WAVESMITH NETWORKS TARGETS NEXT GENERATION MULTISERVICE SWITCHING
WaveSmith Networks, a start-up based in Acton, MA, announced plans for a next generation multiservice switch supporting ATM, Frame Relay, TDM/CES and IP services.  Whereas most carrier ATM switches being deployed today are 2-3 technology cycles old, WaveSmith’s platform will be built around a distributed optical backplane that scales to 320 Gbps and hundreds of ports in a single node.  By using integrated components and miniaturized connector technology, WaveSmith plans to deliver a 600% capacity-to-footprint improvement over incumbent products.  Its solution will use a high-speed serial core fabric that is agnostic to services and protocols, including ATM, Frame Relay, TDM, IP and optical lambda.  The architecture will also feature an Open Call Model that collapses the control plane so that any service connection can be controlled natively through the transport fabric, effectively enabling flow-through provisioning that ties in directly with a carrier’s existing network management system.  Other planned innovations include an operating system that runs all software processes in separate protected memory regions.  A micro kernel OS architecture will allow in-service upgrades/downgrades without affecting user traffic.  WaveSmith estimates the market for multiservice switching equipment is currently at $6 billion annually, yet the company notes that there has been little innovation in this segment since the mid-1990s.  http://www.wavesmithnetworks.com
WaveSmith Networks, February 26, 2001

• WaveSmith Networks was founded in March 2000 by Robert Dalias (formerly with Castle Networks, acquired by Unisphere Solutions), John O'Hara (a member of the start-up team at New Oak Communications, acquired by Bay Networks), Chad Dunn (a member of the start-up team at Omnia, acquired by Ciena), Jim Philippou (a founder at New Oak), Gary Styskal (formerly with Cabletron/Enterasys), Abe Schryer (Ennovate Networks) and Andrea Carr-Evans (Unisphere Solutions).
  
• WaveSmith has raised $23.5 million in funding to date.  Key investors include Atlas Ventures, Bessemer Venture Partners, Commonwealth Capital, Comdisco Ventures, GATX Ventures and Silicon Valley Bank.

SIGMA NETWORKS RAISES $435 MILLION FOR METROPOLITAN AREA INTERCONNECT NETWORK
Sigma Networks, a start-up service provider backed by former FCC Chairman Reed Hundt, Marc Andreessen, Cisco Systems and a number of venture capital firms, announced its intention to build a “a free trade zone between network providers and bandwidth purchasers.”  Sigma Networks plans to offer wholesale optical links interconnecting Internet backbones, data centers, traffic aggregation points, and last mile broadband service providers within metropolitan markets.  The new company has raised $435 million in equity and debt financing.  Sigma Networks is based in San Jose, California.
http://www.sigmanetworks.com
Sigma Networks, February 23, 2001

• Sigma Networks is headed by John Peters (CEO), who formerly served as Executive Vice President for Concentric Network Corporation from 1995 through 1999.  It network engineering team includes Bill Euske (formerly a cofounder of NorthPoint Communications), Scott Young (formerly VP of Network Implementation at AT&T Canada), and Bob Decker (formerly Senior VP for Network Systems Engineering at MCI WorldCom).

TYCOM TO INCREASE CAPACITY OF FORTHCOMING TRANSATLANTIC NETWORK
TyCom will more than double the capacity of its forthcoming transatlantic cable network in anticipation of strong demand.  TyCom said major bandwidth customers are requesting protected wavelengths and higher STM-level capacity increments, rather than the lesser STM-1 circuits. The transatlantic portion of the TyCom Global Network (TGN) is scheduled to enter service in July 2001.  Initial capacity will be 256 Gbps, however Tycom anticipates an upgrade to 560 Gbps will be complete in the first half of 2002.  The cable is scalable to 2.56 Tbps.  Tycom also announced that all aspects of the global network build out are on or ahead of schedule, including cable system deployment, colocation and cable station facility construction and fit-out, and all associated permits and licenses.  Thus far, more than one million square feet of TyCom TelExchange space is being built or is under lease in over a dozen major cities, including New York, London, Paris, Amsterdam, Frankfurt, Hamburg and Groningen.   http://www.tycomltd.com
TyCom, February 23, 2001

• Tyco International, TyCom's parent company, announced its intention to build and operate its own undersea global fiber network In January 2000.  Phase 1 of the TyCom Global Network will offer multi-terabit capacity up to 7.68 Tbps over an integrated system spanning 70,000 undersea kilometers and connecting more than 35 cities. The Transpacific network is expected to enter service in mid-2002.  
  

• In September, the new TyCom Global Network acquired rights to dark fiber on Viatel's Pan-European Network.  
  

• Tyco International acquired AT&T's Submarine Systems division in 1997.  The company operates a fleet of ships for laying communication cables for international telecom carriers.

NTT DOCOMO AND SEGA TO COMBINE I-MODE AND VIDEO GAMES
NTT DoCoMo and SEGA are jointly developing a new service that combines NTT DoCoMo's i-mode phone and video arcade game machines equipped with SEGA's "NAOMI" arcade board. The service will fuse game machines at SEGA's own video arcade facilities, i-mode phones and home video game consoles.  SEGA owns and operates video game arcades throughout Japan.   http://www.nttdocomo.com/new/contents/01/whatnew0220.html
NTT DoCoMo, February 21, 2001

• NTT DoCoMo currently serves over 34 million mobile subscribers.  As of February 18, the number of i-mode subscribers exceeded 19.4 million.

DEUTSCHE TELEKOM TO SELL SIX REMAINING CABLE NETWORKS
Klesch & Company, a London based equity firm, and Liberty Media Corp. agreed to acquire the remaining broadband cable assets of Deutsche Telekom in Germany.  The total number of homes connected in these regions is over 10 million.
http://www.telekom.de/dtag/presse/artikel/0,1018,x1084,00.html
Deutsche Telekom, February 23, 2001

LUCENT TECHNOLOGIES SECURES $6.5 BILLION IN CREDIT FACILITIES
Lucent Technologies successfully obtained $6.5 billion in credit facilities needed to replace existing financing that expired February 22.  The funds were arranged by J. P. Morgan and Salomon Smith Barney.   http://www.lucent.com/press/0201/010223.coa.html
Lucent, February 23, 2001

METRICOM CEO AND CHAIRMAN RESIGNS
Metricom announced the resignation of Timothy Dreisbach from his position as the company's CEO and Chairman of the Board.   http://www.metricom.com/news_events/media_center/press_releases/2001/news010221.html
Metricom, February 21, 2001

• Earlier this month, Metricom issued a statement in which it acknowledged a need for new financing, but denied that it is currently in the process of "shutting down" its Ricochet mobile access service.  The company has halted further network building.
  

• Metricom uses a unique MicroCellular Data Network architecture that uses intelligent routing and “pole-top” radios mounted to streetlight or utility poles.  The company recently has been upgrading its always-on connectivity service to 128 kbps in the major US cities in which it operates.  
  

• Metricom’s total subscriber count at December 31, 2000 was 34,000, including 21,800 subscribers for its 28.8 kbps service and 12,200 subscribers of its newly launched 128 kbps service.
  

• In October 1999, MCI WorldCom and Vulcan Ventures each agreed to invest $300 million in Metricom to support the rollout of its Ricochet 128 kbps mobile data service in major markets across the US.