Time Warner Cable Boosts Performance in NYC and LA

Time Warner Cable boosted its consumer Internet and TV services in New York City and Los Angeles with faster speeds.

Under the initiative, TWC will upgrade network connection sites (referred to as hubs) in NYC and LA to ensure optimum service levels are delivered to every neighborhood. Each TWC hub serves thousands of customers with phone, video and data services. The first four hubs to receive upgrades are those that service customers in West Hollywood and Costa Mesa in California, and portions of Woodside (in Queens) and Staten Island in New York.

Additionally, TWC will begin to convert its network in Los Angeles to “all-digital” by removing all remaining analog TV channels. This process opens up new bandwidth in the network to be redeployed for faster broadband speeds and other enhanced services. In 2013, TWC completed an all-digital network conversion in New York City.

http://www.timewarnercable.com/

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Sprint Selects BroadSoft for VoLTE/IMS Transformation

Broadsoft announced that Sprint selected its BroadWorks platform to enhance VoIP services made available by Sprint to both its consumer and business customers. Financial terms were not disclosed.

Broadsoft said its BroadWorks' Service Centralization and Continuity application server enables mobile network operators to deliver next-generation, Unified Communications (UC) services over their existing legacy GSM and/or CDMA networks.  The platform's Voice Call Continuity capabilities enable these UC services to transition from legacy networks as an operator migrates to VoLTE.

"We were seeking a single voice and video application server platform to support our IMS network transformation in order to provide the communication services both our consumer and enterprise customers are demanding today" said Iyad Tarazi, Vice President of Network Development, Sprint.

Michael Tessler, president and chief executive officer, BroadSoft, said "We are committed to providing superior technical capabilities that enable our service provider customers to offer the highest quality communications experience and look forward to helping Sprint achieve these objectives through our BroadWorks platform."

http://www.broadsoft.com/news/2014/sprint-selects-broadsoft-to-deliver-next-generation-ims-and-voice-over-lte-services/

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Sprint Deploys Hydrogen Fuel Cells for Backup Power

Sprint will continue deploy hydrogen fuel cells technology as backup power to cell sites with financial assistance from the Department of Energy (DOE).

Sprint has been testing and using hydrogen fuel cells since 2005.  In 2009, the DOE provided a $7.3M grant for Sprint to support fuel cell technology advances. Under the new grant, fuel cell deployments will continue this year.  Final terms of the award are being worked out.

“We are excited to once again partner with the DOE to bring a new fuel cell technology solution to the market,” said Bob Azzi, chief network officer at Sprint. “To date, we’ve deployed approximately 500 hydrogen fuel cells in our network. This technology will provide backup power for our network and could extend to other industries as well.”

Sprint noted as much as 30 percent of total network cell sites are located on rooftops in some major metropolitan areas. Light weight fuel cells are an alternative to diesel generators and do not require a crane for installation.

http://newsroom.sprint.com/news-releases/sprint-takes-hydrogen-fuel-cell-technology-to-rooftops-with-help-from-department-of-energy.htm

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JDSU Acquires Trendium and Time-Bandwidth

JDSU announced two acquisitions:  Trendium, a provider of real-time intelligence software solutions for customer experience assurance, asset optimization and monetization of big data for 4G/LTE mobile network operators; and Time-Bandwidth Products, a provider of high-powered and ultrafast lasers for the industrial and scientific markets. Financial terms were not disclosed.

Trendium, which is based in Boulder, Colorado, helps mobile operators improve the quality of services by leveraging application and traffic analysis with correlation technology. JDSU said the acquisition enables it to introduce a new paradigm of customer experience assurance (CEA) in 4G/LTE networks.  Trendium will become part of JDSU's mobile assurance and analytics solution, which recently selected by one of the top five mobile operators in the world.

Time-Bandwidth Products, which is a spin-off from the Ultrafast Laser Physics group at the Swiss Federal Institute of Technology, offers a range of OEM and customized picosecond and femtosecond laser systems. The company specializes in ultrafast diode-pumped solid-state laser systems (DPSSLs). JDSU said this acquisition strengthens its position as a leading provider of lasers for micromachining applications. Ultrafast lasers can rapidly and precisely process parts at high volumes and use very short light pulses during the manufacturing process to minimize heat, which can negatively impact the quality and functionality of the processed part. Time-Bandwidth Products is based in Zurich.

“Technology is evolving at a rapid pace, making mergers and acquisitions an important part of JDSU’s growth strategy as a diversified technology company,” said Tom Waechter, president and CEO of JDSU. “These two acquisitions reflect our approach to selectively acquire technology and talent that help meet our customer’s rapidly evolving needs in the markets we serve.”

http://www.jdsu.com/
http://www.time-bandwidth.com/
http://www.trendium.com/

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Ericsson Reports Flat Sales for 2013

Ericsson sales for Q4 and for full year 2013 were flat (0% growth) compared to the year earlier, although up 5% for the full year when adjusted for currency conversion and comparable units.  Net sales for Q4 2013 came in at SEK 67.0 billion (about US$10.29 billion).

The company said the long-term fundamentals in the industry remain attractive and that in Q4 sales began to grow in some of its key European markets.

"Ericsson's sales for comparable units, adjusted for FX, grew 5% for the full year. I am pleased that we have successfully closed the IPR cross-licensing agreement with Samsung. Our industry is built on scale and a strong tradition of sharing technologies through licensing on fair, reasonable and non-discriminatory (FRAND) terms. The agreement shows the value of our R&D investments and enables both companies to continue to innovate and bring new technologies to the market," says Hans Vestberg, President and CEO of Ericsson (NASDAQ:ERIC).

"Our focus on profitability started to pay off and operating margin for the group gradually improved in 2013, despite significant currency headwind, driven primarily by improvements in Networks and Network Rollout.

http://www.ericsson.com/news/1757959

Here is a snapshot for the Q4 2012

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ONF Selects Bangalore's CNLabs as SDN Test Facility

The Open Networking Foundation (ONF) named Criterion Network Labs (CNLabs) in Bangalore as its fourth international conformance and interoperability testing facility.

CNLabs joins the University of New Hampshire InterOperability Laboratory (UNH-IOL), Beijing Internet Institute (BII), and the Indiana Center for Network Translational Research and Education (InCNTRE) in testing SDN products for compliance with the OpenFlow™ specification through the ONF OpenFlow Conformance Testing Program.

As an ONF-accredited testing facility, CNLabs establishes OpenFlow conformance testing capabilities in India and provides SDN testing services to global clients. CNLabs evaluates vendors’ networking products for conformance, performance, and interoperability, and offers vendors the opportunity to receive OpenFlow certification through ONF’s Conformance Testing Program.

“The networking industry is undergoing a refreshing change. SDN provides a framework through which networks can be administered, programmed, and made to scale seamlessly,” said Jayaprakash Kumar, director of Criterion Network Labs. “OpenFlow provides the method for ensuring consistency, promoting device interoperability, and allowing for a level of flexibility to the network operator that has not been seen before. We are delighted to be named the first ONF-approved testing facility in India and the second in Asia.”

https://www.opennetworking.org/
http://www.criterionnetworks.com/lab/

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CenturyLink Tech. Ties into IO's Phoenix Data Center

CenturyLink Technology Solutions (formerly Savvis) will enhance its colocation footprint using IO's Intelligent Control technology platform, with initial deployments at IO Phoenix and nearby IO Scottsdale.

Under the partnership, CenturyLink Technology Solutions (formerly Savvis) will enter the Phoenix market as a hosting and colocation provider, making up to 9 megawatts of additional capacity available to its clients through rapidly deployable IO technology. CenturyLink has a deep understanding of the Phoenix market, where it maintains a substantial network services business and employs more than 1,700 employees.

The IO Intelligent Control technology platform consists of IO.Anywhere data center modules and the integrated IO.OS data center operating system, which provides integrated control, data collection and business intelligence across data center infrastructure, IT equipment, applications and users of the data center. In the CenturyLink data center space, IO's technology will be complemented by CenturyLink's broad set of colocation, managed services, cloud and network offerings. Clients will also gain access to CenturyLink's ClientConnect, an online gateway for businesses to expand their capabilities by locating, connecting and sharing services with other businesses residing across CenturyLink's global data center footprint.

CenturyLink operates more than 50 data centers worldwide, with more than 2.5 million square feet of gross raised floor space throughout North America, Europe and Asia.

http://www.centurylink.com.
http://io.com.

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Riverbed Hits Record Quarterly Revenue

Riverbed Technology reported record quarterly revenue of $283 million (GAAP) for Q4 2013, up 8% compared to the third quarter of fiscal year 2013 and 19% compared to the fourth quarter of fiscal year 2012.  GAAP net income for Q4'13 was $8 million, or $0.05 per diluted share. This compares to $4 million, or $0.02 per diluted share, in Q3'13 and $5 million, or $0.03 per diluted share, in Q4'12.

For FY'13, Riverbed reached GAAP revenue was $1.0 billion, up 24% compared to FY '12.

"Riverbed is executing well on a strategy to create sustained growth for our business, strategic value for our customers, and profitable returns for our shareholders," said Jerry M. Kennelly, chairman and CEO, Riverbed. "Our strong 2013 finish demonstrates progress across our major product lines and all geographies, and strength in enterprise sales. For the full year we are reporting more than $1 billion in revenue, an important milestone in the Company's history, and a good base from which we will drive our next leg of growth."

http://www.riverbed.com

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Broadcom's Q4 Revenue Dips to $2.06 Billion

Broadcom posted Q4 2013 net revenue of $2.06 billion, down 3.8% compared with the $2.15 billion reported for Q3 2013 and down 0.8% compared with the $2.08 billion for Q4 2012.  Net income (GAAP) for Q4 was $168 million, or $0.29 per share (diluted), compared with GAAP net income of $316 million, or $0.55 per share (diluted), for Q3 2013 and GAAP net income of $251 million, or $0.43 per share (diluted), for Q4 2012.

Net revenue for the year ended December 31, 2013 was $8.31 billion, up 3.7% for the year.

"In 2013 Broadcom delivered record revenue in all three business groups. Continued strength in our Infrastructure Business Group drove Q4 revenue and earnings ahead of expectations," said Scott McGregor, Broadcom's President and Chief Executive Officer. "Looking into 2014, we are building momentum in LTE, setting the stage for Ultra HD and powering next generation service provider and data center networks."

http://www.broadcom.com

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JDSU Beats Guidance with Revenue of $448 Million

JDSU posted GAAP net revenue of $447.6 million, with net income of $8.8 million, or $0.04 per share, for its second quarter ended December 28, 2013.  Prior quarter net revenue was $429.0 million, with net income of $0.3 million, or $0.00 per share. Net revenue for fiscal 2013 second quarter was $429.4 million, with net income of $4.1 million, or $0.02 per share.

“Our fiscal second quarter results exceeded our guidance expectation with gross margin improvements across all three segments,” said Tom Waechter, JDSU’s President and Chief Executive Officer.  “We are pleased with the performance of our organic business, the progress of our continuing investments in new offerings which align with customer requirements and market trends, and our continuing M&A strategy to expand our product portfolio into mobility and service enablement.  We believe JDSU is well-positioned to leverage our technical leadership in new markets in network infrastructure, commercial lasers and anti-counterfeiting in calendar 2014.”

http://www.jdsu.com

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PMC Posts Q4 Revenue of $126.1 Million, Down 2%

PMC-Sierra reported Q4 2013 revenue of $126.1 million, a decrease of 2.2 percent compared to $128.9 million in the third quarter of 2013, and a decrease of 2.6 percent compared to $129.4 million in the fourth quarter of 2012.

GAAP net loss in the fourth quarter of 2013 totaled $16.7 million, or $0.08 per share, compared to a GAAP net loss in the third quarter of 2013 of $2.7 million, or $0.01 per share. This included a provision for income taxes of $12.8 million.

“Fourth quarter results were above the midpoint of our expectations and reflected solid growth in our storage business,” said Greg Lang, PMC president and chief executive officer. “It is encouraging to see our storage and server businesses finish the year strong.”

http://www.pmcs.com

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SiTime Extends Lifetime Warranty for MEMS Timing Devices

In a testament to the durability of its MEMS oscillators and clock generators, SiTime has decided to extend a lifetime warranty that the devices will conform to specifications for the life of the system.

“Since 2007, SiTime has shipped 200 million units of our silicon MEMS timing solutions with zero MEMS failures. The outstanding quality and reliability of SiTime’s products is due to two unique factors – single crystal silicon material and the EpiSeal manufacturing process. Unlike other manufacturers who use poly crystalline silicon and oxides, SiTime constructs the MEMS resonator from pure single crystal silicon, which ensures that the performance of the resonator does not change with time. The EpiSeal process anneals the MEMS resonator and encapsulates it in a perfectly clean vacuum for maximum durability and reliability,” said Piyush Sevalia, executive vice president of marketing at SiTime. “SiTime’s reliability is two orders of magnitude, 100 times better than quartz."

http://www.sitime.com

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Dell'Oro Group Releases Small Cell Forecast

Carrier spending on licensed and unlicensed small cell equipment will continue to increase over the next five years, according to a new forecast published by Dell'Oro Group.

Some highlights of the 5-year forecast report:

• Service Providers to deploy almost 670 K small cell backhaul links between 2013 and 2018
• Licensed non-residential small cell BTS shipments to grow from 160 K in 2015 to 625 K in 2018
• SP WiFi revenues to more than double between 2013 and 2018.

"While there is no secret at this point that service providers would prefer to roll out macros as long as possible, we firmly believe as the focus continues to shift from outdoor coverage to improving performance in high-traffic areas and indoors, that the case for small cells will eventually not only make sense from a spatial efficiency perspective, but it will also be compelling from a business point of view," said Stefan Pongratz, Director of Dell'Oro Group's RAN and Small Cell Programs. "While we have lowered our expectations for SP WiFi, we have raised our licensed small cell expectations to account for new product announcements by Ericsson, NSN, and Huawei increasing the likelihood service providers will include small cells in their budgets," continued Pongratz.

This report provides a five-year unit and revenue forecast for the following small cell segments: RAN (WCDMA/LTE), Backhaul (LOS/NLOS microwave and fiber/copper), and SP WiFi (enterprise-class devices and outdoor mesh nodes that ship to service providers).

http://www.delloro.com

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Cisco Extends its Application-centric Infrastructure for Enterprises

As part of its recently launched Application Centric Infrastructure (ACI) initiative, Cisco introduced an Application Policy Infrastructure Controller (APIC) Enterprise Module for extending
high-performing applications from the data center to wide-area networks (WAN) and local access networks (LAN). The goal is to provide enterprises with complete visibility into their networks, automating network and policy configuration while managing applications across the WAN and access networks.

The Cisco APIC serves as the single point of automation and fabric element management in
both physical and virtual environments.

The Cisco APIC Enterprise Module is constructed of three elements: a consolidated network information database, policy infrastructure and automation.

To address security concerns, Cisco APIC automates network-wide rapid threat detection and mitigation by integrating and automating Cisco Sourcefire  security solutions.  For compliance management across branches and headquarters, Cisco APIC also provides network-wide Quality of Service (QoS), and accelerates Intelligent WAN (IWAN) deployments. It can also be used with third-party solutions to provide an end-to-end WAN orchestration and management.

Cisco said its APIC frees up time for IT that would otherwise be spent configuring networking equipment and updating policy changes device by device. It automates many IT functions enabling configuration and policy changes to be pushed out to the individual components of the network instead of requiring IT to update each one manually. It also enables policies to automatically adapt to network changes which would be very difficult to set otherwise.

Cisco APIC supports both new and existing network infrastructures via a selection of network Application Programming Interfaces (APIs), including OpenFlow, Cisco onePK and Command Line Interface (CLI). The Cisco APIC Enterprise Module also supports both new SDN-ready devices as well as older Cisco network equipment, enabling the same IT automation as with Cisco ACI for a large existing installed base that eliminates the need to rip and replace existing networking equipment to take advantage of this new functionality.

The Cisco APIC Enterprise Module leverages the Glue Networks' "Gluware Intelligent Orchestration Engine"

The Cisco APIC Enterprise Module will be available at the end of the first half of 2014 and at no additional cost for existing and new Cisco SMARTnet customers.

http://thenetwork.cisco.com

In November 2013, Cisco unveiled its Application Centric Infrastructure for data centers and clouds.

In a press event in New York, John Chambers described ACI as the next big transformation of the IT industry driven by imperatives of the application economy.

ACI is a step beyond virtualization and software-defined networks (SDN), said Chambers, because it brings agility and automation with full visibility and integrated management of both physical and virtual networked IT resources at the system, tenant, and application levels.  The architecture promises a pay-as-you-grow mode scaling to over 100,000 switch ports and capable of supporting more than one million IP end points in a data center spine with 60 Tbps capacity.  A key premise is that the network should adapt to application requirements through dynamic insertion and chaining of physical and virtual L4-7 network services including firewalls, application delivery controllers, and intrusion detection systems.  The new architecture is designed for multi-tenant cloud environments by providing real-time view of per tenant and per application health, statistics, and troubleshooting.  Real-time analytics will be used to drive intelligent application placement decisions.

The foundation for ACI is an Application Policy Infrastructure Controller (APIC), enhanced versions of the NX-OS data center switching operating system, and a new line of Nexus 9000 data center switches based on technology from Insieme Networks, the Cisco spin-in start-up that is being acquired and re-integrated into the company.

The Cisco APIC is a centralized clustered controller that is responsible for tasks ranging from fabric activation, maintenance of switch firmware, network policy configuration and instantiation. Cisco APIC is
completely removed from the data path.  The APIC exposes a northbound API through XML and JSON and provides both a command-line interface (CLI) and GUI that use this API to manage the
fabric. It will be delivered as an appliance.

The new Nexus 9000 platforms will be able to run both optimized NX-OS and an ACI-mode of NX-OS via the addition of APIC.  Cisco said this dual capability provides investment protection and a migration path to ACI though a software upgrade.

The new switches will use custom ASICs for scalable and merchant silicon for addressing time to market issues.  Cisco said its platforms will support 1/10/40G ports with support for future 100G transitions in existing and next generation data centers.  Another innovation in the Nexus 9000 portfolio is a backplane-free modular switch design that promises more efficient power and cooling.  Both the Cisco Nexus 9500 and 9300 platforms support VXLAN and NVGRE bridging and routing functions in hardware.

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Cisco InterCloud Looks to Interconnect Public, Private and Hybrid Clouds

Cisco introduced a hybrid cloud solution, dubbed Cisco InterCloud, that aims to support many interconnected public, private and hybrid clouds.

Cisco InterCloud, part of the Cisco One platform, is infrastructure software that will enable organizations to combine and move workloads – including data and applications – across different public or private clouds securely while maintaining associated network and security policies.  The goal is to be able to move workloads to and from participating cloud providers with Cisco Powered services, such as BT, CSC/ServiceMesh, CenturyLink Technology Solutions, and Virtustream. In addition, Cisco InterCloud has been designed to move workloads to and from multiple public clouds, including Amazon Web Services and Microsoft Windows Azure.

Cisco InterCloud will provide workload mobility and is intended to integrate with cloud management solutions such as Cisco IAC, as well as CSC/ServiceMesh's Agility Platform, Red Hat CloudForms, and other products from Cisco's ecosystem partners.  Other leading technology partners supporting Cisco InterCloud include EMC, Citrix, Denali Advanced Integration, Microsoft, NetApp, Rackspace, VCE and Zerto.

http://www.cisco.com/web/solutions/cloud/index.html

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Tellabs to Join Coriant, while Spinning Off Access Division

Marlin Equity Partners announced plans to integrate the majority of Tellabs into its new Coriant optical transport company, while spinning off the access product line of Tellabs into an independent company. Marlin's acquisition of Tellabs was completed in December.

Tellabs currently supplies packet-optical, mobile backhaul and Optical LAN networking solutions to telecom service providers, independent operating companies, MSO/cable companies, enterprises and government agencies.  Under this plan, the optical LAN product line will be spun out into Tellabs Access, which will also continue to provide residential access products to service providers. Mike Dagenais has been named President and CEO of Tellabs Access business. Previously, Dagenais served as CEO of Radisys Corporation and as president and CEO of Continuous Computing.  He also served as president and CEO of Optical Solutions, Inc. and president and COO of Convergent Networks.

Coriant gains Tellab's packet-optical and mobiel backhaul businesses.  Marlin has appointed Bob Leggett as Chairman of the Coriant Board, Pat DiPietro as CEO and Herbert Merz as President and Chief Operating Officer of the unified organization. Dan Kelly will step down Tellabs’ President and CEO.

“From mobile cell sites to mission-critical enterprises and cloud data centers, the demand for agile broadband connectivity is fundamentally reshaping network and service requirements. The combined technical expertise and complementary product portfolios will significantly strengthen Coriant’s ability to deliver high-value end-to-end solutions to service providers, while accelerating Coriant’s leadership in software-defined networking, programmability, and automation for next-generation transport networks," stated Pat DiPietro, Chief Executive Officer, Coriant.

“With deep customer relationships and a strong portfolio of access solutions to build upon, Marlin is fully committed to the success of the Tellabs Access business. The OLAN business requires focus on distinct channels and this separation positions Tellabs Access for continued rapid growth in this sector,” said Doug Bayerd, a principal at Marlin. “We are pleased to have a seasoned executive with deep industry knowledge and expertise in the leadership position of Tellabs Access. We look forward to partnering with Mike and his leadership team as the company strengthens the long-term value proposition for its customers.”

http://www.coriant.com/

http://www.tellabs.com

http://www.marlinequity.com/

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Google to Sell Motorola Mobility to Lenovo for $2.91 Billion

Google agreed to sell its Motorola Mobility subsidiary to Lenovo for $2.91 billion.  The deal will require approval from U.S. and Chinese regulators.

Google, which acquired Motorola Mobility in April 2011 for $12.5 billion, said it will retain the majority of Motorola's patents in order to defend the Android ecosystem.  The sale of Motorola enables Google to ensure a more level playing field for Android.

http://googleblog.blogspot.com/

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AMD Readies 4 and 8-core ARM-based Processors

AMD showcased a development platform for its first 64-bit ARM-based server CPU and announced the upcoming sampling of the ARM-based processor, named the AMD Opteron A1100 Series.

The AMD Opteron A1100 Series processors support:

• 4 or 8 core ARM Cortex-A57 processors
• Up to 4 MB of shared L2 and 8 MB of shared L3 cache
• Configurable dual DDR3 or DDR4 memory channels with ECC at up to 1866 MT/second
• Up to 4 SODIMM, UDIMM or RDIMMs
• 8 lanes of PCI-Express Gen 3 I/O
• 8 Serial ATA 3 ports
• 2 10 Gigabit Ethernet ports
• ARM TrustZone technology for enhanced security
• Crypto and data compression co-processors

"The needs of the data center are changing.  A one-size-fits-all approach typically limits efficiency and results in higher-cost solutions,” said Suresh Gopalakrishnan, corporate vice president and general manager of the AMD server business unit.  “The new ARM-based AMD Opteron A-Series processor brings the experience and technology portfolio of an established server processor vendor to the ARM ecosystem and provides the ideal complement to our established AMD Opteron x86 server processors."

http://www.amd.com

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Qualcomm Hits Record Quarterly Revenues of $6.6 Billion

Qualcomm posted record quarterly revenue of $6.62 billion for its first quarter of fiscal 2014, up 10 percent year-over-year (y-o-y) and 2 percent sequentially.  Net income came in at $1.88 billion, down 2 percent y-o-y and up 25 percent sequentially.

“We are pleased with the start to our fiscal year, with record results in quarterly revenues, device sales reported by licensees and MSM chip shipments,” said Dr. Paul E. Jacobs, Chairman and CEO of Qualcomm. “Looking forward, we expect our performance to reflect the continued strong global growth of smartphones, our chipset leadership position and our competitive strengths in 3G/4G technologies and products.”

http://www.qualcomm.com

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ADVA Optical Launches Ethernet Professional Services

ADVA Optical Networking launched a new Ethernet Services Suite (ESS) that provides customer support over the lifecycle of an Ethernet product.  The professional services are designed to help carriers design, deploy, operate and maintain Ethernet networks.  ADVA will deliver the services using a global team of Ethernet experts.

"Every aspect of ESS has been developed to simplify operations, to strip away complexities, to help service providers focus on their core business,” said Phillip Needel, manager, Service Business Development, ADVA Optical Networking. "ESS is essentially an a la carte menu that covers the full gamut of Ethernet services."

http://www.advaoptical.com/en/newsroom/press-releases-english/20140129.aspx

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Infinera: 42 Customers for DTN-X

Infinera reported Q4 2013 GAAP revenues of $139.1 million compared to $142.0 million in the third quarter of 2013 and $128.1 million in the fourth quarter of 2012. GAAP gross margins for the quarter were 40% compared to 48% in the third quarter of 2013 and 34% in the fourth quarter of 2012.  GAAP net loss for the quarter was $(10.2) million, or $(0.08) per share, compared to net income of $3.3 million, or $0.03 per diluted share, in the third quarter of 2013 and a net loss of $(16.1) million, or $(0.14) per share, in the fourth quarter of 2012.

“The fourth quarter was a solid finish to a very good year for Infinera, driven by continued acceptance of the DTN-X,” said Tom Fallon, chief executive officer. “We received purchase commitments from three additional customers in the quarter, including one new to Infinera, and we set another quarterly record for 100G port shipments.

“Our financial results for 2013 demonstrate the strong potential of the DTN-X. Revenues grew 24%, at least double the long haul DWDM market growth estimated by industry analysts; gross margins expanded significantly; we achieved $4 million Non-GAAP net income compared with $43.5 million Non-GAAP net loss in 2012; and we generated $12 million in net free cash flow for the year. Since its introduction in mid 2012, we have received purchase commitments for the DTN-X from a total of 42 customers, representing a cross section of industries including Tier 1 carriers, cable operators, Internet content providers and bandwidth wholesalers. Of these, 15 are new customers to Infinera.  These achievements met or exceeded the targets that we provided at our Analyst Day in December of 2012.

http://www.infinera.com

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Dell’Oro: Mobile Backhaul Market to Hit $8 Billion in 2018

The Mobile Backhaul equipment market, consisting of Transport and Routers & Switches, is forecast to reach $8 billion by 2018, according to a new report by Dell'Oro Group.

Some highlights:

• Routers & Switches for mobile backhaul are projected to grow at a five percent compounded annual growth rate and to comprise nearly 35 percent of total mobile backhaul market revenue by 2018.  The primary growth driver will be the shift to a packet-based backhaul network as operators roll out LTE and LTE-advanced.
• The Transport portion of mobile backhaul is forecast to grow at a two percent compounded annual growth rate.  The primary growth driver for Transport will be the addition of new macro and small cell sites, along with the upgrade of any older low-capacity backhaul systems.

“Mobile backhaul is a critical contributor to carrier microwave, routing and switching growth over the next five years,” said Jimmy Yu, Vice President of Mobile Backhaul Market Research at Dell’Oro Group.  “We anticipate the pace of cell site deployments will gradually increase over this period as operators expand their LTE footprint and begin to roll out small cells.  We also expect outdoor small cell backhaul to drive at least 10 percent of mobile backhaul revenue by 2018,” added Mr. Yu.

http://www.delloro.com

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Dell'Oro: Wireless Packet Core Revenue to Grow Nearly 60% by 2018

The Wireless Packet Core Equipment market is forecast to grow almost 60 percent, comfortably exceeding $6 billion by 2018, according to a new report from Dell'Oro Group.  All growth during the period is expected to come from the Evolved Packet Core segment of the market.

Some report highlights:

• PCRF market projected to exceed $900 million in 2018
• Alcatel-Lucent, Ericsson, Cisco, Huawei, NSN and ZTE seen benefitting in the market overall
• Analysis and forecast of the use of NFV-based licenses is included.

“Over the next five years, we expect the Asia Pacific (APAC) and Europe Middle East and Africa (EMEA) regions to become the largest buyers of Evolved Packet Core (EPC) systems.  Today, North America, APAC and EMEA have approximately the same installed base of EPC capacity,” said Chris DePuy, Vice President at Dell’Oro Group. “What makes this situation so interesting is that vendors are just beginning to offer Network Function Virtualization (NFV) based systems, and so new service provider deployments in APAC and EMEA are likely to become the most significant users of NFV.”

http://www.delloro.com

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Open Compute Project Gains Momentum

The fifth Open Compute Project Summit got underway in San Jose, California with keynote presentations from Facebook,  Microsoft, AMD, Intel and others.

The Open Compute Project (OCP), which was launched by Facebook in April 2011, now has more than 150 member companies helping to pursue its mission of developing "the most efficient server, storage and data center hardware designs for scalable computing."

Some top-level highlights:

AMD -- showcased a development platform for its first 64-bit ARM-based server CPU.  AMD has also contributed a new microserver design to OCP that is compatible with the common-slot architecture specification dubbed "Group Hug."

Facebook -- Facebook has contributed its new "Honey Badger" microserver adapter to OCP.  Facebook also showcased their new rapid deployment data center concepts and their new optical storage prototype. Facebook estimates that the OCP initiative has saved the company more than $1.2 billion in infrastructure costs over the last three years.  Mark Zuckerberg said Facebook has always been a systems company at heart since it has always worked hard at pursuing the most efficient hardware platforms.

Fidelity + Hyve -- Fidelity has contributed the designs for its "Open Bridge Rack," which enables the deployment of OCP storage and server designs in legacy 19" racks. Similarly, Hyve has contributed the designs for its 1500 Series server designs, which are also designed to fit into legacy 19" racks.

IO -- announced a new containerized data center solution that employs OpenStack and Open Compute Project hardware. IO already has several customers for this new service, including Merck.

Microsoft --  has joined the Open Compute Project and is contributing designs for the servers that power global cloud services like Windows Azure, Office 365, and Bing.   Bill Laing, Microsoft's CVP for Windows Server and System Center Group, said his company now operates a global infrastructure with huge data centers with over 1 million servers currently in operation. Microsoft will contribute its design for a cloud server specification for its most advanced servers with its hardest workloads. Key design criteria include modularity, simplicity, efficiency and operational agility.

LSI -- has joined the Open Compute Project and contributed two designs: a 12G SAS expander upgrade to the Open Vault storage system and a flash storage card that provides low-latency flash storage to server-based applications.    

Seagate -- has contributed its Kinetic open storage platform, which is designed to prevent scale bottlenecks in storage.

Quanta -- has contributed the entire line of Open Rack-compatible products they co-developed with Rackspace.

OCP Solution Provider ecosystem -- there are now seven official OCP Solution Providers: AMAX, Avnet, CTC, Hyve, Penguin Computing, Quanta, and Racklive.

New certification process -- there are now two levels of certification: "OCP Ready" and "OCP Certified." These certifications will provide consumers with assurance that the products with these labels have been thoroughly tested and meet the standards set by the OCP community. Two new labs have been established -- USTA and ITRI -- to manage the certification process. Wiwynn was the first company to successfully achieve OCP certification for one of their products, Quanta quickly followed.

New OCP hardware license -- currently operates under a relatively "permissive" license (modeled on Apache) to govern contributions. OCP will roll out a second, more "prescriptive" license (modeled on GPL) that will require anyone who modifies an original design and then sells that design to contribute the modified version back to the foundation.

Some other new members -- Panasonic, Cumulus Networks, io, IBM, box and Bloomberg

The keynote videos are posted online.

http://www.opencompute.org/blog/ocp-summit-v-keynote-videos/

In May 2013, The Open Compute Project announced plans to develop an open, OS-agnostic top-of-rack switch.  The effort will be led by Najam Ahmad, who runs the network engineering team at Facebook. Companies that are supporting the effort include Big Switch Networks, Broadcom, Cumulus Networks, Facebook, Intel, Netronome, OpenDaylight, the Open Networking Foundation, and VMware.

In November 2013,  OCP said that it had received more than 30 potential contributions, covering most of the network hardware stack and even some of the network software stack.  In a blog posting, the Open Compute Project highlights four contributions in particular, all of them currently being considered by the OCP Incubation Committee and likely to be accepted soon.   These included  Broadcom's full specification for and implementation of an open switch;  Cumulus Networks' Open Network Install Environment (ONIE) software;  Intel's specification for an open switch; and Mellanox's open switch.

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Dell Opens Data Center Switching for Cumulus Linux OS

Dell will begin offering a choice of third-party operating systems for its networking systems, ushering in a new vision for data center networking based on an open ecosystem of  in which customers can choose among various industry-standard networking gear, network applications and network operating systems to meet their business needs.

In this effort, Dell announced a re-seller agreement with Cumulus Networks - maker of the first Linux operating system for bare-metal networking devices - to support a new disaggregated networking model for its fixed-configuration switches. The first move is to begin offering the Cumulus Linux network OS as an option for its Dell Networking S6000 and S4810 top-of-rack switches.

Dell said its decision to pursue the open model was driven by new dynamics brought on by software-defined networking, virtual machine mobility, shifting networking patterns from North-South to East-West, cloud computing, resource pooling and the need for server-like automation led Dell to help pioneer an Ethernet fabric model using fixed-form factor switches.

“This is a great example of innovation coming from the new Dell. Networking is an industry crying out for disruption. We’ve done this before with PCs and servers, putting us in the best position to offer a choice of network operating systems,” said Tom Burns, vice president and general manager, Dell Networking. “Networks are like human minds - they work better when open.”

“Dell is fundamentally changing the nature of the networking business, and this partnership with Cumulus Networks represents a definitive step towards disaggregating hardware and software,” said JR Rivers, co-founder and CEO of Cumulus Networks. “In this new open, multi-vendor ecosystem that’s becoming all the more prevalent, the customer finally gets to choose exactly the components they need to build the software-defined datacenter of the future without having to worry about vendor lock-in.”

http://www.dell.com/learn/us/en/uscorp1/secure/2014-01-28-dell-open-networking-cumulus
http://cumulusnetworks.com/

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PMC Supports Open Compute Project with High Density Storage

PMC announced high-density storage connectivity support for the Open Compute Project (OCP).

The reference architecture is based on the OCP’s Open Rack form factor that re-engineers the conventional data center rack for maximum power efficiency, serviceability and investment protection.

PMC's solution uses its Adaptec 78165 24-port RAID adapter enables the densest Open Rack storage capacity, connecting more Open Vault JBOD storage arrays per Winterfell server head node. A common scale-out configuration can now support connectivity for 360 drives per rack, a 33 percent increase in capacity, with fewer Winterfell servers.

"PMC’s high-density storage technology provides the connectivity to enable the Open Compute ecosystem, and it fits perfectly with the OCP’s mission for scalable, efficient and cost-effective storage," said Jared Peters, vice president of Server Storage Solutions at PMC. "We’re committed to contributing to OCP work group specifications and other projects across the industry to enhance current and future data center solutions."

http://www.pmcs.com

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Seagate Unveils Kinetic Platform Tools for Open Compute Project

Seagate Technology introduced two development tools related to its Kinetic Open Storage platform and designed for the Open Compute Project.

The Seagate Kinetic Ethernet Drive interface and the Seagate Kinetic T-Card development adapter have been accepted by the Open Compute Foundation as important open standards available to Open Compute Project (OCP) solution providers and system builders.

The Seagate Kinetic Ethernet Drive interface enables solution providers to transition existing SAS or SATA based chassis designs to systems by replacing conventional HDD SATA or SAS backplanes with Ethernet backplanes.

The Seagate Kinetic T-Card development adapter enables software developers to write and pre-test applications by communicating over the connectors to Kinetic Open Storage hard drives. Both specifications are designed to conform to the dimensions, specifications, power signal assignments, and physical placement of industry standard SAS drives.

“Seagate is committed to driving open source innovation and empowering an active ecosystem of system builders and software developers with the tools they need to deploy cutting-edge storage solutions and drive this truly revolutionary platform,” said Mark Re, Seagate’s chief technology officer. “A true game changer, the Kinetic Open Storage platform will provide this community with the ability to deliver innovative, first-of-their-kind, scale-out storage architectures at the industry’s lowest total cost of ownership.”

Announced in 2013, the Seagate Kinetic Open Storage platform is a device-based open source platform that leverages a traditional hard disk drive assembly, the key/value API, and Ethernet connectivity to enable greater performance, scale, simplicity and a lower TCO for scale-out storage architectures.

http://developers.seagate.com
http://seagate.com/www/kinetic

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GENBAND Delivers WebRTC Unified Communications with Generation Enterprise

GENBAND introduced a unified communications suite (voice, HD video, collaboration) that leverages enterprise cloud technologies to deliver secure connections across multiple devices (tablets, smartphones, desk phones, PCs) and networks (wired and wireless, private and public, TDM and IP).

The GENBAND Generation Enterprise leverages the company's WebRTC-enabled UC platform, SMART OFFICE 2.0, and offers software-based deployment options for enterprises, governments and universities, whether on premise, in the cloud, or as a hybrid or hosted solution. The result is a premium, WebRTC-enabled UC client that lets business users communicate via their preferred device.

The end-to-end solution is powered by GENBAND’s carrier-class EXPERiUS Application Server platform; the QUANTiX portfolio, which offers advanced security, session management and policy control technologies and includes the industry’s most scalable session border controller; the high-density CONTiNUUM gateway family; and NUViA cloud solutions.

“We designed Generation Enterprise to meet the productivity, ease-of-use and collaboration requirements in an increasingly mobile-driven communications economy,” said David Walsh, CEO of GENBAND. “Generation Enterprise addresses communications challenges facing many of the world’s largest and most vital organizations by enabling cost-effective, non-disruptive migration of legacy enterprise voice systems to IP. For our channel and service provider partners, Generation Enterprise enables a rapid go-to-market approach for breakthrough standards like WebRTC with value-added, over-the-Internet applications that are ideal for today’s highly mobile workforce.”

Generation Enterprise also offers a rich set of APIs for vertical market customization. GENBAND’s SPiDR WebRTC Gateway provides an intelligent bridge between traditional VoIP networks and the open ecosystem of the Internet, leveraging real-time embedded communications.

GENBAND, which owns Nortel's PBX enterprise intellectual property, noted that many companies around the globe need to transition from legacy voice system to modern UC systems without totally replacing the existing infrastructure or giving up PSTN-like service, quality and reliability.

http://www.genband.com

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Range Networks Appoints Ed Kozel as CEO -- Open Source Mobile

Range Networks, a start-up developing open source cellular systems, appointed Edward Kozel as its new CEO.

Kozel spent 12 years at Cisco Systems, where he served as chief technology officer, senior vice president of business development and as a board member. Most recently Kozel was chief technology and innovation officer with Deutsche Telekom in Germany.

Range Networks, which was founded by the creators of OpenBTS, uses open source software to present ordinary cellular handsets as SIP endpoints in a VoIP system. All are designed to work as a single-site network or as part of a multi-site network.  The company already has a number or deployments around the world  – including Indonesia, Zambia and Antarctica.

Range Networks also noted that it raised $10 million in funding last year and doubled its employee headcount.  The company is based in San Francisco.

"We believe that in the not-too-distant future mobile networks will look entirely different than they do today. Software-defined mobile infrastructure providing end-to-end IP transport, combined with the power of the open source model, will transform the industry. We look forward to continuing to support these initiatives and demonstrating the strength of open source systems throughout 2014 and beyond," stated Edward Kozel, CEO of Range Networks.

http://www.rangenetworks.com

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AT&T: Smartphone Penetration at 77% of Postpaid Base

AT&T reported Q4 2013 consolidated revenues of $33.2 billion, up 1.8 percent versus the year-earlier period.  Q4 net income totaled $6.9 billion, or $1.31 per diluted share, compared to $(3.9) billion, or $(0.68) per diluted share, in the year-earlier quarter. Adjusting special items, earnings per share was $0.53 compared to an adjusted $0.44 in the year-ago quarter, an increase of 20.5 percent.

AT&T said it is on track to deliver the financial targets laid out with Project VIP. It expects consolidated revenue growth in the 2 to 3 percent range for 2014, including strength in wireless service and wireline consumer revenues. The company also expects stable consolidated margins with continued improvement in wireless margins helping offset Project VIP pressure in wireline. Adjusted earnings per share growth is expected to be in the mid-single digit range excluding any impact from future share buybacks.

AT&T expects capital expenditures in the $21 billion range. Free cash flow is expected to be in the $11 billion range.

Some Wireless Operational Highlights

Wireless Service Revenues -- total wireless revenues, which include equipment sales, were up 4.5 percent year over year to $18.4 billion. Wireless service revenues increased 4.8 percent in the fourth quarter to $15.7 billion. Wireless data revenues increased 16.8 percent from the year-earlier quarter to $5.7 billion. Fourth-quarter wireless operating expenses totaled $14.5 billion, down 3.9 percent versus the year-earlier quarter, and wireless operating income was $3.9 billion, up 53.8 percent year over year.

Phone-Only Postpaid ARPU -- Postpaid phone-only ARPU increased 3.9 percent versus the year-earlier quarter. Total postpaid subscriber ARPU, which includes high-margin but lower-ARPU tablets, increased 2.1 percent versus the year-earlier quarter. This marked the 20th consecutive quarter AT&T has posted a year-over-year increase in postpaid ARPU. Postpaid data ARPU increased 15.4 percent versus the year-earlier quarter.

Smartphones and Tablets -- AT&T posted a net increase in total wireless subscribers of 809,000 in the fourth quarter. Subscriber additions for the quarter included postpaid net adds of 566,000. Postpaid net adds include 299,000 smartphones. Total branded smartphone net adds (both postpaid and prepaid) were 529,000. Total branded tablet net adds were 440,000.

Connected device net adds were 398,000 -- Prepaid had a net loss of 32,000 subscribers primarily due to declines in session-based tablets; however, prepaid revenues increased both year over year and sequentially. Reseller had a net loss of 123,000 subscribers primarily due to losses in low-revenue 2G subscriber accounts.

Q4 Postpaid Churn -- The company had its lowest-ever fourth-quarter postpaid churn of 1.11 percent compared to 1.19 percent in the year-ago quarter. Total churn was stable at 1.43 percent versus 1.42 percent in the year-ago quarter.

Smartphones Reach Record 93 Percent of Phone Sales -- AT&T added 1.2 million postpaid smartphones in the fourth quarter. At the end of the quarter, 77 percent, or 51.9 million, of AT&T's postpaid phone subscribers had smartphones, up from 70 percent, or 47.1 million, a year earlier. The company sold 7.9 million smartphones in the quarter. More than 1 million of those smartphone sales were on the new AT&T Next program. Smartphones accounted for a record 93 percent of postpaid phone sales in the quarter. AT&T's ARPU for smartphones is twice that of non-smartphone subscribers. More than half of AT&T's postpaid smartphone customers now use an LTE device, and 77 percent use a 4G-capable device (LTE/HSPA+).

Some Wireline Operational Highlights

Wireline Revenues -- Total Q4 wireline revenues were $14.7 billion, down 1.4 percent versus the year-earlier quarter and up 0.3 percent sequentially. Wireline service revenues were down 0.7 percent year over year. Total U-verse revenues grew 27.9 percent year over year and were up 7.0 percent versus the third quarter of 2013. Fourth-quarter wireline operating expenses were $13.3 billion, up 1.0 percent versus the fourth quarter of 2012. AT&T's wireline operating income totaled $1.5 billion, down 18.8 percent versus the fourth quarter of 2012. Fourth-quarter wireline operating income margin was 9.9 percent, down versus 12.0 percent in the year-earlier quarter, primarily due to declines in voice revenues, success-based growth, U-verse content costs and costs incurred as part of Project VIP.

Consumer Revenues Increase 2.9 Percent -- Revenues from residential customers totaled $5.6 billion, an increase of 2.9 percent versus the fourth quarter a year ago and up 1.3 percent sequentially. Continued strong growth in consumer IP data services in the fourth quarter more than offset lower revenues from voice and legacy products. U-verse, which includes TV, high speed Internet and voice over IP, now represents 57 percent of wireline consumer revenues, up from 46 percent in the year-earlier quarter. Consumer U-verse revenues grew 26.8 percent year over year and were up 6.8 percent versus the third quarter of 2013.

U-verse TV Churn -- Total U-verse subscribers (TV and high speed Internet) reached 10.7 million in the fourth quarter. U-verse TV had the lowest-ever churn in its history. U-verse TV added 194,000 subscribers in the fourth quarter with an increase of 924,000 for the full year to reach 5.5 million in service. AT&T has more pay TV subscribers than any other telecommunications company. U-verse high speed Internet had a record fourth-quarter net gain of 630,000 subscribers, to reach a total of 10.4 million, and a record annual increase of 2.7 million, or 34 percent. Overall, total wireline broadband subscribers were essentially flat in the quarter but grew year over year. Total wireline broadband ARPU was up more than 7 percent year over year. Total U-verse high speed Internet subscribers now represent 63 percent of all wireline broadband subscribers compared with 47 percent in the year-earlier quarter.

About 59 percent of U-verse broadband subscribers have a plan delivering speeds up to 12 Mbps or higher.

Some Business Services Operational Highlights

Total revenues from business customers were $8.8 billion, down 3.4 percent versus the year-earlier quarter, and were essentially flat from the third quarter.

Revenues for next-generation business solutions — including VPN, Ethernet, cloud, hosting and other advanced IP services — grew 17.4 percent versus the year-earlier quarter. These services represent a $9 billion annualized revenue stream and are more than a quarter of business wireline revenues. During the fourth quarter, the company also added 78,000 business U-verse high speed broadband subscribers.

http://www.att.com/gen/press-room?pid=25228&cdvn=news&newsarticleid=37405

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DragonWave Harmony Trunk C Hybrid Microwave radio

DragonWave introduced a Harmony Trunk C hybrid trunking microwave radio as part of its existing high capacity Harmony Trunk microwave product portfolio.

The small form factor of the Harmony Trunk C is available for either all-outdoor or all-indoor network requirements supporting up to 4 RF carriers in a single outdoor cabinet or indoor shelf.

DragonWave said its new Harmony Trunk C provides greater trunking options for mobile operators, military, and broadcast applications worldwide. It is available in STM-1, hybrid or full IP configurations.

http://www.dragonwaveinc.com

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ONF Adds Start-ups to Membership Roster

The Open Networking Foundation (ONF) has added a number of start-ups to its membership ranks, including Criterion Networks, Corsa Technology, GuardiCore, Konodrac, Tallac Networks, and Xinguard Inc. Additional startups are currently in the membership application phase and will become ONF members in the coming months.

The ONF has introduced a new, low-cost category of membership specifically for SDN startup organizations, helping them to become more actively involved in building the SDN ecosystem.

“ONF’s dedication to the promotion and adoption of SDN through open architecture and standards development is one of the many reasons that ONF is embracing startups,” said Dan Pitt, executive director of the Open Networking Foundation. ““We want to make participation in ONF activities possible for the full range of organizations. Encouraging the innovation that startups bring to the space will further propel the advancement of open SDN and adoption of the OpenFlow™ standard.”

https://www.opennetworking.org

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TE Connectivity Enhances its FlexWave Prism Distributed Antenna System

TE Connectivity is expanding its FlexWave Prism distributed antenna system (DAS) with new high-density modules capable of supporting up to 75 MHz per band, with two frequency bands per module. The new modules enable a 2-bay FlexWave Prism remote unit to support up to four frequency bands, 40 watts, or up to 300 MHz of spectrum.

TE is positioning its new module for delivering 1800 MHz, 2100 MHz, or 2600 MHz MIMO and 800 MHz digital dividend services in the EMEA and Asia-Pacific regions of the world.

“The FlexWave Prism DAS supports multi-operator, multi-protocol services in a compact, cost-effective, and power-efficient manner,” said Peter Wraight, vice president, TE Wireless. “It is ideal for mobile operators who want to deploy DAS with multiple frequencies and high power levels without the complexity of multiple DAS equipment overlays.”


The new FlexWave Prism modules support migration from 3G to 4G services as well as multi-operator applications where two or more mobile operators share a power amplifier. Moreover, by using digital simulcast to deliver services between the DAS head end and remote units, the FlexWave Prism module enables operators to easily shift capacity from one area to another as subscriber needs dictate. The digital DAS reaches up to 20 kilometers to serve urban and suburban areas as well as stadiums, office parks, and other facilities.

http://www.TE.com

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AT&T to Offer Private VPNs into Equinix Data Centers

AT&T and Equinix announced an alliance under which customers will be able to connect to cloud services hosted in Equinix facilities using their private AT&T VPN networks.

AT&T NetBond, which will be available in select Equinix data centers, will deliver highly secure connections with high reliability and performance capabilities, rather than relying on access via the public Internet.

“Business customers want rock solid network-based security protecting their traffic and applications when they use cloud services,” said Jon Summers, senior vice president growth platforms, AT&T Business Solutions. “Virtual private networking gives them better protection against Internet threats while also delivering the reliability, agility and performance they need when accessing the cloud.  This agreement with Equinix will expand the opportunity for cloud service providers to use our virtual private networking and AT&T NetBond technology to enhance the end user’s cloud experience.”

“Equinix sits at the intersection of cloud service providers, network service providers and enterprise customers that want to use those services. The alliance lets AT&T quickly expand its portfolio of AT&T NetBond-enabled cloud services by using our position as a cloud hub,” said Pete Hayes, chief sales officer for Equinix.  “Together, we’re making the network as flexible as the cloud and giving enterprises confidence they can move their most demanding applications to the cloud and still meet their security, scalability and performance requirements.”

The companies expect these capabilities to be available in the first half of 2014.

http://www.equinix.com/
https://www.synaptic.att.com/clouduser/html/productdetail/ATT_NetBond.htm

• AT&T NetBond uses a software-defined and virtual connection that runs over AT&T’s MPLS core backbone. On its website, AT&T says NetBond will be able to provide coordinated, on-demand provisioning of private network connectivity and cloud compute resources for accommodating dynamic workload distribution across a customer’s hybrid cloud.  It will feature a pay-as-you-go pricing model with a minimum commitment.

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Level 3 Opens Cloud Content Exchange

Level 3 Communications introduced a new cloud-based file transfer platform that simplifies and accelerates the process of sending large video and data files, such as syndicated content and advertising files.

Level 3's Cloud Content Exchange stores media files in a central, cloud-based library where they can be metatagged, sorted and accessed in real time with rapid upload and download speeds..  The service leverages Level 3's extensive worldwide storage platform and global network connectivity to deliver faster distribution than FTP or other alternatives.

FOX Broadcasting Company was the first to beta test the service.

"The daily movement of media files is critical to the operations of media broadcast companies such as FOX, in addition to sports teams and other large enterprises," said Mark Taylor, vice president of Media and IP Services at Level 3. "Cloud Content Exchange is a comprehensive, secure media transfer solution that delivers an easy-to-use interface offering access to data anywhere there is an Internet connection. This allows customers to realize greater efficiencies, reduce operating costs, and better meet important delivery deadlines."

http://www.level3videocloud.com
http://www.level3.com

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SaskTel Picks Oracles for IMS Core

Canada's SaskTel has selected Oracle Communications Unified Session Manager to deliver the single IMS core and help secure its network borders.

SaskTel plans to use the IMS network for hosted businesses services, expanded VoLTE, rich communications services, session initiation protocol trunking and consumer voice services.

"As we transition to an all-IP environment, it was important for us to consolidate our infrastructure on a common, compact IMS core to help ensure our business and residential customers receive next-generation services quickly and securely. With Oracle Communications Unified Session Manager, we can deliver trusted real-time communications services across network borders,” said Daryl Godfrey, chief technology officer, SaskTel.

http://www.oracle.com/us/corporate/press/2113118

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Ericsson Settles GSM/UMTS/LTE Patent License with Samsung

Ericsson and Samsung announced a global cross license agreement covering patents relating to GSM, UMTS, and LTE standards for both networks and handsets.  Under the multi-year deal, Samsung will make ongoing royalty payments to Ericsson. The initial payment in the agreement will impact Ericsson sales and net income in Q4 2013 by SEK 4.2 billion (US$650 million) and SEK 3.3 billion  (US$510 million) respectively.

Ericsson said that it is committed to licensing its standard-essential patents on fair, reasonable and non-discriminatory (FRAND) terms for the benefit of the industry.

"We are pleased that we could reach a mutually fair and reasonable agreement with Samsung. We always viewed litigation as a last resort," said Kasim Alfalahi, Chief Intellectual Property Officer at Ericsson. "This agreement allows us to continue to focus on bringing new technology to the global market and provides an incentive to other innovators to share their own ideas."

http://www.ericsson.com/news/1757163

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Ireland's Research Network Upgrades with Coriant

HEAnet, Ireland's National Education and Research Network, has commissioned a new national all-optical transmission network supplied by Coriant.  The upgrade increases network capacity and enhances network resiliency for the research network, which supports some 200,000 third-level students and associated staff as well as approximately 800,000 first and second-level students and associated staff.

"Our advanced optical networking solutions portfolio provides HEAnet with a new level of optical layer efficiency, scalability, reliability and automation to deliver enhanced service value to its customer base," said Herbert Merz, President and CEO, Coriant.

http://www.coriant.com/company/press_release.asp?id=1044

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