Orange Business Wins 5-year, $100 million Outsourcing Contract

Japan Tobacco International (JTI) has awarded a five-year, over $100 million outsourcing contract renewal to Orange Business Services. Orange provides most of JTI’s worldwide telecom infrastructure and services in more than 50 countries.
http://www.orange.com

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Orange Business Services Updates Livebox Pro

Orange Business Services introduced its new Livebox Pro gateway. Key features and capabilities include:

• It connects all devices to ADSL, VDSL and Gigabit Ethernet Fibre Optic.



• It features the latest-generation Ikanos processor.



• Business-class network security to cope with attacks and intrusions.



• Improved resistance from interference and electrical storms.



• A colour control screen for a more user-friendly display of diagnostic and settings information. Designed as a guide, this new screen takes professionals through each stage of the user process: from installation to repair.



• A new memory card allows users to save their network settings and therefore reset or exchange their Livebox Pro without having to reconfigure it.



• Environmentally-friendly: it has a system on/off button and another for WiFi.



• Consumes 30% less power than its predecessor.

http://www.orange.com/

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Australia's NBN Announces its 3-Year Rollout Plan

Australia's NBN Co published detailed neighbourhood rollout maps for its nationwide fibre deployment.


Over the next three years, construction of the fibre optic component of the network will be underway or
completed in areas containing 3.5 million premises in 1500 communities in every state and territory in
Australia – up to one third of the nation’s homes and businesses.


An online database allows consumers to find rollout plans for their postcode.


NBN Co. estimates it will take nearly a decade to complete the entire construction project, which ultimately will bring fibre to 93% of premises. A further 4% will be reached by fixed-wireless and the remaining 3% will be connected via broadband satellite.


"This is a significant day for Australia’s digital future. Construction contracts are in place and the major commercial and regulatory hurdles have been cleared, giving us the momentum we need to deliver better broadband to every Australian no matter where they live," stated NBN Co chief executive Mike Quigley.
http://www.nbnco.com.au

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Cisco Reinforces Commitment to Skolkovo, Russia

Cisco advanced its plans to establish a physical R&D presence in the Skolkovo Technopolis, a planned high technology business area to be built near Moscow, Russia.


Cisco recently received formal Skolkovo participant status, which enables the company to begin engineering activities and formally establish a physical presence. Cisco aims to focus R&D in Skolkovo on high-impact areas of the business, including video and internal start-ups, using Skolkovo as the physical and virtual platform for innovation.


The initial Memorandum of Understanding between Cisco and Skolkovo was signed in June 2010 and contemplates five concurrent collaborative phases over the next decade: the first phase consists of engaging with the VC community and talent development; the second phase establishes a physical presence in Russia; the third phase extends a dedicated Cisco R&D capability within Russia; the fourth phase focuses on go-to-market models; and the fifth phase builds a partnering model with local companies. Today's strategy advances Cisco's planned commitments in the concurrent second and third phases.
http://www.cisco.com
http://www.sk.ru

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Digicel to Build New Cable to Haiti

Digicel, in conjunction with Columbus Networks, announced a US$16m 200km undersea cable to Haiti. Alcatel-Lucent has been named technology supplier for the project.


The earthquake in January 2010 damaged or destroyed much of Haiti’s communications infrastructure – including the country’s only other subsea cable link which, to date, has not been sufficiently reactivated and secured against risk of impact from future seismic events.



Digicel Group Director of International Business, Conor Clarke, said; “For more than two years now, Haiti’s recovery has been hindered by the lack of reliable high-capacity broadband connections with the rest of the world. With the delivery of this critical undersea cable, the people of Haiti will see a truly dramatic improvement in the range and quality of communications services available.�?


Alcatel-Lucent originally deployed the FibraLink system owned by Columbus Networks which provides coastal and terrestrial connectivity from Kingston to Ocho Rios and Montego Bay in Jamaica with direct connectivity to the US by integrating it into other parts of the Columbus Networks infrastructure.
http://www.digicelgroup.com
http://www.alcatel-lucent.com

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RIM's Sales Fall 25% YoY, New CEO Appointed

Research in Motion (RIM) posted quarterly revenue of $4.2 billion, down 19% from $5.2 billion in the previous
quarter and down 25% from $5.6 billion in the same quarter of fiscal 2011. There was a net loss for the quarter of $125 million, or $0.24 per share diluted, compared with GAAP net income of $265 million, or $0.51 per share diluted, in the prior quarter and GAAP net income of $934 million, or $1.78 per share diluted, in the same quarter of fiscal 2011.


The company named Thorsten Heins as President and Chief Executive Officer. Mr. Heins was also appointed to RIM’s Board. Jim Balsillie, former Co-CEO of the Company, has resigned as a Director on the company’s Board. Mike Lazaridis, former Co-Chair and Co-CEO, has become Vice Chair of RIM’s Board and Chair of the Board’s new Innovation Committee.


“I have assessed many aspects of RIM’s business during my first 10 weeks as CEO. I have confirmed that the
Company has substantial strengths that can be further leveraged to improve our financial performance,
including RIM’s global network infrastructure, a strong enterprise offering and a large and growing base of
more than 77 million subscribers. I’m very excited about the prospects for the BlackBerry 10 platform, which
is on track for the latter part of calendar 2012. Notwithstanding these strengths and opportunities, the business
challenges we face over the next several quarters are significant and I am taking the necessary steps to address
them,�? said Thorsten Heins, President & CEO of Research In Motion




http://www.rim.com

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European Union Sets Mobile Data Roaming Caps

Tariffs for international mobile data roaming across the European Union will drop significantly in the next few years under a tentative deal reached this week by Members of the European Parliament and the Danish Presidency of the Council of Ministers. Currently, mobile data roaming services charged to consumers do not have a price ceiling, and the existing legislation capping roaming charges for phone calls, SMS messaging expires on 30 June 2012.


The new tariffs seek to bring roaming costs into line with domestic prices by 2015. A downloaded megabyte would cost no more than 70 cents as of 1 July 2012, 45 cents in 2013 and 20 cents as of 1 July 2014 to consumers. The cost of a one-minute call would not exceed 29 cents as of 1 July 2012 and 19 cents as of July 2014, down from 35 cents under the current legislation. An SMS would cost no more than 9 cents as of 1 July 2012 and 6 cents as of 1 July 2014, down from 11 cents under the current legislation.


The agreement also would force operators to enable customers to buy roaming services separately. This would let the consumer chose alternative service suppliers for roaming whilst retaining their national operators for domestic use and keeping their national phone numbers. The consumer would be able to access mobile local data services while abroad without having to unsubscribe from their existing data roaming contract or arrangement, and while keeping their mobile number. The agreement also proposes facilitating access to the wholesale market for new alternative operators (mobile virtual network operators or MVNOs).
http://www.europa.eu

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Verizon Wireless Prices LTE Mi-Fi at $50

Verizon Wireless will begin selling its Verizon Jetpack 4G LTE Mobile Hotspot- MiFi 4620L starting April 12 for $49.99 after a $50 mail-in rebate with a new two-year customer agreement.


The Jetpack, which was unveiled at the Consumer Electronics Show (CES) in January 2012, was developed by Novatel Wireless. Up to 10 Wi-Fi-enabled devices can be served simultaneously by the LTE connection.


In addition to a multicolor LED status indicator, the Jetpack also features and an interactive OLED display on the face of the device, allowing customers to scroll through menu options, check security settings, view battery life, display data usage alerts.
http://www.verizonwireless.com

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Sprint Offers CDMA Home Alarm Communicator

Sprint is partnering with Uplink, a provider of security alarm solutions, to offer a new Uplink CDMA Alarm Communicator powered by Sprint in the summer of 2012. The M2M solution uses the CDMA network for primary or back-up wireless alarm communications.
http://www.sprint.com

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Telebras Plans Brazil-Angola Cable

Brazil and Angola announced plans for the joint construction of a 6,000km submarine cable across the Atlantic linking Fortaleza and Luanda. Survey work began in November 2011. Telebras is playing a key role.
http://www.telebras.com.br

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Xilinx Ships Virtex-7 for Next Gen Systems

Xilinx announced commercial shipments of its Virtex-7 X690T FPGA, which packs high-speed serial transceivers, highest system bandwidth, and market-optimized FPGA resources.


Xilinx said its Virtex-7 X690T and X1140T FPGAs provide the greatest processing capacity and bandwidth per watt of any FPGA to implement advanced Packet Processing, FEC, Quality-of-Service, Switching, and Traffic Management algorithms as well as next generation EdgeQAM implementations.


"Xilinx has taken its years of experience in serial transceivers – having shipped to date over 75 percent of all FPGAs that include serial transceivers – and combined that with the innovative low power, 28nm 7 series FPGA architecture to deliver a highly optimized family for the Wired Communication marketplace," said Tim Erjavec, senior director of FPGA platforms at Xilinx.
http://www.xilinx.com

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ECI Names First Apollo Optimized Multi-Layer Transport Customer

The Israeli Electric Corporation (IEC) has selected ECI Telecom's new Apollo family of Optimized Multi-Layer Transport (OMLT) platforms, part of ECI’s 1Net packet-optical transport solutions, for its network connectivity needs. As part of this deployment, the IEC ran a successful pilot of the platform’s 100G capabilities. This marks ECI's first announced customer for the Apollo OMLT.


“By deploying this technology, the IEC will contribute to a marked increase in efficiency and a noted improvement in the telecommunications capabilities we are able to provide our customers, bringing Israel to the forefront of communications technology," stated Nava Trinczer, Deputy VP for Information Systems and Communication, and Manager for the Communication and Electronics Unit, IEC.
http://www.ecitele.com

• In November 2011, ECI Telecom announced its next step beyond packet-optical transport system (P-OTS) with a new modular platform that integrates L0 to L3 functionality with a single management system for all layers. The Apollo Optimized Multi-Layer Transport system (OMLT) addresses metro core and regional networks for carriers shifting from traditional ring-based architecture to mesh-based and OTN switching architecture. With the OMLT, ECI's aim is to address shortcomings of packet-optical transport system (P-OTS), especially the need to deploy additional Carrier Ethernet platforms with separate management systems to support advanced data services. The OMLT reduces infrastructure costs by optimizing the whole (multi-layered) architecture instead of the individual parts (layers), while simplifying the provisioning of new wavelength, private line, L2 or L3 services. The OMLT features a Universal fabric supporting OTN, Ethernet and switching between the two. The control plane uses GMPLS across the data (MPLS-TP) and optical layers.
  
  
  The Apollo product launch includes six platforms, along with the LightSoft unified network management system. LightSoft is a graphical automated end-to-end provisioning and management across network layers and technologies. LightSoft's multi-layer interface allows the user to get multiple physical and logical views of the network, facilitating the visualization of connections and correlations between different network layers.

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Cisco to Acquire Clear Access for TR-069 Tools

Cisco agreed to acquire ClearAccess, a privately-held company that provides TR-069-based software to service providers for the provisioning and management of residential and mobile devices. Financial terms were not disclosed.


The acquisition includes ClearAccess' software business and talent. The hardware portion of ClearAccess' business, Smart RG Gateways, will continue forward as a separate company called SmartRG, Inc.


ClearAccess offers the ClearVision Management System, a web-based remote management and applications platform based on the Broadband Forum’s TR-069 suite of protocols. ClearVision provides deep operational visibility to the CPE (e.g. DSL modem, cable, Ethernet gateway, IPTV set-top box, etc.) and a variety of tools which enable the service provider to lower customer churn, reduce truck rolls, and lower support costs. ClearVision also includes advanced applications which can be upsold to subscribers for additional high-margin revenue for the service provider.

ClearAccess is based in Vancouver, Washington.


"The ClearAccess acquisition reinforces Cisco's commitment to service providers by accelerating software architectural advancements in mobility, cloud and managed devices, and video," said Jamie Lerner, vice president and general manager, Cisco Network Management Technology Group, Service Provider Applications. "ClearAccess provides a critical technology that will advance Cisco's mission to offer service providers a complete set of tools to manage their networks, within the home and across any connected device, amid the ongoing proliferation in network traffic."http://www.cisco.com
http://www.clearaccess.com

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Deutsche Telekom Tests 4x4 MIMO LTE with Huawei

Deutsche Telekom, in collaboration with Huawei, has undertaken the world's first LTE 4×4 MIMO field trial, achieving download data rates of up to 250 Mbps. The 4×4 MIMO field trial utilized Huawei's SingleRAN LTE solution.

Deutsche Telekom launched its LTE network in Cologne in June 2011 using the 1.8 GHz frequency band and Huawei's SingleRAN LTE as one solution.

"This is a key milestone in the LTE industry." said Ying Weimin, president of GSM&UMTS&LTE wireless networks, Huawei. "Deutsche Telekom is one of the most innovative operators in the world. We are proud to foster our strategic partnership with Deutsche Telekom and to contribute to the development of mobile broadband. Huawei remains committed to being the best business partner for operators around the world."
http://www.huawei.com

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ZTE Posts 23% Revenue Growth in 2011, but Profits Decline 37%

ZTE reported 2011 revenue of RMB 86.25 billion, an increase of 23.4% compared to 2010. However, net profit fell to RMB 2.06 billion, down 36.6% from 2010’s result. Basic earnings per share were RMB 0.61.


"In 2011, equipment investments by the telecommunications industry varied by region across the globe,�? said ZTE Chairman Mr. Hou Weigui. "During the year, ZTE adjusted its product lines to continue to provide comprehensive integrated solutions to carriers. A range of measures designed to improve efficiency and optimize production processes also were introduced."


Some highlights:


ZTE's domestic and overseas operating revenue grew 22.7% and 24% year-on-year respectively.


Domestic operating revenue was RMB 39.50 billion, accounting for 45.8% of overall operating revenue.


Overseas operating revenue was RMB 46.76 billion, accounting for 54.2%.


ZTE has secured over 30 commercial LTE contracts.


ZTE became the second-fastest growing smartphone company in the world during the year.


ZTE also was the fourth-largest mobile manufacturer in the world in terms of shipments during the year.


By product segment, Carrier Networks generated operating revenue of RMB46.522 billion, representing year-on-year growth of 10.83%. Terminal Products generated operating revenue of RMB26.933 billion, representing year-on-year growth of 52.63%. Operating revenue for Telecommunication Software Systems, Services and Other Products amounted to RMB12.799 billion, representing year-on-year growth of 24.46%.


According to statistics published by China's Ministry of Industry and Information Technology, revenue for the domestic telecommunications sector amounted to RMB901.15 billion for the first eleven months of 2011, representing a year-on-year growth of 9.6%.
http://www.zte.com.cn

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NEC to Open Mobile Network Excellence Center in Chennai

NEC Corporation will establish a Mobile Network Excellence Center (NMEC) for the offshore development of mobile communication systems in Chennai, India. This is the first such development center that the NEC Group will establish in India. The center will design and develop hardware and software for the PASOLINK series of ultra-compact microwave communication systems, which are key products for mobile backhaul in the global market.
http://www.nec.co.jp

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NEC Joins Cryptography for Mobile Project

NEC Corporation has joined a research project on anonymous authentication technologies for smartphones.


The goal is to develop a method of enabling sophisticated payment and location-based services without the risk of violating user privacy. The research explores cryptography-based, anonymous authentication technology for verifying users and terminals with IDs that can be used to track user access and behavioral history.


In order to address these issues, NEC is joining a research consortium along with France Telecom, Microsoft and other enterprises, that is funded by the French National Research Agency (l'Agence Nationale de la Recherche), the ANR. http://www.nec.co.jp

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eircom to Enter Court Restructuring

The Eircom Group submitted an application to the High Court in Dublin to be placed in Irish examinership with the objective of placing the company’s balance sheet on a stable financial footing for the medium to long term, with reduced debt.


Eircom said operations would continue as usual during the restructuring. All existing voice, broadband and data services provided to our residential, business, Government and corporate customers will continue. The company intends to maintain its existing relationships with all suppliers and honour all outstanding work and payment agreements.
http://www.eircom.net

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Lantiq Samples ADSL2/2+ Gateway System-on-Chip

Lantiq unveiled its XWAY ARX300 device family for new ADSL2/2+ Customer Premise Equipment (CPE) designs. Four versions will be offered for different broadband gateway models. Key features include:

• Complete ADSL PHY on-chip, including line driver circuitry, compliant with ITU-T G.992 for 28 Mbps downstream and 2.7 Mbps upstream data rates supporting physical layer features such as erasure decoding and retransmission (G.998.4), directly benefiting Internet Protocol Television (IPTV) applications.



• Fully integrated Gigabit Ethernet switch and Gigabit or Fast Ethernet PHYs.



• Integrated, flexible 802.11n Wireless LAN (WLAN) connectivity supporting 2.4 GHz or 5 GHz frequency band operation. XWAY WRX312 (2x2 MIMO) and XWAY WRX313 (3x3 MIMO) companion chips are low power multi-standard IEEE 802.11 a/b/g/n RF transceiver with integrated power amplifier for 2.4 GHz band operation.



• Two device versions: XWAY ARX382 and XWAY ARX388 derivatives leverage Lantiq’s extensive voice communications and home networking portfolio in multiple reference designs, including XWAY SLIC 100 voice interface, COSIC Modem DECT/CAT-iq single-chip device, and XWAY HNX G.hn chipsets for powerline/phone line/copper wire connectivity.



• Low system Bill of Materials (BOM)



• High-performance dual-processor architecture includes a 500 MHz CPU and dedicated 32-bit protocol processing engine that assures Gigabit routing performance with zero load on the application processor.



• Fully-compliant 802.11n.e/i/h WLAN performance at up to 300 Mbps with zero-packet-error rate technology and “Thick MAC�? architecture to offload processor intensive operations from the main CPU supports carrier grade wireless links for rich media, including IPTV.



• Designed with power management mechanisms to meet European CoC v4 and beyond requirements.

http://www.lantiq.com

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Google Data Centers Measure 2011 PUE at 1.14

Google announced that its trailing 12-month average PUE (power usage effectiveness) was approximately 1.14 -- an improvement from 1.16 in 2010. PUE is a ratio of the total power used to run a data center to the amount used to power the servers.


Google said its calculation includes everything that contributes to energy consumption in its data center -- not just power for servers and cooling systems. It also includes heating/cooling for the office, system inefficiencies like transformer, cable and UPS losses and generator parasitic energy draw. Otherwise, the number would have been even lower.
http://www.google.com/about/datacenters/inside/efficiency/power-usage.html

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