Tuesday, December 10, 2013

NTT Com Readies SDN-Powered VPN Overlay Service

NTT Communications is preparing to enhance its Arcstar global VPN service with a new Universal One Virtual Option which will allow users to create, use and control overlay networks on-demand via existing corporate networks or the Internet using software-defined network (SDN) technology. NTT Com will be the first carrier to offer such a service.

Arcstar Universal One Virtual Option, which will debut in March 2014,  initially will be available in 21 countries, including Japan, the US, Singapore, the UK, Hong Kong, Germany and Australia, eventually expanding to 30 countries. Reservations will be accepted from in March 2014.

The new SDN capability will enable one or more flexible, secure, low-cost, on-demand networks to be created simply by installing an application on a PC, smartphone or similar device, or by using an adapter. User will not need to change IP addresses. An NTT Communications Business Portal will use provide management and operation of newly created virtual networks.

NTT Communications said the SDN flexibility will be especially efficient in cases such as a business consolidation or intercompany project,where customer can expect to reduce costs by up to 60% and shorten the configuration period by up 80% compared to the conventional establishment of a dedicated gateway and reassignment of IP addresses to connect to a common server from a different network environment (NTT Com estimates are based on integrating 100 locations with two virtual private networks and overlapping IP addresses).

The service application will be free to download and will cost JPY 250 per month to use. The dedicated adapter will cost JPY 15,000 and JPY 1,500 per month to use (prices exclude 5% consumption tax, which will change to 8% from April 1, 2014).

http://www.ntt.com/aboutus_e/news/data/20131210_2.html
http://www.ntt.com/universalone_e/

IBM Researchers Demo Bose-Einstein Condensation

Researchers at IBM demonstrated for the first time a complex quantum mechanical phenomenon known as Bose-Einstein condensation (BEC). The breakthrough has potential applications in developing novel optoelectronic devices, including energy-efficient lasers and ultra-fast optical switches.

The demo, which used a luminescent polymer (plastic) similar to the materials in light emitting displays used in many of today's smartphones, proved that BEC could be observed at room temperature.

A thin polymeric layer was placed between two mirrors and excited with laser light. IBM said the bosonic particles are created through interaction of the polymer material and light which bounces back and forth between the two mirrors. The bosons could be used to create a source of laser-like light and/or an optical switch for future optical interconnects.

http://www-03.ibm.com/press/us/en/pressrelease/42710.wss

Alcatel-Lucent Adds SDN Capabilities to Enterprise Omniswitch

Alcatel-Lucent has added software defined networking (SDN) capabilities to its OmniSwitch Ethernet LAN portfolio including automation and provisioning tools.

OpenFlow support and OpenStack integration are available now on the Alcatel-Lucent OmniSwitch product via a free software upgrade or at no additional charge when a new system is purchased.

The company said these enhancements support its Application Fluent Network vision to help enterprises build SDN-based solutions in an affordable manner.
                                             
“These capabilities ensure that OmniSwitch solutions are open and will work seamlessly with the company’s partner ecosystem and industry SDN leaders’ solutions,” said Stephane Robineau, general manager and vice president, Enterprise Networks business, Alcatel-Lucent.

Alcatel-Lucent cited a number of enterprise-scale SDN use cases:


  • Optimizing wireless (Wi-Fi) traffic flows -- OpenFlow-enabled Alcatel-Lucent OmniSwitches interoperating with Aruba wireless controller can dynamically route traffic for optimal performance improving the user experience with bandwidth intensive, real-time applications on a wireless network.
  • Enhanced security for application traffic flows -- when an unwanted application or traffic pattern is detected, an automatic security policy is immediately created and enforced at the OmniSwitch level to stop malicious network traffic. This capability leverages RESTful interfaces and Application Fingerprinting that are enabled by Alcatel-Lucent OmniSwitches and Radware DefensePro.
  • Software Defined Data Center -- As storage and data networks converge, the programmable interface of SDN provides a consistent policy across these networks to improve the delivery of applications. IP and fiber channel based storage can be managed on the converged data center network through the programmable interfaces available on Alcatel-Lucent OmniSwitch enabling a true software defined data center.
http://www.alcatel-lucent.com
http://enterprise.alcatel-lucent.com/                                                                                         

Telecom NZ to Sell Australian Subsidiary for A$450 Million

Telecom NZ agreed to sell its Australian subsidiary, AAPT, to TPG Telecom for A$450 million. The deal represents approximately 6.4x AAPT’s current recurring annualised EBITDA run-rate of approximately A$70m.

AAPT operates a national network serving enterprise, government, wholesale and broadcast companies across Australia.

Telecom NZ agreed to sell its Australian subsidiary, AAPT, to TPG Telecom for A$450 million. The deal represents approximately 6.4x AAPT’s current recurring annualised EBITDA run-rate of approximately A$70m.

TPG is an Australian ISP/Telco that owns end-to-end network infrastructure which includes over 400 DSLAM enabled telephone exchanges across Australia, extensive metropolitan fibre optic networks, and the international PPC-1 submarine cable connecting Australia and Guam with onwards connectivity to USA and Japan.

Telecom NZ said the sale lets it focus on operations in its home market.  Sale proceeds will be used to repay debts.

http://www.tpg.com.au/
http://www.telecom-media.co.nz

Sckipio Lines up Investors for G.fast Silicon

Sckipio Technologies, a start-up based in Israel, raised $10 million in funding to support its development of ultra-high speed G.fast broadband modem semiconductors. The company has not yet announced any product specifics.

The funding round included Gemini Israel Ventures, Genesis Partners, Amiti Capital, and Aviv Ventures.

Sckipio said it is actively working with multiple tier-one telcos globally and network equipment vendors. The company has been an active participant and contributor in the G.fast ITU study group. G.fast promises.

G.fast, which represents an evolution of ADSL and VDSL technologies, promises up to 1G bps of broadband access over existing phone lines for up to 250 meters.  It uses 100 MHz wide channels and leverages vectoring technologies to deliver the super broadband performance.

“Sckipio is poised to be the leader in G.fast,” said David Baum, co-founder and CEO of Sckipio Technologies.  “The standard is now ready and so are we. We’ve got a complete team with the relevant expertise in G.fast and the capital needed to deliver the right G.fast solutions quickly.”

http://www.sckipio.com/


  • Sckipio was founded in 2012.  The company is headed by David Baum, who previously founded CopperGate (acquired by Sigma Designs), and other members of the CopperGate team.
  • In July 2013, the ITU-T Study Group 15 granted first stage approval to G.fast (ITU-T G.9700), a new broadband over copper standard that promises up to 1 Gbps rates over copper lines at a distance of up to 250 meters.  G.fast, which is a successor to ADSL and VDSL technologies, uses 100 MHz wide channels. In addition, G.fast will enable self-installation by consumers without a technician’s assistance.  Final approval of G.fast has just occurred..


Big Switch Poaches Cisco Exec to Lead Engineering

Big Switch Networks named Jeffrey Wang as Vice President of Engineering, a position where he will lead development of the company's pipeline of SDN Fabric solutions, including its Unified Physical + Virtual (P+V) Cloud Switching Fabric and its SDN Monitoring Fabric.

Wang was most recently Vice President of Engineering in Cisco's Data Center Group with responsibilities ranging from Cisco's Unified Computing System (UCS) software to hypervisor switching and I/O technologies such as the Virtual Machine Fabric Extender (VM-FEX) and the Nexus 1000v vSwitch. Earlier in his career, he managed the software development team of the Cisco Catalyst 6500, the most widely used data center switch in the industry, and drove the popular Virtual Switching System (VSS).

http://www.bigswitch.com

  • Last month, Big Switch Networks named Douglas Murray as its new CEO, replacing company co-founder Guido Appenzeller, who will continue with the company as Chief Technology Officer and board member. Murray comes to Big Switch from Juniper Networks, where he most recently served as senior vice president of Asia Pacific, Japan and Greater China, and before that as senior vice president and GM of the data center security business. Prior to joining Juniper, Murray was the General Manager of the Volume Products Group at Extreme Networks.

Renault and Orange Team on 4G in Automobiles

Renault and Orange announced a partnership covering 4G technologies in automobiles. The aim is for both teams to test new uses made possible by very-high-speed mobile technology in real-life situations, ranging from virtual office and cloud gaming to video conferencing.

http://www.orange.com/en/press/press-releases/press-releases-2013/Renault-and-Orange-join-forces-to-explore-uses-for-4G-on-future-vehicles


Alcatel-Lucent Opens Innovation in Taiwan

Alcatel-Lucent inaugurated its Taiwan Innovation Center  to increase strategic engagement with service provider and enterprise customers in North Asia and China.

The Taiwan Innovation Center showcases Alcatel-Lucent’s latest solutions for service providers and enterprise customers.

http://www.alcatel-lucent.com