* Cricket picks Alcatel-Lucent for network upgrade
Alcatel-Lucent has been chosen by Cricket Communications Inc. for its network expansion. Under the terms of the five-year agreement, Cricket has committed to purchase up to $126 million worth of equipment, services and software from the company.
The expansion includes the deployment of 3G CDMA2000 1xEV-DO Rev. A technology, which will provide Cricket’s customers with VoIP, high-speed Internet and mobile video telephony services.
* MoCA’s contributor class adds first members
Broadcom Corp., Conexant Systems Inc. and BroadLight Inc. mark the first three companies to join MoCA’s new contributor class. The companies will participate in the formation and direction of new specifications.
* Harris Broadband partners for FTTP launch
Parasun Technologies Inc. has partnered with Harris Broadband to launch digital phone service in Brownwood, Texas, utilizing fiber-to-the-premises (FTTP) technology. Harris is using Momentum Telecom as a third-party voice service provider.
* Microsoft adds media, entertainment exec
Microsoft Corp. has named Katherine Styponias as general manager of its Media & Entertainment Group, where she will lead the business development team and work with content suppliers. Styponias joins Microsoft from Prudential Equity Group, where she served as senior VP and senior cable, entertainment and satellite equity analyst.
* Cisco hits 1,000th WAN customer mark
Cisco has passed the 1,000th-customer mark in the wide area network (WAN) optimization market.
The company launched its Wide Area Applications Services (WAAS) solution in September.
* Verizon building fiber in Virginia
Verizon is starting its all-fiber construction in Manassas and Manassas Park, Va. The company must obtain cable franchises from the respective city councils in order to offer its FiOS TV service.