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Date: Tuesday, March 07, 2000, 1:49 PM -0500
From: Faulkner Mail Server <mailserver@faulknerinfo.com>
To: ???
Subject: Faulkner's Comm Flash 03/07/2000 - (Part 1 of 3)

TOP OF THE NEWS

	 * GTE Rolls-Out Self Installation Kits for DSL 
	 * Alcatel Puchaces Newbridge for $7.1 Billion	
	 * PCCW Acquires C&W's Stake in C&W HKT	
	 * Cabletron Divides Into Four Independent Companies	 

======================================================================
Alliances/Joint Ventures 
	 AOL signed a memorandum of understanding with Time Warner, creating a
framework through which Time Warner will offer AOL and other ISPs access to
its broadband cable systems. The MOU is a first step towards a binding
agreement and provides open access detail.
	 Cisco Systems reported it formed a global business alliance with Germany's
Deutsche Telekom AG. Cisco will work together with Telekom to develop
technology and services, and Telekom will have access to Cisco's technology.
	 The Microelectronics Group of Lucent Technologies inked an agreement to
form a joint venture with DiCon Fiberoptics, a privately-held provider of
optical components. The venture, LD Fiberoptics, will combine Lucent's
automated optical packaging and testing techniques with DiCon's optical
telecommunications technology. Through the venture, the companies plan to
develop a line of integrated passive optical components. Lucent will control
51 percent of LD Fiberoptics, while DiCon will hold 49 percent.
	 Marconi Plc reported it won a 13.5 million pounds contract with Greece's
main telephone operator OTE, to provide a range of SDH telecommunications
transmission equipment and network management, as well as a contract for 5.3
million pounds to extend its leased line network.
	 In the course of a day, SingTel inked a deal to sell a four-percent stake
to Rupert Murdoch's News Corp for $1 billion, only to see it fall through
when SingTel bailed out of the bidding for HKT, allowing Pacific Century
CyberWorks to win the company. SingTel announced later that talks with News
Corp were to continue.
	 Time Warner and ABC stopped negotiations that would allow Time Warner to
carry ABC's Houston affiliate KTRK on its cable network. Time Warner
customers in the Houston area, numbering 665,000, will lose the station if
no agreement is made. Both companies began publicity campaigns blaming each
other for the impasse.
	 Toshiba reported it is considering April to begin talks with AOL and Time
Warner to create an arrangement in which Toshiba would offer AOL and Time
Warner's services in Japan through the Internet.

Broadband/Cable Networking 
	 3Com released the 3Com HomeConnect Cable Modem External and the
	 HomeConnect Cable Modem TMI for high-speed Internet access. The External
is
interoperable with a DOCSIS head-end and delivers real-time streaming and
voice transmission. The TMI can be used with Windows-based PCs and PC OEMs.
	 AT&T Broadband and Internet Services entered into an agreement with Nortel
Networks and ANTEC in which ANTEC will supply cable telephony products,
using Arris, a Nortel/ANTEC joint venture, to AT&T Broadband markets in
Chicago, San Francisco, Denver, Dallas, Hartford, Pittsburgh, Salt Lake
City, and Seattle.
	 CIENA Corporation introduced MultiWave Metro One, an intelligent optical
transport product designed to expand the broadband Internet in MANs by
breaking the cost barriers of legacy SONET/SDH products.
	 Copper Mountain Networks and 3Com reported they expanded their strategic
alliance, whereby 3Com will distribute the entire CopperRocket product line,
including IADs and IMUX devices, on an OEM basis under the 3Com brand. In
addition, Copper Mountain and 3Com will collaborate on the design of future
DSL CPE products.
	 ECI Telecom launched XDM, an optical platform that integrates the
functionality of DWDM and SDH multiplexers, IP routing, and ATM switching.
The company claims that the XDM system can terminate terabit fibre and offer
direct subscriber connections at speeds of 64K bps to 10G bps
simultaneously. Efficient Networks released its SpeedStream 5781 Dual
	 Ethernet Broadband Internet Router for the small business market.
	 General DataComm reported a $19 million order from Twister Communications
Network for GDC ATM broadband networking equipment, expanding Twister
Communications' network to a total of more than $26 million in GDC broadband
products. Twister Communications is aggressively constructing a nationwide
next generation telecommunications network and plans to serve every Local
Access and Transport Area in the United States.
	 GTE began rolling out self-installation kits for its DSL equipment. The
kits include an external DSL modem and the necessary microfilters, removing
the need for a technician to come to the customer's home to install the
equipment. Although, customers can still opt to have a technician install
the equipment for an $80 installation fee.
	 Lucent Technologies reported it will be joining the recently formed
10-Gigabit Ethernet Alliance, who's mission is to promote 10-Gigabit
Ethernet for LAN, MAN, and WAN markets, and to support the IEEE 802.3
Gigabit Ethernet standards process.
	 In addition, Lucent Technologies introduced the WaveStar DataExpress 10G.
The DataExpress is designed to carry IP traffic at speeds of up to 10G bps.
It supports both the SONET and SDH standards. Metromedia Fiber Network is
the first company to use the system in its network.
	 Sony will create a broadband unit to carry high-speed Internet
entertainment services. Emily Susskind will lead the new unit.
	 Telstra and Austar United reported plans to join forces to build a
broadband network across the country. The two Aussie companies said they
will form Telstra Saturn, an equally owned joint venture, to build the NZ$1
billion network. Once completed, the network will be used to offer local
calling, e-commerce services, and pay television.

Carriers and Carrier Services 
	 The FCC ordered four Wisconsin LECs - Ameritech Wisconsin, GTE North,
Century Telephone Enterprises, and Telephone Data Systems - to submit their
payphone lines rates to the agency to review to determine compliance with
the FCC's new services test. The FCC stated that the payphone lines must be
based on cost, and therefore may not be set artificially high in order to
contribute to other LEC services The ruling could reduce the cost Payphone
Services Providers (PSPs) pay per month from $65.00 to $40.00.
	 AT&T filed a petition with the West Virginia Public Service Commission
requesting that Bell Atlantic be ordered to reduce access fees charged to
customers to connect in-state toll calls by $27.6 million. In the filing,
AT&T cited that Bell Atlantic charges long distance companies $0.075 per
minute to connect toll calls to its local network when the actual costs are
less than a penny per minute. AT&T contends that the inflated rates are 650
percent above costs. Bell Atlantic retaliated, accusing AT&T of attempting
to eliminate the charges it pays to Bell Atlantic for completing long
distance calls and slash the funding that keeps the local rates affordable.
	 Global Crossing bought an $80 million cable link to Ireland, which will
connect the country to the US telco's global network. The fiber-optic cable,
expected to be operational by June 30, will have the capacity to handle up
to 30 million phone calls simultaneously.
	 Level 3 Communications and Global Crossing formed an agreement whereby
Global Crossing will acquire a 50 percent ownership interest in the Level 3
transatlantic fiber-optic cable under construction. Under the co-build
agreement, Level 3 and Global Crossing will each separately own and operate
two of the four fiber pairs on this transatlantic cable. Landing stations
are on Long Island in the United States and on the West Coast of the United
Kingdom.
	 SBC Communications agreed to sell the long distance network assets of
Ameritech Communications to Williams Communications. The transaction will
transfer ownership of Ameritech's 2200-route mile operational fiber-optic
network, including rights of way, equipment, and facilities, in Michigan,
Ohio, Illinois, Indiana, and Wisconsin, to Williams.
	 Williams Communications and Telia announced an agreement to a
	 $440-million, capacity swap. Williams will receive capacity on Telia's
28,000 mile, pan-European network and the TAT-14 trans-Atlantic submarine
system, which is slated to go live by the end of the year. In exchange,
Telia will receive capacity on William's 11,000 mile US network. The deal
is good for 20 years.

Electronic Business 
	 Deutsche Telekom formed a partnership with Intershop and Compaq Computer
	 to develop a virtual market for e-commerce shoppers. DT also joined
forces with Cisco Systems to grow its phone network. Thirdly, DT awarded
Lucent Technologies a three-year, multimillion contract to build a
fiber-optic network across Germany. The network will have a maximum
capacity of 400G bps and is slated for completion in 2002.
	 Sprint Canada and HP Canada forged a strategic alliance to deliver
e-commerce products to small and medium-sized businesses in Canada.
Companies that want to do business over the Internet can transfer their
e-commerce needs to Sprint Canada to build and host an online storefront.

Financial News 
	 ADC Telecommunications is investing about $43 million to build a
manufacturing facility in Scotland specializing in broadband connectivity
products. The plant will be built at Glenrothes, Fife, and a workforce of
about 1,100 will be built up over five years.
	 Adelphia Business Solutions announced that revenues for the forth quarter
increased to $55.6 million, 269 percent over results for the same quarter in
1998. Net loss was $(52.4) million, or $(1.01) loss per share, compared to a
net loss of $(29.6) million, or $(0.60) loss per share. For the year,
revenues increased by 290 percent from 1998, to $154.6 million. Net loss for
the year was $(165.5) million, or $(3.47) loss per share, compared to a loss
of $(93.3) million, or $(2.49) loss per share for 1998.
	 The board of directors of Bell Atlantic authorized the repurchase of up to
80 million shares of its common stock. Bell Atlantic will repurchase shares
over time in the open market, with the amount and timing depending on market
conditions. In addition, the board rescinded a previous authorization to
buyback up to $1.4 billion in company shares over a two-year period that
ends September 30, 2000.
	 Bouygues announced that it will sell two million shares for 745 euros
	 each, giving the company 1.5 billion euros to leverage in developing its
wireless Internet services.
	 Due to poor financial results for 1999, BT is reportedly considering
spinning off Yellow Pages, its phone directory unit valued at $8 billion, or
BT Cellnet, its cellular division valued at $48 billion. The company's value
is less than half of European market leader Deutsche Telekom. If BT's
results and market share continue to slide, the company could find itself a
target for acquisition. SBC and Deutsche Telekom are rumored to be
interested in making a play for the company.
	 Centigram reported first quarter 2000 revenues of $19.0 million, compared
to revenues of $20.2 million for the 1999's first quarter. Net income was
$1.2 million, or $0.18 per share, compared with a net loss of $(679,000), or
$(0.10) per share for the first quarter of 1999.
	 CIENA Corporation reported revenues of $152.2 million for its first fiscal
quarter ended January 31, 2000, compared to revenues of $100.4 million for
the same quarter of 1998. Net income for the first quarter was $9.1 million,
or $0.06 per diluted share, compared to a net loss of $(1.9) million, or
$(0.01) per diluted share which the company reported for the first quarter
of 1999.
	 Comcast reported consolidated revenues for the fourth quarter 1999 were
$1.832 billion. Net loss for the company was $174.2 million, or $0.24 per
diluted share. Revenues for the fiscal year 1999 were $6.21 billion, which
is a 20.7 percent increase from 1998's $5.145 billion. Net income, was
$1.066 billion, or $1.30 per share, compared to the company's 1998 net
income of $972.1 million, or $1.21 per share.
	 France Telecom reported consolidated revenues for fiscal 1999 rose 10.5
percent over results from 1998 to 27.2 million euros. Of these, revenues
from mobile communications rose by 50.8 percent from 1998 to four million
euros, revenues from international operations increased by 48.7 percent in
1998 to 3.6 million euros, and revenues from fixed-line telephony and other
services increased by 2.3 percent in 1998 to $21.6 million. Net income was
2.8 million euros, compared to 2.3 million euros for 1998. In related news,
Telekomunikacja Polska is considering buying out the company's stake in a
$4-billion mobile joint venture.
	 ICG Communications reported that revenues for 1999 increased 58 percent
over results from 1998 to $497.2 million. Net loss was $(466.5) million, or
$(9.90) loss per share. For the fourth quarter, revenues rose 45 percent to
$142.1 million. Net loss was $(100) million, or $(2.10) loss per share.
	 MediaOne reported fourth quarter revenues of $693 million, up from $643
million for the same quarter in 1998. Net income was $3.65 billion, or $5.55
per share, an increase from a net loss of $(338) million, or $(0.58) per
share from the same quarter of the previous year.
	 Newbridge Networks reported third quarter 2000 revenues of C$521 million,
compared to C$451 million last year. WAN packet revenue increased by 20
percent to $408 million from the third quarter of the previous year, and
represented 78 percent of its total revenue. Net income was C$33.9 million,
or C$0.19 per share, compared to C$47 million, or C$0.26 per share for the
same quarter of 1998.
	 Novell stock has tumbled 27 percent since reporting first-quarter sales on
February 17. It reported a net income of $45 million, or 13 cents a share,
up 55 percent, from $29 million, or 8 cents a share, in the year-ago period.
Sales rose 11 percent to $316 million, but were 2 percent short of what
analysts had expected.
	 Rhythms NetConnections reported that revenues for the fourth quarter 1999
increased from $280,000 for the fourth quarter of 1998, to $5.5 million. Net
loss for the fourth quarter of 1999 was $(90.3) million, or $(1.23) per
diluted share, compared to $(15.3) million, or $(0.68) per diluted share for
the same quarter in 1998. For the fiscal year 1999, revenues rose from
$528,000 in 1998, to $11.1 million. Net loss was $(218.9) million, or
$(4.15) per diluted share, compared to a net loss of $(36.3) million, or
$(12.18) per diluted share for fiscal 1998.
	 SingTel plans to float stakes in four of its Internet units: National
Computer Systems, Mercuriz, Sesami.com, and LycosAsia. The company reported
that the money it generates will be used to fund acquisitions of ISPs in
Japan, Hong Kong, China, India, Southeast Asia, and Australia. SingTel is
negotiating with Cable & Wireless about acquiring a controlling interest in
C&W HKT.
	 Sprint acquired additional shares in EarthLink Network, raising its stake
in the ISP to 14.6 percent. The move follows Apple Computer's $200 million
investment in EarthLink. Under the terms of Sprint and EarthLink's existing
alliance, any time there are investments in EarthLink, Sprint has the option
of purchasing additional EarthLink stock to bring its investment back to the
level it was before the investment.
	 T-Mobil, the mobile arm of Deutsche Telekom, reported that sales in 1999
rose 30 percent over results from 1998 to five billion euros. It did not
release any earnings information. In related news, T-Online, DT's Internet
business, announced that it is teaming up with Compaq and Microsoft to
develop Web portals and other servers for wireless Internet users.
	 Telecom New Zealand reported that operating revenues for the second
quarter, ending December 31, 1999, rose 4.4 percent to NZ$897 million. Net
income was NZ$197 million, or NZ$0.112 gain per share.

Internet 
	 BT reported that it will begin offering free Internet access from 6 pm to
midnight. Additionally, it will lower subscription fees by 15 percent. The
company sited increasingly harsh competition as the reasons behind the cuts.
Customers already receive free access during weekends.
	 F5 Networks released version 3.0 of its BIG-IP Controller, which offers
Internet traffic and content controls designed to protect users from system
failure and optimizing response times to user requests and data flow.
Version 3.0 offers a mode called Active-Active, which ensures that identical
information is shared by two BIG-IP Controllers.
	 IBM released software that will make it easier to obtain information from
the Internet using a variety of wireless applications and devices. IBM's
WebSphere Transcoding Publisher will make it possible to take current Web
content and deliver it in a format that can be used by smart phones,
car-based Web browsers, and personal digital assistants.
	 Spanish savings bank La Caixa agreed to join the strategic alliance
	 between Telefonica and Banco Bilbao Vizcaya Argentaria to develop
Internet services. La Caixa will hold a 20-percent stake in the company
being created out of the deal, and will own a five-percent stake in the
consortium of companies seeking a NMTS mobile operator license in Europe.
In return, the bank will invest $200 million in the venture.
	 Telia joined Ericsson and Volvo to form WirelessCar, a joint venture that
will bring Internet services to the auto industry. The venture will be
equally owned, but the partners plan to bring on additional investors later.
	 Yahoo! introduced Yahoo Entertainment Guide. The service gives users a
range of customized on and off-line entertainment options, including local
concerts, festivals, sporting events, clubs, restaurants, movies, TV
listings, and online Net events.

LAN/Intranet 
	 Sony and Intel agreed to cooperate in the home networking business to link
consumer electronics products and personal computers. The two companies
reported they plan to work together to promote Sony's "Memory Stick" compact
storage device to link PCs to digital electronic products such as digital
videocameras, digital cameras, and portable music players.
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Missy Harvey
Computer Science Librarian
Engineering & Science Library
Carnegie Mellon University
Pittsburgh, PA  15213

http://www.library.cmu.edu/usr/missy/

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