Cyan Debuts Blue Planet SDN, NTT Comm. Deploys

Cyan introduced its Blue Planet software defined networking (SDN) platform for virtualizing service provider networks.

Blue Planet software, which is available now, consists of an open SDN platform as well as Cyan and third-party apps. The software is composed of three distinct elements: an open SDN platform, SDN apps, and element adapter apps facilitating control over a wide range of third-party network devices. The software enables Cyan and third-party apps to interrogate and control underlying network infrastructure. Blue Planet allows apps to interact not only with OpenFlow compliant network devices, but also with legacy devices deployed prior to the development of SDN.

Cyan provides element adaptors to enable control over a broad collection of third-party network elements. In addition to Cyan Z-Series packet-optical transport platforms (P-OTPs), Blue Planet interoperates with select devices from Accedian Networks, Actelis Networks, Adtran, Adva, Alcatel-Lucent, BTI Systems, Calient, Calix, Ciena, Cisco, Juniper, MRV, OneAccess Networks, Optelian, Omnitron Systems, Overture, RAD Data Communications, Telco Systems, Transition Networks, Transmode, and others.

Cyan said its goal with Blue Planet is to "obliterate legacy cost structures, make more efficient use of network assets, and radically accelerate service delivery." Blue Planet aims to build on the virtualization, service orchestration, and hardware simplification principles that have fundamentally altered the cloud data center environment.

NTT Communications is deploying Blue Planet in several geographic markets.

“We are at an important moment in the evolution of the network,” stated Cyan president Michael Hatfield. “For years, service providers and other network operators have been searching for ways to break free of expensive and restrictive legacy architectures mandated by incumbent equipment suppliers. SDN has begun to accomplish this in data center environments by virtualizing resources and flattening cost structures. Cyan is taking the next logical step by applying these principles to wide area and metro networks.”

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Belgacom Launches LTE

Belgacom launched the first LTE service in Belgium.  The Proximus 4G service is now available  in eight cities: Hasselt, Antwerp, Ghent, Leuven, Liège, Namur, Mons, Waver and the Haasrode Industrial Park.

Residential customers with a smartphone have a choice of the following tariff plans:

• “Smart 75” (unlimited calls & SMS and 5GB mobile internet for €75)
• The web based prepaid offer “Generation Connect” (2GB mobile internet, 2,000 SMS and up to 80 minutes calls on every reload of €20)

Customers who want access to 4G on a smartphone can also activate the option “Internet on GSM” (as from €19,99 for 2GB).

Professional customers with a smartphone can opt for “Bizz Mobile+ All In” (unlimited calls and SMS and 5GB mobile internet for €70 excl. VAT).

http://www.belgacom.com/be-en/newsdetail/ND_4G.page

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Brocade Acquires Vyatta for SDN Software Expertise

 Brocade will acquire privately held Vyatta, a developer of networking software, in an all-cash transaction. Financial terms were not disclosed.

Vyatta, which is based in Belmont, California, offers a software-based network operating system that is highly relevant for multiple applications in network virtualization, software-defined networking (SDN) and private/public cloud computing platforms.

The Vyatta Network OS delivers advanced routing and security functionality for physical, virtual and cloud networks.  It includes dynamic routing, stateful firewall, VPN support, traffic management, etc. and runs on multicore x86 processors, common hypervisor platforms and emerging cloud architectures.  Vyatta has recently expanded the platform to include Policy-Based Routing (PBR), BGP Multipath, IPsec for IPv6 and other advanced capabilities.

Brocade said it plans to utilize Vyatta technology and expertise to offer an end-to-end architecture built on a highly virtualized, dynamic network infrastructure.

"This acquisition complements our R&D investments in Ethernet fabrics and SDN, as well as our broad industry and solutions-level partnerships that enable Brocade to pursue new market opportunities in data center virtualization, public cloud, enterprise virtual private cloud, and managed services," said Mike Klayko, CEO of Brocade. "We are now bolstering these 'build and partner' efforts with this strategic acquisition with the goal of being the innovation and thought leader in the software networking category."

"There are many significant developments happening today that are redefining data center architectures and industry landscapes," said Ken Cheng, vice president of the Routing, Application Delivery and Software Networking Group at Brocade. "The Vyatta acquisition brings in considerably more software networking technology and expertise to Brocade. We believe software networking to be a critical component in the next phase of network virtualization as enterprises are becoming increasingly virtualized and actively moving workloads to the cloud."

http://www.brocade.com
http://www.vyatta.co

• In August, Vyatta introduced its "Empowering SDN initiative" to help enterprises and service providers build an enduring software-defined networking (SDN) strategy.
  Vyatta said the significance of its Empowering SDN program is the ability to take steps now, using established protocols like OSPF and BGP, to create agile, capacity-on-demand networks for the future. 
  In data centers, SDN could allow users to allocate groups of servers on-the-fly . Vyatta's software based routers, firewalls and VPNs enables enterprises to connect and securing these groups. Vyatta's code can be operated as virtual machines (VMs). This approach removes the constraints of a fixed device with a finite, predetermined amount of physical ports and other resources. The Vyatta VM can be replicated and positioned where needed, avoiding network congestion due to unneeded trips out to a central router. Additionally, software-based networks can provide significant savings over a large, proprietary router – leveraging the economies of the x86 architecture.
  Vyatta also noted that its software-based networks are built on open source projects, resulting in code that has been downloaded more than a million times and tested extensively in production networks worldwide. Its code has demonstrated interoperability with a wide range of network gear and continues to extend its capabilities, adding to the management and API with a roadmap to include OpenStack, CloudStack and other emerging cloud provisioning tools.

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Procera Land Another Tier-1 for Intelligent Policy Enforcement

Procera Networks announced a new multi-million dollar contract to provide a Western European Tier 1 incumbent service provider with Intelligent Policy Enforcement (IPE) solutions based on its PacketLogic platforms.

"This is a very significant win for our company and validates the need for high performance as service providers move to 100 Gbps in their core,” said James Brear, CEO of Procera. “The PacketLogic PL20000 is the ideal choice to meet their business analytics needs and enable innovative policy-based services. Because of the PL20000’s industry leading throughput density, our solution makes it possible for this expansive customer to deploy the extensive network coverage needed with a fraction of the number of systems competitive offerings proposed.”

http://www.proceranetworks.com

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Telco Systems Intros High-Density MPLS/Ethernet Demarc for Mobile Backhaul

 Telco Systems introduced its next generation mobile backhaul Carrier-Ethernet/MPLS demarcation device packing 12x1G ports and 8xE1/T1 Circuit Emulation Services (CES) into a compact format (1RU by half shelf width) suitable for small cell deployments.

The new T-Marc 3312SC demarc device supports the extension of MPLS to the cell site, enabling mobile operators to take full advantage of their MPLS networks for engineering and managing their backhaul infrastructure. . It supports IEEE 802.1ag Connectivity Fault Management (CFM), ITU-T Y.1731, IEEE 802.3ah, EFM-OAM, RFC 2544-based embedded test heads and Y.1564.  Telco Systems’ operating system also supports Hierarchal QoS (HQoS) and offers a suite of resiliency protocols.

In addition, Telco Systems said its  T-Marc 3312SC prepares the provider’s network for Software Defined Networks (SDN), as it supports a wide range of management protocols including NETCONF, which is mandatory to support OpenFlow standard. It is also integrated in the company’s service management system, EdgeGenie, to allow dynamic elastic service management and control plane separation.

http://www.telco.com/index.php?page=press-releases&article=85

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EC Approves 1920-1980 MHz paired with 2110-2170 MH for LTE

The European Commission approved plans to make available another 120 MHz of spectrum for LTE.

The paired terrestrial 2 GHz band (1920-1980 MHz paired with 2110-2170 MHz) has been traditionally used by UMTS.

The new rule makes it mandatory for Member States to open the relevant spectrum by 30 June 2014 at the latest, and lays down harmonised technical conditions to allow coexistence between different technologies.

The European Commission notes that its policy means that the EU will enjoy up to twice the amount of spectrum for high speed wireless broadband as in the United States, namely around 1000 MHz.

European Commission Vice President Neelie Kroes said: "This extra spectrum for 4G in Europe means we can better meet the changing and growing demand for broadband. I want to see Member States acting swiftly to change existing licenses. We all win from faster wireless connections in Europe."

http://ec.europa.eu/digital-agenda/en/telecoms-internet/telecoms/blogs

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ISC8 Buys Bivio's NetFalcon CyberSecurityto ISC8

Bivio Networks has sold its NetFalcon and NCCS product and business assets to ISC8 for an undisclosed sum.

ISC8 said the acquisition brings advanced products and technologies for Security Intelligence, Incident Response, Content Control and mitigation of Advanced Persistent Threats (APTs) in enterprise, service provider and government networks. ISC8 purchased the NetFalcon and Network Content Control System business units of Bivio Networks, including all related intellectual property, sales, engineering, managerial, and other operational resources. In addition, ISC8 will acquire an installed base consisting of nine accounts including leading Tier 1 service providers, enterprises and government agencies worldwide. 

Bivio said it will continue to focus on its DPI Application Platform for government and commercial customers.

“It is clear from both market and customer feedback that Advanced Persistent Threats, or Targeted Cyber Attacks, are the biggest Cybersecurity menace that governments, militaries and corporations face today,” said Bill Joll, president and CEO of ISC8. “With the close of the Bivio transaction, we now have a complete suite of products and technologies for helping these organizations with this most pressing cybersecurity problem, specifically the ability to detect these threats while the attack is ongoing. We also provide the supporting forensic evidence for these threats, which have typically remained undetected for a period of months to more than a year."

"Bivio has an established 12-year track record on providing leading cyber security solutions in the most challenging and mission critical environments," said Dr. Elan Amir, president and CEO of Bivio Networks. "Now that this transaction is complete, Bivio can continue to focus on delivering the DPI Application Platform to our government and commercial customers looking to deploy world-class cyber security solutions."

http://www.isc8.com

http://www.bivio.net/products/dpi/

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Telkom South Africa's CEO Steps Down

Ms Nombulelo Moholi announced her resignation as CEO of Telkom SA.  She was appointed as the Group Chief Executive Officer and as an executive director in April 2011.  Before that, she was the Managing Director of the Telkom SA business unit since 1 May 2009. 

http://www.telkom.co.za

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