Sunday, June 20, 2004

Cisco Delivers Metro-Scale Wi-Fi for Government

Cisco Systems introduced a wireless LAN product set for delivering broadband wireless access across a city to public sector agencies such as city, state and federal agencies, public safety (police, fire, and ambulance), transportation and public works. The Cisco Metropolitan Mobile Network solution consists of Cisco Aironet Series of Wi-Fi outdoor infrastructure and Cisco 3200 Series Routers with the new integrated Wireless Mobile Interface Card.



When used in vehicles, the Cisco 3200 Series Router with new integrated Wireless Mobile Interface Card creates a network comprised of laptops, PDAs, video surveillance cameras and other devices that maintain connectivity even as the vehicle moves between cellular and Wi-Fi coverage areas and across the community. The Cisco 3200 Series can also be deployed in fixed locations, such as on light poles and on roof tops, as a ruggedized outdoor wireless router to help provide wireless coverage across the city. The Cisco Aironet 1400 Series Outdoor Wireless Bridge provides long range IEEE 802.11a connectivity and the Cisco Aironet 1300 Series Outdoor AP and Wireless Bridge provides IEEE 802.11b/g connectivity and access at medium ranges.



Cook County, Illinois plans to use broadband wireless connectivity to enhance first responders' capabilities to prepare for and respond to events and emergencies. The first phase of deployment will enable emergency personnel to share text, image, and video information across jurisdictional boundaries.



London's Westminster City Council plans to create a "Wireless City" that will help reduce crime; provide real time information to city officials to manage street services such as parking, premises licensing, and environment waste; assist with special events; and deliver community based services such as e-learning. Working with Cisco, the Council is deploying video-surveillance that will result in a 30% savings from rapid Wi-Fi deployment of approximately 50 cameras.www.cisco.com/go/mmn

Metalink Ships 200,000 VDSL Ports to Korea in Q2

Metalink announced that shipments of its ITU-T standard compliant VDSL products to South Korea for the second quarter of 2004 have exceeded 200,000 ports. The company said its Total-VDSL provides performance of over 50 Mbps and up to 5 km DSL service capability. http://www.metalinkbb.com/

France Telecom and Motorola Form Strategic Partnership

France Telecom and Motorola signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) for the joint development of Seamless Mobility Solutions. This collaboration aims at developing and deploying new and innovative, integrated services, using a wide range of wireless access networks and technologies, for the home, office, car and on the move. The MoU includes: the establishment of joint research and development teams; the sharing of R&D funding; and the principle of sharing intellectual property. http://www.francetelecom.comhttp://www.motorola.com
  • In recent weeks, France Telecom has announced several strategic partnerships with leading systems companies, including with Alcatel for the joint definition and implementation of a Next Generation Network Architecture (NGN/IMS) towards a converged fixed/Internet/mobile network.; with Ericsson, in order to jointly develop IP Multimedia Services for the consumer market, and with Siemens, to jointly develop a New Generation Network Architecture for mobile/fixed networks.

Centillium Integrates ADSL2+/2++ and VoIP on a Chip

Centillium Communications introduced an ADSL2+/2++ and VoIP gateway-on-a-chip for next-generation Customer Premises Equipment (CPE). The new Palladia 400 chip uses Centillium's eXtremeDSLMAX technology for downstream rates up to 50 Mbps. It offers an integrated 200MHz MIPS processor and a high-powered DSP designed specifically to process VoIP. Palladia 400 supports a variety of voice codecs such as G.711 (PCM), G.729a/b, G.726.32 and G.723.1. The chip includes support for Caller Identification (Caller ID) -- including Japan Caller Identification Protocol (JCLIP), Call Forwarding and Call Waiting. The chip also supports Generic Voice Activity Detection (VAD) and Comfort Noise Generation (CNG) and includes a Message Waiting Indicator, Tele-Conferencing, Call Hold and Pulse Dialing. Palladia 400 also integrates an IPSec engine with support for Data Encryption Standard (DES), Triple Data Encryption Standard (3DES) and Advanced Encryption Standard (AES), as well as Secure Hash and Message Digest Algorithms in hardware.



Applications include home gateways, Integrated Access Devices (IADs), small office-home office (SOHO) voice routers, IP PBXs and other access products with ADSL2+/2++, VoIP, advanced security features and WiFi networking capabilities. Sampling is underway.

Centillium also unveiled the first member of a new family of chips for the VoIP Customer Premises Equipment (CPE) market. The Atlanta 100 chip supports up to eight voice channels for toll-quality telephone voice, fax calls and routing functionality over any broadband access network (ADSL, cable, WiMAX, etc.). The device integrates a RISC processor that performs network management, data routing and other functions. The device also includes a built-in packet accelerator that pushes system performance to wire-speed while supporting multiple VoIP channels in parallel. Atlanta 100 supports a variety of voice codecs, such as G.711 (PCM), G.729a/b, G.726.32 and G.723.1. The chip includes support for Caller Identification (Caller ID) including Japan Caller Identification Protocol (JCLIP), Call Forwarding and Call Waiting. It also supports Generic Voice Activity Detection (VAD) and Comfort Noise Generation (CNG) and includes a Message Waiting Indicator, Tele-Conferencing, Call Hold and Pulse Dialing. http://www.centillium.com

Cablevision Cuts its Pricing for Triple Play Bundle

Cablevision Systems cut the pricing of its bundled triple play (cable TV, cable modem and unlimited VoIP) residential service -- a move that is expected to put increased pricing pressure on Verizon as well as on other VoIP residential providers. The company unveiled a limited-time promotional offer that will run through July 31 and allow new customers to purchase advanced digital video, voice and data services for $29.95 each per month for 12 months when all three services are taken together. Also, Cablevision's cable customers will be offered the opportunity to add the company's high-speed Internet and voice services for $29.95 each per month, also for 12 months, when both services are added together. http://www.cablevision.comAs of May, Cablevision System's residential VoIP service, which is available in the New York metro area, was adding about 3,200 new customers per week. The cable company now has over 100,000 for the service.

In November 2003, Cablevision announced the availability of its digital voice-over-cable telephony across its footprint of nearly 4 million homes in the New York metropolitan area. Cablevision's Optimum Voice service was introduced on a trial basis earlier in 2003 and officially launched throughout Long Island in late September. The service provides unlimited local, regional and long-distance calling across the U.S. and Canada. It includes five custom calling features (Caller ID, Call waiting, Call return, three-way calling and Call forwarding) and provides fully functioning E-911 service.

KDDI Deploys Calient's Photonic Switches in Japan's R&D Test bed

KDDI has commercially deployed Calient Networks' DiamondWave PXC photonic switch as the core optical switch element in the new R&D Testbed Network JGN II for the National Institute of Information and Communications Technology (NICT). Financial terms were not disclosed.



JGN II, or Japan Gigabit Network II, has been designed and deployed to provide high-speed IP and Ethernet services to NICT's research centers as well as to universities and government research centers throughout Japan. JGN II is expected to accelerate research and development activities in the area of applications, ubiquitous networking, and so forth. Calient DiamondWave PXC switching systems were deployed to provide fully transparent optical switching and GMPLS-powered networking for bandwidth on demand to all served sites. http://www.calient.net

Fujitsu Expands FLASHWAVE 4500 for Core Grooming

Fujitsu Network Communications announced the availability of a Multi-Service Switching Platform (MSSP) designed for ultra high-capacity, core grooming applications that traditionally require a high-cost Digital Cross-Connect System (DCS), or the deployment of a completely new, large-scale MSSP network element. Fujitsu's MSSP configuration, which is based on the FLASHWAVE 4500 Multi-Service Provisioning Platform (MSPP), delivers a three-fold increase in interface capacity and provides up to 300 Gbps of traffic grooming capacity, while supporting current SONET and DWDM functionality.



Unlike the majority of MSSP devices that handle only optical connections, Fujitsu said its FLASHWAVE 4500 MSSP supports all electrical and optical interfaces from DS1 to OC-192, including next-generation Ethernet and DVB-ASI cards. Interface cards are interchangeable between MSPP and MSSP configurations to simplify sparing and planning. As expansion shelves are linked to the original MSPP shelf, 100 Gbps of interface capacity is added. Three shelves can fit in a single rack to provide 300 Gbps of interface capacity with full STS grooming capabilities. The entire system, whether comprised of one, two or three shelves, retains the single Target Identifier (TID) of the original MSPP to operate as one unit and minimize the effect on existing operating systems and procedures.



As an ultra high-capacity optical hub, a three-stage FLASHWAVE 4500 MSSP can directly terminate up to 15 OC-192 interoffice rings, 30 OC-48 interoffice/access rings, and hundreds of OC-12/OC-3 access rings. For service provisioning, a FLASHWAVE 4500 MSSP system can directly support up to 252 protected DS1 drops, 288 protected DS3 drops, 240 Fast Ethernet ports and 144 DVB-ASI ports.



Fujitsu is offering the MSSP configuration as an upgrade to existing FLASHWAVE 4500-based networks, or for new network installations. http://www.fujitsu.com/us/telecom

White Rock Networks Adds Multi-Service Optical Access Platform

White Rock Networks launched a low cost, OC-48 SONET-based Optical Access platform for delivering both native DS1/DS3 and FastE/GbE services. The VLX2006, which the company describes as the first OC-48 ADM priced at under $10K, also offers fully protected Ethernet ports.



The unit can remotely "right size" GbE access pipes as well as provide full Layer 2 Ethernet switching. Each GbE fiber interface can support subscribed customer rates from 512 Kbps to 1 Gbps. The VLX2006 is fully compatible with White Rock's VLX2020 OC-48/OC-192 SONET Transport Platform, which is also being enhanced to add matching Layer 2 Ethernet switching capabilities. These enhancements allow a VLX2020 to act as a hub node for multiple VLX2006-based optical access rings while simultaneously providing both TDM and Ethernet aggregation in a compact, low-cost package, reducing both CO Edge-router and Digital Cross Connect system (DCS) costs. http://www.whiterock.com

Kagoor Signs Reseller Agreement With Siemens IC

Siemens Information and Communication Networks will resell Kagoor Networks' VoiceFlow series session controllers, including the VoiceFlow 200, 1000 and 3000 products, as part of Siemens' Next Generation Product portfolio. With the Kagoor VoiceFlow series products, Siemens will be able to address both carrier and enterprise VoIP markets. http://www.kagoor.com

Brix Networks Unveils Prequalification Offering for VoIP

Brix Networks announced a prequalification application for VoIP networks that lets service providers test the ability of a prospect's residential broadband connection to support high-quality calls. VoIP PreQual is a commercial version of Brix Networks' free testing portal, TestYourVoIP.com.



The Brix VoIP PreQual Application consists of a PreQual Console and the PreQual Agent. The PreQual Console allows a provider's customer care or marketing staff to view, search, and report on the quality of a residential VoIP service prospect's broadband connection. Potential subscribers download a Java-based PreQual Agent to their Web browser. The PreQual Agent then initiates test VoIP calls and reports the quality and performance results directly to the PreQual Console for further analysis. The system evaluates Signaling Quality (call setup performance), Delivery Quality (media path network performance), and Call Quality (overall voice clarity and call experience). Additional diagnostic detail on delivery quality is provided by a host of metrics, including latency, packet loss, and jitter. http://www.brixnet.comhttp://TestYourVoIP.com

sentitO Networks Taps Dennis Chateauneuf as New CEO

sentitO Networks named Dennis Chateauneuf as its new CEO. Chateauneuf has held senior management positions at Sun Microsystems and Shiva Corporation.In 1998, Chateauneuf became the CEO of DTI Networks. In 2001, he merged DTI with CopperCom, and became its president and CEO. http://www.sentito.com

net.com Adds IP WAN Interface to Promina

net.com's Promina product line, which is deployed in enterprise, government and military networks, has added an IP-based trunk module to complement the existing TDM, ATM and serial WAN links. The Promina platform aggregates voice and secure voice traffic, as well as serial, modem, frame, cell and packet data through a single WAN link into a core network. http://www.net.com

Siemens Offers Broadband Plus! DSL Management/Support

Siemens introduced a "Broadband Plus!" solution for streamlining and automating the residential broadband lifecycle. Siemens' Broadband Plus! uses the latest DSL Forum device management specifications to provide end-to-end management and interoperability across DSL client devices, network platforms and back-end systems. Components of this solution include the company's SpeedStream Residential Gateway and its tango Subscriber Manager system. The tango software suite guides subscribers through setup, gateway, PC and service configuration. The tango Subscriber Manager then maintains a database of subscriber-specific attributes and their related devices.



The solution is offered by Siemens Subscriber Networks, an affiliate of Siemens Information and Communication Networks. http://www.usa.siemens.com/

MetaSolv Automates Delivery of VoIP Services

MetaSolv Software announced a domain manager service fulfillment solution for VoIP services. The operations support system (OSS) includes MetaSolv's inventory management, order management, and service activation software, combined with MetaSolv's professional services.



MetaSolv said its VoIP solution simplifies the provisioning process, enabling service providers to rapidly launch and provision a variety of operator defined residential and enterprise VoIP services in high volumes. MetaSolv currently provisions approximately 200 million subscribers globally for numerous services over multiple network technologies.



MetaSolv currently is collaborating with major global carriers to develop standardized service packages that can be provisioned quickly in large volumes. For example, using MetaSolv, the BT Group can deliver hosted IP telephony services to more than 10,000 end users in more than 750 offices.



In addition to core VoIP service fulfillment capabilities, MetaSolv also offers a convergent, carrier class mediation solution to enable carriers to bill for next-generation VoIP and multi-media services. http://www.metasolv.com/

Level 3 Expands Data Services

Level 3 Communication's IP VPN service -- which currently serves a number of large strategic customers -- is being expanded through channel partners to the enterprise market. Additionally, Level 3 has enhanced its wide-area Ethernet, ATM and Frame Relay data networking offerings by adding new lower speed data services. The four services currently provide secure video, voice and data transmission to and from more than 90 markets in the U.S. and Europe. Usage-based bandwidth is scaleable from T-1/E1 to OC-48/STM-16.



Level 3 Communications is using Laurel Networks' ST200 Service Edge Router as one of its platforms for an expansion of its (3)Flex data services in the US and Europe. The Laurel ST200 was first deployed by Level 3 to deliver wide area Ethernet services in 2002. http://www.level3.com

Foundry Introduces Layer 4-7 Web Appliances

Foundry Networks unveiled a new series of high-availability Layer 4-7 application management and web appliances for server farms. The new ServerIron GT E-series use Foundry's TrafficWorks embedded operating system and JetCore switching and packet processing chips to provide hardware-based forwarding, denial of service protection and access control filtering. The appliances could be used for load balancing, in-depth network defense and intelligent and configurable content inspection and switching. Three models are being introduced:

  • ServerIronGT EGx2 -- Two Gigabit Ethernet ports, application processor with performance of up to 50,000 Layer 4 connections per second, two expansion slots; $15,995


  • ServerIronGT EGx4 -- Four Gigabit Ethernet ports, application processor with performance of up to 100,000 Layer 4 connections per second, two expansion slots; $24,995


  • ServerIronGT E10Gx2 -- Two 10-Gigabit Ethernet ports, application processor with performance of up to 150,000 Layer 4 connections per second, two expansion slots; $44,995.
http://www.foundrynetworks.com

Extreme Networks Advances its Metro Ethernet Platform

Extreme Networks is adding advanced traffic management capabilities to its Metro Ethernet Service Platform, including Hierarchical-Virtual Private LAN Services (H-VPLS) and improved resiliency capabilities, such as Ethernet Automatic Protection Switching version two (EAPS v2). The fail-over performance of EAPS v2 has been improved to provide recovery in less than 50ms when a cable cut or equipment failure causes in interruption on an Ethernet ring. EAPS v2 now supports dual attached rings, as well as sub-tended rings.



Extreme Networks said metro service providers to date have been connecting Ethernet access networks together with Layer 3 MPLS routers. Its solution is to leverage Layer 2 MPLS for this function. Extreme Networks also noted its ability to scale metro networks beyond the limitation of 4K VLANs using a VMAN or "QinQ" mechanism for encapsulating the subscriber's VLAN tag(s) inside a provider assigned tag. http://www.extremenetworks.com/

Freescale Unveils BPON System-on-Chip

Freescale Semiconductor introduced a system-on-chip (SoC) solution for broadband passive optical networking (B-PON). The device integrates Freescale's e300 core (a PowerPC) processor core design), a B-PON media access controller (MAC), Ethernet MACs, and a clock and data recovery (CDR) unit on the same chip. The device's e300 core operates at 266 MHz and includes a 32KB instruction cache and a 32KB data cache. The processor platform integrates a double data rate (DDR) SDRAM memory controller, three 10/100 Ethernet controllers, dual universal asynchronous receiver/transmitter (DUART), Inter-IC (I2C) bus support, serial peripheral interface (SPI), an interrupt controller, general-purpose input output (GPIO), ATM adaptation layer 5 (AAL5) support, and UTOPIA interfaces. The B-PON interface fully complies with the ITU-T G.983 specification.



Freescale cited Mitsubishi Electric Corporation as a customer for its BPON solution. http://www.freescale.com

Tellabs Adds 8600 Managed Edge System

Tellabs introduced a managed edge system for North American service providers. The Tellabs 8600 system is an access-oriented edge platform that delivers IP VPN and Ethernet services, while extending MPLS into the access network and even all the way to the customer premise.



The Tellabs 8600 system offers hierarchical MPLS for layer 2 services such as Ethernet and for layer 3 services such as IP VPNs. This hierarchical model is necessary for scalable and efficient MPLS access deployment. Key components of the system include the Tellabs 8620 access switch, a carrier-class, small capacity (3.5 Gbps) router; and the Tellabs 8660 edge switch, a medium capacity (42 Gbps) router. http://www.tellabs.com/

AudioCodes Unveils Mediant 3000 Media Gateway for VoP

AudioCodes introduced a new Mediant 3000 media gateway that packs from 480 to 4,032 low-bit-rate VoIP/VoATM channels and SONET/SDH interfaces into a 2U compact footprint. The Mediant 3000 will be offered in 1+0, 1+1 or 2+0 media gateway blade configurations that contain the functionality of the stand-alone shelf controllers, Ethernet switches, voice processing blades and interface cards typically utilized in large gateways. The Mediant 3000 supports a variety of VoIP, Wireless, and Cable vocoders, standards-compliant signaling and call control, as well as integrated SIGTRAN-compliant Signaling Gateway interworking. It provides redundant PSTN, IP and ATM interfaces. In future releases, the Mediant 3000 is planned to be available with optional 1+1 blade redundancy and PSTN failover as well. Initial customer trials are slated for Q3 2004. http://www.audiocodes.com