ECHOSTAR TO ACQUIRE GM'S HUGHES ELECTRONICS
EchoStar will acquire General Motors’ Hughes Electronics and its direct-broadcast satellite television business in a cash and stock deal valued at $25.8 billion.  The merger is expected to create a stronger competitor to large, US cable and broadband providers.  The companies claimed substantial synergies for merging their direct-broadcast satellite television operations, including cost savings from the elimination of duplicate satellite bandwidth and infrastructure.  Furthermore, the companies promised to increase the number of markets served with local channels via satellite, provide additional channel offerings, increase high-definition TV (HDTV) offerings and accelerate the introduction of next-generation high-speed Internet services.  The new company, which would retain the EchoStar name but would use the DIRECTV brand for consumer offerings, would be based in Littleton, Colorado, and would employ approximately 20,000 people and serve more than approximately 14.9 million direct-broadcast satellite TV customers.  The deal still requires shareholder and regulatory approvals.  http://media.gm.com/news/releases/011028hughes.html
EchoStar, October 29, 2001

• DirecTV has about 8.5 million satellite TV subscribers
• EchoStar operates the DISH network and has 6.4 million subscribers.
• In July, EchoStar announced plans to invest an additional $50 million in cash in StarBand, increasing its equity stake to 32%.  EchoStar’s ownership will further increase to 60% upon commencement of the construction of StarBand's next generation satellite.  In March, EchoStar and StarBand signed a three-year distribution agreement under which DISH dealers are selling the two-way StarBand satellite Internet service both as a bundled offering with DISH Network programming and as a stand-alone, high-speed Internet service.
• EchoStar also holds a minority equity stake in WildBlue Communications (formerly iSKY), a service provider planning to launch a next generation Ka-band satellite service for the Americas.  WildBlue plans to offer always-on Internet access with downloads speeds of 3.0 Mbps and up to 400 Kbps upstream.  A first satellite (built by Space Systems/Loral) serving the US and Canada) is expected to launch in early 2002.
• Earlier this year, Hughes added a satellite uplink capability to its DirecPC satellite Internet access service.  The new DirecPC Satellite Return system provides uplink speed of up to 128 kbps and a downlink speed of up to 400 kbps.  The system requires a new DirecDuo antenna, which provides broadband Internet access as well as access to more than 225 channels of DIRECTV programming.  A major marketing campaign for broadband-by-satellite services for businesses and consumers was launched last month.  Hughes has alliances with a number of service providers, including AOL, EarthLink, Juno and Pegasus.  As of June, Hughes’ DirecPC satellite service (with landline modem return) had 116,000 subscribers.  By the end of 2002 Hughes is also planning to launch Ka-band satellites for advanced, two-way coverage across North America.
• Hughes Electronics also includes DIRECTV Broadband (formerly Telocity), which provides DSL service and is deploying Juniper Networks’ M-160 routers in more than a dozen POPs to upgrade its North American backbone to OC-192c/STM-64.
  
  

FCC PUBLISHES ONLINE DATABASE OF ALL US CARRIERS
The FCC has made available online its database of telecommunications carrier registration information.  The online resource allows consumers and other carriers to view such things as the carrier's business name(s) and primary address(es), names and business addresses of certain of the carrier's officers, the carrier's regulatory contact and/or designated agent for service of process, all names under which the carrier has conducted business in the past, and the state(s) in which the carrier is certified to provide telecommunications service.  The database can be sorted by state as well as by category, for instance, by CLECs, Cellular/PCS/SMR providers, incumbent local exchange carriers (ILECs), interexchange carriers (IXCs), wireless data providers, etc.  http://gullfoss2.fcc.gov/cib/form499/499a.cfm
FCC, October 29, 2001

ROUTESCIENCE SHIPS ITS BGP ROUTING OPTIMIZER
RouteScience, a start-up based in San Mateo, California, announced commercial availability of its PathControl platform for optimizing a company’s multiple ISP links by providing real-time performance measurements of paths across the Internet to end users.  Using these performance metrics and customer preferences for ISP link cost, RouteScience’s PathControl platform determines the best ISP path for end-users and can then automatically update the organization’s edge routers with the best path routing information.  The route performance measurement relies on a proprietary closed-feedback loop system that does not use pings.  Route updates are provided to the edge routers using standard Border Gateway Protocol.  A large company with multiple ISPs would use the systems to route traffic to the ISP links that actually deliver the best end-to-end performance.  The solution could also be used by a Tier-2/3 service provider to route traffic to multiple backbone carriers depending on cost and real-time performance metrics.  Pricing for the platform ranges from $140,000 to $250,000.  Entry-level pricing includes a modular, 8U, 14-slot chassis and support for two ISP links.  http://www.routescience.com/index2.html
RouteScience, October 29, 2001

• RouteScience is led by Herb Madan, who previously was Vice President and General Manager, Service Provider Line of Business at Cisco Systems, and CEO and Co-Founder of Netsys Technologies (acquired by Cisco in 1996).  The company’s founding team also includes Jim McGuire, previously Senior Director of Engineering, Service Provider Line of Business at Cisco Systems and Co-Founder of Netsys, and Joel Evanier, previously Director of Enterprise Sales at Cisco Systems and Vice President of Sales at Netsys.  The company’s technical team also includes Mike Lloyd, who was the principal architect for the MPLS VPN provisioning system at Cisco Systems, and a senior engineer on BGP and other routing simulations.
• RouteScience was founded in December 1999 and is funded by Sequoia Capital and Benchmark Capital.

WILLIAMS AND KDDI OFFER SWITCHED VIDEO TRANSMISSION SERVICES
Williams Communications' Vyvx Broadband Media unit launched full-time and occasional end-to-end video transmission services between multiple locations in the US and Japan utilizing switched fiber-optic transmission.  Multiple video quality levels are available, from standard (NTSC) to high-definition (HDTV).  Japan-based broadcaster NHK currently uses the service for HDTV transmission of Major League Baseball games from the US to Japan.  http://www.williamscommunications.com/newsroom/newsreleases/2001/102901.html
Williams, October 29, 2001

AGERE ANNOUNCES SINGLE-CHIP 10-GBE PHYSICAL LAYER IC
Agere Systems introduced a 10-Gigabit Ethernet (GbE) physical layer integrated circuit (IC) for metro applications.  The device converts 10 Gbps serial data into four 3.125 Gbps serial lanes via the 10 Gigabit attachment unit interface (XAUI).  It complies with the emerging IEEE 802.3ae (draft) specification for serial LAN physical layer devices and supports features specified in revision 2.0 of the XENPAK multi-source agreement (MSA). http://www.agere.com/NEWS/PRESS2001/102901a.html
Agere Systems, October 29, 2001

CISCO INTRODUCES A DOZEN NEW IP TELEPHONY PRODUCTS
Cisco Systems announced 12 new IP telephony products for enterprises.  New software products include the Cisco Conference Connection, Cisco CallManager 3.2, Cisco Emergency Responder (911 service), Media Gateway Control Protocol (MGCP) support for Cisco 2600/3600 routers, Cisco Internet Service Node (ISN) 1.0, and the Cisco IP Contact Center Bundle.  New infrastructure products include the Cisco VG248 Analog Phone Gateway, Cisco Catalyst 4200 with Systems Network Architecture (SNA) and Internetwork Packet Exchange (IPX), Survivable/Standby Remote Site Telephony (SRST) for the Cisco 7200 router, High Density Analog Voice/Fax Network Modules (NM-HDA), the Advanced Integration Modules (AIM) VOICE-30, and the IP Phone Expansion Module 7914. http://www.cisco.com
Cisco Systems, October 29, 2001

CIRCADIANT RELEASES ITS INTELLIGENT OPTICAL TEST SYSTEM
Circadiant Systems, a start-up based in Allentown, Pennsylvania, introduced its first optical testing equipment designed for equipment and component vendors.  Circadiant’s 2.5 Gbps Optical Standards Tester provides traffic generation and testing for Layers 1-3.  Intelligent scripts enable the user to sequence up to 100 separate tests, including variations on standard built-in tests and control of external instruments.  A 10 Gbps version is planned for Q1 2002.  http://www.circadiant.com
Circadiant Systems, October 29, 2001

• In September, Circadiant secured $10 million in second round funding backed by TL Ventures, EnerTech Capital Partners, PA Early Stage and others.
• Circadiant Systems was founded in August 2000 by Dr. John French, who previously was chief architect and co-founder of the transponder business unit in Agere Systems (Lucent), and Dr. Joseph Thompson, who was the lead designer of Lucent’s DWDM and 10 Gbps receivers.

RESONEXT INTRODUCES ITS 802.11A WIRELESS CHIPS
Resonext Communications, a start-up based in San Jose, California, introduced two 802.11a WLAN chipsets optimized for client and access point platforms.  Both chipsets incorporate the company's True Zero-IF 5GHz CMOS radio, flexible Media Access Control (MAC), Access Point on a Chip (APoC) architecture and AccuChannel equalization technology.  The devices are built on the standard 0.18-micron, 1.8-volt CMOS process.  http://www.resonext.com/
Resonext Communications, October 29, 2001

• Resonext Communications is headed by David Tahmassebi, who previously managed the Consumer Business Unit of VLSI Technology.  The company’s technical team is headed by Morteza Saidi, who previously served as Director of RF Development at VLSI Technology.
• Last December, Resonext raised $21 million in second round funding backed by Oak Investment Partners, Norwest Venture Partners and Bessemer Venture Partners

FLARION RAISES $45 MILLION FOR ITS OFDM MOBILE AIR INTERFACE TECHNOLOGY
Flarion Technologies, a start-up based in Bedminster, New Jersey, secured $45 million for development of its air interface technology for IP-based mobile broadband networks.  Flarion is working on flash-OFDM technology, which originated in Bell Labs.  The company will offer a RadioRouter base station and chipsets, which will provide a seamless routing interface to any operator’s existing IP network, and high-speed wireless access for users of low-cost mobility modems and terminals.  Investors include Cisco Systems, Nassau Capital, Pequot Capital, Bessemer Venture Partners, Charles River Ventures, and Lucent Technologies' New Ventures Group.  http://www.flarion.com
Flarion Technologies, October 29, 2001

• Flarion Technologies is headed by Ray Dolan, who previously was Chief Operating Officer for NextWave Telecom.  Prior to that he was Executive Vice President of Marketing for Bell Atlantic NYNEX Mobile.  The company was founded by Dr. Rajiv Laroia, formerly with Bell Laboratories.

ALIDIAN ANNOUNCES NEW CEO, CUTBACKS
Alidian Networks, a start-up based in San Jose, California, named David Newman as CEO, succeeding Barton Shigemura, who has been promoted to chairman of the board of directors.  Dr. Newman, a co-founder of Alidian and a member of the company's board of directors, had previously been vice president of engineering.  Alidian this week also reduced its staff by approximately 50 people, bringing the company's employee count to just less than 100.  Alidian offers an Optical Service Network (OSN) family of DWDM platforms for metropolitan-area networks.  http://www.alidian.com
Alidian Networks, October 29, 2001

ASITA RAISES $24 MILLION FOR ITS NETWORK SECURITY APPLIANCES
Asita Technologies, a start-up based in Irvine, California, raised $24 million in second round funding for its development of network security appliances.  Asita’s security appliances integrate VPN functionality with third party or home-grown applications such as firewalling, virus checking, URL checking, content monitoring, intrusion detection or load balancing.  The round was led by SOFTBANK Europe Ventures and co-led by ETF Group.  http://www.asitatechnologies.com
Asita Technologies, October 29, 2001

AVAIL ADDS PBX/T1/E1 INTERFACES TO ITS CONCENTRATOR
Avail Networks announced support for PBX/T1/E1 subscriber-side interfaces on its Frontera packet access platforms.  Frontera now supports TDM voice, data, and video devices such as digital PBXs, routers, channel banks, and ISDN PRI devices via ATM-based Circuit Emulation Services (CES).  Avail's Frontera platforms support multiple packet voice options -- including CES for TDM to packet voice interworking, native VoDSL, and VoIP transport -- along with DSL aggregation and Enterprise interfaces such as Ethernet and Frame Relay.  http://www.availnetworks.com/news/pr10292001.html
Avail Networks, October 29, 2001

Daily Journal For Broadband Networking
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