DCL RELEASES STREAM CONTROL TRANSMISSION PROTOCOL SOURCE CODE
Data Connection Limited (DCL) added support for Stream Control Transmission Protocol (SCTP) to its source code product suite for network equipment manufacturers.  SCTP is a new IP transport protocol, developed by the SIGTRAN working group of the IETF, designed to replace the existing UDP and TCP transports.  The new protocol is expected to provide a number of significant advantages over the existing protocols in the areas of data transfer, handling congestion and packet loss and security. It has been specifically optimized for carrying signaling protocols, such as when SS7, ISDN or Megaco are carried over IP.  The new DC-SCTP product provides OEMs with portable source code for use in devices running SCTP for a variety of applications, such as Call Agents, SoftSwitches, and Residential and Trunking gateways. The protocol could also be used for transportation of other transaction-based protocols (such as HTTP) in scenarios requiring networking fault tolerance through protocol-level support for multihoming, and enhanced security protection from Denial of Service attacks.  The source code integrates with DCL’s existing ATM, MPLS, MGCP/Megaco, SS7 and other converged network software.  http://www.dataconnection.com/
Data Connection Limited (DCL), October 27, 2000

• SCTP is designed to transport PSTN signaling messages over IP networks and addresses limitations in TCP. Key features of SCTP are expected to include: acknowledged error-free non-duplicated transfer of user data; data fragmentation to conform to discovered path MTU size; sequenced delivery of user messages within multiple streams, with an option for order-of-arrival delivery of individual user messages; optional bundling of multiple user messages into a single SCTP packet; and network-level fault tolerance through supporting of multi-homing at either or both ends of an association.  More information, including current Internet drafts and a discussion mailing list, are available from the IETF "Signaling Transport" (sigtran) Working Group:  http://www.ietf.org/html.charters/sigtran-charter.html
  

• The first interoperability tests of Stream Control Transmission Protocol (SCTP) were held in June at Siemens' laboratories in Munich.

AVAIL NETWORKS UNVEILS INTEGRATED CONCENTRATOR COMBINING DSLAMS, IADS AND ATM SWITCHING
Avail Networks, a start-up based in Ann Arbor, Michigan, introduced a new customer-located platform that combines key features of compact DSLAMs, IADs and ATM switches.  The new Frontera 2000 Integrated Concentration Devices, which are designed for multi-tenant unit (MTU) deployment, can connect both subscriber (tenant) DSL and traditional telephony equipment via in-building copper pairs.  Avail’s ICD packetizes and/or switches the voice and data traffic through a hardware ATM switch to T1/E1, T3/E3, or OC-3 uplinks for local loop connectivity.  The ICD also performs bi-directional traffic policing functions, preserving QoS across different traffic types even in over-subscribed in-building access networks.  The Frontera concentrator support packet voice services (such as AAL2 VoDSL) and can interoperate with ATM-based IADs.  http://www.availnetworks.com
Avail Networks, October 30, 2000

• Avail Networks was founded by former employees of the Network Express division of Cabletron Systems. 

VIRATA RELEASES OPENDSL SOFTWARE FOR AUTOCONFIGURING CPE
Virata introduced a CPE (customer premise equipment) autoconfiguration capability required for use by the OpenDSL initiative.   The software will enable CPE to automatically configure itself by downloading a software image and provisioning information from an intelligent DSLAM, switch or router, thereby eliminating truck rolls and speeding service activation.  The software runs on existing and future Virata product designs, including its flagship Helium processor.  http://www.virata.com/cgi-bin/frame.pl?URL=/news/pr/dslsoftware.htm
Virata, October 27, 2000

• OpenDSL is an industry-wide initiative to develop an open plug-n-play architecture for retail-grade CPE interoperability and automated configuration.  http://www.opendsl.org

KOREA TELECOM EXPANDS DEPLOYMENT OF UNISPHERE’S EDGE ROUTING SWITCH
Korea Telecom will deploy Unisphere Networks’ ERX-1400 Edge Routing Switch with Subscriber Access features to terminate DSL connections.  The order expands on an earlier installation of Unisphere’s edge routing switches.  Korea Telecom is targeting rollout of more than 1.6 million DSL connections this year.  http://www.kt.co.kr/english/  http://www.unispherenetworks.com
Unisphere Networks, October 29, 2000

AFC SIGNS NEW AGREEMENTS WITH SBC, VERIZON
Advanced Fibre Communications announced a new contract with SBC Communications naming it as one the suppliers of DSL-ready remote access equipment for the carrier’s $6 billion Project Pronto initiative. AFC will provide SBC with its DMAX1120 and EMAXplus multi-service access platforms, as well as AFC's environmentally hardened 240D and 672D outside plant cabinets.  The agreement also includes deployment of AFC's services to states in SBC's Ameritech region such as Illinois, Michigan, Ohio, and Wisconsin, adding to existing services provided to SBC in Arkansas, California, Connecticut, Kansas, Missouri, Nevada, Oklahoma and Texas.

Earlier last week, AFC announced a new three-year contract with Verizon to supply its EMAXplus narrowband and broadband-enabling retrofit kits, which would eliminate the need to replace some existing cabinets and other outside plant equipment.  http://www.afc.com
Advanced Fibre Communications, October 26, 2000

HARMONYCOM RAISES $25 MILLION FOR ITS BROADBAND SERVICE MANAGEMENT SOFTWARE
HarmonyCom, a start-up based in Ann Arbor, Michigan, secured $25 million in third round funding to support its broadband service delivery software.  The product allows service providers to automate the delivery of data services.  HarmonyCom plans to use the funds to boost its sales and marketing efforts across Europe and North America. Investors include Cisco Systems, ComSor Investment Fund, Iscal Holdings, Pino Venture Partners, Yozma Venture Capital, Draper Fisher Jurvetson ePlanet, Genesis Partners and an undisclosed large customer care and billing company.  http://www.harmonycom.com
HarmonyCom, October 26, 2000

ACCELERATED NETWORKS UNVEILS ISDN VOICE OVER BROADBAND SOLUTION
Accelerated Networks enhanced its broadband voice gateway family with the introduction of three new integrated access devices (IADs) and international service capabilities that could be used to deliver toll-quality ISDN voice and high-speed data services, including frame relay over DSL (FRoDSL), to business customers.  The ISDN telephony support is compliant to Euro-ISDN and most other international ISDN standards variations. All IADs feature customer-side ISDN and high-speed data connections to support customer PBXs and data traffic, including Ethernet, frame relay and HDLC services. They are interoperable with ATM network access equipment.  The products are currently in European field trials with competitive service providers.  http://www.acceleratednetworks.com
Accelerated Networks, October 26, 2000

BROCADE INTRODUCES 64-PORT FIBRE CHANNEL SWITCHES, OUTLINES PRODUCT ROADMAP
Brocade Communications Systems will introduce a 64-port Fibre Channel switch in Q1 2001.  The design uses six switching modules, allowing the customer to “pay as you grow” and scale storage environments as needed.  Brocade plans to extend its storage networking model further to deliver 128-port networkable "Core" Fibre Channel fabric switches and 2 Gbps speeds.  The company will also implement interswitch link "trunking" which will enable logical port grouping to support switch-to-switch network interconnection speeds of up to 8 Gbps.  http://www.Brocade.com
Brocade Communications Systems, October 27, 2000