ITU Approves Fiber Standard for CWDM

The International Telecommunication Union (ITU) has approved a global standard for a new optical fiber optimized for Coarse Wave Division Multiplexing (CWDM) in metro networks.



ITU-T Recommendation G.656 (Characteristics of a fiber and cable with Non-Zero Dispersion for Wideband Optical Transport) allows operators using CWDM to deploy systems without the need to compensate for chromatic dispersion, a phenomenon that at low levels counteracts distortion but at high-levels can make a signal unusable. G.656 also means that at least 40 more channels can be added to DWDM systems. The most important new feature in the specification is that it sets a low chromatic dispersion coefficient. http://www.itu.int

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QUALCOMM Debuts Convergence Chipset

QUALCOMM introduced its Convergence Platform of multimode chipsets aimed at merging wireless devices with consumer electronics. The company is introducing three chipsets, each of which incorporates a modem processor, an applications processor and associated DSPs delivering up to 1GHz speeds. The chipsets will include advanced power management capabilities for longer battery life, security and digital rights management support, wireless PC synchronization support, and connectivity to external consumer electronics devices via 802.11, USB, Bluetooth or other interfaces.



QUALCOMM said its Convergence Platform could be incorporated into a range of consumer electronics products with capabilities such as digital cameras (up to 6 megapixels), VGA 30 fps video recording and playback, high-fidelity digital stereo audio record and playback, etc.



Separately, QUALCOMM announced the wireless industry's first single-chip RF CMOS transceiver for dual-mode WCDMA (UMTS)/HSDPA and GSM/GPRS/EDGE (EGPRS) terminals. The device integrates a WCDMA (UMTS) transceiver and quad-band EGPRS transceivers into a single-chip, enabling cost optimized, smaller form factor devices for mainstream WCDMA (UMTS) markets. Samples of the RTR6275 are expected to ship in the second quarter of 2005.



QUALCOMM also announced that 21 wireless device manufacturers have selected its integrated chipsets and system software for their WCDMA (UMTS) deployments. http://www.qualcomm.com

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FCC Considers Rules for Smart Radios in Vacant TV Channels

The FCC is proposing to allow unlicensed devices to operate in the broadcast television spectrum at locations where the spectrum is not in use by television stations if they incorporate "smart radio" features that can identify unused TV channels.



Due to the physics of signal propagation, transmissions in the TV band can travel farther and can better penetrate into buildings than transmissions in the spectrum where existing unlicensed wireless broadband operations are permitted. As a result, allowing unlicensed operations in the TV bands could benefit wireless internet service customers by extending the service range of current providers' (WISPs) existing operations, particularly in rural and underserved areas.



The FCC is proposing to classify the unlicensed broadband devices that could be used in the TV bands into two general functional categories. The first category would consist of lower power "personal/portable" unlicensed devices, such as Wi-Fi like cards in laptop computers or wireless in-home local area networks. The second category would consist of higher power "fixed/access" unlicensed devices that are generally operated from a fixed location and may be used to provide a commercial service such as wireless broadband internet access. http://www.fcc.gov

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OPNET Releases Major Updates for its Software

OPNET Technologies announced a significant release of its IT Guru, SP Guru, Modeler, and ODK network management software and application. The release also includes a new Report Server product, new Automation module, and new Distributed Agent Controller module. OPNET's products are used in application performance management, configuration management, capacity planning, as well as modeling and simulation. http://www.opnet.com

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RadioShack Begins Selling Vonage Service in its 4,000 Stores

RadioShack began offering Vonage's broadband Internet telephone service in nearly 4,000 of its retail stores across the U.S. About 1,600 of these stores will host in-store, broadband telephony demonstrations beginning in June. http://www.radioshack.com/voip

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BellSouth Selects Nortel Networks Packet Voice Tandem Solution

BellSouth has selected Nortel Networks to provide packet voice tandem switches for its core network, with deployment expected later this year. This Packet Voice Tandem solution will include Nortel Networks Succession Communication Server 2000 (CS 2000) and Succession Multiservice Gateway 4000 (MG 4000) products. The CS 2000 will operate as a tandem switch in BellSouth's network, transferring calls between BellSouth's central offices. The MG 4000 is a trunking gateway that can reduce tandem congestion and help lower network costs. Financial terms were not disclosed. http://www.nortelnetworks.com

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BellSouth Deploys Lucent's Accelerate VoIP

Lucent Technologies announced a three-year agreement to help BellSouth expand its Centrex IP service across its nine-state territory. Specifically, BellSouth is deploying Lucent's EBS Communication Manager, which works with telephony systems to deliver IP-enhanced business applications via a Web graphical user interface, and iMerge Centrex Feature Gateway, which works with any Class 5 switch, and serves as a bridge between circuit-switched networks and IP network infrastructures to deliver Class 5 features and functionality over a packet network. Financial terms were not disclosed. http://www.lucent.com

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BellSouth Launches Centrex IP Service

BellSouth launched a new Centrex IP Service for business customers across the southeastern markets served by the company. Centrex IP will allow customers to use browser-based software that assists them with call management. Customers will be able to use Centrex IP to access enhanced call management functions through a secure login and have real-time control of calling features. http://www.bellsouth.com

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Europe Takes Stock of its National Broadband Strategies

Broadband Internet access across the European Union has grown by more than 80% in the year to January 2004, according a new European Commission report. The broadband take-up rates in several European countries are now amongst the highest in the world. However, the fastest growth is concentrated in cities. Furthermore, competition in broadband services is not equal in all areas.



The EU15 Member States all have national broadband strategies in place and the new Member States will table theirs before the end of 2004. The report concludes that national approaches must be kept under review and updated during 2005 so as to maintain the current momentum, particularly by ensuring competitive markets and the right regulatory conditions for investment. http://europa.eu.int

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Deutsche Telekom Reports Growth in Mobile, DSL

Deutsche Telekom reported Q1 revenue of EUR 14.0 billion, up by around 2.7% on a net basis and up around 7.5% on a like-for-like basis excluding discontinued operations and exchange rate variations. Some highlights:

• Mobile was the main driving force behind the increase in reported revenue, recording growth of 11.9%. The effects of exchange rate fluctuations with the U.S. dollar and the pound sterling were particularly strong in this area: organic revenue growth in the mobile communications division was more than 19 percent. T-Online also recorded a strong increase of 10.8 percent in reported revenue. This more than offset the reductions in revenue at T-Com of 6.9 percent, or 4.7 percent on an organic basis, mainly as a result of competitive and economic effects, and, at T-Systems, around 3 percent, or plus 0.3 percent on an organic basis, primarily due to changes in the consolidated group and decreases in the telecommunications segment.



• The broadband market continued to expand considerably. The number of T-DSL lines in operation in Germany increased by 37.5 percent year-on-year to 4.4 million. Including DSL lines operated by T-Com's majority-owned subsidiaries in Eastern Europe -- where the number of DSL lines almost tripled -- T-Com had approximately 4.5 million DSL lines in operation by the end of the first quarter of 2004, a year-on-year increase of 424,000.



• In Germany, T-Mobile recorded around 348,000 new customers in the first quarter of 2004, more than half of whom were contract subscribers.



• T-Mobile USA increased its customer base by almost a third in the past 12 months to 14.3 million. In the first quarter of 2004 alone, T-Mobile USA recorded almost 1.2 million new customers -- 93 percent of whom are fixed-term contract subscribers.



• During Q1, T-Online increased its number of customers by around 1 million year-on-year to approximately 13.4 million.



• Free cash flow increased considerably by EUR 0.9 billion year-on-year to EUR 2.9 billion in the first quarter of 2004.



• Net debt decreased further in the first quarter of this year, after debt reduction targets had already been exceeded at the end of 2003. Net debt amounted to EUR 44.6 billion at the end of March 2004. This represents a decrease of around EUR 2.0 billion since the end of 2003.



• The number of ISDN channels in Germany increased by a further 301,000 compared with the end of 2003 to 21.8 million channels in the first quarter of 2004, almost offsetting the decrease in analog lines.



• The workforce was reduced by 13.6 percent to 125,700 employees as a result of successful staff reduction measures.

http://www.telekom.de

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UK Telecom Regulator Issues Broadband Framework

Ofcom, the office telecom regulator for the UK, announced a number of proposals intended to increase sustainable and effective competition in broadband data, content and voice services. The proposals focus on:

• Local Loop Unbundling (LLU) to allow operators to target investment and to develop scale in the creation of new and competitive high-speed data services based in the UK's local broadband exchanges. Ofcom welcomes BT's commitment to that process and its announcement of a 70% reduction in its charges to operators leasing unbundled shared local loops. (LLU is a process by which the dominant provider's local loops are physically disconnected from its network and connected to another communications provider's network. This enables competing providers partly or wholly to lease a customer's access line and provide voice and/or data services directly to end users over that access line.)



• the establishment of a Telecoms Adjudicator, independent of regulator and industry, intended to oversee the swift development of LLU processes.



• a framework, pricing approach and a technology evolution path for Wholesale Broadband Access, enabling all operators to plan for long-term and large-scale investment.



• In the fixed-line voice market, the need to address some of the structural disadvantages inherent in the current Carrier Pre-Select (CPS) regulations. In this context, Ofcom welcomes BT's commitment to offer local call bundles to its CPS competitors interconnecting at the local exchange, with the benefit of greater cost savings and operational efficiency.



• Ofcom is reviewing and will be consulting on the overhead wholesale charges paid by operators to BT to connect to BT's network.

http://www.ofcom.org.uk

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BT Unveils New Local Loop Unbundling Policy

BT will re-design and simplify its current local loop unbundling (LLU), cutting prices by up to 70% in a phased series of price reductions. BT said its long term aim is to ensure that it is subject to less regulation in areas where competition has been a success



The monthly rental price for the existing shared LLU product will come down on June 1 from £4.42 to £2.26 per line with the connection fee also falling from £117 to £83.33. Taking both cuts into consideration, this represents an overall saving of 35 per cent on the current price. Prices will be reduced again - making a total reduction of up to 70 per cent - once the full cost benefits of the re-scoped product and the achievement of certain volumes filter through. Prices for the fully unbundled LLU product are also to come down initially by an average of 15 per cent.



BT will also adjust the price for elements of its BT DataStream products to ensure there are adequate margins between BT DataStream and BT IPStream Home 500. These adjustments will be announced by the end of May with the margin being maintained with regard to all BT IPStream capacity based charging products.



In addition, BT is also to introduce a new wholesale calls product for Carrier Pre-Selection (CPS) operators where they have invested in connecting to a local exchange. This product will allow them to use BT directly for on-switch or inter-local exchange calls at a price such that their overall costs can be considerably reduced. The final product will be developed in consultation with Ofcom and the industry with interim arrangements to be put in place from July. http://www.btplc.com

• BT IPStream is a wholesale ADSL product sold to internet service providers (ISPs). In simple terms, it is an end-to-end wholesale broadband service that ISPs use to sell on to their end user customers.



• BT DataStream is an ATM transport product which tends to be bought by other network operators. These alternative network operators can then use their own ATM and IP networks to sell services directly or indirectly through their ISP customers to consumers and businesses.

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Telefónica Sees Revenues Rise 8%

The Telefónica Group reported Q1 revenue of EUR 6.959 million, up 7.7 year-on-year and up 10.3% year-on-year when excluding the exchange rate and perimeter effect. Net income rose 2.7% to EUR 558.2 million. Some highlights:

• Telefónica's customer base now stands at over 101 million, a 15.8% increase on the year earlier and 2.9% more than in December 2003. As in previous quarters, growth mostly came in the cellular and broadband businesses.



• Telefonica Móviles had more than 54.4 million managed customers, with net adds of 2.3 million in this three-month period and 12.6 million in the last 12 months.



• The number of ADSL connections has risen by 77.6% since March 2003 to 3 million, of which nearly 2.2 million are in Europe and more than 0.8 million in Latin America.



• The Telefónica Group's net debt stood at EUR 18.018 billion, a reduction of EUR 1.217 billion EURs from December 2003.

. http://www.telefonica.es

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Global Crossing Introduces Suite of IP Services for Government

Global Crossing introduced a set of MPLS-based high-bandwidth, secure IP network services to meet the integrated communications needs of government agencies. The offerings include managed IP VPN Services, VoIP service, wavelength products for high-capacity IP connectivity and videoconferencing. Government agencies could use the services to build Intranets for internal locations and Extranets for their trusted partners through Global Crossing's secure and reliable private IP networks. http://www.globalcrossing.com

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MathStar Releases its FPOA

MathStar announced the release of its new Field Programmable Object Array (FPOA), a high-performance chip for use in networking and digital signal processing applications. MathStar's first FPOA devices have 400 1 GHz Silicon Objects, resulting in a device with 400 Giga Operations of performance. The devices are implemented in 130nm technology. The company said its FPOAs provide a strategic alternative to the high-cost of developing ASICs or the performance limitations of conventional FPGA architectures. http://www.mathstar.com

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Thomson and DIRECTV Sign Long-Term Deal

The DIRECTV Group, the parent company of Hughes Network Systems (HNS), and Thomson announced a definitive agreement for the long-term development and supply of digital satellite set-top boxes (STBs). As part of the transaction, Thomson will also acquire HNS' set-top box manufacturing assets.


The five-year supply agreement provides DIRECTV with an experienced partner for its forthcoming product and service development initiatives. Thomson will be involved in the technology development of new set-top box models during the contract period and will manufacture a full range of receivers including DIRECTV-brand high definition and digital video recorder (DVR) receivers, with an objective to deliver home receiving units that meet DIRECTV's pricing, quality and time-to-market objectives.


Based on the contract terms, Thomson expects to more than double its current annual revenues with DIRECTV. DIRECTV will receive from Thomson $250 million cash upon close of the sale of HNS' set-top box manufacturing assets. In addition, the agreement includes incentives to DIRECTV -- based on revenues and set-top box order volume to Thomson over the next five years -- that could increase the amount paid to as much as $400 million, including the up front amount. Thomson will be the lead supplier of DIRECTV System set-top receivers accounting for half of its needs.


With the sale of these assets, HNS' principal business will consist of DIRECWAY broadband satellite networks and services for customers worldwide; SPACEWAY, the next-generation Ka-band satellite system, planned for commercial launch in 2005; and satellite-based communications systems, networks, and equipment. http://www.directv.comhttp://www.thomson.net

• Thomson is the original manufacturer of DIRECTV receivers. HNS has also played a key role in the evolution of DIRECTV set-top box technology, and has continued to develop the products and the business to become a market leader with close to 16 million boxes shipped to date.

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Marvell Unveils Distributed Switching Architecture

Marvell unveiled a Distributed Switching Architecture (DSA) that could be used to develop scalable, cascade and stacking switching/routing topologies. The new technology couples Marvell's switching silicon with advanced software and a forceful silicon driver. This allows networks to be reconfigured without rebooting individual switches and interconnected with high-speed links to act as a single, larger switch.


The DSA enables different types of Marvell devices to be integrated into the same unit, providing features such as high port density and cost optimization. Similarly, DSA enabled units could be connected in various topologies including ring, chain, star and other chassis based configurations. Networks could thereby be expanded by adding switches to existing stacks without network disruption.


In addition, Marvell's DSA can quickly discover the network topology, automatically configure master slave units within the network, seamlessly enable all features across multiple units and, in case of system failure, quickly reconfigure the entire system. Users could manage multiple units as a single entity without any feature loss. DSA enables classification features: link aggregation, VLANs, QoS, mirroring etc. across a stack, a cascade or distributed switches. http://www.marvell.com

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Telefonica Selects Lucent for ADSL in Brazil

Lucent will install 96,000 new ADSL ports for Telefonica's network in Brazil. With the implementation of the new ADSL ports, Lucent increases its share by 50 percent in Telefonica's broadband access concentrators - the company already has an installed base of 190,000 Lucent ports. As part of the agreement, Lucent will update the operator's network management software. Financial terms were not disclosed.


Lucent recently announced a $2.5 million investment to manufacture the Stinger ADSL concentrators in its plant in Campinas, Brazil. http://www.lucent.com

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National LambdaRail Lights its Network

National LambdaRail, Inc. (NLR), a consortium of leading U.S. research universities and private companies, has lit the optical-network path between Washington, D.C., and Atlanta. The path completes the route between Atlanta, D.C., Pittsburgh, Cleveland and Chicago.


NLR installed Cisco Systems' DWDM extended long-haul platforms approximately every 100 kilometers on intercity dark fiber purchased from Level 3 Communications. Cisco deployed eight 10 Gbps Ethernet lambdas for NLR along the 766 fiber miles (1532 strand miles) between Washington, D.C. and Atlanta. Overall, the system supports expansions up to 40 10 Gbps lambdas.


Phase one installation is complete with the path between Chicago to Atlanta fully operational. The remaining paths are in final testing, with operational roll-outs scheduled on the paths from Seattle to Sunnyvale, California by mid-May; Denver to Chicago by the end of June; Atlanta to Jacksonville, Fla. by mid-July; and Seattle to Denver by late August. \http://www.nationallambdarail.org/

• National LambdaRail, Inc. (NLR), a consortium of leading U.S. research universities and private sector technology companies, named Professor David J. Farber as Chief Scientist for the project. Farber is Distinguished Career Professor of Computer Science and Public Policy in the School of Computer Science at Carnegie Mellon University with secondary appointments in the Heinz School of Public Policy and the Engineering Public Policy Group.

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LightPointe Introduces New Enterprise Solutions for Optical Wireless

LightPointe, a developer of optical wireless products based on free-space optics (FSO) technology, introduced a new model with IEEE 802.af standard compliant Power over Ethernet (PoE) technology. The FlightLite 100 provides 100 Mbps of full-duplex, point-to-point, and Fast Ethernet connectivity optimized at a distance of 500 meters. http://www.lightpointe.com

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