TACHION ROLLS OUT ITS COLLAPSED CENTRAL OFFICE PLATFORM
Tachion Networks, a start-up based in New Jersey, announced general availability of its FUSION 5000, a collapsed central office platform that integrates transport, switching and signaling into a single box.  Tachion also announced a DS3 Service Adaptation Module that enables the provisioning of services (IP, ATM, TDM, Frame Relay, etc.) at the DS0/DS1 level rather than using separate cards dedicated to each service.  An “any service, any port” architecture allows circuit and packet services to be mixed to the DSO level on the same DS3 port.  The high-density, multiport DS3 card also enables Internet offload applications, the ability to accept IMT (inter-machine trunks) from an ILEC central office for offering PRIs, and the ability to aggregate ATM traffic from multiple DSLAMs, IP routers and other access devices.  Tachion also said the channelized DS3 aggregation module would allow data CLECs to transition to voice over DSL (VoDSL) without needing GR-303 gateways.  So far, Tachion has announced two CLEC customers and contracts totaling $75 million.  The company recently opened extensive network interoperability testing facilities for its customers and signed Acme Electronics to provide manufacturing and delivery services.  http://www.tachion.com/
Tachion Networks, May 30, 2000

Tachion‘s FUSION 5000 leverages a dual TDM/ATM switching matrix that allows services to be switched in native format. The integration of SONET ATM/STM Add Drop Mux (ADM) enables direct attachment to SONET rings.  IP routing capabilities will also be added to the platform.  The company is led by Jeff Matros, who previously served as general partner at Walden International Investment Group and was a co-founder at Netrix Corp.  Tachion Networks was founded by Satish Sharma, who previously worked in Bell Laboratories' Advanced Technology Department.

VPSWITCH PLANS DSL VOICE SWITCH BASED ON MGCP/MEGACO
VPSwitch, a division of Data Connection (DCL), announced plans for a DSL Voice Switch that combines voice gateway capabilities with CLASS 5 features.  The VPSwitch VP3000 is being developed as a NEBs-3 product based on MGCP/Megaco and SCTP protocols.  The platform will interoperate with DSLAMs and IADs from third party vendors, delivery voice and CLASS features without CLASS 5 switches.  It will interconnect to local and long distance carriers via SS7/TDM trunks, while allowing selective routing of voice traffic across existing packet backbones via VTOA.  The company said its platform would support up to 2000 concurrent calls, 16,000 subscriber lines and 100,000 BHCA per chassis, with chassis racking.  Availability dates were not specified.  http://www.vpswitch.com
VPSwitch, May 29, 2000

• Data Connection is an independent developer of portable source code for ATM, MPLS, MGCP/Megaco, SS7, Conferencing, Unified Messaging, Directory and SNA equipment. The company is based in London with US offices in Alameda, CA and Reston, VA.  http://www.datcon.co.uk

ADTECH INTRODUCES TEST SOLUTIONS FOR MPLS, IP DIFFSERVE, ATM PNNI
Adtech introduced an MPLS Test Solution incorporating control plane emulation, data plane QoS testing through MPLS traffic generation, and protocol decodes.  The new capabilities will enable Adtech’s AX/4000 Broadband Test System to emulate an MPLS node and provide QoS performance measurements at line speeds up to 10 Gbps.  The solution will support Traffic Management and Quality of Service (QoS), and Class of Service (CoS) through multiple industry standard protocols including Label Distribution Protocol (LDP), Constraint-based Routing using Label Distribution Protocol (CR-LDP) and Resource Reservation Protocol with Traffic Engineering (RSVP-TE), and through customized software and hardware enhancements.  Commercial availability is expected in Q3.

Adtech also announced an IP DiffServ Test Suite that was developed in partnership with Telcordia.  The product initially supports Packet over SONET (POS) and IP over Gigabit Ethernet. Support for IP over Frame Relay, IP over ATM, IP over 10/100 Ethernet will be added later this year.  Adtech also introduced a PNNI Network Emulator.  The solution, which was also developed in partnership with Telcordia, enables Adtech’s AX/4000 Broadband Test System to emulate an ATM PNNI network of up to 1,000 nodes and six levels of hierarchy.  http://www.adtech-inc.com/
Adtech, May 2000

AT&T REQUIRED TO DIVEST OWNERSHIP IN ROAD RUNNER
AT&T agreed to divest its interest in the Road Runner cable modem service in order to satisfy antitrust concerns regarding its proposed merger with Media One.  The Department of Justice had concluded that the combination of AT&T's interests in Excite@Home and MediaOne's interests in Road Runner would have substantially lessened competition in the aggregation, promotion, and distribution of broadband content.  Currently, AT&T owns a controlling interest in Excite@Home.  Road Runner is principally owned by MediaOne, Time Warner Inc., Microsoft, and Compaq.  Together, Excite@Home and Road Runner serve approximately 75% of the country's cable modem subscribers.
http://www.usdoj.gov/atr/public/press_releases/2000/4829.htm
US Department of Justice, May 25, 2000 

UK OUTLINESTERMS FOR LOCAL LOOP UNBUNDLING
OFTEL, the official regulator for the UK telecom industry, issued proposed pricing for operators for leasing unbundled local loops from BT. The document is aimed at promoting competition for access services, especially DSL services.  It sets out proposals for the pricing principles for co-location of operators’ equipment in BT exchanges, and other technical support services such as charging for power.  The indicative annual rental for an unbundled loop in most cases will be £105, and includes a mark-up to reflect common costs to the line and other BT services.  BT is currently rolling out ADSL over its own network.  http://www.oftel.gov.uk/releases/2000/pr38_00.htm
OFTEL, May 25, 2000

• Separately, in a decision concerning a dispute between BT and MCI WorldCom, OFTEL ruled that BT must supply wholesale, unmetered Internet access over its local networks to the competing operator’s network.  http://www.oftel.gov.uk/releases/2000/pr40_00.htm

ENNOVATE NETWORKS ACQUIRES CORNICE COMMUNICATIONS
Ennovate Networks will acquire Cornice Communications, a start-up developing QoS-enabled IP services, for an undisclosed sum.  Ennovate Networks said the deal reinforces its intention to aggressively build out its product line and enable Network Service Providers to transition to a new generation of IP services.  http://www.ennovatenetworks.com
Ennovate Networks, May 29, 2000

MRV ACQUIRES SWITZERLAND-BASED CES, FORMS ITOUCH COMMUNICATIONS
MRV Communications has acquired CES, a developer of real-time data acquisition systems for ATM network controllers, nuclear and particle physics and aeronautical flight test equipment.  Financial terms were not disclosed. CES, which is based in Geneva, Switzerland, working to apply data acquisition concepts used in particle physics to enhance the packet-by-packet processing of IP-based transactions in wireless broadband networks.  MRV said it intends to combine its strengths in IP routing with those of CES to form a new company iTouch Communications, which will be based Geneva and Littleton, Mass.   http://www.mrv.com.  http://www.ces.ch/
MRV, May 26, 2000

3RD GENERATION PARTNERSHIP PROJECT (3GPP) TO ADOPT IPV6
The 3rd Generation Partnership Project (3GPP) will adopt IPv6 as the protocol for future IP multimedia services.  The 3GPP Partnership Project is preparing globally applicable technical specifications for a 3G mobile system based on the evolved GSM core networks and the radio access technologies supported by its partners.  http://www.nokia.com
Nokia, May 26, 2000

• The 3rd Generation Partnership Project (3GPP) includes the Association of Radio Industries and Businesses (Japan), the China Wireless Telecommunication Standard, the European Telecommunications Standards Institute (ETSI), Committee T1 (USA), the Telecommunications Technology Association (Korea), and the Telecommunication Technology Committee (Japan).
  http://www.3gpp.org/