FUJITSU TESTS 1 TBPS WDM TRANSMISSION OVER 10,000 KM
Fujitsu Laboratories announced successful transmission of 104 DWDM wavelengths of 10 Gbps traffic over a distance of 10,000 km – enough to build terabit class transpacific fiber networks.  The test system used a combination of existing 1550 nm (nanometer) band amplifiers and a new 1580 nm band amplifier to simultaneously amplify 104 wavelengths with 50 GHz (0.4 nm) channel spacing (44 channels at 1550 nm band and 60 channels at 1580 nm band).  Fujitsu said the previous world record for high-capacity, long haul data transmission (as measured by capacity times distance) was 640 Gbps over 7,200 km.  Fujitsu's highest capacity commercial system currently multiplexes 32 channels of 10 Gbps traffic. http://www.fujitsu.co.jp/hypertext/news/1999/Oct/4-e.html
Fujitsu, October 4, 1999

PAUL G. ALLEN INVESTS $1.65 BILLION IN RCN
Microsoft co-founder Paul G. Allen has invested $1.65 billion in RCN, increasing his ownership of the company from 4.5% to 27.4%.  The new funding will be used to accelerate the RCN's network deployment.  RCN's strategy is to build new fiber-to-the-curb networks capable of providing bundled residential phone, cable, high-speed Internet and future services in major US cities.  Since becoming a public company two years ago, RCN has raised a total of $4.6 billion through the debt, equity, bank and private equity markets.  The network uses SONET ring architecture with localized nodes putting fiber optics within 275 m of home users. RCN's target markets include high-density neighborhoods throughout the Boston to Washington and San Francisco to San Diego corridors.  In the telecommunications sector, Paul Allen's Vulcan Ventures also owns Charter Communications, the fourth largest cable operating company in the US with more than 6 million subscribers, as well as equity stakes in Allegiance Telecom, High Speed Access, InterNAP and NorthPoint Communications.
http://www.paulallen.com
http://www.rcn.com/
RCN, October 4, 1999

LUCENT SIGNS OEM AGREEMENT FOR COPPERCOM'S VOICE/DSL
Lucent Technologies signed an OEM agreement to resell CopperCom's CopperComplete line of voice/DSL products. The combined Lucent and CopperCom Voice over DSL solution will be targeted toward ILECs and CLECs worldwide.  CopperCom's CopperComplete DSL product line includes an integrated access device for the customer premises and a voice gateway, which is located between a DSLAM and a Class 5 Switch, such as Lucent’s 5ESS Switch. The products will interoperate with Lucent’s AnyMedia Access System, as well as Lucent's recently launched, Stinger DSL access concentrator.  CopperCom is a start-up based in Santa Clara, California.  http://www.lucent.com/press/1099/991004.nsa.html
http://www.coppercom.com
CopperCom, October 4, 1999

LUCENT TO INTEGRATE MPEG2 CAPABILITIES INTO OPTICAL, ATM AND IP SWITCHES
Lucent Digital Video plans to integrate its MPEG-2 encoder products and its new LINKRunner video gateway (see below) into its optical networking and ATM switching products, including the Ascend GX 550, CBX 500 and Cajun M770 switches and the VIA 188 codec (originally developed and marketed by AG Communications Systems).  Lucent Digital Video supplies its MPEG-2 encoders through a strategic alliance with Harris Corp.  The solutions are targeted at the professional video industry.
http://www.lucent.com/press/1099/991004.cob.html
Lucent, October 4, 1999

LUCENT DIGITAL VIDEO ANNOUNCES LINKRUNNER MPEG2/ATM TRANSPORT
Lucent Digital Video announced a video gateway that maps up to four MPEG-2 Transport Streams across an ATM or point-to-point network.  Lucent's new LINKRunner TXA is a bi-directional MPEG-2 ATM Transport Stream Adapter for transporting pre-programmed video from one point to multiple video distribution sites, including cable head ends or over-the-air transmitters. The unit has an MPEG-2 interface and is configured for interfaces such as DVB/ASI (Digital Video Broadcast/ Asynchronous Serial Interface) and OC-3 ATM.  Lucent Digital Video is developing a similar LINKRunner for delivering real-time broadcast-quality video over 100 BaseT Ethernet networks.  http://www.lucent.com/press/1099/991004.coa.html
Lucent Digital Video, October 4, 1999

FICON RELEASES MGCP SOFTWARE STACK
Ficon Technology released a Media Gateway Control Protocol (MGCP) software stack for use in next generation Gateways and Call Agents.  Ficon said its PacketPro-MGCP is designed to transition the voice network fabric from circuit to packet (ATM and IP), and to separate intelligence from the embedded switching and transport systems
http://www.ficon-tech.com/corporat/prmgcp.htm
Ficon Technology, October 4, 1999

JDS UNIPHASE ACQUIRES EPITAXX FOR OPTICAL COMPONENTS
JDS Uniphase will acquire EPITAXX, a supplier of optical detectors and receivers for optic telecommunications and CATV networks, for $400 million in stock.  EPITAXX's product lines include long wavelength detectors and receivers for use in applications including DWDM and SONET/SDH transmission, optical network monitoring for terrestrial and undersea networks, test and measurement, and fiber optic analog CATV.  A majority of EPITAXX's shares are held by a subsidiary of Nippon Sheet Glass Co., Ltd. (NSG), a key supplier of micro-lenses to JDS Uniphase.  EPITAXX is based in West Trenton, New Jersey.  http://www.epitaxx.com/
http://www.jdsunph.com/corpinfo/press-no0010.htm
JDS Uniphase, October 4, 1999

DEUTSCHE TELEKOM LOWERS ITS T-ONLINE PER MINUTE RATES
Deutsche Telekom lowered the per minute price for its dial-up T-Online eco rate from 3 to 2 pfennigs.  An hour's dial-up surfing now costs DM 1.20, plus 3 pfennigs per minute round the clock for accessing the Net via Deutsche Telekom  (DM 3.00 = US$1.64).  The company also offers a T-Online pro rate of DM 19.90 per month for unlimited Internet access, plus a phone call rate charge of 3 pfennigs per minute.  Deutsche Telekom will also halve the per minute ISP charges for customers with DSL access, from 6 to 3 pfennigs per minute.  http://www.dtag.de/english/news/journal/index.htm
Deutsche Telekom, October 4, 1999

GALILEO CORP. CHANGES NAME TO NETOPTIX
Galileo Corporation (Nasdaq: GAEO) changed its name to NetOptix Corporation and began trading under the Nasdaq symbol OPTX.  The company will focus on developing DWDM optical filters.  http://www.netoptix.com
NetOptix, October 4, 1999