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Daily news and top headlines for broadband communications engineering and design professionals
Study: broadband way behind $500 B potential
July 16, 2001 8:00 pm | by Anne Kerven | CommentsGet the lead out, broadband. There's an untapped $500 billion shot in the economic arm that's just going to sit there until you hike that 8 percent penetration to at least 50 percent. Or better yet, a study says, shoot for 94 percent — the same percentage of American households with phone service.
Cox cops an attitude in touting DSL package
July 16, 2001 8:00 pm | by Anne Kerven | CommentsCox Business Services is taking on an edgy sector of dumped DSL customers by launching Cox Business Internet, a three-tiered DSL package. The promo pulls no punches: "Nothing ruins a perfectly good Internet connection like a provider that goes belly up," it says in its materials, which also promise "Faster Internet access.
Celox lands $80 M in third round
July 16, 2001 8:00 pm | by Anne Kerven | CommentsCelox Networks closed an $80 million third round of financing, led by Putnam Investments and Firsthand Capital Management Inc. The round brings the IP service company to a total $155 million since January 1999. Celox says the round will fund ongoing product development and "ramp up" production of the company's Celox SCx 192, a switch designed to let carriers, ILECs, ISPs, cable operators and ot...
Techie treatment takes a turn for the worse
July 15, 2001 8:00 pm | by Anne Kerven | CommentsA mere year ago, tech companies were touting new and sometimes over-the-top perks, hoping to lure the high-demand tech worker. But the kid gloves come off during layoffs, it appears. Techies.com polled 700 tech workers from entry-level to top management positions. One-third said their layoffs were a complete surprise and one-fourth said they'd been waiting for the news.
General Bandwidth lands $66 M in VC funds
July 15, 2001 8:00 pm | by Anne Kerven | CommentsJust when high-tech VC funds seem a nice historical footnote, another big deal goes down to pull it out of the archives. General Bandwidth Inc. picked up $66 million in a fourth round of funding, led by mutual funds firm Invesco. The round brings the company's total VC financing to nearly $150 million since 1999.
Alcatel signs $100 M network contract
July 15, 2001 8:00 pm | by Anne Kerven | CommentsAlcatel landed a $100 million contract to upgrade the Southern Cross Cable Network, inking Australasia with the United States. Paris-based Alcatel has supplied the network since late last year, including providing undersea electronics, and cable and terminal equipment for the landing stations. The two-phase upgrade involved first adding 50 Gbps to the present total network capacity of 80 Gbps.
N2 finalizes agreements with Warner Bros./In Demand
July 15, 2001 8:00 pm | by Anne Kerven | CommentsN2 Broadband reports that Warner Bros. Technical Operations and In Demand will use its MediaPath system in their VOD services. The Warner Bros. agreement seals a deal the two made for technical operations to purchase MediaPath, which N2 says it is already using to deliver VOD and DVD to its licensees.
EarthLink to launch over two AOLTW systems
July 15, 2001 8:00 pm | by Anne Kerven | CommentsAOL Time Warner Cable will step up its multiple-ISP program as EarthLink launches service via AOLTW's Columbus, Ohio, and Syracuse, N.Y., systems in September. The deal is part of AOLTW's merger agreement that says it will open its cable systems in each region to two or more competitors. The U.S. Federal Trade Commission must approve new ISPs within 90 days, the petition says.
Industry bigs team on FTTH system
July 12, 2001 8:00 pm | by Anne Kerven | CommentsSeveral well-known names in the industry will team on a fiber-to-the-home technology designed to run over Optical Solutions Inc.'s FiberPath 400 system. The system allows multiple end-users to receive real-time broadcast video content over an IP transport, Optical reports. The switched digital video also will provide interactive guides and menus for navigating the ITV and VOD.
Internet caucus advisory holds open access panel
July 12, 2001 8:00 pm | by Anne Kerven | CommentsThe Congressional Internet Caucus' Advisory Committee held the third of its three-part Broadband panels yesterday, covering open access and and broadband tax incentives. The panel was moderated by CityNet Telecommunications CEO Robert Berger, partly because CityNet has taken a neutral stance on the issues.
Alcatel to use TI processors in VoDSL
July 12, 2001 8:00 pm | by Anne Kerven | CommentsAlcatel will use Texas Instruments Inc.'s programmable digital signal processors in its central office VoDSL products, TI reports. Alcatel already uses TI's DSPs and Telogy software in its Speed Touch integrated access devices, and the new deal means Alcatel will use the technology in its 7300 Advanced Services Access Manager, a broadband access platform.
Fixed-wireless sales drop; overseas outlook up
July 11, 2001 8:00 pm | by Anne Kerven | CommentsFirst-quarter sales of broadband fixed wireless point-to-multipoint equipment dropped 35 percent from the previous quarter, to $150 million, a study says. Alcatel had 35 percent of the market share. The market took a hit in that quarter from seasonality and a weak North American market, but the 12-month outlook for sales of 3.
LodgeNet lengthens La Quinta contract
July 11, 2001 8:00 pm | by Anne Kerven | CommentsLodgeNet Entertainment Corp. extended its five-year contract with La Quinta, and will provide the technology to upgrade the hotel chain's interactive digital TV services. Under the deal, Lodgenet will upgrade 40,000 rooms around the country to allow such services as on-demand digital music and music videos, pay-per-view TV content, and archived programming.
Motorola sees $232 M net loss in Q2, broadband orders fall
July 11, 2001 8:00 pm | by Anne Kerven | CommentsMotorola Inc. reported a $232 million net loss, or 11 cents a share, in its second-quarter results. It also said it expects a loss of "several cents a share" in its third-quarter, on a 5 percent sales increase, with a slight profit in fourth quarter. Its Broadband Communications Segment saw Q2 orders fall 16 percent from a year ago, to $760 million.
Cisco buys AuroraNetics in $150 M stock deal
July 10, 2001 8:00 pm | by Anne Kerven | CommentsCisco Systems Inc. will acquire San Jose-based AuroraNetics Inc. in a $150 million stock transaction. AuroraNetics makes 10 Gbps silicon technology for metro fiber networks. Cisco will trade $150 million in its common stock for all outstanding shares of year-old AuroraNetics, it says. The deal has been approved by both boards of directors and will close in Cisco's first quarter of 2002.
