SYCAMORE ENHANCES ITS SN 8000 FOR METRO CORE WITH 86 LAMBDAS, AUTO-DISCOVERY, WAVESHARE
Sycamore Networks released a new version of its SN 8000 optical transport platform that is optimized for metro core, rather than long-haul, fiber networks.  The SN 8000 MC allows service providers to add or drop wavelengths as needed at each node.  It provides up to 43 protected wavelengths or 86 unprotected wavelengths.  Sycamore also added a dynamic lightpath management system that automatically conducts an internal self-discovery of each wavelength in the network and determines where it enters and leaves the system and how much bandwidth is available on each one.  WaveShare technology packs up to 16 OC-3/STM-1 services onto one OC-48/STM-16 wavelength.  This gives the SN 8000 MC a maximum capacity of up to 1376 OC-3/STM-1 or 344 OC-12/STM-4 services per fiber pair.  The optical transport systems can also carry Gigabit Ethernet and Fibre Channel traffic.  http://www.sycamorenet.com/about/news/pressreleases.cfm?news_item_id=267
Sycamore Networks, May 3, 2000

SORRENTO PREVIEWS TERAMATRIX WAVELENGTH SWITCHING ROUTER
Sorrento Networks, a recent spin-off from Osicom Technologies, outlined its plans for an optical wavelength switching router aimed at metropolitan infrastructure. Sorrento said its TeraMatrix Wavelength Switching Router will have an all-optical switching fabric that is client signal rate and protocol transparent.  The platform will use multi protocol lambda switching to route both wavelength connections and protection paths.  Sorrento's design will scale from port densities of 4x4 to 512x512, with each fiber port supporting up to 64 wavelengths.  The switching fabric will support generic "any-to-any" connectivity and a migration from protected optical ring topologies to full mesh architectures.  Introduction schedule was not specified.  Sorrento currently offers a metro DWDM platform that scales to 64 wavelengths supporting up to 10 Gbps rates.  http://www.sorrentonet.com/default.htm
Sorrento Networks, May 3, 2000

SILICON ACCESS NETWORKS DEVELOPS OC-192 PACKET PROCESSORS WITH SMARTMEMORIES
Silicon Access Networks, a start-up based in San Jose, California, is developing a network processing chipset designed for fully-programmable OC192 line cards in terabit switch/routers.  The solution will provide deep-packet Layer 4 through 7 processing.  The design will combine very fast (7.5 ns and below random-access-cycle), very wide (>4096 bits) memories with sophisticated logic based upon proprietary algorithms.  Specific product plans and timelines were not disclosed.  The company recently changed its name from Silicon Access Technology.  Investors include Norwest Venture Partners and the Sprout Group, the Intel Communications Fund, Synopsys, the Raza Venture Fund, Dado Banatao, Anthelion Capital, and Comdisco Ventures.  http://www.siliconaccess.com
Silicon Access Networks, May 2, 2000

• Silicon Access is led by Perry Constantine, who was a co-founder of LSI Logic and served as its VP of Marketing and Sales before founding LSI Logic Canada.  In February, Silicon Access raised $28 million in a second round of venture financing.

GADZOOX EXTENDS FIBRE CHANNEL SANS TO 80 KM
Gadzoox Networks enhanced it Fibre Channel storage area network (SAN) switch with a new port module that enables an 80 km distance capability when used extended distance transceivers, such as Finisar's gigabit interface converter (GBIC).  The Gadzoox module uses an over-sized port buffers to handle link latencies while sustaining Fibre Channel speeds of up to 100 megabytes per second.  http://www.gadzoox.com/insidegadzoox/pressroom/050300_80km_switch.html
Gadzoox Networks, May 3, 2000

METROMEDIA SUPPLIES MANAGED GIGE/DWDM FOR FREDDIE MAC, AND DARK FIBER TO ITC DELTACOM
Metromedia Fiber Network (MFN) is supplying Freddie Mac with a private, unshared wavelength-based network linking various data centers in northern Virginia.  MFN is offering a fully managed, turnkey solution that integrates its dark fiber with Nortel Networks' OPTera Metro DWDM platform.  Freddie Mac uses Gigabit Ethernet in the backbone.

• Metromedia also signed a deal to supply dark fiber to ITC^DeltaCom in the Dallas, Houston and Atlanta markets.  ITC^DeltaCom operates a long-haul network spanning 8,320 fiber miles and 100 POPs in the southern US.   http://www.mmfn.com
  MFN, May 3, 2000

TIME WARNER TELECOM PURCHASES OPTICAL TRANSPORT FROM WILLIAMS
Time Warner Telecom signed a five-year, $40 million agreement covering optical network transport services from Williams Communications.  The deal involves capacity from DS-3 to OC-48 connecting key cities throughout the US.  http://www.williamscommunications.com /
Williams Communications, May 3, 2000

• Time Warner Telecom is deploying new fiber networks in downtown business districts and in suburban office parks.  As of March 31, the company had 21 city networks in operation, encompassing 8,960 fiber route miles (336,843 fiber miles).   Last month, Time Warner Telecom raised $475 million in new bank credits to build and complete fiber networks five new markets by next year (Denver, Atlanta, Chicago, Minneapolis and Columbia, S.C.)

PATHNET INSTALLS NORTEL’ OPTERA FOR ITS NATIONWIDE WHOLESALE NETWORK
Pathnet, a carrier’s carrier with 6,900 route miles across the US, is deploying Nortel Networks’ OPTera optical transport portfolio.  Pathnet focuses on providing high capacity transport for ISPs, RBOCs and IXCs to under-served and second- and third-tier US cities.  The contract is valued at $120 million over several years.   http://www.nortelnetworks.com   http://www.pathnet.net
Nortel Networks, May 3, 2000

• Last year, Lucent Technologies to agreed to provide Pathnet with equipment financing of approximately $400 million for the first phase of its network construction. At the time (Feb 99), the companies described the deal as potentially the single largest fiber supply agreement to a network operator in the US.

ALLEGIANCE TELECOM INITIATES SOFTSWITCHING ALONGSIDE ITS CIRCUIT NETWORK
Allegiance Telecom, a facilities-based CLEC with operations in 21 US markets, officially activated softswitch technology as a complement to its existing circuit switched network infrastructure.  The initial deployment uses a Nortel-based softswitch in its Dallas facility, which is certified for interconnection with Southwestern Bell.  Allegiance Telecom said it expects to deploy softswitches from Lucent, Nortel Networks, Cisco Systems and other vendors.
http://www.allegiancetele.com
Allegiance Telecom, May 3, 2000

• Allegiance Telecom is led by Royce Holland, who was one of several co-founders of MFS Communications.   Earlier this year, Allegiance acquired $20 million in dark fiber from Level 3 and Metromedia Fiber Network in markets across the US.

BROADCOM EMBEDS CABLE MODEM CAPABILITY INTO SET-TOP BOX CHIP
Broadcom introduced an Advanced Set-top Box Transmission Chip that combines digital cable set-top box and cable modem technology.  The chip provides two in-band 64/256-QAM receivers, an out-of-band QPSK receiver and a QPSK/16-QAM upstream transmitter.  It also includes a peripheral unit for common set-top box devices such as IR remote, IR keyboard, LEDs and keypad.  Applications would include digital set-top boxes with integrated cable modem gateway functions.  http://www.broadcom.com
Broadcom, May 3, 2000

HIGH SPEED ACCESS CORP. TO OFFER LUCENT'S CABLE TELEPHONY TO RURAL NETWORKS
High Speed Access Corp., which provides turnkey cable modem integration services to cable operators in rural areas across the US, selected Lucent's CableConnect platform to offer IP telephone services.  HSA currently provides broadband Internet access via cable modem in 137 communities nationwide The deal is valued at up to $100 million over 3 years.  http://www.hsacorp.net  http://www.lucent.com/press/
High Speed Access, May 3, 2000

• High Speed Access Corp. is backed in part by a $20 million investment from Vulcan Ventures (Nov 98).

EFFICIENT NETWORKS LANDS $45 MILLION DSL CPE ORDER FROM SBC
SBC Communications will purchase $45 million in DSL customer premise equipment from Efficient Networks.  Over the past six months, Efficient Networks has already shipped over $26 million in CPE to SBC.  http://www.efficient.com/news/200005031.html
Efficient Networks, May 3, 2000

FRANCE TELECOM SELECTS REDBACK'S SUBSCRIBER MGT FOR ITS DSL ROLLOUT
France Telecom will use Redback Networks' Subscriber Management System for its national DSL rollout, currently underway in Paris and 19 other cities.  The platform enables France Telecom's DSL customers to choose between multiple broadband ISPs.  http://www.redback.com/
Redback, May 3, 2000