Nortel Patent Sales Gets DOJ Clearance

The Department of Justice waiting period for review concerning the acquisition of a substantial majority of the former Nortel Networks patent portfolio has expired and the company is free to consummate the acquisition. The portfolio consists of approximately 4,000 patent assets related to a broad array of networking, communications, and internet technologies. The patents are being acquired by the Rockstar Consortium, which consists of Apple, Microsoft, RIM, Ericsson and Sony, for $4.5 billion.


Rockstar has said it intends to pursue licensing agreements with companies that are harnessing its intellectual property.


John Veschi, Chief Executive Officer of Rockstar, and formerly Chief IP Officer of Nortel, stated that, "We are pleased to emerge from this review process, and are looking forward to working with technology related companies to provide them with access to Rockstar's technology. The entire industry has benefited from Nortel's groundbreaking innovations, and we are eager to work with them to establish licenses enabling the continued use of this technology."http://www.nortel.com

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IIJ and China Telecom Announce Cloud Computing Partnership

Internet Initiative Japan (IIJ) and China Telecom announced a strategic partnership to jointly provide Cloud computing Services in China.


As part of the partnership, the two companies plan to develop Cloud computing Services such as IaaS, PaaS and SaaS, and aim to provide them to the Chinese market from summer 2012.


IIJ noted that it began providing Cloud computing Service in 2009 under the brand name "IIJ GIO" which covers layers from IaaS to SaaS. Currently, IIJ GIO has been recognized as No.1 Cloud computing Service in Japan and is adopted by over 600 Japanese blue-chip customers.
http://www.iij.ad.jp

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Broadcom Debuts STB Silicon for Convergence of Pay-TV and Open Internet Apps

Broadcom introduced a 40nm Dual Core Hybrid Gateway system-on-a-chip (SoC) that enables operators to securely deliver premium broadcast content converged with Web-based content and services to multiple screens in the connected home.


The BCM7435, featured at the CableLabs Winter Conference this week, shows video broadcast content streaming simultaneously (with transcoding) wirelessly to multiple devices, while concurrently supporting secure web applications.


Broadcom said its solution breaks new ground by enabling operators to offer new, Web-based services while protecting high value broadcast content. The chip offers 7000 DMIPs dual-core/ quad thread application processing power and also features Integrated Quad Transcoding and MoCA 2.0 for a connected, Web-based TV experience.
http://www.broadcom.com

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Verizon Carries 21.7 Terabits per second over Single Fiber with NEC

In a trial performed earlier this year on 1,503 kilometers (934 miles) of standard single mode field fiber in the Dallas area, Verizon successfully transmitted 21.7 terabits per second (Tbps) -- the highest capacity to date under field conditions.


NEC was the equipment supplier for the trial, which was described in a post-deadline paper presented at the recent OFC/NFOEC Conference and Expo in Los Angeles.


NEC said the terabit capacity was achieved by increasing modulation levels and reducing optical carrier spacing using superchannels. This trial also used a novel approach that allowed for different modulation formats to be used to help ensure signal performance while carrying the highest total capacity. The two companies also specifically focused on transmission performance over a significant fiber distance since other experiments in this area have only been performed in a lab environment.


In 2011, Verizon and NEC Corporation of America completed an industry first by successfully transmitting high bit-rate technologies, including 100G, 450G and 1T, coexisting on the same fiber in a joint field trial.


"Verizon continues its research to find the scientific limits of high-capacity optical technology as we strive to offer the most advanced network technology that adds long-term value to our customers and is capable of sustaining the tremendous growth potential," said Ihab Tarazi, vice president of global IP and transport planning and technology for Verizon. "This joint effort moves the industry toward a better understanding of the technology's challenges, differentiators and viability because the future will be shaped by what we learn now."http://www.verizon.nethttp://www.nec.com

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FibroLAN Implements Vitesse Carrier Ethernet Switch Engine

FibroLAN, a developer of integrated fiber-optic broadband access systems and Carrier Ethernet solutions, is using Vitesse’s Caracal Carrier Ethernet Switch Engine (VSC7428) and quad-port IEEE1588v2 VSC8574 SimpliPHY 1G PHYs in its latest generation Ethernet Access Device (EAD) targeted at Metro Ethernet services delivery. At the recent Mobile World Congress, FibroLAN debuted its µFalcon-S platform for 4G/LTE mobile backhaul networks.


Introduced in 2010 and 2011, respectively, the VSC7428 Caracal Switch Engine and VSC8574 quad-port GE PHY are part of Vitesse’s broad portfolio of IEEE1588v2 timing solutions for mobile backhaul and network IP Edge applications. Both devices deliver highly accurate timing synchronization and Operations, Administration and Maintenance (OAM) support, critical for Carriers implementing mobile backhaul and delivering MEF services over their access networks. Integrated with Vitesse’s EcoEthernet 2.0 green technology, both the switch and PHY exceed the IEEE 802.3az specifications requirements while delivering unprecedented energy efficiency.
http://www.vitesse.com

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3 Italia Selects Ericsson for Upgrade

3 Italia has selected Ericsson to transform and upgrade its existing 3G mobile broadband access, core and transport network to 42Mbps HSPA and 100Mbps LTE. Financial terms were not disclosed.


The deal marks another step in the long-standing collaboration between 3 Italia and Ericsson, which started in 2001 when 3 Italia chose Ericsson as the main partner for its 3G core and access technology. In 2005, the operator assigned Ericsson as exclusive partner for managed services of its multi-vendor network and telecom IS/IT infrastructure. In 2009, 3 Italia awarded Ericsson a network transformation deal to upgrade its WCDMA/HSPA network and extend the managed services deal.
http://www.ericsson.com

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OKI Back to Pre-Flood Capacity in Thailand

OKI Data is back to full-scale operations at its manufacturing facility at the Rojana Industrial Park in Ayutthaya Province, central Thailand. The recovery now includes both the first floor and the second floor of the facility. As a precaution against future flooding, OKI Data has realigned production lines on the first and second floor so that essential production equipment, power supplies and air-conditioning facilities are located on the second floor. In addition, the company will further promote business continuity planning (BCP) by pursuing a reinforced production backup system on a global level.
http://www.oki.com

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Dell'Oro Predicts 10 GigE Server Deployments to Ramp Up

10 Gigabit Ethernet revenue is expected to exceed one-third of overall market revenue in L2-L3 switching during 2012, according to a new market report from Dell'Oro Group. The report attributes the growth to continued data center deployments utilizing 10 Gigabit Ethernet in Top-of-Rack and Blade switches.





"We believe we are still in the early stages of server access from 1 Gigabit Ethernet to 10 Gigabit Ethernet. We expect the first significant ramp of this migration to start in the second half of 2012 and continue through 2013. We expect server vendors will ramp Intel's Romely chipset quickly in the second half of 2012. Most new high-end servers will, for the most part, be 10 Gigabit Ethernet going forward," said Alan Weckel, Senior Director of Dell'Oro Group. "We believe we will see a mix of connectivity options ranging from blade servers, SFP+ direct attach and 10G Base-T during 2012. We also expect vendors will most likely specialize in a particular area within the data center, or have a large portfolio of products to address customer requirements, as vendors migrate servers from 1 Gigabit Ethernet to 10 Gigabit Ethernet in significant volumes and look towards 40 Gigabit Ethernet to connect these switches to the core," stated Weckel.
http://www.delloro.com

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Ceragon Wins Mobile Backhaul Contract in Nigeria

Ceragon Networks announced a contract valued at $6 million to supply wireless backhaul solutions to Globacom Nigeria. The deal includes Ceragon's short-haul and long-haul systems as well as site survey, installation, commissioning and project management services.


Ceragon will manage the end-to-end deployment of its FibeAir IP-10 and Evolution IP Long-Haul systems throughout Nigeria, expanding upon the original network Ceragon developed for Glo in 2010. Glo is the second largest mobile operator in Nigeria serving approximately 25 million subscribers, and is Africa's fastest-growing telecommunications company. http://www.ceragon.com

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Ecuador's CNT Picks Alcatel-Lucent for Mobile Broadband

Ecuador's Corporacion Nacional de Telecomunicaciones (CNT) has selected Alcatel-Lucent for a new 3G mobile broadband network in Ecuador.


The CNT 3G network will deliver converged services that can be accessed from both fixed and mobile devices, at home or on the go. The network will also be 'LTE and lightRadio-ready', another first in Ecuador.


Under the agreement, Alcatel-Lucent will design and deploy a complete end-to-end 3G W-CDMA network in the Pacific coastal and Southern area of Ecuador. Alcatel-Lucent will also provide maintenance and network optimization services. Financial terms were not disclosed.
http://www.alcatel-lucent.com
http://www.cnt.gob.ec/

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Huawei Selects IP Infusion's ZebOS

Huawei has selected IP Infusion's ZebOS network platform software to expand the capabilities of its Internet Protocol products.


ZebOS is a suite of networking protocol software supporting Layer 2 (L2), Layer 3 (L3), unicast, multicast, Multi-Protocol Label Switching (MPLS) and Metro Ethernet standards. It supports both IPv4 and IPv6 networks as well as a number of transition technologies.


"The future of IP networking is software that enables accelerated time to market and continual product enhancement," said Koichi Narasaki, president and CEO of IP Infusion. "Through software-defined networking combined with best-in-class routing and switching platforms, IP Infusion and Huawei are leading a transformation of IP networking to accommodate Big Data."http://www.ipinfusion.com

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OKI Develops Adaptive GE-PON + 10 GE-PON System

OKI announced an adaptive network configuration technology for channel-switching between current GE-PON systems and next generation 10 GE-PON systems. The goal is a flexible, low-cost optical access system for subscription-based 100-km broadband optical networks.


OKI said its adaptive networking builds network infrastructure in a ring or cascade form by using centralized control node and passive OHF for the PON system, which was conventionally branched by power splitters. This enables broadband technology with lowed loss resulting from branching. Centralized control nodes switch WDM and OCDM channel allocating, realizing virtual technology in a logical star form without depending on physical connection of OLT and ONU.


This experiment demonstrates the transmission of WDM and OCDM hybrid optical signals, restoration via passive routing, and service provisioning from GE-PON to 10G-EPON without obstacles to other users.


Moving forward, OKI will continue to develop multi-channel control and OLT driving control technologies to offer more efficiency and build virtualized access system technology by combining this adaptive networking technology for an early practical realization for virtual PON system.


"The adaptive network configuration technology developed by OKI combines OKI's unique optical hybrid filtering (OHF3) and adaptive networking technologies for flexible connections between OLT and ONU," says Takeshi Kamijoh, General Manager of Research and Development Center at OKI. "In addition to wavelength-division multiplexing (WDM) used for metro-core networks, OHF realizes multiple expansion technology that enables 'add/drop' from 160ch multiple signals by adding optical code division multiplexing (OCDM) technology, achieving filters with low transmission loss."http://www.oki.com

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AT&T Announces Next LTE Markets

AT&T announced the next U.S. markets where it will activate LTE: St. Louis, Mo.; Naples, Fla; Bloomington, Lafayette and Muncie, Ind.; Baton Rouge and New Orleans, La.; Akron, Canton and Cleveland, Ohio; Bryan-College Station, Texas; and Staten Island in New York City. These launches are scheduled for April, May and into the early summer.
http://www.att.com

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Telefónica Launches Virtual Hosting 2.0

Telefónica, in collaboration with Cisco and VCE, has launched a regional advanced cloud hosting service in Latin America for large companies and public agencies.


The Virtual Hosting 2.0 service, which is available in all Latin American countries where Telefónica operates, enables enterprises to migrate to cloud computing. It is based on the VCE Vblock infrastructure platform, which offers integrated virtualization, server, storage, networking and security technologies with end-to-end support.


VCE is the Virtual Computing Environment Company formed by Cisco and EMC with investments from VMware and Intel.
VCE's prepackaged solutions are available through an extensive partner network, and cover horizontal applications, vertical industry offerings, and application development environments.


Notably, Telefónica is implementing a single global architecture for the cloud based on VCE with the goal of scaling and evolving the service evenly throughout the region. Telefónica is delivering the service from five interconnected data centers in Argentina, Brazil, Chile, Colombia and Peru.


Telefónica's Virtual Hosting 2.0 offers the benefits of an advanced virtual service, such as elasticity, fast provision in case of new company needs, private access to the network, and end-to-end management. Initially, Virtual Hosting 2.0 includes services such as infrastructure as a service (IaaS), virtual data centers, private cloud services and business continuity services in case of incidents and disasters. Under the cloud computing model, it seeks to provide the latest technologies, without the need for investment in equipment and maintenance.


"Cloud computing is the business model for the delivery of services to customers. Companies, service providers and government agencies are looking for cloud solutions to reduce costs, increase profitability and create innovative business models. Cisco enables customers to take advantage of network intelligence, the power of data centers and business applications. The result is an attractive and safe cloud experience with applications and services supplied from any place, at anytime and from any device. We want to thank Telefónica Empresas Latinoamérica for trusting Cisco as the technological partner for its cloud computing solution in Latin America,' said Jaime Vallés, Cisco senior vice president for Latin America.

http://www.telefonica.comhttp:/www.telefonica.com
http://www.vce.com

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Fujitsu Develops DSP Algorithm for 100G Long-haul Optical Distortion

Researchers at Fujitsu have developed a digital signal processing algorithm to compensate for waveform distortion in long-haul transmission systems operating over several hundred kilometers. The method is aimed at 100 Gbps transmissions, which tend to suffer from waveform distortion caused by nonlinear optical effects over distance.


Fujitsu said a key advantage of its new technology is that it does not require signal regenerators. The nonlinear compensation technology can restore the signal received with distortion to a clean waveform.


The company claims roughly a twenty-fold improvement in the compensation ability per circuit size compared to typical existing technology. The design also cuts the energy consumption of compensation circuits by two-thirds.


The receiving-side digital signal processing LSI used to measure and verify the effectiveness of the developed technology was developed under a project sponsored by Japan's Ministry of Internal Affairs and Communications.


The new technology takes a new approach in that it transmits additional inverse distortion in order to "clean up" distorted waves. Unlike receiver-end compensation circuits, waveforms from compensation circuits located on the transmission end do not contain noise or distortion, thereby enabling simpler computation. Fujitsu has narrowed its focus on DP-QPSK modulation.


Fujitsu reported that in a transmission test at 112 Gbps, the new technology was shown to achieve, using a one-stage circuit, even higher signal quality than that obtained using a 20-stage compensation circuit in conventional technology.
http://www.fujitsu.com

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Narus Cyber Survey: Increase in Volume and Sophistication of Attacks

Network security professionals are expressing concern at the increase in volume and sophistication of attacks, according to a newly published annual cyber security survey sponsored jointly by Narus, Converge! Network Digest and GSN: Government Security News. The annual survey queries a focus group comprising security professionals in a variety of industries.

Some key findings:

• More than 55 percent of respondents are concerned that their company is not equipped to protect its networks from cyber attacks; approximately 85 percent think the government is not equipped to protect its networks.



• The overwhelming majority of respondents (93.8 percent) believe cyber attacks are on the rise.



• Inability to protect sensitive and confidential data (64.6 percent), viruses and malware (62.5 percent), social media attacks (52.1 percent), being able to analyze threats in real time (50 percent) and zero-day attacks (47.9) all ranked high as significant threats to organizations today.



• More than 79 percent of the respondents believe the best way to protect against cyber attacks is with a solution that detects, analyzes and mitigates unwanted, unwarranted or malicious traffic in real time.



• The respondents believe that the following three factors are most important when evaluating a cyber security solution: detection and remediation of advanced persistent threats, detection of bots and real-time threat analysis.
  Government networks left vulnerable.



• Once again, the majority of respondents this year feel cyber attacks are showing no signs of slowing; in fact, the actual percentage held steady at 93.8 percent of respondents (as compared with 93 percent in 2010). Inability to protect sensitive data, viruses, malware and inability to analyze threats in real time present the biggest threats, according to respondents. The increasing sophistication of attacks is also worrying 91.7 percent of respondents, no doubt due to the onslaught of advanced persistent threats (APTs) like non-signature attacks.



• The survey indicates that companies are bolstering their cyber security efforts, and therefore the confidence of their employees. Indeed, the number of respondents concerned that their company is not well-equipped to protect against cyber attacks has slipped over the past year (55 percent in 2011 vs. 71 percent in 2010), suggesting that companies are now at least beginning to implement technology that stands up to sophisticated threats. Additionally, 42.6 percent of respondents indicated that their companies have increased their respective cyber security budgets since 2010. But the same respondents were not so confident in the government's ability to protect its networks. Eighty-five percent of respondents believe government networks remain vulnerable to cyber attacks.



• The survey also supports the view that there is a pressing need for real-time detection, analysis, and mitigation of cyber threats. Almost 80 percent of this year's survey respondents agree, citing a solution that provides real-time detection, analysis and mitigation of sophisticated attacks as the best choice for cyber protection. The detection and remediation of APTs emerged as a top criterion for such a solution, followed by real-time threat analysis and detection and remediation of bots.

"Each year, the cyber security survey yields results that consistently underscore the importance of real-time detection and analysis of network traffic,�? said Greg Oslan, CEO and president of Narus. “We look forward to working with our customers and partners to help them better manage and protect their networks against the increased volume and sophistication of cyber threats with NarusInsight."
http://www.narus.com
http://www.convergedigest.com

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Holland's SURFnet Tests Cisco 100G DWDM

SURFnet has completed a technology test of Cisco's 100G DWDM solution between the National Supercomputing Center, SARA, in Amsterdam, the Netherlands, and CERN in Geneva, Switzerland, using the Cisco ONS 15454 M6 Multiservice Transport Platform. DWDM was used to unite multiple optical carrier signals on a single optical fiber. Specifically, the 100G alien wavelength was carried error-free using Cisco single carrier coherent optical technology across SURFnet's existing 1650km optical DWDM system.


The test involved introducing 100G single carrier optical interfaces into SURFnet's existing optical infrastructure made up of a combination of 10G, 40G and 100G wavelengths. Cisco said its 100G DWDM solution was quickly operational without any disruption to the existing network.


The Cisco ONS 15454 M6 platform can support 42 x 100G wavelengths in a single bay, nearly three times the density of competing solutions.


"This 100G alien wavelength demonstration is another important step in the future of international networking across geographical, technical and administrative borders. Being able to use high-bandwidth wavelengths over open transmission systems from different equipment vendors supports new approaches to networking. The use of all-optical alien wavelength 100G technology is what will enable cost-effective international research networking," stated Roeland Nuijts, optical network architect, SURFnet.
http://www.cisco.com
http://www.cisco.com

• In May 2011, Ciena announced that SURFnet, which operates an advanced research network in The Netherlands, will upgrade its backbone with support for full photonic flexibility and the deployment of 100 Gbps on international links connecting the Netherlands to research communities like CERN in Switzerland. SURFNet is using Ciena's ActivFlex 6500 Packet-Optical Platform equipped with WaveLogic coherent optical processors and ActivSpan Common Photonic Layer. Ciena's ActivFlex 6500 platform, supports both coherent 40G and 100G transmission, allowing SURFnet to gradually scale its network as requirements change. Combined with Ciena's ActivSpan Common Photonic Layer, the solution supports ROADM functionality throughout the network.

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OIF Demo: Multi-Vendor, Multi-Carrier Ethernet over OTN

At last week's OFC/NFOEC conference in Los Angeles, the Optical Internetworking Forum showcased a multi-vendor, multi-carrier implementation of High-Speed Dynamic Services.


In a test conducted simultaneously in Europe, Asia and North America, the OIF showed multi-vendor data plane and control plane interworking of systems supporting Ethernet Services over OTN in a multi-carrier environment. On-demand services were provisioned, based on ASON/GMPLS control plane functions. The demonstration leveraged draft GMPLS extensions for the OTN hierarchy. It also tested multi-layer and OTN extensions to E-NNI 2.0.


Deutsche Telekom, France Telecom/Orange, KDDI and Verizon served as telecom carrier hosts for the demonstration.


Vendor Participants included ADVA Optical Networking, Alcatel-Lucent, Ciena, EXFO, Huawei, Marben Products, Metaswitch and Tellabs. Consulting Carriers included AT&T, China Telecom and NTT.
http://www.oiforum.com

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OIF Demos 25-28 Gbaud Interoperability

At last week's OFC/NFOEC conference in Los Angeles, the OIF hosted a physical layer interoperability event focused on Enabling High-Speed Dynamic Services.


Specifically, the OIF’s Physical and Link Layer demonstration showcased the forum’s CEI 28G Very Short Reach (VSR) draft implementation agreement that defines chip-to-module electrical interfaces and the OIF's CEI 25G Long Reach (LR) implementation agreement that defines backplane electrical interfaces.


There were five individual demos made up of ten participating companies and one test equipment vendor.


Three demos focused on Very Short Reach chip-to-module applications based upon CEI-28G-VSR.


Two demos focused on Long Reach backplane applications using CEI-25G-LR.


Participants included Altera, Amphenol, Fujitsu Optical Components, Gennum, IBM, Inphi, Luxtera, Molex, TE Connectivity and Xilinx. Test equipment was supplied by Tektronix.
http://www.oiforum.com

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Qwilt Unveils its Unified, Transparent Video Caching

Qwilt, a start-up based in Redwood Shores, California, unveiled its QB-Series transparent-video delivery appliance for helping carriers gain control over Internet-video traffic on their networks. The company claims its QB-Series appliance can help operators reduce video traffic demands by 60-80%.


Qwilt is using proprietary video-content classification and analysis technology to transparently detect video content in an operator's Internet-traffic stream. Qwilt then adds optimized storage and delivery capabilities in a unified appliance.
http://www.qwilt.com

• In October 2011, raised $24 million in two rounds of funding for its development of video infrastructure products. The company's mission is to help Internet Service Providers to more efficiently and cost-effectively deliver high-quality video to their customers from sources like Netflix, YouTube and Amazon. The platform will identify, monitor, store and deliver Internet video. Qwilt's funding comes from Accel Partners, Redpoint Ventures, Crescent Point Group and other investors. The company, founded in 2010 by veterans of Cisco Systems and Juniper Networks.



• Qwilt is headed by Alon Maor, who previously was at Cisco where he oversaw the development and operations of the Service Control Engine (SCE) product line. Alon joined Cisco following the $200M acquisition of P-Cube.

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