Today's Top Stories Alcatel-Lucent (NYSE: ALU) is in talks to sell its cybersecurity unit to Thales as part of what it says is a broader partnership to address network security opportunities. This potential agreement, which would include the transfer of Alcatel-Lucent's network security assets to Thales, would allow Alcatel-Lucent to expand its position in the cybersecurity segment, one of the tenets of CEO Michel Combes' Shift Plan. The vendor would be able to offer new and existing customers a suite of security solutions that combine its integrated security expertise in telecommunication products with complementary services provided by Thales. Meanwhile, Thales would be able to grow its cybersecurity business. Alcatel-Lucent said this partnership is subject to a final definitive agreement and will become effective after the consultation of representative bodies, the execution of definitive agreements and obtaining necessary permissions. Today, Alcatel-Lucent runs its cybersecurity services and communications security activities in three sites in France--Villarceaux, near Paris, Toulouse and Orvault near Nantes--and in three other European countries (Germany, Belgium and UK). The potential sale of the cybersecurity division is part of a broader plan Combes embarked on last year to sell $1.37 billion of assets to turn the company around by the end of 2015. In December it sold its public sector subsidiary LGS Innovations to Madison Dearborn Partners and CoVant for $200 million, for example. For more:
- see the release
- Reuters has this article Related articles:
Alcatel-Lucent core networking revenues jump 6.9 percent to $1.8B on strong IP routing, transport sales
Alcatel-Lucent IP routing down 5.2 percent, but Q4 optical transport soars
Alcatel-Lucent sheds public sector division LGS Innovations for $200M
Alcatel-Lucent searches for another buyer for its struggling enterprise unit Read more about: Michel Combes, Corporate Security
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TDS Telecom has made another step towards bringing broadband to more hard-to-reach residents by completing another American Recovery and Reinvestment Act (ARRA) stimulus-funded broadband Internet project around Kellyville, Okla. When construction on this project is completed early this summer, TDS will be able to offer nearly 900 residents, including subscribers that live around Cyril, Elgin, Fletcher and Inola, a broadband connection. For this project, TDS will install about 40 miles of fiber-based cabling and 25 cabinets that will house necessary Broadband Loop Carrier (BLC) and related electronics throughout its Oklahoma Communication Systems territory. By using the ARRA grant funding, TDS said it has been able to expand broadband access to more than 28,000 households across the country. The service provider continues to make progress with its broadband stimulus projects. It recently completed a similar project in its home state of Wisconsin, which has extended service to 1,900 households. In addition, it partially completed projects in Kentucky, Mississippi and Tennessee. For more:
- see the release Special report: TDS' stimulus program will breathe broadband life into 27,000 rural households
Related articles:
TDS Telecom's hosted and managed services revenue jumps 77 percent to $63.1M
TDS completes central Wisconsin broadband stimulus project, extends service to 1,900 households
TDS completes parts of broadband stimulus projects in Kentucky, Mississippi and Tennessee Read more about: Broadband Access
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After revealing plans last month to kick off super-fast 1 Gbps Internet services, Cox Communications on Thursday revealed its roadmap for getting them launched. The Atlanta-based pay-TV and ISP provider announced that it will immediately begin building these services into select areas of Phoenix, Las Vegas and Omaha, Neb., with nationwide rollout scheduled to be completed by 2016. "We are excited about our road map to offer gigabit speeds to all our residential customers," said Cox Communications president Pat Esser. "Starting today, we will begin deploying new technology and infrastructure that will give customers the choice of gigabit speeds in all markets we serve." The rollout isn't exactly a secret: Esser told Bloomberg that Cox was planning to offer a 1-gig plan during April's NCTA Cable Show. Google (NASDAQ: GOOG) and AT&T (NYSE: T) have already began infiltrating select markets with 1 Gbps fiber-based networks. Google Fiber, for example, has already hit Kansas City and Provo, Utah, with plans to roll out in Austin, Texas with this year. Phoenix, meanwhile, is one of the 31 additional metropolitan markets Google is targeting. Cox is the largest pay-TV operator in that market, with 578,000 subscribers there, according to Bloomberg. For more:
- see this CNET story
- see this press release Related links:
Cox takes on AT&T and Google Fiber in 1 Gbps fiber race
Google Fiber to conduct small business pilot in Kansas City
Time Warner Cable bumps speeds for 100K Austin subs; service now tops out at 300 Mbps Read more about: AT&T
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Level 3 has appointed James O. Ellis Jr. as chairman of its board during its recent board of directors meeting. He succeeds Walter Scott Jr., who announced his retirement from the board last year after serving as chairman of Level 3 and its predecessor company Kiewit Diversified Group (KDG), a subsidiary of Peter Kiewit Sons' (PKS). Ellis comes to the chairman role with plenty of experience having been a member of the board since March 2005. In addition to the chairman role, Ellis also serves as chairman of the board's Classified Business and Security Committee and is a member of the Nominating and Governance Committee. Earlier, he served as the president and CEO of the Institute of Nuclear Power Operations from 2005 to 2012. A retired U.S. Navy admiral, Ellis is also currently a member of the board of directors of Lockheed Martin Corporation, Dominion Resources and Inmarsat PLC. Ellis' appointment is just one of many changes that the company has made to its management team and board. In 2012, the company named Jeff Storey as its new president and CEO. Storey took the reins over from company co-founder James Crowe, who announced he would step down at the end of last year. For more:
- see the release Related articles:
Level 3 Chairman Scott to retire in 2014
Level 3 adds space to Bogota data center to accommodate cloud growth
Level 3 expands Latin America fiber, Ethernet network to accommodate surging business growth
Level 3 expands CDN footprint in EMEA, Latin America, Asia Read more about: James O Ellis Jr
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Lawrence, Kan., is the latest city to propose building out its own fiber to the home (FTTH) network that will be able to offer the same 1 Gbps speeds Google Fiber (NASDAQ: GOOG) is offering today in Kansas City, reports the Lawrence Journal-World. The city is not entirely going it alone with this proposed project. On Tuesday, a city advisory board recommended that the city provide a $1 million guarantee for Lawrence-based Wicked Broadband to launch a pilot FTTH project. "The clock is ticking here," said Douglas County Commissioner Mike Gaughan, a member of the city's Public Incentives Review Committee. "We don't need to be falling further behind in getting high-speed Internet into the community." In a 3-2 vote, the city's incentives review board recommended that it approve the loan guarantee and other elements, including the use of some of Lawrence's own fiber, for the pilot. The proposal will be submitted to the Lawrence City Commission. Josh Montgomery, one of the two owners of Wicked Broadband, said that if the pilot works out they would be able to get private funding to provide the fiber-based service throughout the entire city. He expects the expansion of the service would cost $30 million. If the project is approved, Wicked Broadband would offer 1 Gbps residential fiber-based service for $99 a month and a "slightly slower" speed for $49 a month. Customers that want the service would be required to pay a one-time $300 construction fee. In addition to data, Montgomery told the Lawrence Journal-World it would offer TV service from about $20 to $50 a month. For more:
- Lawrence Journal-World has this article Related articles:
Google Fiber to conduct small business pilot in Kansas City
FCC's Wheeler wants to eliminate municipal broadband barriers
Muni broadband support flaring up again as digital divide widens
Maryland Sen. Pugh says Baltimore's broadband proposal is 'destructive' Read more about: FTTH, municipal broadband
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