NORTEL NETWORKS OUTLINES IP/OPTICAL STRATEGY COMBINING OPTERA AND SHASTA PLATFORMS
Nortel Networks outlined plans for an IP/Optical platform designed for a new generation of application services and outsourced corporate connectivity provisioned over metropolitan fiber networks.  Nortel Networks’ IP/Optical platform would combine its OPTera fiber optic transport portfolio and the Nortel Networks Shasta 5000 Broadband Service Node (BSN), eliminating the need for extensive customer premises equipment for services such as firewalls, IP VPNs and content management and distribution. Initially, the IP/Optical Services platform uses the OPTera Packet Edge System for end-to-end Ethernet technology on both the OPTera Metro Multiservice Platform and the Shasta 5000 BSN.  http://www.nortelnetworks.com/
Nortel Networks, August 24, 2000

CORNING’S 3^RD GENERATION LEAF FIBER OPTIMIZED FOR 40 GBPS TRANSPORT
Corning introduced its third generation of LEAF optical fiber, featuring a fiber polarization mode dispersion (PMD) specification that is improved by 50% over previous generations.  PMD, which is a linear effect created by slight asymmetry in any optical fiber, causes the modes of a light pulse to travel at slightly different speeds, distorting the signal and limiting the reach of high-capacity, long haul networks.  .  Corning said its new LEAF fiber would provide a significant cost and performance advantage to emerging 40 Gbps backbones by reducing the need to employ PMD compensation or signal regeneration techniques.  http://www.corning.com
Corning, August 24, 2000

LEVEL 3 TO INSTALL CORNING’S LATEST FIBER IN ITS 2ND CONDUIT
Level 3 Communications will be the first network to deploy Corning newest generation of LEAF fiber.  The carrier plans to begin installing the new generation of fiber in the second conduit of the network in the first quarter of 200.  It plans to deploy more than two million cabled fiber kilometers in 2001.  Level 3 was Corning's first customer for the earlier generations of LEAF fiber.  Financial terms were not disclosed.
Level 3, August 24, 2000 

COMSAT ACQUIRES UNDERSEA CAPACITY FROM GLOBAL CROSSING
COMSAT will augment its satellite-based transport service by acquiring capacity of Global Crossing’s forthcoming undersea cable that will link the US, Brazil and Argentina.  COMSAT said the agreement with Global Crossing represents an important component in its strategy to offer IP-based communications.  http://www.lmco.com
COMSAT, August 24, 2000

• COMSAT is a unit of Lockheed Martin Global Telecommunications

CRATOS NETWORKS TARGETS MULTISERVICE OPTICAL SWITCH
Cratos Networks, a start-up based in Chelmsford, Mass., announced plans to offer a next-generation multi-service optical switch for metro communications network.  Cratos Networks is led by Sanjeev Newarikar, who previously worked for Fiberlane, which evolved into Siara Systems. The company has received $8 million in seed funding from Comstellar Technologies.  http://www.comstellar.com
Cratos Networks, August 24, 2000

INTERNET INITIATIVE JAPAN SELECTS ONI’S METRO OPTICAL
Internet Initiative Japan signed a $30 million purchase agreement for ONI Systems’ Dynamic Transport System.  The equipment would allow IIJ to provide "wavelengths on demand” and to support new services, such as SONET/SDH, Gigabit Ethernet and Fibre Channel.   http://www.oni.com
ONI Systems, August 24, 2000

• ONI Systems’ metro optical platform supports up to 33 protected or 66 unprotected wavelengths.

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