest mobile telecommunications carrier by subscribers. Total mobile subscriber base reached 181 million as of December 31, 2010. The combined company had with pro forma net operating revenues of US$21.5 billion and pro forma EBITDA of US$9.5 billion for 2009. The combined company has operations in 20 countries with a combined population of 850 million.


    VimpleCom plans to sell off several newly-acquired business units from Weather, including Orascom Telecom's investments in Egypt and North Korea, as well as Wind Italy's Wind International Services S.p.A. subsidiary.


    Jo Lunder, Chairman of VimpelCom, commented: "This landmark transaction is a significant step forward for VimpelCom. It establishes the growth platform that the Supervisory Board has strongly supported, allowing us to become a truly global player with a strong presence across Europe, Asia and Africa. At the same time, the enlarged VimpelCom remains committed to delivering enhanced shareholder value in 2011 and beyond, which is critical to the success of a leading global company."


  • In November 1996, OJSC VimpelCom was the first Russian company to list its shares on the New York Stock Exchange (NYSE).


  • In February 2008, OJSC VimpelCom merged with Golden Telecom, a leading facilities-based provider of integrated telecommunications and Internet services in Russia and the CIS.


  • In October 2008, VimpelCom acquired a 49.9% stake in Euroset, the largest mobile retailer in Russia and the CIS.


  • In May 2009, VimpelCom launched commercial operations outside of the CIS in Cambodia and in July 2009 in Vietnam.


  • In April 2010, a new entity, VimpelCom Limited, completed a tender offer to exchange ownership of OJSC VimpelCom and Ukraine’s Kyivstar for shares in VimpelCom Limited, listed on the New York Stock Exchange under the ticker symbol “VIP�? previously held by OJSC VimpelCom.

Motorola Mobility Offers Carrier Ethernet Products from Telco Systems

Motorola Mobility introduced a line of Carrier Ethernet solutions for cable operators delivering business Ethernet and mobile backhaul services. The new portfolio consists of a number of hub based aggregation switches/routers, customer premises based demarcation products, an Ethernet Service Management platform, and a 10 Gbps Carrier Ethernet switch designed for deployment in the Fiber Node.


Motorola is bringing portions of this product line to the MSO market through an agreement with Telco Systems, a BATM company. http://www.motorola.com/mobilityhttp://www.telco.com

NarusInsight CyberProtection







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presented by Neil Harrington, Narushttp://www.narus.com

Big Build for Rural Broadband - A Public / Private Partnership in Cornwall



This text will be replaced





Funded by the EU, BT and Cornwall Council, and managed by Cornwall Development Company, Superfast Cornwall is building a brand new superfast broadband network. In this video interview, Nigel Ashcroft, Programme Director for Superfast Cornwall, and Ranulf Scarbrough, BT's Director for the Cornwall Programme, discuss why a public/private partnership makes sense for rural broadband. http://www.superfastcornwall.org

  • In October 2011, BT announced an acceleration of its rollout of fibre broadband services. The company now plans to deliver fibre broadband to two thirds of UK premises by the end of 2014, one year ahead of its original target of 2015. To help achieve this, BT will recruit a further 520 engineers to assist with the deployment, most of whom will be ex-armed forces.


    “Our roll-out of fibre broadband is one of the fastest in the world and so it is great to be ahead of what was an already challenging schedule. The acceleration reflects the success of the programme to date and is testament to the hard work and innovation of our people.. We are investing when others are merely talking about it," stated Ian Livingston, CEO of BT Group.


    “Thousands of our engineers are busy installing fibre broadband across the UK at an astonishing pace. The recruitment of an additional five hundred engineers will help us go even faster and ensure we are ready to help supply other areas should we win BDUK funds. We are proud that most of these jobs will be filled by ex-armed forces personnel.�?


    BT noted that its roll-out of fibre broadband is well underway, with six million premises already having access to the technology. That figure will leap to ten million in 2012 and then two thirds of premises by the end of 2014. BT’s network can be used by all companies on an open wholesale basis and so underpins a fully competitive marketplace.


  • Earlier in October 2011, BT's Openreach division significantly cut prices for pole and duct access as well as breaking down many of those products into their component parts. Other carriers are encouraged to use such infrastructure to deliver fibre broadband to rural areas. Openreach said its new prices are significantly lower – in some cases more than 60 per cent lower - than the draft ones issued in January when there was a limited understanding of the costs and challenges incurred with providing such access.


  • Also in October 2011, Openreach, the wholesale access division of the BT Group, launched its initial 110 Mbps Fibre to the Premises (FTTP) service and announced plans to boost this capacity to 300 Mbps starting next year. The company's first commercial FTTP connections are launching in Ashford in Middlesex, Bradwell Abbey in Milton Keynes, Highams Park in North London, Chester South, St Austell and York this month. Trials of 1 Gbps connections are also underway. Openreach also revealed a third boost for broadband speeds by saying it now has approval from the relevant authorities to roughly double the speeds delivered by Fibre to the Cabinet (FTTC) broadband. This development will see FTTC downstream speeds roughly double from up to 40Mbps to up to 80Mbps.


  • In September 2010, BT announced a £132 million project to bring fibre access to Cornwall and the Isles of Scilly. The FTTP network will be open to all communications providers on a wholesale basis. BT is providing £78.5 million in funding for the project and there will be ERDF Convergence public investment of up to £53.5 million.

Australia's NBN Co Awards A$635 Million in Contracts

NBN Co awarded contracts worth up to $635 million over the next five years to six companies: Madison Technologies and Warren & Brown; a partnership between a private Australian company Optimal and US company OFS; and three international companies with a strong local presence (Corning Cable Systems, TE Connectivity, and 3M).


In addition to the local employment generated within these companies from their Australian operations, NBN Co estimates that up to $150 million of the total spend on in-premises equipment will be locally produced.


"We have worked to domestically source as much equipment for the NBN as possible. However, we needed to balance costs against the preference for Australian-made to arrive at a cost-effective result. As we only recently announced our 12-month rollout schedule – with construction to start in areas covering over half a million premises – today's announcement is an important part of the development of our supply chain. We have sourced a range of equipment to form a catalogue of consistent, quality components that our installation contractors can use to suit different housing and commercial building types," stated NBN Co CEO Mike Quigley.


In addition, NBN Co awarded a contract to Syntheo, a joint venture between Lend Lease Group and telecommunications and utilities builder and manager Service Stream, to build the National Broadband Network in South Australia and the Northern Territory. The agreement means NBN Co has now established a program of construction works to upgrade the telecommunication infrastructure in every state and territory of Australia. http://www.nbnco.com.au

  • In October, Emerson Network Power was selected by NBNCo to design, supply, install, and commission 10 network facilities centers across Australia as part of the rollout of Australia's National Broadband Network (NBN). The contact is valued in excess of $100 million. Emerson will supply it full product suite, including high-efficiency power systems (Trinergy and ASCO); Liebert precision cooling systems and SmartAisle optimization; SiteScan infrastructure monitoring and management; and fully integrated, factory-tested modular housing systems.


  • In May 2011, NBNCo 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.


  • Other suppliers to NBNCo include IBM, Corning, Cisco, Nokia Siemens Networks and others.


    Columbus Undersea Cable Undertakes 40G Upgrade

    Columbus Networks' CFX-1 undersea cable system linking Florida and Colombia is undergoing an upgrade to 40G technology, enabling the system to scale to 2.5 Tbps per fiber pair. TE SubCom is the contractor and the project is due for completion this month.


    CFX-1, which was constructed by TE SubCom and entered service in 2008, connects the United States to Colombia, with landings in Boca Raton, Florida, U.S.A. and Cartagena, Colombia and a branch to Morant Point, Jamaica. The 2,500km undersea system was originally designed for 10 Gbps transmission. http://www.SubCom.com http://www.columbus-networks.com

    USDA Awards $411 Million for Broadband Projects

    The USDA Rural Utilities Service announced $410.7 million in funding for telephone utilities to build, expand and improve broadband in their rural service territories across 15 states. Companies receiving the funding awards include:


    Colorado


    Eastern Slope Rural Telephone Association, -- $18,725,000 will be used to upgrade the existing fiber-to-the-node (FTTN) network, capable of providing modern broadband services to subscribers in 10 exchanges.


    Idaho and Utah


    Albion Telephone Company -- $17,075,000 in loan funds will be used to install 453 miles of buried fiber optic cables throughout the proposed FTTP system, providing nearly 60 percent of subscribers with FTTP.


    Illinois


    McNabb Telephone Company -- $3,700,000 in loan funds will be used to make system improvements, including constructing new FTTP facilities. A total of 115 miles of buried fiber optic cable will be deployed to improve service to subscribers.


    Shawnee Telephone Company -- $30,286,000 in loan funds will be used to construct FTTP facilities, allowing Shawnee to provide voice and data services at speeds of up to 100 Mbps to both residences and businesses.

    McDonough Telephone Cooperative, Inc.--$15,728,000 in funds will be used to upgrade the rural areas with FTTH technology. Approximately 766 miles of buried fiber cable will be deployed to provide over half of the subscribers with access to improved broadband service. McDonough has been serving its rural subscribers for over 60 years.


    Indiana


    Perry-Spencer Rural Telephone Cooperative -- $29,139,000 in loan funds have been awarded to Perry-Spencer Rural Telephone Cooperative Inc., (PSC) which provides telecommunications services to nearly 6,000 subscribers over approximately 1,150 square miles in southern Indiana. This loan will enable PSC to start the process of designing and building FTTP to enhance broadband services across the service area.


    Iowa


    Mediapolis Telephone Company -- $13,401,000 in loan funds will be used to make system upgrades to the transport system and the network architecture from the existing copper Digital Subscriber Lines (DSL) to FTTP broadband systems.


    Griswold Cooperative Telephone Company -- $12,747,000 in loan funds will be used to complete a system-wide FTTP network, enhancing broadband service to all subscribers.


    La Porte City Telephone Company -- $9,867,000 in loan funds will be used to make system improvements, including installation of a FTTP broadband network that will serve all of the borrower's subscribers. A total of 297 miles of buried fiber optic cable will be deployed, enabling downstream data rates of up to 20 Mbps.


    Kansas


    The S & T Telephone Cooperative Association -- $29,814,000 will be used to implement a full FTTH design to allow the migration to 10-20 Mbps broadband speeds to all subscribers and to provide IPTV in the near future.


    Minnesota


    Paul Bunyan Rural Telephone Cooperative -- $19,749,000 in Rural Development Broadband Loan Program funds will be used to extend Paul Bunyan's existing FTTH network to serve the exchanges of Park Rapids Rural and Trout Lake in North Central Minnesota. With this extension of their network, Paul Bunyan will be able to provide advanced telecommunications services to over 45,710 establishments (households and businesses) across all service areas. Paul Bunyan has been operating since 1952 and has been a telecommunications borrower with the Rural Utilities Service since 1953.


    New Mexico


    Roosevelt County Telephone Cooperative -- $12,358,000 will be used to deploy new equipment and install FTTP equipment to enhance the broadband network.


    North Dakota


    BEK Communications Cooperative -- $26,746,000 in loan funds will be used to expand a FTTH broadband system. Upon completion of this RUS-funded project, 100 percent of BEK's subscribers will be served by fiber.


    SRT Communications -- $24,832,000 in loan funds will be used to install 2,143 miles of buried fiber optic cable and related equipment throughout the proposed FTTP system. The FTTP system will be constructed in areas outside of towns in twelve of the borrower's twenty-six exchanges. The service areas in the towns will continue to be offered DSL at speeds of at least 55 Mbps with its relatively new copper plant.


    Polar Communications Mutual Aid Corporation -- $32,939,000 in loan funds will be used to expand the Borrower's FTTP broadband system throughout the borrower's eighteen exchanges. The upgraded system will help meet current and future requirements for delivery of voice, video and high speed data to subscribers. Upon completion of this RUS-funded project, 100 percent of Polar's subscribers will be served with broadband via various technologies.


    Oklahoma


    Terral Telephone Company -- $4,855,000 in loan funds will be used to convert the existing copper network to a FTTH system, and connect new subscribers. The proposed FTTH deployment includes construction of over 62 miles of fiber plant in and around Terral, and the replacement of the existing softswitch and power plant. This FTTH deployment will create nine jobs and save seven jobs.


    South Carolina


    Sandhill Telephone Cooperative -- $5,930,000 will be used to provide for system improvements, including purchase of a new switch.


    Tennessee


    North Central Telephone Cooperative Corporation -- $27,069,000 will be used to upgrade portions of North Central's outside plant and network infrastructure by deploying a FTTP network.


    Washington


    Inland Telephone Company -- $24,823,000 in loan funds will be used to expand Inland's FTTP broadband system and connect new subscribers.


    The Toledo Telephone Co., Inc.--$18,091,000 in loan funds will be used to install 292 miles of buried fiber optic cables and related equipment throughout the proposed FTTP system, offering enhanced service to all Toledo subscribers.


    Wisconsin


    Union Telephone Company -- $13,308,000 in loan funds will enable Union to deploy approximately 336 miles of fiber, which will provide approximately 60 percent of Union's subscribers with access to improved broadband services.


    Marquette-Adams Telephone Cooperative.--$19,781,000 Marquette-Adams will use loan funds to complete a system-wide FTTP network, including over 370 miles of new or modified buried fiber, providing enhanced broadband service to all subscribers. http://www.usda.gov