CONVERGENT NETWORKS ADDS Q.2931 ATM SIGNALING TO VOICE/DATA CONVERGENCE
Convergent Networks announced support for Q.2931 ATM signaling protocol in its Integrated Convergence Switch (ICS). Q.2931 is a standard signaling protocol developed by the ITU for establishing, maintaining and clearing Switched Virtual Circuits (SVCs) over ATM networks. The new protocol support allows Convergent Networks' ICS to extend Q.2931 ATM signaling to a customer premise Integrated Access Device (IAD) for toll quality voice and high-speed data over a single copper link. The company said that integrating Q.2931 in downstream devices removes complexity from the network and reduces the amount of equipment required to provision services, especially voice over DSL. An additional benefit of using Q.2931 signalling for services like voice/data over DSL is the ability to provide dynamic routing for tactical bandwidth consumption, thereby allocating bandwidth for voice delivery on a call-by-call basis and reserving the remaining bandwidth for data services. Convergent Networks is a start-up based in Tewksbury, Mass. http://www.convergentnetworks.com/rel083099.html
Convergent Networks, August 30, 1999

2nd Century Communications, a CLEC based in Florida, is using Convergent Networks' Integrated Convergence Switch (ICS) and Service Management Gateway to provide the voice and data integration for its new network. Earlier this month, 2nd Century completed the first- ever voice call between an ATM-based local exchange network and the public switched telephone network (PSTN). The test calls, completed over 2nd Century's ATM-based local exchange network, seamlessly transferred switched voice circuits from the traditional TDM-based PSTN to and from 2nd Century's ATM-based local access network. The 2nd Century network will also use Advanced Switching Communications' (ASC's) multiservice aggregator and VINA Technologies' integrated access device at the customer premises.

AXESSA TO DEPLOY LUCENT'S PATHSTAR VOICE/DSL
Axessa, a new CLEC based in New Orleans, selected Lucent Technologies' PathStar Voice over DSL solution for new networks in eight cities across the Southern US. Lucent will supply its IP-based PathStar Access Server and Copper Mountain's CopperEdge DSL Concentrators under an OEM arrangement. Lucent's PathStar access server is being developed to integrate DSLAM aggregation, edge router, and "Class 5" or local telephony system functions into a single packet-based element. Axessa's network deployment will begin early next year.  Financial terms were not disclosed.
http://www.lucent.com/press/0899/990830.nsa.html
Lucent Technologies, August 30, 1999

Lucent has previously announced three other PathStar Voice/DSL projects, all with greenfield operators:

* SkyLynx Communications, a CLEC serving the western US http://www.lucent.com/press/0899/990805.nsa.html

* Network Telephone, a CLEC based in Florida http://www.lucent.com/press/0899/990804.nsb.html

BELL CANADA SELECTS THE REDBACK SUBSCRIBER MANAGEMENT
Bell Canada has deployed the Redback Subscriber Management System (SMS) 1000 to manage its wholesale DSL services to independent ISPs. Financial terms were not disclosed. Redback's SMS 1000 platform acts as an edge device that can aggregate as many as 4000 virtual circuits or Frame Relay logical connections from various Central Office sources onto a high-speed link. The SMS 1000 also performs all of the management and conversion functions necessary to deliver router-ready IP data streams to the backbone. http://www.redback.com/ 
Redback, August 30, 1999

WILLIAMS ENTERS WHOLESALE SWITCHED VOICE MARKET
Williams Communications will begin providing switched voice services on a wholesale-only basis to other facilities-based carriers, switchless resellers, CLECs, ISPs, independent local exchange carriers and utilities entering telecommunications. Williams' "anchor tenant" for voice services is SBC Communications, which will use Williams as its preferred provider of nationwide long-distance voice services when it is permitted to enter the field. Williams plans to offer pre-paid calling cards, VoIP, voice activated calling cards, and virtual private networking (VPN) services. Williams said it would leverage the efficiencies of a next-generation network that converges voice, data and video over a single ATM backbone. http://www.williams.com/news/rel390.html
Williams Communications, August 30, 1999

AT&T JOINS PRICE WARS, CUTTING RATES TO 7 CENTS / MINUTE
AT&T reduced rates for residential long distance voice services to 7 cents per minute for customers selecting a monthly service plan. AT&T also introduced an "unlimited wireless minutes" plan between family members subscribing its wireless service. http://www.att.com/press/item/0,1193,630,00.html
AT&T, August 30, 1999

KPNQWEST PLANS IPO
KPNQwest will undertake an initial public offering (IPO) in the US and Europe to raise funding for the completion of its 13,000 km European fiber network. KPNQwest so far has activated two of its six OC-192 self-healing rings, covering 14 European business centers. The company said its network deployment is currently on schedule and on budget. http://jv.eu.net/news/press19990830_IPO1.html
KPNQwest, August 30, 1999

CACHEFLOW RAISES THE BAR ON INTERNET CACHING APPLIANCES
CacheFlow introduced its highest capacity Internet caching appliance -- the CacheFlow 3000 series, which scales from 10 Mbps to 45 Mbps throughput -- and the CacheFlow 500-electronic commerce series, which scales from 1 to 15 Mbps. A smaller CacheFlow 110 appliance is available for remote offices and PoPs requiring less than 1.5 Mbps of throughput. The CacheFlow appliances locally store and serve the Internet pages most often requested by users, while simultaneously monitoring the source of those pages for content changes. Its Pipeline retrieval algorithms open as many simultaneous TCP connections as the origin server will allow, retrieving objects in parallel. Another patent-pending Adaptive Refresh algorithm selectively refreshes Web objects based upon their need to be refreshed. This refreshing activity occurs asynchronous to actual user requests. CacheFlow's CacheOS automatically measures and reports on the freshness of content it delivers to end users. CacheFlow is a venture-backed start-up based in Sunnyvale, California. http://www.cacheflow.com/news/press/500ec.html
CacheFlow, August 30, 1999

CABLETRON INTRODUCES INBOUND RATE LIMITING (IRL) ON SMARTSWITCH
Cabletron introduced an Inbound Rate Limiting (IRL) service for controlling network traffic rates on interfaces for its SmartSwitch platforms. The IRL service provides bandwidth control from 0.5 Mbps to 1 Gbps and can be defined on both a priority and per-port basis. IRL interoperates with standards-based protocol implementations and will actively work with protocols such as TCP to ensure accurate bandwidth limiting. Cabletron said its IRL service complements its other Quality-of-Service (QoS) initiatives for enabling network managers to meet Service Level Agreements (SLAs) for high-priority applications. http://www.cabletron.com/ournews/1999/aug/8-30.html
Cabletron, August 30, 1999

SPRINT TO BEGIN TESTING SAMSUNG'S 3G CDMA
Sprint PCS will begin testing Samsung's 3rd Generation (3G) Code Division Multiple Access (CDMA) technology in Q1 2000. The system will have three fully integrated ATM ready Base Transceiver Stations, a Base Station Controller, and a Mobile Switching Center for next-generation wireless. Samsung said that by using ATM-based technology within the wireless environment, carriers will be able to more efficiently mix voice and circuit switch data with packet switched data. http://www.samsungtelecom.com/
Samsung Telecommunications America, August 30, 1999

AVICI SIGNS DISTRIBUTION DEAL WITH NISSHO ELECTRONICS
Avici Systems signed a distribution agreement with Nissho Electronics covering its Terabit Switch/Router sales in Japan. http://www.avici.com
Avici Systems, August 30, 1999

Nortel Networks and Avici Systems ended their marketing and distribution partnership. Avici Systems' Terabit Switch/Router is being designed to support up to 2240 OC-48 or 560 OC-192 connections. In May, GST Telecommunications deployed Avici's Terabit Switch/Router into the West Coast leg of the Next Generation Internet (NGI) "SuperNet" project. 

EXTREME NETWORKS INTEGRATES F5 SERVER LOAD BALANCING
Extreme Networks plans to integrate F5 Network's BIG/ip Controller Layer 4 load balancing source code into its line of gigabit class switches to create a very high performance server connectivity solution. The agreement also provides Extreme Networks and its partners access to all of F5 Network's products for resale. http://www.extremenetworks.com/extreme/pressroom/newsrelease/pr8_30_99.htm
Extreme Networks, August 30, 1999

EARTHLINK ON TARGET FOR 2 MILLION SUBSCRIBERS BY YEAR END
EarthLink expects to add 230,000 net new Internet access subscribers in Q3 and 370,000 more in Q4, giving it 2 million members by the end of the year. Earthlink recently announced a marketing deal with FreeMac.com, as well as DSL resale agreements with GTE and UUNET. http://www.earthlink.com/about/pr/q3q4_growth.html
EarthLink, August 30, 1999

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