NSN Launches Telco Cloud Management, Teams with HP

Nokia Solutions and Networks is launching a Telco Cloud Management solution to comply with ETSI's Network Functions Virtualisation (NFV) framework for hosting carrier applications on cloud-based infrastructure. NSN is also extending its end-to-end Services to help operators prepare, implement and run their own telco clouds and migrate existing telco services to cloud-based networks.

NSN Telco Cloud Management includes two main components: the cloud-ready NetAct Operations Support System (OSS) for managing virtualized and non-virtualized network elements, and the new Cloud Application Manager for managing applications in the telco cloud. Cloud Application Manager automates many phases in a telco application’s life cycle from development to deployment, through to maintenance. It also provides automated elasticity management of cloud resources to ensure the right network capacity is available to run applications.

The company said its telco cloud implementation has undergone a variety of trials and pilot implementations and has now reached commercial readiness.  The next step is to build a telco cloud partner program to support it, including a newly extended relationship with HP, one of its IT platform providers.  NSN and HP will collaborate on IT platform sourcing, integration services as well as joint telco cloud architectures and delivery models.

"The telco cloud has finally become a reality for operators worldwide. And our new Cloud Application Manager makes sure operators can tackle the complexities of telco cloud any time, with flexible network capacity, shorter time to market and high return on hardware investment," stated Michael Clever, senior vice president of Core, NSN.

http://nsn.com/portfolio/solutions/telco-cloud

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Broadcom Releases 5th Generation LTE Platform

Broadcom has released a new LTE chipset aimed at the sub $300 smartphone market.

Broadcom's fifth generation turnkey platform supports Android KitKat and utilizes the company's pin-to-pin compatible dual-core M320 or upcoming quad-core M340 LTE SoC and connectivity and location technology.

Key features:

• Cat 4 150 Mbps LTE speeds in FDD-LTE and TD-LTE modes and up to 42 Mbps with DC-HSPA+ 3G as well as GSM/EDGE
• BCM2095 LTE RF transceiver enables FDD and TD LTE/3G/2G band support for worldwide roaming
• VoLTE and HD voice support
• HD display, imaging and graphics for an immersive consumer experience
• Pre-integrated with the Android KitKat operating system
• Reduces LTE modem power consumption by up to 30 percent for extended hours of use
• "5G" WiFi, Bluetooth Smart, NFC and location technologies

Broadcom also noted complete design reuse between its dual-core and quad-core basebands, enabling OEMs to develop multiple devices with the same platform design while lowering engineering costs and accelerating time to market. Certification by leading carriers worldwide and Category 4 (Cat 4) speeds in FDD-LTE and TD-LTE modes enable OEMs to deliver high-performance smartphones with seamless worldwide roaming capabilities.

http://www.broadcom.com

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Mavenir Announces Virtualized EPC

Mavenir Systmes announced a Virtualized Evolved Packet Core (EPC) designed to deliver a full suite of wireless functions (SGW, PGW and MME).

The company said its virtualized software platform can be deployed on cloud-based infrastructures using Network Functions Virtualization (NFV) to rapidly scale capacity and adapt to new deployment models. It leverages a distributed architecture that splits control and bearer planes for optimal packet processing and capacity gains.

Mavenir plans to show it at the upcoming Mobile World Congress 2014 in Barcelona from February 24th – 27th.

http://www.mavenir.com

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Amdocs Links Self-Optimizing Networks to Customer Experience

Amdocs introduced its Self-Optimizing Networks (SON) solution for automated optimization of radio access networks (RANs).

Amdocs SON, which is currently being deployed by TIM Brasil and three other operators in Latin America, is designed to help service provider deliver better network performance, data traffic improvements, improved capacity and near-real-time performance, especially during major sporting and cultural events.

Key attributes of Amdocs SON:

• Vendor-agnostic, with multi-technology support - delivers maximum impact regardless of network equipment provider or technology.
  
• Customer experience/value-driven - integrates market-leading business support systems (BSS) with SON to target optimization more effectively by subscriber location and value.
   
• Able to support 2G and 3G services as well as LTE -maximizes the value of existing network assets 

The company claims its optimization results in 10% faster mobile broadband, 10% increase in utilization and 20% fewer dropped calls. Amdocs provides integration services to tie its SON into existing equipment, operational/business support systems and processes.

"Amdocs SON, the flagship offering of our new Amdocs Network Solutions business, reflects our expanded focus on the network software domain," said Rebecca Prudhomme, vice president of product and solutions marketing at Amdocs.

http://www.amdocs.com/Solutions/be-efficient/pages/self-optimizing-networks.aspx

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Mellanox Backs Microsoft Open Compute Project Cloud Server Spec

Mellanox Technologies announced 10 and 40GbE NIC support for the Microsoft OCP server and storage specification which are based on hardware used to power Microsoft’s global cloud services, including Windows Azure, Bing, and Office 365.

Mellanox ConnectX-3 Pro OCP-based 10/40GbE NICs with RDMA over Converged Ethernet (RoCE) and overlay network offloads are now available, offering optimized application latency and performance while maintaining extremely low system power consumption.

"The growth of hyperscale computing requires new paradigms in infrastructure, and Mellanox Ethernet NICs provide rich performance and efficiency features, such as overlay network offloads and RDMA/RoCE to provide the best infrastructure return-on-investment,” said Kevin Deierling, vice president of marketing at Mellanox Technologies. “We’re pleased to collaborate with Microsoft in delivering 10/40GbE NIC technology to their OCP server and storage designs to enable superior cloud productivity, efficiency, and sustainability.”

http://www.mellanox.com/page/ocp

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Mexico's Alestra Opens Cloud Data Center

Alestra inaugurated its fifth data center in Mexico.

The new facility in the city of Querétaro will support the carrier's cloud services.  Alestra boasts claims its new data center achieves a PUE (Power Usage Effectiveness) of between 1.2 y 1.5, among the lowest in Mexico.

http://www.alestra.mx/

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Aeroflex Acquires Shenick for Virtual Test Solutions

Aeroflex, which specializes in high performance microelectronic components, and test and measurement equipment, has acquired Shenick Network Systems.  Financial terms were not disclosed.

Shenick, which is based in Dublin, Ireland, provides IP test and measurement solutions.  Its TeraVM can be used to load, analyze, develop and validate the performance and capabilities of a wide variety of network and security devices including VPN/Firewall, vSwitch, DPI or IPS/IDS, vLoad Balancer and video infrastructure. It provides very high load traffic generation and analysis from 1 Gigabit to 1 Terabit of fully stateful data application traffic, with comprehensive measurement and performance analysis on each and every application flow to easily pinpoint and isolate problems. TeraVM supports all major hypervisors and can be deployed on industry-standard hardware.

"Shenick provides Aeroflex with next generation technology in the rapidly growing virtual test market," stated Len Borow, Aeroflex's Chief Executive Officer. "For the last two years, we have partnered with Shenick to enhance the capabilities of our wireless infrastructure test products. Shenick's unique TeraVM™ software product offers network providers the ability to emulate and measure millions of unique IP application flows to support network and application development and performance testing in next generation converged and cloud based networks. We believe that this acquisition will help us continue to grow and maintain our leading market position in wireless infrastructure test equipment and to increase our gross margins and profitability while expanding our end markets."

http://www.aeroflex.com.
http://www.shenick.com/

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Rackspace's CEO Steps Down

Rackspace announced the retirement of Lanham Napier as its Chief Executive Officer and as a member of its Board of Directors.  Napier, who plans to invest in and advise other entrepreneurial companies, will remain a consultant to Rackspace for the next several months to ensure a smooth transition.

Graham Weston, Rackspace’s co-founder and Executive Chairman of the Board of Directors, has been appointed Chief Executive Officer.

Under Lanham’s leadership, Rackspace grew from a small startup to a global $1.5 billion public company, serving more than 200,000 customers, and has been one of the fastest-growing firms on the New York Stock Exchange. We are grateful for the way Lanham positioned Rackspace for continuing success in this attractive and growing market," stated James Bishkin, lead director on the Rackspace Board of Directors.

http://www.rackspace.com

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