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VERIZON
TERMINATES NORTHPOINT MERGER AGREEMENT
Verizon Communications terminated its merger agreement
with NorthPoint Communications, citing the deterioration in
NorthPoint's business, operations and financial condition since
Aug. 7 when the two companies agreed to merge their DSL
businesses. Verizon
also said that it has no obligation to arrange for NorthPoint to
receive additional financing.
Verizon plans to discuss its expansion strategy at a news
conference on Thursday. http://newscenter.verizon.com/proactive/newsroom/release.vtml?id=46368
Verizon, November
29, 2000
- In August, Verizon
Communications agreed to merge its DSL operations with those
of NorthPoint in a bid to extend its last-mile copper
connections to a nationwide footprint.
The new NorthPoint expected to have more than 3,000
unique operational DSL central offices by early next year,
serving 163 metropolitan statistical areas (MSAs) across the
US. Under
the deal, Verizon was to invest $800 million in NorthPoint, of
which $450 million was to be used to fund continued network
expansion and $350 million (or $2.50 per share) was to be paid
to current NorthPoint shareholders.
NorthPoint shareholders also were to receive one share
in the new NorthPoint for each share held as of the closing
date. The deal would have made Verizon a 55% owner of the new
NorthPoint, while existing NorthPoint shareholders would have
held 45%.
- On Aug. 8, the day the deal was
announced, NorthPoint's share price closed at $14.25.
On November 29, trading of NPNT closed at $2.
- Last
week, NorthPoint revised downwards its previously announced
third quarter 2000 financial results, citing deterioration in
the financial resources of certain consumer-focused network
service provider customers.
Q3 revenue was reduced to $24 million compared to the
$30 million reported on October 26, 2000
- NorthPoint
expressed surprise at Verizon's decision to terminate that
merger and halt interim financing.
The company said it was exploring strategic
alternatives, including funding options and legal remedies.
http://www.northpointdsl.com/about_press.asp?PressReleaseID=1172
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NorthPoint's
DSL Subscriber Growth
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| Q3
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Q2
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Q1
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| 87,300
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62,000
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41,300
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SPIRENT
INTRODUCES DYNAMIC MULTIPROTOCOL LABEL SWITCHING PERFORMANCE
ANALYSIS SYSTEM
Spirent Communications
introduced a Dynamic Multiprotocol Label Switching Performance
Analysis System for its SmartBits TeraMetrics and Adtech AX/4000
platforms. The
MPLS Performance Suites proactively recreate the complexity and
dynamic nature of MPLS traffic and traffic management, while
analyzing the performance of individual elements, both at the core
and edge of the network, and providing system-wide analysis.
The solution would allow service providers to minimize the
risk of introducing MPLS by simulating the dynamic nature of
routes being set up and torn down.
It also recreates the effect of dynamic network
reconfiguration (fast fail over) for time-critical services.
Spirent's MPLS Performance Suites consist of controlling
software, customizable MPLS scripts, software and firmware
libraries, documentation and application notes.
http://www.spirentcom.com
Spirent Communications, November 29, 2000
HITACHI
PUSHES NATIVE IPV6 ROUTER SUPPORT TO OC-48C
Hitachi announced support for native IPv6 over a 2.4 Gbps
(OC-48c) line interface on its GR2000 Gigabit Routers beginning in
February 2001. The
GR2000 supports basic IPv6 protocol suites including RIPng and
BGP4+ and is supported on lower speed OC-3c/OC-12c ATM/POS
(Packet over SONET),
Gigabit
Ethernet
LANs, as well as other interfaces.
Hitachi also provides operation and administration tools
such as IPv6 over IPv4 tunneling, IPv4 over IPv6 tunneling, IPv6
MIB (Management Information Base), browser-based configuration,
ping6, traceroute6, etc., for co-existence of IPv6 and IPv4, and
smooth network transition from IPv4 to IPv6.
http://www.hitachi.co.jp
Hitachi,
November 29, 2000
- A Global
IPv6 Summit will be held next month in Osaka, Japan.
http://www.jp.ipv6forum.com/
- An
IPv6 Forum was established in July to work on marketing
issues for IPv6. The Internet Engineering Task Force
(IETF) is responsible for IPv6 technical specifications.
Initial members of the IPv6 Forum include 41 leading suppliers
of networking equipment and services. Vint Cerf serves as the
group's honorary chairman. http://www.ipv6forum.com
- 6bone
is a global, experimental testbed for IPv6. It operates as a
virtual network layered on top of portions of the physical
IPv4-based Internet. The 6bone website provides general
information on IPv6 and links to related IETF sites,
operational information and mailing lists. http://www.6bone.net/
MICROSOFT
SELECTS EXODUS HOSTING SERVICES
Microsoft will host a number of its Internet sites, as
well as corporate servers for internal use, at one of the Exodus
Internet Data Centers (IDCs) in Seattle.
Financial terms were not disclosed.
http://www.exodus.net/press_room/press_releases/microsoft_selects_exodus.html
Exodus, November
29, 2000
- Exodus has hosted the Hotmail
email service since 1997.
- In September, Exodus agreed to
acquire Global Crossing’s GlobalCenter unit for $6.525
billion in stock (Sept. 27 prices).
PHILIPS
DEMOS MPEG-4 STREAMING OVER HFC
Philips Digital Networks demonstrated an end-to-end
solution for streaming MPEG-4 content over common HFC broadband
cable networks to PCs, TVs and set-top boxes.
Content on a central Philips MPEG-4 server is sent via
Cisco's uBR7200 Series Universal Broadband Routers to DOSCIS-based
cable modems. Philips
MPEG-4 players running on PCs and on Philips set-top boxes decode
and display the content. http://www.broadcast.philips.com
Philips Digital Networks, November 29, 2000
MOTOROLA
AND GEYSER SHOW OPTIMIZED SONET PLATFORM
Motorola and
Geyser Networks demonstrated an optimized SONET platform for
Hybrid Fiber Coax (HFC) networks based on Geyser's OSM-4800 and
FlexBand technology. Motorola
recently made an undisclosed equity investment in the Sunnyvale,
California based start-up. http://www.geysernetworks.com
Geyser Networks,
November 29, 2000
- Geyser Networks' Optical
Services Manager (OSM 4800) will combine 16-wavelength DWDM,
SONET cross-connect, SONET ADM, MPLS router and IAD
functionality in a single chassis.
The platform would support TDM services, ATM, Frame
Relay, Packet-Over-SONET, Transparent LAN, SLA-based
IP/Ethernet services and MPEG-II video services.
-
In August, Geyser raised $37.5 million in new funding for its
development of optical access and broadband management
systems. Investors
include VantagePoint Venture Partners, Sequoia Capital,
Crimson Ventures, Boston Millennia Partners, Vertex
Management, and Access Technology Partners.
Geyser Networks was founded by Wu-Fu Chen and Gordon
Lee.
BROADCOM
SHOWS RESIDENTIAL GATEWAY REFERENCE DESIGNS FOR CABLE
Broadcom unveiled
two residential broadband gateway designs for cable
networks. The first
is an ultra low-power, outdoor residential gateway providing up to
four-primary lines of VoIP telephony with DOCSIS 1.1 and
PacketCable compatibility. The box includes a switching power
supply that can be powered directly off an HFC cable network or an
uninterruptible power supply (UPS) to meet primary line (911)
service requirements. The second is a two-line, low-cost indoor
VoIP cable modem gateway design featuring USB 1.1, 10/100 Ethernet
and HomePNA 2.0 interfaces. http://www.broadcom.com
Broadcom, November
29, 2000
NET2PHONE
SIGNS BROADCOM AND MOTOROLA FOR VOIP OVER HFC
Broadcom will
integrate Net2Phone's core Voice over IP technology into its
xChange VoIP software solutions and residential broadband gateway
reference designs. The
combination would enable cable operators to offer low-cost
domestic and international long-distance IP telephone service via
the Net2Phone network. Separately,
Motorola Broadband Communications Sector agreed to integrate its
IP telephony solutions -- including its PacketCable-ready
SURFboard SB3500 cable modem – with Net2Phone's VoIP network.
The new cable modem will offer two RJ-11 telephone jacks.
An uninterruptible power supply, as well as compliance to
DOCSIS 1.1 and PacketCable 1.0 specs, would help Net2Phone offer
primary line telephony service by prioritizing voice over other
Internet traffic. http://www.net2phone.com
Net2Phone, November 29, 2000
TELLABS
AND RIVERSTONE ENTER WORLDWIDE STRATEGIC ALLIANCE
Tellabs and Riverstone Networks announced a strategic
alliance that combines Tellabs' CABLESPAN 2300 and MartisDXX
systems with Riverstone's RS family of edge routers.
Products resulting from the strategic alliance will be
marketed, sold and supported through Tellabs.
http://www.riverstonenet.com
Riverstone Networks, November 29, 2000
BELLSOUTH
DEPLOYS NORTEL'S SHASTA 5000 FOR IP SERVICES OVER DSL
BellSouth is
deploying Nortel Networks' Shasta 5000 platform to provide DSL
access and value-added IP services to business customers and other
service providers. The platform serves as a universal aggregation
point for matching subscribers with content and services.
BellSouth's value added services include secure DSL with
network-based firewalls and business-class VPNs.
Financial terms were not disclosed. http://www.nortelnetworks.com/corporate/news/newsreleases/2000d/11_29_0000231_bellsouth_shasta.html
Nortel Networks, November 29, 2000
CLARENDON
PHOTONICS TARGETS DWDM COMPONENTS AND CMOS-COMPATIBLE FABRICATION
Clarendon
Photonics, a start-up based in Boston, raised $16 million for its
development of DWDM solutions.
The company is developing high density monolithic optical
components based on planar lightwave technology and CMOS
compatible fabrication processes.
Investors include New Enterprise Associates, Sevin Rosen
Funds and Vortex Partners.
Clarendon Photonics, November 29, 2000
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