ECI Announces 100G Optimized Multi-Layer Transport Deployment in Romania

RCS& RDS, a leading cable operator in Romania, is using ECI Telecom's "Apollo" Optimized Multi-Layer Transport (OMLT) platforms to deploy 100G in its network. The 100G DWDM network connects core routers between Oradea to Bucharest -- about 700 km. The operator is using ECI's LightSoft Network Management System to simplify operations and reduce training and personnel expenses. Financial terms were not disclosed. 

ECI has worked with RCS & RDS for more than ten years, supplying them with multiservice provisioning and optical equipment, including its XDM and BG platforms.

http://www.ecitele.com

• In November 2011, ECI Telecom announced its next step beyond packet-optical transport system (P-OTS) with a new modular platform that integrates L0 to L3 functionality with a single management system for all layers. The Apollo Optimized Multi-Layer Transport system (OMLT) addresses metro core and regional networks for carriers shifting from traditional ring-based architecture to mesh-based and OTN switching architecture. With the OMLT, ECI's aim is to address shortcomings of packet-optical transport system (P-OTS), especially the need to deploy additional Carrier Ethernet platforms with separate management systems to support advanced data services. The OMLT reduces infrastructure costs by optimizing the whole (multi-layered) architecture instead of the individual parts (layers), while simplifying the provisioning of new wavelength, private line, L2 or L3 services. The OMLT features a Universal fabric supporting OTN, Ethernet and switching between the two. The control plane uses GMPLS across the data (MPLS-TP) and optical layers. 
  The Apollo product launch includes six platforms, along with the LightSoft unified network management system. LightSoft is a graphical automated end-to-end provisioning and management across network layers and technologies. LightSoft's multi-layer interface allows the user to get multiple physical and logical views of the network, facilitating the visualization of connections and correlations between different network layers.

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China Mobile Hong Kong Deploys TD-LTE with ZTE

ZTE announced the deployment of the first multi-carrier TD-LTE network with China Mobile Hong Kong (CMHK). This is the first TD-LTE network in Hong Kong. The network is also the first global multi-carrier, TD-LTE network.

In July, ZTE partnered with CMHK and Ericsson to announce a deal to deploy the TD-LTE network with a coverage area of more than 70 per cent of the territory. It marked the first time ZTE adopted a multi-carrier technology with a single wireless base station to support complex wireless communication conditions in Hong Kong. The CMHK LTE network is the first dual-mode network in the Asia-Pacific region and the first commercial TD-LTE network in Hong Kong.

ZTE  noted that it deployed TD-LTE trials and commercial networks for 33 leading operators in 19 countries, and won nine large-scale LTE-TDD commercial contracts worldwide.

http://www.zte.com.cn

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SimpliVity Raises $25 Million for Software defined Data Center in a Box

SimpliVity, a start-up based in Westborough, MA, raised $25 million in Series B funding for its "OmniCube" Software Defined Data Center in a Box.  SimpliVity describes its OmniCube as the world’s first truly assimilated IT infrastructure platform.  


The 2U rack-mounted box delivers the functionality of more than 10 products for the virtual machine environment. This functionality encompasses enterprise computing, storage services and network functionality, inclusive of WAN optimization, Unified Global Management, Seamless Cloud Integration, Primary Storage Deduplication, Backup Deduplication, Caching, and Global Scale Out.  Multiple OmniCubes can be deployed together to form an OmniCube Global Federation, a massively scalable pool of shared resources that enables efficient data movement, extensive scalability, and enterprise-class system availability--all managed globally from a single interface.


The new funding was led by Kleiner Perkins Caufield & Byers (KPCB) and included existing investors Accel Partners and Charles River Ventures.  The company has raised $43 million to date. 

http://www.simplivity.com

• SimpliVity is headed by Mr. Doron Kempel, who previously was the Founder and CEO of Diligent Technologies, a specialist in Enterprise Data Deduplication that was acquired by IBM in April 2008. Prior to Diligent, Doron served as Vice President and General Manager at EMC.

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Overture Appoints Mike Aquino as CEO

Overture Networks appointed Mike Aquino as President and Chief Executive Officer (CEO)  Co-founder and current CEO Jeff Reedy will continue with the company as Overture’s Chief Strategy Officer.

Aquino joins Overture from Ciena Corporation, where he held a number of executive positions, including Senior VP of Global Field Operations, General Manager of Global Government Solutions, and VP of Americas.  Prior to Ciena, Mr. Aquino held leadership positions at ONI Systems (acquired by Ciena), Bay Networks (acquired by Nortel Networks), and IBM Corporation.

“I’m excited to join the Overture team as President and CEO,” said Mr. Aquino. “Overture has an outstanding base of customers globally, comprised of wireline, wireless, and MSO service providers as well as government and municipality network operators. They’ve become a market leader by providing innovative Carrier Ethernet solutions. I look forward to leading Overture in continuing to broaden our customer base and enable service providers to leverage Carrier Ethernet to scale revenue, streamline operational costs, and deliver highly differentiated services to their end-user customers.”

http://www.overturenetworks.com

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DragonWave Cranks up Packet Microwave to 1.3 Gbps with 2048 QAM

DragonWave confirmed the functionality of higher modulation modes of up to 2048 QAM on its Horizon packet microwave products. 

In field tests conducted in Odessa, Ukraine, DragonWave's in-country partner UKRCOM and their customer, Intertelecom, demonstrated the radios’ ability to transport up to 37 percent more data through existing microwave channels. This testing was combined with dual channel operation and DragonWave’s unique Bandwidth Accelerator feature. 

DragonWave said the combination of these two features and the higher 2048 QAM modulation, offered an increase in capacity of greater than three times to more than 1.3 Gbps. This improves spectral efficiency and, correspondingly, lowers the operator’s cost per bit. 

DragonWave  noted that it has shipped over 800 Horizon links to Intertelecom through its local integration partner, UKRCOM to date.

“We explored other options for increasing link capacity such as XPIC, but we soon realized that DragonWave’s solution of coupling higher modulation modes with Hitless Automatic Adaptive Modulation allows us to meet the growing backhaul demands without needing to re-engineer existing links or purchase additional radios,” said Boris Akulov, CEO at Intertelecom.  “In effect, we have found a very cost efficient and streamlined means to triple our network capacity.”

“The successful field testing of 2048 QAM marks another milestone in DragonWave being first to market with technology and innovation that sets us apart from the competition,” said DragonWave CEO Peter Allen. “We congratulate our Ukrainian customers on their performance results and are encouraged to be expanding our market share in an important and growing region for microwave transport.”

http://www.dragonwaveinc.com.

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Mavenir's Circuit Switch Fallback (CSFB) Optimizes LTE Smartphones

Until voice over LTE (VoLTE) services become available, carriers are supporting voice and SMS for the new crop of 4G LTE smartphones, such as iPhone 5, by using their legacy 3G core infrastructure.  One disadvantage, according to Mavenir Systems, is that two radios may be active on the handset -- one for LTE and one for the legacy 3G -- in order to handle the voice and SMS signalling and traffic.

Mavenir proposes a Circuit Switch Fallback (CSFB) solution that overlays the legacy infrastructure that enables delivery of circuit-switched voice services to LTE handsets by triggering "fall back" to the 3G network to complete voice calls.  With CSFB, operators can immediately support new LTE-enabled smartphones, such as the newly announced iPhone 5, for voice and SMS in advance of IMS-based VoLTE solutions that won’t be widely available until 2014.  This overlay approach does not impact the MSC core and means that the operator will not have to invest more in its legacy

Mavenir said it already has several live CSFB deployments with tier 1 operators in multiple countries. Several more are expected to go live in 2012. 

“Our value proposition is combining proven CSFB technology with our speed to market and the ease of integrating into 4G LTE networks.” said Pardeep Kohli, president and chief executive officer of Mavenir Systems. “Our IWF CSFB function helps the network economics of introducing new LTE services quickly and cost effectively. This is the first step for many operators, but they can easily leverage this Mavenir CSFB investment along the path to SRVCC and VoLTE.”

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Equinix Builds Out its London Data Center

Equinix has added 4,000 square meters of data center space with capacity for 1,400 cabinets to its London LD5 International Business Exchange data center.  Once the fourth and final phase of the build-out is completed, LD5 will provide 16,000 square meters of customer space, with capacity for 5,600 cabinets in total.

The Equinix LD5 facility is located on same campus in Slough, England, as the LD4 data center.  The Equinix campus is linked by more than 1,000 diverse dark fiber links into Central London with global access to more than 900 network providers.  The location (just outside of London) provides access to transatlantic cables for low-latency connections to New York. 

The LD5 expansion also features 130 dedicated Business Continuity Trading desks, providing comprehensive connectivity-rich emergency trading capabilities for financial services firms.

“Our LD5 expansion sits in one of the largest and fastest growing data center markets in the world, with increasing customer demand for capacity. This facility allows us to offer highly resilient and secure colocation facilities and to add sector-specific enhancements and features as we go,” said Russell Poole, managing director, Equinix UK. “Financial market participants and service providers are key growth drivers currently, and they are experiencing growing regulatory pressure to put business continuity capacity in place. This is why our latest build-out features are what we believe is the most comprehensive and best-connected business continuity offering in the London market today.”

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Verizon to Pay $250 Million to TiVO to Resolve Patent Dispute

Verizon Communications has agreed to pay at least $250.4 million to TiVo under a mutual patent licensing deal.

The payments from Verizon to TiVo will include a $100 million initial cash payment followed by recurring quarterly payments totaling an additional $150.4 million through July 2018. 

Verizon will also pay monthly license fees through July 2018 for each Verizon DVR subscriber in excess of certain pre-determined levels.

In addition to the cash payments described above, Verizon and TiVo are exploring, among other things, a future distribution partnership.

"We are pleased to reach an agreement with Verizon which underscores the significant value our distribution partners derive from TiVo's technological innovations and our shareholders derive from our investments in protecting TiVo's intellectual property," said Tom Rogers, CEO and President of TiVo. "We also look forward to working together on a variety of future opportunities as we continue to expand the content choices available to TiVo subscribers."

http://www.tivo.com

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