LUCENT ADDS DISTRIBUTED ROUTING AND INSTANT PROVISIONING TO ITS LAMBDAROUTER
Lucent Technologies released intelligent routing software and wavelength management software for its WaveStar LambdaRouter all-optical switch, which uses micro-arrays of movable mirrors to route optical signals from fiber to fiber.  Lucent's new Optical Services Manager (OSM) software enables "point-and-click" bandwidth provisioning on the LambdaRouter, allowing a network operator to increase the number of wavelengths between specified nodes.  A new Optical Network Navigation System (ONNS) within individual LambdaRouters provides intelligent distributed routing functionality.  The software continually creates an inventory of network resources, self-discovers changes in the network's topology and can redefine a signal's most efficient path between two endpoints. Lucent said the new capability would enable rapid turn-up of new network nodes and additional bandwidth without the extensive off-line, data-base entries. It would also enable instant rerouting of signals in the event of a fiber cut.  http://www.lucent.com 
Lucent Technologies, December 13, 2000

• In September, Global Crossing began live network testing of Lucent's WaveStar LambdaRouter.  The equipment is being used to route 2.5 Gbps wavelengths across Global Crossing’s AC-1 transoceanic cable between Brook Haven, NY, and Whitesands, England. 

PSINET ACTIVATES OC-192 LINKS, SCALES BANDWIDTH 16X BETWEEN HOSTING CENTERS
PSINet activated OC-192 circuits with four wavelengths each between four of its hosting centers located in Toronto, New York City, Herndon (VA) and Atlanta.  The upgrade increased PSINet's capacity by a factor of sixteen from its previous network speed of OC-48.  The company also deployed OC-192 along major routes throughout the eastern US as well as to Toronto, Ottawa and Montreal.  The OC-192 fiber capacity was activated using Nortel Networks' OPTera long-haul platform.  PSINet uses Cisco and Juniper routers in its IP backbone.  Underlying fiber providers for the upgrade include Broadwing, MetroMedia Fiber Network and 360networks. PSINet cited customer demands for greater bandwidth. http://www.psinet.com/news/pr/00/dec13.html
PSINet, December 13, 2000

• Last month, PSInet retained Goldman Sachs as a financial advisor and said it was exploring a strategic alliance or the possible sale of all or a portion of the company to increase shareholder value.  The company had earlier warned that its Q4 2000 results would be lower than expected because of bad debt from customers in the Internet industry negatively impacted by recent market conditions.

CABLE & WIRELESS COMPLETES SECOND PHASE OF IP UPGRADE
Cable & Wireless now operates a network with a capacity 6.5 times greater than that of the original IP network acquired from MCI in July 1998.  The network currently has 49 operational city nodes within the same autonomous system, including 23 cities in the US; 24 cities in 12 countries across Europe and two in Asia.  The major European connections are currently operating at multiples of 2.4 Gbps (STM-16) with additional node connections at multiples of 155 Mbps.  Trunks across the US are based on multiple OC-48c connections.  The company is planning upgrades to OC-192.  http://www.cw.com/th_05.asp?ID=mc_311dec1300
Cable & Wireless, December 13, 2000

• Cable & Wireless acquired MCI's US Internet backbone business in July 1998 for $1.75 billion in cash.  The sale was a means of addressing anti-trust issues raised by the MCI-WorldCom merger.  At the time, MCI's Internet backbone consisted of 22 domestic nodes, 15,000 interconnection ports and 300 dial-up POPs and was providing Internet services to 3,300 major dedicated corporate accounts and 1,300 ISP customers in the US and 75 other countries. 

COREEXPRESS SELECTS JUNIPER'S M20 ROUTER AS GATEWAY TO ITS INTERNET DATA EXCHANGE
CoreExpress a start-up service provider promising a QoS-based Internet Data Exchange System between ISPs, will deploy Juniper Networks' M20 Internet backbone routers as gateways for ISP customer traffic into its network.  The M20 routers will include Juniper Networks' new Internet Processor II ASIC for supporting different classes of service.  The deployment will span CoreExpress' 22,000-mile redundant, OC-192 fiber optic network.  Financial terms were not disclosed.  http://www.juniper.net/news/pressreleases/2000/pr-001213.html  http://www.CoreExpress.net
Juniper Networks, December 13, 2000

• CoreExpress will offer participating ISPs financial incentives to ensure that traffic is delivered with the performance guarantees.

• In June, CoreExpress raised $573 million in venture funding to build its extranet business.  The company is headed by Michael Gaddis, the former CTO of SAVVIS Communications.  Investors include Benchmark Capital, Morgan Stanley Dean Witter, Nortel Networks, Cisco Capital, Amerindo Investment, Bowman Capital, Capital Research and Management Company, Octane Capital, and Technology Crossover Ventures (TCV). 

• In July, CoreExpress awarded a $100 million contact to Nortel Networks for its 10 Gbps OPTera Long Haul 1600 Optical Line System and DWDM platform. 

STANFORD AND DUKE TO LAUNCH CENTERS FOR ADVANCED PHOTONICS
Duke and Stanford will each establish new centers for advanced photonics, thanks to gifts from Michael J. Fitzpatrick and his wife, Patty, who will each donate $25 million.  Fitzpatrick is the former chairman, chief executive officer and president of E-TEK Dynamics.  Stanford Electrical engineering Professor David A.B. Miller will direct the new photonics institute at Stanford.  The university will build a new $60 million Fitzpatrick Center for Photonics in the Science and Engineering Quadrangle over the next five years. David Brady, who was a leader in the Photonic Systems Group of the Beckman Institute for Advanced Science and Technology at the University of Illinois, will head the Duke center.  Duke will establish a new $100 million Fitzpatrick Center for Advanced Photonics and Communications Systems as part of its Pratt School of Engineering.  http://news-service.stanford.edu/news/december13/jointfitz-1213.html  http://www.dukenews.duke.edu/FundRaising/dukeside.htm
Stanford, Duke, December 13, 2000

• In January, JDS Uniphase agreed to acquire E-TEK Dynamics, a developer of passive components and modules for fiber optic systems, for $15 billion in stock (Jan 14 prices).  The merger ranks as the third largest in the telecommunications field, after JDS Uniphase's acquisition of SDL ($41 billion valuation, July 2000) and Lucent Technologies' acquisition of Ascend Communications ($20 billion, July 1999)

LIGHTPOINTE NAMES CEO, TARGETS HYBRID FREE SPACE LASER/MICROWAVE SYSTEMS
LightPointe Communications, a start-up based in San Diego, named John Griffin as its president and CEO.  Griffin formerly served as general manager and president of ADC's Broadband Wireless Group.  http://www.lightpointe.com
LightPointe Communications, December 13, 2000

• In September, LightPointe received $12 million in first round venture funding from Sevin Rosen Funds, Ampersand Ventures and Telecom Partners.   

• LightPointe's Free-Space Optical Radio equipment operates at up to 622 Mbps over a range from 25 to 1,000 meters at a wavelength of 850nm.  Systems spanning up to 2.5 miles and data rates of up to 1.25 Gbps are beta testing.

XSPEDIUS ORDERS $200 MILLION IN LUCENT VOICE/DATA EQUIPMENT
Xspedius, a CLEC based in Louisiana, signed a three-year, $200 million agreement for Lucent's broadband voice and data equipment, including its NX64000 Multi-Terabit Switch/Router, GX 550 and CBX 500 ATM switches, 7R/E Now voice packet switches, AnyMedia Access System, and Stinger DSL Access Concentrator.  Xspedius plans to establish network hubs in six cities across the Southeastern US.  http://www.lucent.com/press/1200/001212.nsc.html  http://www.xspedius.com/
Lucent Technologies, December 13, 2000

• In October, Xspedius announced plans to deploy Jetstream Communications' VoDSL solution

CHINA'S SHANDONG TELECOM DEPLOYS LUCENT'S 10 G OPTICAL
China's Shandong Telecom, a subsidiary of China Telecom, will deploy WaveStar TDM 10G (STM-64/ OC-192) SDH and WaveStar OLS 400G DWDM equipment.  Lucent will also provide its WaveStar ADM 16/1 multiplexers and WaveStar DACS 4/4/1 digital crossconnect. Shandong Unicom, another subsidiary of China Telecom, will also deploy the WaveStar OLS 400G DWDM system.  The contracts were valued at US$20 million.  http://www.lucent.com
Lucent Technologies, December 13, 2000

VINA TECHNOLOGIES ANNOUNCES ITS NEXT GENERATION AGGREGATION PLATFORM
VINA Technologies introduced a central office-based multiservice platform with the functionality of a digital loop carrier (DLC), the Layer 2 data aggregation and switching capabilities of a multiservice ATM switch, and the voice/data interworking functions of a media gateway.  VINA's Multiservice Broadband Xchange (MBX) provides a TDM-to-ATM interworking functionality for traditional GR-303 concentration of voice lines, with the added support of Frame Relay switching (FRF-5 and FRF-8).  The platform could be used as an IAD aggregator, a digital signal (DS0) cross- connect or a switching gateway for Frame Relay communications.  http://www.vina-tech.com/news_articles/121300_nextgen_vina.htm
VINA Technologies, December 13, 2000

NEC AMERICA AND MOCKINGBIRD DEVELOP VOIP MANAGEMENT SYSTEM
NEC America and Mockingbird Networks, a start-up developing an IP telephony SS7 softswitch, announced a carrier-class Network Management System (NMS) for managing all elements of a VoIP network from a centralized  workstation.  The system allows operators to monitor the performance of real-time applications running across the VoIP network through the Mockingbird Networks devices, and provides the user with a means of retrieving Call Detailed Records (CDRs).  http://www.mockingbirdnetworks.com/  
Mockingbird Networks, December 13, 2000

• Mockingbird's NuvoStream softswitch architecture is based on Sun Microsystems' UltraSPARC IIi processors and the Solaris operating system.  

IBASIS ACQUIRES PRICEINTERACTIVE, A SPEECH APPLICATION SERVICE PROVIDER
iBasis, a leading carrier of Internet telephony traffic, agreed to acquire PriceInteractive, a Speech Application Service Provider (ASP), for approximately $125 million in stock and cash.  PriceInteractive provides interactive voice response and speech-enabled solutions to Fortune 500 companies, including ExxonMobil, Gannett, H&R Block, Home Shopping Network, Morgan Stanley etc. iBasis provides wholesale, phone-to-phone VoIP and enhanced Voice Web services.  http://www.ibasis.net/news/pr12132000.htm  
iBasis, December 13, 2000

• During Q3, iBasis carried 168.0 million minutes of Internet telephony traffic, an increase of 40.7% over Q2’s 119.4 million minutes. 

• iBasis operates the largest Cisco-powered IP telephony network.

• Last month, iBasis announced plans to defer additional deployments of Internet Central Office switching facilities until it has achieved higher utilization rates on its network infrastructure.