3/30/98
Road Runner to Build Regional Architecture
GI to Use Technology from Broadcom, Mot & QED for OpenCable Box
Road Runner Introduces Corporate Data Services
UPC to Launch Data Services in Europe
Rock Hill, Fort Mill & Catawba to Deploy Hybrid's Cable Modems
MSOs Introduce Non-Profit Effort to Promote Cable Modems
Hitachi Introduces MCNS Chips
Comcast to Launch @Home in Charleston
@Home to Feature Content from SoftwareNow
Icon CMT Becomes Reseller for Hybrid Networks
Kawasaki Introduces USB to Ethernet Controller
Broadband Bob Report Available in Japanese
Kagan To Sponsor High-Speed Data Conference
TCA Cable Purchases an ISP
Road Runner to Build Regional Architecture
Road Runner has announced that it is changing its network architecture to a
regional design. The new design will allow many of the service functions
to be managed centrally, reducing the responsibilities of affiliate
operators. The regional centers will handle:
-network management & monitoring
-Internet connectivity
-2nd and 3rd level customer service
-billing interfaces, provisioning, account management & security
-content distribution
In cooperation with MediaOne, Road Runner plans to introduce 12 - 14
regional centers in the U.S.
Road Runner is building its first regional center in upstate New York. The
company is interconnecting headends from Time Warner systems in Syracuse,
Rochester and Binghamton. Syracuse and Rochester have already been linked
and there are plans to have Binghamton connected in the near future.
Fujitsu is providing dual OC-48 rings for network transport and Cisco is
supplying GSR routers and switches. Sun is providing servers. Motorola is
providing its CyberSURFR cable modems and Toshiba is integrating the entire
network.
Cisco is hoping that its work with the MSO will lead to uBR sales. The
router giant claims that Time Warner is already "evaluating" the CMTS.
Road Runner
http://www.rr.com
Time Warner
http://www.timewarner.com
GI to Use Technology from Broadcom, Mot & QED for OpenCable Box
General Instrument has announced that it will use technology from Broadcom,
Motorola, and Quantum Effect Design for the silicon portion of its
OpenCable set-top.
Broadcom has been selected to provide integrated silicon solutions for the
transmission and control functions and audio, video and graphical
functions. The company will also develop advanced features for the box's
cable modem.
Motorola will supply GI with its 68331 processor along with the integration
of its double speed clock version. Quantum Effect Design will supply the
CPU including the QED MIPS RM5230, which features a 233 MIPS 175 MHz
processor.
General Instrument
http://www.gi.com
Broadcom
http://www.broadcom.com
Motorola
http://www.mot.com
Quantum Effect Design
http://www.qedinc.com
Road Runner Introduces Corporate Data Services
Road Runner has introduced its business services, launching its offerings
to the Columbus market. The corporate services will be available through
two packages. The small business package will include a connection to a
single PC, five POP email addresses, 15 MB of web server space and FTP
functionality for $79.95 per month. The service requires a one-year
contract. The LAN package will include a connection to the LAN's proxy
server, a dedicated IP address, 10 POP email accounts, and 25 MB of server
storage space for $499 per month. A 2-year contract is required.
Both packages include additional options such as the addition of more PCs,
more server space, additional email accounts and selected news feeds.
Pricing for these options and package installation fees were not disclosed.
Road Runner claims that it has received more than 260 inquiries regarding
business services.
Road Runner
http://www.rr.com
UPC to Launch Data Services in Europe
United Pan-Europe Communications (UPC) has announced that it will launch a
widespread Internet access service to its European systems. The service,
to be known as Goldmine, will be established as a content-rich online
service similar to @Home. Goldmine will be introduced to UPC systems in
Austria, Belgium, the Netherlands, and Norway. A turnkey Goldmine package
will also be offered to non-UPC affiliated cable operators.
Goldmine will be rolled out in the "near future."
UPC is Europe's largest privately owned MSO. It operates systems in Israel
and 13 European countries. UPC's systems pass 3.7 million homes and serve
2.5 million video subscribers. Upon completion of a merger with Dutch
Energy Company NUON, the MSOs homes passed with jump to 4.3 million.
Contact: Mark Schneider, CEO of UPC
TEL: +44 (171) 518-7980
Email: marks@uih.com
United International Holdings
http://www.uih.com
Catawba-Managed Cable Systems to Deploy Hybrid's Cable Modems
Hybrid Networks has announced that its data over cable system will be
deployed by five South Carolina systems including Rock Hill CATV, Lancaster
CATV, Palmetto CATV, York CATV, and Great Falls CATV. The systems are
managed by Catawba Services. The Internet services will be offered in
conjunction with a consortium that includes Rock Hill, Lancaster and Fort
Mill telephone companies.
The group will launch Internet access services to York County on April 6
and expand to Lancaster County on April 20. Residential services will run
$39.95 per month in addition to a one-time installation fee of $99.95.
Hybrid Networks
http://www.hybrid.com
MSOs Introduce Non-Profit Effort to Promote Cable Modems
The major U.S. MSOs have organized a non-profit organization known as the
Cable Broadband Solutions Forum (CBSF), which has been established to
promote cable modems. The group, incorporated last January was founded due
to fears that ADSL's press coverage would provide the telcos with a
competitive advantage in the high-speed data marketplace. CBSF's board of
directors consists of senior executives from TCI, Time Warner, Comcast,
MediaOne, and @Home.
CBSF has established a partnership program to build funding. To date, 35
partners have joined the program including MSOs, vendors and service
providers. Cisco was the group's first partner. You can join the crowd
for $10,000. Current vendor participants include:
*Bay Networks
*Cisco
*Com21
*DEC
*GI
*Intel
*Microsoft
*Motorola
*NEC
*Phasecom
*Samsung
*Scientific Atlanta
*Sun
*Terayon
To date, the group has joined for one meeting, which was held at Microsoft
in Redmond, WA. CBSF plans to meet again at the upcoming NCTA show in May.
Hitachi Semiconductor Introduces MCNS Chips
Hitachi Semiconductor has introduced two DSP-based, MCNS-compliant
processors. Its 64/256 QAM demod is known as the HD49430F and its upstream
mod is referred to as the HD49429F. The demod will ship in a 100-pin PZFP
and run $13.95 in quantities of 50,000. The upstream modulator will also
ship in 100-pin PQFP and will cost $6.30 in 50,000 quantities. Samples are
available now. Volume availability is expected in Q'2.
Hitachi Semiconductor
http://www.hitachi.com/semiconductor
Comcast to Launch @Home in Charleston
Comcast Cablevision of Carolina has announced that it will invest millions
in a HFC upgrade and will launch @Home service to its Charleston
subscribers in '98. The system will provide a free cable modem and
complimentary connectivity to all public and private schools and all public
libraries that it passes.
Comcast Cablevision serves nearly 100,000 video subs.
In a separate announcement, Comcast's Philadelphia system reports that it
will promote its data services at the Comcast Chestnut Hill Garden
Festival, an annual event sponsored by the MSO. The 10-day celebration
begins on May 1.
Comcast
http://www.comcast.com
@Home to Feature Content from SoftwareNow
@Home has announced that it will carry content from Release Software.
@Home will feature the company's site which offers SoftwareNow, allowing
users to download a wide variety of shareware programs. In addition to
evaluating programs in a standard shareware process, SoftwareNow also
allows users to rent programs. SoftwareNow's system is able to charge
users on a pay-per-view basis. Software categories include games,
personal finance, and productivity programs.
@Home
http://www.home.net
Release Software
http://www.releasesoft.com
Icon CMT Becomes Reseller for Hybrid Networks
Hybrid Networks has announced that Icon CMT will resell its networks. Icon
CMT is a tier-one Internet service provider. The deal most likely suggests
that Icon CMT intends to become a cable ISP.
Hybrid Networks
http://www.hybrid.com
Icon CMT
http://www.icon.com
Kawasaki Introduces USB to Ethernet Controller
Kawasaki LSI has announced the introduction of a USB to Ethernet controller
known as KCUSB16. It has been designed to connect cable modems to a
standard 10BaseT network. The device integrates a USB transceiver, an
Ethernet MAC, a 16-bit controller, a PHY layer IC on a single chip. The
chip will eliminate the need for Ethernet-based PC cards.
Sample quantities are currently available. Volume availability is expected
in the 2nd quarter. KCUSB16 will be shipped in 100-pin QFP or flip-chip
BGA packaging. In quantities of 10,000, the controller will go for less
than $20.
Kawasaki LSI
http://www.klsi.com
Broadband Bob Report Available in Japanese
Nihongo de access dekimasu. CATV CyberLab has teamed with Fujikura to
provide a version of the Broadband Bob Report in the Japanese language.
Each week, Fujikura will translate the report into Japanese and upload it
to the CATV CyberLab web site. The report should provide Japanese readers
with a more user-friendly reference to the week's news.
The Japanese version is currently available along with archived issues from
this year. Only Japanese-enabled operating systems will properly display
the content.
Broadband Bob Report (Japanese version)
/bbb/japanese
Kagan To Sponsor High-Speed Data Conference
Paul Kagan and Associates will sponsor a conference on the high-speed data
market, which will be held April 8-9 at the Park Lane Hotel in NYC. The
conference will feature eight roundtable forums including:
April 8
*Forecasting the Future: High Speed Penetration & Revenue Projections
*High Speed Bonanza: The Equipment Market Heats Up
*High Speed Content: Breaking New Barriers
*View from the Trenches: Cable's Experience with High Speed Service
April 9
*Competition on the Rise: Telco Digital High Speed Access
*Sleeping Giants Awake: Silicon Valley's Role in High Speed Access
*New Revenue Streams: Moving Beyond Subscription Fees
*High Speed & Corporate Values: Bankers & Brokers Weigh In
The confirmed speakers for the High Speed Data to the TV and PC conference
include:
*Bruce Ravenel (Sr. VP, TCI)
*Tim Evard (Pres/CEO, Road Runner)
*Richard Gringas (VP, @Home)
*Mark Wegleitner (VP, Bell Atlantic)
*John Burke (VP, GI)
*Paul Pishal (Director, S-A)
*Dick Day (VP, Mot)
*David Limp (VP, Network Computer)
*Parker Blackwell (Director, GTE)
*Jorge Salinger (Sr. Director, Adelphia)
*Ed Huguez (VP, DirecTV)
*Jeff Morris (Sr. VP, Showtime Networks)
*Rick Edson (Sr. VP, 3Com)
*Hal Krisbergh (Chairman/CEO, WorldGate)
*Frank Cotter (Pres, Rogers WAVE)
*Karl May (VP, Bay)
*Bill Rodey (VP, Westell)
*Jonathan Taplin (Chairman/CEO, Intertainer)
*William Bauer (Pres/CEO, WinDBreak Cable)
*Mike Bresnan (Sr. VP, Bresnan Comm)
*Manish Bhatia (VP, Nielsen)
*Ric Fulop (CEO, Arepa)
*Jon Fram (Bloomberg TV)
*Hassan Miah (Pres/CEO, Xing)
*Dale Hatfield (Chief Technologist, FCC)
*Gary Lauder (General Partner, Lauder Partners)
*James Parmalee (VP, Deutsche Morgan Grenfell)
*Joseph Duggan (Sr. VP, Waller Capital)
*Spencer Grimes (Analyst, Salomon Smith Barney)
Paul Kagan & Assoc
http://www.pkbaseline.com
TCA Cable Purchases an ISP
TCA Cable has announced that it will acquire Internet Tyler, a dial-up ISP.
TCA will use the company in conjunction with its high speed data services,
which will initially be launched in Texas. TCA's initial services will
feature Terayon's cable modems.
TCA
http://www.tca-cable.com
Internet Tyler
http://www.tyler.net
Terayon
http://www.terayon.com
© Copyright 2000 Gecko Research & Publishing
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