• The BellSouth MIX will provide ATM-based public peering capability at DS-3, OC-3c, and OC-12c rates.  Private Peering connections may be created using Optical/SONET/TDM connections.  BellSouth will also offer private peering channelization and grooming capabilities that allow a customer to order a single MIX port connection at very high speed and their peering partners to order MIX Port connections at lower speeds.
• Phase 2 services, which are expected to be available later in 2001, will include MPLS, wide area Gigabit Ethernet public and private peering, transit services and customer network management of peering services.
• The BellSouth MIX includes hardware components and fiber routes from Cisco Systems, Sycamore Networks and FPL FiberNet.  BellSouth worked with its partners, UUNET, IWC, Qwest and Broadwing/ICI and others to design the NAP.

CABLE & WIRELESS SELECTS ALCATEL’S 7670 RSP FOR CONVERGED ATM/IP/MPLS CORE
Cable & Wireless has selected Alcatel's carrier class 7670 Routing Switch Platform (RSP) to consolidate its global data network onto a converged IP/MPLS core.  The companies have jointly led efforts in the standards bodies to define application-enabling mediation of ATM with MPLS.  Cable & Wireless already uses Alcatel 7470s as an ATM backbone throughout its global network, and in January, the carrier awarded Alcatel a multimillion-dollar contract to build and maintain a DWDM network across the Atlantic.  Financial terms were not disclosed.  http://www.alcatel.com/vpr/?body=/latestnews/25062001uk 
Alcatel, June 26, 2001

• The Alcatel 7670 Routing Switch Platform (RSP) is designed to scale from 50 Gbps to 450 Gbps in aggregate capacity while supporting interface speeds of OC-3c/STM-1 to OC-192c/STM-64.  The platform will feature dual control planes for IP/MPLS and ATM.  All components will be redundant, including control, fabric, power, cooling, management interfaces and line interfaces, and could be replaced or upgraded without service impact.  All mission-critical processes will also be 1+1 hot redundant, including PNNI routing and ATM call processing.
• Alcatel has previously announced 7670 RSP design wins with TELUS and BT.

CABLE & WIRELESS DEPLOYS XACCT’S USAGE-BASED BILLING PLATFORM
Cable & Wireless has standardized on XACCT's real-time "Network-to-Business" software platform to support multiple services around the world, including its Business Dial, Global Dial, web hosting and Virtual ISP offerings.  The XACCT platform enables Cable & Wireless to collect data from multiple network sources for usage-based billing.  The XACCT N2B platform will feed this data into Cable & Wireless' existing Kenan Arbor Billing system.  Financial terms were not disclosed.  http://www.xacct.com 
XACCT, June 26, 2001

• Separately, XACCT announced a set of usage tracking platforms tailored for managed hosting providers, mobile data service providers, VoIP telephony providers, and data-over-cable operators.

MSN CHOOSES LEVEL 3 FOR IP BACKBONE SERVICES
Level 3 Communications announced a three year contract to provide its (3)CrossRoads Internet access service in North America for six properties in the MSN network of Internet services, including MSN Hotmail and MSN Messenger.  Combined, MSN Internet properties serve more than 230 million unique users worldwide.  The deal covers an initial service target of 3 Gbps of Level 3’s backbone capacity.  MSN’s total combined traffic capacity is 10 Gbps.  http://www.level3.com/us/news/newsreleases/1,1345,2001Jun26-5493,00.html
Level 3, June 26, 2001

EXARIO NETWORKS OFFERS USERS A VIRTUAL NETWORK OPERATIONS CENTER
Exario Networks, a managed IP services provider based in Parsippany, New Jersey, launched a dynamic network management and performance visibility tool for its IP VPNs.  The proprietary, web-based, virtualNOC (virtual Network Operations Center) tool allows users to manage their IP routing and firewall policies, handle dynamic assignment and configuration of CLASS 5 voice features, and provision and de-provision endpoints.  The system also provides real-time network monitoring and historical performance data to give customers a means of measuring actual network performance against their SLAs.  http://www.exario.net 
Exario Networks, June 26, 2001

• In February, Exario Networks raised $31.5 million in new funding to continue its nationwide network build-out and to advance the marketing and execution of managed VPN services for enterprise clients.  Exario has contracts with Soros Fund Management, Donaldson, Lufkin & Jenrette (DLJ) (now CS First Boston), SG Capital Partners, ABS, Prudential and others.

BRIGHTLINKS TESTS OPTICAL SWITCH IN VALIANT NETWORKS’ LAB
BrightLink Networks has tested its new BOSS 1000 optical switch in Valiant Networks’ lab.  BrightLink’s massively scalable switch supports grooming and switching at the STS-1 level and could scale to as many as 1024 ports of OC48.  Valiant Networks provides expert testing, validation and qualification for the most advanced telecommunications equipment.  The testing served as a prelude to actual carrier trials, which are now underway.  http://www.valiantnet.com 
Valiant Networks, June 26, 2001

• Valiant was founded in March 2000 by Wayne Price, formerly CTO at Williams Communications; Vijay Lewis, formerly Director of Data Technologies and Architecture at Williams Communications; Mohammed Shanableh, formerly Director of OSS Integration and Voice Architecture at Williams Networks; and Dr. Mark Allen, formerly Director of Optical Networking at Williams Communications.  Valiant is based in San Jose, CA.

CIELO RELEASES PARALLEL VCSEL-BASED 1310 NM ARRAY MODULES
Cielo Communications announced the availability of parallel optical array modules based on Vertical Cavity Surface Emitting Lasers (VCSEL) for use in SONET/OC-48 applications, including dense optical networking equipment and optical backplane interconnects.  The 2.5 Gbps per channel VCSEL-based 1310 nm array modules are available in either 8 or 12 channel versions and are capable of transmitting data at aggregate speeds up to 20 Gbps (8-channel) or 30 Gbps (12-channel) over distances of up to 15 km.  Cielo said the 1310 nm array modules represent a disruptive technology required for the next generation of optical equipment.  The solution enable a reduction in power by at least 60 percent and a reduction in size up to 75 percent, as compared to current solution offerings.  http://www.cieloinc.com 
Cielo, June 26, 2001

WIND RIVER AND AGERE ANNOUNCE NETWORK PROCESSOR COLLABORATION
Wind River Systems and Agere Systems announced a cooperative development agreement to provide integrated hardware and software support for advanced routing and switching devices.  Specifically, the companies will make Wind River’s Tornado for Managed Switches (TMS 2.0) and other networking software available on Agere's family of network processors and switch fabrics.  The standard protocols required for Ethernet switches, IP routers, MPLS routers and ATM switches will be available on the Agere PayloadPlus network processor reference platforms.  http://www.lucent.com/press/0601/010625.mec.html
Agere, June 25, 2001

DIGILENS OBTAINS $14.5 MILLION LOAN FOR ACTIVE OPTICAL COMPONENT MANUFACTURING
DigiLens, a developer of active optical components, obtained a credit facility of $14.5 million from European Venture Partners, GATX Ventures, Transamerica Finance, Silicon Valley Bank and Finova Capital.  DigiLens has raised over $81 million in combined equity and debt funding to date.  The funds will be used for new capital equipment for a volume manufacturing line.  The company is based in Sunnyvale, California.  http://www.digilens.com 
DigiLens, June 24, 2001

• DigiLens leverages a patented Electrically Switchable Bragg Grating (ESBG) technology for use in a range of active fiber optic components, modules and subsystems, including multi-channel Variable Optical Attenuators, Dynamic Channel Equalizers, Optical Add/Drop Multiplexors and 2*2 switch arrays.

AGILENT INVESTS IN LAMBDA CROSSING FOR ITS SILICON-BASED OPTICAL COMPONENTS
Agilent Technologies made an equity investment in Lambda Crossing Ltd., an Israeli developer of next-generation silicon-based optical components for advanced communications systems.  Lambda Crossing raised $13 million in second round funding.  The amount of the Agilent investment was not disclosed.  Lambda Crossing is developing proprietary planar lightwave circuit components, including dynamic optical add/drop multiplexers, optical channel monitors and wavelength equalizers.  http://www.lambdax.com 
Agilent Technologies, June 26, 2001

EARTHLINK RAISES ITS MONTHLY DIAL-UP PRICES TO $21.95
Earthlink is raising the price of its unlimited Internet dial-up service to $21.95 per month. The price increase is the first in the company’s history.  Earthlink said the price hike was necessary to pay for infrastructure investments, equipment upgrades and service enhancements.  Earthlink has approximately 4.8 million subscribers.  http://www.earthlink.net/about/press/pr_price_hike/ 
Earthlink, June 26, 2001

CISCO OUTLINES SALES STRATEGY FOR BROADBAND ACCESS IN HOTELS, APARTMENTS AND CAMPUSES
Cisco Systems announced alliances with Getronics, HP, NCR and Unisys for deploying broadband access to multi-unit buildings.  The Cisco solution will combine an in-building service creation software platform with various access technologies, including Ethernet-based products, Long-Reach Ethernet, wireless Ethernet and Fast/Gigabit Ethernet.  The Cisco Building Broadband Service Manager software supports plug-and-play guest and meeting room access, end user self-provisioning of services, customizable portal and advertising platforms and Web-based management, reporting and configuration.  http://www.cisco.com 
Cisco Systems, June 26, 2001