StarHub selects Nokia Siemens Networks for LTE

StarHub, the second largest mobile operator in Singapore, has selected Nokia Siemens Networks as its LTE mobile broadband infrastructure and services vendor.


StarHub plans to refarm its 1800MHz GSM band to carry LTE services. The first phase of StarHub’s LTE network is expected to go live by the end of 2012, covering key business areas such as the Singapore Changi Airport, Marina Bay, Suntec, and Shenton Way.


As part of the contract, Nokia Siemens Networks will also modernize StarHub’s GSM network, helping the operator reduce power consumption generated by network equipment by up to 50%. The efficient use of resources is in line with StarHub’s commitment to act in an environmentally responsible manner throughout its operations.
http://www.nokiasiemensnetworks.com

Read More

U.S. Carriers to Disable Stolen Phones by IMEI

Major U.S. mobile operators and the FCC have agreed to set-up a database of stolen phones. This will enable permanent bans of these devices on U.S. networks based on their International Mobile Equipment Identity (IMEI) numbers rather than the SIM cards. U.S. Senator Charles Schumer plans to introduce legislation that would make it a federal crime to alter a device's International Mobile Equipment Identity number.


Internationally, the GSMA's Central Equipment Identity Register maintains a database of the IMEI numbers of blacklisted handsets.http://schumer.senate.govhttp://imeidb.gsm.org/imei/

Read More

Fujikura to Acquire Nistica for Wavelength Switches

Fujikura, a global supplier of optical fibers and fiber-optic components, agreed to acquire privately-held Nistica for an undisclosed sum.


Nistica, which is based in Bridgewater, New Jersey, supplies wavelength selective switches to Network Equipment Manufacturers. Nistica’s FULL FLEDGE series of wavelength selective switches have been deployed in low port-count 1x2 and 1x4 applications, and the newly launched high port-count FOURIER modules are being designed into systems geared toward colorless, directionless, contentionless and gridless networks.


“Fujikura has been a strategic partner of Nistica and an investor in Nistica since 2007," said Noboru Sugiyama, Senior Vice President and Member of the Board. “The steady growth in high-volume delivery of wavelength selective switches and the transparent working relationship between our teams convinced us that acquiring Nistica’s talent was the logical next step in our partnership. We are delighted to support this team in its tradition of launching innovative products into the marketplace."


NTT Electronics Ltd. (NEL) will continue to hold its shares in the company going forward.
http://www.fujikura.co.jphttp://www.nistica.com

• Nistica was founded in 2005 by Jefferson Wagener and Thomas Strasser, and has raised $31M in equity investment from Battelle Ventures, Novitas Capital, Technology Venture Partners, MMV Financial, Mizuho Capital, Fujikura Ltd., NTT Electronics and notable industry individuals Bill Cadogan and Kal Shastri.

Read More

Leap Wireless and T-Mobile Agree to Exchange Spectrum

Leap Wireless announced license exchange agreements with T-Mobile USA, Cook Inlet/VS GSM VII PCS LLC, a joint venture between T-Mobile and Cook Inlet in which T-Mobile has a non-controlling majority interest (Cook Inlet), and Leap's non-controlled, majority-owned venture Savary Island Wireless, LLC (Savary Island).


Under the swap, Leap will acquire 10 MHz of additional AWS spectrum in Phoenix, AZ and Houston, Galveston and Bryan-College Station, TX to supplement the spectrum Leap currently operates in those markets, among others. Leap and Savary Island have agreed to assign T-Mobile and Cook Inlet spectrum in various markets in Alabama, Illinois, Missouri, Minnesota and Wisconsin. The transactions also include intra-market exchanges between Leap, T-Mobile and Cook Inlet, in Philadelphia, Wilmington, Atlantic City and various markets in Texas and New Mexico, and between Leap and Cook Inlet in certain markets in Texas. Completion of the transaction is subject to regulatory approvals and other customary closing conditions. Financial terms were not disclosed.

"These transactions will enhance our spectrum depth in these markets and provide us longer term flexibility to offer a larger LTE channel. As we have previously announced, we plan to cover approximately two-thirds of our current network footprint with LTE technology over the next two to three years," said Doug Hutcheson, Leap's president and chief executive officer. "In addition the transactions will allow us to re-align spectrum in key markets into contiguous channels thereby optimizing our delivery of wireless services."

Financial details were not disclosed.
http://www.leapwireless.com

Read More

Nicira Signs DreamHost as Latest OpenStack Customer

DreamHost, a web hosting and cloud services provider with over 300,000 customers and 1.2 million domain names, will deploy Nicira's Network Virtualization Platform (NVP). Financial terms were not disclosed.


Nicira's Network Virtualization Platform (NVP) is a scalable software system implemented at the network edge and managed by distributed clustered controller architecture. The system forms a thin software layer that treats the physical network as an IP backplane. This approach allows the creation of virtual networks that have the same properties and services as physical networks, such as security and QoS policies, L2 reachability, and higher-level service capabilities such as stateful firewalling. These virtual networks can be created dynamically to support VM mobility anywhere within or between data centers without service disruption or address changes.


Nicira's announced data center customers include NTT, Rackspace and others.
http://www.nicira.com

• Nicira was founded by networking research leaders Martin Casado and Nick McKeown from Stanford University and Scott Shenker from University of California at Berkeley. Casado’s work at Stanford led to the creation of OpenFlow and Software-Defined Networking (SDN), an architectural approach in which the intelligence of networking shifts from hardware to software.


• Nicira has raised $50 million in funding to date from Andreessen Horowitz, Lightspeed Venture Partners and New Enterprise Associates, as well as individual investors including VMware co-founder Diane Greene and Benchmark Capital co-founder Andy Rachleff.

Read More

NTT DATA Forms New Global Cloud Services Business Unit

NTT DATA has created a new Global Cloud Services business unit consisting of over 1,000 NTT Data professionals already delivering related services to existing clients. Services include Cloud Advisory Services providing strategy and design for cloud transformation, Cloud Migration Services for both applications and infrastructure, and Cloud Management Services providing seamless monitoring and management of legacy and cloud environments.


NTT DATA will offer the full continuum of secure public, private and hybrid cloud solutions.


The new Cloud Services business unit will be led by Marv Mouchawar as president, reporting directly to John McCain, CEO. Mr. Mouchawar and his team will be responsible for the overall strategy, portfolio, sales and delivery of services. NTT DATA Cloud Services will draw on many of the strengths and resources offered by NTT DATA globally and in collaboration with NTT Group companies including NTT Communications, NTT DOCOMO, and Dimension Data. Operations will be based in Silicon Valley.http://americas.nttdata.com/

Read More

Huawei Demos 200 Gbps Router Line Cards

Huawei demonstrated its 200 Gbps router line card at The Gathering (TG) 2012 in Hamar, Norway.


The demonstration which was conducted in conjunction with Altibox, features Huawei's 200 Gbps high-speed line cards, NE5000E high-end routers, and OptiX OSN 8800 dense wavelength division equipment. The NE5000E routers were located in both Oslo and Hamar in order to provide 200GE access. The OptiX OSN 8800 provided optical transmission over the 180 km span.
http://www.huawei.com

Read More

USTelecom Association Hit by DDoS Attack

The United States Telecom Association, USTelecom (previously known as the United States Telephone Association), reports experiencing a denial-of-service attack launched by "Anonymous." The trade association said it believes the attack was due to its support for the Cyber Intelligence Sharing and Protection Act of 2011. This bipartisan legislation, introduced by Reps. Mike Rogers (R-MI) and C.A. “Dutch�? Ruppersberger (D-MD), would allow industry and government to share information about malware, viruses, denial-of-service and cyber-attacks that could cause serious harm to the Internet and to Internet users.
http://www.ustelecom.org

Read More

AT&T Sells Yellow Pages Business to Cerberus Capital

An affiliate of Cerberus Capital Management, L.P. (Cerberus) has agreed to acquire AT&T Advertising Solutions and AT&T Interactive for about $750 million in cash and $200 million in notes. The transaction includes assets of AT&T Advertising Solutions, which delivers sales and customer support, and AT&T Interactive, which conducts interactive product development. It does not include the recently formed AT&T AdWorks, a New York-based operation that sells advertising offerings across 3-screen platforms (online, mobile and TV). AT&T will receive a 47-percent equity interest in the new entity, YP Holdings LLC (YP).


Some highlights of the deal:

• Approximately 1,200 The Real Yellow Pages® print directory titles reaching about 150 million homes and businesses in 22 states;



• YP.com, a top 40 website according to a leading global digital measurement firm;



• The YPSM Local Ad Network, which includes more than 300 mobile and online publisher websites nationwide providing digital reach to more than 71 million monthly unique visitors;



• The YPmobile app, which allows users to search local businesses from their mobile devices.



• The business units generated approximately $3.3 billion in revenues in 2011. Among other agreements, YP has agreed to honor existing union contracts.

http://www.att.com
http://www.yellowpages.com

Read More

Redline Builds Wireless Oilfield M2M Network

Redline Communications is building a wireless network for Shell Oil joint venture Petroleum Development Oman LLC (PDO) that provides full bi-directional data between headquarters and their oil and gas fields. Over 2,000 of the 5,000 oil wells in their Oman location are now connected wirelessly using Redline equipment to a centralized site where they are monitored and managed remotely. The real-time M2M eliminates the need to have workers drive from well to well to collect critical operating information and make changes to optimize the system.


Redline’s RDL-3000 and AN80i broadband radios, powered by SmartLINK software, are the cornerstone of the PDO system. They operate in point-to-multipoint configurations, allowing many units in the field to communicate over long distances to a smaller number of base stations which improves the cost effectiveness of the system.


Redline said its technology supports multiple types of machines communicating over the wireless network simultaneously. SCADA systems, RTUs, video surveillance cameras and Wi-Fi hotspots are all connected over the wide area Redline network, with the more important communications such as control over the well heads getting priority treatment.
http://www.rdlcom.com

Read More