ASTRAL POINT ANNOUNCES OPTICAL ACCESS NODE FOR METRO SERVICES
Astral Point Communications, a start-up based in Chelmsford, Mass., introduced a compact optical access node designed for metropolitan optical services such as DSLAM backhaul, low cost Ethernet, T1 and T3 packet services and next generation dynamic wavelength services.   Astral Point’s ON 2000 Optical Access Node combines the functionality of a distributed digital cross-connect, an Ethernet switch and an optical ADM into a single multi-service platform.  The units will be priced starting at $15,000 per node, allowing service providers to move closer to the customer premises.  They could be provisioned as an all-optical platform to support up to 160 Gbps of DWDM lightwave capacity through a variety of SONET/SDH modules, including OC3/STM-1, OC12/STM-4, OC48/STM-16, OC192/STM-64, 10/100 BaseT Ethernet, Gigabit Ethernet and Fibre Channel.  Astral Point’s network-wide distributed 3:1:0 digital cross-connect (DCS) capability enables the units to provision leased line services from DS1 and DS3 to OC48 and low-cost mapping of DS0 and DS1 traffic at the network edge. General availability is expected in Q2.  http://www.astralpoint.com
Astral Point Communications, December 4, 2000

• Astral Point also introduced its Galaxy Distributed Control Plane software, a system that automatically integrates every Astral Point node as a single virtual network element that leverages a distributed switching architecture.  The software uses OSPF (Open Shortest Path First) routing protocol and MPLS ready signaling to perform auto-discovery and One Touch Provisioning functions.  It also provides a unique protection scheme supporting non-fiber back-up paths and full-time utilization of all bandwidth resources.
  
• Astral Point has previously disclosed contracts with Time Warner Telecom and Advanced Telcom Group.
  
• In July, Astral Point raised $80 million in third round financing.  Investors include KMC Investment Partners, E-TEK Dynamics, GE Capital, Bowman Capital, Essex Investment, The Sprout Group, New Enterprise Associates and OneLiberty Ventures.
  
• Astral Point was founded by Raj Shanmugaraj (formerly PictureTel), Bill Mitchell (Cascade Communications), Bruce Miller (Bay Networks) and Steve Sherry.

CHINA UNICOM PLANS WORLD'S LARGEST VOIP NETWORK
China United Telecommunications Corporation (China Unicom), China's second largest telecommunications carrier, selected Cisco Systems as the lead supplier for a VoIP network spanning more than 319 cities across 30 provinces.  The companies describe the project as the world's largest VoIP network.  Cisco Systems will supply IP core backbone and aggregation routers and switches as well as voice applications for the packet-based network.  Financial terms were not disclosed.  http://www.cisco.com/warp/public/146/pressroom/2000/nov00/sp_113000.htm
Cisco Systems, December 4, 2000  

CISCO ANNOUNCES IP + OPTICAL CONTRACTS IN KOREA, JAPAN
GNG Networks, a facilities-based carrier providing metropolitan area services throughout Korea, has deployed Cisco Systems’ ONS 15454 optical transport platform in conjunction with its Cisco 12000 Series Internet Routers and Cisco 7500 Series Routers.  Financial terms were not disclosed.  The Cisco ONS 15454 aggregates data, voice, and video service for effective concentration of optical transport across the transport network.  http://www.gng.co.kr

Japan’s Crosswave Communications, a new nationwide operator established by Internet Initiative Japan. (IIJ), Sony Corporation and Toyota Motor Corporation, has also deployed Cisco's ONS 15454 Optical Transport Platform.  The company will begin providing new broadband services, through direct fiber access, to large customer premises and Internet Data centers located in the metropolitan Tokyo area.  Financial terms were not disclosed.    http://www.cisco.com
Cisco Systems, December 4, 2000

• Cisco said its ONS 15454 platform now has an installed base of more than 20,000 units among more 450 customers worldwide.

COGENT GAINS ACCESS TO CLASS A OFFICE BUILDING IN TARGET MARKETS
Cogent Communications, a new carrier promising non-oversubscribed 100 Mbps Ethernet access for $1,000 per month, signed a contract with Crescent Real Estate Equities Company giving it permission to install its fiber facilities in approximately 57 class A office buildings in Houston, Dallas, and Washington, D.C..  Cogent expects to bring one third of these properties onto its dedicated, facilities-based network within six months.  http://www.cogentco.com/News/news_press.html
Cogent Communications, December 1, 2000

• Cogent is building a nation-wide, long-haul backbone in addition to metro area networks.  The infrastructure plan calls for OC-192 DWDM on the long-haul routes and OC-48 metro DWDM connections within each of 12 US cities.  In March, Cogent awarded a $280 million supply contract to Cisco Systems and a $10 million contract to Chromatis (acquired by Lucent)
  
• In February, Metromedia Fiber Network (MFN) signed a 20-year agreement valued at more than $100 million to provide dark fiber to Cogent Communications in New York, Boston, Philadelphia, Washington, D.C., Atlanta, Chicago, Dallas, Houston, Seattle, San Francisco/San Jose, and Los Angeles.  The companies have expanded the agreement to include the exchange of IP traffic through MFN's AboveNet subsidiary.
  
• In April, Cogent sealed a $215 million agreement to lease long-haul fiber across the US from Williams.

360NETWORKS RAISES FINANCIAL ESTIMATES FOR 2001
Citing tremendous interest from customers for its undersea and terrestrial bandwidth, 360networks said it anticipates significant increases in cash-based revenues and adjusted EBITDA (earnings before interest, taxes, depreciation, minority interest, stock-based compensation and amortization) for the year ending December 31, 2001.  http://www.360.net/News---Releases---Details.asp?ID=97
360networks, December 1, 2000

TACHION SECURES $50 MILLION FOR ITS COLLAPSED CENTRAL OFFICE PLATFORM
Tachion Networks, a start-up developing a collapsed central office platform, raised $50 million in third round venture funding.  Total funding to date exceeds $84 million.  Third round investors include Lehman Brothers Venture Capital Group (lead), Goldman Sachs, JP Morgan, Morgenthaler Ventures, Walden International and Singapore's EDB ventures.  http://www.tachion.com
Tachion, December 4, 2000

• Tachion's FUSION 5000 integrates transport, switching and signaling into a single box.  The platform leverages a dual TDM/ATM switching matrix that allows services to be switched in native format. The integration of SONET ATM/STM Add Drop Mux (ADM) enables direct attachment to SONET rings.  It could also be used as an Internet offload solution, mediating between low-cost InterMachine Trunks (IMTs) and more costly Primary Rate Interface (PRIs) circuits used to transport dial-up Internet traffic to remote access servers. 

ELLACOYA NETWORKS RAISES $52 MILLION FOR ITS INTELLIGENT SERVICES PROVISIONING
Ellacoya Networks, a start-up developing a carrier-class platform for Intelligent Services Provisioning, raised over $52 million in second round investment.  Total funding to date now exceeds $86 million.  Current investors include Goldman, Sachs & Co., Lightspeed Venture Partners, Bessemer Venture Partners, Centennial Ventures and Lighthouse Capital Partners.  http://www.ellacoya.com/
Ellacoya Networks, December 4, 2000

• Ellacoya’s Service Generation System is an ASIC-based switching platform that uses a standards-based directory to employ intelligence at the service edge of carrier and service provider networks.  The system brings efficiencies to managing subscribers, aggregating broadband IP traffic and deploying network IP services.  
  
• The directory system stores profiles for subscribers, services, service bundles, applications, network delivery attributes, portal elements, billing characteristics, etc. The profiles are retrieved on demand and events are triggered in the system to enable automated, personalized services and content based on IP flows with the required QoS and packet classification for the specific application.
  
• Ellacoya has disclosed deployment of its platform by V.Cities and Vialight
  
• Ellacoya Networks was founded by Kurt Dobbins and Dan Hullette, both of whom formerly worked for Cabletron Systems. 

COMCAST RELEASES CABLE MODEM SELF-INSTALLATION KIT
Comcast Cable, the third largest cable operator in the US with 8.2 million customers, released a customer self-installation kit for its Comcast @Home cable modem service.  The kits are available either from the company directly or from Circuit City, Radio Shack and CompUSA.  http://www.comcast.com
Comcast, December 1, 2000

DSL.NET CUTS WORKFORCE BY 28%, REDUCES SPENDING
DSL.net, which is building DSL networks primarily in second and third tier cities across the US, announced that it is reducing its workforce by 141 employees, or approximately 28%.  The company said it is reducing spending levels to extend the timeframe it needs to raise additional capital.  http://www.dsl.net/news-events/pr120100.html
DSL.net, December 3, 2000

• As of September 30, DSL.net had 9,208 DSL lines installed.  At October 31, DSL.net had 540 operational central offices, up from 440 on June 30.