Telecom, Telephone, and Communications News

What a hectic week I've had! Not allowed to connect from the customers LAN to my personal email accounts (security issue), so my communications have been difficult to say the least. Plus I had a bitch of a time buying an Italian SIM card, but did finally succeed on Tuesday morning.

Plus I am dealing with way too many levels of reporting on this project. At least my Nortel contact seems to be a good guy and has been very helpful. At least I think I have managed to get my own responsibilties straight (more than what I thought when I took this contract). Not complaining though, this is a very interesting project. It is re-awakening my centrex and ACD skills. I have been doing wireless for so long I have to smack the old head every once in a while to re-set the proccessor.

Enough of that, here's the news.

Bellsouth released the following on thursday:

Class of Service Options Assign Higher Network Priority to BusinessApplications like Voice over IP and Video

ATLANTA - March 31, 2005 - BellSouth (NYSE: BLS) today announced the availability of Network VPN Class of Service, a feature that enables enterprise customers to assign higher levels of priority to critical data traffic traveling on BellSouth's managed IP-VPN network. BellSouth is the first provider to deliver quality of service levels based on traffic prioritization from the customer premises all the way through its core network, ensuring hierarchical routing of data.

For the full story see BellSouth

More to follow, I'm doing my laundry, then heading to the cathredal down the street, to say a prayer for the Pope.

U.S. Department of Defense Secures Voice Network Using Nortel Solution

Reduces Network Costs, Prepares for Circuit-to-Packet Migration

WASHINGTON – The United States Department of Defense (DoD) has chosen a Nortel* [NYSE/TSX: NT] solution to enhance its communications network, support introduction of new applications, and improve control and responsiveness in times of crisis – all at reduced operational cost to the government and taxpayers.

Nortel and DoD’s Defense Information Systems Agency (DISA) – with help from systems integrators General Dynamics and CSC – have designed a network solution that will leverage existing communications equipment. By upgrading hardware and adding new software, the entire DoD managed voice network will be transformed into a private network under complete DoD control.

This solution also puts DISA in a position to easily move from circuit to packet applications on its own timetable, enabling cost reductions and addition of new applications.

DISA spent several years creating an implementation plan to provide increased security and to remedy some of the shortcomings of the current Defense Switched Network (DSN).

“Today more than ever, the networking technology decisions made by the Department of Defense will help shape this country's ability to serve its citizens' needs, respond to threats, and analyze and use information to protect citizens, property and infrastructure,” said Chuck Saffell, president, Federal Solutions, Nortel. “Nortel worked closely with DoD to custom-design a solution that would support mission-critical communications while reducing operational costs and increasing the efficient use of the existing infrastructure.”

Read the full story at Nortel Networks

Just read this on the Bell Canada site.

Telesat pioneers next-generation EMS technology on Anik F2 satellite

EMS-designed "switch in the sky" paves the way for future broadband services

OTTAWA, March 24 -- Telesat, one of the world's leading satellite operators, today announced that it has completed in-orbit testing of a next-generation digital broadband on-board signal processor on Anik F2, one of the largest commercial communications satellites ever launched. The successful tests of this "broadband switch in the sky" will now enable Telesat to undertake follow-on applications development work.

The experimental "SpaceMux" on-board processor (OBP), designed and supplied by the Space & Technology/Montreal division of EMS Technologies, Inc. (NASDAQ: ELMG), makes it possible to provide direct user-to-user broadband connectivity for "spot-beam" systems such as the one deployed at Ka-band on Telesat's Anik F2 satellite.

"Anik F2's 'broadband switch in the sky' is a major technological achievement," said Larry Boisvert, Telesat's President and CEO. "Telesat's partnership with EMS Technologies will help us develop the advanced broadband services of the future."

Spot beam systems are the way of the future for low-cost broadband two-way communications via satellite. The SpaceMux OBP has been designed to permit direct user-to-user communications links for such spot beam systems. Rather than communicating through gateways on the ground, users that have a need to communicate directly with other satellite users can do so through the satellite OBP. The system will now undergo further testing involving a variety of applications using two Anik F2 Ka-band beams, one in the Toronto-Ottawa area and the other in the Vancouver area.

Read the full story on SpaceMux