CEO Interview: Bill Barney on Building a Global Cloud Ecosystem

Bill Barney, CEO of Global Cloud Xchange (formerly Reliance Globalcom) discusses the company's new identity, the cloud services opportunity, key network architecture trends, and the prospects for 100G, 400G and terabit services.

See 3-Minute Video: http://youtu.be/pTAn9zP2oT4

Global Cloud Xchange owns the world’s largest private undersea cable system spanning 67,000 route kms which, seamlessly integrated with Reliance Communications’ 200,000 route kms of domestic optic fiber backbone, provides a robust Global Service Delivery Platform connecting 40 key business markets worldwide. In addition to providing Managed Services to more than 230 countries/territories, the company also has extensive global VPLS-enabled Ethernet network capabilities.

“We are living in an era where mobile applications, social media, key technology drivers and applications will exponentially boost volume of digital information being shared every second,” said Bill Barney, CEO of Global Cloud Xchange. “Our new cloud ecosystem means delivering an interwoven portfolio of infrastructure and data center solutions with sophisticated cloud orchestration capabilities.” “As innovation continues in the software layer and big data gets even bigger, business requirements become more sophisticated. Our focus will be on further integrating our global assets to serve existing and future requirements of new media companies, carriers and enterprises. We will meet them at the crossroad of where the future Cloud will migrate,” Barney added.

Read More

Bharti Expands i2i Submarine Cable with Ciena

Bharti Airtel Limited has completed a submarine network upgrade of its i2i cable, which connects India to Singapore.

The upgrade uses Ciena’s converged packet optical and network management solutions for a flexible 100G ROADM-based network infrastructure. The deployment includes Ciena’s 6500 platform and leverages a combination of coherent optical technology and wavelength selective switching to enable rapid remote configuration of traffic across the i2i cable. Ciena’s OneControl Unified Management System enables point-and-click service provisioning to enable faster service turn-up and end-to-end visibility of network performance.  Financial terms were not disclosed.

http://www.ciena.com

Read More

Infonetics: Network Security Market Posted Gains in Q4

The global network security appliance and software market grew 9.8% from 3Q13 to 4Q13, to $1.8 billion and for the full year 2013, network security revenue totaled $6.4 billion, a 2.6% increase over 2012, according to new report from Infonetics Research.

Some highlights:

• Integrated security products (integrated security appliances, secure routers, SSL VPN gateways, and VPN and firewall software) make up the majority of revenue
• Looking at the top 3 vendors' quarter-over-quarter (4Q13 vs 3Q13) performance, Cisco increased overall revenue 20%; Check Point had a typically strong 4th quarter, and Juniper posted its second consecutive quarter of growth
• Palo Alto Networks and Fortinet once again posted strong quarter-over-quarter and year-over-year growth in 4Q13, and are well positioned to continue gaining share
• Infonetics forecasts the worldwide network security market to reach $7.3 billion in 2018, a 2013–2018 CAGR of 2.5%

"Cisco completed its acquisition of Sourcefire in the fourth quarter of 2013, and in the process posted its highest security revenue quarter ever, gaining three points of market share," says Jeff Wilson, principal analyst for security at Infonetics Research. "The network security market nearly hit double-digit growth in 4Q13, and we expect growth to accelerate this year as service providers and enterprises increase security investment to improve security performance and keep up with a changing threat landscape."

http://www.infonetics.com

Read More

CommScope Boosts Outlook on Wireless Sales

CommScope, which supplies connectivity and essential infrastructure solutions for wireless, business enterprise and residential broadband networks, boosted its sales and earnings guidance for the first quarter of 2014.  The company cited stronger sales with mobile operators.

“We are very pleased to see strength in our wireless business,” said Mark Olson, CommScope executive vice president and chief financial officer. “North American wireless operators continue to invest in our macro cell site and small cell distributed antenna system (DAS) solutions to improve network coverage and capacity. We are also seeing ongoing modernization of 3G wireless networks around the globe.”

The company provided the following Q1 2014 guidance:

• Sales of $900 million to $925 million, up 13 percent year over year at the midpoint of the range.
• Adjusted operating income of $175 million to $185 million, up 36 percent year over year at the midpoint of the range.
• Adjusted earnings per diluted share of $0.43 to $0.47, up 29 percent year over year at the midpoint of the range. The first quarter earnings range assumes 191 million weighted average diluted shares outstanding.

http://www.commscope.com

Read More

Symantec Fires its CEO

Symantec's board of directors removed Steve Bennett as the company's president and chief executive officer and appointed Michael Brown as interim president and chief executive officer.

Symantec also reiterated its guidance for the fourth quarter of fiscal 2014, which was previously provided on January 29, 2014:

• Revenue of $1.615 to $1.655 billion, compared to $1.748 billion in the year-ago period.
• GAAP operating margin of 18.0 to 19.5 percent compared to 14.6 percent in the year-ago period.
• Non-GAAP operating margin of 24.5 to 26.0 percent compared to 24.1 percent in the year ago period.
• GAAP diluted earnings per share between $0.29 and $0.31 as compared to $0.27 in the year-ago period.
• Non-GAAP diluted earnings per share between $0.40 and $0.42 as compared to $0.44 in the year-ago period.

On behalf of Symantec's board, chairman Daniel Schulman said, "We recognize Steve's contributions to Symantec, including developing and leading a series of successful initiatives focused on organizational realignment, cost reduction and process effectiveness. These changes have helped establish a solid foundation for Symantec's future, and we remain committed to our previously announced greater-than 5% organic revenue growth and better-than 30% non-GAAP operating margin targets by FY17. Our priority is now to identify a leader who can leverage our company's assets and leadership team to drive the next stage of Symantec's product innovation and growth. This considered decision was the result of an ongoing deliberative process, and not precipitated by any event or impropriety."

http://www.symantec.com

Read More

Union Ratifies Contract with AT&T Mobility

The Communications Workers of America voted to ratify a four-year contract covering more than 11,500 AT&T Mobility employees in CWA District 3 – the Southeast Region, which includes Alabama, Florida, Georgia, Kentucky, Louisiana, Mississippi, North Carolina, South Carolina, Tennessee, and St. Croix, USVI. The contract covers wages, pension, work rules and disability benefits.

CWA members in October 2012 ratified a separate four-year benefit agreement for all CWA-bargained Mobility employees nationwide covering health care and certain other benefits.

http://www.att.com

Read More