Cisco Integrates ACI with FirePOWER Intrusion Prevention

Cisco is integrating its FirePOWER Next Generation Intrusion Prevention System (NGIPS) into its Application Centric Infrastructure (ACI) architecture.

The integrated ACI + firePOWER security solution, which will be available in June 2015, offers automated threat protection to combat emerging data center security threats. The idea is fine-grained control (including application level security), visibility and centralized automation all the way from infrastructure to the application level.

Cisco ACI also third-party ecosystem solutions from Check Point Software Technologies, Fortinet, Infoblox, Intel Security, Radware, and Symantec.

Cisco said ACI integration with FirePOWER NGIPS (including Advanced Malware Protection) provides security before, during and after an attack, enabling organizations to dynamically detect and block advanced threats with continuous visibility and control across the full attack continuum. These new security capabilities deliver unprecedented control, visibility and centralized security automation in the data center.

Cisco also announced that independent qualified security assessors have validated ACI for deployment in payment card industry (PCI) compliant networks. Managing and simplifying the scope of compliance can help reduce costs for these organizations.

http://newsroom.cisco.com/press-release-content?type=webcontent&articleId=1628097

Read More

XO Interconnects with Microsoft Azure through Equinix Cloud Exchange

XO Communications (XO) introduced direct links to Microsoft Azure through the Equinix Cloud Exchange.

XO now offers its customers dedicated connections to Azure at bandwidths of 200 Mbps, 500 Mbps and 1 Gbps in Equinix International Business Exchange (IBX) data centers in the Washington, D.C., area and Silicon Valley. Enterprises choosing 1 Gbps connectivity to the Azure platform also have the option of leveraging the XO Bandwidth on Demand service with usage-based billing and bandwidth commit rates ranging from 100-500 Mbps.

“Enterprises need to increase the velocity of their business growth while constraining total IT spending,” said Jake Heinz, senior vice president, marketing and product at XO Communications. “XO enables the evolution of the hybrid IT function whereby the IT organization becomes a trusted cloud services broker for the entire organization. With dedicated network connections to Azure, IT managers are now able to cost-effectively drive productivity by deploying true hybrid cloud architectures.”

http://www.xo.com

Read More

AT&T Completes Acquisition of Nextel Mexico

AT&T completed its previously announced acquisition of Nextel Mexico from NII Holdings for $1.875 billion, less approximately $427 million of net debt and other adjustments. The deal includes spectrum licenses, network assets, retail stores and subscribers in Mexico.

Earlier this year, AT&T acquired Mexican wireless provider Iusacell. AT&T will integrate Iusacell and Nextel into one company focused on bringing more choices, better service and faster mobile Internet speeds to more locations throughout Mexico. AT&T plans to create the first-ever North American Mobile Service area, which will cover more than 400 million consumers and businesses in Mexico and the United States.

Thaddeus Arroyo, Chief Executive Officer for AT&T Mexico, LLC and Iusacell, will lead the combined company.

http://www.att.com

Read More

Boingo Signs Sprint for Airport Wi-Fi

Boingo Wireless announced a multi-year Wi-Fi agreement for providing Sprint customers with access to seamless and secure Boingo Wi-Fi networks in 35 major U.S. airports.

Sprint devices within proximity of a Boingo hotspot can automatically connect to the Wi-Fi network seamlessly, providing service at the fastest speeds available, be that cellular from Sprint or Wi-Fi from Boingo. The auto-authenticating Wi-Fi connections are available at no additional charge to all Sprint customers with capable devices, and usage while connected to Wi-Fi does not count towards a customer’s monthly service plan.

“Boingo's relationship with Sprint removes the traditional barriers between Wi-Fi and cellular service,” said David Hagan, Chief Executive Officer for Boingo Wireless. “Sprint is a market leader with the integration of Wi-Fi and cellular, which is a very customer centric solution to provide an always-best-connected experience through either network.”

http://www.sprint.com
http://www.boingo.com

Read More

Amdocs to Acquire Comverse's BSS Unit for $272 Million

Amdocs agreed to acquire a substantial majority of Comverse's business support systems (BSS) business unit assets for approximately $272 million in cash.

Amdocs said it will maintain and support Comverse customers around the world. The acquisition geographically complements Amdocs' market focus by expanding and diversifying Amdocs' global customer base, particularly in Asia Pacific, Latin America and Europe, and including Europe's cable and satellite market.

"Amdocs is a leader in customer experience solutions for the communications industry. With Amdocs' broad range of products and services, this agreement will only serve to benefit existing Comverse BSS customers," said Philippe Tartavull, president and chief executive officer, Comverse. "Customers should feel assured by Amdocs' experience with smoothly integrating acquisitions and their commitment to maintaining and growing relationships."

Comverse will continue to exist as a separate company, with a singular focus on expanding its global market leadership in digital services.

“Size and scale in BSS are critical to succeed in today’s increasingly consolidating telecommunications service provider marketplace, while smaller, niche players face a more uncertain future,” said Philippe Tartavull, President and Chief Executive Officer, Comverse. “The combination of Comverse’s customer base with Amdocs’ BSS products and services creates new opportunities for our clients and Comverse employees joining Amdocs. Now, Comverse can focus exclusively on expanding our existing significant global market leadership in the Digital Services arena, and driving innovation in new segments of the IP communication industry that are expected to grow significantly as CSPs and enterprises take advantage of the rollout of 4G/Volte/LTE services.”

http://www.comverse.com/
http://www.amdocs.com

Read More

Midcontinent Deploys Infinera DTN-X

Midcontinent Communications has deployed the Infinera DTN-X packet optical transport networking platform in its Upper Midwest service area of the United States to deliver cable television, high-speed Internet and telecom services to its customers.

Midcontinent is one of the nation's largest independent telecommunications companies, with more than 300,000 residential and business customers in Minnesota, North Dakota, South Dakota and Wisconsin. Midcontinent operates one of the largest and most resilient optical networks in the region, a 7,800 fiber-mile network delivering services to urban and rural areas.

"We are pleased that Midcontinent is extending the benefits of the Infinera Intelligent Transport Network as the company expands," said Gaylord Hart, director of marketing, MSO market at Infinera. "The DTN-X platform offers cable operators the benefits of scalability, ease of use and superb reliability."

http://www.infinera.com/j7/servlet/NewsItem?newsItemID=456

Read More