SBC ANNOUNCES ROADMAP FOR IP TELEPHONY BUSINESS SOLUTIONS
SBC Communications outlined plans to offer IP-based business telephony services, including distributed IP Private Branch Exchange (PBX) and central office (Centrex) telephone systems and services.  The services will use IP telephony solutions from Cisco Systems, Lucent Technologies and Nortel Networks.  The IP PBX solution will be based on the Cisco Architecture for Voice, Video and Integrated Data (AVVID) and available as an outsourced service from SBC beginning in Q1 2001.  SBC will use Nortel Networks' Meridian Internet Telephony Gateway (ITG) for linking business telephone systems using corporate IP WAN connections.  Beginning early next year, SBC also expects to make the gateway available to support IP telephones on the Meridian platforms.  SBC is also testing IP-based Centrex services using equipment from Lucent Technologies and Nortel Networks.  One of the technical trials will use Lucent's 7R/E Packet Solutions to provide SBC employees in Illinois with advanced services, such as multi-location Centrex, virtual office features for teleworkers and virtual call centers. http://www.sbc.com/News_Center/Article.html?query_type=article&query=20001024-01
SBC Communications, October 24, 2000

SANTERA SYSTEMS INTRODUCES ITS SUPERCLASS SWITCHING PLATFORM
Santera Systems, a start-up based in Dallas, Texas, introduced its SuperClass Switching platform designed as an integrated packet/cell Class 5 replacement for delivering high-revenue generating Voice Over Broadband (VoB) services.  The SanteraOne consists of a MultiService Controller (MSC), which includes a media gateway controller, signaling gateway and an applications server; a MultiService Fabric (MSF), which is a high-density media gateway; and the SanteraOne Element Management System (EMS) delivering common GUI-based management of the complete system.  The platform uses a dual switching fabric -- supporting both TDM and packet/cell switching -- with 56,000 channelized TDM DS-0's and 96 OC-3c's simultaneously on the same shelf (up to 3 shelves can reside in a SanteraOne rack).  The architecture allows for either a centralized or distributed network design. Base features include integrated announcements, echo cancellation, GR303, LNP, E911, CALEA and custom calling/business features such as CLASS and CENTREX.  The product is also designed for Megaco/H.248 and next generation protocols, which would be used for voice over broadband services (VoDSL, VoIP, VoATM).  Santera is currently in beta testing.  http://www.santera.com
Santera Systems, October 24, 2000

• Santera Systems was co-founded by Wu-fu Chen (Cascade Communications, Ardent, Shasta Networks, ANDA Networks, Astral Point, Cinta, Geyser, OptiMight, RapidStream, Zettacom, etc) and San-qi Li, who is known for his work on ATM Traffic Management and Network Control.  
  
• In April, Santera Systems secured $62.3 million in second-round funding.  Investors include Austin Ventures, Institutional Venture Partners (IVP), Sequoia Capital, Meritech Capital and Trinity Ventures.  The Plano, Texas-based company also named David Heard as its new CEO.  Heard formerly served as vice president of the access systems division at Lucent Technologies.  

JETSTREAM PARTNERS WITH SYLANTRO SYSTEMS, VOICE OVER BROADBAND AND SOFTSWITCHING
Jetstream Communications, a developer of voice-over-broadband gateways and IADs, signed a technical and marketing partnership with Sylantro Systems, a developer of softswitching technology.  The companies will provide interoperability between Sylantro Systems’ softswitch platform and Jetstream’s CPX-1000 broadband voice services platform using Media Gateway Control Protocol (MGCP).  Separately, Jetstream announced a contract to supply its CPX-1000 broadband voice services platform to Xspedius, an Integrated Communications Provider headquartered in Lake Charles, Louisiana.  http://www.jetstream.com
Jetstream, October 24, 2000

NEW ZEALAND GOVERNMENT IMPLEMENTS IP TELEPHONY AT 8,000 OUTLETS
Three agencies of the government of New Zealand implemented a converged IP-based voice, video and data infrastructure connecting 8,000 outlets in more than 200 offices across the country.  The IP telephony network is currently carrying in excess of 150,000 calls a day.  Cisco Systems described the deployment as one of its largest end-to-end IP telephony networks, outside its own campus.  The network design uses Cisco 1700, 2600 and 3600 Series routers at the branch offices connecting to Cisco 2900 Series switches for branch device connectivity. An ATM core was built around Cisco 7200VXR routers with Catalyst 5500 multilayer switches.  http://www.cisco.com/warp/public/146/pressroom/2000/oct00/elob_102400.htm
Cisco Systems, October 24, 2000

TELEWEST (UK) SELECTS MARCONI AND MOTOROLA FOR CABLE VOIP
Telewest Communications, which provides cable TV services to 1.6 million UK households, selected Motorola Broadband Communications Sector and Marconi to provide a trial "end-to-end" VoIP solution for its broadband cable network.  Motorola will provide the cable modem termination system and the telephony-enabled cable modem devices.  Marconi will provide the core SDH infrastructure, the softswitch call agent and edge switches. The two companies' network components will be managed by a common network management system.  http://www.motorola.com /
Motorola, October 24, 2000

HIGHEST CAPACITY UNDERSEA CABLE TO LINK INDIA AND SINGAPORE:  8.4 TBPS
Alcatel was awarded a US$250 million lead contract to build an 8.4 Tbps undersea cable network linking Singapore with Chennai, India.  The 3,200 km cable system will use eight fiber pairs, each capable of carrying up to 105 wavelengths of 10 Gbps traffic.  Alcatel described the project as the highest capacity undersea cable contracted to date.  The system will be launched by Singapore Telecommunications (SingTel) and Bharti Enterprises.  http://www.alcatel.com/vpr/?body=/latestnews/24102000_1uk
Alcatel, October 24, 2000

Capacities of some other undersea cables:

• The Fiberoptic Link Around the Globe (FLAG) cable uses two fiber pairs - each operating at 5 Gbps.  The cable stretches over 27,300 km between Japan and the UK, also runs through the Republic of Korea, China, Malaysia, Singapore, Thailand, India, United Arab Emirates, Egypt, Italy, and Spain. 
  
• Global Crossing's current Atlantic Crossing 1 (AC-1) was recently upgraded to 80 Gbps capacity.
  
• The Hibernia transatlantic undersea cable system, which will enter service in Q1 2001, will have four fiber pairs, each capable of 48 wavelengths at 10 Gbps – giving it an overall capacity of 1.92 Tbps.  
  
• The Mediterranean Nautilus-1 cable, which is funded by Telecom Italia and several Israeli partners, will use six-fiber pairs, each capable of 64 wavelengths at 10 Gbps – for an overall capacity of nearly 4 Tbps. 

GIANT LOOP NETWORK TARGETS MANAGED ENTERPRISE OPTICAL SERVICES
Giant Loop Network, a start-up service provider, announced plans to offer Enterprise Optical Networking (eON) services that enable large enterprises to aggregate data and storage networking protocols on fiber networks that spans campus, metro and inter-city geographies. The company's professional services will provide planning and design expertise for enterprise optical networks that unify data and ESCON, FICON, fiber channel, and storage-over-IP networks.  The company will operate network test labs and network control centers.  Giant Loop will partner with metro-area and long-haul fiber providers to deliver the service.  http://www.giantloop.com
Giant Loop, October 24, 2000

• Giant Loop was co-founded by Mark Ward, formerly VP of Global Marketing and Professional Services at EMC Corporation; Chris Riley, previously President of Comdisco's Network Services Division; and Randy Seidl, formerly Chairman and CEO of Workgroup Solutions LLC, an open systems integration and services company.
  
• The company has received $40 million in funding from Greylock, Roger Marino (one of the founders of EMC Corporation) and Optical Ventures LLC, among others.  GiantLoop is headquartered in Waltham, Mass.

QWEST REPORTS 213,000 DSL SUBSCRIBERS
As of September 30, Qwest reported 213,000 DSL subscribers, up by 38,000 subscribers over Q2.  The company expects to have 250,000 subscribers by year-end 2000.  During the quarter, Qwest began offering business DSL in California and Texas – a launch in 11 markets is expected by year's end.  Qwest is building local fiber rings in 25 major metropolitan markets outside the 14 states where it provides local service.  http://www.qwest.com/about/media/story.asp?id=336
Qwest, October 24, 2000

SPRINT LAUNCHES MMDS SERVICE IN SILICON VALLEY
Sprint announced availability of its two-way fixed wireless service in Silicon Valley.  The MMDS service is priced at $49.95 per month for residents or $199.95 for businesses and provides average downstream rates of up to 1 Mbps.  Sprint Broadband Direct uses an outdoor mounted "pizza box" shaped transceiver device which requires line-of-sight to a mountaintop transmission tower.  The service will be expanded next month to Oakland and the East Bay, and early next year to San Francisco.  http://www.sprintbroadband.com/
Sprint, October 24, 2000

• Hybrid Networks is supplying head-end equipment, as well as customer premise Wireless Broadband Routers, for the deployments in Silicon Valley and Oakland.  Sprint is also using Hybrid's equipment in active networks in Phoenix, Tucson, Colorado Springs, Detroit and Houston.

3COM ACQUIRES NOMADIC TECHNOLOGIES FOR WIRELESS LAN EXPERTISE
3Com acquired Nomadic Technologies, a developer of wireless LAN technologies, for $33 million in cash plus the assumption of debt and other obligations.  3Com plans to integrate Nomadic's technology into Internet radios, printers and other non-PC Internet appliances for homes and small businesses.  Nomadic is based in Mountain View, California.  http://www.nomadiccomm.com
 http://www.3com.com
3Com, October 24, 2000

• In June, 3Com acquired Kerbango, a start-up developing an Internet appliance specifically for listening to streaming audio, for approximately US$80 million.  The Kerbango radio uses a Motorola PowerPC 32-bit processor and has 8MB DRAM, 8 MB Flash Memory, embedded Linux and RealPlayer G2 software, an Ethernet RJ-45 10/100 port, a modem and two USB ports.  The device would connect to home networks and use existing DSL, cable modem or dial-up ISP accounts. 

AVICI ADDS MPLS CAPABILITIES TO ITS TERABIT SWITCH ROUTER
Avici Systems introduced Multi-Protocol Label Switching-Traffic Engineering (MPLS-TE) capabilities for its Terabit Switch Router.  The implementation supports as many as 15,000 tunnels.  http://www.avici.com
Avici Systems, October 24, 2000

NORTEL NETWORKS REPORTS REVENUE OF US$7.3 BILLION, UP 42%
Nortel Networks reported quarterly revenue of US$7.31 billion, up 42% over the same period last year.  Net earnings were US$574 million, or US$0.18 per share.  Highlights of the report include: revenues for Optical Internet solutions, up 90% over last year; wireless Internet solutions, up 50%; local Internet solutions, up 35%; eBusiness solutions, up 200%.
http://www.nortelnetworks.com/corporate/news/newsreleases/2000c/10_24_0000665_q3_earnings.html
Nortel Networks, October 24, 2000