FCC SEEKS NATIONAL POLICY FRAMEWORK FOR HIGH-SPEED SERVICES
The Federal Communications Commission (FCC) launched an inquiry seeking comment on the appropriate legal and government policy approach for high-speed Internet services provided over various platforms, including cable, wireline, wireless, satellite, broadcast and unlicensed spectrum.  The inquiry specifically seeks comment on whether or not the FCC should require access to cable and other high- speed systems by ISPs.  The issue was raised in part because of recent federal court opinions that have classified cable modem service in varying manners, resulting in some uncertainty and confusion in the marketplace.  http://www.fcc.gov/Bureaus/Miscellaneous/News_Releases/2000/nrmc0041.html
FCC, September 28, 2000

• Earlier this week, Verizon Communications argued before the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Fourth Circuit that cable modem service should be recognized as a telecommunications service and therefore cable companies should be required to open their high-speed networks to independent ISPs in the same manner that telephone companies must provide nondiscriminatory service to ISPs.  The case involves Henrico County's (Virginia) defense of its cable open access ordinance, which was challenged by the cable industry on grounds that the County's franchising authority was preempted by federal law. http://newscenter.verizon.com/

CISCO TO ACQUIRE VOVIDA AND IPCELL FOR VOIP SOFTWARE EXPERTISE
Cisco Systems will acquire Vovida Networks and IPCell Technologies, both start-ups focused on voice-enabled communications software, for a combined $369 million in stock.  Cisco already held a 20.5% interest in Vovida Networks and a 17.2% interest in IPCell Technologies.  Cisco said the software solutions offered by Vovida Networks and IPCell Technologies would be complimentary to its existing IOS software and would interoperate with Cisco voice gateways.
http://www.cisco.com/warp/public/146/pressroom/2000/sep00/corp_092800.htm
Cisco Systems, September 28, 2000

• Vovida Networks is developing Linux-based, open source Softswitching solutions.  Its core product is the Vovida Open Communication Application Library (VOCAL), a SIP-centric, toll quality, carrier grade communications software solution.  The company has been promoting open source protocol software (no license) for VoIP products and services, including implementations for Media Gateway Control Protocol (MGCP), Real-time Transport Protocol (RTP), Sessions Initiation Protocol (SIP), Common Open Policy Service (COPS) and Remote Authentication Dial In User Service (RADIUS).
  
• Vovida Networks was co-founded in February 1999 by Alan S. Knitowski, formerly a consultant with The Results Group, and Luan D. Dang, formerly a Technical Software Manager for Nortel Networks.  The company is based in San Jose, California and has 65 employees.  http://www.vovida.com/
  
• IPcell is developing a UNIX-based SoftSwitch compatible with PSTN, IP or ATM networks via Signaling System 7 (SS7) and Media Gateway Control Protocol (MGCP). The OptiCall Softswitch consists of three components: a Call Agent, an Element Management System and a Feature Server.  
  
• IPcell was co-founded by Prasad Praturi, formerly a developer of ATM Carrier Products at NEC's Public Switching Group; Krishna Kurapati, a developer of Passport software for Nortel Networks; and Ram Rai, a developer of test management tools for NEC's ATM Switching Division.  The company is headed by Allen Adams, formerly with DSC Communications/Alcatel.  IPCell is based in Richardson, Texas and has 110 employees.  http://www.ipcell.com

EXODUS TO ACQUIRE GLOBALCENTER FOR $6.5 BILLION
Exodus Communications agreed to acquire Global Crossing’s GlobalCenter unit for $6.525 billion in stock (Sept. 27 prices).  The combined company would have 32 Internet Data Centers and almost 4,000 Web hosting customers.  The companies also signed a 10-year agreement under which Global Crossing becomes the primary network provider to Exodus worldwide, and Exodus will purchase 50% or more of its future network needs outside of Asia from Global Crossing.  The deal provides preferred pricing circuits, IRUs and dark fiber.  Exodus and Asia Global Crossing will also form a joint venture to provide complex web hosting and managed services in Asia.  http://www.exodus.com/investor_relations/press_releases/globalcenter.html
Exodus, September 28, 2000

SYCAMORE ANNOUNCES ITS LONG HAUL OPTICAL TRANSPORT SYSTEM
Sycamore Networks unveiled its plans for a high-capacity optical transport platform that would eliminate costly optical-to-electrical-to-optical (OEO) regenerations in long-haul and ultra long-haul networks.  The Sycamore 10000 Intelligent Optical Transport System, which is designed for distances of up to 4,000 km, will leverage a number of “hard-optics” innovations, including optional Raman amplification, dispersion compensation and high-capacity Forward Error Correction (FEC).  A range of service interfaces will be supported from OC-3/STM-1 through OC-192c/STM-64c, and Gigabit Ethernet. Upgrades are also planned to OC-768/STM-256.  Sycamore’s software would enable carriers to provision, sell, monitor, and bill for new wave-based services transported over its entire portfolio of access, transport and switching products.  Sycamore expects to ship the platform in the first half of next year.   http://www.sycamorenet.com/about/news/pressreleases.cfm?news_item_id=320
Sycamore Networks, September 28, 2000

FOUNDRY NETWORKS DELIVERS SWITCHED LAYER 2 ETHERNET ACROSS SONET
Foundry Networks introduced its concept of “Global Ethernet,”  a combination of Ethernet and Layer 2 Packet Over SONET (POS) technology.  The concept is to use SONET link technology as a transport technology supporting virtual Ethernet LANs.  Foundry Networks said its VLAN-Aggregation and packet classification capabilities would enable it to deliver millions of secure VPNs over SONET infrastructure.  http://www.foundrynetworks.com/pr9_26_00c.html
Foundry Networks, September 26, 2000

GLOBAL TELESYSTEMS SELLS OC-48 EUROPEAN CAPACITY TO YAHOO!
Global TeleSystems will provide 2.5 Gbps bandwidth capacity to Yahoo! Europe over its pan-European IP backbone.  GTS' trans-European fiber network includes on-net POPs in 38 cities (50 cities planned).  Financial terms were not disclosed.  http://www.gtsgroup.com/
Global TeleSystems, September 28, 2000

• Last week, GTS named Robert J. Amman as its new Chairman, President and CEO, following the resignation of Brian Thompson.  Amman previously served as the company's COO

BROADWING OPENS NETWORK INTEROPERABILITY LAB IN AUSTIN
Broadwing Communications opened an All-Optical Network Interoperability Lab in Austin, Texas.  The facility will test cross-vendor interoperability of optical customer premise equipment (CPE), metro, edge, core, switching and routing equipment.  Five vendors have already agreed to participate: CIENA, Cisco Systems, Corvis, Lucent Technologies and Nortel Networks.
http://www.broadwing.com/library/templates/brCareers_Facts.asp?watid=274&branch=Facts
Broadwing, September 28, 2000

INFINEON SAMPLES WORLD'S FIRST DUAL-MODE UMTS/GSM CHIP
Infineon Technologies released first samples of its first dual-mode UMTS/GSM baseband integrated circuit, a device that would drive the convergence of second and third generation (2G, 3G) mobile radio standards.  The single-chip baseband IC incorporates Infineon's UMTS and GSM/GPRS modems as well as an extensive set of dedicated and general purpose peripherals.
http://www.infineon.com/news/press/009_097e.htm
Infineon, September 28, 2000

FLUKE TO ACQUIRE AGILENT'S NETMETRIX DIVISION
Fluke Networks agreed to acquire Agilent Technologies' NetMetrix division for an undisclosed sum.  The group supplies network-performance management solutions.  http://www.fluke.com
http://www.agilent.com/about/newsroom/presrel/2000/28sept2000b.html
Fluke, September 28, 2000

AGILENT FORMS STORAGE NETWORKING DIVISION
Agilent Technologies formed a new Storage Networking Division to focus on Fibre Channel, InfiniBand and IP SAN solutions.  The company already is a supplier of IC and board-level products for SANs.  http://www.agilent.com/about/newsroom/presrel/2000/28sept2000a.html
Agilent, September 28, 2000

3COM'S ERIC BENHAMOU STEPS DOWN AS CEO
Bruce Claflin will become chief executive officer (CEO) of 3Com in January 2001, following Eric Benhamou's decision to step down after ten years in the post.  Claflin is 3Com's president and chief operating officer. Benhamou will continue as chairman of 3Com's board of directors.
http://www.3com.com/news/releases/pr00/sep2800a.html
3Com, September 28, 2000

• 3Com noted that when Benhamou became its CEO, the company was selling one million network connections per year.  Today, the company places this figure at 400 million network connections per year.