NTT Backs a Start-up for Distributed Processing and Machine Learning

NTT announced a research partnership and investment with Preferred Networks (PFN) to co-develop technologies for processing Big Data streams in the network.

PFN is a new venture established in March 2014 as a spin off from Preferred Infrastructure, a developer of natural language processing and machine learning technology. NTT will invest about 200 million yen to acquire under 10% of PFN. The company has offices in Tokyo and San Mateo, California.

The partnership will combine NTT’s distributed processing and leading-edge machine learning technologies and know-how on network security with PFN’s machine learning and deep learning technologies and know-how on development and implementation.

NTT Laboratories and PFI have been working on Jubatus, a Big Data processing platform, since 2011. Jubatus is said to provide better performance in both real-time processing and deep analysis than existing Big Data processing technologies, such as Hadoop. Jubatus has been released as open source software.

NTT said this joint research will be needed to deal with the coming era of Super Big Data, when billions of distributed sensors and edge nodes will create vast amounts of real time data. Advanced machine learning will be needed in the network.

http://www.ntt.co.jp/news2014/1410e/141001a.html
http://www.preferred-networks.jp/

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Vodafone Builds Out Global MPLS Backbone

Vodafone will triple the number of MPLS points of presence (PoPs) available to enterprise customers across the USA, Canada and South America. Specifically, Vodafone will establish an additional 21 PoPs in North America and 12 in South America and Latin America, each of which will be in locations close to Vodafone’s major enterprise customer sites, high-density populations and data centre locations. Over the coming months, Vodafone will connect more than 67 countries directly, rising to more than 150 countries via partner networks.

The global MPLS-enabled network will ultimately connect 212 PoPs across Europe, Asia, Africa, Middle East and the Americas. This expansion will complement Vodafone-operated fixed and mobile networks in 17 countries.  The company said its goal is to create "the most expansive global MPLS network by both reach and depth in the industry."
 
Vodafone Global Enterprise President of the Americas region, Chuck Pol, said: “We’re putting the very best next-generation infrastructure where our customers need it and  investing for the future by giving businesses access to the world’s most expansive network by depth and reach. For the first time, multinational customers in the Americas region can benefit from global end-to-end services supplied by a single supplier.”

http://www.vodafone.com

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Tesla Picks Orange Business for Telematics in France

Tesla Motors has chosen Orange Business Services to provide wireless connectivity to its fleet of Tesla Model S vehicles in France.

Tesla will be able to offer their French customers interactive navigation services, Internet radio and web browsing, as well as provide seamless remote diagnostics and over-the-air updates of M2M software.

http://www.orange-business.com/

• In June 2014, Telsa Motors selected NTT DOCOMO to provide M2M connectivity and mobile communications for the Tesla Model S in Japan.  The in-car telematics include navigation using high-resolution maps, online music such as on-demand Internet radio, and communications via the vehicle's 17-inch touchscreen. Tesla anticipates first deliveries of it its Model S in Japan this summer.

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FCC Fines Marriott for Wi-Fi Blocking at Gaylord Opryland

The FCC imposed a $600,000 fine on Marriott Hotel Services for blocking customers' own Wi-Fi signals at the conference facilities of the Gaylord Opryland Hotel and Convention Center in Nashville, Tennessee.

The FCC said its investigation revealed that Marriott employees had used containment features of a Wi-Fi monitoring system at the Gaylord Opryland to prevent individuals from connecting to the Internet via their own personal Wi-Fi networks, while at the same time charging consumers, small businesses, and exhibitors as much as $1,000 per device to access Marriott’s Wi-Fi network. This action was determined to be a violation of Section 333 of the Communications Act. The FCC investigation was prompted by a consumer complaint in March 2013.

“Consumers who purchase cellular data plans should be able to use them without fear that their personalInternet connection will be blocked by their hotel or conference center,” said Enforcement Bureau Chief Travis LeBlanc. “It is unacceptable for any hotel to intentionally disable personal hotspots while also charging consumers and small businesses high fees to use the hotel’s own Wi-Fi network. This practice puts consumers in the untenable position of either paying twice for the same service or forgoing Internet access altogether,” he added.

http://www.fcc.gov/document/marriott-pay-600k-resolve-wifi-blocking-investigation

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