LUCENT ADDS DWDM TRANSPORT TO ITS PROTOTYPE 10 GBPS ETHERNET MUX
Lucent Technologies announced DWDM compatibility for its GigaChannel Ethernet multiplexer, a prototype device that transports native Ethernet frames (without protocol conversion) at rates of 10 Gbps. The device takes up to eight Gigabit Ethernet streams and multiplexes them onto a single fiber link for transport across a campus or metropolitan network. Native Ethernet framing is preserved, as are the payload, VLAN tagging, quality of service, and other Layer-2 and Layer-3 services. The new DWDM compatibility enables the 
experimental GigaChannel Ethernet multiplexer to run across 40 km of standard single-mode fiber using Lucent's WaveStar MetroPoint point-to-point optical system, or across multiple 80 km fiber spans using Lucent's long-reach WaveStar OLS 400G with online erbium-doped optical amplifiers and dispersion compensation. http://www.lucent.com/press/0999/990927.bla.html
Lucent Technologies, September 27, 1999

LUCENT INTRODUCES FIRST COMMERCIAL 40 GBPS OPTICAL DEVICE, 
TUNABLE LASERS
Lucent Technologies introduced a lithium niobate electro-optic modulator operating at 40 Gbps -- four times faster than current generation optical components, making it the highest speed commercially available optoelectronic device. Lucent said its 40-gpbs modulator is suitable for DWDM systems used in high-speed digital networks operating up to SONET OC-768 and SDH STM-256 rates. The device supports the wavelength range of 1525-1565 
nanometers and requires a 6-volt power supply. Lucent is currently shipping the 40 Gbps modulator. http://www.lucent.com/press/0999/990927.mec.html

Lucent Technologies' Microelectronics Group also introduced a 2.5 Gbps wavelength-stabilized tunable transmitter for applications ranging from 200 to 640 km. The device enables network equipment manufacturers and service providers to tune in one of four  adjacent, 50-gigahertz (GHz) channels, minimizing the need for a separate laser for each ITU-T wavelength. http://www.lucent.com/press/0999/990927.med.html
Lucent Technologies, September 27, 1999

In August, researchers at Siemen's Transport System Laboratories transmitted 80 wavelengths of 40 Gbps channels generated using an Electronic Time Division Multiplexing ETDM system developed by Siemens. In July, BT researchers demonstrated a high-speed optical gating device for regenerating input signals at 80 Gbps line rates. Alcatel has also announced 40 Gbps line rate tests earlier this year. 

ERICSSON PLANS OPTICAL CROSS CONNECT WITH WAVELENGTH ROUTING
Ericsson disclosed plans to build a next generation optical cross connect featuring a reconfigurable OADM (Optical Add-Drop Multiplexer), dynamic wavelength routing, wavelength protection/reuse/conversion, full SONET support, low cost amplifier-free metro configurations and end-to-end optical circuit network management. The ERION Optical Cross Connect, which will be introduced next year, would allow service providers to route, manage and provision individual wavelengths through their optical networks. Ericsson said its forthcoming Optical Cross Connect enables limitless combinations of interconnections between ring, bus and point-to-point networks. Product specifics were not disclosed. http://www.ericsson.com
Ericsson, September 27, 1999

CHROMATIS DEVELOPS SELECTIVE WDM FOR METRO NETWORKS
Chromatis Networks, a Maryland start-up with R&D in Israel, unveiled its Selective Wave Division Multiplexing (SWDM) architecture for delivering one or more wavelengths to those sites on a metropolitan fiber ring that require multi-gigabit capacities, while allowing other sites on the same ring to share less-expensive bandwidth that is not based on DWDM. The Chromatis SWDM platform creates two rings on the same fiber: one is an inexpensive single- channel ring that is shared by all network elements and runs at 1310 nanometers, and the second is a multi-channel DWDM ring running at 1550 nanometers. Chromatis technology manages the two separate wavelength regions to make them appear as a single network. All sites can communicate at a variety of speeds using the 1310nm-shared ring, while only the sites that need very high bandwidth tap into one or more of the 1550nm DWDM wavelengths. Only the high-bandwidth sites pay for DWDM optics. Chromatis plans to integrate SWDM with higher-level protocols and will begin carrier tests in November. http://www.chromatis.com/news-092799.html
Chromatis Networks, September 27, 1999

KPN CONVERGES VOICE/DATA WITH ERICSSON'S ATM SWITCH AXD 301 AND 
TELEPHONY SERVER
Dutch operator KPN International Network Service will deploy Ericsson's ATM switch AXD 301 and Telephony Server to integrate voice and data services in its pan-European network serving France, Germany, Italy and Switzerland. The contract also covers use of Ericsson's AXE TransLocal 4 switches and Cross Border Interconnect technology. British Telecom and Telia Denmark have previously selected Ericsson's multiservice integration roadmap. http://www.ericsson.com/pressroom/19990927-0002.html
Ericsson, September 27, 1999

SIEMENS INTRODUCES OC-192 OPTICAL REGENERATOR FOR WDM
Siemens announced a lower-cost 10 Gbps Optical Channel Regenerator for long-haul transmission networks. The optical channel regenerator is designed for optically amplified WDM systems that require 3R signal regeneration (reshape, retime and regenerate). http://www.siemens.com
Siemens, September 27, 1999

ADC UPGRADES ITS CELLWORX ATM VIRTUAL PATH RING SYSTEM TO OC-48
ADC Telecommunications announced OC-48 capacity for its Cellworx Service Transport Node (STN), a multiservice optical access platform that uses ATM Virtual Path (VP) ring technology instead of SONET hierarchies to manage bandwidth in fiber loop networks. ADC 
said the bandwidth efficiency of the new upgraded Cellworx OC-48 enables a carrier to potentially support the same level of customer traffic as it would with a TDM-based OC-192/STM-64 SONET platform. The Cellworx STN is currently deployed in seven communication networks, the Iowa Communications Network and Midcontinent  Communications, as well as three reseller training/demonstration centers. 
ADC Telecommunications, September 27, 1999

NORTEL NETWORKS PROMOTES SECURE DSL WITH NETWORK-BASED FIREWALL
Nortel Networks announced a network-based solution for addressing the security risks of always-on DSL lines. The network-based packet firewall will be offered as a new feature on the company's Subscriber Services System and Shasta 5000 Broadband Service Node  (BSN) system. The Shasta 5000 enables the aggregation of tens of thousands of DSL subscribers in a single chassis. Its GUI-based policy management system could be used to create and provision highly flexible firewall and other service policies for thousands of subscribers. The company said that unlike current segmentation mechanisms - e.g. based on number of IP addresses assigned - network firewall based segmentation mechanisms could not be spoofed or bypassed. Ten other DSL vendors have agreed to provide interoperability with the Shasta 5000, including Cayman Systems, CopperCom, Efficient Networks, FlowPoint, Jetstream Communications, Netopia, Network TeleSystems, Promatory Communications, TollBridge Technologies and Wind River Systems. 
http://www62.nortelnetworks.com/news/release.cfm?ID=20
Nortel Networks, September 27, 1999

FRONTIER COMMUNICATIONS OFFERS FRAME RELAY OVER DSL
Frontier Communications began offering a two-way "burstable" Frame Relay service that it will deliver over DSL connections. The service is now available in New York City, Los Angeles, Chicago,  Atlanta, Boston, San Francisco, Cleveland, San Diego, Dallas, 
Seattle and Tampa. http://www.frontiercorp.com/about/aboutfrontier/news/newsFiles/1999927-938454484.html
Frontier Communications, September 27, 1999

INTEL PUSHES ITS GIG ETHERNET SERVER NICS TO 771 MBPS
Intel released new performance-tuned drivers for its PRO/1000 Gigabit Server Adapter delivering a 21% improvement in throughput compared with previous test results. Intel reports sustained average throughput of 771 Mbps, with peak performance over 900 Mbps when running the Microsoft Windows NT 4.0 operating system. Intel has also added support for Extended Frame Sizes up to 16K, including the 9K Jumbo Frame, as part of the performance enhancements in the new driver. The new software also adds support for 802.1Q Virtual LANs and 802.1p Traffic Prioritization.  http://www.intel.com/support/network/adapter/1000/software.htm
Intel, September 27, 1999

UNISPHERE SOLUTIONS NAMES ITS EXECUTIVE TEAM, LAUNCHES MARKETING CAMPAIGN
Unisphere Solutions, the new US-based Siemens venture, named Martin Clague as its president and CEO. Clague formerly served as vice president of global industry solutions sales at IBM. Tom Burkardt, co-founder and president of Castle Networks, was named general manager for the Unisphere's Voice Services Group. James Dolce, co-founder and president of Redstone Communications, was named as general manager of Unisphere's Data Services Group.  Unisphere's product line will be divided into four families: 

* Unisphere Solutions ERX Edge Routing Switches 

* Unisphere Solutions CRX Core Routing Switches 

* Unisphere Solutions SMX Service Mediation Switches 

* Unisphere Solutions Service Management Center Management Center 

The company also kicked off its first marketing campaign around the theme "All Together Different." http://www.unispheresolutions.com/
Unisphere Solutions, September 27, 1999

In March, Siemens first announced its plans to acquire and combine start-ups Argon Networks, Castle Networks and Redstone Communications with its own Internet Solutions group, Voice over ATM and Broadband Networks unit, Enterprise Data Networking unit and its Directory Services Group. Unisphere also formed an OEM deal for an ATM-based multiservice access platform (MSAP) from Accelerated Networks.