Corning Supplies Hardened Connector for Alcatel-Lucent's GPON

Corning Cable Systems will supply Alcatel-Lucent with its OptiTap Connector and Adapter for use in Alcatel-Lucent's GPON system. The MOU outlines the terms of a multi-year agreement to be negotiated and signed by Corning Cable Systems and Alcatel-Lucent, by which Corning Cable Systems will become the exclusive supplier of OptiTap Connectors and Adapters for the Alcatel-Lucent system.



The Corning Cable Systems OptiTap Connector and Adapter is a factory-terminated, environmentally sealed and hardened connector for use in drop cable deployments in optical access networks. The hardened connector significantly reduces the terminal and drop cable installation time for subscriber connection, thereby reducing the total installed cost of deployment.

http://www.corning.com

http://www.alcatel-lucent.com

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NextWave Announces WiMAX Chipset Roadmap

NextWave Broadband, a subsidiary of NextWave Wireless, outlined the roadmap for its family of WiMAX baseband and multi-band RFIC chipset platforms. The chipsets included in the roadmap incorporate numerous NextWave innovations to improve performance, reduce power consumption, enable new types of advanced multimedia applications, and allow seamless operation and roaming across worldwide WiMAX frequencies and profiles.



NextWave's second generation WiMAX platform, the NW2000, encompasses the NW2100 family of mobile subscriber baseband SOCs, the NW2700 and NW2800 family of WiMAX access station baseband SOCs, and the NW2200 family of highly integrated multi-band RFICs. Scheduled for release with reference designs in the first half of 2008, the NW2000 mobile subscriber platform is designed to provide customers with an ultra-low-power, integrated WiMAX/Wi-Fi solution to support power-limited mobile devices in a wide range of frequency bands.



Nextwave said that by employing 65 nanometer CMOS process technology, its NW2100 chipset family will be optimized for bandwidth intensive mobile-multimedia applications such as mobile television, streaming video, and video conferencing, and for QoS sensitive applications such as VoIP. When coupled with the frequency-agile NW2200 RFIC family, key features are expected to include:

• IEEE 802.16e standard-based;


• WiMAX Forum Wave 2 compliant;


• Ultra-low-power, integrated WiMAX/Wi-Fi baseband SOC designed for outstanding battery life using 65nm CMOS process technology;
  
• Integrated 802.11 a/b/g;


• Supports Wi-Fi in 2.4 GHz ISM band;


• Mobility-optimized ASIC architecture with advanced power-save features to extend battery life for multimedia-centric mobile devices;


• Supports global TDD and FDD spectrum allocations from 1.7 GHz to 3.8 GHz;


• Supports major worldwide WiMAX spectrum allocations of 2.3 GHz (including the WCS band in the U.S.), 2.5 GHz (including the EBS/BRS band in the U.S.), and 3.3 -- 3.8 GHz (including 3.65 -- 3.7 GHz for licensed commons operation);


• Dynamically programmable WiMAX/Wi-Fi channel bandwidths of 3.5 MHz, 5 MHz, 7 MHz, 8.75 MHz, 10 MHz, and 20 MHz to support various profiles;


• Highly-integrated, direct-conversion RFIC architecture with optimized RF-baseband interface for reduced BOM cost, ease of design, and improved spectral efficiency;


• Supports highly scalable RF channel bandwidths from 1.75 MHz to 20 MHz;


• Supports wide range of host OS environments and system interfaces, including SDIO, SPI, USB2, and PCIe, to enable widest possible range of device types;


• Flexi-MAC architecture supports hosted or fully-integrated MAC for optimal flexibility, accelerated time-to-market, and reduced solution cost;


• Enhanced MIMO support;


• Supports optional beamforming solutions;


• Up to 36 Mbps throughput capability;


• Support of 802.16h contention-based protocol to enable WiMAX operation in license-exempt bands;


• Provides improved performance and interoperability between Wi-Fi and WiMAX frequency bands;


• Mobility-optimized SOC architecture with advanced power-save features that delivers maximum throughput for demanding mobile users;


• Highly efficient single radio solution that supports multiple service types including unicast, multicast, and NextWave's optimized broadcast solution;


• Convergence sublayer support for next-generation IPv6 networks;
  
• Multiple reference designs to minimize development risk and time-to-market for multiple device types including handsets, smartphones, PDAs, PC modem cards, fixed CPE modems, USB dongles and Personal Media Players (PMPs); and


• Support for multiple host OS environments to allow the widest possible range of device types.

Samples of the company's first generation WiMAX baseband system-on-a-chip (SOC) and matched multi-band RFIC will be available this quarter. Initial availability of the company's second generation chips, designed for high-volume commercial production, is planned for the first half of 2008.

http://www.nextwave.com

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Towerstream to Raise $40 Million for WiMAX Services

Towerstream, a leading fixed WiMAX service provider in the U.S., entered into definitive agreements with investors for the sale of 10 million shares of its common stock at a price of $4.00 per share. Lazard Capital Markets LLC served as the lead placement agent for this offering and Canaccord Adams Inc. and Morgan Joseph & Co. Inc. served as co- placement agents.

http://www.towerstream.com

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CableLabs Issues RFI for PacketCable 2.0 Products

CableLabs has issued a Request for Information (RFI) to solicit responses from vendors regarding their PacketCable 2.0 product roadmaps. The RFI also seeks information regarding any IMS-based applications these suppliers are developing for the cable industry.
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PacketCable 2.0 defines an application-agnostic architecture that can be used to rapidly develop and deploy a wide range of new IP-based services, such as fixed-mobile convergence, business communications, video communications, and cross-platform capabilities that connect cable's existing voice, broadband, and video services in new and innovative ways.



"With the basic PacketCable 2.0 specifications essentially complete, the project is now highly focused on equipment availability, equipment interoperability, and application innovation," said Ed Miller, Vice President, Advanced Network Systems, CableLabs.

http://www.cablelabs.com/

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BT and HP Expand Alliance in Outsourced IT, Net Services

Citing growing customer demands for standardized and flexible collaborative IT and network services around the globe, HP and BT are expanding their alliance as preferred partners in the management of outsourced IT and network service.



This builds on a three-year go-to-market model that has attracted more than $1.5 billion in contract revenue since 2004 and more than 25 customers, including FirstGroup, Aker Kvaerner and Anglo-American.



BT and HP said customers increasingly require additional capabilities from both companies to help transform their IT environments, drive innovation across their operations and improve business effectiveness and efficiency.



As part of a multi-year agreement, HP will provide BT with the IT infrastructure components of servers, storage, software and services to accelerate and expand BT's service transformation. HP also will help BT transform its IT infrastructure into a service-oriented architecture to support new customer business models.



In parallel, BT becomes a key enabler of HP's own global IT transformation project, which is focused on improving service and reducing costs, by providing and managing high-performance connectivity between HP's consolidated U.S. data centers and 143 sites in Europe, the Middle East and Africa.

http://www.btplc.com

http://www.hp.com

• In May 2004, BT and HP have signed a series of managed services agreements with a combined value of $1.5 billion over the next seven years. Under these agreements, HP will manage BT's midrange and desktop information technology (IT) infrastructure in the UK, and BT will manage HP's voice and data network and product support call centers within the EMEA (Europe, Middle East and Africa) region. The companies have also formed a strategic go-to-market alliance targeting the global information and communications technology (ICT) marketplace.

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Redback Unveils its SmartEdge 1200 Router -- Scaling to Million Subscribers

Redback Networks unveiled its third generation multiservice edge router -- the SmartEdge 1200, designed to support one million Triple Play subscribers in a single rack. The new SmartEdge 1200 platform is distinguished by three major innovations:

• It will double carrier capacity for new video upgrades,



• Extend triple-play services to broadband mobile networks and



• Integrate up to six network applications into a single router, including deep-packet inspection for peer-to-peer traffic management, advanced session border capabilities, and network security for carriers and their customers.

The SmartEdge 1200 also is compatible with the first two generations of the SmartEdge 400 and SmartEdge 800. All three router platforms share a common operating system, line-cards and network software applications.

Taiwan's Chunghwa Telecom will be the first top 20 telephone carrier in the world to use the SmartEdge 1200. Chunghwa already uses Redback gear to manage more than 300,000 IPTV subscribers, in addition to providing VPN and VoIP services.

The SmartEdge 1200 offers high-resiliency features, including the ability to conduct live software upgrades and live network maintenance operations. The SmartEdge is rated at 99.999% reliability.



Redback, which is now a part of Ericsson, said the new SmartEdge platform is at the center of Ericsson efforts to deliver "full service broadband", linking wired and wireless networks and enabling the delivery of any service to any Internet-enabled device.

"We believe the core of the network will be upgraded, and the edge of the network will be the focus of most carrier spending in the future. We also believe more than 2 billion wireless and wireline users will be upgraded to video-centric broadband networks from 250 million broadband users today. The SmartEdge 1200 will be at the center of most network upgrades, because Ericsson and Redback have unique expertise in both subscriber and service management," said Kevin DeNuccio, president of Redback Networks.

http://www.redback.com

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CommuniGate Unveils Adobe Flash-based Client for Unified Communications

CommuniGate Systems announced the availability of user client that uses Adobe Flash and Adobe Flex 2 technology to integrate Rich Media resources and IP communications.



CommuniGate's Pronto! software client unifies calling, e-mail, IM, audio conferencing, video conferencing, photo and video resources, blogging, and groupware calendars -- in a sleek client interface. The browser based application unlocks e-mail and other productivity applications from the desktop. Users can access Pronto! from any web browser without the need to install client software.



The company said its Pronto! scales to support any deployment size for business or consumer subscribers. Pronto! is designed at the core to adapt to various subscriber requirements, and portable to allow Fixed Mobile Convergence due to the nature of the portability of Flash.



"Pronto! illustrates how Flex 2 and Flash are reshaping the user's experience on the web," said Jeff Whatcott, vice president of product marketing, Enterprise and Developer Business Unit at Adobe.



Pronto! provides a Rich Media interface for the CommuniGate Pro Internet Communications platform, a scalable platform that combines VoIP, data communications, and collaboration services. Pronto! interfaces with CommuniGate Pro via the XIMSS API (XML Interface for Messaging, Scheduling, and Signaling). The API enables ISPs and Enterprises to rapidly develop and design UIs, build portals, interface with cable modems, and link to external applications and services.



Pronto! features include:

• Fully featured E-mail Application



• Calendaring



• Contacts management



• Secure Instant Messaging



• Presence



• VoiceMail Management and Calling Preferences



• RSS Feeds and management



• MyPhotos



• MyVideos



• MyMusic



• Portability to any Flash 9 Player on Windows, OSX, Linux



• Highly secure binary that runs in memory space not browser cache

The CommuniGate Pro Enterprise Suite, including Pronto!, is available today, starting at US$849 for 25 users.



http://www.Communigate.com/pronto

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DITTBERNER Estimates Global Broadband Tops 290 Million Lines

DITTBERNER, an international market research and consultancy, estimates that global broadband subscribers increased 5.9% in Q1 2007 to reach 290.1 million, of which 195 million were DSL, 65 million were cable Modem, 22 million were FTTB and 7 million were FTTH.



The three largest service providers, China Telecom, China Netcom, and AT&T, accounted for 3.7 Million new subscribers or 23% of the total growth. The top ten service providers accounted for 6.9 Million new subscribers or 43% of the global growth, which is equal to their share of the world market.



Some highlights of the DITTBERNER report:












DITTBERNER's Broadband Study is an ongoing market research service updated quarterly, designed to track the BBxDSL and BBFTTX vendors and their potential.

http://www.Dittberner.com

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India's BSNL Selects NSN for Access Expansion -- ADSL2+/VDSL2

Bharat Sanchar Nigam Limited (BSNL), India's largest carrier, has selected Nokia Siemens Networks to modernize its access network in 17 Indian states. The project involves 800,000 new high-speed connections based on Carrier Ethernet technology from Nokia Siemens Networks. Specifically, by the end of July 2007, Nokia Siemens Networks will integrate Gigabit Ethernet-capable IP DSLAMs in the carrier's network and also supply the end-user devices required for subscribers.



A main distinguishing feature of Nokia Siemens Networks' technical solution is that VDSL and ADSL2+ cards can be provided in a single chassis. In addition, the high density multi-service access solution supports up to 1152 ports in a single chassis, thus providing cost savings for space and power.



BSNL will provide a total of six million new DSL connections (ADSL2+ and VDSL) with the possibility of three million more over the next three years and use them to offer its customers multimedia services such as high-speed Internet, IPTV, games and video on demand.



The agreement will run for a term of three years and comprises installation and commissioning. Training for BSNL's technicians and annual maintenance will be supported for five years. Financial terms were not disclosed.

http://www.nokiasiemensnetworks.com

http://www.bsnl.in

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China Mobile (Beijing) Selects Nokia Siemens' PoC

China Mobile Group Beijing Co., Ltd. (CMBJ) has chosen Nokia Siemens Networks to provide its Push-to-Talk over Cellular (PoC) solution. Specifically, Nokia Siemens Networks will provide a PoC server, Presence server, List Management server, IP backbone and management systems. The contract also covers equipment deployment, implementation, care and core planning. Deployment is underway.

http://www.nokiasiemensnetworks.com

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XO Launches Broadband Wireless in Las Vegas

Nextlink Wireless, an affiliated XO company and the nation's largest holder of Local Multipoint Distribution System (LMDS) spectrum with licenses in 75 metropolitan markets, launched a broadband wireless service in Las Vegas. The company can deliver network services directly to businesses at speeds ranging from 45 Mbps to 155 Mbps (OC-3) to support dedicated Internet access, metro Ethernet, VoIP, and wide area network services in campus or business park settings covering the entire Las Vegas metropolitan area.



XO now operates broadband wireless networks in twelve metropolitan markets across the United States.

http://www.xo.com

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GSM Association Collaborates with MMA on Mobile Advertising

The GSM Association (GSMA), which is the global trade association representing more than 700 GSM mobile phone operators, is working with the Mobile Marketing Association (MMA) to accelerate the development of mobile advertising worldwide. The two organizations will collaborate to deliver standardization and transparency around current mobile advertising activity, and to develop new, innovative advertising techniques.



The MMA will lead the development of guidelines, formats and best practices for mobile advertising, while the GSMA will work with mobile operators globally to develop and prioritize consistent structures, such as inventory types, and commercial and measurement models that will allow advertisers to create valuable advertising propositions. .

http://www.gsmworld.com

http://www.mmaglobal.com

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DSL Worldwide Surpasses 200 Million Line Mark

DSL's subscriber base worldwide has exceeded the 200 million mark, with almost 20 percent (or 37 million) living in China, according to new figures from The DSL Forum and Point Topic. China is now the largest provider of DSL-based services.



The new milestone represents a 29 percent increase in the number of DSL customers inside the last twelve months.



The DSL Forum estimates that DSL accounts for 65% of all broadband access forms globally and 73 percent of the Chinese broadband
market.



http://www.dslforum.org

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Alcatel-Lucent Wins IP/MPLS Contracts with China Telecom

Jiangsu Telecom and Hubei Telecom, two subsidiaries of China Telecom, have selected Alcatel-Lucent's IP/MPLS gear to expand their IP metro area networks. The multi-million Euro contracts were secured by Alcatel Shanghai Bell. The Alcatel-Lucent IP solution includes the 7750 Service Router (SR).

http://www.alcatel-lucent.com

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ECI Telecom Gains MEF Certification

ECI Telecom's Multi-Service Provisioning Platforms (MSPP) -- the XDM and the BroadGate (BG) series -- have been certified to be compliant to the Metro Ethernet Forum (MEF) technical specifications for delivery of Ethernet services. Testing was carried out by Iometrix testing lab. ECI's XDM and BG platforms were found to be fully compliant to MEF 9 and MEF 14, successfully demonstrating the platforms' readiness to deliver any Metro Ethernet service in conformance with MEF's quality of service attributes for traffic management.

http://www.ecitele.com

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Ericsson Sells Planet EV Planning Tool Business to CTS

Ericsson will sell its Planet EV network planning tool suite and associated business to CTS International for an undisclosed sum. Planet EV is a network planning platform for network design, optimization and data management that was acquired by Ericsson in 2006 along with other business assets from Marconi.



The sale includes the transfer of approximately 60 employees and is expected to close within 30 days.



Ericsson said it will continue to provide its customers with network planning services which combine products and services to increase value to the customer.



CTS is a provider of microwave transmission network planning solutions and has had an ongoing relationship with Ericsson and previously with Marconi that included integration of their microwave tool into Planet EV. http://www.ericsson.com

http://www.criltelecom.com/

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Alcatel Double Capacity of FTTU, Introduces New ONTs

Alcatel-Lucent has enhanced its 7342 ISAM Fiber-to-the-User (FTTU) with new quad port line cards, effectively doubling the system density, and a 10 Gigabits per I/O slot. Release 4.4 also supports VoIP with SIP and H248 and supports IPTV with IGMPv3 for fast TV channel change.



In addition, Alcatel-Lucent introduced three new optical network terminals (ONTs) for residential, multi-dwelling units and businesses, which gives it the widest range of industry leading ONTs for all customer types.

• The Residential ONT (I-ONT) is ultra-compact and supports 2 Gigabit Ethernet ports.



• The compact Multi-Dwelling Unit ONT (M-ONT) is capable of serving up to 12 living units with primary phone lines and either VDSL or Ethernet data. It addresses the Fiber-to-the-Building segment with full quality of service since each VDSL copper user has the same Quality of Service (QoS) as fiber connected GPON users - each VDSL user is effectively treated as if they are a fiber user.



• The Business ONT (B-ONT) supports voice, gigabit Ethernet and legacy services (TDM E1) with accurate clock-synchronization for mobile backhaul of 2G, 3G, WiMax and business-leased lines.

http://www.alcatel-lucent.com

• In March 2007, Alcatel-Lucent introduced a 48-port VDSL2 line card as part of Release 3.3 of its ISAM product family, a density especially important in space-constrained cabinets. This is a universal DSL card, which is backwards compatible with ADSL. Alcatel-Lucent's ISAM Release 3.3 products include the 7302 ISAM for central offices and its smaller form factor 7330 ISAM Fiber to the Node (FTTN) optimized for street cabinets. Through the same 48-port VDSL2 line card, services providers can support IPTV subscribers with VDSL2 plus existing ADSL users.

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Chunghwa Telecom selects Alcatel-Lucent Ethernet/MPLS

Chunghwa Telecom, the incumbent operator in Taiwan, selected Alcatel-Lucent to provide an Ethernet/MPLS backbone to support its island-wide FTTH initiative. CHT is deploying the Alcatel-Lucent 7450 Ethernet Service Switch (ESS), which provides scalable Ethernet/MPLS aggregation resulting in high bandwidth for high-speed Internet, video and voice services.



Alcatel-Lucent said the new contract is part of CHT's "Optical Era Project" which involves an investment of approximately USD 180 million to construct an island-wide fiber optical network over a five-year period. The final goal of the project is to bring fiber optic connections to 2.4 million subscribers by the end of 2010.

http://www.alcatel.com

• In March 2007, Chunghwa Telecom selected Alcatel-Lucent to deploy Taiwan's first Universal WiMAX (802.16e-2005) network in the densely populated metro area of Taoyuan county. Chunghwa Telecom's Universal WiMAX network will fully comply with the IEEE 802.16e-2005 (also called Rev-e) standard for fixed, nomadic and mobile usage. Under the terms of the contract, Alcatel-Lucent will provide its end-to-end WiMAX solution, including 2X2 multiple input/multiple output (MIMO) technology, which can help increase capacity and coverage. Alcatel-Lucent will also be providing Chunghwa Telecom multi-vendor network integration, engineering and installation support.



• In December 2006, Chunghwa Telecom selected Alcatel-Lucent's IMS-compliant solution for real-time, high-quality video telephony and video conferencing services between fixed broadband networks and 3G mobile networks. The service, which is now commercially available, will allow more than three million of CHT's ADSL subscribers to make high quality video calls between the operator's fixed and mobile broadband networks. Alcatel-Lucent's solution to CHT is based on elements of its IMS (IP Multimedia Subsystem) solution including the5020 Softswitch with its Call Session Controller (CSC) for multimedia session control and the 8690 Video Telephony Application Server for multimedia applications.

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Taiwan's Chunghwa Selects Teknovus for GEPON

Chunghwa Telecom, the incumbent carrier in Taiwan, has selected Teknovus' Gigabit Ethernet Optical Network (G-EPON) chipsets for its FTTH deployment. The network will be used for broadband services including premium video services such as IPTV, along with VoIP and high-speed data services. Deployments are underway.



Teknovus said its chips and software met Chunghwa's QoS requirements on 1X64 fully loaded PON networks while adhering to low power usage parameters.



In January this year, Chunghwa Telecom announced it plans to invest NT$60 billion (US$1.85 billion) over the next five years to provide better broadband services to homes. The number of Chunghwa consumers using its optical fiber network is expected to reach 500,000 by year-end 2007 and 2.4 million by 2010.

http://www.teknovus.com

• As of the end of March 2007, Chunghwa reported 285,111 MOD (media on-demand IPTV) subscribers.

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Micrel Announces New 2.5 Gbps GPON ONU Transceiver

Micrel introduced a single chip programmable SERDES (Serializer/Deserializer) that supports multiple Passive Optical Network (PON) standards and rates including asymmetric Gigabit Passive Optical Network (GPON) with data rates up to 2.5 Gbps on the receive side and 1.25 Gbps on the transmit side.



Micrel's SY87725L SERDES chip offers complete clock recovery and data retiming circuitry, along with an integrated 4-bit serial-to-parallel data converter, on the receive side. On the transmit side, it also includes a synthesizer with an integrated 4-bit parallel-to-serial data converter. Micrel said its device is targeted at BPON/GPON/GEPON/EPON applications in the growing Fiber-to-the-Home and Fiber-to-the-Premises markets. The SY87725 is currently available in volume and is priced at $9.95 for 1K quantities. http://www.micrel.com/

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