YIPES ENHANCES REDUNDANCY OPTIONS FOR ITS METRO IP ACCESS
Yipes introduced redundancy capabilities for its optical IP access service.  The new Yipes TOUGH options include the choice of extending Yipes’ fiber ring architecture all the way to the customer premise by running fiber links through separate building entrances, conduits or splice points, which minimizes potential interruptions to network service caused by accidental fiber cuts.  Customers could also choose for Yipes to install a redundant, fully managed gigabit switch/router at the customer premise with redundant cables to the customer's own equipment.  Yipes TOUGH provides automatic fail-over from the primary switch or fiber link to the secondary one and offers automatic credits if this option fails to deliver 100% availability.  http://www.yipes.com
Yipes, July 10, 2001

JUNIPER FORMS IP OSS ALLIANCE FOR DEPLOYMENT, BILLING AND MANAGEMENT
Juniper Networks formed an IP OSS Alliance (IOA) with more than 20 third-party operations support system (OSS) vendors seeking to provide interoperable network management functionality for carrier networks.  The vendors offer new access and core network management functionality ranging from service planning, provisioning, and activation to invoicing, billing, and mediation.  A key attribute of the products is their use of a new, open extensible markup language (XML) API within Juniper’s JUNOS Internet software architecture.  Service Provisioning and Activation partners include Cplane, Dorado Software, Gold Wire Technology, Intelliden, Orchestream, and Syndesis.  Partners in Service Planning and Modeling include Longitude Systems and WANDL.  Problem Tracking and Fault Management partners include Aprisma, Micromuse, RiverSoft, and SMARTS.  Performance Reporting and Monitoring is handled by Arbor Networks, Asta Networks, Caimis, and InfoVista.  Service Level Monitoring and Data Collection is handled by Brix Networks, NARUS, and Quallaby.  Finally, Invoicing, Billing, and Mediation are managed by Digiquant and Tertio.  http://www.juniper.net/products/network_mgmt_ioa.html
Juniper Networks, July 10, 2001

VIAG INTERKOM AWARDS 3G CONTRACT TO NOKIA
Germany’s VIAG Interkom selected Nokia for the delivery of a complete 3G network, including packet core and circuit-switched core network elements and an Intelligent Network (IN) solution, as well as radio-access network equipment and professional services.  Initial phases of the contract are valued at approximately EUR 400 million.  Commercial activation is expected in Q1 2003.  http://www.nokia.com
Nokia, July 10, 2001

TOUCHAMERICA EXPANDS FRAME/ATM NETWORK ACROSS THE US
TOUCHAMERICA, the broadband service provider subsidiary of The Montana Power Company, announced a significant expansion of its data network to include 547 Frame Relay POPs and 137 ATM POPs.  The expansion gives TOUCHAMERICA a nationwide presence beyond its primarily Western footprint.  http://www.tamerica.com/
TOUCHAMERICA, July 10, 2001

DOMINION TELECOM DEPLOYS ALCATEL’S FIBER, DWDM AND SONET
Dominion Telecom is using Alcatel as its primary supplier for its optical network connecting Chicago, Cleveland, Detroit, Toledo, Pittsburgh, Harrisburg and Washington, D.C.  The deployment includes Alcatel's TeraLight cabled fibers, the Alcatel 1603 SMX SONET multi-service transport system and the long-haul Alcatel 1640 Optical Add-Drop Multiplexer (OADM) DWDM system.  Financial terms were not disclosed.  http://www.alcatel.com/vpr/?body=/latestnews/10072001_3uk
Alcatel, July 10, 2001

• In March, Dominion Telecom raised $516 million in cash and private placement of debt to fund the build-out of its network.
• Dominion Telecom is backed by Dominion, one of the largest producers of energy in the US with extensive assets in oil, natural gas and electricity.  Dominion has 7,600 miles of inter-state natural gas pipeline.  Dominion Telecom is expanding its current 35,000 fiber miles (3,600 route miles) to more than 800,000 fiber miles (9,000 route miles).  The carrier has previously announced fiber leases with Level3, Williams and Metromedia Fiber Network (MFN).

EPIK TO TEST CORVIS MULTIBAND SWITCH
EPIK Communications, a carriers' carrier providing dark fiber and high-bandwidth services throughout the Southeastern US, agreed to become Corvis’ first customer for its new CorWave Optical Convergence Switch (OCS).  Upon completion of a successful field trial scheduled for later this later, EPIK intends to deploy the Corvis multiband switch at its major metro aggregation points.  The switch would allow EPIK to manage traffic at both the wavelength and sub-wavelength levels. Financial terms are still being negotiated.  http://www.corvis.com/news/release.cfm?num=139
Corvis, July 10, 2001

• The Corvis CorWave OCS platform is designed to integrate existing voice based access, metro, regional and national networks with all-optical express backbones.  The product could serve as an edge switch to groom and aggregate STS-1 traffic and could transparently switch “express layer” wavelengths that do not require grooming or termination.  The electronic fabric will scale from 240 Gbps in a single shelf up to 11.5 Tbps.  The photonic fabric can support up to 4,000 bi-directional, all-optical ports.  Flexible configurations of electronic and photonic fabrics are possible.  The CorWave OCS is the first product resulting from Corvis’ acquisition of Baylight Networks, which was completed in June 2000.
• In April, EPIK lit an “IP-on-Wave OC-192” network linking Miami, Orlando, Tampa, Jacksonville and Atlanta for providing Dedicated Internet Access and Ethernet Transport services at rates up to 1 Gbps.  EPIK is also building metro networks in Miami, Orlando, Jacksonville, Tampa and Atlanta, covering approximately 400 route miles.  EPIK is establishing a national fiber footprint through fiber swaps which bring total route miles to over 12,000.
• In November, Sycamore Networks announced a contract to supply its SN 8000 Intelligent Optical Transport platform for EPIK’s long haul network.

ALTAMAR TO USE VELIO FABRIC FOR ITS MASSIVE OPTICAL SWITCH
Altamar Networks, a spin-off from Ditech Communications, will use Velio Communications’ new 140x140 Crosspoint Switch fabric in its forthcoming transport system being developed for long-haul optical networks.  Velio's OEO switching fabric, combined with other Altamar innovations, will enable the platform to scale to 2 million OC-48 ports for a maximum switching bandwidth of more than five petabits per second.  Velio is based in San Jose, California.  Altamar is based in Mountain View, California. http://www.velio.com/   http://www.altamar.com
Velio Communications, July 10, 2001

TROPIC NETWORKS GARNERS STRATEGIC INVESTMENT FROM ENRON, ANSCHUTZ
Tropic Networks, a start-up based in Ottawa, Canada, disclosed that Enron Broadband Services and the Anschutz Investment Company were strategic investors in its previously announced $60 million second round of funding.  The Anschutz Company founded and incubated Qwest Communications.  Tropic is developing an optical packet networking architecture that incorporates IP as the dominant services protocol, Ethernet as the preferred data interface and optical wavelengths as the ubiquitous transmission medium.  http://www.tropicnetworks.com/news/news.cfm?nid=8
Tropic Networks, July 10, 2001

• Tropic Networks is led by Kevin Rankin, formerly vice-president of the Broadband Copper Access division at Newbridge Networks.  Its technical team is led by Dr. Dan Oprea, who formerly worked for Nortel Networks as a senior architect involved in high-capacity optical transport and terabit switch routing.

MEMS OPTICAL GAINS $18 MILLION IN NEW FUNDING
MEMS Optical, a start-up based in Huntsville, Alabama, secured an $18 million equity investment for its MEMS-based precision micro-optics and components.  The company’s products include precision refractive and diffractive optics, long-reach micro-actuators and miniature tilt mirrors.  Investors include Summit Accelerator Fund, Vanguard Ventures, Dynafund Ventures and Teledyne Technologies Incorporated.  http://www.memsoptical.com/ 
MEMS Optical, July 10, 2001

SPIRENT SHIPS VSR TESTING SOLUTION, LISTS ON NYSE
Spirent Communications announced the first shipment of its Very Short Reach (VSR) interface for the Adtech AX/4000 OC-192/192c Packet over SONET (POS) and Bit Error Rate Tester (BERT) modules to CIENA.  The solution provides an independent test set to validate conformance to the OIF’s VSR specification, which is a low-cost parallel fiber alternative to 10 Gbps serial interfaces.  Separately, Spirent plc began trading on the New York Stock Exchange in the form of American Depositary Receipts under the symbol “SPM.”  http://adtech.spirentcom.com/ 
Spirent Communications, July 10, 2001

CABLETRON TO COMPLETE SPINOFFS OF RIVERSTONE, ENTERAYS
Cabletron expects to complete its spin-out of Riverstone Networks and Enterasys Networks to its shareholders of record as of July 27, 2001.  Cabletron expects to contribute $120 million in cash and strategic equity investments valued at approximately $15 million to Riverstone.  The cash contribution will increase Riverstone's cash balance to approximately $295 million, which will be used for general corporate purposes and working capital to fund its operations.  In exchange, Cabletron will receive approximately 7.1 million shares of Riverstone common stock valued at approximately $135 million or $19.00 per share, the average 30-day closing price of Riverstone stock for the period ending July 9, 2001.  These shares will be distributed at the spin-out together with the other Riverstone shares Cabletron already holds.  Enterasys Networks plans to be listed on NYSE under the symbol “ETS” beginning on August 6^th.  http://www.cabletron.com/   http://www.riverstonenet.com.
Cabletron, July 10, 2001

ALCATEL CONFIRMS 2,500 FURTHER LAYOFFS IN THE US
Citing the continuing telecom slowdown, Alcatel announced another round of 2,500 layoffs affecting its US operations.  http://www.alcatel.com/vpr/?body=/latestnews/10072001uk
Alcatel, July 10, 2001