MICROSOFT AND NTT PLAN ADSL-ENABLED XBOX SERVICE FOR JAPAN
Microsoft and NTT announced a strategic alliance to establish a dedicated online gaming service in Japan that connects Microsoft's forthcoming Xbox video game system over ADSL connections.  NTT Communications Corp., Japan's leading telecommunications company, will provide Microsoft with access to ADSL through OCN's broadband services. Microsoft's Xbox Division in Japan will co-manage the build-out of the online gaming service.  The companies will also explore the use of direct fiber connections and speeds up to 100 Mbps.   http://www.ntt.com/NEWS_RELEASE_E/news01/0003/0329.html
NTT, March 29, 2001

VOCALTEC/FUJITSU SUPPLY VOIP FOR NTT'S ARCSTAR VPN
VocalTec Communications and its distributor Fujitsu Business Systems Ltd. are supplying VoIP technology for NTT Communications' ARCSTAR VPN.  The service provides corporate customers with a "virtual" private VOIP network.  Financial terms were not disclosed.  http://www.vocaltec.com
Vocaltec, March 29, 2001

AT&T LATIN AMERICA OBTAINS $300 MILLION IN VENDOR CREDITS
AT&T Latin America announced $300 million in secured, long-term equipment financing from its key vendors, including Cisco Systems, Lucent Technologies and Nortel Networks.  As part of the deal, ATTL will commit to make equipment purchases from these vendors in proportion to their respective financing commitments.  Some of the vendors have given approvals to provide larger commitments in exchange for larger purchases.  http://www.attla.com
AT&T Latin America, March 29, 2001

NET2000 AWARDS $165 MILLION PACKET/OPTICAL CONTRACT TO NORTEL NETWORKS
Net2000 Communications, a CLEC serving the eastern US, awarded a three year US$165 million contract to Nortel Networks to supply a complete packet telephony solution including Nortel Networks Passport multiservice switches and gateways, Nortel Networks Succession communications servers, Nortel Networks OPTera Metro optical solutions, and professional services.  The network will be used to deliver integrated voice, video and data services to medium-to-large enterprise customers.  http://www.nortelnetworks.com/corporate/news/newsreleases/2001a/03_29_0101223_net2000.html
Nortel Networks, March 29, 2001

• Net2000 reported $62 million in revenue for 2000, and 115,000 access lines in service as of December 2000.
• Nortel Networks is an investor in Net2000.

NET2000 RAISES $190 MILLION IN ADDITIONAL CAPITAL
Net2000 Communications, a publicly traded CLEC, raised $190 million in additional financing to fund its current business plan.  The new financing includes a $65 million private placement of convertible preferred stock, and a firm commitment for a $125 million increase in an existing senior secured credit facility.  The funds will be used to deploy dark fiber metropolitan rings, next generation softswitches, optronics and other network equipment.  Net2000 says that this expansion will move its network closer to its current, large business customers and reduce its dependence on Verizon and BellSouth to connect customers to its network.  The company expects deployment to begin in Washington and Baltimore before the end of the year.  Investors include Boston Ventures, BancBoston Capital, The Carlyle Group, PNC Equity and Nortel Networks.  http://www.net2000.com/investors/releasesfs.html
Net2000, March 29, 2001

FLAG TELECOM PURCHASES EUROPEAN DARK FIBER FROM KPNQWEST
FLAG Telecom has purchased dark fiber and co-location facilities from KPNQwest to extend its global IP network into major European business centers.  The fiber ring architecture will initially reach Amsterdam, Brussels, Dusseldorf, Frankfurt, Geneva, London, Madrid, Milan, Paris and Zurich.  Financial terms were not disclosed.  http://www.flagtelecom.com/index_e1.htm
FLAG Telecom, March 29, 2001

3GPP ADOPTS SYNCML FOR 3G MOBILE SYNCHRONIZATION
The 3rd Generation Partnership Project (3GPP) has adopted SyncML as the protocol for future mobile data synchronization services.  The protocol provides a standardized means of information exchange between a wide range of mobile devices.  The SyncML initiative was backed by Ericsson, IBM, Lotus, Matsushita, Motorola, Nokia, Palm, Psion, Starfish Software and is supported by over 600 companies.  http://press.nokia.com/PR/200103/814380_5.html
Nokia, March 29, 2001

• The SyncML specification version 1.0 is available online at http://www.syncml.org/
• The 3GPP Partnership Project is preparing globally applicable technical specifications for a 3G mobile system based on the evolved GSM core networks and the radio access technologies supported by its partners.  3GPP includes the Association of Radio Industries and Businesses (Japan), the China Wireless Telecommunication Standard, the European Telecommunications Standards Institute (ETSI), Committee T1 (USA), the Telecommunications Technology Association (Korea), and the Telecommunication Technology Committee (Japan).  http://www.3gpp.org/

NEWSOUTH COMMUNICATIONS COMPLETES SS7 NETWORK
NewSouth Communications, an integrated communications carrier based in South Carolina, completed the buildout and implementation of its Signaling System 7 (SS7) network.  NewSouth uses Cisco Systems' packet-based switches and Lucent's AnyMedia 5ESS-2000 switches.  http://www.newsouth.com
NewSouth Communications, March 29, 2001

SHAW REPORTS HIGHEST QUARTERLY GROW RATE FOR CABLE MODEM SERVICE
During the past quarter, Canada's Shaw Communications added 54,600 subscriber to its Shaw@Home cable modem service, bringing its total of connected and scheduled installations to 400,630.  The figures represent Shaw's highest quarterly growth rate so far.  Shaw's two-way cable network currently passes 2,225,591 homes, giving Shaw@Home an 18% penetration rate.  http://www.shaw.ca
Shaw, March 29, 2001

WIND AZIENDE SELECTS EXTREME FOR ETHERNET METRO NETWORKS
WIND Aziende, a start-up telecom provider, selected Extreme Networks as a strategic partner for building Gigabit Ethernet metro networks in Italy.  Financial terms were not disclosed.  Extreme Networks recently announced a similar agreement with Ericsson and Swedish telecommunication provider Telia to build an all-Ethernet network in Sweden.  http://www.windaziende.it/  http://www.extremenetworks.com/
Extreme Networks, March 29, 2001

TERABURST RAISES $32.4 MILLION FOR OPTICAL SWITCHING AND TRANSMISSION
TeraBurst, a start-up based in Sunnyvale, California, raised $32.4 million in third round funding, bringing total financing to $51.4 million since it was founded in January 2000.  The company is developing scalable, high-bandwidth switching and transmission solutions for next-generation optical networks.  Investors include Tyco Ventures, Raza Ventures, Merrill Lynch Ventures LLC, Labrador Ventures and Satwik Fund.  http://www.teraburst.com
TeraBurst, March 29, 2001

• TeraBurst is led by Ashok Jain, who previously was the founder and CEO of Internet Devices Inc., a developer of high-performance, data policy management systems, now a division of Alcatel.
• TeraBurst is developing a waveform switching technology that combines the benefits of OEO and OOO cross-connect technologies.