AppliedMicro Begins Shipping First 100G Transponder/Muxponder for OTN

AppliedMicro has begun commercial shipments of the first standard 100 Gbps transponder/muxponder solutions for Optical Transport Networks (OTN) and data centers. The design was unveiled a year ago and since then has passed all interoperability tests before reaching the initial stages of deployment in 100G carrier and data center networks.


AppliedMicro said its 100G transponder/muxponder is capable of multiplexing any combination of 10G and 40G client signals into a 100G OTN signal (OTU4). Specifically, the 100G Muxponder supports any combination of signals from 10G and 40G Ethernet to legacy OC192/OC768 SONET/SDH, as well as 8G and 10G Fibre Channel.


This provides network operators tremendous flexibility in filling new 100G pipes in their networks. Additionally, these 100G OTN pipes are being deployed between high capacity data centers where significant growth is driving demand for higher speed connections. As a result, the solution can carry both data and storage traffic efficiently and can be used for file and backup synchronization between large data centers. It also interoperates with all major forward error correction (FEC) schemes in long-haul optical network architectures.


"AppliedMicro's 100G transponder/muxponder reference design provides a common software API for both its SoftSilicon and ASSP solutions, making it efficient to integrate with system software of the host platform or line card," said Lars Pedersen, Chief Technology Officer of AppliedMicro TPACK A/S. "System design and maintenance efforts for 100G platforms are greatly simplified and streamlined with a common API, and it provides software investment protection for future upgrades as AppliedMicro's highly integrated silicon devices come to market offering even greater cost-reduction potential."


Reference designs and API for the 100G transponder/muxponder are now available.
http://www.apm.com

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ip.access Develops Dual mode LTE/3G AP with Freescale

ip.access announced plans for a 3G + LTE small cell access point using Freescale's QorIQ Qonverge system-on-chip solution.


The new unit, codenamed the E-100, is a small cell Access Point designed for enterprises and public indoor environments. The 3G connection supports HSPA+ connections of up to 42 Mbps while the LTE radio supports up to 150 Mbps. Up to 200 users could be supported.


ip.access expects to deliver the E-100 into customer labs later this year, with field trials expected in Q1 2013.


Announcing the E-100, ip.access founder and CTO Nick Johnson said: “Small cells will have a vital role to play in delivering LTE's promise of high-speed data for large numbers of subscribers. The E-100 allows operators to rapidly add coverage and capacity to their LTE networks exactly where it is needed." At the same time, the integrated 3G capability improves network performance and relieves congestion for the majority of today's smartphone users. "There's an immediate return on investment for operators even before the mass-market take-up of LTE handsets,�? explained Johnson.


The E-100 unit will be the first small cell from ip.access to use Freescale’s QorIQ Qonverge platform.
http://www.ipaccess.com
http://www.freescale.com

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Accuris Cites Tier One Traction for its Wi-Fi Offload + Wi-Fi Roaming

Accuris Networks, a privately-held company based in Dublin, Ireland, is reporting that three North American top tier mobile operators have selected its AccuROAM platform for Wi-Fi offload and also to enable International-roaming subscribers to automatically roam onto partner Wi-Fi networks when abroad. The company said its unique advantage is to offer both Wi-Fi offload and Wi-Fi roaming on one platform.


The AccuROAM platform enables subscribers to automatically and securely access operators Wi-Fi hotspots by using the subscriber’s SIM credentials for authentication. In addition to greater security, this approach also gives operators the ability to control service access, manage Wi-Fi offload connections and bill subscribers for Wi-Fi usage when roaming.


“Carriers worldwide are faced with huge challenges of network congestion and with roaming challenges as their customers travel abroad. Integrating Wi-Fi with mobile networks is essential for carrier success, not just for authentication and data but for all the services that users’ currently receive on cellular such as billing, voice, messaging and roaming,�? said Aidan Dillon, CTO, Accuris. “Rather than having to turn data roaming off when traveling, Accuris’ AccuROAM solution means that smartphone users can expect the same seamless roaming experience when they are traveling as they do when they are at home.�?http://www.accuris-networks.com

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Radisys Delivers DPI Network Appliance based on Intel

Radisys introduced an Intel-based, carrier-grade network appliance platform that enables Telecom Equipment Manufacturers (TEMs) to better address the requirements of Deep Packet Inspection (DPI) applications, including policy enforcement, lawful intercept security, network probe and others.


The Radisys RMS-220 uses a 2U high, 20-inch deep form factor for flexibility and serviceability. The design supports Network Equipment-Building System (NEBS) guidelines and dual server class Intel processors. The design allows up to four front I/O modules, five front storage modules (HDD or SSD), redundant AC or DC power supply units (PSUs) and front serviceable fans that can be replaced in the field without de-racking the system. A broad range of configurations are available, including:

• Front I/O port options including 32x 1 Gigabit Ethernet, 24x 10 Gigabit Ethernet and I/O bypass options


• Up to 10TB of local storage


• Broad range of co-processing options including NetLogic and Cavium processors

Radisys has more than 20 years of experience delivering innovative embedded products and a successful track record for providing our customers with the tools they need to develop competitive, differentiated solutions,�? said Keate Despain, vice president and general manager, platforms, Radisys. “The RMS-220 network appliance platform is a strong complement to Radisys’ long-standing ATCA product portfolio, expanding on the same embedded software and engineering expertise. We truly provide our customers with a one-stop-shop for their telecom infrastructure needs.�?


“Intel continues to make significant strides on multiple data plane vectors including raw throughput performance and performance per watt. The timing couldn’t be better for the telecom market to have an Intel architecture based Carrier Grade Network Appliance Platform that is designed and optimized for the rapidly growing DPI and networking applications segment. This is another example of a strong Intel partner ecosystem delivering innovative solutions with cutting-edge performance,�? said Rose Schooler, general manager, Intelligent Systems Group, Intel Corporation.
http://www.radisys.com

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Leap Wireless Benefits from Smartphone Upgrades

Leap Wireless reported Q4 2011 revenues of $729.5 million reported adjusted operating income before depreciation and amortization (OIBDA) of $135.1 million for the fourth quarter, compared to $107.0 million for the comparable quarter of the prior year. Leap also reported a fourth quarter 2011 operating loss of $3.5 million, compared to an operating loss of $27.0 million for the fourth quarter of 2010.


Some highlights:


Leap added 179,000 customers during the fourth quarter of 2011, comprised of approximately 209,000 voice net customer additions and net deactivations of approximately 30,000 broadband customers, bringing total net customer additions for the full-year 2011 to approximately 416,000.


The company ended the year with approximately 5.9 million customers.


Customer churn for the fourth quarter of 2011 was approximately 3.9 percent.


During the second half of 2011, Leap expanded into an additional 6,500 national retail locations, increasing its retail presence to approximately 11,500 locations.


Approximately 60 percent of the Company's new handset sales in the fourth quarter of 2011 were for smartphones and Muve Music devices, compared to approximately 30 percent in the fourth quarter of 2010.


Approximately 10 percent of the Company's customer base upgraded their handsets during the quarter, most of which were upgraded to better devices coupled with higher-ARPU service plans, compared to 13 percent in the fourth quarter of 2010.


ARPU for the fourth quarter of 2011 was $42.09, an increase of $3.95, or 10.4 percent, over the comparable period of the prior year, and $0.84, or 2.0 percent, from the third quarter of 2011.


Capital expenditures were $152.4 million for the fourth quarter of 2011 and $441.7 million for the full year.


Total capital expenditures for 2012 are expected to be between $600 million and $650 million, primarily to support the initial deployment of next-generation LTE network technology, the ongoing maintenance and development of the Company's network and other business assets and other capital projects.


http://www.leapwireless.com

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EU Approves800 MHz Mobile Broadband Spectrum Plan

The European Parliament approved a plan that requires EU member states to open up more radio spectrum for mobile broadband use by 2013.


Under the radio spectrum policy programme (RSPP), member states will have to authorise the use of the 800 MHz band for wireless broadband by 1 January 2013.



Currently, the 800 MHz band is used to broadcast analogue TV channels in most member states, but will be freed by the end of 2012 when all TV sets will be switched to digital. This so-called digital dividend will be assigned to mobile Internet.


The 800 MHz spectrum band is better at penetrating buildings and provides superior indoor reception and travels longer distances without losing strength than spectrum above 1 GHz.



The EU said the management of radio frequencies remains a national responsibility, but that its efforts play an important role in coordinating policy and setting standards.


We have ensured that sufficient amounts of spectrum both for coverage and capacity are made accessible in the EU to achieve the fastest mobile broadband worldwide," stated Swedish Christian Democrat Gunnar Hökmark.
http://www.europa.eu

• In October 2011, the European Council endorsed an amendment by MEPs to widen the scope of an inventory of the existing spectrum between 400 MHz and 6 GHz in order to identify where efficiency could be improved and ensure that the exponential growth in wireless data traffic can be met by future reallocations.

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Japan's eAccess First to Deploy Mixed Mode WCDMA + LTE

eAccess, which serves 5.6 million mobile broadband and wired internet subscribers in Japan, will become the first operator in the world to launch a Mixed Mode solution for WCDMA and LTE. Ericsson is supplying a Mixed Mode solution that enables eAccess to use the same radio frequency band for both LTE and WCDMA services. Commercial launch of the Mixed Mode solution will begin in major cities across the country from March 2012 including Tokyo, Tokai and Osaka.


Ericsson has been the main network equipment to eAccess since 2006.

Under the contract, Ericsson will provide eAccess with full turnkey Network Rollout, Network Optimization & Consulting, and upgrade the Packet Core network to an Evolved Packet Core architecture.
http://www.ericsson.com

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