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Note: For SDH/SONET news after 10/01/06, please go to Optical Networking

SDH/SONET News (Before 10/01/06)

Top Story: Huawei leads in optical networking equipment
Ovum-RHK Tuesday announced its preliminary analysis of second quarter 2006 results for optical networking equipment vendors. In 2Q06 revenues for the segment were up 18 percent versus 1Q06 and up 11 percent versus the year-ago quarter.
2Q06 highlights for the optical networking equipment market and the top 7 vendors:
- 2Q06 revenues were $3.0 billion, up 11 percent versus 2Q05 and 18 percent versus 1Q06
- Huawei's revenues increased 81 percent sequentially and 54 percent versus 2Q05
- Siemens's revenues increased 33 percent sequentially and 46 percent versus 2Q05
- Nortel's revenues increased 30 percent sequentially and 7 percent versus 2Q05
- Alcatel's revenues were up 25 percent sequentially but down 5 percent versus 2Q05
- Fujitsu's, Lucent's, and Tellabs's revenues were down sequentially, but were at worst flat compared with 2Q05
Spending in the North American market once again outpaced the other regional markets, topping $1 billion for the second quarter in a row. The North American spending gain was once again broad-based, with metro and backbone WDM growth leading the way as network operators continued expanding their networks to accommodate growing video and packet data traffic.
"Global spending, particularly for metro and backbone WDM equipment, rose as existing users expanded their footprint and capacity for data and video services and as new builds by non-traditional customers-including mobile operators, MSOs, enterprises, research and education institutions, governments, and utilities-continued to expand," said Dana Cooperson, Vice President, Optical Networking and Practice Leader, Network Infrastructure at Ovum-RHK. "We saw a bit of softness in spending in the quarter for multi-service SONET devices, particularly in North America, which could signal the beginning of the shift in spending away from SONET/SDH devices as WDM takes over as the foundation of metro core networks. In Asia-Pacific, however, sales of multi-service SDH devices remained quite strong, which we would expect given that the market there is less mature than in North America."
Related Channels: WDM, Video, Cable MSO, SDH/SONET, China

Huawei optical network products get certification from IBM
After obtaining the certification of Sun and McDATA for interoperability, the optical network solutions of Huawei Technologies Co., Ltd. ("Huawei") passed the strict interoperability test of IBM in late May, 2006 and were added into the Interoperability Matrix of the IBM ESS, the DS 8000 and the DS 6000 series in August, 2006. The IBM ESS series are IBM's most widely deployed storage products, while the DS 8000 and the DS 6000 are the latest prevailing storage series launched by IBM.
As a leading supplier of network storage products and solutions, IBM is mainly engaged in providing storage solutions for high-end customers, like multinational financial firms, telecommunication operators, governments, and electric power plants. After being proved interoperable with the IBM ESS series, DS 8000 and DS 6000, Huawei's OptiX Metro 6100, 6040 & OptiX OSN 7500, 3500, 2500, 1500 were officially listed into IBM DS 8000 and DS 6000 Interoperability Matrix in August, 2006.
In recent years, Huawei's optical network solutions had been included into the operability matrix of most of the global leading providers of network storage products and solutions, such as Brocade, EMC, HP, IBM, McDATA and SUN... It shows that Huawei's optical network solutions can satisfy the most critical requirements of global leading network storage solutions for long distance data replication, helping Huawei's partners to bring more competitive solutions to enterprises of all sizes.
China's Huawei is a global leading vendor of optical network products and solutions. Its OptiX Metro 6100/6040 is mainly used in transmitting big granule service (e.g. STM-16/64, GE, 10GE etc.) and special services (e.g. ESCON, FICON, Fiber Channel, etc.). It is widely used in metropolitan backbone networks, local area networks, wideband data networks and
storage area networks, and the GE-based access layer. The Huawei OptiX OSN7500/3500/2500/1500 are new generation equipments sharing the same platform with MAN. Integrating the technologies of SDH, WDM, Ethernet, ATM, PDH, ESCON, FC/FICON, DVB-ASI, it can transmit voice, data, SAN, and video services efficiently on the same platform.
The node distance of the Metro & OSN series products can cover several thousand kilometers for SAN service, and all these products have been successfully deployed as data and SAN transport platform for finance and telecommunication enterprises worldwide.
Related Channels: China, Storage, Ethernet, WDM, SDH/SONET

Time Warner Telecom completes redundant DWDM SONET protected fiber ring in Silicon Valley
Time Warner Telecom Inc., a provider of managed voice and data networking solutions for businesses, announced the completion of its 480-mile fiber ring in the Bay Area. The fully redundant DWDM SONET protected fiber ring extends service from San Francisco, the East Bay and Walnut Creek to the Silicon Valley cities of Palo Alto, San Jose, Santa Clara and Sunnyvale.
Time Warner Telecom operates and maintains a national fiber network infrastructure and a 10 Gbps IP backbone delivering state-of-the-art Ethernet-based communications services and converged voice and data solutions to enterprise and carrier customers across the U.S.
"This recent addition to our ring in the Bay Area creates the region's most robust and flexible conduit for delivering data and voice communications services," said Sonja Williams, sales director for Time Warner Telecom in San Francisco. "Our products and services, along with this 480-mile fiber ring, offer converged communications solutions to the most technically advanced and entrepreneurial businesses in the country."
Related Channels: Ethernet, WDM, SDH/SONET

Anue ships new multi-profile network emulators
Texas-based Anue Systems, the market and technology leader in network delay and impairment emulation, is now shipping its new GEM (1 Gbps) and XGEM (10 Gbps) multi-profile Network Emulators. For customers working with IP and Ethernet, GEM and XGEM make testing more real-world and more effective.
The GEM enables users to emulate up to 64 different network flows per system (XGEM handles up to 8 network flows). A Network Profile can be defined by any combination of VLAN tag, MPLS label, MAC or IP address, TCP port or any other information up to 2000 bytes deep within the Ethernet frame. Each Network Profile can have its own distinct delay, impairment, traffic shaping and/or QoS profile. Types of impairments include static delay, jitter, packet drops, bandwidth rate limiting (policing), bit errors, reorder, duplication and corruption.
Early GEM customers include those developing, testing and deploying Video IP, VoIP, TCP acceleration, remote storage and other applications that depend on converged IP and Ethernet networks.
As with all Anue Emulators, GEM & XGEM are full line rate capable with the industry’s highest precision and accuracy. GEM/XGEM supports a Tcl API for 100% automation and can be combined with software loads for other protocols, such as SONET/SDH and Fibre Channel on the same platform. Anue Emulators support Ethernet, SONET/SDH, OTN, CPRI and Fibre Channel interfaces up to 11.3Gbps.
Related Channels: Test, Ethernet, VoIP, Video, SDH/SONET

ZTE wins optical deal from Algeria's largest mobile operator
China-based ZTE Corporation, a leading global provider of telecommunications equipment and network solutions, has been awarded a contract to supply optical network equipment to ATM Mobilis, the largest mobile operator in Algeria.
Under the contract, ZTE is to provide its field-proven optical products including transmission equipment, power supply, optical network management software and SDH/PDH analyzers. The contract marks a break-through of ZTE's optical network equipment in Algeria.
Related Channels: Wireless, SDH/SONET, Test, China

RCN deploys Turin’s multiservice transport switch for carrier Ethernet services
California-based Turin Networks, a global provider of multiservice optical transport solutions for carrier, wireless and private networks, announced that RCN Business Solutions, a premiere transport, internet, bulk video and voice service provider to the carrier and enterprise business communities, is deploying Turin’s Traverse® Multiservice Transport Switch in key Metro areas to deliver flexible, high-bandwidth Carrier Ethernet services to business customers.
The deployed Carrier Ethernet applications include multipoint E-LAN, as well as point-to-point Ethernet Private Line (EPL) services at both 10/100 and 1,000 Mbps rates, with bandwidth flexibility in 1 Mbps increments. These services increase the business group’s versatility in delivering tailored service packages to enterprise customers. RCN Business Solutions is now able to accommodate an enterprise customer’s changing requirements without additional equipment or truck rolls.
RCN’s new Carrier Ethernet services are powered by Turin’s industry-leading Traverse® Multiservice Transport Switch. The Traverse platform, which recently received “Carrier Ethernet Certified” status from the Metro Ethernet Forum (MEF), unifies Carrier Ethernet/MPLS switching with next-generation SONET/SDH functionality in a single shelf optimized for metro and interoffice deployments.
“Turin Networks helps leading carriers like RCN Business Solutions optimize their networks and increase revenues,” said Henry Wasik, president and CEO, Turin Networks. “We are pleased to partner with RCN Business Solutions to improve their ability to deliver new Carrier Ethernet services and to migrate to a packet-optimized transport network.”
Related Channels: Ethernet, Switching & Routing, SDH/SONET

Large-scale 10-Gigabit core router testing underway in China
The China Academy of Telecommunication Research (CATR) of China's Ministry of Information Industry (MII) is working with Spirent on large-scale testing of 10-Gigabit core routers.
Spirent test solutions will enable CATR to test the performance of core routers under high-capacity configurations and extreme networks conditions found in real-world operations.
The test systems provide wireline packet generation and analysis, along with sophisticated QoS models for simulation of real-world network scenarios. The CATR test environment consists of 16 ultra-high capacity 10 Gbps packet over SONET (PoS) interfaces.
Related Channels: China, Test, Switching & Routing, VPN

EXFO adds optical transport network testing to protocol portfolio
Canada-based EXFO Electro-Optical Engineering Inc. announced the release of optical transport network (OTN) testing functionalities on its IQS/FTB-8120 and IQS/FTB-8130 Transport Blazer test modules. This ongoing evolution within EXFO's Transport Blazer product family brings to market the most compact OTN and next-generation SONET/SDH test solution in the industry.
Increased demand for converged high-speed data, voice and video services over Internet protocol networks continues to drive the need for higher-performance metro and long-haul transport networks. OTN, which is defined in the ITU-T G.709 standard, is a key enabler for service providers to deliver increased performance on their legacy fiber infrastructures.
EXFO's OTN test solution is a new software option that runs on the IQS-500 Intelligent Test System for manufacturing and R&D test applications. It can also be used with the FTB-200 Compact Platform and the advanced FTB-400 Universal Test System to ensure coverage of a wide array of test and measurement applications, ranging from R&D verification, to field turn-up and troubleshooting. It includes forward error correction (FEC) generation and analysis as well as support for all OTN layer alarms and errors. This OTN test solution is designed to support both OTU1 (2.7 Gb/s) and OTU2 (10.7 Gb/s) test rates.
Related Channels: Test, SDH/SONET

Thales and Alcatel secure DWDM wavelengths
Thales Security and Alcatel announced a major breakthrough in the security of DWDM wavelengths for financial and government applications. The Thales SONET Datacryptor® has successfully demonstrated encryption of an aggregate SONET signal generated by an Alcatel 1677 SL provisioned with optional Dense Wavelength Division Multiplexing (DWDM) modules and Erbium Doped Fiber Amplifiers (EDFA). In addition to providing DWDM-based encryption, this testing validates that the Thales SONET Datacryptor does not introduce significant delays or impairments when used with ITU optics for SONET protection schemes, including Linear, Unidirectional Path-Switched Ring, and Bidirectional Line-Switched Ring.
DWDM technology allows network operators to increase the capacity of their existing fiber networks while avoiding costly installation of additional fiber infrastructure. EDFAs allow operators to extend the reach of their DWDM signals without the need for numerous, costly regeneration sites. As demand within the financial and government sector for high capacity transmission increases, this testing validates that the Thales SONET Datacryptor and the Alcatel 1677 SL, with the inclusion of DWDM optics, provides the increased capacity of DWDM while still offering secure transmission of mission-critical information.
New federal regulations mandate that large financial institutions and the U.S. Government encrypt their Wide Area Network links to improve overall security. While traditional DWDM-based encryption services have been limited to the entire fiber, Thales and Alcatel have demonstrated per-wavelength encryption. This solution allows these operators to cost effectively expand their effective bandwidth while securing their data in a more flexible and efficient manner.
"Information security, via encryption, is rapidly becoming an essential component of doing business," said Steven Pickett, senior vice president and general manager of Alcatel's optical networking activities in North America. "As the world leader in optical networking, Alcatel is committed to meeting the needs of our customers. By working with Thales to prove the effectiveness of the SONET Datacryptor, Alcatel continues to provide and support the latest technologies and applications required by the market."
Related Channels: WDM, Photonics, Security, SDH/SONET

AT&T announces SONET and Ethernet services contract with Evanston
AT&T Inc. Friday announced a new optical services contract with Evanston Northwestern Healthcare (ENH), an academic health system comprising three hospitals and 65 medical offices and facilities. Evanston Northwestern Healthcare is located in Chicago's northern suburbs.
Under the terms of the five-year contract, AT&T will deliver a Synchronous Optical Network (SONET) ring, which is an optical-fiber network backbone; and GigaMAN(R) service, which is a dedicated fiber-optic Ethernet service. Together, these services will enable ENH to open a new data center, thereby converting the existing facility into a backup data location for added security and increased redundancy of the ENH network. This solution will protect ENH against possible service outages, which would be detrimental to this virtually paperless institution.
The expanded bandwidth and increased reliability, via the converged network infrastructure, will ensure constant access to the network's critical applications and directory of patient records. Additionally, the optical network will enable ENH to continue to provide highly available voice and data connectivity to hospitals and medical offices.
"We are virtually a paperless healthcare institution, so constant access to our voice and data communications is essential to our operations," said Tom Smith, CIO of Evanston Northwestern Healthcare. "The solution provided by AT&T safeguards against detrimental service outages by delivering increased uptime for our network and core applications, enabling our staff to focus on our number one priority -- delivery of excellent patient care."
Related Channels: SDH/SONET, Ethernet, Storage

Ericsson to supply SDH equipment to Russia's Yeniseitelecom
Sweden-based telecom solutions provider Ericsson has concluded a deal with Russian regional mobile operator Yeniseitelecom to supply synchronous digital hierarchy (SDH) network equipment to the operator.
Under the deal Ericsson is to supply and install equipment for a complex broadband solution based on the SDH standard. The solution includes the fiber-optical network management system ServiceOn Optical and over 30 multiplexers, i.e. devices enabling the digital transmission of several data streams through a single channel.
The SDH solution is expected to help Yeniseitelecom upgrade its transmission network in the city of Krasnoyarsk and prepare it for the construction of a next generation network (NGN).
Ericsson hopes to complete installing the SDH equipment and launch the new fiber-optical transmission network for Yeniseitelecom by September.
Yeniseitelecom is a wholly owned subsidiary of Russia's Sibirtelecom, a fixed-line telecom provider in the Siberian Federal District. The company provides mobile services in GSM-900/1800 and IMT-MC-450 standards.
Related Channels: SDH/SONET

Huawei ranks No.3 among the top 100 Chinese non-state-owned enterprises listed by the Chinese version of Forbes
The Chinese version of Forbes, a magazine that tracks the world's wealthy, has officially released a list of top Chinese enterprises, the first survey conducted by it on Chinese non-state-owned enterprises with annual sales revenues of more than CNY 5 million.
Among a total of 100 firms on the list, Legend Holdings Limited and Huawei Technologies Co., Ltd. rank among the top 3.
Legend Holdings heads the list with total assets of CNY 62.3 billion, sales revenues surging 107% to CNY 108.2 billion, and an above average profit of up to CNY 2.05 billion. The third one is Huawei, which has owned total assets of CNY 49 billion, sales revenues of CNY 40.5 billion with a growth of 39%, and a profit of CNY 4.07 billion coming to the fore.
Related Channels: China, Switching & Routing, WDM, VoIP, VPN, xDSL, Video, FTTP, Ethernet, Wireless, OSS/BSS, Security, Cable MSO, SDH/SONET, Storage

China Telecom expands core capacity
China Telecom, China's leading telecommunications provider, has expanded the core capacity of its ChinaNet Next Carrying Network (CN2), enabling CN2's Juniper Networks M- and T-series routers to support an increasing number of network edge devices and applications. Since November 2004, China Telecom has deployed Juniper routers as the only routing platforms in the national core of its CN2 project, continuing to build upon previous deployments as part of its CN2 expansion plan.
The high-performance routing platforms provide high density aggregation at the network core with support for Gigabit Ethernet, SONET/SDH and other high-speed interfaces.
Related Channels: China

White Rock receives certification for compliance with MEF 9
Texas-based White Rock Networks, a leading provider of next-generation optical transport systems for metro networks, announced Tuesday that its VLX2020 and VLX2006 have received certification for compliance with MEF 9 for all three Ethernet services defined by the Metro Ethernet Forum. These include Ethernet Private Line (EPL) Ethernet Virtual Private Line (EVPL) and Ethernet LAN (ELAN), for point-to-point (EPL or EVPL) or multipoint (E-LAN) Metro Ethernet services.
The VLX2020 Optical Transport System and VLX2006 Multi-service Access Platform were tested by Iometrix test laboratory and have been certified to comply with all the requirements established in the MEF 9 Abstract Test Suite for Ethernet Services at the UNI. Combined, the two platforms offer service providers a low-cost access solution and scalable hubbing/switching solution for MEF-complaint Ethernet service delivery over metro optical networks.
The MEF Certification Program is designed to accelerate the adoption of Carrier Ethernet by helping service providers evaluate the equipment of various manufacturers and make it easier to provide the key features of Carrier Ethernet: rapid service creation, smooth scalability to 10 Gbps, end-to-end protection, robust service level agreements, and flexible support for voice, Internet, and multicast traffic.
“Optical transport systems play a big part in the delivery of metro Ethernet services and this certification shows that SONET-based Carrier Ethernet platforms will continue to be an integral part of a carrier’s toolkit for some time to come,” says Lonnie Martin, Founder and CEO of White Rock Networks. “Ethernet over SONET platforms continue to be widely adopted by service providers for Ethernet service delivery in the metro. Our MEF certification shows that Ethernet over SONET platforms provide a truly carrier-class solution that augment MEF service capabilities.”
Related Channels: Ethernet, SDH/SONET

City of Klamath Falls, OR, approves Lightspeed Networks' (LSN) franchise ordinance
The City of Klamath Falls, OR, has approved Lightspeed Networks' (LSN) franchise ordinance, allowing the carrier to expand its fiber network reach in another southern Oregon city.
Earlier this month, LS Networks announced the completion of yet another segment its fiber-optic network, bringing the company's total fiber miles to 2,250 miles. The carrier's SONET network includes more than 45 switches and DWDM/SONET/Ethernet routers and 43 points-of-presence (PoPs) and reaches nearly 75% of Oregon's business addresses in 26 cities. Its product suite comprises Ethernet-over-SONET, VLAN, wavelength, and TDM services. LSN was recently recognized as one of Oregon's "Top Telecom" companies in the Portland Business Journal.
"We are very pleased to work with the City of Klamath Falls as we continue to grow and expand our network presence within
the state," contends Michael Weidman, LSN's president and CEO. "In addition to providing additional value-add services to Klamath Falls, we are also providing greater network resiliency with our construction in the Klamath Falls area," he adds.
Related Channels: Ethernet, Switching & Routing, WDM, SDH/SONET

Huawei holds first Venezuelan end-to-end UMTS exhibition
Huawei 3G solutions and services gained significant attention from Venezuelan leading operators
Huawei Technologies Co., Ltd. ("Huawei"), a leader in providing next generation telecommunications networking solutions for operators around the world, takes its 3G Roadshow truck to Venezuela, from June 12 to 14 in Caracas, Venezuela. This is the first Venezuelan end-to-end UMTS exhibition in the history of the local telecoms industry and it shows Huawei's commitment to enriching the life of the Venezuelan people through quality communication.
Huawei's 3G solutions and services gained siginificant attention from Venezuelan leading operators. Up till now, about 300 guests from operators have visited the exhibition. Top management executives from CANTV, Movilnet, Digitel, CVG, and Movilstar all showed great interest in the innovative technologies Huawei showcased during the roadshow.
The exhibition introduced Huawei's cutting-edge UMTS technologies that are changing people's communication fashion and end-to-end UMTS products such as RNC, odeb, HSDPA, Softswitch, and mobile phones.
The 3G Roadshow truck has been in many countries, such as France, Germany, England, Spain, Mexico, Brazil, Columbia and Argentina.
As one of the mainstream 3G suppliers in the world, Huawei Technologies has won 29 UMTS commercial contracts, and established partnerships with global leading operators including Vodafone, Orange, and KPN. More than ten of our UMTS commercial contracts are from the European market. As of April 2006, Huawei Technologies ranked No.1 in the global Mobile Softswitch market, serving over 100 million subscribers.
"According to the company's customer-focus strategy, Huawei spared no effort to partner with Venezuelan carriers and government to bring quality and innovative technologies to the Venezuelan people," said Mr. Xu Jin, President of Huawei Technologies de Venezuela, S.A.
In order to fulfill its commitment and responsibility as a corporate citizen, Huawei continuously invests in the Venezuelan market to bring new technologies and experience to the local telecoms industry including customers, the university, government and people since it entered the Venezuelan market in 2001. The 3G Roadshow is one of Huawei's series of social activities aiming to benefit the local telecoms industry and society, in addition to the training programs and other activities available for carriers, students, and telecom experts.
"We hope this truck will not only take us on a fantastic journey towards the innovative future of 3G, but also lead us to a meaningful reality that is both beneficial and profitable to the industry, Venezuelan people, as well as to the country of Venezuela," added Mr. Xu Jin.
In 2001, Huawei Technologies established the local headquarters in Caracas, Venezuela, has three service branch offices in Maracaibo, Maracay and Puerto Ordaz, and currently has more than 200 employees. Huawei Technologies is cooperating with most Venezuelan carriers and enterprise network operators in the fields of Wireless, NGN, DWDM, SDH, and mobile terminals.
Related Channels: China

Highlights of Huawei's Annual Financial Report for 2005
- Total revenue and profit of Huawei were USD 5.982 billion and USD 681 million respectively. Their compound annual growth rate (CAGR) reached 27% and 28% in the past five years. Its operating cash flow topped USD 708 million, up 78.8% year on year.
- International sales USD 4.8 billion in 2005, 58% of its total revenue. This was the first time that its international sales exceeded domestic sales.
- Huawei will continue focusing on all IP and fixed-mobile convergence solutions in 2006.
- The company will boost its management and organization reforms, improve marketing strategy, supply chain and products services and increase investments in R&D.
Related Channels: China

Huawei to acquire Harbour
Huawei Technologies has signed an MOU (memorandum of understanding) to acquire Bieijing-based Harbour Networks.
Under the agreement, Harbour will transfer part of its assets, routers, optical networks and employees to Huawei.
All related IPRs (intellectual property rights) will also be transferred to Huawei. The value of the deal was not disclosed. The two companies are still working on the details.
Harbour Networks was established in 2000 by former Huawei Vice President Yi Linan who later hired several engineers from Huawei. It has become a rival for Huawei in some business areas such as routers and optical networks.
In 2005, Huawei warned Harbour it might consider launching a lawsuit against Harbour's alleged IPRs infringements. An acquisition could help cease the possible lawsuit.
In December, 2005, Siemens Communications Group reportedly intended to buy a large portion of Harbour's assets for US$110 million. That deal didn't realize probably due to the IPR dispute between Harbour and Huawei.
How much will Huawei pay for acquiring Harbour? Our guess: far below US$100 million.
Related Channels: Switching & Routing, SDH/SONET, China, Mergers & Acquisitions

Alcatel launches transport service switch for North America
Alcatel announced the North American introduction of the Alcatel 1850 Transport Service Switch (TSS), the next-generation metro networking platform offering a 100% flexible mix of Ethernet, TDM and WDM in a single platform. The Alcatel 1850 TSS provides North American service providers with a powerful architecture to address the transition from circuit- based to packet-based transport infrastructures. The product is being showcased at the Alcatel booth (# 51018) at Globalcomm taking place in Chicago from June 4 to 8, 2006.
Designed around a revolutionary 'Universal Switch' technology developed by Alcatel, the Alcatel 1850 TSS is the industry's first platform that can be used to aggregate, switch and transport any combination of Ethernet/MPLS/RPR, SONET/SDH and WDM services. In service provider networks, the 1850 TSS can provide CAPEX savings of more than 30 percent and OPEX savings of more than 40 percent, compared to alternative architectures based on separate platforms.
"The availability of the Alcatel 1850 TSS further demonstrates Alcatel's commitment to addressing the evolving networking needs of North American service providers as they seamlessly transition their networks from TDM to packet," said Steven Pickett, senior vice president and general manager of Alcatel's optical networking activities in North America.
Related Channels: Switching & Routing, Ethernet, WDM, SDH/SONET

Ciena delivers Ethernet services solution
Ciena announced an enhancement to its market-leading CoreDirector® multiservice switch to further simplify migration to packet-based services while reducing the cost and complexity of existing SONET/SDH networks. By integrating the new Ethernet Services Line Module (ESLM), CoreDirector now offers advanced Ethernet functionality that enables service providers to deliver high-margin, highly-reliable Ethernet services. With this solution, service providers can reduce network complexity and lower capital expenditure by more than 40 percent.
An in-service upgrade for CoreDirector, the ESLM delivers 20 Gbps of advanced Layer 2 switching functionality, including support for Gigabit Ethernet (GbE), 10 Gigabit Ethernet, VLAN switching, Ethernet link aggregation and traffic management based on Metro Ethernet Forum (MEF) standards. The enhancement also optimizes CoreDirector as a gateway switch for high-capacity aggregation and forwarding of both Ethernet and TDM services, eliminating the need for multiple Ethernet switches and Multiservice Provisioning Platforms (MSPPs).
"Service providers continue to look for migration solutions like Ciena's FlexSelect Architecture that help them protect investments in existing infrastructure as they transition to Ethernet to accelerate time to revenue for new services," said Steve Alexander, chief technology officer at Ciena. "With these expanded capabilities, CoreDirector delivers new benefits for Ethernet services, including new revenue streams for differentiated classes of Ethernet services, automated provisioning and management, and carrier-class reliability."
Related Channels: Ethernet, SDH/SONET

Level 3 to acquire Looking Glass Networks for $96M
Level 3 Communications has signed a definitive agreement to acquire Looking Glass Networks, a privately held facilities-based provider of metropolitan transport services. Level 3's payments in this transaction will total $165 million. Under the terms of the agreement, Level 3 will pay total consideration to Looking Glass' security holders of $96 million, consisting of $87 million in unregistered shares of Level 3 common stock and $9 million in cash. At closing, Level 3 will also pay Looking Glass liabilities of approximately $69 million, which are primarily senior secured debt.
Looking Glass, based in Oak Brook, Illinois, provides data transport services including SONET/SDH, Wavelength and Ethernet as well as dark fiber and carrier-neutral colocation. Looking Glass' network includes approximately 2,000 route miles serving 14 major metro markets, with lit fiber connectivity to approximately 215 buildings. Looking Glass also has dark fiber connectivity to approximately 250 additional buildings.
Credit Suisse acted as sole financial advisor to Looking Glass. Kirkland & Ellis, LLP acted as the company's legal advisor. Willkie Farr & Gallagher LLP served as Level 3's legal advisor.
Closing is subject to customary conditions, including receipt of applicable state and federal regulatory approvals. Closing is expected to occur in the third quarter of 2006.
Related Channels: Mergers & Acquisitions, SDH/SONET

Fujitsu picks PMC-Sierra's chipsets for ROADM and MSPP
Fujitsu Limited has selected PMC-Sierra's metro transport semiconductor solutions for its flagship metro optical products: the FLASHWAVE® 7500 Reconfigurable Optical Add/Drop Multiplexer (ROADM) and the FLASHWAVE 4500 Multi-Service Provisioning Platform (MSPP). The FLASHWAVE 7500 ROADM integrates comprehensive SONET Add/Drop Multiplexer (ADM) functionality onto individual Flexponder(TM) interface cards using PMC-Sierra's CHESS(TM) III chip set. The complementary FLASHWAVE 4500 MSPP utilizes not only the CHESS III chip set but also PMC-Sierra's CHESS Wideband chip set. The CHESS Wideband chip set is used to achieve high-capacity VT1.5 grooming, as required by next-generation MSPPs to map data and TDM traffic into SONET/SDH tributaries.
The CHESS family of solutions enables Fujitsu to provide distributed, scalable metro transport solutions with reduced power, cost and complexity, even as Service Providers demand higher levels of integration and flexibility. These benefits improve fiber efficiency, reduce capital and operational costs, and provide Service Providers with the ability to introduce and more effectively manage both new Ethernet and existing T1/E1 services.
Related Channels: Chipsets, WDM, Ethernet, SDH/SONET

Chunghwa Telecom expands and improves service for international operations
The international business arm of Taiwan's largest telecommunications company, Chunghwa Telecom (CHT), has selected a Cisco optical networking solution, using the Cisco ONS 15454 Multiservice Provisioning Platform (MSPP), to help propel its rapid expansion into overseas markets in Asia, Europe and the United States. CHT has extended its coverage from six to 12 cities in Asia, Europe and the United States.
The solution comprises the Cisco ONS 15454 MSPP, Cisco 12000 Series Routers, Cisco 7600 Series Routers and Cisco Transport Manager.
The Cisco ONS 15454 MSPP provides the functions of many traditional Synchronous Optical Network (SONET) and Synchronous Digital Hierarchy (SDH) network elements in a single platform, combining advanced SONET/SDH transport through OC-192/STM-64 integrated dense wavelength-division multiplexing optical networking and multi-service interfaces. The Cisco ONS 15454 MSPP combines the capacity of advanced optical transport with the intelligence of IP to cost-effectively deliver voice and data services.
Related Channels: Switching & Routing, SDH/SONET

Huawei optical network solutions receives SUN & McDATA interoperability certificates
After being included into extender partner Matrix of HP storage networking solutions, the optical network solutions of Huawei Technologies Co., Ltd. ("Huawei"), have passed the strict interoperability certificate test of SUN & McDATA in late April 2006.
SUN & McDATA are leading providers of storage networking products and solutions for enterprises. In addition, they have rich experience in the aspects of business continuity and disaster recovery solutions for global large-scale enterprises in areas including finance, telecommunications, government, electric power and transportation. On the 20th of April, after the test between McDATA Sphereon 4300, 4500, 3232, Intrepid 6064, 6140 and Huawei OptiX Metro 6100, 6040 & OptiX OSN 7500, 3500, 2500, 1500, all the abovementioned optical products of Huawei have been officially listed in the latest OpenReady Solutions Matrix of McDATA. On the 26th of April, Huawei's optical products were formally added into the Sun Solaris Ready Matrix, including Huawei OptiX Metro 6100, 6040 and OptiX OSN 2500, 1500.
China-based Huawei is a leading global provider of optical networking products and solutions, and the Huawei OptiX Metro 6100/6040 is mainly used in the transmission of big granule service (e.g. STM-16/64, GE, 10GE etc.) or special service (e.g. ESCON, FICON, Fiber Channel, etc.). Generally, it is used in metropolitan backbone network, local area network, wideband data network and storage area network, or the GE-based access layer. Huawei OptiX OSN 7500/3500/2500/1500 are new generation equipment based on the same platform that Huawei develops to accommodate the status and future trend of MAN. It integrates the technologies of SDH, WDM, Ethernet, ATM, PDH, ESCON, FC/FICON, DVB-ASI so that it can transmit voice, data, SAN, and video services on the same platform efficiently.
The node distance of the Metro & OSN series products covers a few thousand kilometers for SAN service, and all these products have been successfully deployed as data and SAN transport platform for global enterprises in finance and telecommunication industries.
In recent years, Huawei's optical network solutions have been officially listed in the certificate matrix of most of the global leading storage networking products and solutions providers such as Brocade, EMC, HP, McDATA, and SUN. This shows that Huawei's optical network solutions can satisfy the most critical requirements of global leading storage networking solutions for long distance data replication. Huawei's mature and leading optical network solutions can make both parties confident to provide brand new cost-effective architecture to support enterprises of all sizes in their expansion of their computing and storage applications, and achieve a breakthrough in transmission range.
Related Channels: Ethernet, SDH/SONET, WDM, Switching & Routing, China

Indonesia's PT Bakrie Telecom picks Nortel Solutions
PT Bakrie Telecom, one of Indonesia's leading providers of fixed wireless voice and data services, is significantly boosting the capacity and transmission capabilities of its wireless network with new radio access, switching and optical solutions from Nortel.
The increased capacity of the CDMA2000 1X network, serving Greater Jakarta and 15 cities in West Java and Banten province, will position Bakrie to meet escalating subscriber demand for the voice and fixed wireless broadband Internet, data and fax services it provides via its 'Esia' brand.
The Nortel solution for Bakrie Telecom consists of new CDMA Metro Cell Base Transceiver Stations (BTS) to enable cost-effective network growth and seamless, investment-protecting evolution, via a card upgrade, to Nortel's third generation (3G) 1xEV-DO CDMA infrastructure. At the network core, Bakrie is deploying Nortel's flexible DMS-MTX Switching Platform to enable subscribers to receive dependable, continuous service.
To provide high-speed connectivity between the Nortel DMS-MTX and the base stations, as well as enable transparent and efficient handoff of calls to other carrier networks, Nortel is providing solutions from its optical portfolio, including the high-capacity Optical Metro 4150 multiservice next generation SDH platform, the Optical Metro 3500 DWDM-capable next generation SONET platform, and the Optical TN-1X add/drop multiplexer to ensure high- reliability, high-flexibility transport of services.
Related Channels: Wireless, Switching & Routing, WDM, SDH/SONET

Foundry unveils IPv4/IPv6/MPLS core and metro routers
Foundry Networks, Inc. announces the NetIron XMR 32000 Internet and MPLS core router and the NetIron MLX-32 MPLS-enabled metro router. These new products establish a new class of IPv4/IPv6/MPLS routers designed for the emerging broadband service provider infrastructure that will cement the foundation for triple play and quadruple play services, as well as converged backbone and broadband VPN offerings that will define next generation service provider networks.
These additions represent a major breakthrough in router performance and capacity by providing two billion packets per second (Bpps) of IP/MPLS routing and up to 128 non-blocking 10 Gigabit Ethernet (10-GbE) ports in single system. The massive capacity of these routers will enable bandwidth intensive applications, such as video on-demand, broadcast television and large scale VoIP.
The routers offer full wire-speed non-blocking performance on all ports for all services including IPv4, IPv6, MPLS TE and MPLS VPNs.
Utilising the built-in 10-GbE WAN PHY capability, providers can connect the routers to the existing SONET/SDH or DWDM infrastructure.
Bobby Johnson, president and chief executive officer for Foundry Networks, commented: "Prior to the NetIron XMR and MLX series, service providers lacked choice when implementing a core routing solution. They were often forced to select costly systems with high ongoing maintenance costs that did not protect their infrastructure investment from future demands. Foundry's NetIron XMR 32000 resolves the inadequacies of past systems with an edge-to-core solution that not only future-proofs service providers' networks but also delivers unparalleled performance, reliability, scalability and resiliency at a fraction the price of alternative solutions."
Related Channels: Switching & Routing, Ethernet, Video, VoIP, WDM, SDH/SONET

Digital Lightwave tests jitter and wander
Digital Lightwave, a leading provider of optical networking test equipment and technology, announced the shipment of Network Information Computer(R) (NIC(R)) test instruments equipped with jitter and wander testing from 1.5 Mpbs to 10.7 Gbps. The instruments were shipped to a major telecommunications equipment manufacturer in Asia.
The NIC Plus is the industry's first portable test instrument that supports jitter and wander testing at all the following data rates: 1.5 Mbps, 2 Mbps, 34 Mbps, 45 Mbps, 51 Mbps, 139 Mbps, 155 Mbps, 622 Mbps, 2.5 Gbps, 2.66 Gbps, 9.953 Gbps, and 10.7 Gbps. The NIC Plus(R) units support testing of PDH interfaces (DS1, E1, E3, DS3, E4), SONET/SDH interfaces (OC-1/3/12/48/192, STM-0/1/4/16/48), and OTN (Optical Transport Network) interfaces (OTU-1, OTU-2) and can be upgraded to support Next Generation SONET/SDH (VCAT, LCAS, GFP).
"Our versatile NIC is now more powerful than ever, and the clear industry leader in jitter and wander testing," said Doyle Mills, Director of Product Marketing at Digital Lightwave.
Related Channels: Test, SDH/SONET

Avanex unveils optical protection switch (OPS) plug-in modules
Avanex announced the availability of a line of optical protection switch (OPS) plug-in modules for its PowerNode(TM) platform. The OPS modules are used for fiber link, equipment or client side protection and have switching speeds of 10 milliseconds, which allows sub- SONET/SDH optical protection. The OPS product portfolio is designed for both system OEM and carrier customers.
Avanex's OPS modules monitor the optical power on the incoming fibers. Upon detection of faults, the OPS module toggles the bypass switch to activate the protection path within 10 milliseconds. "The Avanex OPS offers optical protection using Avanex's proprietary and reliable optical switch technology," said Giovanni Barbarossa, chief technology officer of Avanex. "OPS solutions are offered at module, line card and network ready levels, and are now being tested or deployed by multiple tier-one customers."
Related Channels: Photonics, SDH/SONET

Siemens acquires Shanghai-based Photonic Bridges
Siemens has announced the signing of the acquisition of optic specialists Photonic Bridges, headquartered in Shanghai, China, effective May 16, 2006. Subject to approval from the appropriate authorities and governing boards, Siemens will integrate the previous OEM partner’s entire product portfolio into the value added chain of its optical transmission systems. This development strengthens Siemens' position in this growth market. The total market volume worldwide for optical next generation SDH (Synchronous Digital Hierarchy) systems is currently some 2.3 billion euros and will, according to Ovum RHK, increase to 3.1 billion euros by 2010.
With over 300 employees, Photonic Bridges develops optical transmission systems for ranges up to 200 kilometers. NG (next generation) SDH systems bring traditional optical SDH transmission and data technologies together and thereby enable network carriers to transmit connection-oriented services (e.g. voice services) and package-oriented data services via an existing SDH infrastructure. Regardless of whether the network carrier wants to provide Fast Ethernet, GBit Ethernet, 2 or 34-Mbit/s leased lines, etc, the NG SDH multiplexer makes all of these services available simultaneously on one optical interface. For this reason, NG SDH Systems are also known as multiservice provisioning platforms (MSPPs).
Christian Unterberger, head of fixed network business at Siemens Communications, comments: “Photonic Bridges is one of the leading companies in the SDH market. With our commitment to Photonic Bridges, we are expanding our development capacity in forward-looking areas and securing our access to those products that offer our customers significant added value.”
James Hsu, CEO of Photonic Bridges, adds: "The team at Photonic Bridges is looking forward to becoming a part of Siemens. Together with Siemens, we are in an excellent position to set the stage for above-average growth in this extraordinarily dynamic market.”
Related Channels: Mergers & Acquisitions, Ethernet, SDH/SONET, China

Alcatel Transport Service Switch combines Ethernet/MPLS/RPR, SDH/SONET and WDM services
Alcatel presented, to the Asia-Pacific market, its breakthrough Alcatel 1850 Transport Service Switch (TSS), the first platform in the industry to offer a 100% flexible mix of Ethernet, TDM and WDM switching in a single platform. As an integral part of Alcatel's triple play and convergence networking solutions, and suitable for both carrier and non-carrier optical networks, the Alcatel 1850 TSS has opened a new era in Metro networking.
The Alcatel-patented 'Universal Switch' technology at the heart of the 1850 TSS enables a single matrix to aggregate, switch and transport any combination of Ethernet/MPLS/RPR, SDH/SONET and WDM services.
"The Alcatel 1850 TSS has raised the bar for aggregation capabilities by converging three different layers into a single, scalable network element," stated Romano Valussi, president of Alcatel's optical networking activities.
Integrated under the Alcatel 1350 cross-layer management suite, the Alcatel 1850 TSS is currently available in 40 Gbit/s and 320 Gbit/s chassis sizes.
Related Channels: Switching & Routing, Ethernet, SDH/SONET, WDM

EXFO intros SONET/SDH test module
EXFO Electro-Optical Engineering Inc. announced the introduction of the FTB-8115 Transport Blazer SONET+SDH module for the FTB-400 Universal Test System and FTB-200 Compact Platform. The combination of advanced SONET+SDH testing capabilities and the small, lightweight form factor of the FTB-200 platform delivers the industry’s most versatile and technically advanced portable SONET/SDH test solution for expanding access/metro transport networks.
The FTB-8115 Transport Blazer, available in 155 Mb/s (OC-3/STM-1) or 622 Mb/s (OC-12/STM-4) configurations, supports an extensive list of DSn, SONET, PDH and SDH features, allowing users to perform a wide range of tests from simple bit-error rate (BER) analysis to more advanced network characterization and troubleshooting. In addition, this module offers an upgradeability path to 2.5 Gb/s (OC-48/STM-16) and 10 Gb/s (OC-192/STM-64) rates, ensuring customers’ investments can be leveraged as their future testing needs evolve. For immediate 2.5 Gb/s (OC-48/STM-16) and 10 Gb/s (OC-192/STM-64) rates, EXFO already offers this functionality through its FTB-8120/8120NG and FTB-8130/8130NG modules, respectively.
EXFO’s exclusive SmartMode feature is also available as an option on the FTB-8115 Transport Blazer. SmartMode provides automatic discovery of the SONET/SDH signal structure and real-time monitoring of all discovered high-order paths as well as user-defined low-order paths. As a result, it represents the ideal solution for quick and simple isolation of network faults.
Related Channels: Test, SDH/SONET, Ethernet

China's Huawei plans to invest $100 million in India
Huawei Technologies will invest $100 million in India on its R&D centre in Bangalore and establish a manufacturing facility in India after approval.
"We will invest 100 million dollar for expansion of Indian operations, which will include 60 million dollar for our plans to set up a manufacturing plant in India for which we have applied for approval to make telecom equipment and 40 million dollar on expanding the Bangalore R&D centre," Fu Jun, global spokesperson for Huawei Technologies said.
The Banaglore R&D centre currently has 1,200 professionals and will hit 2,000 by the end of 2007. The centre is working on next generation networks, broadband, optical and 3G equipment and is expected to focus on customization of equipment.
Huawei has been operating in India for the last eight years and has invested over 100 million dollar there. Reliance Communications Ventures (formerly Reliance Infocomm) and Tata Teleservices are among Huawei's CDMA customer list.
Related Channels: Wireless, VoIP, Video, Ethernet, OSS/BSS, VPN, Switching & Routing, WDM, xDSL, Cable MSO, SDH/SONET, China

Alcatel and Lucent announce joint Integration Team
Related Channels: Mergers & Acquisitions

INS picks White Rock
White Rock Networks, a leading provider of next-generation optical transport systems for metro networks, announced that Iowa Network Services (INS) has deployed its optical networking products for the delivery of voice, data and IPTV services to over 500,000 end users statewide.
INS, which provides a range of network-based solutions to 148 Independent Telephone Companies servicing 330 different communities throughout the state, has deployed White Rock’s VLX2020 Optical Transport System and VLX2006 Multi-service Access Platform to deliver the triple play over its 2,500 route miles of fiber cable, 50 remote POP sites, and 38 SONET rings.
White Rock’s optical networking products provide a cost-effective upgrade path for the distribution of triple play services where existing transports have become capacity constrained or do not support the distribution of Ethernet-based services. Both the VLX2020 and VLX2006 support an Ethernet shared ring topology, allowing carriers to efficiently deliver broadcast video traffic with a single copy of each channel. Bandwidth reuse on the SONET ring coupled with the ability to support up to 2 Gbps of Ethernet traffic per OC-48 ring provides ample headroom for growth of Video on Demand (VOD) and other unicast video services.
Related Channels: Ethernet, SDH/SONET, Video

SafeNet receive NSA approval to develop classified 10G SONET encryptor
The National Security Agency (NSA) has given approval to SafeNet and its subsidiary Mykotronx, Inc. to development of a Classified (Type I) Version of its 10 Gigabit SafeEnterprise(TM) SONET Encryptor. Under the NSA's Commercial COMSEC Evaluation Program (CCEP), SafeNet has been approved to develop the Type I SONET Encryptor for deployment within the U.S. Government's Intelligence Communities, Department of Defense (DoD) and Civilian Agencies.
The SafeEnterprise(TM) SONET Type 1 Encryptor is a high performance, encryption appliance designed to secure SONET and SDH networks at speeds up to 10Gbps. The SafeEnterprise SONET Type 1 Encryptor has been designed to integrate transparently and simply into the Type 1 SONET and SDH network architecture. High-speed throughput, low overhead and extremely low latency make it ideal for high-speed data and time-sensitive voice and video applications.
"This development approval is another step toward our continuing market leadership in high speed classified communications for the U.S. government," said Chris Fedde, senior vice president and general manager, Enterprise Security Division, SafeNet.
Related Channels: Security, SDH/SONET

Top Story: Huawei awarded MEF's Carrier Ethernet Certification for its data Communication and optical network products
China's Huawei Technologies Co., Ltd. ("Huawei"), a leader in providing next generation telecommunications network solutions for operators around the world, Friday announced that it was awarded the Carrier Ethernet Certification from the Metro Ethernet Forum ("MEF") for delivering outstanding data communication and optical network products. Huawei products include Quidway NE80E/NE40E series router, Quidway CX200/CX300 series carrier switch, Quidway S8500 series routing switch and Quidway S6500 series routing switch; OptiX OSN 9500/7500/3500/2500/1500 series NG-SDH, OptiX Metro 6100/6040 series Metro WDM and OptiX Metro 1000/500 series CPE.
As telecom operators move towards delivering multiple carrier services, the industry has begun to evolve from utilizing Metro Ethernet to Carrier Ethernet. MEF provides a quality standard framework of Carrier Ethernet services by clearly defining five core aspects, including protection, scalability, hard QoS, management and TDM support. These standards that MEF incorporates are so specific that it covers details related to user connections and many other links, hence ensuring Carrier Ethernet services for telecommunications operators.
As a result of its in-depth experience in engineering, excellent services and superior R&D capabilities in data communication products, Huawei is currently leading the market place in Carrier Ethernet solutions globally.
As early as 2000, Huawei initiated an "Operable, Manageable and Profitable" concept for its customers, with respect to telecommunications networks, and applied that concept to commercial applications.
To date, Huawei has completed construction of Carrier Ethernets for several telecommunications operators around the world, including True in Thailand, JAZZTEL in Spain, Telefonica in Latin America, Fibernet in UK, etc. The reliability, scalability and interoperability of Huawei's networks and solutions help its customers take the lead in exploring multi-service markets and delivering excellent services to its consumers.
This certification from MEF demonstrates once again, that Huawei's data communication and optical network products meet the challenging demands of operators in the construction and development of Carrier Ethernet networks. The outstanding performance of Huawei's data communication and optical network products in global commercial applications indicate Huawei's expertise, knowledge and ability to meet the needs of telecommunications operators during Metro Ethernet development, as well as its broad end-to-end carrier network solutions for All-IP network transformation.
Related Channels: Switching & Routing, Ethernet, SDH/SONET, WDM, VoIP, Video, OSS/BSS, Security, China

Top Story: 2005 marked the first year in which Huawei's PCT International Patent Applications number exceeded Cisco's
The World Intellectual Property Organization (WIPO) announces in its latest annual report that China-based Huawei Technologies Co., Ltd., a global leading telecom equipment vendor, had totally filed PCT (Property Cooperation Treaty) international patent applications of 249, ranking the 37th among the global applicants. Impressively, Huawei's number (249) exceeds the 212 applications filed by US-based Cisco Systems, the heavyweigh telecom equipment vendor in the world.
The PCT patent application number is an indicator of a country's or business' innovation capacity. Huawei's PCT patent application number has been increasing rapidly in recent years. 2005 marked the first year in which Huawei's PCT International Patent Applications number exceeded Cisco's.
According to the data posted by the National Bureau of Statistics of China, Huawei's patent application number has been the largest since 2002, exceeding the multinationals.
By the end of 2005, Huawei had totally filed 9,600 patents in China and applied PCT international patents and foreign patents of 1,547. Huawei has kept investing 10% to 15% of its annual sales in R&D since 1988.
Related Channels: China, Wireless, VoIP, Video, FTTP, Ethernet, OSS/BSS, Security, VPN,  Switching & Routing, WDM, xDSL, Cable MSO, SDH/SONET

AT&T secures deal with East West Bank
AT&T Inc. announced a new voice and data services contract with East West Bank, the second-largest Los Angeles-based independent commercial bank. East West Bank provides retail and commercial banking services to individuals and businesses in California and Texas.
Under the terms of the three-year contract, AT&T will deploy a diverse Synchronous Optical Network (SONET) solution and AT&T's Multiprotocol Label Switching (MPLS) technology to connect more than 70 East West Bank locations throughout California and Texas to two core data centers supported by the AT&T network backbone. AT&T's MPLS network includes more than 1,500 nodes with service availability in more than 127 countries.
East West Bank's recent growth demanded an increase in bandwidth and network support to ensure that the data center could support the new products and services.
With the deployment of the SONET-dedicated ring technology, a redundant optical fiber network backbone, East West Bank can ensure business continuity and provide the maximum network uptime for its users and customers to access financial information.
Related Channels: Switching & Routing, SDH/SONET

Optical Internetworking Forum (OIF), Network Processing Forum (NPF) to merge
The Optical Internetworking Forum (OIF) and the Network Processing Forum (NPF) have agreed to a merger that is expected to be finalized in June of this year. The merged group will retain the OIF name. Building upon common areas of technical work, interests and membership base, the two forums will merge the NPF's technical committee work into the existing technical committee of the OIF. The two groups will meet jointly next month in Athens, Greece.
"This merger is a win-win situation for everyone involved," said Joe Berthold of Ciena and president of the OIF. "It will enable us to provide a broader scope of activities to our members, and bring greater depth to our interoperability and benchmarking work."
"A combined group will cast a wider net for participation in the creation and adoption of Implementation Agreements," said Chuck Sannipoli of IP Infusion and chairman of the NPF. "The synergy amongst component and system vendors and network providers will be much stronger as a result."
"The NPF's recognized leadership in software development and benchmarking is unique to Forums," said Steve Joiner of Finisar and vice president of marketing of the OIF. "The OIF's equipment vendor members are implementing network processing into their network elements to reduce cost and increase flexibility. Now that network processing elements are established; they fit into the umbrella of the OIF work, making the technical work in the NPF a good fit."
Related Channels: Photonics, Chipsets, Test, WDM, Ethernet, SDH/SONET, Switching & Routing

Alcatel appoints Christian Reinaudo as Integration Project Team Leader
Alcatel announced that Christian Reinaudo, a member of the Alcatel executive committee and currently EVP, President of Alcatel Asia Pacific, will be appointed, EVP Integration Project Team Leader for Alcatel, effective May 1st 2006.
The Integration Project Team will be created to manage the integration and transition process associated with the merger with Lucent Technologies. Detailed information on the Integration Project Team will be announced soon.
Christian Reinaudo joined Alcatel in 1978 working in the research center at Marcoussis, France. In 1984, he joined Alcatel's Cable Group where he held various positions before becoming President of Alcatel's submarine networks in 1997 and President of Alcatel Optics in 1999. He was appointed President of Alcatel Asia Pacific in 2003. He has been a member of Alcatel's Executive Committee since 2000. Reinaudo is graduated from the Ecole de Physique et de Chimie Industrielle de Paris, and he holds a doctorate from the University of Paris.
Related Channels: Wireless, Video, VoIP, xDSL, FTTP, Ethernet, OSS/BSS, Security, VPN,  Switching & Routing, WDM, Cable MSO, SDH/SONET

Alcatel appoints Frédéric Rose as Alcatel Asia Pacific President
Alcatel has appointed Frédéric Rose as EVP, President of Alcatel Asia Pacific. He will be based in Shanghai. Frederic Rose joins the Alcatel Executive Committee. Rose was formerly President of Alcatel's Integration and Services activities.
He was previously Chief Operating Officer of Alcatel's Network Services activities (2000-2002). Prior to that, he was Senior International Counsel in Alcatel's Belgian subsidiary and a member of the Alcatel Trade and Project Finance Team. Prior to joining Alcatel in 1993, Frederic Rose was a partner in the Repton Group and an associate at Marks & Murase, both in the USA. Frederic Rose is a graduate of the Georgetown University School of Foreign Service and the Georgetown University Law Center.
Related Channels: China, Wireless, Video, VoIP, xDSL, FTTP, Ethernet, OSS/BSS, Security, VPN,  Switching & Routing, WDM, Cable MSO, SDH/SONET

First Avenue Networks selects Huawei's next generation SONET solution
Huawei Technologies Co., Ltd. ("Huawei"), a leader in providing next generation telecommunications networks for carriers around the world, announced that its next generation SONET solution was selected by First Avenue Networks for its core network applications.
First Avenue Networks provides U.S. carriers and service providers with wireless backhaul and access services. The company will initially utilize Huawei's OptiX Metro 800 system for wireless backhaul applications, providing wireless carriers with T1, T3, 10/100 Carrier Ethernet, and Gigabit Ethernet services to meet the current and evolving needs of broadband wireless networks. First Avenue will also use OptiX Metro 800 to deliver wireless access services to wholesale service providers focused on enterprise and government markets.
"As a nationwide provider of wireless transport services, we are focused on two rapidly growing markets -- wireless backhaul and wireless access," said Lou Olsen, senior vice president of engineering, First Avenue Networks. "These markets, driven by new wireless data applications and the 85 percent of enterprises not served by high capacity networks, offer tremendous opportunities for carriers. Our differential in these markets, in addition to our significant spectrum assets, is the ability to provide very high levels of service and seamless upgrade paths to our customers. Huawei's OptiX Metro SONET solution delivers on these technology and quality needs, and the organization has demonstrated a sincere commitment to our success through its exceptional support."
"First Avenue offers a compelling solution to wireless carriers looking to scale their networks to address growing backhaul requirements," said Wilf Norrlinger, vice president of sales, Huawei. "We are excited to have this opportunity to be a part of their success in the U.S., and look forward to serving their additional requirements for Carrier Ethernet applications."
Related Channels: SDH/SONET, Ethernet, Wireless, China

Time Warner Telecom extends its Dallas fiber network into Frisco
Time Warner Telecom, a provider of managed voice and data networking services for businesses, has expanded its 180-mile Dallas fiber network into Frisco, one of the fastest growing cities in North Texas.
"This network extension also connects Frisco businesses to our 800-mile fiber ring that runs between Dallas, Austin, San Antonio, and Houston, as well as to our national network of 20,000 route miles of fiber and 10-Gbit/sec IP backbone," says John Schuchart, Time Warner Telecom's vice president and general manager in Dallas.
Time Warner Telecom says it extends its local networks into suburban office parks and downtown commercial areas to meet customer demand for an alternative fiber facilities-based choice for communications services. The company's SONET network in the Dallas area is similar to its 43 other networks across the country.
"Customer demand typically includes the need for business continuity, diverse routing, data storage, metro Ethernet, and a variety of next generation services that only fiber, facilities-based carriers, like Time Warner Telecom and larger incumbents, can offer," concludes Schuchart.
Related Channels: Photonics, SDH/SONET, Ethernet, Switching & Routing, Storage

Limelight picks MRV for 10 Gigabit Ethernet DWDM Silicon Valley network
MRV COMMUNICATIONS, INC., a leading provider of products and services for out-of- band networking, WDM and optical transport, metro Ethernet, fiber optic components, 10GE and other service aware networking products, announced that Limelight Networks, Inc. has chosen MRV's LambdaDriver for its newly built, 10 Gigabit Ethernet Silicon Valley network supporting content delivery services from its Silicon Valley location.
Limelight Networks' industry-leading content delivery network ensures extremely fast global Internet delivery of rich, high-bandwidth media such as video, music, games and downloads, to audiences of any size with massively provisioned, globally located, content distribution centers.
The high-speed data network encompassing San Jose, San Francisco and Oakland is supported by MRV's LambdaDriver dense wave division multiplexing (DWDM) fiber optic transport system fitted with the company's 10 Gbps transponders.
The LambdaDriver can operate as a SONET/SDH transport device, CWDM or DWDM fiber optic transport device. It has an inclusive set of access interfaces that include all data-centric protocols, including SONET/SDH, Ethernet, video (SDI/ASI), voice (E1/T1) and storage (SAN) applications.
Related Channels: WDM, Photonics, Ethernet, SDH/SONET, Video, Storage

Fujitsu Network Communications promotes Jim Hintze to Marketing SVP
Fujitsu Network Communications' Jim Hintze has been promoted to senior vice president of marketing where he will oversee business management, marketing communications, market development, proposals, media/analyst relations and competitive intelligence.
“Jim has a proven track record of being able to deliver strong revenue growth as vice president of sales. As Fujitsu expands into new markets such as the federal government and utilities, Jim’s leadership and experience will allow our marketing programs to accelerate our growth in these markets,” said George Chase, group president and chief operating officer of Fujitsu Network Communications.
Jim Hintze’s career in telecommunications began in 1989 at AT&T Network Systems (now Lucent Technologies) in corporate marketing. In the early 1990s, Jim moved into transmission systems sales to US WEST (now Qwest). Throughout the 1990s, his responsibilities expanded to include all wireline, wireless and professional services as vice president of sales.
Since joining Fujitsu in 1997, Jim has held numerous sales leadership roles, including regional sales responsibilities for customers such as AT&T and Qwest, as well as North American sales management for the U.S. and Mexico. Under Jim’s leadership, Fujitsu expanded sales efforts into several new markets including cable/MSOs, wireless, enterprise, federal government and utilities through direct sales and an expanded channel partner program.
Jim holds a bachelor of science degree in marketing from the University of Colorado at Boulder. He has also attended the University of Oxford in England.
Related Channels: Wireless, VoIP, Video, FTTP, WDM, Ethernet, Switching & Routing, xDSL, Cable MSO, SDH/SONET

Ciena names Mike Aquino Worldwide Sales SVP
Ciena Corporation announced that Mike Aquino, previously Ciena's Vice President, Americas, assumes the role of Senior Vice President, Worldwide Sales reporting to Ciena President and CEO Gary Smith.
Aquino, 49, takes over for Jim Collier, who has left Ciena to pursue other opportunities.
With more than 25 years of experience in the information technology and telecommunications industry, Mr. Aquino came to Ciena in June 2002 through its acquisition of ONI Systems, where he served as Vice President, Eastern Americas Sales. His prior roles at Ciena include Vice President, Worldwide Enterprise and Channels, and Vice President, Ciena Government Solutions, Inc. (CGSI). In both roles, Aquino successfully established new market opportunities for Ciena, while expanding Ciena's existing relationships with its existing telecommunications carrier customers.
Aquino's prior experience includes roles as Vice President of Global Accounts and Solutions Integrators at Nortel Networks, where he was charged with driving sales of data, telephony, and optical technologies to Nortel's largest global enterprise customers. Mr. Aquino also held enterprise, carrier, government, and business partner sales management positions at Bay Networks as Vice President of Business Partner Sales and Vice President of the U.S. Southern Region and Caribbean. Mr. Aquino served 11 years at IBM Corporation, where he held several sales management positions in support of the media, telecommunications, and power utility industry in the U.S.
Mr. Aquino holds a B.A. in psychology from Cathedral College in Queens, New York.
Related Channels: Switching & Routing, WDM, Video, VoIP, Ethernet, Cable MSO, SDH/SONET

JDSU intros new tester for SONET/SDH and Ethernet
JDSU introduced a new test solution for labs, equipment manufacturers and network operators offering design and system verification of new SONET/SDH network elements and networks up to 10 Gigabits per second (10Gb/s). The features are combined in a single module for the JDSU ONT-50 and ONT-506/512 platform and provide comprehensive testing for Ethernet over SONET/SDH, also referred to as new or next generation SONET/SDH.
The new module further strengthens the ability of the ONT-50/506/512 to support test needs of manufacturers and carriers worldwide by joining a broad range of Ethernet modules with optical and electrical interfaces that provide complete testing across new SONET/SDH and Ethernet signals.
"The surge of broadband traffic in optical networks and the vital role of error-free service mean equipment manufacturers and carriers require a test solution that meets the challenge of being standards-compliant, multi- functional and dependable," said Bernhard Mueller, general manager for JDSU's optical transport Test and Measurement group. "With these new upgrades, JDSU provides the market with a fast, portable, modular instrument designed to meet the demanding needs of both carriers and equipment manufacturers confronted by the complex challenges of deploying SONET/SDH and Ethernet."
Related Channels: Test, Ethernet, SDH/SONET

Open Access deploys ADC gears
ADC today announced that Open Access, a metropolitan area network provider, is deploying ADC's LoopStar® 1600 and 810 SONET transmission and access systems to provide TDM services to mobile carrier customers in the Long Island and New York City area.
The Open Access optical network provides advanced TDM and Ethernet services and is designed for major enterprises and government entities.
The scalable LoopStar 1600 is an advanced, next-generation SONET multi-service transmission platform that allows service providers to cost-effectively aggregate, deploy, and manage TDM and Ethernet services. The LoopStar 1600 can be deployed in a broad range of applications such as enterprise access and transport, cell site backhaul and MSC aggregation, DSLAM backhaul and CO interoffice transport.
The LoopStar 810 access system is designed specifically for Customer-Located Equipment (CLE) applications where service providers can deliver Ethernet business services as well as traditional DS1 and DS3 TDM-based services easily and economically.
Related Channels: SDH/SONET, Ethernet, xDSL

Lauren Flaherty named Nortel's Chief Marketing Officer
Nortel today announced Lauren Flaherty as Chief Marketing Officer, effective May 1, 2006. Flaherty will have overall responsibility for Nortel's global marketing strategy, brand development and advertising, and the corporation's internal and external communications.
"Lauren Flaherty has the credentials and proven world-class experience to lead our efforts in re-establishing the Nortel brand as a communications powerhouse," said Mike Zafirovski, Nortel's president and chief executive officer. "She joins us as a member of the executive team and she will be intimately involved in all aspects of our corporate planning and execution."
Flaherty, who most recently served as IBM's vice president, worldwide marketing, small and medium business, brings to Nortel a deep level of marketing experience as well as strategic and proven company turn-around skills. She played a key leadership role in IBM's defining era, 1993 - 1997, when Lou Gerstner embarked on one of the biggest turn-around stories in corporate history.
During that period, Flaherty led worldwide advertising for IBM and drove the creation of IBM's famous brand image campaign, "Solutions for a Small Planet." In her 26-year career at IBM, she also previously served as Vice President of Worldwide Marketing for some of IBM's largest and most important global businesses where she drove long-term business strategy, channel and product marketing, and related communications and branding priorities including public relations, interactive/web marketing, demand generation and all customer events.
Flaherty, who holds a bachelor's degree from Syracuse University, will be based at Nortel's global headquarters in Toronto.
Related Channels: Wireless, Video, VoIP, FTTP, Ethernet, OSS/BSS, Security, VPN, Switching & Routing, WDM, xDSL, Cable MSO, SDH/SONET

Sycamore to acquire Eastern Research for $92.5M
Sycamore Networks, Inc. has entered into a definitive agreement with Allen Organ Company which will result in Sycamore acquiring Allen Organ's majority-owned subsidiary Eastern Research, Inc., an innovative provider of network access solutions for wireline, wireless, and private network operators. This acquisition will be part of a multi-step transaction which will include the corporate reorganization of the Allen Organ group of companies. The addition of Eastern Research's field-proven products and technology will enable Sycamore to extend its intelligent networking capabilities to a complementary suite of access solutions.
Under the terms of the agreement, Allen Organ will spin off to newly-formed entities assets and operations not related to Eastern Research and will undertake an inter-company merger which will result in Allen Organ owning all of the outstanding shares of Eastern Research. Sycamore will then acquire Allen Organ and its sole remaining operating subsidiary, Eastern Research. The total consideration to be paid by Sycamore will be approximately $92.5 million, consisting of $8 million in cash and approximately 17.8 million shares, subject to certain closing adjustments and collar provisions. The number of shares to be issued was determined based on a pre-signing average stock price of $4.75.
"The acquisition of Eastern Research is a first step towards leveraging our strengths in the core to offer a more comprehensive suite of solutions optimized for emerging broadband networks," said Daniel E. Smith, president and chief executive officer, Sycamore Networks.
Eastern's product portfolio includes multiservice cross-connects and access gateways that aggregate, groom, and manage bandwidth in access portions of wireline and wireless infrastructure networks.
Related Channels: Wireless, Ethernet, Switching & Routing, SDH/SONET

Centillium unveils optical transceiver chipsets for FTTP, GPON, EPON and SONET
Centillium Communications, Inc. bolsters its last mile broadband access leadership in the optical access transceiver market, by expanding its fiber-to-the-premises (FTTP) semiconductor product portfolio. The company's newest optical transceiver chipset families, Zeus 2 and Apollo 2, complement the existing industry-leading optical access product portfolio, strengthening Centillium's position as the only provider of end-to-end FTTP solutions. The Zeus 2 optical transceiver chipsets are the Company's foray into the GPON and EPON markets, and the Apollo 2 optical transceiver chipsets are targeted at the SONET transport and enterprise applications.
Centillium has leveraged its advanced IP and optical networking expertise to create the industry's first fully integrated optical transceiver product families in CMOS technology that provide optical module vendors and service providers transmission rates of up to 2.5Gbps with an extremely high level of reliability, increased flexibility, faster time-to-market and reduced bill of materials (BOM) cost.
"Cost efficiencies associated with network operations are becoming critical to service providers as they increase optical deployments to meet growing demand for higher throughput," said Didier Boivin, vice president of marketing, Centillium Communications. "Centillium's newest additions to its transceiver product line provide advanced features such as highly accurate Digital Diagnostic Monitoring (DDM) to give service providers clear-cut visibility into network operation, a key factor in maintaining tight control over the health of their networks."These chipsets support CO and CPE applications for GPON, EPON and A/BPON infrastructures and comply with IEEE 802.3ah and ITU-T G.983/G.984 specs.
The Apollo 2 transceiver line enables the transmission of point-to-point, continuous mode data traffic for rates up to 2.5Gbit/second, covering Fast Ethernet, OC3/STM-1, OC12/STM-4, Gigabit Ethernet, and up to OC48/STM-16.
Related Channels: Chipsets, FTTP, Ethernet, SDH/SONET

Alcatel appoints executives: Etienne Fouques, Marc Rouanne, Hubert de Pesquidoux, Michel Rahier, Olivier Picard
Alcatel today announced appointments to the company’s Executive Committee as indicated below.
Etienne Fouques, EVP, is appointed President of Europe and South. He was previously President of Alcatel’s mobile communications activities.
Marc Rouanne, is appointed EVP and President of the mobile communications activities. He was previously the COO of these activities.
Hubert de Pesquidoux is appointed EVP and President of Alcatel activities in North America. He was previously the COO for Alcatel North America and CEO of Alcatel Canada.
Michel Rahier is appointed EVP and President of the fixed communications activities. Before this he was COO for this segment.
Olivier Picard, who is President of Alcatel’s activities in France, Middle East, Africa, and South Asia, also joins the Executive Committee.
Related Channels: Wireless, VoIP, Video, FTTP, Ethernet, Switching & Routing, WDM, xDSL, Cable MSO, SDH/SONET

Huawei opens 2006 Global Analyst Conference
More than 60 analysts from North America, Europe, Asia Pacific and Latin America attended Huawei's 2006 Global Analyst Conference at its headquarters Monday.
At the conference, Huawei announced its outstanding achievements. In 2005, Huawei's contract sales reached 8.2 billion US dollars, representing a year-over-year growth rate of over 40%.
Huawei's products and solutions are widely deployed in over 100 countries, and serve 28 of the world's top 50 operators, as well as over one billion users worldwide.
The conference gave analysts the chance to learn about Huawei's forecast and opinions on future industry trends. Related questions were dealt with during the numerous discussion sessions between analysts and Huawei's experts.
Related Channels: China, Wireless, VoIP, Video, Switching & Routing, WDM, xDSL, FTTP, Ethernet, OSS/BSS, Security, VPN,  Cable MSO, SDH/SONET

Alcatel touts next generation SDH/SONET ranking
Alcatel today announced that research firm Gartner has positioned Alcatel in the leaders quadrant of both the 2006 "Magic Quadrant for Next-Generation SDH" and "Magic Quadrant for Next-Generation SONET" reports.
"While confirming our position in the optical multi-service segment, we consider the entry in the leaders quadrant for next-generation SONET is a first step demonstrating our commitment to further penetrate the North American market," stated Romano Valussi, President of Alcatel's optical networking activities.
The telecom market is showing increased demand for more network and user-centric broadband applications - including mobile backhauling triple play, video distribution and Ethernet virtual private networks (VPN).
With its leading-edge optical multi-service product portfolio, Alcatel is at the forefront of the transformation of optical transport to IP/Ethernet. After pioneering the optical multi-service concept, Alcatel has raised the bar even higher with the launch of its 1850 Transport Service Switch (TSS). This new product further enhances Alcatel's next-generation SONET/SDH product portfolio that includes the Alcatel 1677 SL, 1678 Metro Core Connect and data-aware Optical Multi-Service Node (OMSN) systems.
Related Channels: SDH/SONET, Ethernet, Switching & Routing

Cox picks Ciena
Ciena Corporation today announced that Cox Communications has certified Ciena’s CN 4200™ FlexSelect™ Advanced Services Platform for deployment in its metro and regional networks to support the aggregation and transport of residential voice, video and data services, as well as business services.
Based on the agreement, the CN 4200 has been deployed in several Cox regions to provide initial support for high-speed data and commercial services.
Ciena’s CN 4200 is the flagship product of Ciena’s FlexSelect Architecture. The CN 4200 is a multiservice transport and aggregation platform capable of on-demand support for any transport protocol—including SONET/SDH, Ethernet/GbE/10GbE, storage (Fibre Channel, FICON, ESCON) or video—at any speed on any available port using the industry's first universal line card with individual user-programmable ports.
Related Channels: Cable MSO, WDM, SDH/SONET, Ethernet, Storage

Nortel to focus on services, IMS, WiMax, CDMA and exit, sell or partner in about four biz areas including edge routers
Nortel CEO Mike Zafirovski has identified services, IMS, WiMax and CDMA as its focusing businesses and will exit, sell or partner in about four biz areas including edge routers.
"It's a significant step," Zafirovski said.
Nortel has stopped investing in its service edge router business.
Previous News: 02/23/2006 Nortel to unveil $1.9 billion R&D plan next week, refocusing on the winning arenas
Related Channels: Wireless, VoIP, Video, FTTP, Ethernet, OSS/BSS, Security, VPN, Switching & Routing, WDM, xDSL, Cable MSO, SDH/SONET

Morocco’s ONE picks China's ZTE to install national optical transmission network
ZTE Corporation, the fastest growing global provider of telecommunications equipment and network solutions, today announced that it will install a national optical transmission network in Morocco for the Office National de l'Electriccite (ONE). Having already broadly deployed its range of technologies in emerging markets, this latest contract win highlights ZTE’s growing momentum and success across the African continent.
In a move to upgrade the country’s telecommunications infrastructure, the Office National de l'Electriccite aims to cover almost all of Morocco’s major cities with the new high bandwidth network. Based around ZTE’s latest MSTP (multi-service transmission platform) product - the ZXMP S385 – the network will integrate multiple functions within a single system to enable easy access to a host of voice, data and video services.
ONE chose ZTE because of its positive experience of working with ZTE in the past and because ZTE offered a powerful, single solution that addressed all the requirements for upgrading their current network infrastructure.
“The deployment of our carrier-class optical transmission technology goes a long way to alleviating the bottleneck in the existing network and will greatly improve the network’s reliability, helping the operator to provide the scalability and flexibility that end-users the world over have come to expect,” explained Mr. Han Ling, VP of ZTE optical transmission marketing. "We are pleased to be working with ONE again to help Morocco meet the challenge of 21st century communications.”
Related Channels: VoIP, Video, Ethernet, Switching & Routing, SDH/SONET, China

Tel West picks White Rock
White Rock Networks, a leading provider of next-generation optical transport systems for metro networks, today announced that Seattle-based Tel West Network Services has selected White Rock’s VLX2020 Optical Transport System’s Mini DCS configuration to upgrade their optical networks in several markets.
“The VLX2020 allowed us to plan an efficient and economical transition from a legacy platform to a scalable and compact solution which facilitated our capital and operational cost optimization initiatives, while providing grooming, aggregation and transport of TDM, SONET & Ethernet services,” said John Holoman, Tel West’s Director of Engineering and Operations in Texas.
“Collapsing DCS and transport elements at hubbing locations into a single system is a major Capex and Opex gain for carriers, and it has a fairly short payback,” said Paul Forzisi, White Rock’s Vice President of Marketing.
Related Channels: Ethernet, SDH/SONET

EXFO launched seven new products in Q2
EXFO launched seven new products in the second quarter, including the two-slot FTB-200 Compact Platform for multilayer and multimedium testing, the handheld AXS-100 OTDR for fiber-to-the-x test applications, SONET/SDH test modules with transmission rates of up to 10 Gbit/s for the FTB-200 Compact Platform, and next-generation SONET/SDH test modules reaching 10 Gbit/s for the FTB-400 field-test and IQS-500 R&D/manufacturing platforms.
Related Channels: Test, Photonics, FTTP, SDH/SONET

China's Guangzhou Television Station picks Alcatel Shanghai Bell
Alcatel announced that it was selected by China's Guangzhou Television Station to upgrade the Station's network from analog to digital. The solution will make use of Alcatel's Synchronous Digital Hierarchy (SDH) Microwave and data-aware optical multi-service technologies, enabling the Station to deliver High-Definition Television service, and high fidelity broadcasting service to subscribers in metropolitan Guangzhou. The contract was won through Alcatel Shanghai Bell, Alcatel's Chinese flagship company.
In addition to being able to offer High Definition Television service upon project completion by the end of 2006, the Guangzhou Television Station will also be in position to provide so-called Triple Play service, a combination of voice, Internet, and video, during the 16th Asian Games that will be held in Guangzhou in 2010.
The new network will span 245 kilometers and cover four districts in Guangzhou (Fanyu, Huadu, Huangpu, Nansha), two satellite-cities (Conghua, Zengcheng) as well as six cities in Guangdong Province including Dongguan, Shenzhen, Zhongshan, Foshan, Huizhou and Qingyuan.
Related Channels: Video, SDH/SONET, China

Top Story: Alcatel and Lucent enters into definitive merger agreement
Related Channels: Mergers & Acquisitions

Alcatel-Lucent merger might be announced next week
The Alcatel-Lucent merger might be announced next week according to sources close to the matter.
The Alcatel-Lucent group will be based in Paris. Alcatel shareholders will have 62% in the group and Lucent shareholders will hold the rest.
Alcatel's Serge Tchuruk will be the group chairman. Lucent's Patricia Russo is expected to be the managing director with Alcatel's Mike Quigley as number two. Mike Quigley, a fruitful Alcatel COO with high credibility, has clinched the AT&T deal, the Telstra deal, and a slew of other large deals for Alcatel. Before the merge talk, Quigley was widely expected to be Alcatel's next CEO.
Related Channels: Mergers & Acquisitions, Wireless, VoIP, Video, FTTP, Ethernet, OSS/BSS, Security, VPN, Switching & Routing, WDM, xDSL, Cable MSO, SDH/SONET

Alcatel touts its Multiservice Access Gateway integrating IP native ISAM technology
Alcatel today announced that at the end of 2005, it had cumulatively delivered more than 20 million multiservice access lines to the ETSI market supported by the Alcatel 1540 Litespan Multiservice Access Gateway. Over one million of these were DSL lines. In 2005 alone, Alcatel shipped four million multiservice access lines.
"The global MSAP/DLC market experienced strong growth during 2005, as global service providers leveraged the broadband capabilities of platforms such as the Alcatel 1540 Litespan to offer DSL services, while demand for POTS remained robust in emerging markets," according to Teresa Mastrangelo, principal analyst with the Windsor Oaks Group. "In 2005, Alcatel continued to retain its number one position in this market."
Alcatel also announced that the success of the 1540 Litespan will be further fueled by integration of the technology of Alcatel's market leading ISAM (Intelligent Services Access Manager) product family into the 1540 Litespan. Purposely built with flexibility, Alcatel's ISAM family is a native IP, non-blocking solution and the market's first true 100% triple play broadband access platform. With integration of the ISAM technology, service providers utilizing the 1540 Litespan will now be able to offer their customers user-centric triple play services including full video and broadcast TV.
Dirk Van den Berghen, President of Alcatel's access network activities commented: "Service providers in markets where traditional voice services are still experiencing growth are looking for access platforms that enable them to continue to deliver quality voice services while at the same time, cost-effectively provide Internet access and video services. Integration of the ISAM technology into the Alcatel 1540 Litespan provides customers with a transition path to offer triple play services and to new revenue streams."
The Alcatel 1540 Litespan is a robust, scalable multivendor-compatible access node which supports multiple transport technologies such as GigEthernet, ATM, SDH or PDH, and enables service providers to offer any mix of revenue-generating services (POTS, ISDN, ADSL, ADSL2plus, SHDSL and leased lines).
Related Channels: xDSL, Video, VoIP, Ethernet, SDH/SONET

Top Story: Alcatel, Lucent respond to merger talk rumors
We can confirm that Lucent and Alcatel are engaged in discussions about a potential merger of equals that is intended to be priced at market. There can be no assurances that any agreement will be reached or that a transaction will be consummated. We will have no further comment until an agreement is reached or the discussions are terminated.
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