CISCO INTRODUCES OPTICAL SERVICE ROUTER FOR NETWORK EDGE
Cisco Systems introduced an optical service router designed to consolidate multiple functions in a PoP, including access aggregation, core backbone interconnect, and local server farms connectivity.  The Cisco 7600 Optical Services Router (OSR) incorporates the packet switching functionality of the Cisco Catalyst 6500 via a 256 Gbps switching fabric and a 30 million packets per second (mpps) forwarding engine.  The Cisco 7600 gains optical connectivity through a series of Optical Services Modules (OSM) for Gigabit Ethernet WAN, Packet over SONET (PoS), and ATM.  Interface speeds cover Gigabit Ethernet, OC-3, OC-12, and OC-48 speeds in a variety of port densities.  The platform also allows the use of existing port adapters from Cisco 7500 series routers.  A classification engine implemented in the Parallel eXpress Forwarding (PXF) network processor of each OSM supports flow-based accounting and allows for granular DiffServ classification.  Each OSM has two PXF processors capable of 12 mpps of IP services delivery per interface card.  Periodic software updates will provide for new IP services.  Base pricing starts at $73,000 and the interfaces modules are priced between $27,000 to $180,000.  http://www.cisco.com
Cisco Systems, February 20, 2001

• Last month, Cisco outlined a four-point IP+Optical strategy that called for building optical interfaces into its core IP routers; integrating IP technology into its optical products; developing an integrated network management framework across IP and optical network layers; and developing a unified, IP-based optical control plane that uses industry standard protocols.
  
• Recent product introductions included two new Cisco 12000 core Internet router models supporting OC-192 interfaces; and a new Cisco ONS 15327 metro edge platform designed for transporting data, SONET/SDH services and DWDM wavelengths directly from access rings to the customer premises.  The Cisco ONS 15327 chassis offers four slots supporting TDM, IP or ATM services over OC-12, OC-48 or 4-port 10/100 Mbps Ethernet line cards.  

CISCO SYSTEMS INTRODUCES LONG-REACH ETHERNET OVER VOICE GRADE COPPER
Cisco Systems announced a Long-Reach Ethernet (LRE) technology capable of delivering voice, video and data services at 5-15 Mbps (symmetric) over existing telephone wire at distances up to 5,000 feet (1,524m).  Applications could include multi-tenant apartment and office buildings.  The system could work on the same wire pair as Plain Old Telephone Service (POTS), digital telephone traffic and ISDN, and is compatible with ADSL.  Cisco is planning a number of Long-Reach Ethernet products, including a 12-port or 24-port switch based on its Catalyst 2900 switching system, and a customer premise device that is expected to list for $280.  It will also offer a 48-port POTS splitter for installations where the PBX system is onsite and POTS traffic must co-exist over the same telephone line.  http://www.cisco.com
Cisco Systems, February 20, 2001

360NETWORKS TO ACQUIRE NETRAIL
360networks plans to acquire NetRail a Tier 1 wholesale IP service provider, in an all-stock transaction.  Financial terms were not disclosed.  NetRail serves more than 150 customers and has private and public peering agreements with all Tier 1 Internet backbone providers.  The company is based in Atlanta.  360networks said the acquisition would accelerate its entry into the IP services market.  http://www.360networks.com
360networks, February 20, 2001

• NetRail has a leased backbone of OC3 and DS3 trunks spanning 50 POPs across the US.  The network uses Lucent's CBX-500 ATM switches and Juniper Networks' M-40 routers running Packet over SONET (POS) with MPLS and multicasting.
  
• Last June, NetRail raised $50 million from UBS Capital Americas and Summit Capital Group to expand its infrastructure.  

BROADCOM SHIPS SINGLE-CHIP SOLUTION FOR OC-48 LINE CARDS
Broadcom introduced a 0.18-micron CMOS transceiver that integrates all of the electronics required for an entire SONET OC-48 line card.  The integration of core transceiver technology with over a million gates of digital logic provides an 80% reduction in power and a 90% savings in board space compared to competitive multi-chip Gallium Arsenide, Bipolar or Silicon Germanium solutions.  The product was developed for a major optical networking OEM.   http://www.broadcom.com
Broadcom, February 20, 2001

GTRAN DEVELOPS INDIUM PHOSPHIDE (INP) PROCESS FOR 40 GBPS SILICON
GTRAN announced an Indium Phosphide (InP) process technology that could be used to manufacture 40 Gbps (OC-768) SONET devices.  The new process technology is run on 100mm wafers utilizing automated wafer fabrication techniques that are compatible with standard Gallium Arsenide (GaAs) production steps.  http://www.gtran.com
GTRAN, February 20, 2001

AURA NETWORKS EXTENDS ITS METRO ETHERNET PLATFORM TO 200KM
Aura Networks introduced products capable of extending single mode optical Ethernet up to 200km for 100 Mbps connections and up to 70km for Gigabit Ethernet connections.  The "Optical Extenders" are available as a stand-alone unit or a plug-in interface line card for Aura's chassis-based switch.  http://www.auranetinc.com
Aura Networks, February 20, 2001

• In January, Aura Networks unveiled a metropolitan optical Ethernet system that uses a unique “IP Stealth” protocol for providing carrier-class monitoring and management capabilities.  Aura leverages an Ethernet inter-frame coding technique that takes advantage of the 12-byte Inter-Packet Gap to create a quasi-inband management channel.  The Stealth IP protocol is a fixed length packet of 6 bytes, which is used to issue commands or gather statistics. The Stealth IP packet remains invisible to OSI Layers 2 and above, and because of its 6-byte size it has a higher tolerance to signal noise than traditional SNMP packets.  Aura Networks describes its Ethernet Stealth IP as providing a similar function to the SONET DCC channel.  
  
• Aura's Radiance Optical Ethernet System consists of a Central Service Platform capable of provisioning Ethernet in one Mbps increments up to a gigabit, a customer premise service switch, and an element and service provisioning management system. 

RIVERSTONE ADDS BURST-SAFE RATE LIMITING CAPABILITY TO METRO OPTICAL PLATFORM
Riverstone Networks released new operating system software that enables its RS family of switches and routers to provide Burst-Safe rate limiting capabilities.  The capability would allow service providers to offer tiered prices for guaranteed traffic rates while still accommodating the bursty nature of IP traffic.  http://www.riverstonenet.com/news/press/20010220.shtml
Riverstone Networks, February 20, 2001

CABLE & WIRELESS TO RESELL ART'S FIXED WIRELESS ACCESS
Cable & Wireless agreed to resell Advanced Radio Telecom's (ART's) broadband fixed wireless services in select metro areas.  ART's BroadStream access service provides 100 Mbps connectivity for $1,000 a month.  http://www.ipsp.com/
ART, February 20, 2001

• ART recently reported that more than 80 customers had signed up for its BroadStream access since the service became commercially available on January 9, 2001.

IBM AND CISCO ALLIANCE TARGETS CAMPUS MOBILE WIRELESS SOLUTIONS
IBM and Cisco Systems are working together to develop a mobile wireless solution that would enable enterprises to operate campus-based wireless services that integrate with public wireless networks.  The campus wireless solution would allow mobile employees on a 2G/GSM-enabled campus to maintain connections to corporate wireless voice and data services.  http://www.cisco.com
Cisco Systems, February 20, 2001

HYBRID NETWORKS INTRODUCES MULTIPLE-MODULATION SYSTEM FOR NEAR LINE OF SIGHT MMDS
Hybrid Networks introduced a new single-carrier, multiple-modulation system that supports near-line-of-sight deployments in MMDS broadband wireless networks.  Hybrid's new ThruWAVE router uses QPSK, 16 QAM and 64 QAM modulation schemes and interleaving options to improve system capacity and allow a 20% to 40% increase in subscriber bases.  The headend unit of the system uses a new downstream modulator card to manage the multiple modulation schemes and interleaving options.  A new customer premise router uses Conexant's InfoSurge broadband modem integrated chip, which further reduces multipath interference and supports multiple modulations.  The ThruWAVE router also features a USB connector instead of an Ethernet port, thereby simplifying installation for the end-user. http://www.hybrid.com/investor/19a-Feb-2001.htm
Hybrid Networks, February 20, 2001

• Separately, Hybrid Networks entered into an agreement with a fund of The Palladin Group LP that will provide the company with up to $15 million in cash to fund future operations.
  
• Hybrid Networks supplies Sprint with fixed wireless access modems and router products for its MMDS broadband wireless access networks.

NORTEL NETWORKS' CTO STEPS DOWN
Mr. Bill Hawe, chief technology officer of Nortel Networks, resigned his position on February 12, 2001. In conjunction with his resignation, Mr. Hawe exercised approximately 602,000 options at that time and sold the related shares.  The resignation was noted in a Nortel Networks statement regarding recent activity in the company's key contributor stock option program. http://www.nortelnetworks.com/corporate/news/newsreleases/2001a/02_20_0101138_sop.html
Nortel Networks, February 20, 2001

• Bill Hawe played a key role in the Digital/Intel/Xerox project that brought the original 10 Megabit-per-second Ethernet to market.  Hawe joined Nortel Networks in 1998 at the time of the merger with Bay Networks, where he was vice president of architecture.
  
• On February 15th, Nortel Networks trimmed its growth forecasts for the remainder of the year, saying that it is experiencing longer than expected spending delays from its US customers and that it now expects the slowdown to continue well into the fourth quarter of 2001. 

BIGBANGWIDTH DEVELOPS NANOMACHINING TECHNOLOGY FOR OPTICAL NETWORKING
BigBangwidth, a start-up based in Edmonton, Canada, raised $3 million in first round funding for development of nanomachining technology for optical networking.  The investment comes from TechnoCap Inc. The company said its optical chip is based on massively parallel, fully redundant Optical Cores embedded in single crystal silicon.  Its initial Optical Chip will manage 32x32 fibers and is scalable to 256x256 fibers.   http://www.bigbangwidth.com/
BigBangwidth, February 20, 2001