LightSquared Signs FreedomPOP - new Venture led by Niklas Zennstrom

LightSquared announced a wholesale capacity deal on its forthcoming network with FreedomPop, a new venture led by Niklas Zennstrom, one of the co-founders of Skype. FreedomPop promises to deliver fast, free and convenient communication services initially in underserved markets beginning in 2012.


FreedomPop remains in stealth-mode.


“FreedomPop represents the kind of disruptive service model that LightSquared is enabling, and shares our belief that broadband access is a right for everyone,�? said Sanjiv Ahuja, chairman and chief executive officer of LightSquared.
http://www.lightsquared.com/http://freedompop.com

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Everything Everywhere Charts its Network Evolution

Everything Everywhere, the joint venture that operates the networks for T-Mobile (UK) and Orange (UK), outlined plans to invest more than £1.5bn+ over the next three years to upgrade its infrastructure and set the stage for LTE. Capex will see double digit growth in 2012 network investment compared to 2011.


The plans will bring tighter integration of the T-Mobile and Orange mobile networks. Everything Everywhere said it is in the final stages of “the big switch on�?. In the next few week, Orange and T-Mobile customers will be able to use 2G and 3G signals from either of the networks and benefit from fast data speeds in more places.


In the first half of 2012, Everything Everywhere will further improve the cross-network signal sharing by enabling Orange and T-Mobile customers’ devices to automatically select the stronger signal from either network if their own signal is weak.


Cell sites are being streamlined. New equipment will significantly improve power efficiency and reduce the network's carbon footprint.


Everything Everywhere is also making significant investments in its mobile backhaul.


Plans to implement LTE will proceed once the spectrum becomes available.http://everythingeverywhere.comLast week, Everything Everywhere, the joint venture that operates the networks for T-Mobile (UK) and Orange (UK), announced new bank financing facilities of £875 million, comprising a term loan and a multicurrency revolving credit facility with maturities of between 3 and 5 years.

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Infonetics: Cisco Rebounds in Ethernet Switching

Ethernet switch sales jumped 13% sequentially, to $5.0 billion globally in 3Q11, following a relatively weak performance in the first half of 2011 (1H11), according to a new report from Infonetics Research. Cisco performed exceptionally well, growing their overall Ethernet switch revenue 18% and capturing 68% of the global market. Meanwhile, 3Q11 enterprise router sales were up 5% quarter over quarter and up 3% year over year, at $888 million worldwide.


Some Ethernet switch highlights:

• Ports have been growing all along as demand for networking products continues, but fierce competition cut into revenue growth in 1H11



• 10G ports had the highest growth, up 21% quarter over quarter, and almost double the year-ago level, benefiting from data center upgrades,
  
  
• 10G server adoption, server virtualization, and core network buildouts



• The long-awaited 40G market finally emerged in 3Q11, with $6.5 million in global revenue



• Ethernet switch average selling prices (ASPs) have declined over 20% the past year, but now vendors are holding the line on discounting
  
  Number-three player Juniper had a solid quarter, sequentially up 6% in revenue and 12% in ports, and still logging double-digit year-over-year growth

Some enterprise router highlights:

• 3Q11 enterprise router sales are up 5% quarter over quarter and up 3% year over year, at $888 million worldwide



• Branch and low-end routers had the best performance in 3Q11, with branch revenue up 9% sequentially and low-end up 23%



• High-end routers have the highest year-over-year increases as buyers recover from underinvestment during the recession and invest to deal with rising network traffic



• 3Q11 revenue growth was driven by Asia Pacific (primarily China), but also Central and Latin America, which jumped 44% sequentially due to strength in Brazil



• Cisco still leads the enterprise router market by far, with 74.2% of 3Q11 revenue share, followed by HP and Juniper; year over year, Cisco has lost almost 5 points of market share, HP is up 3 points, and Juniper is up less than 1 point.

http://www.infonetics.com

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NSN Partners with iDirect for Satellite Backhaul of HSPA Base Stations

Nokia Siemens Networks is working with VT iDirect to enable satellite-based backhaul of mobile base stations at downlink speeds of up to 9.8 Mbps and uplink speeds of up to 2.2 Mbps. The solution, successfully tested by both companies, combines Nokia Siemens Networks’ I-HSPA with Evolution satellite routers from VT iDirect.



Nokia Siemens Networks’ I-HSPA uses a flat architecture to allow 3G base stations to connect directly to the core network. It supports both voice and data. 3GPP-standardized I-HSPA is compatible with all HSPA devices. iDirect’s Evolution series of satellite routers complies with the DVB-S2 standard. Based on the Time Division Multiple Access (TDMA) model, Evolution supports bandwidth pooling and dynamic sharing between sites


"With the adoption of 3G networks, the use of mobile data has grown exponentially and the mobile device is the primary form of connectivity for many people in remote and rural areas,�? said Toni Lee Rudnicki, iDirect’s chief marketing officer. “Successful testing between iDirect and Nokia Siemens Networks’ I-HSPA has shown peak rates for satellite backhaul up to ten times higher than those achieved with other commercially available approaches to 3G. This is good news for those seeking true mobile broadband connectivity in hard-to-reach locations, as the Evolution product line can be rapidly deployed and provide a reliable satellite platform combined with the benefits of the I-HSPA architecture.�?http://www.nokiasiemensnetworks.com
http://www.idirect.net/

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BT and Orange Business Services Interconnect Telepresence Services

BT and Orange Business Services agreed to allow each other's video exchange customers to participate in telepresence meetings with one another, using Cisco TelePresence™ equipment. The collaboration is seen as a significant industry advance towards establishing a smooth, end-to-end telepresence experience. Major global enterprise customers have tested the inter-exchange.
http://www.orange-business.com

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Broadband Forum's TR-221 Addresses MPLS for Mobile Backhaul

The Broadband Forum published its new "Technical Specification for MPLS in Mobile Backhaul Networks" (TR-221), which is set to become a key enabler for mobile operators as they migrate from traditional TDM networks to packet-based transport technologies and from 2G/3G to 4G and LTE services. TR-221 provides a key resource to the industry as it gears up for explosive growth in IP traffic driven by new and enhanced devices on the mobile market, from tablets and smartphones to multifunction gaming consoles.


TR-221 focuses on the applications of MPLS technology in a range of services that may be used to transport wireless traffic in the access and aggregation networks, including IP, TDM, ATM and Ethernet. It defines the global requirements of MPLS technology in these networks in respect of encapsulation, signalling and routing, QoS, OAM, resiliency, security and synchronization. It also covers expected services over the backhaul network that include voice, multimedia services, data traffic, and multicast traffic such as multimedia broadcast and multicast services (MBMS). Adherence to these requirements will create global standards for MPLS oriented equipment, establishing more network interoperability, speeding deployments and lowering the overall costs of the backhaul network.


Defining a range of reference architectures for MPLS based Mobile Backhaul networks; TR-221 includes specifications for the various transport scenarios applicable to all mobile networks (e.g. 2G, 3G and LTE). It also specifies the equipment requirements for the control, user and management planes to provide unified and consistent end-to-end transport services for mobile backhaul.


Robin Mersh, CEO of the Broadband Forum, said: "TR-221 is a critical part of establishing multi-vendor interoperability in converged MPLS based backhaul networks. As mobile operators look to preserve their investment in traditional TDM and ATM networks whilst developing their 4G/LTE architectures, TR-221 will enable them to integrate new packet-based MPLS technologies into their established networks. Operators will be able to evolve their networks to be faster and more efficient to meet the increasing multimedia needs of the mobile user, whilst preserving a lower cost per bit in the backhaul network."http://www.broadband-forum.org

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U.S. Senate Commerce Committee Approves FCC Nominees

The U.S. Senate's Commerce Committee voted to approve President Obama's two nominations for FCC Commissioners: Ajit Pai and Jessica Rosenworcel. The nominations now must be approved by the full Senate.


Jessica Rosenworcel, who would replace Michael Copps when his term ends in December, is the Senior Communications Counsel for the United States Senate Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation. She has worked for Senator Jay Rockefeller IV since 2009. Rosenworcel worked at the FCC from 1999 to 2007, serving as Legal Advisor and then Senior Legal Advisor to Commissioner Michael J. Copps (2003-2007), Legal Counsel to the Bureau Chief of the Wireline Competition Bureau (2002-2003), and as an Attorney-Advisor in the Policy Division of the Common Carrier Bureau (1999-2002). She holds a B.A. from Wesleyan University and a J.D. from New York University School of Law.


Ajit Varadaraj Pai, who would take the seat abandoned by Meredith Baker who took a job as a lobbyist for Comcast, is a Partner in the Litigation Department of Jenner & Block LLP. Previously, Pai worked in the Office of the General Counsel at the Federal Communications Commission, where he served as Deputy General Counsel, Associate General Counsel, and Special Advisor to the General Counsel. He holds a B.A. from Harvard University and a J.D. from the University of Chicago. http://www.senate.gov

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Texas Instruments Trims Q4 Outlook

Texas Instruments trimmed its guidance for Q4, saying it now expects revenue of $3.19 – 3.33 billion compared with the prior range of $3.26 – 3.54 billion. EPS is expected to be $0.21 – 0.25 compared with the prior range of $0.28 – 0.36.


The company cited "broadly lower demand across a wide range of markets, customers and products, except for Wireless applications processors."http://www.ti.com

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Altera Trims Q4 Outlook

Altera issued new financial guidance for Q4, saying it "currently expects that fourth quarter revenue will be 13 to 16 percent lower than third quarter levels. Previous guidance was for a decline of 7 to 11 percent. The revenue outlook has deteriorated across all major vertical markets, including both large and small customers. With the exception of North America, which will benefit from rising military sales, all geographic regions will be weak."http://www.altera.com

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LightSquared Signs FreedomPOP - new Venture led by Niklas Zennstrom

LightSquared announced a wholesale capacity deal on its forthcoming network with FreedomPop, a new venture led by Niklas Zennstrom, one of the co-founders of Skype. FreedomPop promises to deliver fast, free and convenient communication services initially in underserved markets beginning in 2012.


FreedomPop remains in stealth-mode.


“FreedomPop represents the kind of disruptive service model that LightSquared is enabling, and shares our belief that broadband access is a right for everyone,�? said Sanjiv Ahuja, chairman and chief executive officer of LightSquared.
http://www.lightsquared.com/http://freedompop.com

Read More

Everything Everywhere Charts its Network Evolution

Everything Everywhere, the joint venture that operates the networks for T-Mobile (UK) and Orange (UK), outlined plans to invest more than £1.5bn+ over the next three years to upgrade its infrastructure and set the stage for LTE. Capex will see double digit growth in 2012 network investment compared to 2011.


The plans will bring tighter integration of the T-Mobile and Orange mobile networks. Everything Everywhere said it is in the final stages of “the big switch on�?. In the next few week, Orange and T-Mobile customers will be able to use 2G and 3G signals from either of the networks and benefit from fast data speeds in more places.


In the first half of 2012, Everything Everywhere will further improve the cross-network signal sharing by enabling Orange and T-Mobile customers’ devices to automatically select the stronger signal from either network if their own signal is weak.


Cell sites are being streamlined. New equipment will significantly improve power efficiency and reduce the network's carbon footprint.


Everything Everywhere is also making significant investments in its mobile backhaul.


Plans to implement LTE will proceed once the spectrum becomes available.http://everythingeverywhere.comLast week, Everything Everywhere, the joint venture that operates the networks for T-Mobile (UK) and Orange (UK), announced new bank financing facilities of £875 million, comprising a term loan and a multicurrency revolving credit facility with maturities of between 3 and 5 years.

Read More

Infonetics: Cisco Rebounds in Ethernet Switching

Ethernet switch sales jumped 13% sequentially, to $5.0 billion globally in 3Q11, following a relatively weak performance in the first half of 2011 (1H11), according to a new report from Infonetics Research. Cisco performed exceptionally well, growing their overall Ethernet switch revenue 18% and capturing 68% of the global market. Meanwhile, 3Q11 enterprise router sales were up 5% quarter over quarter and up 3% year over year, at $888 million worldwide.


Some Ethernet switch highlights:

• Ports have been growing all along as demand for networking products continues, but fierce competition cut into revenue growth in 1H11



• 10G ports had the highest growth, up 21% quarter over quarter, and almost double the year-ago level, benefiting from data center upgrades,
  
  
• 10G server adoption, server virtualization, and core network buildouts



• The long-awaited 40G market finally emerged in 3Q11, with $6.5 million in global revenue



• Ethernet switch average selling prices (ASPs) have declined over 20% the past year, but now vendors are holding the line on discounting
  
  Number-three player Juniper had a solid quarter, sequentially up 6% in revenue and 12% in ports, and still logging double-digit year-over-year growth

Some enterprise router highlights:

• 3Q11 enterprise router sales are up 5% quarter over quarter and up 3% year over year, at $888 million worldwide



• Branch and low-end routers had the best performance in 3Q11, with branch revenue up 9% sequentially and low-end up 23%



• High-end routers have the highest year-over-year increases as buyers recover from underinvestment during the recession and invest to deal with rising network traffic



• 3Q11 revenue growth was driven by Asia Pacific (primarily China), but also Central and Latin America, which jumped 44% sequentially due to strength in Brazil



• Cisco still leads the enterprise router market by far, with 74.2% of 3Q11 revenue share, followed by HP and Juniper; year over year, Cisco has lost almost 5 points of market share, HP is up 3 points, and Juniper is up less than 1 point.

http://www.infonetics.com

Read More

NSN Partners with iDirect for Satellite Backhaul of HSPA Base Stations

Nokia Siemens Networks is working with VT iDirect to enable satellite-based backhaul of mobile base stations at downlink speeds of up to 9.8 Mbps and uplink speeds of up to 2.2 Mbps. The solution, successfully tested by both companies, combines Nokia Siemens Networks’ I-HSPA with Evolution satellite routers from VT iDirect.



Nokia Siemens Networks’ I-HSPA uses a flat architecture to allow 3G base stations to connect directly to the core network. It supports both voice and data. 3GPP-standardized I-HSPA is compatible with all HSPA devices. iDirect’s Evolution series of satellite routers complies with the DVB-S2 standard. Based on the Time Division Multiple Access (TDMA) model, Evolution supports bandwidth pooling and dynamic sharing between sites


"With the adoption of 3G networks, the use of mobile data has grown exponentially and the mobile device is the primary form of connectivity for many people in remote and rural areas,�? said Toni Lee Rudnicki, iDirect’s chief marketing officer. “Successful testing between iDirect and Nokia Siemens Networks’ I-HSPA has shown peak rates for satellite backhaul up to ten times higher than those achieved with other commercially available approaches to 3G. This is good news for those seeking true mobile broadband connectivity in hard-to-reach locations, as the Evolution product line can be rapidly deployed and provide a reliable satellite platform combined with the benefits of the I-HSPA architecture.�?http://www.nokiasiemensnetworks.com
http://www.idirect.net/

Read More

BT and Orange Business Services Interconnect Telepresence Services

BT and Orange Business Services agreed to allow each other's video exchange customers to participate in telepresence meetings with one another, using Cisco TelePresence™ equipment. The collaboration is seen as a significant industry advance towards establishing a smooth, end-to-end telepresence experience. Major global enterprise customers have tested the inter-exchange.
http://www.orange-business.com

Read More

Broadband Forum's TR-221 Addresses MPLS for Mobile Backhaul

The Broadband Forum published its new "Technical Specification for MPLS in Mobile Backhaul Networks" (TR-221), which is set to become a key enabler for mobile operators as they migrate from traditional TDM networks to packet-based transport technologies and from 2G/3G to 4G and LTE services. TR-221 provides a key resource to the industry as it gears up for explosive growth in IP traffic driven by new and enhanced devices on the mobile market, from tablets and smartphones to multifunction gaming consoles.


TR-221 focuses on the applications of MPLS technology in a range of services that may be used to transport wireless traffic in the access and aggregation networks, including IP, TDM, ATM and Ethernet. It defines the global requirements of MPLS technology in these networks in respect of encapsulation, signalling and routing, QoS, OAM, resiliency, security and synchronization. It also covers expected services over the backhaul network that include voice, multimedia services, data traffic, and multicast traffic such as multimedia broadcast and multicast services (MBMS). Adherence to these requirements will create global standards for MPLS oriented equipment, establishing more network interoperability, speeding deployments and lowering the overall costs of the backhaul network.


Defining a range of reference architectures for MPLS based Mobile Backhaul networks; TR-221 includes specifications for the various transport scenarios applicable to all mobile networks (e.g. 2G, 3G and LTE). It also specifies the equipment requirements for the control, user and management planes to provide unified and consistent end-to-end transport services for mobile backhaul.


Robin Mersh, CEO of the Broadband Forum, said: "TR-221 is a critical part of establishing multi-vendor interoperability in converged MPLS based backhaul networks. As mobile operators look to preserve their investment in traditional TDM and ATM networks whilst developing their 4G/LTE architectures, TR-221 will enable them to integrate new packet-based MPLS technologies into their established networks. Operators will be able to evolve their networks to be faster and more efficient to meet the increasing multimedia needs of the mobile user, whilst preserving a lower cost per bit in the backhaul network."http://www.broadband-forum.org

Read More

U.S. Senate Commerce Committee Approves FCC Nominees

The U.S. Senate's Commerce Committee voted to approve President Obama's two nominations for FCC Commissioners: Ajit Pai and Jessica Rosenworcel. The nominations now must be approved by the full Senate.


Jessica Rosenworcel, who would replace Michael Copps when his term ends in December, is the Senior Communications Counsel for the United States Senate Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation. She has worked for Senator Jay Rockefeller IV since 2009. Rosenworcel worked at the FCC from 1999 to 2007, serving as Legal Advisor and then Senior Legal Advisor to Commissioner Michael J. Copps (2003-2007), Legal Counsel to the Bureau Chief of the Wireline Competition Bureau (2002-2003), and as an Attorney-Advisor in the Policy Division of the Common Carrier Bureau (1999-2002). She holds a B.A. from Wesleyan University and a J.D. from New York University School of Law.


Ajit Varadaraj Pai, who would take the seat abandoned by Meredith Baker who took a job as a lobbyist for Comcast, is a Partner in the Litigation Department of Jenner & Block LLP. Previously, Pai worked in the Office of the General Counsel at the Federal Communications Commission, where he served as Deputy General Counsel, Associate General Counsel, and Special Advisor to the General Counsel. He holds a B.A. from Harvard University and a J.D. from the University of Chicago. http://www.senate.gov

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Texas Instruments Trims Q4 Outlook

Texas Instruments trimmed its guidance for Q4, saying it now expects revenue of $3.19 – 3.33 billion compared with the prior range of $3.26 – 3.54 billion. EPS is expected to be $0.21 – 0.25 compared with the prior range of $0.28 – 0.36.


The company cited "broadly lower demand across a wide range of markets, customers and products, except for Wireless applications processors."http://www.ti.com

Read More

Altera Trims Q4 Outlook

Altera issued new financial guidance for Q4, saying it "currently expects that fourth quarter revenue will be 13 to 16 percent lower than third quarter levels. Previous guidance was for a decline of 7 to 11 percent. The revenue outlook has deteriorated across all major vertical markets, including both large and small customers. With the exception of North America, which will benefit from rising military sales, all geographic regions will be weak."http://www.altera.com

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Ciena Posts Q4 Revenue of $455 Million

Ciena reported Q4 2011 revenue of $455.5 million as compared to $417.6 million for the fiscal fourth quarter 2010. For fiscal year 2011, Ciena reported revenue of $1.7 billion, as compared to $1.2 billion for fiscal year 2010, with results reflecting the operations of the acquired MEN Business commencing March 19, 2010.


On the basis of generally accepted accounting principles (GAAP), Ciena's net loss for the fiscal fourth quarter 2011 was $(22.3) million, or $(0.23) per common share, which compares to a GAAP net loss of $(80.3) million, or $(0.86) per common share, for the fiscal fourth quarter 2010. For fiscal year 2011, Ciena had a GAAP net loss of $(195.5) million, or $(2.04) per common share, which compares to a GAAP net loss of $(333.5) million or $(3.58) per common share for fiscal year 2010.


"We continue to deliver on the growth and operating efficiency milestones we laid out early last year, and remain focused on delivering operating leverage from the business. Our strong fourth quarter financial performance included positive cash flow and a second consecutive quarter of as-adjusted operating profit," said Gary Smith, president and CEO of Ciena. "While macroeconomic uncertainty remains, we are taking market share because customers recognize our differentiation and the strong alignment of our portfolio with their network architecture priorities." http://www.ciena.com

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IBM to Acquire DemandTec for Cloud-based "Smarter Commerce"

IBM will acquire DemandTec for $13.20/share, or at a net price of approximately $440 million, after adjusting for cash.


DemandTec provides cloud-based price, promotion and other merchandising and marketing analytics to help companies better define the best price points and product mix based on customer buying trends. The solution helps retailers to respond to rapidly shifting customer buying patterns in the era of mobile and social networks.


DemandTec has approximately 450 customers worldwide in retail, consumer products and other industries. Retail industry segments served include grocery, drug, convenience, consumer electronics, office supplies, apparel, department stores, and quick-serve restaurants. Manufacturer segments include fast moving consumer goods categories such as food, beverage, and health & beauty. DemandTec is based in San Mateo, Calif. and has more than 350 employees, with additional offices in Minneapolis, London, Paris, and Bangalore

http://www.ibm.com http://www.demandtec.com

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