MFN SIGNS INTERCONNECTION AGREEMENTS PROVIDING DARK FIBER INTO ILEC CENTRAL OFFICES
Metromedia Fiber Network (MFN) announced key interconnection agreements with the top Incumbent Local Exchange Carriers (ILECs) to provide dark fiber directly into each of the carriers' central offices.  The deals allow MFN to pull its high-fiber-count (432-strand) cables to a universally accessible distribution point within ILEC central offices, to lease these dark fibers to other CLECs and to interconnect with ILEC services. The interconnection agreements were signed with BellSouth, SBC Communications and GTE (now part of Verizon).  In June of 1999, Metromedia Fiber Network announced a similar industry-first agreement with Bell Atlantic (now Verizon), allowing it to offer dark fiber connectivity directly into Verizon's central offices throughout the Northeast.  http://www.mmfn.com/index_new.html
MFN, September 13, 2000

• Metromedia Fiber Network is building local fiber networks in the business areas of 51 cities in North America and 16 cities in Europe.  Its latest network designs feature trunks containing up to 864 strands of fiber.  In May, MFN awarded Bechtel Corporation the primary contract to provide construction management for its planned optical networks in North America and Europe.
  

• MFN recently disclosed major dark fiber leases with Telseon and SBC Communications for its out-of-region national expansion.

INKTOMI TO ACQUIRE FASTFORWARD NETWORKS
Inktomi will acquire FastForward Networks, a start-up developing scalable software for live broadcasting over the Internet, for approximately $1.3 billion (11.9 million shares INKT shares).  FastForward Networks software allows network service providers to deliver thousands of simultaneous media broadcasts to millions of viewers using their existing infrastructure.  Inktomi said the platform would offer a core foundation for live Internet broadcasting to its customer base of leading content delivery networks and service providers.  http://www.inktomi.com/new/press/fastforward.html
Inktomi, September 13, 2000

• FastForward Networks is developing a broadcast overlay architecture that uses an application-level multicasting technique to deliver a single stream to multiple users.  The company's MediaBridge software, which runs on Linux or Solaris servers, enables ISPs to create an overlay of Media Distribution Network (MDN) nodes.  The MediaBridge server nodes work in unison to determine the optimal path for distributing content across the network. Unlike the static configuration of a splitter network, a Media Distribution Network recognizes when a server or link goes down and reroutes traffic around trouble spots automatically.  The distributed approach enables the ISP to spread the media streaming load across the network, thereby reducing or eliminating the need for satellite facilities or high-speed backhaul transmissions to a broadcast operations center. 
  

• FastForward Networks was founded in 1998 by Dr. Abhay K. Parekh, previously a consultant to Silicon Valley venture capital firms, and Steven McCanne, who is credited with codeveloping "MBone Tools" and contributing to the Real-time Transport Protocol (RTP) while at the Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory in the Network Research Group.   Investors included Accel Partners and Bowman Capital, as well as America Online, Enron, Inktomi, Real Networks and Sun Microsystems.
  

• Fast Forward Networks has previously disclosed a contract with Digital Island, a leading content delivery network.

CONEXANT TO SEPARATE INTO INFRASTRUCTURE AND PERSONAL NETWORKING SILICON COMPANIES
Conexant Systems will separate in two companies:  one to focus on semiconductor and software solutions for Internet infrastructure equipment, and another to deliver semiconductors for mobile communications and the broadband digital home.  The new Internet Infrastructure company, which will consist of the Conexant's current Network Access Division, will offer semiconductor and software solutions ranging from physical-layer access devices at the edge of the Internet up through switch fabric and network processor products for the optical core.  Internet infrastructure product sales are expected to exceed $550 million in Conexant's current fiscal year.  An IPO is planned for January 2001, followed by a tax-free distribution of the remaining shares to Conexant shareowners.  The personal networking company will offer solutions for DSL and cable modems, digital set-top boxes, and accelerating diversification from CDMA to GSM and TDMA digital cellular handsets.  Personal networking product sales are expected to exceed $1.5 billion in Conexant's current fiscal year.  http://www.conexant.com
Conexant, September 13, 2000

HYBRID TO SUPPLY 16,000 WIRELESS BROADBAND ROUTER TO SPRINT
Sprint ordered 16,000 Wireless Broadband Routers from Hybrid Networks for use in its nationwide roll out of fixed-wireless Internet service to business and residential customers.  Financial terms were not disclosed.  Hybrid's newly enhanced Wireless Broadband Router, which is being manufactured by Sharp Corporation of Japan, features an improved equalizer that, coupled with the company's patented use of 2MHz sub-channels, can significantly reduce distortion, decrease data errors and improve reliability.  The router allows up to 60 public or private IP addresses, compared to the 16 normally available from cable television Internet service providers using DOCSIS standards.  http://www.hybrid.com
Hybrid, September 13, 2000

OPTRANET TARGETS OPTICAL ACCESS EQUIPMENT FOR MTU MARKET
Optranet, a start-up based in Pleasanton, California, raised $6.7 million in an initial round of funding led by Norwest Venture Partners.  The company will develop optical access equipment for commercial multiple tenant units (MTU).  http://www.optranet.com/
Optranet, September 13, 2000

• Optranet is led Darrell Scherbarth, the former vice president of Engineering at Redback Networks who led the rollout of Redback's flagship subscriber management systems.  Optranet's team also includes Chris Thomson, a former system architect for 3Com's Enterprise WAN Division and Craig Stouffer, former VP of Marketing at Tut Systems.

PF.NET EXPANDS ITS MANAGEMENT TEAM
PF.Net Communications, which is building a nationwide fiber optics network, named Robert D. Collet as President, Internet and Advanced Data Services.  Collet previously served as Vice President and General Manager of Data Services for Teleglobe Communications.  Last week, PF.Net named Buddy Pickle as Chief Executive Officer.  Pickle formerly served as President and Chief Operating Officer of Teligent and President and Chief Operating Officer of UUNet Technologies.  In June, Robert Annunziata, the former CEO of Global Crossing, agreed to serve as Chairman of the company's board of directors.  http://www.pf.net
PF.Net Communications, September 13, 2000

• PF.Net has raised more than $700 million in financing to support the build-out of its long-haul fiber backbone.  The network will have a minimum of six conduits and Lucent's TrueWave RS fiber.   Investors include Odyssey Investment Partners and Koch Industries, which already owns extensive rights-of-way and pipelines across the US.  PF.Net also holds a contact with AT&T to construct over 5,000 miles of its nationwide next-generation fiber-optic network on rights-of-way provided in part by AT&T.