TERABRIDGE ROUTES INTERNET DATA & CALL CENTER TRAFFIC OVER ATM
TeraBridge Technologies Corp. released a software system for directing Internet data or call center traffic away from voice tandem networks and onto ATM networks.  TeraBridge's PathMinder ID software enables T1 and Primary Rate Interface (PRI) lines to be terminated on ATM switches while using QoS controls on a per session or per call basis.  TeraBridge said its platform enables carriers to free up hundreds of lines of equivalent narrowband capacity for every PRI line rolled into the broadband infrastructure. It also enables carriers to originate narrowband calls directly on ATM switching and transport networks.  The PathMinder ID software is capable of connecting directly to any service switching point in the PSTN and translating SS7 messages into call control functions for either ATM or narrowband digital subscribers. It supports services such as call setup and tear down, multipoint videoconferencing, ISP connectivity, and call-by-call service selection.  Usage-based billing and automated provisioning tools are provided.  The company plans a range of PathMinder solutions tailored for long distance, eXtended domain, competitive domain and enhanced domain carrier networks.  TeraBridge is a joint venture of Newbridge Networks and TeleHub Technologies.  Earlier this year, Siemens signed an OEM contract for the PathMinder software.  http://www.terabridge.com/
TeraBridge, October 27, 1999

TERABRIDGE SHOWS ATM LOCAL TELEPHONY INTEROPERABILITY
TeraBridge Technologies validated its new PathMinder software suite's interoperability within the ATM Local Telephony Alliance (ALTA).  The tests covered the ability to provision, monitor, manage and bill voice, data and video calls using a BISDN central office. Specific capabilities demonstrated included:

• maintaining a single local routing number for each switch;

• terminating Local Number Portability (LNP);

• porting a number to a broadband terminal;

• reviewing call element tracing through SS7 messaging analysis on line;

• creating of one-way incoming/outgoing and two-way trunk groups in real time;

• supporting multiple HNPA and a mixture of ported and non-ported numbers to a PBX   over a single line;

• supporting dial handling with any combination of digits; and

• supporting tone, announcement and service interworking between -ISDN, B-ISDN and traditional POTS lines.

TeraBridge has launched an ALTA interoperability demo and test lab at its headquarters in Illinois.  http://www.terabridge.com/   
TeraBridge, October 27, 1999

The Local Telephony Alliance (ALTA) promotes ATM-based telephony in the local exchange.  http://www.altainfo.org

ADVANCED FIBRE COMM. AND ATMOSPHERE PARTNER FOR PACKET-AWARE OPTICAL ACCESS
Advanced Fibre Communications (AFC) and Atmosphere Networks announced a joint development, interoperability and sales agreement targeting "packet-aware, optical transmission networks". Atmosphere Networks develops ATM-based SONET/SDH solutions for delivering more bandwidth efficient data services, including 10/100 Ethernet, voice-over-IP, Transparent LAN Service (TLS), broadband Internet access and private line.  AFC offers a Universal Modular Carrier that uses a hybrid ATM/TDM architecture for delivering local loop interfaces for POTS, Dataports, ISDN, Coax, T1, HDSL, and ADSL services.   http://www.atmospherenet.com/
http://www.afc.com/
AFC, October 27, 1999

STORAGENETWORKS ACQUIRES $96 MILLION IN DARK FIBER FROM MFN
StorageNetworks, a start-up planning real-time enterprise storage and disaster recovery services, signed a 20-year, $96 million dark fiber lease agreement with Metromedia Fiber Network, giving it significant fiber reach in Metromedia's major metropolitan areas. StorageNetwork is building massive data facilities, or "StoragePOPs".  Its enterprise storage network architecture will use Fibre Channel protocols and will be able to emulate vendor-specific SCSI implementations, including cluster and parallel environments.  StorageNetworks claims it will have the capacity to transmit up to 2 terabits of data per second over its network. The company was co-founded by Peter W. Bell, formerly of EMC Corporation, and Bill Miller, formerly of Andataco.  StorageNetworks is headquartered in Waltham, Mass.  http://www.storagenetworks.com/virtual/102799.htm
StorageNetworks, October 27, 1999

StorageNetworks has previously announced a contract with EMC Corp. to deploy over 36 Terabytes (TBs) of EMC technology this year in its nationwide network of Storage Points-of-Presence (S-POPs).  In August, start-up Finisar Corp. said StorageNetworks was evaluating its DWDM-based aggregation system for extending Fibre Channel SANs and Gigabit Ethernet LANs across metropolitan fiber networks.

TELEGLOBE PROVIDES ATM CONNECTIVITY FOR STAR-TAP RESEARCH NETWORKS
As part of the STAR TAP (Science, Technology and Research Transit Access Point) initiative, Teleglobe began providing ATM connections to Asian and European Research and Education (R&E) networks.  STAR TAP, which is funded through a National Science Foundation grant to the University of Illinois at Chicago, provides a common interconnection point between 100 US R&E networks and their foreign counterparts.  STAR TAP networks include the NSF very High Performance Backbone Network Service (vBNS), the DoE Energy Sciences Network (ESnet) and the NASA Research and Education Network (NREN).  Teleglobe also provides access to the Abilene network.  http://www.teleglobe.com   http://www.startap.net
TeleGlobe, October 27, 1999

HARMONIC ACQUIRES DIVICOM FOR MPEG2 ENCODERS + DWDM
Harmonic Inc. will acquire the DiviCom business of C-Cube Microsystems for approximately $1.7 billion in stock.  Harmonic is a leading supplier of DWDM systems, scalable nodes and digital gateway products for cable network operators.  DiviCom offers MPEG-2 encoding products and systems and includes in its customer base BellSouth, CCTV, Cablevision Systems, Canal+, DirecTV, EchoStar Communications, ExpressVu, GTE, LIN Television, MediaOne, NTL, Optus, Telefonica, Telenor, Telia, ONdigital, WGBH and US West.  Harmonic said the acquisition would enable it to provide open-systems solutions for video, voice and data over a variety of network architectures.  Both companies are based in Silicon Valley.  http://www.harmonicinc.com/
Harmonic, October 27, 1999

RAMP NETWORKS INTRODUCES SMALL OFFICE ADSL ROUTER WITH 4-PORT 10/100 HUB
Ramp Networks introduced a small office ADSL router based on a 133 MIPS RISC processor and the Alcatel DynaMiTe chip architecture.  The RISC processor, as well as expanded memory and firmware upgradeability, allow the new WebRamp ADSL router to support firewall and VPN security based on industry standard protocols, such as Microsoft Point-to-Point Tunneling Protocol (PPTP) and IPSec. The device is software-selectable between full ADSL and G.lite.  The Alcatel chip set ensures interoperability with leading DSLAM vendors.  Ramp Networks also provides a number of valued-added features in its small office ADSL router, including:

• 4-port 10/00 Ethernet hub

• bandwidth management capabilities for traffic shaping; 

• an external serial port for connecting back-up analog or ISDN modems; 

• flexible configuration as a bridge or router, with the ability to use either a range of registered IP addresses or share a single address using NAT and DHCP; 

• access controls that allow network administrators to control individual Internet access;

• remote dial-in capabilities; 

• and a suite of IPSec-based client/server VPN software. http://www.rampnet.com/products/600i/index.html

Ramp Networks, October 26, 1999

SBC REACHES 100K DSL LINES
SBC Communications is now providing DSL services to approximately 100,000 subscribers.  Earlier this month, SBC announced plans to invest $6 billion over the next three years to transform its local network into a packet-switched platform capable of providing DSL service to more than 80% of its 77 million customers.  Data services revenues increased 43.4 percent over the same quarter a year ago to $1.5 billion.
http://www.sbc.com/News_Center/Article.html?query_type=article&query=19991027-01
SBC Communications, October 27, 1999

NORTHPOINT EXPANDS ITS DSL NETWORK DEPLOYMENT
NorthPoint Communications announced plans to expand its DSL network to 32 additional US cities by the end of next year.  NorthPoint DSL is currently available in 28 markets and 51 MSAs; and will expand to a total of 60 major metropolitan areas and 110 MSAs by year-end 2000. http://www.northpointcom.com/
NorthPoint Communications, October 27, 1999

MARCONI SELECTED FOR 2.5 GBPS SDH CORE NETWORK IN BRAZIL
Telecentro-Sul, one of Brazil's largest telecommunications operators, selected Marconi Communications to supply a 2.5 Gbps SDH core network covering a 4,000 square kilometer area in Brasilia and its surrounding region.  The network will serve as a backbone between Telecentro-Sul's nine local operators.  The contract was valued at GBP10 million.   http://www.marconicomms.com
Marconi Communications, October 27, 1999

MICROSOFT AND NTT DOCOMO JOINT VENTURE TARGETS MOBILE DATA SERVICES
Microsoft and NTT Mobile Communications Network (NTT DoCoMo) created a joint venture company to deliver mobile data services to users of NTT DoCoMo's wireless networks in Japan.  The equally-held Mobimagic Company Ltd. will begin providing data services over NTT DoCoMo's 64Kbps circuit-switched Personal Handyphone System (PHS) wireless network in mid-2000.  The service will later be upgraded to NTT DoCoMo's forthcoming third-generation W-CDMA network.  http://www.nttdocomo.com/pre.htm
NTT DoCoMo, October 27, 1999

LIBERTY MEDIA INVESTS $425 MILLION IN ASTROLINK BROADBAND SATELLITE VENTURE
Liberty Media will acquire a 31.6% equity stake in the Astrolink broadband satellite venture for $425 million.  In May, Astrolink raised $900 million in equity financing to launch up to nine, geostationary Ka-band (20-30 GHz) satellites for providing high bandwidth services in Europe, the Middle East and North and South America.  The new investment distributes Astrolink's ownership structure among four partners:  Liberty Media 31.6%; Lockheed Martin Global Telecommunications 31.2%; Telespazio (Telecom Italia) 18.6% and TRW 18.6%.  Liberty Media, a division of AT&T, produces, acquires and distributes entertainment and informational programming services
http://www.libertymedia.com/press_releases/index.html
Liberty Media, October 25, 1999

Astrolink's first geostationary, Ka-band satellite is scheduled for launch in 2002. The Astrolink satellites are being designed with 6.5 Gbps capacity and the ability to support downlink speeds of up to 110 Mbps and uplink speeds of 20 Mbps per channel. The architecture will be based on ATM for supporting IP as well as synchronous voice and isochronous video services. Astrolink plans to offer a premium ATM service for business customers, featuring CBR, rt-VBR, nrt-VBR, UBR and ABR services. Astrolink will build four regional control centers to validate users, monitor the system and provide set-up and tear-down functions. It will also build two satellite centers, three telemetry station and 30 to 50 Gateway Earth Stations providing interexchange, protocol conversion and uplink to the satellites at 143 Mbps per channel.  http://www.astrolink.com/