ARTEL ANNOUNCES ATM-ENABLED MPEG TRANSPORT OVER DSL
Artel, a supplier of video networking systems to cable
TV operators and telecom service providers, introduced a
video switch designed to transport MPEG digital television
services from satellite downlinks and video servers over ATM
networks, through DSLAMs and directly to DSL subscribers.
Artel’s CopperTV approach is to place live MPEG video
streams directly over existing ATM facilities rather than
layering streaming video over IP. ATM multicasting
(point-to-multipoint) can be used to deliver the video
content to multiple DSLAMs from a central location. The
CopperTV switch has the ability to accept DVB-ASI
multiprogram and single program transport stream (MPTS and
SPTS) content and can re-multiplex selected programs into a
single-program transport stream for distribution across an
ATM network to a DSLAM. It can accept variable and constant
bit rate traffic for output as a constant bit rate stream
while providing a high degree of jitter management to ensure
DVB compliance. Artel’s core technology is an MPEG-aware
L3-7 switch built in hardware and designed to handle the
routing, switching and transport of multi-Mbps video
services in real-time. At the subscriber end, a DSL
connected set-top box could be used to enable interactive TV
with video quality-levels surpassing standard cable
service. Target customers for Artel’s CopperTV include
incumbent carriers with ATM/DSL networks, however the
technology is network adaptable for IP/MPLS architectures.
The platform will be demonstrated at the upcoming SuperComm
tradeshow.
http://www.artel.tv/
Artel, May 29, 2001
SNOWSHORE NETWORKS TARGETS NEXT GENERATION MEDIA SERVER
Snowshore
Networks, a start-up based in
Chelmsford, Massachusetts, announced plans to offer a media
server for delivering enhanced voice applications
that integrate Web content and real-time interactive
communications. In a converged
voice/packet network, Snowshore’s carrier class media server
would work in conjunction with third party softswitches and
voice gateways. Its function would be to provide advanced
voice processing on thousands of individual, low-latency IP
voice streams while supporting SIP, VXML, RTP and other open
protocols. The goal would be to bridge the ubiquity
of the Web with the advanced, real-time voice services of
the telecom world. Examples of IP enhanced voice
applications could include advanced web conferencing,
voice-enabled network gaming or IP voice portals (similar to
TellMe but enabled over the Web). The company’s application
expertise includes network-based messaging, calling card
services, fax services and conferencing. Snowshore’s
product design plans call for a high-density, fully
redundant shelf based on a low-latency voice architecture.
Specific product plans have not yet been announced.
http://www.snowshore.com
May 29, 2001
- Snowshore Networks was
founded in May 2000 by Joel
Hughes and David Penny,
both former co-founders of ViaDSP and former
executives with Natural MicroSystems. Showshore’s
technical team is led by Eric Burger, former chief
scientist of ADC/Centigram Communications Corporation. The
company has raised $10.5 million in funding. Its
principal investors include
Matrix Partners and Charles River Ventures. “Snowshore”
refers to the name of a road on Cape Cod,
Massachusetts.
OVER
50
BILLION SMS TEXT MESSAGES IN Q1
Over 50 billion
SMS (Short Message Service) text messages were sent over the
world’s GSM networks in the first three months of 2001,
according to estimates from The GSM Association. In just
two years, the number of SMS messages sent worldwide has
grown from 1 billion messages per month (April 1999) to an
average of more than 16 billion messages per month in Q1
2001, up fivefold over the same period last year.
http://www.gsmworld.com/news/press_2001/press_releases_22.html
The GSM Association, May 25, 2001
CAIS INTERNET TO BECOME ARDENT COMMUNICATIONS, TURNS ON
MPLS
CAIS Internet, a broadband access provider to hotels
across the US, will change its name to Ardent Communications
and has reserved a new NASDAQ stock symbol, (NASDAQ: ARDT).
The company is a fully operational tier-one ISP, with a
nationwide broadband OC-12 and OC-3 network with 29 points
of presence (POPs) serving 38 major metropolitan areas
throughout the country. The network is now 100%
MPLS-enabled. Ardent also announced the acquisition and
successful transition of 1,947 PSINet customers to the CAIS
network.
http://www.cais.com/
CAIS Internet, May 29, 2001
- Last week, NASDAQ informed
CAIS Internet that its stock is subject to delisting
because the company was not in compliance with the net
tangible assets, market capitalization, market value of
public float and bid price requirements. Early this
month, CAIS named a new management team and reported a
revision of its business goals to focus on its high growth
ISP services model.
REDBACK NETWORKS TO ACQUIRE MERLIN FOR OPTICAL DESIGN
EXPERTISE
Redback Networks will acquire Merlin Systems, a
privately held company based in Fremont, California, for
approximately $57 million in common stock based upon
Redback's closing stock price on May 24 2001. Merlin
Systems has worked closely with Redback in the architecture
and subsequent customer trials of the recently announced
Redback SmartEdge 100 multi-service optical platform.
http://www.redback.com
Redback, May 25, 2001
QUANTUM BRIDGE
WITHDRAWS IPO
Quantum Bridge Communications withdrew its SEC
registration statement for an initial public offering of its
common stock. The company cited “adverse market conditions”
but said it intends to revisit the public markets when
conditions improve.
http://www.quantumbridge.com/
Quantum Bridge, May 25, 2001
- Quantum Bridge’s system
consists of a central office Optical Access Switch and a
customer premise Intelligent Optical Terminal (IOT). The
architecture uses a Dynamic Wavelength Slicing (DWS)
protocol to share a single wavelength delivering broadband
services among multiple end-points. Quantum Bridge’s IOT
initially supports 10/100BaseTx Ethernet and TDM, ATM and
Frame Relay DS1 (T1) service interfaces. Its Optical
Access Switch, which is located in a central office,
service node or head-end, can aggregate services from
hundreds of downstream IOTs. The switch is equipped with a
standard OC-12c WAN interface and a redundant 5 Gbps
(upgradeable to 20 Gbps) IP and ATM switching fabric. By
eliminating electrical components in the outside plant
with PON technology, Quantum Bridge expects to
significantly lower the cost of first mile fiber access.
The company is based in North Andover, MA.
FCC DATA SHOW CLECs MAKE IN-ROADS AMONG
LARGE BUSINESSES
The Federal Communications
Commission (FCC) has released a report with its latest data
on local telephone competition, as of December 31, 2000.
The report shows that Competitive Local Exchange Carrier (CLEC)
phone lines increased 97% during 2000, growing to 16.4
million total lines. CLECs have made their biggest inroads
into medium and large size businesses, which represent 59%
of all their lines. For Incumbent Local Exchange Carriers (ILECs),
medium and large size businesses make up 21% of their
lines. Despite the increases, ILECs still service 92% of
all US phone lines. Other highlights of the report include:
- The two
states with the largest number of CLEC lines are those in
which ILECs have won long distance approval: New York,
where CLECs have 2.8 million lines, and Texas, with 1.7
million lines. These states also represent the first and
fifth highest market share penetration rates for CLECs in
the nation. In New York, 20% of phone lines are supplied
by CLECs, while in Texas, 12% are from CLECs.
- Other
states with 10% or more of total lines supplied by CLECs
are: Minnesota, 15%; Louisiana, 14%; Kansas, 13%;
Massachusetts, 11%; Georgia, 10%; Illinois, 10%; Iowa 10%;
Pennsylvania, 10%.
- CLECs
served 35% of their customers through their own local loop
facilities.
- 1.1
million (7% of total) CLEC access lines are provided via
coaxial cable.
- Mobile
wireless telephone subscribers increased from 80 million
at the end of 1999 to 111 million as of December 31, 2000.
- 12.5
million households are located in areas which no CLECs
serve.
Conference Announcement
|
The
fifth Annual WDM Optical Networking Congress &
Exhibition
An
executive conference examining the evolution of
optical networking will be held 25-29 June at The Noga
Hilton hotel in Cannes, France.
The conference includes a multi-speaker
programme covering network architectures, the future
of SDH, ultra-long haul networks, the provisioning of
optical services, metropolitan optical systems,
optical Ethernet and optical storage solutions.
Additional
workshops on 25th June will provide a Layperson's
Guide to Optical Networking, a discussion of Terabit
Networking and a special session on Optical Ethernet.
Over 25 leading vendors will present their optical
networking solutions at the exhibition. The
conference is produced by
IIR Telecoms & Technology - London. Full
registration information is online.
http://www.iir-conferences.com/site/_prod-grp.cfm?DirName=CG1050WDM&ConfCode=CG1050&iv=23 |
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