INTEL TO ACQUIRE DSP COMMUNICATIONS FOR $1.6 BILLION
Intel will acquire DSP Communications (DSPC), a developer of digital cellular communications products for $1.6 billion in cash.  The company's digital signal processing (DSP) ASICs, software stacks, and reference designs cover personal digital cellular (PDC), time division multiple access (TDMA), code division multiple access (CDMA) and third-generation (3G) standards.  Intel said the DSPC acquisition would enable new generations of feature-rich, compact, lightweight wireless handsets. Last month, DSPC unveiled its first chip and system software solution for cdma2000.  The DSP device supports data rates of up to 153 Kbps for both up and down links.  DSP Communications is headquartered in Cupertino, California.  http://www.intel.com/pressroom/archive/releases/Cn101499.htm
Intel, October 14, 1999

DSP Communications represents Intel's 9^th networking acquisition this year

A List of Intel's Networking Acquisitions

ITF BUILDS DWDM OPTICAL COMPONENTS WITH FUSED FIBER TECHNOLOGY
ITF Optical Technologies, a start-up based in St. Laurent, Quebec, shipped its first optical components for the DWDM market.  The company manufactures multi-channel DWDM systems, high power handling Pump Laser Combiners, and a line of filters and couplers.  ITF has developed an All-Fiber Fused Biconic Taper technology in which two tapered fibers are fused together. Light never leaves the optical fiber and does not pass through an optical interface.  ITF said that by varying both the fusing and tapering parameters during the manufacturing process and by cascading several components in series, a wide range of products varying from 1310/1550 nm couplers to 16 channels, 100 GHz spacing DWDM can be made.  The company moved from product inception for first shipment in 12 months. Investors in the firm include Newbridge Networks.  http://www.itfoptical.com/
ITF, October 13, 1999

IBEAM RAISES $42 MILLION FOR SATELLITE BASED WEB STREAMING
iBEAM Broadcasting Corporation, a start-up based in Sunnyvale, California, raised $42 million from Covad, Intel and Microsoft to develop its satellite-based, streaming media network.  iBEAM is building a highly distributed network of servers connected by satellite to offer a streaming service for special events.  The company claims it will have the capacity to deliver more than 300,000 simultaneous streams to viewers and listeners globally.  Its architecture would typically provide one or two router hops, compared to a much larger number in current terrestrial backbones.  Separately, iBEAM formed an alliance with NorthPoint Communications and Covad to use their DSL networks in conjunction with the satellite webcasting.  iBEAM uses Hughes Network Systems (HNS) DirecPC satellite platform.  http://www.ibeam.com/
IBEAM, October 14, 1999

IEEE 1394 "FIREWIRE" MOVES TO 800 MBPS, FURTHER BOOST TO 1.6 GBPS PLANNED
The IEEE 1394b Working Group this week sent a specification for 800 Mbps "FireWire" to ballot.  The 1394 Trade Association said worldwide product development based on the 1394 multimedia standard has a strong market lead over next generation USB connections.  The 1394 Trade Association notes that 90% of new camcorders to be released in Japan next year will include the 1394 standard using 400 Mbps silicon.  New 800 Mbps silicon for IEEE 1394b is expected by the spring of the year 2000.  http://www.1394ta.org
The 1394 Trade Association, October 13, 1999

The Gigabit 1394b standard will support an extended speed range from 800 Mbps to 1.6 Gbps, with architectural support to 3.2 Gbps and above.  It also expected to support longer distances of 50 to 100 m.  The 1394b Specification Working Group:  http://www.zayante.com/p1394b/

PONTIO SIGNS $90 MILLION ATM/DSL CONTRACT WITH LUCENT
Pontio Communications, a facilities-based carrier start-up in Texas, signed a $90 million agreement to deploy Lucent Technologies' next-generation Stinger DSLAMs and CBX500 Multiservice ATM switches.  Pontio's network will reach over 150 SBC central offices in Austin, Dallas, Fort Worth, Houston and San Antonio metro areas.  Pontio will aggregate each DSLAM via an OC-3 or DS-3 connection into a CBX500 ATM switch.  The company will act as a wholesale supplier of communications services to ISPs, IXCs, Wireless Service Providers (WSPs), CLECs and Data Local Exchange Carriers (DLECs).  http://www.lucent.com  http://www.pontio.com/
Pontio, October 14, 1999

CHOICE ONE COMMUNICATIONS INITIATES 3 TRIALS OF VOICE OVER DSL
Choice One Communications, a CLEC based in Rochester, New York, launched Voice over DSL trial networks using separate platforms from three vendors: CopperCom, JetStream and TollBridge Technologies.  After the evaluation period, ChoiceOne plans to select one of the platforms for a widespread VoDSL rollout.  ChoiceOne currently uses Paradyne Networks' DSL equipment.  http://www.choiceonecom.com/
Choice One Communications, October 14, 1999

N.E.T. Announces New Global Partnerships, Promina 800 Contracts
N.E.T. this week announced a series of new strategic partnerships and contracts, including:

• a partnership agreement with UK-based Flow-Line Communications, a provider of specialized voice networks centered on satellite communications.  Flow-Line will sell the Promina 800 Series multiservice access platform to carriers, larger enterprises and satcoms operators.
  

• a partnership agreement with Datacraft Asia, Asia Pacific's largest networking systems integrator, to include its Japanese operations.
  

• a contract to expand the backbone of Telecom Personal, Argentina's largest provider of cellular service.  The network, managed by Ericsson, has more than 180 nodes.
  

• a contract through Harris Corp. (an N.E.T. partner) to expand the network of Madrid-based American Telecom Network (ATN).  The network will use N.E.T.'s Promina 800 Series with extended features.
  

• a contract to expand the network of ETRALI, the French leading provider of financial network services for dealer boards and financial traders.  The network uses the Promina 800 Series multiservice access platform to deliver secure voice and data service between financial dealing rooms worldwide.   http://www.net.com/
  N.E.T., October 14, 1999

NEXTWAVE CHOOSES AIRSPAN'S CDMA FOR LAST MILES FIXED WIRELESS
NextWave Telecom of San Diego plans to AirSpan Communications' new AS4000 Wireless Access System and customer premise equipment in the 1.9 GHz Personal Communications Services (PCS) band for last mile, fixed wireless access.  The AirSpan system uses CDMA wireless technology for two-way connections over urban distances of 2  5 km.  The system enables 32kbps and 64 kbps telephony, 56 kbps modem connectivity, 2B+D ISDN and 128 Kbps  leased lines.  NextWave said it plans to be the first in the US to use the AirSpan system for residential and small business customers.  Financial terms were not disclosed.
http://www.airspan.com/
AirSpan, October 14, 1999

3COM PLANS WIRELESS ETHERNET FOR SOHO MARKETS
3Com endorsed the recently approved IEEE 802.11b High Rate standard for 11 Mbps and announced plans to introduce an AirConnect wireless LAN enterprise solution this fall to select countries in Asia, Europe and North America.  3Com also plans to deliver a low-cost home wireless LAN solution worldwide next year.  http://www.3com.com/news/releases/pr99/oct1199a.html
3Com, October 11, 1999

CHINA'S GUANGDONG PTA EXTENDS ITS ATM NETWORK WITH FORE SYSTEMS
China's Guangdong Post and Telecommunications Administration (GPTA) will add FORE Systems' FramePlus  Frame Relay network modules to its province-wide ATM network.  GPTA's broadband network is based on FORE's TNX line of ATM switches.  Financial terms were not disclosed.  http://www.fore.com/press/current/PR910_13.html
FORE Systems, October 13, 1999

PMC SIERRA REPORTS SALES OF $71.6 MILLION, NETWORKING UP 83% OVER Q398
PMC Sierra reported net revenue of $71.6 million, including networking semiconductor revenue of $66.4 million, up 21% over the preceding quarter and up 83% over the same period last year.  Net income was $19.4 million, or $0.25 per share.  http://www.pmc-sierra.com/
PMC Sierra, October 14, 1999