TELECOM Digest Wed, 22 Jun 94 13:40:00 CDT Volume 14 : Issue 296 Inside This Issue: Editor: Patrick A. Townson Asia Telecom News (Cedric Hui) V.34 Standard is Agreed (Robert Shaw) Spectrum Allocation (Amy Berger) AMPS Inter-Operable With GSM? (Amy Berger) Looking for Erlang "B" Equation (Scott White) The Third Summer School on Telecommunications (Vesa Ruokonen) Help on Dial Line Protection From Storms! (Mike Foltz) Germany <-> Canda: Cheapest Rates? (poing@cs.tu-berlin.de) TELECOM Digest is an electronic journal devoted mostly but not exclusively to telecommunications topics. It is circulated anywhere there is email, in addition to various telecom forums on a variety of public service systems and networks including Compuserve and GEnie. It is also gatewayed to Usenet where it appears as the moderated newsgroup 'comp.dcom.telecom'. Subscriptions are available at no charge to qualified organizations and individual readers. Write and tell us how you qualify: * telecom-request@eecs.nwu.edu * The Digest is edited, published and compilation-copyrighted by Patrick Townson of Skokie, Illinois USA. You can reach us by postal mail, fax or phone at: 9457-D Niles Center Road Skokie, IL USA 60076 Phone: 708-329-0571 Fax: 708-329-0572 ** Article submission address only: telecom@eecs.nwu.edu ** Our archives are located at lcs.mit.edu and are available by using anonymous ftp. The archives can also be accessed using our email information service. For a copy of a helpful file explaining how to use the information service, just ask. ************************************************************************* * TELECOM Digest is partially funded by a grant from the * * International Telecommunication Union (ITU) in Geneva, Switzerland * * under the aegis of its Telecom Information Exchange Services (TIES) * * project. Views expressed herein should not be construed as represent-* * ing views of the ITU. * ************************************************************************* Additionally, the Digest is funded by gifts from generous readers such as yourself who provide funding in amounts deemed appropriate. Your help is important and appreciated. All opinions expressed herein are deemed to be those of the author. Any organizations listed are for identification purposes only and messages should not be considered any official expression by the organization. ---------------------------------------------------------------------- From: chui@netcom.com (Cedric Hui) Subject: Asia Telecom News Organization: NETCOM On-line Communication Services (408 261-4700 guest) Date: Wed, 22 Jun 1994 18:04:58 GMT While most of the discussions on telecom developement of in this Digest are of local issues (North America), I hope that recent telecom developments in Asia are also of interest to this group's readers: FROM HK: Subject: Motorola Invests US$40M In Hong Kong Wireless Network 06/20/94 Date: 20 Jun 94 22:13:27 GMT NORTH POINT, HONG KONG, 1994 JUN 20 (NB) -- Motorola has announced that it is investing US$40 million in Hong Kong to develop a high speed wireless computing network for the territory based on the latest microcellular packet switched technology. It is the first such venture by Motorola anywhere in the world. One local information technology (IT) industry watcher, who preferred not to be identified, told Newsbytes that he thought this would be a forerunner of even more intensified Motorola activity in the region. "The telecoms giant is one of the pioneers in this part of the world and as such commands considerable respect throughout. It is expected that Australia, because of its wide geographical spread, will be observing this move with more than a passing interest as well," he said. The network will be built and operated by a new Motorola subsidiary, Motorola AirCommunications Ltd. It will give users of notebook computers, personal organizers, and personal digital assistants (PDAs) access to information and messaging services wherever and whenever they need it, freeing them from the constraints of the wired telephone network. "Motorola AirComms is the newest and most exciting communications company in Hong Kong," said Robert Growney, executive vice president of Motorola and president and general manager of the company's Messaging, Information and Media Sector (MIMS). "To us it's more than an investment - it's a chance for Hong Kong to become the world's showcase for a whole new concept in personal communications." Growney adds that Hong Kong was chosen as the ideal city in which to pioneer such a network because of its "dynamic economic environment" and its proven acceptance of advanced mobile communication services such as cellular telephones and CT2. "Motorola will draw on the experience we gain with this venture to extend our wireless network operations to other parts of the world." Operating at 19,200 bits per second (bps), the Motorola AirComms network will be operational in trial mode by the end of the year. Unlike other networks it will primarily offer a range of messaging and public information services specifically designed for consumers. "We are investing in a service that will offer four times the speed of the previous wireless data network, together with greatly improved geographical coverage and a much wider range of applications," said Pam Thompson, managing director of Motorola AirComms. "By exploiting microcellular technology, we will provide comprehensive, uninterrupted coverage throughout the urban areas and in many parts of the New Territories. The new network is expected to be the platform for a host of new services including wireless fax and email, scribble-and-send messaging through PDAs, and mobile access to information sources such as CompuServe Hong Kong, Thompson said. Looking a little into the future, she added, "we foresee that mobile banking and shopping will become important applications, together with remote access to office local area networks." The Motorola AirComms network will be compatible with similar networks, also using Motorola technology, which are currently under development in Singapore, Malaysia, Thailand, and Australia. Together with Motorola, the carriers involved in these networks have formed a consortium called AsiaPAC Radio Data Net and intend to offer their customers a transparent "roaming" service throughout the Asia-Pacific region. "Our first priority is to provide our customers with top-quality service and support. While we invest in the new network, we will simultaneously be investing in people - skilled technical staff who will be able to understand our customers' needs and help them to easily make use of the many services available," said Thompson. (Keith Cameron/19940620/Press Contact: Pam Thompson, Motorola AirComms +852-599-2800) FROM CHINA: Date: Tue, 21 Jun 94 13:57:24 -0700 Subject: China Says It's Leaping Onto Telecom Superhighway BEIJING (Reuter) - Telecommunications Minister Wu Jiachuan said China is aggressively leap-frogging its way onto a futuristic information superhighway by exploiting the country's very backwardness. Beijing plans to use $7 billion in foreign investment by 2000 but still will not allow foreigners to take equity or management stakes, Xinhua news agency late Monday quoted the minister of posts and telecommunications as saying. `Compared with Western countries China is spared the pain of eliminating outdated equipment due to its not-so-developed telecommunications infrastructure,' Wu said. Instead, he said, it can install the newest equipment without being hindered by entrenched technological interests. `China's telecommunications construction can leap over some development stages and technical levels which the Western countries had gone through and directly adopt highly efficient new technology and equipment,' Wu said. Wu reiterated a ban on direct management or equity ownership of services by foreigners, a policy that reflects national security concerns and -- some analysts say -- the ministry's strong interest in protecting its lucrative monopoly. Wu said foreign investment was welcome in telecommunications equipment production and supply as well as in engineering, design, product development, research and education. `China especially welcomes overseas businessmen to invest in telecommunications construction projects,' he said. `The Chinese side will ensure their interests according to the rule of mutual benefit.' Wu said China hopes by 2000 to tap `at least' $7 billion in foreign capital -- more than the $5.67 billion it has used over the last 10 years. It will use $2.1 billion in foreign capital in the next 18 months alone, he said. The addition of 12 million lines last year brought China's total to 42 million -- still one of the world's lowest rates at 3.5 lines for every 100 people. The target is 140 million lines by 2000, he said. ------------------------------ Date: 22 Jun 1994 09:40:22 CET From: SHAW +41 22 730 5338 Subject: V.34 Standard is Agreed Patrick, Greetings from Geneva. I thought that TELECOM Digest readers might be interested in the news that the long awaited V.34 "V.fast" modem standard was approved a couple of weeks ago by the relevant ITU-T (formerly CCITT) Study Group. It has now gone out for ballot to all ITU-T members with the deadline of September 20, 1994 for responses. Electronic versions of the standard will be available within a few days to ITU members on our Gopher server. For non-ITU members, an electronic version will be available after the September 20th deadline. Robert Shaw Information Services Department International Telecommunication Union Place des Nations 1211 Geneva 20, Switzerland shaw@itu.ch Here's the "official" ITU press release. ITU/94-16 9 June 1994 Milestone in modem technology: the V.34 standard is agreed by ITU-T and put under ballot for adoption Study Group 14 of the International Telecommunication Union – Telecommunication Standardization Sector, ITU-T (formerly known as CCITT), has been meeting in Geneva, Switzerland for the last week to decide on the approval of the long-awaited standard for future high-speed modems. The meeting was chaired by Mr K. Kern (Germany). The work of Study Group 14 covers modems and transmission techniques for data, telegraph and telematic services. The adoption of the standard will give a go-ahead signal to the industry to offer new products using high performance data transfer technology. Work on the drafting of the standard started some three years ago Termed by industry experts V.fast in its development stage, V.34 as it will now be called, will surpass the current technology used in data transfer via traditional telephone lines. V.34 future modems will transfer data at speeds twice the current technology, thus the nickname V.fast. By increasing transmission speed, they will drastically cut down the time needed by computers and faxes and in turn lower user phone bills. These new modems will have variable data transmission capacity ranging from 2 400 bits/second all the way up to 28 800 bits/second. The new modems will use a feature called line probing that will allow modems to identify the capacities and quality of the phone line and adjust themselves to allow, for each individual connection, for maximum throughput using the highest possible data transmission rate. In addition the standard will support a half-duplex mode of operation for fax applications and will support automoding to existing V-series modems. Other important features of the new technology include an optional auxiliary channel with a synchronous date signalling rate of 200 bits/second. Data conveyed on this channel would be independent of the primary channel (2 400 – 28 800 bit/second) and would consist mostly of modem control data. Multi-dimensional trellis coding will be used to gain higher immunity to noise and other phone line impairments thus improving throughput. V.34 modems will also be the first modems to identify themselves to telephone network equipment (handshaking). Most important to the industry, V.34 will not only foster world-wide connectivity due to its adaptive capabilities, but will enlarge the market opportunities in areas which face poor telephone line quality. V.34 technology has been long in coming and has had to overcome many obstacles. One year ago, members of the modem manufacturing industry had become so impatient, they suggested that an interim standard for modems be approved. This interim standard, however, only made speed improvements. The proliferation of high-speed non-V.fast modem production led many market analysts to become sceptical of the interoperability such non-V.fast technology-oriented products. The adoption of V.34 is therefore very opportune. "V.34 modems will be transmission devices that will be faster, more reliable and cheaper to use," said Mr Kern at the outcome of the meeting. Given its half-duplex mode of operation, the use of V.34 will also help reduce costs of fax transmissions and make feasible the use of colour fax. "The fax market is in sharp increase on a global basis, thus providing a new market outlet for modem manufacturers," Mr Kern added. The approved standard should be applicable within a period of 16 weeks maximum. "One of the main issues for the future will be to make it possible for V.34 modems to adapt their speed while transmitting data to adjust with changes occurring on the lines such as noise impairments," concluded Mr Kern. BREAKTHROUGH FOR DEAF AND HARD OF HEARING At the same meeting of Study Group 14, a standard – Recommendation V.18 – was also approved. It will provide, for the first time, recognition of the communication needs of the deaf and hard of hearing. This Recommendation, with its capability to interwork with all existing devices, provides the platform on which a universal standard communication device can be built. ------------------------------ From: fsca@netcom.com (Frost ca/.nameFsca Sulli) Subject: Spectrum Allocation Organization: NETCOM On-line Communication Services (408 261-4700 guest) Date: Wed, 22 Jun 1994 16:45:29 GMT Was there an auction for PCS, especially unlicensed voice and data PCS services? As I don't read this group often, please send me e-mail at: amy_berger@fs-ca.ccmail.compuserve.com Thanks, Amy Berger - Frost & Sullivan fsca@netcom.com [TELECOM Digest Editor's Note: Yes there was something like this recently and it was reported here in this Digest. Perhaps one or more of the readers will send you copies of the notices as they appeared here. PAT] ------------------------------ From: fsca@netcom.com (Frost ca/.nameFsca Sulli) Subject: AMPS Inter-Operable With GSM? Organization: NETCOM On-line Communication Services (408 261-4700 guest) Date: Wed, 22 Jun 1994 16:52:30 GMT Can anyone tell me if there is any manufacturer working on AMPS/TACS interoperability with GSM? Does any one have a contact at the Joint Technical Committee/Air Interface Standards Group? Please reply via e-mail at: Bukasa_Tshilombo@fs-ca.ccmail.compuserve.com fsca@netcom.com ------------------------------ From: swhite@mathcs.emory.edu (Scott White) Subject: Looking for Erlang "B" Equation Date: 22 Jun 1994 18:01:19 GMT Organization: Emory University, Dept of Math and CS There is an Erlang Equation, I think named "B", which computes the number of required rotary ports given blocking probability, holding time, and average calling frequency I think. Could someone kindly tell me what it is? Thanks much, Scott White Department of Mathematics and Computer Science Emory University, Atlanta, GA Internet: swhite@mathcs.emory.edu UUCP: {rutgers,ogicse,gatech}!emory!swhite ------------------------------ From: Vesa.Ruokonen@lut.fi (Vesa Ruokonen) Subject: The Third Summer School on Telecommunications Date: Wed, 22 Jun 1994 12:28:28 GMT Reply-To: Vesa.Ruokonen@lut.fi Organization: Lappeenranta University of Technology, Finland (Also available as: http://www.lut.fi/ltkk/tite/SSTC94.html) Lappeenranta University of Technology 15.6.1994 Data Communications Laboratory THE THIRD SUMMER SCHOOL ON TELECOMMUNICATIONS Lappeenranta University of Technology August 8 - 11, 1994 Preliminary Program The 3rd Summer School on Telecommunications will consist of the International Workshop on Intelligent Networks, during Monday and Tuesday, August 8 - 9, and two Seminars on Wednesday and Thursday, August 10 - 11. The IN Workshop is arranged together with the IFIP TC6 Task Group on Intelligent Networks and Telecom Finland. The aim of the workshop is to collect international state-of-the-art contributions on the Intelligent Network technology and its applications. In the beginning of the workshop there will be a Tutorial on Intelligent Networks. The presentations of the IN Workshop have been selected using a review process based on the submitted extended abstracts. A more detailed program including the titles of the presentations will be available by July 12. The Seminars concentrate on two rapidly evolving areas of telecommunications: Network and Service Management and Broadband and ATM Technologies. Each topic will take one day, consisting of invited presentations. The speakers are leading Finnish experts, with one exception: professor Peter Martini is a high-speed networking specialist from the University of Paderborn, Germany. The Workshop and the Seminars will take place in the Auditorium of the new Ylioppilastalo, in the immediate vicinity of the University main building and the car park in front of the University. Guidance is arranged starting from the main door of the University. The events start at 9.15 am each day. Summer School Proceedings, social program, lunch and coffee are included in the registration fee. There is a special student fee, not including the social events on Tuesday and Wednesday. The lectures are open (no fee) for the students and personnel of LTKK within the space limits in the Auditorium. For more detailed information, see the bulletin board of the Dept. of Information Technology, or contact the Summer School Secretary in the address given below. PROGRAM: Monday 8.8. - INTERNATIONAL WORKSHOP ON Tuesday 9.8. INTELLIGENT NETWORKS Wednesday 10.8. SEMINAR ON NETWORK AND SERVICE MANAGEMENT Thursday 11.8. SEMINAR ON BROADBAND AND ATM TECHNOLOGIES Preliminary program for the Seminars: Wednesday 10.8. SEMINAR ON NETWORK AND SERVICE MANAGEMENT Chairman: Assistant Manager Jouko Parviainen, TELE 9.15 - 10.00 Service and Network Management expectations vs. capabilities Jouko Parviainen, TELE-TKK 10.00 - 10.45 Evolution of Open SW Architectures and Platforms Veli Kokkonen, TELE-KV 10.45 - 11.30 Operations Support System Integration with IN Service Control Point using Transaction Processing Timo Metsaportti, Independence-Technologies Finland Oy 11.30 - 13.00 Lunch 13.00 - 13.45 Q3 Network Management Software Development Nassim Bouteldja, Martis Oy 13.45 - 14.00 Coffee break 14.00 - 14.45 Use of X.500 in Service and Network Management Ismo Heikkonen, TELE-TKK 14.45 - 15.30 Neural Networks in Service and Network Management Jari Vanttinen, TELE-TKK Thursday 11.8. SEMINAR ON BROADBAND AND ATM TECHNOLOGIES Chairman: Prof. Jarmo Harju, LTKK 9.15 - 10.00 Realistic roadmap to ATM-networks Hannu Flinck, Nokia Telecommunications 10.00 - 10.30 Routing in ATM networks Jorma Virtamo, VTT 10.30 - 11.30 The 100VG-AnyLAN standard and its position in high-speed LAN technology Prof. Peter Martini, University of Paderborn, Germany 11.30 - 13.00 Lunch 13.00 - 14.00 Recent trends in teletraffic theory Ilkka Norros, VTT 14.00- 14.15 Coffee break 14.15 - 14.45 The impact of Video-on-Demand Service into ATM networks Hannu Flinck, Nokia Telecommunications 14.45 - 15.15 FSR - a switching technology for digitized video Juha Zidbeck, VTT For more information, please contact the Summer School Secretary: Ms. Paivi Ponni tel. +358 53 574 3917 LTKK / Centre for Continuing Education fax: +358 53 574 3920 P.O. Box 20, FIN-53850 Lappeenranta Finland The 3rd Summer School on Telecommunications August 8-11, 1994 Lappeenranta University of Technology, Finland REGISTRATION FORM Please complete and return before July 15, 1994 to: Ms P{ivi P|nni Tel +358 53 574 3917 LTKK / Centre for Continuing Education Fax +358 53 574 3920 P.O. Box 20 FIN-53851 LAPPEENRANTA Finland Please fill out in CAPITAL letters Family name__________________Given name____________ Organization________________________________________ Postal address______________________________________ ___________________________________________________ Phone____________________Fax_______________________ Registration fee should be paid before August 8, 1994 to Lappeenranta University of Technology, PSP 00007 Helsinki Finland SWIFT PSPB FI HH Account number 800011 - 12344. Please mention your name and the period you participate in your payment. Payment includes coffee and luncheon every day, and the Welcome Party. Social Dinner and Lake Sauna Party are included in the regular fee, but not in the student fee. Extra tickets for the Social Dinner are available at the price FIM 150. Please mark X your choice Regular fee Student fee August 8-11,1994 FIM 1500 ______ FIM 300 ______ August 8-9, 1994 FIM 1000 ______ FIM 200 ______ August 10, 1994 FIM 500 ______ FIM 100 ______ August 11, 1994 FIM 500 ______ FIM 100 ______ I will also participate in Welcome Party in Aug 8_____ Social dinner in Aug 9 _____ and Lake Sauna Party in Aug 10_____. Date/Signature ______________________________________ HOTEL INFORMATION For hotel accommodations we have made a block reservation in each of the following hotels for August 6-14, 1994. Please make your own reservation at the hotel of your choice as soon as possible and before the deadline of July 22. You must mention the name "Telecom Finland" in order to receive the special rate. CUMULUS HOTEL, Valtakatu 31, Lappeenranta Tel. +358 53 5781 Fax. +358 53 578 299 Single room FIM 340, double room FIM 390. Breakfast included SOKOS HOTEL LAPPEE, Brahenkatu 1, Lappeenranta Tel. +358 53 5861 Fax.+358 53 415 3295 Single room FIM 290, double room FIM 340. Breakfast included. Vesa.Ruokonen@lut.fi ------------------------------ From: mike_foltz@sgate.com Subject: Help on Dial Line Protection From Storms! Date: 22 Jun 1994 13:50:27 GMT Organization: Southgate Internet Host To all thanks in advance. I am experiancing problems on our BBS and Internet dial-in lines when there is wicked lighting storms. We have a total of 30 lines both local and 1800 numbers all feeding Multitech a rack mount card cage with MT1432BR modems. On the RS-232 the modems feed a Shiva lan rover for ARA or a cisco CS-516 for Internet access. We also have other vendors modems such as Intel, ZyXel and Scout modems for testing, SLIP and fax services. I seems that the storms do most harm on the Multitech modems, but it appears not to bother the other modems. The past 2 storms i have had to reprogram the Multitechs most lost what they were originally setup with. Some did not recover even with reprogramming. I am able to connect but either get no data or just garbage. Is there some type of pads, isolators etc that can be used on the dialup lines to protect the modems from getting trashed and also let 14.4K rates pass? Is there guides to BBS or Modem installations that address this issue? I am a bit confused why the other modems didn't have problems? They have phone lines that come in over the same copper bundle that feeds the Multitechs. Any help is appreciated!! Thanks, Mike Foltz foltzmik@sgate.com 703-803-8361 ------------------------------ From: poing@cs.tu-berlin.de (Frank) Subject: Germany <-> Canda: Cheapest Rates? Date: 22 Jun 1994 13:59:45 GMT Organization: Technical University of Berlin, Germany Could anybody please tell me what rates are offered for calls between Germany and Canada (and the other way around)? I am living in Germany and my fiancee is living in Canada at the moment. The calls would mainly be going to just to one location, so maybe there's an offer like 'MCI's Best Friend' for example. Please send the answers via Email, 'cause I am not really reading this section regularly. poing@cs.tu-berlin.de Frank http://www.cs.tu-berlin.de/~poing ------------------------------ End of TELECOM Digest V14 #296 ******************************