REDBACK NETWORKS UNVEILS ITS SMARTEDGE SONET SOLUTION
Redback Networks introduced its first SmartEdge SONET products for metropolitan optical access.  Redback's new SmartEdge 800 platform uses seven custom ASICs to dynamically provision and deliver SONET capabilities with significantly higher port density, faster performance, and lower power requirements than current ADMs.  A standard 7' rack of SE 800s delivers the functionality of up to 12 OC-48 add-drop multiplexer rings with full OC-12 drop.  The design allows multiple rings to be configured per shelf.  The SE 800 will also be dynamically re-configurable to support any service, on any port, in any slot, allowing for software upgrades from SONET to IP services.  Redback is positioning the platform as a solution for migrating leased-line data traffic to more efficient packet architectures.  The ASICs will be manufactured using IBM's advanced semiconductor processes -- including copper interconnect technology.  Commercial availability is expected in Q3.  Qwest said it intends to use the platform in its network.  Data sheets and whitepapers are online.  http://www.redback.com/se800/tourcast/default.asp
Redback Networks, May 30, 2000

• Redback Networks acquired Siara Systems, the developer of the ASIC-based IP/SONET platform, in November 1999.  The deal was valued at $4.7 billion at the time.

CYRAS SYSTEMS INTRODUCES ITS K2 TRANS-METRO OPTICAL PLATFORM
Cyras Systems, a start-up based in Fremont, California, introduced a Trans-Metro Optical platform that provides statistical multiplexing/aggregation of traffic onto SONET, preserves native traffic protocols (incoming and outgoing) and offers arbitrary concatenation of SONET with traffic-based dynamic provisioning (real-time re-allocation of bandwidth).  The platform is designed to efficiently groom traffic from metro access points onto the metro core. The Cyras architecture is based on high density cross-connect ASICs and a backplane that supports up to 480 Gbps (passive).  The design offers granularity from fractional DS-1 to multiple OC-192s while supporting all prevailing packet and circuit-switching transport protocols (TDM, ATM, Frame Relay, IP, Ethernet, xDSL). The platform will support multiple simultaneous protection schemes (BLSR, UPSR, ATM VP Rings, APS), as well as any topology (linear, star, ring, mesh).  Cyras said it already has $75 million in customer commitments for the platform.  http://www.cyras.com/flash/news_pr4.html
Cyras Systems, May 30, 2000

• Cyras is led by Steve Pearse, who previously was EVP and General Manager of Nortel Networks' Internet/Telecom Business Group, and formerly served as Vice President of Technology Planning at Sprint.  The company was founded by Alnoor Shivji, who was also part of the founding team of Fiberlane (Cerent).

NEC’S LATEST DWDM PLATFORM TO SUPPORT 160 OC-192s
NEC's next generation SpectralWave 160 DWDM platform will offer the capacity to transport 160 OC-192 and OC-48 wavelengths in virtually any combination, providing maximum data transport capacity of 1.6 Tbps.  Commercial availability is expected in Q4 2000.  By next year, NEC plans to enhance the platform to support up to eighty (80) 40 Gbps channels, increasing the maximum transport capacity of the system to 3.2 Tbps.  NEC’s chassis architecture uses a single Universal OPT shelf to support mixtures of 2.5, 10, and 40 Gbps channels.  The system will be able to multiplex four OC-48 signals onto an OC-192 wavelength and will support inverse multiplexing of 10 Gbps and 40 Gbps channels for operation over spans with high-PMD fiber.  Maximum capacity will be 640 channels.  http://www.necpng.com/news/SpectralWave_2.html
NEC America, May 30, 2000

N.E.T. ANNOUNCES BROADBAND STRATEGY AND NEW IDENTITY
Network Equipment Technologies (N.E.T.), which was one of the first companies to enter the multiservice wide area networking business in the 1980s, changed its name to "net.com" to reflect a new broadband product strategy and corporate identity.  The company is developing a new SCREAM Service Creation Manager product line that will reside at the intersection between the network service provider and the content provider.  The SCREAM platform will be based on a unique architecture that separates the network control plane (NCP) from the network data plane (NDP), enabling individual units to be co-located or geographically separate.  The first SCREAM product, which is initially targeted at DSL and cable modem aggregation, will be introduced at next week's SuperComm 2000 in Atlanta.  The system will support QoS guarantees required for voice over DSL (VoDSL) and video on demand (VoD).  The company said it would deliver 99.9999% ("six-nines") availability in a distributed processing architecture.
http://www.net.com/company/releases/pr00/pr0500.shtml
net.com, May 30, 2000

SBC LEASES DARK FIBER TO EXPAND ITS FOOTPRINT IN MAJOR US CITIES
SBC Communications entered into a 20-year , $432 million agreement to lease dark fiber from Metromedia Fiber Network (MFN) in 30 major markets across the US.  SBC Communications also signed a contract valued at as much as $110 million to lease dark fiber from FPL FiberNet, which operates a 1,600-mile fiber-optic, long-haul network in Florida.   FPL FiberNet is deploying approximately 1,500 route miles of 432-count fiber in the major metropolitan areas of the state.  http://www.sbc.com  http://www.mmfn.com  http://www.fplfibernet.com/news/html/000524.htm#TopOfPage
May 30, 2000

KPNQWEST SELECTS NOKIA FOR ITS EUROPEAN DSL ROLLOUT
KPNQwest selected Nokia’s DSLAMs for the first phase of its pan-European DSL rollout.  Initial deployments will occur in Germany, where KPNQwest expects to debut services in Q3.  Financial terms were not disclosed.  http://press.nokia.com/PM/782572.html
Nokia, May 30, 2000

AGILENT OFFERS OUTSOURCED SLA VERIFICATION FOR ISPS
Agilent Technologies announced an outsourced verification service that enables ISPs to offer their network customers, at a premium price, precise and verifiable service-level agreements (SLAs).  The Agilent Firehunter service to measure and manage the performance of entire networks, from customer sites through network backbones to customers or applications.  The service uses Cisco Systems’ Cisco SA Agent technology to make measurements from Cisco routers at customer sites.  The data is matched by a suite of tests for the network backbone and for the last mile between POPs and network customers.  http://www.firehunter.com
Agilent Technologies, May 30, 2000

ITXC INCORPORATES INTEL'S INTERNET TELEPHONY SOFTWARE
ITXC has incorporated Intel's Internet telephony software into its new wholesale, Web-based voice service.  The Intel software provides acoustic echo cancellation, decreased audio breakup, noise reduction and bandwidth conservation features over ITXC’s global Internet telephony net.  Intel said its software complies with iNOW!, an Internet telephony interoperability standard developed by the International Multimedia Teleconferencing Consortium (IMTC), an industry group comprised of more than 150 companies.  http://www.intel.com/pressroom/archive/releases/in053000.htm
Intel, May 30, 2000

TELLIUM EXPANDS ITS OPTICAL RESEARCH TEAM
Tellium, a start-up developing an optical crossconnect switch, announced that three leading optics experts have joined its team:  Dr. Sid Chaudhuri, Dr. Evan L. Goldstein and Dr. Lih Y. Lin.  Dr. Chaudhuri formerly worked for Bell Laboratories, where he developed intelligent optical network architectures using all-optical switching technologies, and spearheaded AT&T's Core Transport Network architecture.  He is also the Physical and Link Layer Working Group chairman of the Optical Internetworking Forum.  Dr. Goldstein and Dr. Lin both previously worked for AT&T Research Labs focusing on micromachined optical switches and various optical components for high-capacity optical transport networks.  http://www.tellium.com/pressreleases_main.html
Tellium, May 30, 2000

TRITON INTRODUCES A 622 MBPS LMDS RADIO
Triton Network Systems, a start-up based in Orlando, Florida, announced a 622 Mbps LMDS SONET OC-12/SDH STM-4 radio. The LMDS "A" Band (28 GHz & 29/31 GHz) OC-12 radio is designed to be deployed in SONET ring consecutive point networks.  NEXTLINK will be the first to beta test the product.  http://www.triton-network.com/
Triton, May 30, 2000

CANADA'S TELESAT PLANS WORLD'S LARGEST TELECOM SATELLITE
Canada's Telesat selected Arianespace to launch its Anik F2 satellite in late 2002.  The satellite will be equipped with three communications bands consisting of 24 transponders in C-band, 32 transponders in Ku-band and an advanced Ka-band payload with 45 spot beams allowing digital communications between small terminals and one of six Internet-connected gateway stations. Coverage in all bands is North America-wide. http://www.telesat.ca  http://www.arianespace.com
Arianespace, May 30, 2000

OPTHOS RECEIVES SEED FUNDING FOR OPTICAL DEVELOPMENTS
Opthos, a start-up based in San Carlos, California, raised $14.9 million in seed funding to develop optical networking products.  Product plans have not been disclosed.  Investors include Advanced Technology Ventures, The Sprout Group, Ken Oshman and the Venture Law Group.  http://www.opthos.com
Opthos, May 30, 2000

CRESCENT NETWORKS NAMES LUCENT EXEC AS ITS NEW CEO
Crescent Networks, a start-up developing optical networking equipment, named Gerald W. Wesel as its new CEO.  Wesel formerly served as Lucent’s vice president in its Enterprise Internetworking Systems.  He was also a founder of Agile Networks, an early developer of VPN technology, which Lucent acquired in 1996.  Crescent Networks said it is focused on delivering an optical-scale service-creation platform for carriers that will enable Enterprises, ASPs and/or other "Service Delivery" providers to build application services.  Product plans have not yet been disclosed.  http://www.crescentnets.com
Crescent Networks, May 30, 2000

• In January,  Crescent secured $13 million in a first round of venture funding led by Bessemer Venture Partners, St. Paul Venture Capital, and Venrock Associates.  The company is based in Chelmsford, Mass.