Passive Optical Networks coming to homes
Siemens continues work with 40-Gbit/Sec transmission systems
Nokia; staying ahead of the game
IP network transmissions - TDD or FDD
Getting ready to go wireless
Startec to offer clearinghouse service
Unisphere introduces service-ready architecture
MCI WorldCom begins new network infrastructure strategy
Nortel to equip Intrigna IP network 
Motorola Expands Bluetooth Presence

Passive Optical Networks coming to homes
Source: Comsoc

While optical fibers have replaced metallic cables in most telephone, cable, and utility networks, they have not extended all the way into customer's homes--even though this would eliminate the congestion that slows customer access to the Internet and other services. Widespread use of fiber-to-home systems has been kept in check by the steep cost of the technology. This may soon change with the development of the passive optical network (PON).  PON extends from a service provider to an optical splitter near a group of homes, thus bringing the technology of optical fibers into peoples living rooms. The technology is more cost-effective because an optical transceiver and full-length fiber does not need to be installed for each customer. One challenge that faces PON technology is its ability of a single fiber to handle multiplexed networks, or several types of communication including faxing, videoconferencing, and Internet traffic. PONs are already being test-marketed in France, Japan, Belgium, and Bermuda.

Siemens continues work with 40-Gbit/Sec transmission systems
Source: Comsoc

Transmission systems that offer speeds of 40 Gbps may soon be offered commercially, as indicated by a couple of demonstrations by Siemens researchers.  Development is not complete, but Electronic time-division multiplexing was used in the demonstrations to set up 40 Gbps channels that were blended via wavelength division multiplexing. Several technical issues must be resolved before Siemens will be ready to introduce 40 Gbps products, said Mike McLaughlin, vice president and general manager for the Optical Networks Division at Siemens Information and Communications Networks Group. The technology probably needs to be standardized in order for Siemens to move toward introducing a product, he said. Consumer demand for such products is expected to develop in two to three years and Siemen hopes to fulfill that demand. 

Nokia; staying ahead of the game
Source: Comsoc

Nokia, the wireless phone maker that overtook Motorola last year to become the largest player, is striving to maintain its lead in the changing wireless market by adapting to changes in the market.  Nokia is seeking to stay ahead of the game with the introduction of its soon-to-be-released 7110 handset; a $500 WAP-compliant phone that Nokia says is the precursor to a real 3G phone.  The introduction of this third generation technology will boost network bandwidth and capacity, increasing current data speeds by 40 times and allowing for new applications like concurrent video and e-mail. With Japan's largest wireless operator, NTT DoCoMo, set to be the first to market with 3G services in 2001, Japanese and Korean phone manufacturers, including Matsushita, Samsung, Toshiba, Mitsubishi, and Sony, will have the opportunity to significantly penetrate foreign markets. As well, Microsoft has formed alliances with QUALCOMM, and British Telecom, but Nokia's ability to recognize and cater to new types of categories of buyers will give them an advantage as new technologies emerge.  

IP network transmissions - TDD or FDD
Source: Comsoc

Many LMDS operators have recognized the advantages that point-to-multipoint (PTM) architecture offer over point-to-point systems. However, carriers need to also consider which of the two voice-and data-capable duplexing technologies--time division duplexing (TDD) or frequency division duplexing (FDD)--will be the best choice for IP network transmissions. TDD employs one channel for carrying traffic, with transmit and receive separation occurring in the time domain. This allows service providers to utilize the full capacity of the channel to meet demand. In contrast, FDD uses different channels to receive and transmit, with the functions split in the frequency domain. While this allows FDD to be an efficient duplexing method when traffic is predictable, the technology falters in situations where the traffic is unpredictable and varies with time, as with point-to-multipoint networks. TDD can more effectively handle unpredictable, time-varying traffic because it can reallocate bandwidth on demand. With FDD, periods of low demand cause bandwidth shortages, while instances of increased usage contribute to wasted bandwidth. The FDD also requires more spectrum--approximately 280 MHz at 28 GHz--because carriers need to create artificial guardbands to isolate spectrum. Since TDD systems need a time domain guardband that takes up only about 1.5 percent of the operating bandwidth, less capacity is needed. In both FDD and TDD, frequency-planning techniques are implemented to limit exposure to interference. However, unlike FDD, a frequency reuse plan for TDD allows carriers to take advantage of spectrum availability to extend coverage across a multicell network while reserving a part of the spectrum.

Getting ready to go wireless
Source: Comsoc

In the next five years, companies are expected to cut their wires and migrate to wireless data. According to telecom analysts, the number of consumers using some type of dedicated wireless link to the Internet will climb to 1.5 million in the next five years, as compared to the 60,000 currently using wireless access to the Internet.  In an effort to take advantage of this burgeoning market, telecommunications, software, and Internet giants are spending hundreds of millions of dollars on investments, acquisitions, and wireless networks and software. Microsoft invested $600 million in Nextel Communications, purchased European wireless software developer Sendit, and formed a joint venture with QUALCOMM called Wireless Knowledge. Intended to target corporate users, Wireless Knowledge's products will be offered by nine wireless service providers, including AT&T Wireless, GTE Wireless, Bell Atlantic Mobile, and Metricom. Meanwhile, Sprint PCS, AirTouch Communications, and GTE Wireless are upgrading their networks to roll out services that provide Internet access via special wireless handsets. However, the transmission rates tap out at 19 Kbps. America Online, Yahoo!, ExciteAtHome, and Microsoft's MSN have all created versions of their Web sites that are specially formatted for wireless phones. Metricom hopes to boost its Ricochet service by upgrading its network, which would increase its data speeds from 28.8 Kbps to 128 Kbps. Other wireless technologies being pursued for data include fixed wireless, such as multichannel multipoint distribution system, and satellites.

 Startec Global Communications, a US based international carrier, announced on November 1st that it has completed the first phase of installation of IP telephony clearinghouse technology utilizing Clarent solutions.  The service is scheduled for launch in early 2000.  Startec, which once specialized only on the US-India route, has been aggressively expanding into new markets in Europe and Asia-Pacific.  To date, the company has installed 20 IP telephony gateways with access to 17 countries, including Russia, Poland, Paraguay and Hong Kong.  Startec's global IP telephony clearinghouse service will be integrated with it's traditional voice network and is a component of its communications strategy to offer a range of services globally to its ethnic customer base.  Startec hopes the ability to carry IP traffic into the emerging economies will allow them to become vertically integrated into many of these economies.

Unisphere introduces service-ready architecture
source: ilocus

Unisphere Solutions announced a new technology model through which service providers can create and deliver converged voice/data services over any infrastructure.  A service ready architecture enables service providers to respond quickly to growing demands for a broad mix of enhanced existing services and new, value-added services on demand.  The Unisphere model brings forth hardware-independent, open and flexible service creation and service assurance environments that allow service providers to ready their networks for future.  In addition to software capabilities, the solution includes Unisphere Solutions' Service Mediation and IP Routing Switch platforms purpose-built for carrier service delivery.  By separating software (service creation and service assurance) from hardware (service delivery) platforms, new converged voice and data capabilities are enabled at the service level and not restricted by infrastructure.  The Unisphere Solutions are designed to cost-effectively integrate the Public Switched Telephone Network (PSTN) and the Public Switched Data Network (PSDN).


MCI WorldCom begins new network infrastructure strategy
source: zdnet

MCI WorldCom Inc. will pursue a network infrastructure strategy under which it operates two separate and parallel frame relay networks for service redundancy.  The decision follows the carrier's disastrous 10-day frame-relay service outrage in August, which resulted in off-and-on service disruptions to approximately one-third of MCI WorldCom's frame-relay customers.  The outage served as the catalyst for the carrier's new parallel networks strategy.  After reviewing several strategies for unifying its disparate frame-relay networks, MCI WorldCom decided to build and operate two parallel networks using two different equipment platforms from separate vendors.   MCI WorldCom's goal in operating two distinct network platforms is to provide customers with complete service diversity and superior performance levels.  As part of the company's third-quarter financial results, MCI WorldCom disclosed that it issued $29 million in service credits to compensate customers for loss of service during the August outage.

Nortel to equip Intrigna IP network 
source: angustel

Intrigna, owned by Bell and MTS, has agreed to pay Nortel Networks about $50 Million to equip Intrigna's IP-based business network in Alberta and BC.


Motorola Expands Bluetooth Presence
sources: bluetooth and motorola

Digianswer A/S announced this week that Motorola has signed a definitive agreement to acquire a majority interest in Digianswer from Olicom A/S as an integral part of Motorola's strategy for delivering Bluetooth and HomeRF wireless products to the mobile and wireless networking markets.  Bluetooth and HomeRF are short-range wireless standards that allow quick, easy-to-use data transfers between mobile and home electronics products.   Motorola will embed Digianswer's Bluetooth technology into its DigitalDNA  product portfolio for wireless connectivity, portable computing and home networking platforms.  

Bluetooth is a personal area wireless networking standard, which is low power, short-range wireless technology designed for local area voice and data communications. Bluetooth will eliminate the need for cabling between laptop PCs, personal digital assistants and cellular phones, and it will also free the consumer from having to deal with the inconvenience of transporting and connecting cables. Wireless e-mail and Internet access, file transfer, wireless cellular and two-way radio headsets and cordless telephony are just the initial planned applications. 

The Home Radio Frequency Working Group (i.e. HomeRF) has developed a single specification (Shared Wireless Access Protocol-SWAP) for a broad range of interoperable consumer devices. SWAP is an open industry specification that allows PCs, peripherals, cordless telephones and other consumer devices to share and communicate voice and data in and around the home without the complication and expense of running new wires. The current membership group is made up of leading companies across the PC, consumer electronics, networking, peripherals and communications and semiconductor industries worldwide.