NETPLANE SYSTEMS SETS PACE FOR NETWORK CONTROL PLANE SOFTWARE
Harris & Jeffries (H&J) changed its name to NETPLANE Systems to better represent its mission of providing carrier-class network control plane solutions.  The new corporate identity sets the stage for an expansion from Frame Relay, ATM and MPLS source code solutions to a wider portfolio of off-the-shelf software for next generation multi-service networking equipment.  The company currently holds the leading market share in sales of Frame Relay, ATM and MPLS source code, with sales to Tier One network equipment suppliers as well as start-ups (over 200 customers).  Recently, NETPLANE introduced off-the-shelf GR303 software solution for next-generation wireless, Voice over DSL Gateways, Digital Loop Carrier, DSLAM networking products, telecomm access equipment, telecomm switching equipment and test and measurement tools.  The packet voice strategy will be bolstered with forthcoming support for Q.2630, Q.2650, SIGTRAN, SIP and MEGACO protocols.  NETPLANE's future offerings will include a carrier-class IP routing software with IETF implementations of interior gateway protocols, exterior gateway protocols, and a redundant routing database to ensure maximum network availability.  The MPLS-enabled modular IP routing software will scale from a few thousand routes to one million routes and will leverage search algorithms and update mechanisms that can adapt dynamically based on the routing table size to provide optimum performance as the table size changes. Initial release is expected in Q4 with support for Open Shortest Path First (OSPF) as the interior gateway protocol and Border Gateway Protocol (BGP) 4 as the exterior gateway protocol.  NETPLANE announced the opening of a new subsidiary in Hyderabad, India and a technology support center in Ulm, Germany.  http://www.netplane.com
NETPLANE Systems, May 22, 2000

TERAWAVE DEBUTS 622 MBPS GIGABIT PASSIVE OPTICAL NETWORK
Terawave Communications, a start-up based in Hayward, California, introduced a multi-gigabit passive optical network (PON) solution for "first mile" optical access to small- and medium-size enterprises. The modular system uses Optical Line Terminals (OLT) and Optical Network Terminals (ONT) to deliver symmetrical 622 Mbps single fiber connections.  Terawave's custom ASICs and Service Adaptive Lightpath Switching Architecture make QoS and lightpath switching decisions across the PON, allowing any granularity of bandwidth to be statistically shared among subscribers while guaranteeing a specified amount of bandwidth for each stream.  The platform is topology agnostic and supports tree, star, bus and ring architectures with complete protection at 50 ms traffic restoration time.  Terawave will also offer WDM overlays for providing multi 2.5 Gbps connections at any ONT using the existing facility of the base PON.  Product availability is expected in Q3.  http://www.terawave.com/
TeraWave, May 22, 2000

• Terawave is led by Ray Lin, the former co-founder and CEO of Premisys.  The company was first funded in March 1999 and has raised over $60 million from Alta Partners, Bessemer Venture Partners, E-TEK Dynamics, Goldman Sachs, Harmony International Investment, Morgenthaler Ventures, Singapore Telecom, Temasek Holdings, Walden Investment Group and Weiss Peck and Greer Venture.

More on passive optical: http://www.convergedigest.com/DWDM/pons.htm
 

LUMINOUS NETWORKS INTRODUCES ITS GIGABIT IP OVER FIBER 
Luminous Networks, a start-up based in Cupertino, California, introduced its optical access platform for support Gigabit Ethernet services in metropolitan area networks.   The Luminous PacketWave product family will offer packet switching and integrated WDM capabilities capable of scaling from 1 Gbps to 40 Gbps of aggregate traffic per fiber ring.  The company will also support linear and mesh topologies, but expects ring topologies to be the preferred architecture for economic and reliability reasons.  The chassis will offer 3 types of ring interfaces:  1 Gbps Ethernet, a new 2.5 Gbps Ethernet, and 4 X 2.5 Gbps Ethernet based on WDM.  Although not yet standardized, the new 2.5 Gbps Ethernet line rates will use components from major suppliers of OC-48 SONET silicon.  By next year, Luminous Networks expects full rate10 Gbps Ethernet to be available for ring transport.  On the customer side, the company says its architecture will support up to 255 nodes per ring.  Customer interfaces will include 10/100 Mbps Ethernet, Gigabit Ethernet, OC-48 POS and T1/E1.  Luminous expects to release its first central office products in July.  More compact versions for smaller and medium size customer premise locations are expected by Q4.  http://www.luminousnetworks.com/
Luminous Networks, May 22, 2000

• Luminous Networks was founded in June 1998.  Earlier this month, Luminous Networks raised $60 million in third round venture funding with backing from Morgan Stanley, Scientific Atlanta (an OEM partner), Thomas Weisel, Temasek, DynaFund Ventures and others.  The company is led by Alex Naqvi, formerly VP and General Manager at Chips and Technologies.

SPECTRASWITCH SECURES $18 MILLION FOR ITS OPTICAL COMPONENTS
SpectraSwitch, a start-up developing optical components, raised $18.1 million in second round financing from Advanced Technology Ventures, E-TEK Dynamics, CDIB and NIF Ventures. The Santa Rosa, California-based company is developing optical switches, NxN cross-connects, compensators, attenuators, couplers and wavelength selection devices.  http://www.spectraswitch.com/
SpectraSwitch, May 19, 2000

• SpectraSwitch will use liquid-crystal-based technology to switch light from one fiber optic cable and/or channel to another.

SCENIX RAISES $42 MILLION FOR EMBEDDED TCP/IP STACKS AND CONTROLLERS
Scenix, a start-up developing communication silicon and software for embedded applications, raised $42.1 million in third round venture financing from Cisco Systems, Dell, JatoTech Ventures, L.P., MSD Capital and others.  The company said its emphasis is on embedding the Internet in everyday things, such as security systems, household appliances, utility meters, data acquisition and process control systems, and factory automation systems. The Scenix single-chip solution offers a TCP/IP stack, a choice of physical interfaces, intelligence to provide overall control, and peripherals for I/O, timing and other functions. http://www.scenix.com/
Scenix, May 19, 2000

• Scenix is led by Bulent Celebi, who formerly served as vice president and general manager for Analog Devices.