Ethernet cost, fiber functionality: ADC puts native rates on fiber; IP voice sparks interest

Rainbow Advertising's choices for high-speed data links between its facility and those of its customers had been fairly limited and expensive. The New York-based company, which provides ad insertion services to local cable operators, typically paid about $45,000 a month for three DS-3 lines.

Enter ADC with its new Fast EtherRing switch, and the monthly bills fell to about $8000, said Alan Sawyer, director of technical operations for Rainbow.

Based on its new EtherRing technology, ADC unveiled the switch at this month's Western Cable Show as a low-cost option for high-capacity data users such as cable operators that want to connect headends into a regional structure. Not surprisingly, EtherRing is based on Ethernet, which provides the physical connection for 80% of the world's network interfaces, according to Bill Cadogan, chairman, CEO and president of ADC. However, the new technology also allows users to transport native-mode Ethernet data packets over fiber using switches that can be located up to 45 miles apart.

Previously, users had to convert data from Ethernet protocols to a fiber-based packet protocol, typically asynchronous transfer mode, token ring or fiber distributed data interface. And while all three physical layer formats work well, they come at a cost, said Michael Coden, president and CEO of Codenoll Technology, which originally developed the switch.

"These conversions are expensive in two ways," he said. "The data conversion itself is expensive because of the equipment required, and the data conversion adds a lot of overhead," making it expensive in terms of reduced backbone bandwidth.

With the new switch, users can begin with a simple 100 Mb/s stand-alone system and scale in 200 Mb/s increments up to 16 Mb/s on a single fiber. Additionally, the company offers the switch as a channel within its DV6000 digital video transmission system.

Based on a study by The Gartner Group, ADC estimates that users transmitting data over ATM/Sonet networks will save 50% to 80% on their overall hardware costs by eliminating the need for distributed routers and central switches. In its initial configuration, the company is positioning the new switch for those with dedicated fiber links. However, according to Coden, the concept would work on several network architectures.

In other Western show news:

* Vienna Systems teamed up with newcomer Integrity Inc. to demonstrate Internet protocol (IP) voice-over-cable modems. Although cable operators have shown interest in using their broadband networks to provide IP voice, a number of issues remain, said Caroline Somer, director of product management for Vienna. High on that list is the form factor IP voice-over-cable modems will take. At the show, the two demonstrated a Web-based system. "As the market matures, I think you may want a product that's integrated with the cable modem," said Somer.

* Scientific-Atlanta announced a contract extending its supply arrangements for 8600x advanced analog set-top boxes to MediaOne. The number of units may vary, but MediaOne is committed to buying 565,000 boxes with an option for 500,000 more.

* Tektronix showed off test products for digital cable TV, including the RFM151, a field tool with automated RF measurements for testing the levels and distortion of digitally modulated channels, and the TV220 time domain reflectometers, which can locate microreflections that previous units could not.

BELL ATLANTIC INKS MESSAGE DEAL Bell Atlantic Internet Solutions signed a multiyear agreement under which it will use Software.com's Internet messaging server. The contract is the third major deal Software.com has signed with a carrier. The company also supplies mail servers to the Internet business units of GTE and AT&T.

SET-TOP COMBO C-Cube Microsystems has combined its wholly owned subsidiary DiviCom with its digital video silicon development group to form the Consumer Network Products Division. The new division, which is supplying the system-level set-top design for BellSouth's wireless cable launch in New Orleans, will focus on supplying set-top vendors and content providers with silicon and design solutions.