NORTEL NETWORKS OUTLINES ITS 3G IP CORE SOLUTION
Nortel Networks announced plans for a new IP core network architecture, base station and management platform targeted at 3G wireless networks.  The IP core network architecture will be based on the company's packet switching and IP services platforms, enabling it to support personalized services based on customer profiles.  The product portfolio consists of the Nortel Networks Passport 15000 multiservice switch, the Shasta 5000 Broadband Service Node (BSN), the company's Succession solutions for migrating from TDM to packet, and the Alteon content networking Web switches.  The Passport 15000 switch will provide media gateway functionality, offering interconnect to the access network and external voice network.  The Passport 15000 will also be deployed in the Radio Network Controller, providing an IP-ready platform in the access network.  Nortel Networks will also introduce a compact Internet base transceiver station and radio resource management software supporting GSM, CDMA and UMTS standards.  The self-tuning solution will dynamically manage Quality of Service according to network load.  The products are slated for introduction over the next 9 to 15 months.
http://www.nortelnetworks.com
Nortel Networks, October 11, 2000

• Nortel Networks has won UMTS (Universal Mobile Telecommunications System) third generation (3G) wireless infrastructure awards estimated to be worth approximately US$880 million in total. This includes a five-year contract with BT Cellnet in the UK, and the selection last month by Spain's Airtel for its initial, 12-month network build out.

360NETWORKS LIGHTS 10,000 MILES OF NORTH AMERICAN NETWORK
360networks lit more than 10,000 miles (16,100 kilometers) of its North American fiber network and completed construction on a further 10,000 miles.  The recently lit routes include key segments between Denver and New Orleans, Denver and Chicago, New York and Halifax, Seattle and Toronto, and Seattle and Portland.  360networks is offering services up to 10 Gbps.  By spring 2001, the company plans to have more than 20,000 lit miles in North America.  http://www.360.net/News---Releases---Details.asp?ID=83
360networks, October 11, 2000

• Earlier this month, 360networks secured $1.2 billion in senior credit facilities to fund further rollout of its global fiber network and related broadband services.  The credit facility contains uncommitted incremental facilities for up to an additional $800 million, totaling $2 billion.
  
• In July, 360networks selected Sycamore Networks' new SN 16000 intelligent optical switch, SN 8000 intelligent optical transport products and SILVX optical network management system to pursue a flexible optical mesh architecture for its global network.
  

• 360networks is also building the terabit capacity "Hibernia" trans-Atlantic cable linking Boston, Halifax, Dublin and Liverpool; as well as a 22,500 route km undersea cable serving the Atlantic coast of South America.  The company has announced major fiber swaps with Global Crossing, KPNQwest, Telia, and Carrier1 GmbH.
  

• 360networks is led by Greg Maffei, who previously was CFO of Microsoft.

LEVEL 3 ACTIVATES SOFTSWITCH-BASED SERVICE IN EUROPE
Level 3 Communications activated a softswitched, “Managed Modem” service over its European network.  The service uses computer software, rather than a conventional circuit switch, to provide outsourced dial-up connections to ISPs. , Level 3 already offers the softswitched Managed Modem service in the US, where it is currently handling more than four billion minutes per month.  http://www.level3.com/us/news/newsreleases/0,1268,20001011,00.html
Level 3 Communications, October 11, 2000

SPRINT LAUNCHES CONSUMER ION SERVICES WITH VODSL
Sprint began offering consumer broadband DSL services under the Sprint ION brand in 12 major US markets, including Austin, Dallas, Denver, Fort Worth, Houston, Kansas City, Los Angeles, Orange County, Phoenix, San Antonio, San Diego and Seattle.  The premium service, priced at $149 per month, includes downstream speeds up to 8 Mbps, upstream speeds up to 1 Mbps, four voice/fax lines with Voice Mail, Caller ID and other features, unlimited local calling, plus 750 minutes of domestic long distance.  Entry-level DSL Internet access (1.5 Mbps, no VoDSL) costs $44.99 per month.  http://www3.sprint.com/PR/CDA/PR_CDA_Press_Releases_Detail/1,1694,2062,00.html
Sprint, October 11, 2000

• Sprint also offers a consumer, MMDS-based wireless Internet access service in Colorado Springs, Detroit, Houston, Phoenix and Tucson.

COMPAQ TO BUNDLE NET2PHONE’S USB-PORT TELEPHONE HANDSET
Compaq agreed to bundle a USB-port telephone handset from Net2Phone with new Compaq Presario computers.  Net2Phone’s YAP Phones would facilitate Internet calling via the company’s online service.  The YAP Phone will include up to 1500 free domestic Net2Phone talk minutes (PC-to-phone) and free PC-to-PC calls.  http://www.net2phone.com
Net2Phone, October 11, 2000

COX SELECTS SORRENTO’S METRO DWDM PLATFORM
Cox Communications, the fifth largest cable TV operator in the US, selected Sorrento Networks’ metro DWDM network for deployment in its networks in Virginia, California, Arizona and Louisiana.  The four-year contract was valued at $40 million. Sorrento Networks' GigaMux platform supports up to 64 wavelengths with multiprotocol transmission.  http://www.sorrentonet.com
Sorrento Networks, October 11, 2000

• Last month, Osicom Technologies announced plans to give independent, public company status to Sorrento Networks, its largest subsidiary.  In an effort to minimize tax consequences to shareholders, the name of Osicom Technologies will be formally changed to Sorrento Networks, and shares of "new" Sorrento will trade on the Nasdaq National Market under the symbol SRTO. 

SPHERA OPTICAL NETWORKS PLANS METRO DWDM SERVICES IN 14 CITIES
Sphera Optical Networks, a start-up service provider offering optical access in NYC, announced plans to launch "optical gateway networks" in 13 other metro regions, including Boston, Chicago, Dallas, Los Angeles, Miami, Northern New Jersey, San Francisco, San Jose, Seattle, Washington, D.C, Northern Virginia, London and Frankfurt.  http://www.mopticalnets.com/
Sphera Optical Networks, October 11, 2000

• Sphera Optical Networks (previously Millennium Optical Networks) has previously disclosed $70 million in funding from the Mayfield Fund, Soros Private Equity Partners, Pequot Capital Management, Oak Investments Partners and Worldview Technology Partners.  Sycamore Networks has previously announced a contract to supply its optical transport platform to the company.

AGILENT SAMPLES 10 GBPS ETHERNET TRANSCEIVER
Agilent Technologies released its first engineering samples of a 10 Gbps Ethernet fiber-optic transceiver.  The wide wavelength division multiplexing (WWDM) solution uses four uncooled 1300 nm distributed feedback (DFB) lasers each running at 3.125 Gbps.  The transceivers support transmission of up to 300 m on standard 62.5 m/125 m multimode fiber and up to 10 km on single mode fiber.  http://www.agilent.com/about/newsroom/presrel/2000/11oct2000e.html
Agilent Technologies, October 11, 2000

AGILENT FORMS NETWORKING SOLUTIONS DIVISION, COMBINING OPTICAL TRANSCEIVERS AND ASICS
Agilent Technologies formed a new Networking Solutions Division (NSD) to focus on semiconductor designs for optical networking.  The group unites Agilent's Fiber-optic Communications Division (FCD) and Integrated Circuit Business Divisions (ICBD).  The goal is to bring together the company's expertise in fiber-optic transceivers with expertise in high-speed networking products and million-gate ASICs.   http://www.agilent.com/about/newsroom/presrel/2000/11oct2000a.html
Agilent Technologies, October 11, 2000

AGILITY RAISES $70 MILLION FOR ITS TUNABLE LASER TECHNOLOGY
Agility Communications, a start-up based in Santa Barbara, California, raised $70 million in second round funding for its development of tunable laser technology.  Agility's initial product offering, which expected to be launched later this year, will be a high-power laser that tunes to more than 100 ITU channels. Investors include Worldview Technology Partners, Dell Ventures, Mustang Ventures (the corporate venture arm of Siemens ICN), Amerindo Investment Advisors, Berkeley International Capital Ltd., Meritech Capital Partners, Milton Chang, Morgenthaler Ventures, and U.S. Venture Partners.  http://www.agilitycom.com/
Agility Communications, October 11, 2000

• Agility Communications was founded in October 1998 by Dr. Larry Coldren, a professor at the University of California at Santa Barbara and co-founder of OCI (now Gore Photonics), and Greg Fish, a researcher specializing in InP photonic circuit design at UC Santa Barbara.

SCIENTIFIC ATLANTA INVESTS IN BRIDGEWAVE FOR BROADBAND WIRELESS
Scientific Atlanta made an undisclosed equity investment in BridgeWave Communications, a start-up developing wireless broadband technology.  The companies are working on a wireless platform that would interoperate with Scientific-Atlanta's HFC broadband access systems.
http://www.scientificatlanta.com
Scientific Atlanta, October 11, 2000

• BridgeWave is working on broadband wireless technology that integrates technologies from analog, digital, RF, and microelectronics domains.  The company says its radio/modem technology will be a radical departure from conventional millimeter-wave transceiver design.  Technical details have not been disclosed.
  
• BridgeWave Communications was founded in December 1998 by Amir Makleff, the former VP of R&D and Engineering at Netro Corporation, and Eli Pasternak, the former CTO, Chief Scientist and co-founder at Netro.  The company has raised over $40 million to date.  Investors include Jerusalem Venture Partners, Ampal, BreezeCOM, DRW Venture Partners, Merrill Lynch, MKS Ventures, Oak Investment Partners and SeaPoint Ventures.  BridgeWave is based in Sunnyvale, California.

GLOBAL CROSSING NAMES NEW CEO
Global Crossing named Thomas J. Casey as its new Chief Executive Officer, following the resignation of Leo Hindery, Jr.  Casey was previously co-head of the global telecommunications investment banking group at Merrill Lynch.  Gary Winnick, Global Crossing's founder, will continue as Chairman of the Board.  http://www.globalcrossing.com/pressreleases/pr_101100.htm
Global Crossing, October 11, 2000

• Hindery succeeded Bob Annunziata as Global Crossing's CEO in March 200.  Hindery formerly served as CEO of AT&T Broadband & Internet Services, the business unit responsible for all of AT&T's domestic local telephony, video and data services operations. He had previously been President and Chief Executive Officer of Tele-Communications, Inc. (TCI) before it was acquired by AT&T. 

STARBAND FILES FOR IPO, PRIOR TO ITS UPCOMING LAUNCH OF 2-WAY SATELLITE INTERNET SERVICE
StarBand Communications filed SEC registration paper for an initial public offering.  Over the coming months, the company plans to launch a two-way, high-speed satellite Internet service for North America.  Gilat Satellite Networks, Microsoft, EchoStar, and ING Furman Selz Investments are joint venture partners in StarBand.  http://www.starband.com/
Gilat Satellite Networks, October 11, 2000

• StarBand's two-way satellite service will use a very small aperture terminal (VSAT) with a .75-meter elliptical dish that includes both a transmitter and receiver, as well as Gilat proprietary electronics and software.  At its initial market entry price, the service will likely provide a maximum 400 kbps down/56 kbps return, with an always-on connection.  

• Gilat has leased 14 Ku-band transponders on Loral Skynet's Telstar 7 satellite to deliver the service.