News
• Cisco plans holiday shutdown
By Brian Santo
Cisco Systems said it would shut down most of its U.S. and Canadian business for four business days surrounding New Year’s Day, an announcement that drove its stock down about 6 percent.
The shutdown, the company said, is part of its plan, announced three weeks ago, to cut costs by more than $1 billion.
The shutdown does not include any customer support functions.
• Qwest offers savings on high-speed Internet services
By Traci Patterson
Qwest Communications is now offering new customers its Connect Silver high-speed Internet service, with connection speeds of up to 1.5 Mbps, for $14.99 per month with a one-year contract. Qwest is also offering new customers its Connect Platinum high-speed Internet service, with connection speeds of up to 7 Mbps, for $24.99 per month with a one-year contract.
And existing Qwest high-speed Internet customers who upgrade their service to Qwest Connect Platinum, Titanium or Quantum high-speed Internet service with a two-year commitment will receive two months of free service.
In addition to the money-saving options on high-speed Internet, Qwest now offers: Verizon Wireless service for the Qwest bundle; a free Bluetooth wireless headset on Black Friday; and a free digital Custom Gift Tag Generator.
• Alcatel-Lucent announces CFO succession
By Brian Santo
Alcatel-Lucent announced a changing of the guard in its CFO office. Former CFO Hubert de Pesquidoux plans to leave the company. His replacement will be Paul Tufano, a senior executive of 30 years of experience in international finance, who will join the company as executive vice president and CFO.
Tufano will also be a member of the company's management committee.
De Pesquidoux was also president of Alcatel-Lucent’s Enterprise group. Alcatel did not say who would succeed him in that capacity.
• Exfo adds multi-stream test support to test modules
By Traci Patterson
Exfo Electro-Optical Engineering Inc. has added multi-stream test support to its FTB-8120NGE, FTB-8130NGE, IQS-8120NGE and IQS-8130NGE Power Blazer multi-service test modules.
By providing the ability to configure multiple streams, the FTB/IQS-8120NGE and FTB/IQS-8130NGE Power Blazer modules allow network operators to simulate and qualify different types of applications running over their networks.
“Our customers are currently deploying more advanced IP services on their transport networks, including triple-play applications, to generate additional revenue streams,” said Etienne Gagnon, Exfo’s vice president of product management and marketing. “Testing these new applications, especially on existing transport networks, is always a challenge. We have risen to this challenge with our Power Blazer test modules, enabling network operators to offer new services with guaranteed quality of service to their customers.”
More Broadband Direct:
• Cablevision v. Verizon ad spat: FiOS wins
• Patent payment from Dish saves TiVo from loss in fiscal Q3
• SeaChange buys into mobile market
• Sprint employees get class action status
• Sezmi secures $33M in new funding round
• Controversial AWS-3 vote is possible next week
• Survey: Consumers to spend less on premium channels, landlines
