European Parliament Approves New Telecom Rules

The European Parliament approved a major overhaul of EU telecoms rules by 510 votes to 40, with 24 abstentions. The new rules, which are expected to be implemented over the next 18 months, are aimed at strengthening the rights of phone users and Internet surfers and boosting competition among telecoms firms.


"This legislative package is a prime example of how the work we are doing as European legislators has an impact on the daily life of citizens. I am delighted that we have contributed to strengthening the rights of users of electronic communications and the internet." said EP President Jerzy Buzek.


The telecoms directive includes rules to:

• harmonise radio spectrum management across the EU, especially with a view to the switchover from analogue to digital TV by 2012,



• improve co-operation among Member States' telecoms regulators, and



• allow "functional separation", i.e. rules requiring dominant operators to separate their network infrastructure from business units offering services that use this infrastructure.



• improve consumer rights, e.g. by allowing customers to have their mobile telephone number transferred within one working day when changing operators,



• strengthen personal data and privacy protection, e.g. by requiring the user's consent to the use of cookies.

MEPs also agreed with the EU's telecommunications ministers to set up a European body bringing together all 27 national regulators - the Body of European Regulators for Electronic Communications (BEREC).
http://www.europa.eu

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NSN and LG Undertake LTE Testing in 2100 MHz for Japan

Nokia Siemens Networks and LG recently completed end-to-end LTE interoperability tests in the 2100 MHz frequency band, which is the spectrum where first commercial deployments are expected in Japan.


The tests demonstrated the interoperability of Nokia Siemens Networks LTE radio equipment and Evolved Packet Core network elements with an LTE USB Datacard from LG Electronics. They were conducted at the Nokia Siemens Networks LTE center of competence in Oulu, Finland, with support from the R&D team in Ulm, Germany.


As a next step, field trials with LG's LTE terminal will begin in Nokia Siemens Networks' test network in Espoo and Ulm, followed by tests in operator networks. The trials will also be extended to cover other frequency bands such as 2600 MHz and AWS/700 in the next few months.


"The availability of commercial LTE terminals and their proven interoperability with network infrastructure are prerequisites for any operator launching commercial LTE services," said Go-hee Choi, Vice President of LG Electronics Mobile Communication Technology Research Lab. "LG is taking the next giant step towards technology leadership in LTE technology through the partnership with Nokia Siemens Networks, and will continue to collaborate to drive early LTE deployments worldwide."http://www.nsn.com
http://www.lge.com

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Clearwire Secures Additional $2.8 Billion through Bond Offerings

Clearwire secured additional $2.8 billion in new capital through the issuance of senior secured notes due 2015.


"Today, we are proud to have secured an additional $920 million in debt financing, which, when coupled with the $1.56 billion of recently announced equity financing and the $1.85 billion of debt financing that we closed on today, demonstrates our ability to access the capital markets on attractive terms and in sufficient size to meet our needs, while at the same time prudently balancing equity dilution with the cost of capital," said Bill Morrow, CEO of Clearwire. "With this latest tranche of additional funding, we have not only exceeded the amount of capital that we have previously stated we needed to fully fund our business plan, but we have also secured additional capital that will allow us to expand more aggressively by covering more people, and with more capacity than we had previously planned."


The gross proceeds of this new debt offering will be placed in an escrow account until the consummation of the closing of the second phase of the $1.564 billion in new investment capital from Sprint Nextel, Comcast, Time Warner Cable, Intel, Eagle River Holdings, and Bright House Networks. As previously announced, Clearwire received approximately $1.057 billion in cash from the equity financing on November 13, 2009 and expects to receive an additional $440 million in cash at a second closing, which is targeted to be completed by year end 2009, and the remaining $66 million will be funded at a closing, which is targeted to be completed during first quarter 2010.
http://www.clearwire.com

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Windstream to Acquire Iowa Telecom for $1.1 Billion

Windstream agree to acquire Iowa Telecom for approximately $1.1 billion.


Iowa Telecom serves about 256,000 access lines, about 95,000 high-speed Internet customers and about 26,000 digital TV customers.


Windstream serves approximately 3 million access lines.


Iowa Telecom shareholders will receive 0.804 shares of Windstream stock and $7.90 in cash per each Iowa Telecom share under terms of the agreement approved by the boards of directors of both companies. Windstream expects to issue approximately 26.5 million shares of stock valued at approximately $269 million, based on the company's closing stock price on Nov. 23, 2009, and pay approximately $261 million in cash as part of the transaction.
http://www.windstream.com

• The Iowa Telecom deal represents Windstream's fourth acquisition in 2009. Other transactions include:
  
  
  NuVox -- adding approximately 90,000 business customers in 16 states across the Southeast and Midwest.
  
  
  Lexcom -- expanding operations in North Carolina.
  
  
  D&E Communications -- adding approximately 160,000 access lines and about 46,000 high-speed Internet customers in Pennsylvania.



• Windstream was formed in 2006 through the spinoff of Alltel's landline business and merger with VALOR Communications Group.

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IEEE Sends 40 Gbps and 100 Gbps Ethernet Standards to Ballot

The IEEE 802 Executive Committee has forwarded the draft 40 Gbps and 100 Gbps standard for sponsor balloting Once the Sponsor ballot has been completed, the draft standards will be submitted for approval by the IEEE-SA Standards Board as an IEEE standard.


IEEE P802.3ba will be known by its full name of "IEEE Standard for Information Technology - Telecommunications and Information Exchange Between Systems - Local and Metropolitan Area Networks - Specific Requirements Part 3: Carrier Sense Multiple Access with Collision Detection (CSMA/CD) Access Method and Physical Layer Specifications - Amendment: Media Access Control Parameters, Physical Layers and Management Parameters for 40 Gb/s and 100 Gb/s Operation."


In addition, the IEEE noted that a related standard, the International Telecommunication Union's Telecommunication Standardization Sector (ITU-T) Recommendation G.709, "Interfaces for the optical transport network (OTN)," is being revised to support transport of 40 Gb/s and 100 Gb/s Ethernet over the OTN and is on track for approval by the end of 2009.


"IEEE and ITU-T have formed a liaison relationship in the development of these standards, which is helping to speed the development of both standards," says David Law, Chair of the IEEE 802.3 Ethernet Working Group.
http://www.ieee802.org/3/ba/

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Sprint Closes Acquisition of Virgin Mobile USA

Sprint Nextel completed its previously announced acquisition of Virgin Mobile USA, strengthening its position in the growing prepaid segment by bringing together the iconic Virgin Mobile brand with Sprint's Boost Mobile business.
http://www.sprint.com

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EXFO Expands 40 Gbps OTN Test Capabilities

EXFO Electro-Optical Engineering (EXFO) has enhanced its FTB-8140 Transport Blazer 40/43 Gigabit SONET/SDH/OTN Test Module with full ODU multiplexing capability as well as independent transmission/reception settings. With the ODU multiplexing functionality on the FTB-8140 Transport Blazer, service providers can now test ODU1 and ODU2 containers within the OTU3 signal.


EXFO said its FTB-8140 Transport Blazer now offers flexibility so that SONET/SDH payloads as well as 10 Gigabit Ethernet can be mapped into the ODU1 or ODU2 containers, ensuring that tests reflect more real-life testing parameters. In addition to the ODU multiplexing functionality, the FTB-8140 Transport Blazer now also supports independent transmission/reception settings, enabling service providers to properly qualify and validate network elements at installation.


Additional features also available with this latest software release include SONET/SDH payload block and replace capability for easier troubleshooting and maintenance.
http://www.EXFO.com

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Tata and Middle East Operators Plan New Undersea Cable

Tata Communications announced a strategic partnership with several of the major telecom operators in the Middle East to construct a new cable system into the Gulf. The new cable will link the region's major business hubs and city centres via Tata's Global Network (the TGN).


Tata's partners for the new TGN Gulf Cable System include Bahrain Internet Exchange, Nawras of Oman, Qatar Telecom, Mobily of the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia and Etisalat of the United Arab Emirates. Using their own cable station, each party will have access to a new high-speed route to the globe and bring in much needed resilience and diversity to the infrastructure in each country.
http://www.tatacommunications.com

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Virgin Media Selects TiVo For Next Gen TV Platform

TiVo will become the exclusive provider of middleware and user interface software for Virgin Media's next generation set top boxes. Virgin Media will become the exclusive distributor of TiVo services and technology in the United Kingdom. Under the mutually exclusive agreement, TiVo will develop a converged television and broadband interactive interface to power Virgin Media's next generation, high definition set top boxes. Virgin Media said it anticipates launching its first TiVo co-branded product in 2010. The terms of the deal were not disclosed.
http://www.tivo.com
http://www.virginmedia.co.uk

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IBM Opens Telecom Development Centers in China, South Africa, Malaysia and France

IBM officially opened new telecommunications development centers in China, South Africa and Malaysia to help Communication Service Providers (CSPs) create new business models while improving the customer experience and operational efficiencies. IBM also announced a dedicated center in France for solutions based on products and services from Comverse, a supplier of software and systems for the telecom industry.


The new telecom development centers offer a range of new telecommunications software solutions based on IBM's Service Provider Delivery Environment (SPDE) 3.0 framework, as well as hardware, services and business partner applications. Clients will include telecommunication operators, network equipment suppliers, independent software vendors (ISVs) and extended service providers.


"To sustain growth in today's economy, service providers are seeking ways to offer subscribers a more positive and differentiated user experience while reducing complexity and cost," said Scott Stainken, general manager for IBM's telecommunications industry. "IBM's specialized global centers and labs offer the telco industry an unparalleled level of expertise and support to speed implementation and facilitate more effective use of applications and technologies."


Some more detail on the facilities:

Comverse Center of Excellence -- located within the IBM Telecom Solutions Lab in France, this facility offers a BSS/OSS (Business Support System/Operational Support System) and Service-Delivery environment using software components from IBM and Comverse that allow clients to test proofs of concept. IBM server and storage hardware, including Power Systems and BladeCenter, provide the dynamic infrastructure foundation for the CoE.


China Telecommunications Solutions Center -- located in IBM's China Development Labs, the IBM Telecommunication Solutions Center (TSC) has been established to accelerate solution development and streamline product delivery. Recently, China Mobile Communications Corporation has been working closely with experts at the China TSC to deploy a platform -- based on IBM Service Delivery Platform, Data Warehouse and Cognos Business Intelligence -- that supports service creation, deployment, execution, integration and management. As a result, China Mobile is able to reduce time-to-market for new products, increase revenue and improve customer service with end-to-end monitoring and analysis.


South Africa Telecom Solutions Lab -- IBM's main Telecom Solutions Lab (TSL) in Sub-Sahara Africa is located in Johannesburg, but clients will also be able to access IBM solution demonstrations from three additional satellite locations in Africa: (Nairobi, Lagos and Cape Town). The facility features a "proof of concept" solution called "The Enterprise Applications for IMS + SDP for Mobile Healthcare" which is aimed at improving doctor's productivity and delivery of healthcare services using a wireless infrastructure.


ASEAN Telecom Center of Excellence -- the new Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) Telecom Center of Excellence (CoE) in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia will support CSPs from across the region. http://www.ibm.com/telecom

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China Mobile Tops 513 Million -- 5 Million New Subs in October

China Mobile, already the world's largest mobile operator, added 5 million new subscribers in October, giving it a total of 513,466,000. The number of G3 subscribers who used 3G network services in this month is 2,309,000.


However, in its previous financial statement, China Mobile noted that new customers added this year are mainly low-usage customers and ARPU as well as average revenue per minute of usage have declined this year while the voice usage volume has increased. Total voice usage volume for the first three quarters of 2009 increased by 19.5% compared to the same period of last year. Value-added business also continued its favorable growth and mature businesses sustained growth despite already having reached a sizeable scale. SMS usage volume in the first nine months of the year increased by 12.9% compared to the same period of last year.
http://www.chinamobileltd.com/

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Video Interview: Narus on Cyber Security

Presented by Greg Oslan, CEO, Narushttp://www.narus.com

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NSN Introduces Compact IP Optimized Transport Solution

Nokia Siemens Networks introduced its new hiT 7065 IP Optimized Transport Solution (IP-OTS) aimed at metro and core aggregation deployments.


The compact hiT 7065 supports various interface types, including OTU interfaces to increase link length towards DWDM core, FC/1GbE/10GbE/ interfaces for Packet aggregation and Storage Area Networks (SAN), to support a operators existing services over a single network. While SDH interfaces provide the connection to a huge installed base of networks around the world, hiT 7065 also comes with Carrier-grade, redundant Ethernet features to ensure resilience. G.709 compliance allows agnostic packet-oriented transport being open to all services such as Gigabit-Ethernet, IP-based applications, Fiber Channel and SDH/SONET.


NSN said its hiT 7065 also sets a new benchmark for energy efficiency, consuming 30 percent less power than comparable solutions on the market.
http://www.nsn.com

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Verizon Builds Telehealth Collaboration Portfolio

Verizon is launching a portfolio of Telehealth Collaboration Services to help health care providers consult remotely with patients and other providers, offer continuing medical education and training to medical professionals, as well as help health care administrators avoid costly and time-consuming travel through the use of collaborative technology.


As part of its consultancy, Verizon Business IT professionals work with health care organizations to assess their collaboration readiness, as well as design, implement and provide ongoing support for a broad range of Web and audio conferencing services, and video capabilities from desktop Web cams to high-definition and immersive video. Verizon's telehealth solutions are tailored to each health care setting to deliver security, performance and reliability.


Verizon noted htat it already provides services to more than 17,000 enterprise customers in the health care ecosystemhttp://www.verizon.com

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Motorola Offers Take-Back of its Branded Enterprise Mobility Equipment in U.S.

Motorola has established a take-back recycling program for its U.S. Enterprise Mobility Solutions (EMS) customers to help them responsibly dispose of used equipment. This includes all Motorola-branded enterprise mobility equipment, such as mobile and portable two-way radios; handheld mobile computers; barcode scanners; imagers; in-vehicle mobile workstations; accessories; network infrastructure equipment; and computers, laptops and monitors. Batteries are also included but must be removed from the equipment before they are shipped for recycling. There is generally no cost incurred by the customer; however, freight charges may be applied in some cases.

Motorola also participates in electronics equipment take-back programs in countries covered by the European Union's Waste Electrical and Electronic Equipment (WEEE) directive. http://www.motorola.com

• In 2008, Motorola collected more than 2,560 tonnes of electronic and electrical equipment waste for recycling. This includes take-back programs, internal electronics recycling efforts and community electronics recycling events sponsored by Motorola.

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ARRIS Supplies DOCSIS 3.0 in Czech Republic

ARRIS has shipped its DOCSIS 3.0 C4 CMTS to four cable operators across the Czech Republic. The companies now deploying service are: Elsat s.r.o., BKS Capital Partners, Self Servis, and Kabelova Televize Koprivnice. Approximately 93% of the Czech Republic's 1.2 million homes passed by cable are served by Elsat, BKS, Self Servis and UPC Czech Republic.
http://www.arrisi.com/get/c4

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AT&T Launches Pay-as-you-Need it 3G Mobile Data Service

AT&T launched "DataConnect Pass" -- a pay-as-you-need it data service delivered over its 3G network. Self-provisioned and accessible from any Internet connection, DataConnect Pass(SM) offers multiple packages of mobile data perfect for travelers, vacationers or others on-the-go and in need of customized data access. Packages include:

• DataConnect Day Pass (75 MB) - $15


• DataConnect Week Pass (250 MB) - $30


• DataConnect Month Pass (500 MB) - $50

The DataConnect Pass is established using a previously un-activated SIM card, available at any AT&T retail location, credit or debit card and completed customer profile.
http://www.att.com/buyasession

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Telegent Systems Files for IPO

Telegent Systems, a start-up based in Sunnyvale, California, filed SEC papers for a proposed initial public offering of its common shares. The number of common shares to be sold in the offering and the price range for the proposed offering have not yet been determined. Goldman, Sachs & Co. and J.P. Morgan Securities Inc. are acting as joint book-runners, and Jefferies & Company, Inc., Oppenheimer & Co. Inc. and Piper Jaffray & Co. are acting as co-managers for the proposed offering.


Telegent Systems specializes in highly-integrated, high-performance, CMOS RF and mixed-signal chips for the reception of live, free-to-air analog and DVB-T digital broadcast television in mobile handsets and other portable consumer devices.
http://www.telegent.com

• In October, Telegent appointed Dr. Samuel Sheng as its new CEO. Sheng has served as Telegent's Chief Technology Officer and executive Chairman of the Board since co-founding the company. In tandem with Sheng's appointment, Dr. Weijie Yun, the driving force behind Telegent since co-founding the company with Sheng in 2004, took up Sheng's prior post of executive Chairman of the Board and carry operational responsibility for key strategic initiatives.
  
  
  Sheng's appointment coincided with a new milestone for the company which has realized significant uptake of its free-to-air analog mobile TV products, shipping a record 50 million mobile TV receivers since mid-2007.Telegent's products deliver a quality mobile TV viewing experience for analog broadcast standards, providing consumers around the world with mobile access to the same, live free-to-air programming that they receive on conventional TV sets.

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Dell'Oro: Optical Market Declines 4% Sequentially in Q3

Worldwide optical market revenues were just under $3 billion in the third quarter of this year, a 4 percent decline over the second quarter of this year, according to a newly published report by Dell'Oro Group. The demand for optical transport equipment stabilized in North America where revenues have increased in the two most recent quarters. Asia Pacific continues to be the largest region for optical transport equipment with nearly 40 percent of worldwide market revenues. The report indicates that DWDM Long Haul 40 Gbps wavelength shipments during the third quarter of this year increased more than 10 percent sequentially and 130 percent year-over-year.


"We believe that the optical market is recovering, and forecast steady improvements in year-over-year growth rates as well as a return to positive year-over-year growth by the first quarter of 2010," said Jimmy Yu, Director of Optical Transport research at Dell'Oro Group. "We expect the 2010 optical sales recovery to be primarily led by increased demand for metro equipment, such as WDM Metro systems and Multiservice SONET/SDH systems, and 40 Gbps wavelengths. The DWDM Long Haul market may continue to be weak through 2010, but with continued strength in 40 Gbps wavelengths," Yu added.
http://www.delloro.com

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Brocade Posts Quarterly Revenue of $521.8 Million, up 6% Sequentially

Brocade reported quarterly revenue of $521.8 million, increasing 31% year-over-year and 6% sequentially. For its full fiscal year ended October 31, 2009. Brocade's annual revenues increased 33 percent year-over-year to over $1.95 billion.


"In addition, Q4 saw tremendous momentum as we exceeded the Street's consensus non-GAAP EPS estimates for the seventeenth consecutive quarter, delivered the fastest sequential revenue growth of any large networking vendor, and generated strong cash flows. Looking at 2010, we expect to continue our momentum as we execute our strategy of delivering the highest levels of performance, quality, innovation and choice to the IT market," stated Michael Klayko, CEO of Brocade.


Some highlights for the quarter:

• Q4 total Storage Area Networking (SAN) port shipments were approximately 1.0 million.



• Q4 SAN Average Selling Price (ASP) declines were in the low single digits.



• OEM now represents 65% of revenues compared to 88% a year ago



• Data storage represents 58% of revenue compared to 84% a year ago



• Ethernet Products represents 25% of revenues compared to 0% a year ago.

http://www.brocade.com

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