US LIFTS MOST ENCRYPTION EXPORT CONTROLS
The Clinton Administration significantly eased restrictions on the export of encryption products, allowing telecommunications and Internet service providers to use any encryption commodity or software to provide services to commercial firms and non-government end users.  The new guidelines decontrol 56-bit products, including chips, components and toolkits, and eliminate reporting requirements.  Any encryption commodity or software of any key length can now be exported without a license after a technical review to commercial firms and other non-government end users in any country except for Iran, Iraq, Libya, Syria, Sudan, North Korea and Cuba.
http://204.193.246.62/public.nsf/docs/44253FABBA6FF8A5852567EE007A2AC9
US Department of Commerce, September 16, 1999

The Alliance for Network Security (ANS) praised the liberalized export controls for removing many of the restrictions on the international sale of firewalls, Virtual Private Networks (VPNs), and e-commerce products.  ANS members include 3Com, Cisco Systems, Hewlett-Packard, Intel, Lucent Technologies, Microsoft, NetScreen Technologies, Network Associates, Nortel Networks, Novell, RedCreek Communications, Secure Computing, and Sun Microsystems.  http://www.t-b.com/ans/

CORNING INTRODUCES OPTICAL SWITCHES
Corning announced two new optical switches for providing wavelength management in metropolitan and long haul DWDM systems.  The first component can switch up to 40 channels individually, each at 100 GHz.  It could be used to provide dynamic wavelength routing for optical path protection or for the interconnection of metropolitan rings. The switch can also be used as a 40 wavelength, reconfigurable add-drop module.  The second device is a reconfigurable optical add/drop module capable of individually adding or dropping specific wavelengths at 100 GHz or 200 GHz without any interruption of through traffic.  The module can be designed for 2 to 12 wavelengths, depending on configuration requirements.  Coring said its optical switch components permit more network functions to be performed in the optical layer, while minimizing the spectral impairments, which typically limit the reach of optical networks. http://www.corningphotonics.com/
Corning, September 16, 1999

SKYBRIDGE EXPECTS BROADBAND SATELLITE LAUNCH BEGINNING IN 2002
SkyBridge LP, the broadband satellite venture led by Alcatel and supported by Loral Space & Communication, EMS Technologies, COM DEV of Canada, Thompson, Mitsubishi Electric, Sharp Toshiba and others, said it remains on target to begin offering services worldwide in 2002. SkyBridge will use a constellation of 80 satellites operating in the Ku-band (10-18 GHz), orbiting at an altitude of 913 miles (1,469 km). The satellites will provide "bent pipe" connections, meaning no onboard processing or switching will occur. The company said the low-earth-orbit would allow for short signal propagation time of 30 milliseconds, which would be sufficient for interactive services. Over 200 gateway stations worldwide will relay traffic from the satellites to terrestrial fiber networks. Localized traffic processing will occur within the gateway to guarantees the network evolves with IP and ATM technology. SkyBridge will use Ku-band frequency (10 to 18 GHz) reduces technology risk, the price of system components, and the potential for signal fade and rain attenuation. Each end-user can access n x 20 Mbps (downstream) and n x 2 Mbps (upstream). SkyBridge believes it can provide the best, low cost broadband network access in 
locations worldwide not served by DSL or cable modem. http://www.skybridge.com
SkyBridge, September 16, 1999

EXTREME NETWORKS INTRODUCES INTERNET DATA CENTER SWITCH
Extreme Networks introduced a Gigabit Ethernet switch optimized for Internet Data Centers. Extreme's new Summit7i combines a capacity for 28 100/1000BASE-T or 1000BASE-SX ports plus four GBIC-based 1000BASE-X ports with link aggregation capabilities, load balancing, wire-speed IP/IPX routing at 48 million packets per second, and a policy-based bandwidth management and prioritization scheme.  http://www.extremenetworks.com/extreme/products/summit7i.htm
Extreme Networks, September 14, 1999

FORE SYSTEMS ANNOUNCES ECOMMERCE SOFTWARE ENHANCEMENTS
FORE Systems announced several performance and security software agents designed for emerging e-commerce applications over its enterprise networking platform. The enhancements include:

* tools to prioritize and guarantee that network traffic synchronizes and backs up mirrored databases

* a network management policy console for adjusting priorities for different traffic types (e.g., HTTP, e-mail)

* a switch-resident application agent for optimizing network security traffic

Availability is expected by the end of the year.  http://www.fore.com/press/current/PR909_14.html
FORE Systems, September 15, 1999

NORTEL NETWORKS SUPPLIES LMDS + ATM NETWORK TO BCI VENEZUELA
Nortel Networks will supply an LMDS broadband wireless access network and an ATM backbone to the Venezuelan subsidiary of Bell Canada International.  The "BCI Genesis" services, which will be offered in the cities of Caracas and Valencia, will operate in the 24/25 GHz band using Nortel Networks Reunion wireless portfolio and Passport ATM switching equipment.  The network will be launched soon after the expected liberalization of the Venezuelan telephony market scheduled to take place next year.  Financial terms were not disclosed.  http://www.nortelnetworks.com
Nortel Networks, September 16, 1999

RAD INTRODUCES 4 MBPS HDSL MODEMS
RAD Data Communications unveiled two xDSL modems developed for extended ranges from a central office.  The HCD-4 is a 4-wire modem based on standard 2B1Q HDSL technology offering data rates of up to 4 Mbps over a range of up to 3 km (2 miles) over 24 AWG.  The ASM-60 is a 4-wire DSL modem with selective data rates of 4, 6 and 10 Mbps. Its range is 3 km (2 miles) over 24 AWG.  http://www.rad.com/
RAD, September 16, 1999

INTEL'S NEW COMMUNICATIONS FUND INVESTS IN TRILLIUM DIGITAL SYSTEMS
Intel has made an undisclosed equity investment in Trillium Digital Systems, a developer of communications source code.  The investment is the first for Intel's newly announced $200 million Communications Fund, which aims to spur the development of systems compatible with its network processor and its Internet Exchange (IX) Architecture.  The fund was designed to make minority equity investments of typically less than $10 million.  Trillium's software product line includes source code for SS7, ATM, H.323, MPLS, IP, Wireless, ISDN, Frame Relay, V5 and X.25/X.75 technologies.  The company is based in Los Angeles. http://www.trillium.com/whats-new/pr/120.html
Trillium, September 16, 1999

N.E.T. REPORTS 3 MORE NETWORK UPGRADES TO PROMINA 800 PLATFORM
N.E.T. reported continued success in upgrading its customers' IDNX systems to its new Promina 800 series multiservice platform.  Three more provincial digital data networks (DDNs) in China, including the Sha'anxi Post and Telecommunications Administration (PTA), Gansu PTA and Jilin PTA, have upgraded to the Promina 800.  The contracts comprised of more than 110 nodes and were valued at approximately $7 million. Datacraft China is N.E.T.'s strategic distribution partner.  .N.E.T. said its presence in China now exceeds 4,000 nodes and over 200,000 data ports.  http://internet.net.com/corporate/releases/pr99/pr2999.html
N.E.T., September 16, 1999