GLOBAL CROSSING LAUNCHES VOIP BACKBONE WITH SONUS SOFTSWITCHES AND GATEWAYS
Global Crossing activated seven VoIP gateway centers in North America over its production network and announced plans to converge all of its voice traffic by the end of 2002.  Core VoIP gateway centers are now operational in Atlanta; Chicago; Dallas; Denver; Kansas City; Rochester, NY and Seattle supporting traditional long distance switched services.   The VoIP backbone will extend to Tokyo, London, Frankfurt, Paris, Amsterdam, Copenhagen and Brussels by year-end.  Global Crossing is using Sonus Networks' GSX9000 Open Services Switch, the PSX6000 SoftSwitch and the SGX2000 SS7 Signaling Gateway.
http://www.globalcrossing.com/pressreleases/pr_092700.htm  http://www.sonusnetworks.com/
Global Crossing, September 27, 2000

CORNING TO ACQUIRE PIRELLI’S OPTICAL COMPONENTS AND DEVICES BUSINESS FOR $3.6 BILLION
Corning agreed to acquire Pirelli’s 90% interest in its optical components and devices business for approximately $3.6 billion in cash.  The remaining 10% is owned by Cisco Systems.  The group is a leading manufacturer of lithium niobate modulators, pump lasers, certain specialty fibers and fiber gratings.  Corning said the acquisition significantly adds to its capabilities in the transmission segment of the optical layer.  Pirelli's optical group is based in Milan, Italy.
http://www.corning.com/news/news_update1/index.html
Corning, September 27, 2000

In December 1999, Cisco Systems acquired Pirelli Optical Systems for up to $2.15 billion in stock.  Pirelli Optical Systems was an early developer of DWDM optical transport systems.  At the time the acquisition was announced. Cisco also disclosed plans to invest $100 million in Pirelli's optical components and submarine optical transmission system businesses, for a 10% share. 

FLASHCOM AGREES TO DELIVER NET2PHONE’S VOIP TO ITS DSL CUSTOMERS
Flashcom agreed to work with Net2Phone to deliver VOIP applications to its broadband residential customers.  The service would allow end users to plug standard telephones into a Net2Phone Integrated Access Device (IAD) that would then be connected to the DSL modem.  Flashcom currently has DSL services available in 115 metropolitan statistical areas across the US.  http://www.net2phone.com
Net2Phone, September 27, 2000

In July, Rhythms NetConnections announced plans to launch residential and business VoIP services in partnership with Net2Phone. 

NTT DOCOMO AND AOL ENTER STRATEGIC ALLIANCE
NTT DoCoMo agreed to feature AOL Mail and AOL Instant Messenger on its popular i-mode mobile Internet service.  Under the deal, NTT DoCoMo will invest approximately US$100M for a 42% stake in the AOL Japan joint venture, which also includes Mitsui and Nihon Keizai Shimbun (Nikkei).  http://corp.aol.com/
AOL, September 27, 2000

As of last month, NTT DoCoMo had 12 million subscribers for its i-mode service, which provides continuous connection with the Internet via mobile phones.  The service was first launched in February 1999.  NTT DoCoMo plans to introduce 3G mobile services based on its W-CDMA system in May 2001.

HYPERCHIP RAISES $67 MILLION FOR ITS EXTREME PERFORMANCE ROUTING
HyperChip, a start-up based in Montreal, secured US$67 million in third round funding to support its development of an extreme-performance router for the optically switched core.  Investors include Optical Capital Group, Altamira, Amerindo, Artemis, Enron Broadband Services, JT Ventures, Morgan Stanley Dean Witter, Pilgrim Baxter, Putnam, Van Wagoner, Advent International, Argo Global Capital, Siemens, TechnoCap, and Vertex Technology Fund.  http://www.hyperchip.com
HyperChip, September 27, 2000

HyperChip is developing massively parallel semiconductor technology for routers that could scale to as many as 65,536 high-speed ports.  IBM will manufacture Hyperchip's Matrix ASIC with its leading-edge .18-micron copper process technology. 

LUCENT ANNOUNCES OPTICAL CONTRACTS IN CHINA
China's Fujian Mobile Communication Co. selected Lucent Technologies to supply its 10 Gbps SDH platform for its core network supporting its GSM mobile services.  Lucent will also provide its digital cross-connects, add-drop multiplexers and network management systems.  Financial terms were not disclosed.  Lucent also signed contracts worth US$14 million with China Unicom to build high-capacity optical networks in eight provinces of China. The deal covers Lucent’s WaveStar ADM 16/1 SDH multiplexer.  http://www.lucent.com/
Lucent Technologies, September 27, 2000

Fujian Mobile is the ninth 10G customer Lucent has announced since launching the platform this spring.

MFN SIGNS $55 MILLION FIBER LEASE WITH LIGHTWAVE COMMUNICATIONS
Metromedia Fiber Network (MFN) signed a 10-year, $55 million agreement to provide optical infrastructure and co-location services to LightWave Communications, formerly Atlantic Media. LightWave Communications will use MFN's optical fiber to connect ILEC central offices, carrier hotels and Internet data centers in major US cities.
http://www.lightwavecomm.net  http://www.mmfn.com
MFN, September 27, 2000

DIGITEL TELECOMMUNICATIONS PHILIPPINES SELECTS ALCATEL’S OPTICAL PLATFORM
Digitel Telecommunications Philippines awarded a US$60 million contract to Alcatel for its DWDM and SDH platforms.  The equipment will be deployed along with 1,600 km of new fiber across the island of Luzon - the biggest island of the Philippines archipelago.  http://www.alcatel.com
Alcatel, September 27, 2000

LIGHTPOINTE TARGETS HYBRID LASER/MICROWAVE SYSTEMS
LightPointe Communications, a start-up based in San Diego, received $12 million in first round venture funding to support its development of hybrid laser/microwave systems for metropolitan area connections.  The funds will be used in part to create a global brand identity.  Investors include Sevin Rosen Funds, Ampersand Ventures and Telecom Partners.   http://www.lightpointe.com
LightPointe Communications, September 27, 2000

LightPointe’s Free-Space Optical Radio equipment operates at up to 622 Mbps over a range from 25 to 1,000 meters at a wavelength of 850nm.

RADIANT PHOTONICS RAISES $18 MILLION FOR ITS OPTICAL COMPONENTS
Radiant Photonics, a company based in Austin, Texas, secured $18 million in first round equity funding.  The funds will be used to build a manufacturing facility, including a clean room.  Radiant Photonics is developing multimode, coarse and dense WDMs, optical switches and other products designed for the emerging metropolitan area network.
http://www.radiantr.com
Radiant Photonics, September 2, 2000

NOKIA AND TELLABS COOPERATE ON 3G BASE STATION DESIGNS
Nokia Networks agreed to sell fully interoperable system solutions for 3G base station transmission, consisting of the Tellabs MartisDXX product family and the Network Management System MartisDXX Manager. This will complement Nokia's current cellular transmission offering. Additionally, Tellabs will integrate and sell microwave transmission.
http://www.tellabs.com
Tellabs, September 27, 2000