DYNEGY LAUNCHES WHOLESALE BANDWIDTH SERVICES OVER ITS OPTICAL MESH
Dynegy, a leading provider of energy in North America and Europe, launched its “Dynegyconnect Internet Service” over its new optical mesh network.  The new offering provides wholesale bandwidth buyers with access services at DS3, OC3 and above with the ability to select and pay for only the bandwidth needed.  Dynegy is offering flat rate, tiered and burstable billing options, as well as packet services.  http://www.dynegy.com
Dynergy, February 19, 2001

• Dynegyconnect is a joint venture of Dynegy Inc. and Telstra Corp. Ltd.
• Dynergy is deploying Fujitsu Network Communications’ FLASHWAVE OADX DWDM, which offers up to 1.76 Tbps capacity without regeneration.  The nationwide optically switched data network will consist of approximately 20,000 route miles of fiber and more than 40 POPs with over 100 FLASHWAVE OADX systems by Q4 2001.  Fujitsu’s system uses 88 channels in each of two bands of the transmission spectrum, the C and L bands, using 50GHz spacing between each channel.
• In November, Dynegy Global Communications agreed to acquire iaxis Limited, which owns and operates a 14,000-km fiber backbone throughout Europe, for less than US$200 million.  In addition to the purchase price, Dynegy expects to incur approximately US$160 million related to network build-out costs and the payment of certain iaxis Limited pre-existing liabilities.  The new Dynegy Europe Communications Limited (DEC) is expected to be headquartered in Vienna, Austria.
• Last year, Dynergy acquired Extant, a facilities-based company providing carrier transport, OSS Interconnect and clearinghouse solutions, for approximately $188 million.  

PMC-SIERRA INTRODUCES PACKET CONTENT CLASSIFICATION CHIP FOR OC-48, GIGE
PMC-Sierra introduced a packet content classification processor for Gigabit Ethernet and OC-48 applications designed for content aware IP services such as intrusion detection, load balancing and QoS in IP switches and routers.  The new ClassiPI (Classification by Packet Inspection) processor provides a highly optimized packet inspection engine and classification algorithms which speed the processing of network traffic by up to 10 times that of a general-purpose network processor alone. The device supports OC-48 applications by using a hardware-based implementation rather than current CPU-based alternatives.  It is fully user programmable and provides a universal SRAM interface bus to interconnect with third party processors or ASICs.  http://www.pmc-sierra.com
PMC-Sierra, February 20, 2001

• Last September, PMC-Sierra acquired SwitchOn Networks, a start-up developing high-speed classification and packet processing technology, for approximately $450 million in stock (Sept. 26, 2000 prices). 

SPRINT EXPANDS WHOLESALE DATA SERVICE OFFERINGS
Sprint introduced an expanded portfolio of data products and managed services for its wholesale customers.  The managed services will include: dial, dedicated and burstable IP services; ATM, and Frame Relay; shared, dedicated and custom Web hosting; managed network services; and a dedicated sales force.  Soon, Sprint will also offer wholesale services from its voice-over-IP and Sprint ION broadband portfolio.  http://www.sprint.com
Sprint, February 19, 2001

BELLSOUTH COMMITS TO WHOLESALE SERVICES
BellSouth announced a three-pronged initiative for the wholesale services market.  Plans include the shortening of cycle times for provisioning and maintenance to encompass a five and eight day standard interval for DS-1s in its Southeast region; the introduction of OC-192 connectivity for point-to-point and ring services, as well as future 10 Mbps and 100 Mbps LAN interconnection to its SONET service; and new pricing plans based on volume and term commitments. http://www.bellsouth.com/
BellSouth, February 19, 2001

NTT COMMUNICATIONS LAUNCHES GIGE ACCESS SERVICE IN DATA CENTERS
NTT Communications will begin offering its data center customers a Gigabit Ethernet (1000Base-LX) Internet connection service.  NTT Communications has been promoting the integration of its IP backbone used for this service, with the IP network of Verio Inc., which NTT acquired last August.  Monthly pricing is expected to be 38,200,000 Yen (US$330,107), with a set-up charge of 600,000 Yen (US$5,184).  http://www.ntt.com/NEWS_RELEASE_E/news01/0002/0215.html
NTT Communications, February 15, 2001

AIRSLIDE SYSTEMS PRESENTS IP SOLUTION FOR SMS AND SS7 NETWORKS
Airslide Systems, a start-up based in Israel with offices in New York and Amsterdam, introduced an IP-based solution that offloads SMS (Short Messaging Services) data traffic from SS7 signaling networks.  The gateway would offer cellular carriers a way to relieve data congestion on their existing 2G, 2.5G and UMTS networks.  http://www.airslide.com/
Airslide Systems, February 19, 2001

NOKIA READIES ITS ROOFTOP WIRELESS ROUTING RESIDENTIAL ACCESS PLATFORM
Nokia completed commercial trials of a unique wireless network solution that uses a mesh of rooftop antennas to deliver broadband connections to the home.  The Nokia outdoor router and RoofTop Router Management System uses the license-free 2.4 GHz ISM spectrum band and 802.11 RF components with specialized wireless software.  Advanced TelCom Group (ATG), an Integrated Communications Provider (ICP) headquartered in Santa Rosa, California, has tested the system for the past five months.  http://www.wbs.nokia.com
Nokia, February 19, 2001

• In September 1999, Nokia acquired Rooftop Communications, a start-up developing multipoint-to-multipoint radio routers, for US$57 million in cash and stock.  Rooftop claimed to have simplified the line-of-sight problem for residential wireless access by employing a design in which each of its Internet Radios acts as both an access device and a part of the network infrastructure -- each CPE radio routes traffic for neighboring nodes.  The multi-hop routing makes use of a proprietary Internet Radio operating system to handle security and intelligence.  Rooftop's first Internet radios operate in the 2.4 GHz unlicensed ISM band.

BRIDGEWAVE DEVELOPS TRANSPARENT WIRELESS MODULATION FOR EXTENDING HFC NETWORKS
BridgeWave Communications, a start-up based in Sunnyvale, California, introduced a Signal Code Modulation (SCM) scheme for delivering multi-megabit services using fixed Millimeter-wave (MMW) wireless bandwidth.  BridgeWave's SCM is protocol transparent allowing it to transmit any broadband signal from any wired network, including the DOCSIS cable standard widely deployed in HFC networks.  SCM works by sampling the incoming signal and dividing it into separate digital and analog components.  The detailed analog sample is multiplied to use the full range of the original signal.  This multiplication factor strengthens the fine detail, making it tolerant to the noise encountered with wireless transmission.  The modulated digital and analog signals are interleaved and transmitted over an expanded frequency range to increase the robustness of the signal.  Cable network operators could use the technology to extend their subscriber reach by connecting a central SCM-enabled radio to a cable drop at any location on the cable network.  The central radio would use the MMW frequency band to transmit DOCSIS signals to multiple SCM radios.  At each premise location, the radio would be connected to one or more standard cable modems.  The head-end equipment and the subscribers’ cable modems would be completely unaware of the SCM transmission that extends the connections between them.  http://www.bridgewave.com
BridgeWave Communications, February 20, 2001

• BridgeWave was established in December 1998. The company is led by Amir Makleff, who previously served as COO and Senior VP of R&D and Engineering at Netro Corporation.  Its technical team is led by Eli Pasternak, formerly CTO and Chief Scientist at Netro.   Investors include Jerusalem Venture Partners (JVP), BreezeCOM, Scientific-Atlanta, DRW Venture Partners, Merrill Lynch, MKS Ventures, Oak Investment Partners, Ampal and Seapoint Ventures.

CLICKARRAY NETWORKS BRINGS IN $31 MILLION FOR WEB TRAFFIC APPLIANCE
ClickArray Networks, a start-up based in San Jose, California, secured $31.1 million in first round venture capital funding for a new integrated web traffic management appliance.  Investors include H&Q Asia Pacific, U.S. Venture Partners, Comdisco Ventures and individuals.  http://www.clickarray.com
ClickArray Networks, February 15, 2001

CHARLES RIVER VENTURES CLOSES NEW $1.2 BILLION VENTURE FUND
Charles River Ventures announced the closing of its eleventh early-stage venture capital fund.  The Charles River Partnership XI fund closed at $1.2 billion, more than double that of the tenth fund.  The company plans to maintain its traditional focus on early-stage companies in the data communications and software & services sectors, especially in wireless infrastructure, optical networking and customer relationship management.  http://www.crv.com
Charles River Ventures, February 12, 2001

SWITZERLAND'S OPTO SPEED OPENS AUTOMATED MANUFACTURING FACILITY
Opto Speed, a developer of high-speed optical components based in Mezzovico, Switzerland, opened a state-of-the-art 15,000 square foot manufacturing plant that includes a Class 100,000 clean room for automated packaging and testing of its optical chips.  Opto Speed also announced the forthcoming opening of an R&D facility in Rome, Italy, following its recent acquisition of a group of researchers from the Fondazione Ugo Bordoni.  http://www.optospeed.com
Opto Speed, February 16, 2001

• Opto Speed uses Indium Phosphide-based technology in components operating at speeds up to 40 Gbps, with low power consumption (10 Gbps receivers with 50 mW power dissipation), high temperature performance (FP and DFB lasers working up to 85 C at more than 10 Gbps) and high power (SLED for broadcast communication with 25 mW into a SM fiber).

RIVERSTONE COMPLETES IPO
Riverstone Networks completed an initial public offering (IPO) of ten million shares on NASDAQ under the symbol RSTN. The initial price was $12 per share.  Shares of RSTN closed at $13.06 at the end of the first day of trading.  http://www.riverstonenetworks.com/news/press/20010216.shtml
Riverstone, February 16, 2001

TERRY MATTHEWS LAUNCHES MITEL NETWORKS
Dr. Terence Matthews announced the launch of his latest company, Mitel Networks, which will provide next-generation IP telephony solutions.  Matthews acquired the worldwide Communications Systems division of Mitel Corporation to form the basis of the new company.  Mitel Corporation retains a 10% equity interest in Mitel Networks Corporation.  The new company is headquartered in Ottawa, Canada.  http://www.mitel.com/
Mitel Networks, February 16, 2001