Ciena Unveils its Multi-layer, OpenDaylight SDN Controller

Ciena introduced a multilayer SDN controller for the WAN based on the OpenDaylight framework, along with an initial set of three new software applications for enabling virtualized, on-demand network services and functions.

Ciena said its new Agility software portfolio leverages real-time analytics to help network operators provision multi-vendor networks, ensure maximum efficiency and resiliency, and rapidly create and deploy new, differentiated virtualized services at lower cost.  The OpenDaylight support lets the network operator choose from open source, self-developed and vendor components, thereby avoiding single vendor lock-in.  The use of real-time analytics for provisioning high-bandwidth services and applications lets operators monetize and optimize their networks.

Some highlights of the announcement:

• Ciena’s new Agility Multilayer WAN Controller enables agile allocation of network resources at the packet, circuit and wave layers.
  
• Ciena's controller supports the vendor-neutral OpenDaylight ecosystem.
  
• Ciena's controller is a focal point of joint development with Ericsson and further development will leverage contributions from both companies to expand its capabilities.
  
• The new suite of SDN applications use advanced real-time analytics to provide greater network assurance, efficiency, monetization and application-driven agility. These applications include:
  
  Navigate – a multilayer path computation engine that combines a global view of all network resources and service demands with advanced analytics-based algorithms to automatically determine the best possible route through the network to establish a connection.
  
  Protect – a centralized global restoration calculator that speeds and increases resiliency and minimizes restoration bandwidth by pre-computing and distributing an optimal set of contention-free restoration paths for distributed execution in case of any failure.
  
  Optimize – a multilayer network optimizer that defragments the network to free up stranded bandwidth by reallocating raw capacity and fine-tuning connection routing.
  
  V-WAN – a network resource broker and scheduling application that offers immediate or scheduled bandwidth-on-demand to customers through an end-user portal or applications such as cloud and NFV orchestration systems via its open northbound API. 

V-WAN is available today, while the rest of Ciena’s Agility software portfolio is entering field trials with multiple service providers. 

Ciena also noted that its V-WAN network resource broker and scheduling application as well as its network management capabilities lay the foundation for multilayer SDN control. Equinix will use these capabilities to rapidly create and provision high-speed connections with greater agility and lower costs.

http://www.ciena.com/about/newsroom/press-releases/Ciena-Unveils-Agility-Software-Portfolio-to-Enable-Virtualized-Network-Capabilities.html

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ALU Achieves 10G over Copper Phone Lines at 30m

Bell Labs, the research arm of Alcatel-Lucent, demonstrated the ability to carry 10Gbps over traditional copper telephone lines over a distance of 30 meters.  Bell Labs also announced a prototype technology that can achieve 1Gbps symmetrical over existing copper access networks.

The Bell Labs tests used a prototype technology called XG-FAST, which is an extension of the G.fast standard being finalized by the ITU. When it becomes commercially available in 2015, G.fast will use a frequency range for data transmission of 106 MHz, giving broadband speeds up to 500 Mbps over a distance of 100 meters.

Bell Labs said XG-FAST uses an increased frequency range up to 500 MHz to achieve higher speeds but over shorter distances. Bell Labs achieved 1 Gbps symmetrical over 70 meters on a single copper pair. 10 Gbps was achieved over a distance of 30 meters by using two pairs of lines (bonding). Both tests used standard copper cable provided by a European operator.

Marcus Weldon, President of Bell Labs: “Our constant aim is to push the limits of what is possible to ‘invent the future’, with breakthroughs that are 10 times better than are possible today. Our demonstration of 10 Gbps over copper is a prime example: by pushing broadband technology to its limits, operators can determine how they could deliver gigabit services over their existing networks, ensuring the availability of ultra-broadband access as widely and as economically as possible.”

http://www.alcatel-lucent.com/press/2014/alcatel-lucent-sets-new-world-record-broadband-speed-10-gbps-transmission-data-over-traditional

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Qualcomm Supports Docomo's VoLTE Launch in Japan

Qualcomm Technologies announced that NTT Docomo's newly launched VoLTE service in Japan is leveraging a VoLTE solution based on its Snapdragon 800 processor with a fully featured multimode integrated VoLTE modem and IMS software.  The Qualcomm implementation supports SMS, HD voice, video telephony (VT), and single radio voice call continuity (SRVCC), which can be found in a wide variety of smartphone devices available on NTT DOCOMO’s network.

The VoLTE solution is also designed to deliver higher quality voice calls, faster voice connections with low call set-up times and simultaneous voice and Cat4 data rates up to 150 Mbps over LTE.

“We are pleased to work with NTT DOCOMO on the first large-scale commercial VoLTE launch, which is designed to provide their customers in Japan with faster, more consistent user experiences,” said Serge Willenegger, vice president of product management, Qualcomm Technologies, Inc. “From improved voice call quality to faster data access, users will recognize the many benefits provided by the Snapdragon 800 processor VoLTE solution.”

The Snapdragon 800 processor supports all key VoLTE features such as CDRX, RoHC, SPS, and TTI Bundling that are designed to improve call quality and lower power consumption. The Qualcomm Technologies modem centric IMS solution is designed to adapt to radio conditions for superior mobility performance, lower power consumption and optimized call latency. This enables wider-bandwidth, high-quality HD voice and low latency voice and video telephony. The VoLTE solution has been performance optimized for diverse radio conditions and its Single Radio Voice Call Continuity (SRVCC) is designed to support a smooth handover from LTE to 3G without dropping voice calls. It also incorporates robust inter-technology working with 2G, 3G and WLAN, all of which has been extensively tested across major infrastructure vendors and operator networks.

“NTT DOCOMO has launched the leading edge voice and video service, allowing VoLTE service to be available commercially nationwide in Japan as of June” said Kazuaki Terunuma, vice president and managing director of communication device development department, NTT DOCOMO, INC. “We have successfully worked with Qualcomm Technologies in LTE technology for many years, which is why we chose to work with them for VoLTE technology as well. With this comprehensive, stable and extensively tested chipset with IMS software solution, we are able to provide leading edge VoLTE services on mobile phones from several manufacturers to our customers.”

http://www.qualcomm.com/

• In May 2014, NTT DOCOMO confirmed the pending launch of Voice-over-LTE (VoLTE) in its home market in late June -- the first such launch in Japan.
  Four smartphones and two tablets in DOCOMO's summer lineup will become compatible with the new service after a software update scheduled in or after late June.
  The carrier said its VoLTE service will newly enable users to receive Area Mail disaster-information notifications while making VoLTE voice/video calls. Also, users will be able to experience data rate of up to 150 Mbps during VoLTE voice calls.
  DOCOMO's new VoLTE service will require a subscription to Xi. Existing Xi billing plans, packet flat-rate services, discounts and dialing charges will be applicable to VoLTE voice calls, including the new Kake-hodai & Pake-aeru billing plans for flat-rate voice and data, as well as data sharing with family members.
  Packet communication charges for VoLTE video calls will be offered free of charge until September 2015, after which video calls will incur both voice and packet communication charges.https://www.nttdocomo.co.jp/english/info/media_center/pr/2014/0514_00.html

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IBM Kicks off $3 Billion Silicon Research Initiative

IBM announced a $3 billion research initiative that aims to advance silicon technologies to the 7nm threshold or below.  Over the next 5 years, IBM will conduct two broad research and early stage development programs.

The first is aimed at so-called “7 nanometer and beyond” silicon technology and the second is focused on developing alternative technologies for post-silicon era chips using entirely different approaches.

IBM said its research teams will be able to leverage work it already has underway in area such as carbon nanoelectronics, silicon photonics, new memory technologies, and architectures that support quantum and cognitive computing.

"The question is not if we will introduce 7 nanometer technology into manufacturing, but rather how, when, and at what cost?" said John Kelly, senior vice president, IBM Research. "IBM engineers and scientists, along with our partners, are well suited for this challenge and are already working on the materials science and device engineering required to meet the demands of the emerging system requirements for cloud, big data, and cognitive systems. This new investment will ensure that we produce the necessary innovations to meet these challenges."

https://www-03.ibm.com/press/us/en/pressrelease/44357.wss

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Colombia's UNE EPM Deploys 100G with ALU

Colombia’s UNE EPM Telecomunicaciones has deplooyed a 100G core supporting both mobile and fixed-line customers in urban area using the Alcatel-Lucent 1830 Photonic Service Switch (PSS).

The DWDM/OTN network includes the main fiber rings in Colombia’s national backbone network to connect submarine landing points in Cartagena, Barranquilla and Tolu with the main capital cities including Bogota, Medellin, Bucaramanga, Cucuta, Cali, Ibague, Neiva and Popayan.

The network, which boasts 8.8 Tbps of capacity, became operational in time to deliver video services for the World Cup.

http://www.alcatel-lucent.com/

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América Móvil to Sell Majority Share of Mexican Assets

América Móvil announced plans to sell the majority interest (over 50%) of its operations in Mexico in order to cease being a "preponderant economic agent" as defined by new laws intended to break up the telecom monopolies in the nation.

The intended sales concern América Móvil's fixed line business, TelMex, and its mobile network, Telcel.  Carlos Slim is the largest stakeholder in América Móvil.

As part of the plan, all cellular cites (base stations), including towers and related passive infrastructure, will be separated from Telcel so that they may serve on a wholesale basis to all interested parties.

América Móvil's TelMex division also ratified a commercial agreement with Dish México in anticipation of offering pay television service once its regulated status as preponderant economic agent is cleared.

http://www.americamovil.com/amx/en/cm/news/2014/08072014.pdf

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DragonWave Posts 61% Revenue Rise

DragonWave reported revenue of $28.8 million for the first quarter of its fiscal year 2015, compared with $17.9 million in the fourth quarter of fiscal year 2014 and $24.5 million in the first quarter of the fiscal year 2014.

Revenue from the Nokia channel (formerly called Nokia Solutions and Networks) represented 61% of revenue in the first quarter of this fiscal year, versus 68% in the fourth quarter of fiscal year 2014 and 57% in first quarter of fiscal year 2014. There was a net loss of $6.6 million or ($0.11) per basic and diluted share. This compares to a net loss applicable to shareholders of $11.6 million or ($0.20) per basic and diluted share in the fourth quarter of fiscal year 2014 and a net loss applicable to shareholders of $6.6 million or ($0.17) per basic and diluted share in the first quarter of fiscal year 2014.

Gross margin for the first quarter of fiscal year 2015 was 20.5%, compared with 14.5% in the fourth quarter of fiscal year 2014 and 11.5% in the first quarter of fiscal year 2014.

“We are pleased that the increased demand that we observed in Q1 2015 is continuing into our second quarter.  Momentum is such that we anticipate revenue growth between 25% and 40% relative to Q1,” said DragonWave President and CEO Peter Allen.

http://investor.dragonwaveinc.com

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Beijing Internet Harbor Picks Coriant for Packet Optical

Beijing Internet Harbor, an Internet service provider in China, has selected Coriant's 7100 Nano solution to support the creation of high-performance metro networks in Beijing and Shanghai. In addition, Beijing Internet Harbor is using Coriant's 8000 Intelligent Network Manager (INM), a single network management system that offers service providers full, end-to-end support for commissioning and monitoring services.

Coriant's 7100 Nano, part of the 7100 Packet Optical Transport Platform family, combines advanced optical networking technology with a full-featured integrated services layer. Coriant also creates flexibility in Beijing Internet Harbor's network using advanced multi-degree ROADM technology.

http://www.coriant.com/company/press_release.asp?id=1135

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