VERIZON SELECTS TELICA FOR ITS FIRST PACKET VOICE SWITCH DEPLOYMENT
Verizon awarded a multi-year, multi-million dollar contract to Telica for its softswitch-based voice and data platform.  Initially, Telica’s Plexus 9000 switches are being deployed alongside existing Lucent 5E switches to provide Internet call switching, offloading ISP modem traffic from the circuit switched network.  The equipment could also be used for additional packet voice applications, including the handling of long distance traffic.  The deployment marks the first commercial use of such equipment in Verizon’s circuit-switched voice network, which uses Lucent, Nortel, Siemens and AGCS switches.  Telica has been working with Verizon for the past two and a half years on planning, testing and integration issues.  In addition to the lengthy evaluation process, Telica cited two technical factors that led to the selection of its platform – a high density enabling 90,000 ports per shelf, and the ability to integrate call control in the switching platform.  Financial terms were not disclosed.  http://www.telica.com/
Telica, October 9, 2001

• Key features of the Telica Plexus 9000 include a 15 Gbps switching fabric (with a latency of only 1.2 ms); integrated SS7 signaling, call control and switching; Class 4/5 baseline features; transport and protocol transparency (IMT, SS7, ISDN PRI, ATM and IP); hot-swappable components and fault-tolerant software and firmware; and a high-density footprint (180,000+ protected DS-0's per rack).  In ILEC networks, the platform could be located beside or behind a Class 5 switch within an end office to perform voice and data service optimization.  CLECs could place it in a central office co-location cage to serve as a Class 5 substitute, performing full termination and switching of data calls.  The platform recently completed the Telcordia Technologies OSMINE (Operations Systems Modification of Intelligent Network Elements) process for the TIRKS Operations Support Systems (OSSs).
  
• Last week, Telica announced three new CLEC customers for its Plexus 9000 switching system as well as the interconnection of those customer networks with all four RBOCs and Sprint Local networks.  The new customers, which include Lucre (Michigan), Western Pacific Telecom (Nevada), and Telepak Networks (Mississippi), deployed the softswitching-based platform for Class 4 and Class 5 applications and Voice over Packet (VoP) capabilities.
  
• Telica was co-founded by John St. Amand and Charles (Chuck) Bates, both formerly with Dynamics Research Corporation (DRC).

WILLIAMS INTRODUCES PRIVATE LINE QOS BASED ON OPTICAL MESH
Williams Communications introduced a Private Line Quality of Service (QoS) offering featuring platinum, gold, silver and bronze levels of protection, restoration and reliability.  At the top end, platinum service offers 100.00% availability and the highest restoration times.  Williams’ Private Line QoS transports traffic via an optically meshed restorable architecture rather than SONET rings.  http://www.williamscommunications.com/newsroom/newsreleases/2001/100108.html
Williams Communications, October 8, 2001

BROADWING EXPANDS INTO GLOBAL PRIVATE LINE SERVICES
Broadwing introduced an International Private Line service in more than 100 countries featuring SLAs, flexible bandwidth options, service redundancy, local loop coordination and turnkey maintenance and support.  The service could be used to integrate a number of applications including data, IP, video conferencing and voice.  http://www.broadwing.com/press/releases/2001q4/10_05_2001b.asp
Broadwing, October 5, 2001

• Last month, Broadwing announced a new Point-to-Point Optical Gigabit Ethernet service designed for Fortune 2000 enterprises, carriers and ISPs.  The protocol-agnostic service provides high-speed Ethernet transport at traditional private line speeds of DS-3, OC-3 and OC-12 and access methods including private line, Frame Relay, ATM and integrated access.  McAfee.com was named as the first commercial customer for the service, which became generally available on October 1.  Broadwing also added two features to its Dedicated Internet Access Services.  Web-based Customer Network Management Tools (CNMS) and Proactive Monitoring/Notification offer customers performance visibility into their IP traffic usage patterns and network activities, including network availability, core packet loss, core roundtrip latency and customer circuit traffic utilization distribution. 
  
• Broadwing has previously announced metro area partnerships with Telseon and Sphera Optical Networks.

VELOCITA LAUNCHES ITS FIRST SERVICE, OFFERS NETWORK-BASED DISTRIBUTED DENIAL OF SERVICE PROTECTION
Velocita, a new nationwide broadband network provider (formerly PF.Net), launched its first IP services at speeds up to OC-48, expanding to OC-192 in the near future.  The carrier-grade Internet Access service includes the first nationwide network-based Distributed Denial of Service or DDOS mitigation feature as a standard offering to customers.  DDoS attacks occur when hackers co-opt servers and use them to target an IP device with a flood of incoming messages, resulting in congestion, overload and often total service shutdown.  The company is quoting entry pricing at 25% to 40% below market rates.  Future Velocita offerings will include Gigabit Ethernet and Private Address IP-VPN.  http://www.velocita.com
Velocita, October 8, 2001

• Velocita's network incorporates 144 strands of fiber and uses Cisco IP+Optical equipment, including the Cisco ONS 15800 Long-Haul DWDM System, the Cisco ONS 15454 Metro Optical Transport Platform, Cisco Transport Manager, the Cisco 7609 Series Internet Router, the 12400 Series Internet router, as well as Cisco maintenance support.
  
• In February, AT&T extended its joint construction partnership contract with Velocita to include an additional 1,300 route miles.  This expanded relationship also allows for Velocita to acquire an additional 7,200 miles of dark fiber, allowing the company to grow its own nationwide network from 10,800 miles to approximately 18,500 miles.
  
• Last September, Velocity (PF.net) appointed Buddy Pickle as its CEO.  Pickle formerly served as President and Chief Operating Officer of Teligent and President and Chief Operating Officer of UUNet Technologies.  In June 2000, Robert Annunziata, the former CEO of Global Crossing, agreed to serve as Chairman of the company's board of directors.

COALITION OF CALIFORNIA ISPS BREAKS OFF SETTLEMENT TALKS WITH SBC
The California ISP Association (CISPA) broke off settlement talks with Pacific Bell and its parent SBC Communications about the company's alleged unfair business practices in the high-speed Internet access market.  On July 26, CISPA filed a formal complaint with the California Public Utilities Commission (PUC) asking regulators to prohibit SBC Advanced Solutions Inc., a Pacific Bell company, from imposing new contracts for high-speed access.  CISPA said the new contracts are one-sided and force ISPs to accept terms that put them at a competitive disadvantage.  CISPA also seeks a PUC injunction to prohibit Pacific Bell and SBC Advanced Solutions from disconnecting high-speed customers when they change Internet service providers.  This practice discourages customers from discontinuing service with Pacific Bell's own ISP, Pacific Bell Internet.  Rather than negotiate a settlement, CISPA now intends to pursue its original complaint before the California Public Utilities Commission.  http://www.cispa.org/
CISPA, October 4, 2001

• CISPA claims to represent more than 100 Internet service providers in California

SPIRENT ANNOUNCES GIGABIT ETHERNET NETWORK IMPAIRMENT EMULATOR
Spirent Communications introduced a Gigabit Ethernet Network Impairment Emulator (GENIE) tool for testing products and applications aimed at storage area networks (SANs).   The GENIE module, which runs on the Adtech AX/4000 platform, is capable of introducing delays of approximately 500 milliseconds; simulating a wide range of distances, and reaching beyond the span of North America; in addition to other network impairments.  Service providers could use the solution to test the performance of applications and establish SLAs.  By introducing network impairments, service providers can determine the minimum acceptable requirements for an application, in terms of bandwidth, latency and bit error rate.  The Gigabit Ethernet Network Impairment Emulator can be used with the other traffic generation, analysis, capture and decode capabilities provided by Spirent's Adtech AX/4000 Broadband Test System.  http://adtech.spirentcom.com/ 
Spirent Communications, October 8, 2001

IXIA INTRODUCES REAL-TIME TRAFFIC RECORDING, MONITORING, AND PROFILING SOLUTION FOR 10 GBPS NETWORKS
Ixia introduced a real-time traffic recording, sampling, and monitoring solution for 10 Gbps Ethernet and OC-192c networks.  The test system captures packets based on source and destination IP addresses, source and destination TCP port numbers, as well as on actual content of the captured frame.  The IxProfile solution can also be used for a variety of security applications requiring real-time profiling by offering an extensive array of key statistics, such as frame size distribution, source and destination network address distribution, and protocol distribution.  http://www.ixiacom.com/news/detail.php?prid=52
Ixia, October 8, 2001

PROXIM SHIPS 802.11A CARDBUS CARDS
Proxim began shipping its first IEEE 802.11a-compliant CardBus wireless networking cards.  In Proxim’s 2X mode, the wireless network can operate at 100 Mbps speeds and at 54 Mbps in standard 802.11a mode.  Proxim plans to ship an 802.11a Access Point in November.  List pricing for a single 802.11a CardBus adapter is $249.  A kit with 2 cards in $449.  http://www.proxim.com/about/pressroom/pressrelease/pr2001-10-08.html 
Proxim, October 8, 2001

• Proxim's 802.11a CardBus Card is based on the AR5000 chipset from Atheros Communications.

TAIWAN’S CHUNGHWA TELECOM SELECTS UNISPHERE’S EDGE ROUTER FOR ITS DSL NETWORK
Taiwan’s Chunghwa Telecom, which operates an ADSL network currently serving over 600,000 subscribers, has selected Unisphere Networks’ ERX Edge Router to support a range of new services.  Unisphere Networks' ERX edge router performs IP routing, IP service creation and subscriber management functions.  Chunghwa Telecom’s HiNet ISP unit will use the multicast capabilities of the ERX for transmission of thousands of multicast streams at wire-speed.  The ASIC-based platform could also be used to enable a number of new revenue-generating service policies such as IP QoS, VPNs and SLAs.  Financial terms were not disclosed.  http://www.unispherenetworks.com
Unisphere Networks, October 5, 2001

TROPIAN RAISES $45 MILLION FOR ITS MULTIBAND WIRELESS CHIPS
Tropian, a late stage start-up based in Cupertino, California, closed $45 million in Series D equity funding for its development of wireless networking technology.  Tropian’s first product is a digital multi-mode, multi-band wireless transmitter that enables wireless transmission of multiple voice and high-speed data standards including EDGE, GSM, GPRS, TDMA, GAIT and AMPS.  First handset products using the Tropian chipset are expected to be in the market during 2002.  Investors include Merrill Lynch Ventures, Crosspoint Venture Partners, Convergence Ventures, Investar Venture Capital, Bank of America Investment Corporation, China Development Industrial Bank, TCW/YFY Investment Partners and Agilent Ventures.  http://www.tropian.com
Tropian, October 2, 2001

• Tropian’s technology is a proprietary non-linear, polar modulation platform that enables multi-mode capability in wireless handsets and base stations.  Manufacturers could use the chipsets to offer multi-mode, multi-band wireless devices that are backward and forward compatible with 1G (analog voice), 2G (digital voice), 2.5G and 3G (digital voice and high-speed data) wireless services for seamless operation around the world.
• Tropian’s previously announced strategic investors include Infineon Technologies AG and TriQuint Semiconductor.
• Tropian is led by Michael J. Elliott (Chairman), who previously served as Chairman and CEO of Digital RF Solutions (which later merged with Proxim).  The company’s senior management team also includes Michael R. Farese (CEO), who was previously vice president and general manager for Motorola’s global personal networks division.

ACME PACKET RAISES $16 MILLION FOR IP TRANSPORT DEVELOPMENTS
Acme Packet, a start-up based in Woburn, Massachusetts, raised $16 million in second round funding for its development of a network platform for transporting premium, interactive voice, video and multimedia applications across and between IP networks.  Product plans have not yet been disclosed.  Investors include Menlo Ventures and Canaan Partners.  http://www.acmepacket.com/
Acme Packet, October 8, 2001

• Acme Packet was co-founded by Andrew Ory, formerly founder, CEO, and Chairman of Priority Call Management (PCM); and Patrick MeLampy, formerly Vice President of Engineering for PCM.  Priority Call Management was a developer of network-based prepaid calling, enhanced messaging and one number applications.  The company was acquired in 1999 by the LHS Group for $162 million.

Emerging MPLS Applications: 
Practical Application of The Technology

John Fryer
Vice President of Marketing
NetPlane Systems

Focused Applications

Recently, there has been an increasing debate about the value of MPLS technology and the direction of the relevant standards bodies, such as the Internet Engineering Task Force (IETF), Optical Interworking Forum (OIF) and the International Telecommunications Union (ITU), as well as whether or not there are practical applications for MPLS.

The simple answer is that MPLS is alive and well and that there are, indeed, practical applications for MPLS.  The debate has focused on “how” the technology can enable critical applications, rather than “what” applications the technology could be used to support.  This debate is a natural process, driven by the rapid evolution of MPLS and the recognition that there are specific applications where MPLS can enhance service provider revenue opportunities.  Perhaps the main danger that exists for MPLS evolution is a proliferation of proprietary implementations, which when proposed to the standards organizations, leads to polarization behind leading ideas and an intractable situation, which then results in market confusion.  However, through compromise--a key element in standards body participation-- such issues can be overcome.

The key areas where MPLS deployments are already occurring, or where standards and product developments are targeted are:

• Traffic engineering of IP networks

• Layer 3 (IP) Provider Provisioned Virtual Private Networks (PP-VPNs)

• Layer 2 VPN – (metro-optical networks)

• Core optical network transport - Generalized MPLS (GMPLS)

• Optical network access – Optical User Network Interface (O-UNI)

These applications can be grouped into two broad categories – classical MPLS, focused towards Internet Protocol (IP) applications, and optical MPLS, designed to address the requirements of SONET/SDH and pure optical core networks.  Bridging these applications are Layer 2 VPNs, or metro optical applications, which seek to use modified classical MPLS techniques to supplant traditional SONET/SDH functionality. (Figure 1)

A basic examination of each of these applications demonstrates both the viability of MPLS technology and the remaining hurdles that need to be overcome to move the networking industry forward.

Traffic Engineering

The ability to provide large IP networks with Quality of Service (QoS) and Class of Service (CoS) capabilities was one of the early objectives identified by the MPLS working group inside the IETF.  The hop by hop routing mechanisms traditionally used, and the creation of Label Switched Paths (LSPs) using the Label Distribution Protocol (LDP), which mimics the hop- by- hop mechanism, provide no QoS/CoS capabilities, resulting in the “one size fits all” Internet phenomena, which makes profitable Internet/IP services such a challenge today.

Read the Full Column>>
http://www.convergedigest.com/columns/0110netplane/0110g-jfryer1.htm

Daily Journal For Broadband Networking
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