INTEL EXPANDS ITS OPTICAL SILICON PORTFOLIO
Intel introduced seven optical networking semiconductors that support ATM, Packet over SONET, packet over fiber and 10 Gigabit Ethernet.  The new products include:

• Two optical "digital wrapper" devices that encapsulate multiprotocol data at 10 Gbps rates.  The "forward error correction" (FEC) devices are capable of increasing distances spanned by 400% and use digital signal wrapping techniques defined by ITU-T G.709.
• A bandwidth manager device that ties into the FEC digital wrappers for management of network configurations and support of various service levels.  The device can be used as a stand-alone OC-192/STM 64 SONET/SDH OHT device as well as an OC-48 to OC-192 multiplexer, with STS 1 level cross connect granularity.
• A 10.0/10.7 Gbps multiplexer/demultiplexer chipset that allows two or more signals to pass over one communications circuit
• A 12.5 Gbps multiplexer/demultiplexer chipset for ultra-long-haul applications
• A 10.7 Gbps multiplexer/demultiplexer chipset for long-haul/metro applications
• A 10 Gbps limiting amplifier that drives laser photonics.  The device was developed by Intel's GIGA subsidiary.

Intel said the new optical products complement its line of silicon and software within the Intel Internet Exchange Architecture (Intel IXA).  http://www.intel.com/design/ixa/solutions/optical/index.htm
Intel, February 28, 2001

INTEL OUTLINES ITS NEXT-GENERATION WIRED AND WIRELESS
Intel outlined its two communication silicon architectures aimed at wired and wireless networking.  The Intel Internet Exchange Architecture (Intel IXA) provides programmable processors for network infrastructure equipment, as well as a range of optical silicon devices.  http://www.intel.com/design/ixa/

The Intel Personal Internet Client Architecture (Intel PCA) will include devices based on the Intel StrongARM processor and future processors using the Intel XScale microarchitecture for next generation wireless clients.  Intel also offers cellular baseband chipsets and high-speed flash memory for the communications market.  http://www.intel.com/design/wireless/
Intel, February 28, 2001

• Intel acquired LevelOne Communications in 1999, gaining its IXP1200 network processor, a reprogrammable device comprised of a StrongARM processor core and six programmable RISC packet processing micro controllers.  The device has been the flagship component of Intel's Internet Exchange Architecture and can be used in routers, switches and access concentrators.

ZETTACOM ANNOUNCES TDM SERVICE PROCESSOR FOR OC-192 CROSS-CONNECTS
ZettaCom, a start-up based in San Jose, California, introduced a TDM Service Processor designed to provide flexible virtual tributary handling for SONET/SDH OC-192/STM-64 applications down to STS-1 level granularity.  The ZEN-TSP implements a CSIX interface to transport data across any switch fabric that supports TDM scheduling.  It can be paired with any network processor, including ZettaCom's ZEST Hybrid Switch Fabric, to create an OC-192 Optical Cross-Connect with ADM capability.  The device is a component of ZettaCom's Universal Switch Architecture, which provides a core switching and protocol processing silicon solution for highly scalable, multi-service optical systems operating at full-duplex OC-192 wire speed.  ZettaCom expects to deliver its complete optical silicon product portfolio by the second half of 2001.  http://www.zettacom.com
ZettaCom, February 28, 2001

• ZettaCom’s Universal Switch Architecture for multiservice optical equipment consists of a "ZEST" switch fabric chipset and a "ZEN" packet processor.  ZettaCom’s "ZEST" multiservice switch fabric combines static circuit switching with dynamic packet switching.  It comprises two ICs, one that resides on a line card and supports line card speeds ranging from OC-12 to OC-192 (full duplex), and another IC for a separate switch card. The ZEN packet processor is a packet classification and forwarding engine that performs Layer 2-4 functionality at OC-192 line rates.  A ZEN - LSP label processor used in conjunction with the ZEN - QM traffic management chipset performs label classification and forwarding along with sophisticated buffer management and bandwidth control for MPLS and ATM protocols at OC-192 line rate.
• ZettaCom was co-founded by Daryn Lau, Chris Bergen and Bob Divivier, all formerly with Cisco Systems and previously StrataCom.  The company has received first round funding from Venrock Associates, Norwest Venture Partners and Mr. Wu-Fu Chen.

LOOKING GLASS NETWORKS RAISES $475 MILLION FOR METRO NETWORK BUILD-OUT
Looking Glass Networks raised an additional $275 million in debt capital to fund its metro optical network build-out plan, bringing its total funding to $475 million.  The company is building dense, fiber-count networks of 216 to 864 fiber cross-sections per cable in major US cities.  The network is designed for delivering SONET, Gigabit Ethernet and wavelength services in addition to dark fiber.  Major investors include Madison Dearborn Partners, Battery Ventures, J.P. Morgan, Salomon Smith Barney, Credit Suisse First Boston, Barclays Bank, Merrill Lynch and Deutsche Bank.  http://www.lglass.net
Looking Glass Networks, February 28, 2001

• In November, Looking Glass Networks ordered several hundred thousand kilometers of Corning's MetroCor fiber.  Phase I of Looking Glass' networks will be completed over the next 18 months within the nation's 10 largest metropolitan areas.
• Looking Glass is led by Lynn E. Refer, who formerly served as Senior Vice President of Network Planning and Engineering at MCI WorldCom.  Refer previously was Senior Vice President of Development for MFS Communications.

SIGMA SIGNS MAJOR CUSTOMERS FOR METRO OPTICAL CONNECTIVITY
Newly launched Sigma Networks named major customers for its optical Metropolitan Area Interconnect Network (MAIN) connectivity service, including AOL, Cable & Wireless, Enron, Telia Internet, Covad, PSINet, Universal Access, 360 Networks and Broadwing.  Sigma already has a network operational in the Washington, D.C. area and expects its network in the San Francisco Bay area to go live during Q2.  Sigma Network MAINs will be located in major Internet interconnection exchanges such as Equinix.  One or two switching centers and fifteen to thirty points of presence (POPs) will be deployed in each market.  Sigma Networks’ MAINLink service includes OC-3, OC-12, OC-48 and OC-192 SONET-compatible circuits, MAINStream is the company’s Gigabit Ethernet Layer 2 Transport service, and MAINLight provides protected or unprotected wavelengths.  http://www.sigmanetworks.com/pressrelease_012802.htm  
Sigma Networks, February 28, 2001

• Earlier this week, Sigma Networks announced $435 million in equity and debt financing.  Backers include former FCC Chairman Reed Hundt, Marc Andreessen, Cisco Systems and a number of venture capital firms.
• Sigma Networks is headed by John Peters (CEO), who formerly served as Executive Vice President for Concentric Network Corporation from 1995 through 1999.  Its 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). 

MET INITIATIVE RELEASES SPECIFICATIONS FOR SECURE MOBILE TRANSACTIONS
MeT, an initiative sponsored by Ericsson, Motorola, Nokia, Panasonic, Siemens and Sony, released its first set of specifications for mobile e-commerce.  The specifications draw on existing industry standards such as Wireless Application Protocol (WAP), Wireless Transport Layer Security (WTLS), Wireless Identification Module (WIM), Public Key Infrastructure (PKI) and Bluetooth.  The specifications can be downloaded free of charge at the MeT website.  http://www.mobiletransaction.org/pressreleases/february27.html
Mobile Electronic Transactions Initiative, February 27, 2001

NORTEL NETWORKS TUNES DSLAM FOR IN-BUILDING NETWORKS, SMALL CO'S
Nortel Networks introduced a new version of its Universal Edge IMAS DSLAM designed to extend DSL beyond the central office to the in-building market, as well as to outside plant environments.   The IMAS Remote is a compact, carrier-class broadband access system for deployment in multi-tenant environments, remote terminals or small central offices.  The product supports multiple DSL transmission types and features ATM functionality for quality of service (QoS) connectivity.  Several packaging options are available, including wall and rack mountings for maximum installation flexibility at the customer premise.  http://www.nortelnetworks.com/corporate/news/newsreleases/2001a/02_28_0101113_ue_imas.html
Nortel Networks, February 28, 2001

• In January 2000, Nortel Networks acquired Promatory Communications, developer of an Intelligent Multiservice Access System (IMAS) aggregator that combines multiple DSL transmission types with ATM switching.  At the time, the acquisition was valued at up to US$778 million in Nortel Networks common shares.

PANGEA NETWORK GOES LIVE IN NORTHERN EUROPE
The Pangea Network entered commercial service across 11,500 km throughout Northern Europe, Scandinavia and the Baltic Region.  The $470 million terrestrial and submarine fiber-optic cable system links London, Amsterdam, Paris, Dusseldorf, Frankfurt, Munich, Berlin, Hamburg, Copenhagen, Malmo, Stockholm, Gothenburg, Oslo, Helsinki and Tallin.  http://www.pangea.bm
Pangea, February 28, 2001

• The Pangea Network system is configured as self-healing submarine and terrestrial rings with an initial capacity of 160 Gbps, upgradeable to 60 X 10 Gbps.

AT&T BROADBAND AND CHARTER COMMUNICATIONS EXCHANGE CABLE SUBSCRIBERS
AT&T Broadband and Charter Communications agreed to several cable-system transactions that will result in a net addition of about 512,000 customers for Charter.  The exchanges enable the companies to gain operational and technical efficiencies by clustering their subscription bases into proximate geographic areas.  For its net gain in subscribers, Charter will pay $1.04 billion in cash, $500 million in stock and $249 million worth of cable systems in Florida.  http://www.att.com/press/item/0,1354,3685,00.html
AT&T, February 28, 2001

3COM ISSUES PROFIT WARNING, CITES MARKET CONDITIONS AND LOWER MARGINS FOR BROADBAND MODEMS
3Com said revenues and earnings for its current fiscal quarter are expected to be substantially lower than previously targeted.  3Com now believes that revenues will be in the range of $625 to $640 million.  The company attributed its sales shortfall primarily to US economic conditions and the continuing impact of the slowdown in the telecom sector.  However, 3Com also cited eroding prices and margins for its consumer broadband modem business, and higher costs attributable to fixed manufacturing charges being spread across lower production volumes.  http://www.3com.com/news/releases/pr01/feb2801a.html
3Com, February 28, 2001