Arris reorganizes after C-Cor deal
By Mike Robuck
Following Friday’s approval of Arris’ purchase of C-Cor by the company’s shareholders, Arris announced the new organizational structure for the combined entity.
In addition to naming a leadership team, Arris said the company would be organized into three product-focused organizations:
* The Broadband Communications Group will include all DOCSIS-based headend and customer premises products. This group will include Arris’ CMTS, Universal EdgeQAM and Touchstone CPE products. It will be led by Bruce McClelland, previously Arris’ VP and GM of CPE, who has been promoted to president of broadband communications.
* The Access, Transport and Supplies Group will incorporate the current C-Cor access and transport business and the current Arris Telewire supply business. This group will be led by John Caezza, previously C-Cor’s president of broadband systems solutions, who will assume the title of president of access transport and supplies.
* The Media and Communications Systems Group will include the C-Cor OSS software and on-demand businesses, as well as Arris’ fixed/mobile convergence products. This group will be led by Bryant Isaacs, previously Arris’ president of new business ventures, who now becomes president of media and communications systems.
Supporting these three product groups will be a sales and marketing organization that combines the teams of both Arris and C-Cor. This group will be led by Ron Coppock, Arris’ president of worldwide sales.
Jim Lakin, previously president of Arris’ broadband products, becomes president of advanced technology and services, a new organization created to coordinate the areas of major synergy among the product groups.
Sprint ready to beta test IPv6
By Brian Santo
Sprint said it is ready to deploy IP Version 6 (IPv6). The company said it is nearing initial beta testing of IPv6 MPLS VPNs on its Peerless IP (PIP) network, which provides a platform that is physically and logically isolated from the public Internet.
Customer trials are expected to begin in January, with general availability in the second quarter of 2008.
Iyad Tarazi, VP of network development at Sprint, said, “As an early adopter of IPv6 in an experimental capacity, we’ve been testing IPv6 applications with our customers for more than a decade, and our involvement has provided Sprint the expertise that is needed to develop solutions for the emerging addressing constraints and for the general market.”
IPv4 is facing problems with limited IP space address. IPv6 will increase the number of addresses, and the technology is also expected to make significant improvements in areas such as routing and auto configuration, resulting in better functionality and enhanced security.
The cable industry is preparing to make the move to IPv6 along with the migration to DOCSIS 3.0 technology.
AT&T’s U-verse adds 8 HD channels; 40-plus now available
By Traci Patterson
AT&T Inc. has added eight HD channels to its U-verse TV channel lineup, allowing U-verse subscribers with the HD service option access to more than 40 HD channels in most markets.
The new channels are Animal Planet HD, CNN HD, Discovery HD, Science Channel HD, Starz Kids & Family HD, Superstation WGN in HD, TLC HD, Versus HD and the Golf Channel HD.
AT&T’s HD service is available for $10 extra per month with any U-verse TV programming package, the company said. All U-verse TV packages include HD-ready equipment, and most include an HD-capable DVR.
Additionally, AT&T’s U-verse service is now taking orders and will begin installation for new customers on Dec. 24 in parts of 51 local communities in the Columbus, Ohio, area. AT&T said it will continue to increase U-verse availability throughout the area on an ongoing basis.
Qwest CEO: No immediate plans for IPTV
By Mike Robuck
After four months at the helm, Qwest Communications’ CEO Ed Mueller told analysts in a conference call this morning that the Denver-based telco does not have any immediate IPTV deployments on its radar.
Instead, Qwest will turn its attention to expanding partnerships with companies such as DirecTV, while focusing on increased broadband speeds. Mueller said Qwest will spend $300 million next year on turbo-charging its broadband speeds that will give 1.5 million homes in 20 key markets access to speeds of up to 20 Mbps.
According to the Rocky Mountain News, Mueller outlined five key areas of focus for Qwest:
* Simplifying solutions to customers.
* Deepening partnerships and creating new ones.
* Increasing broadband speeds in 20 key markets.
* Improving productivity.
* Balancing investments with shareholder rewards.
Mueller took over the top job when Dick Notebaert left Qwest in August.
JDSU introduces 3 new OTDRs
By Mike Robuck
JDSU has unveiled three field-interchangeable, single-slot plug-in OTDRs for the T-BERD/MTS-6000 and T-BERD/MTS-8000 platforms.
Each of the new OTDR modules – for very short-range (VSRe), medium-range (MR) and long-range (LR) environments – provides a different combination of price and performance for the respective types of networks that are being tested. The VSRe module is geared toward FTTx/access networks, the MR to metro/regional networks and the LR to core networks.
All three OTDRs were developed to help telecommunications and cable operator field teams, system vendor field installation and service teams, and contractors install and troubleshoot fiber networks.
Each OTDR has one-button automated bi-directional OTDR testing that helps save time and reduce errors in the field, according to JDSU. Together, the OTDRs provide a combination of dynamic range and dead-zones, empowering best-in-class optical performance.
Nortel charges Vonage with patent infringement
By Brian Santo
Nortel Networks is suing Vonage, claiming that Vonage violated nine patents related to Internet phone services and related features, such as 911 and 411 calling and click-to-call. The action is a counter-suit.
In 2004, Digital Packet Licensing (DPL) sued Nortel for infringement of three of its patents. Last year, Vonage purchased those three patents from DPL. After acquiring the patents, Vonage decided to continue the suit against Nortel.
In the past year, Vonage has been sued by several companies for patent infringement and has recently settled with AT&T, Sprint and Verizon.
Broadband Briefs for 12/17/07
* Comcast names Victor as SVP of strategic, financial planning
By Traci Patterson
Comcast Corp. has named Robert S. Victor as the company’s SVP of strategic and financial planning, effective Jan. 7. Victor will report to Michael J. Angelakis, Comcast’s CFO.
Victor will join Comcast from The Boston Consulting Group (BCG), where he started his career in 1988. He currently serves as a partner and managing director in BCG’s Washington, D.C., office and heads the firm’s technology, media and telecommunications practice on the East Coast.
* Verizon brings FiOS TV to Chesapeake, Va.
By Traci Patterson
Verizon has extended its FiOS TV service into parts of Chesapeake, Va., as the telco introduces its fiber optic network in the state. Last week, Verizon launched the video service in Oregon, bringing the total number of states that FiOS TV is offered in to 13.
* Clearwire taps into 50th market
By Mike Robuck
Clearwire Corp. announced today that it has reached its 50th worldwide market with a deployment in Rochester, N.Y. Rochester is Clearwire’s second market in New York, preceded by Syracuse. Clearwire is currently deployed in 46 U.S. markets and four European markets.
“We’re very excited to enter the Rochester market with our fast Internet service that will provide area business and residents the freedom to travel wirelessly across the city,” said Lynette Sharp, regional VP for Clearwire in Rochester, in a statement.
* Atheros adds pair of 802.11n Wi-Fi chips for gateways
By Brian Santo
Atheros Communications announced two single-chip 802.11n Wi-Fi chips developed expressly for the carrier gateway market. One is a dual-band version operating at 2.4 GHz and 5 GHz; the other is a single-band chip operating at 2.4 GHz.
The chips are the second implementations of Atheros’ new single-chip 11n design, which follows last month’s introduction of the company’s half-mini card for PCI Express (PCIe), a compact 802.11n solution for PCs. Both will be available for sampling in January.
* Wi-Fi Alliance promotes Figueroa to exec. director
By Traci Patterson
The Wi-Fi Alliance has named Edgar Figueroa as the organization’s new executive director. For the past several years, Figueroa has led the operations for the alliance’s certification program – Wi-Fi Certified. He was instrumental in establishing the alliance’s headquarters in Austin, Texas, and the research and development lab in Santa Clara, Calif. He succeeds Frank Hanzlik, the Wi-Fi Alliance’s managing director from 2004-07.
“There are more than 350 million Wi-Fi users, and the proliferation continues with its wide acceptance in an increasing variety of consumer electronics and with the advent of 802.11n technology,” said Figueroa. “I look forward to working with the Wi-Fi Alliance and its members as we enter a new phase of our growth, in new markets and in new geographies.”
* Cisco’s WebEx, Jamcracker offering WebEx via JSDN
By Traci Patterson
Cisco’s WebEx and Jamcracker have teamed up to give service providers the ability to offer WebEx WebOffice via the Jamcracker Services Delivery Network (JSDN) – which enables telcos, Internet service providers (ISPs), value-added resellers (VARs) and SaaS (Software as a Service) vendors to deliver on-demand services to businesses and consumers.
WebEx WebOffice offers hosted e-mail, access to Web meetings, document sharing, group calendaring, task management, threaded discussions and a database with multiple templates.
