Wednesday, February 8, 2012

New Video: Network Intelligence Optimization

Network monitoring systems are essential in ensuring the performance and reliability of key infrastructure, but operators need to see a clear return-on-investment for these expensive tools. In this video, Andy Huckridge, Dir. of Marketing at VSS Monitoring, shows how a Network Intelligence Optimization Layer solves the challenge and why it provides the best ROI for operators.


http://www.vssmonitoring.com

Vodafone: European Smartphone Penetration now 24.4%

The Vodafone Group reported service revenue growth of just +0.9% for the quarter ending 31-December-2012 driven by its share in Verizon Wireless (+6.8% growth), India (+20.0%() and Turkey (+23.5%); but held down by deteriorating economic conditions in southern Europe and flattish performance in Germany and the UK.


“We are continuing to make progress in the key strategic areas of data, enterprise and emerging markets. Despite the further deterioration of the southern European economic environment during the quarter, our broad geographic mix is delivering a resilient overall performance. Our improved value perception, strong cash generation and healthy balance sheet give us confidence that we can continue to execute well.�?


Some notes from the quarterly presentation:


Data revenue grew by 21.8% over last year. The annual run rate is £6.3 billion.


European smartphone penetration now is now 24.4%.


Messaging revenues grew by 4.3%


Fixed revenues grew by 3.9%


In Germany, Vodafone ended the quarter with 88,000 LTE customers and 1,700 sites.


In Italy, mobile service revenue declined by 6.1% due to worsening economic conditions.


In the UK, service revenue grew by 1.1% and data revenues were up by 13%.
http://www.vodafone.com

Ixia Announces VoLTE Test Solution

Ixia will demonstrate a new VoLTE test solution at the upcoming Mobile World Congress 2012 in Barcelona.


Specifically, Ixia has introduced a new test application to its IxLoad solution to measure voice quality end-to-end, from the cell tower through the core network. This enables operators to compare and contrast the voice quality of over-the-top (OTT) service to operator-provided voice services, as well as to measure the mean opinion score (MOS) of voice quality before going live.


Additionally, Ixia’s new application tests the functionality, scalability, and resiliency of LTE infrastructure components and new IMS networks that support VoLTE-based services.


Ixia’s IxLoad is a unified test solution for testing all aspects of wireless networks end-to-end, including LTE base stations, core network components, and the IMS subsystem. IxLoad supports a broad set of test applications measuring the scalability and capacity of data applications, the quality of rich media services, and the evaluation of security vulnerabilities.
http://www.ixiacom.com

NetLogic Sees Q4 Sales Decline 10% Sequentially to $96 Million

NetLogic expects to report revenue for the fourth quarter of 2011 of $96.2 million, a 9.9 percent sequential decrease from $106.8 million for the third quarter of 2011 and a 4.2 percent decrease from $100.4 million for the fourth quarter of 2010. For the fiscal year 2011, the company expects to report revenue of $405.4 million, a 6.2 percent increase from $381.7 million for fiscal year 2010.


“2011 was another strong year for NetLogic Microsystems,�? said Ron Jankov, president and CEO. “In addition to achieving record levels of revenue, we saw an acceleration of our design win success across our multi-core processors, knowledge-based processors, physical layer products and digital front-end processor portfolio. The advanced capability of our solutions is ideally suited for multiple market trends in networking and communications as the demand for greater intelligence, performance and bandwidth drives significant architectural changes in the design of next-generation systems. Further, we continue to execute strongly, demonstrating our ability to consistently deliver an ambitious product and technology roadmap that positions us well for growth as these significant trends play out.�? http://www.netlogicmicro.com

OIF to Demo 28G Interoperability

The Optical Internetworking Forum (OIF) will showcase multivendor interoperability of its Common Electrical Interface (CEI) 28G Very Short Reach (VSR) draft implementation agreement that defines chip-to-module electrical interfaces. Demonstrations of the CEI-25G-LR signal for backplane interfaces will also be tested. These demonstrations will be on display at the upcoming OFC/NFOEC show in Los Angeles.


“This demonstration of CEI-28G-VSR shows the ability to reach 100G for next-generation 4 x 25Gb/s based optical transceivers,�? said Ed Frlan of Gennum and the OIF PLL Interoperability Working Group chair. “The CEI-25G-LR and CEI-28G-VSR electrical interface and signaling schemes being tested for interoperability support multiple 100G applications.�?


The following companies are participating in the OIF Interoperability 2012; Altera, Amphenol, Fujitsu Optical Components, Gennum, IBM, Inphi, Luxtera, Molex, TE Connectivity and Xilinx. Various equipment used during the testing includes host IC with VSR SERDES, host PCB traces, optical module connectors, module retimers and optical transceivers. Test equipment used in the demonstration is supplied by Tektronix, Inc.
http://www.oiforum.com

Alcatel-Lucent Supplies Fiber Access for P&TLuxembourg

Alcatel-Lucent is supplying its 7360 Intelligent Services Access Manager (ISAM) to P&TLuxembourg, the leading telecommunications service provider in the Grand Duchy of Luxembourg. http://www.alcatel-lucent.com

Huawei Supplies LTE to both TELUS and Bell

Huawei noted that it is a supplier of LTE RAN (radio access network) equipment to Bell Mobility as well as to TELUS.


This week, Canadian Prime Minister Stephen Harper, TELUS officials and Huawei officials held a news conference in Beijing to sign a new supply contract.
http://www.huawei.com

TELUS Launches LTE Across Canada

TELUS activated its 4G LTE network in the following 14 metropolitan areas: Vancouver, Calgary, Edmonton, Toronto and the Greater Toronto Area, Kitchener, Waterloo, Hamilton, Guelph, Belleville, Ottawa, Montreal, Québec City, Halifax and Yellowknife.


TELUS 4G LTE network supports manufacturers’ rated peak download speeds of up to 75 Mbps, with an expected average of 12 to 25 Mbps.


The carrier is promoting the Samsung Galaxy Tab 8.9 LTE tablet, the LTE-capable Samsung Galaxy Note, the LG Optimus LTE smartphone and the Novatel Wireless Ovation MC679 4G LTE Mobile Internet Key.
http://www.telusmobility.com/4GLTE

Bell Canada Expands its LTE Network

Bell Canada announced a major expansion of its LTE network to 7 more urban centres across Canada, including Montréal, Québec City, Ottawa, London, Calgary, Edmonton and Vancouver . LTE is already available in parts of the Greater Toronto Area (GTA), Halifax, Hamilton, Kitchener-Waterloo, Guelph, Belleville and Yellowknife.

Bell LTE offers Internet and data access speeds as high as 75 Megabits per second in 14 urban centres.
The carrier plans further LTE expansion 2012, including to rural and remote locations across Canada, pending the outcome of the federal government's 700 MHz spectrum auction policy decision.

LTE complements Bell's HSPA+ network, which already serves more than 96% of the Canadian population.


In its quarterly financial presentation, Bell noted rapid growth in smartphone -- currently 48% of its total postpaid base is using smartphones, up from 31% in Q4’10.
http://www.bell.ca

tw telecom Offers Direct Connect Service for Amazon Web Service

tw telecom, which now has about 15,000 fiber-connected buildings on its network, has begun offering dedicated Ethernet connectivity to Amazon's AWS Cloud platform. tw telecom's Ethernet services enables customer to increase bandwidth throughput, control latency and access much needed visibility into the network that powers their applications. Connectivity is now being offered up to the 10G level directly to AWS.


AWS Direct Connect enables customers to bypass the Internet and establish dedicated connectivity between AWS and their datacenters and offices with a high-speed, secure carrier Ethernet connection that meets their applications' performance requirements.
http://www.twtelecom.com

Aviat Supplies Wireless Transmission Gear for Low-Latency Financial Network

McKay Brothers, a provider of low-latency private carrier services to High-Frequency Trading (HFT) firms, will use Aviat Networks' low-latency wireless transport equipment and services for its microwave network connecting Chicago and New York City financial centers. The installation will use Aviat's Eclipse Packet Node microwave radio platform, which meets the requirements of McKay Brothers in terms of latency, flexibility and upgradeability.


"For McKay Brothers, the Eclipse Packet Node wireless transmission platform proved ideal for building a low- latency wireless transport network," says Michael Pangia, president and CEO, Aviat Networks. "Plug-in modules for the Eclipse platform enabled us to quickly accommodate McKay Brothers' need for a low-latency solution in its wireless transmission network."http://www.aviatnetworks.com