Enron's unique "Pure IP" infrastructure combines the company’s national fiber network, IP/DWDM gigabit routers, a proprietary InterAgent middleware control layer and a distributed server architecture developed in alliance with Sun Microsystems.  The InterAgent software uses a proprietary routing methodology to provide tiered QoS levels from the company's distributed servers, as well as event messaging, a reservation system, metering/billing, QoS control and directory services.  The Sun servers will be deployed at Enron's major nodes, as well as in the POPs of distribution channel partners.  

LUCENT TO ACQUIRE AGERE FOR PROGRAMMABLE NETWORK PROCESSORS
Lucent Technologies Microelectronics Group will acquire Agere, a start-up offering a programmable network processor for multi-protocol routers, switches and network management equipment, for about $415 million in stock.  The privately held company is based in Austin, Texas with 90 employees.

Agere's OC-48c programmable Routing Switch Processor incorporates advanced packet/cell manipulation and queuing functions, including programmable ATM QoS parameters per queue for UBR, CBR, VBR, and programmable IP CoS with 16 priority levels that can be set using Weighted Fair Queuing. Agere's programmable processor can provide additional traffic management, traffic shaping, and packet modification routing/switching techniques.
http://www.lucent.com/press/0100/000120.mea.html
http://www.agere.com/home.htm
Lucent Technologies, January 20, 2000

A list of Lucent Technologies' Acquisitions to date
http://www.convergedigest.com/Mergers/mergersLucent.htm

PMC-SIERRA ACQUIRES TOUCAN TECHNOLOGY
PMC-Sierra will acquire Toucan Technology, an IC design company focused on the networking industy, for approximately $26 million in stock.  Toucan Technology offers design expertise with digital signal processors (DSPs) and networking protocols including T1/E1, T3/E3, ATM, xDSL, SONET/SDH, HDSL and IP.  The company is based in Galway, Ireland and has 30 employees.  http://www.pmc-sierra.com/pressroom/pr/2000012001.html
http://www.toucan.ie/
PMC Sierra, January 20, 2000

BELL ATLANTIC SELECTS FLAG AS PREFERRED UNDERSEA CABLE SYSTEM
Bell Atlantic will purchase 50% of its international subsea cable capacity on FLAG Telecom systems over the next four years.  Financial terms were not disclosed.  The Fiberoptic Link Around the Globe (FLAG) cable, which stretches over 27,300 km between Japan and the UK, also runs through the Republic of Korea, China, Malaysia, Singapore, Thailand, India, United Arab Emirates, Egypt, Italy, and Spain. The network uses two fiber pairs - each operating at 5 Gbps.  The FLAG Network Operations Centre operates in Fujairah, United Arab Emirates, with a mirror site in London.  FLAG is currently building a terabit-class cable between New York, London and Paris, as a joint venture with GST.  FLAG operates an undersea cable linking   Bell Atlantic is among the investors in FLAG.  http://www.flagtelecom.com/
FLAG Telecom, January 20, 2000

NTT SELECT'S CLARENT AS IP TELEPHONY SUPPLIER FOR ITS GLOBAL IP CLEARINGHOUSE
NTT Worldwide Telecommunications Corporation selected Clarent to supply its IP telephony products as the basis for a new global IP telephony clearinghouse and also for an IP telephony product line targeted to enterprise customers.  The clearinghouse would be used as the basis for global minutes termination in Japan.  Financial terms were not disclosed.
http://www.clarent.com/news/pressreleases/pr_2000-01-20.html
Clarent, January 20, 2000

GLOBAL CROSSING EXPANDS UK NETWORK WITH CIENA
Global Crossing will expand its UK networks using Ciena's MultiWave Sentry platform.  The equipment was acquired under an existing contract with Racal Telecom, which Global Crossing acquired in November.  http://www.ciena.com
Global Crossing, January 20, 2000

EXCITE@HOME CABLE MODEM SUBSCRIPTIONS REACH 1.15 MILLION
As of December 31, Excite@Home had approximately 1,150,000 cable modem subscribers, up from 840,000 at September 30.  Its capable partners now pass approximately 24 million upgraded cable homes worldwide, up from 13 million a year ago, representing about one-third of its global homes under contract and about 40% of its North American footprint.  The company estimated its subscriber penetration of upgraded homes at 4.8% at the end of 1999, nearly twice the level from a year ago.
http://www.home.net/news/pr_000120_01.html
Excite@Home, January 20, 2000

 As of December 31, Road Runner had 550,000 customers for its cable modem service.

COVAD REACHES 57,000 DSL ACCOUNTS, 1,100 ACTIVE CENTRAL OFFICES
As of December 31, Covad Communications had 57,000 DSL subscribers, up from 31,000 lines at September 30.  Service ready central offices increased during Q4 to 1,100 from 880 at September 30.  http://www.covad.com
Covad Communications, January 20, 2000

HITACHI ANNOUNCES GIGABIT ROUTERS SCALING TO OC-48
Hitachi Ltd announced five GR2000 Gigabit Router models designed to scale up to 40 million packets per second and targeted at enterprise networks and ISPs.  The Hitachi routers support Multiprotocol Label Switching (MPLS), IP Multicast, and IPv6.  Interface options range up to OC-48.  The largest of the GR2000 routers will offer 20 interface slots and support for up to 80 OC-3/STM-1 or 160 100Mb Fast Ethernet interfaces.  Additional features include redundant, hot standby modules, hot-swap power capability and NEBS compliance.  http://www.hitachi.co.jp/New/cnews/E/2000/000120B.html
Hitachi, January 20, 2000

N.E.T. REORGANIZES TO ACCELERATE BROADBAND DEVELOPMENT
N.E.T. will re-organize into two business units: one to pursue broadband opportunities in a stat-up like manner, and a second, narrowband unit to support the company's multiservice networking customers, government business and partners worldwide.  The broadband strategy is initially centered around the company's existing Promina 4000 platform.  http://www.net.com/
N.E.T., January 20, 2000