Cisco Supplies Virtualized Packet Core for Mobile Virtual Network Enabler

Cisco will supply its virtualized Packet Core solution to a Mobile Virtual Network Enabler (MVNE) that aims to deliver network functionality to mobile network operators and mobile virtual network operator (MVNO) using a virtualized platform.

ASPIDER, which is based in the Netherlands, uses an application service provider model to provide MNOs and MVNOs with OPEX-based, revenue-generating services with better control costs and margin than infrastructure deployed on their own. The company currently offers a "configure on-demand" IaaS platform and will now be moving to a virtualized packet core.

Specifically, ASPIDER has selected Cisco UCS C (rackmount) servers as compute platform for deployment of Cisco's virtualized Packet Core and Gateway GPRS Support Node (GGSN). This enables ASPIDER to enhance its Access Point Name (APN) gateway functions and policy integration to provide customers with more configuration flexibility to support Quality of Service management. Telindus serves as systems integrator.

"The Cisco virtualized Packet Core solution gives ASPIDER the flexibility they need to deliver the same scalability, flexibility, and integrated network policy control as their Cisco GGSN platform. Cisco virtualized Packet Core supplies ASPIDER with a faster time to market, at lower cost of entry, while providing the same Cisco StarOS software assets necessary to offer their hosted mobile Internet services. We are thrilled about ASPIDER's continued confidence in us and we look forward to further working together to deliver industry-leading services," stated Mike Iandolo, vice president and general manager, Mobile Internet Technology Group, Cisco.

http://newsroom.cisco.com/press-release-content?type=webcontent&articleId=1562524

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Verizon's Secure Cloud Interconnect Adds HP Helion and Salesforce

Verizon Enterprise Solutions' Secure Cloud Interconnect (SCI) service is now delivering HP Helion Managed Cloud Service and the Salesforce Customer Success Platform. The connectivity features dynamic bandwidth allocation, strong security (encryption), application performance throughput and quality of service options. Rapid, on-demand provisioning reduces deployment time and maintenance requirements for Verizon SCI customers.

Verizon's SCI already provides secure connectivity to Amazon, Google, Microsoft, and its own Verizon cloud service.

“Verizon SCI now connects to more cloud services, offering enterprises a premier choice when choosing their cloud interconnect partner,” said Shawn Hakl, enterprise networking platforms and managed products for Verizon. “HP and Salesforce customers will find that SCI delivers an unmatched combination of security, resiliency, application performance, simplicity and efficiency while enabling a wide range of applications and use cases, making it a great fit for enterprises with discriminating requirements.”

http://news.verizonenterprise.com/2014/12/cloud-interconnect-hp-salesforce-verizon/
http://cloud.verizon.com/enterprise-cloud-report

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T-Mobile ‘Un-carrier 8.0’ Intros Data Stash

T-Mobile announced its Un-carrier 8.0 move − allowing users to roll-over their unused data.

The company said data you don’t use each month will automatically roll into a personal "Data Stash" so you can use it when you need it for up to a year. In addition, T-Mobile announced they will start every Data Stash with 10 GB of 4G LTE data.

T-Mobile also announced its LTE network now covers 260 million POPs across the U.S.  The Wideband LTE now reaches 121 metropolitan areas across the country. By mid-2015, the company plans to convert all of its Edge spectrum to LTE.

“Can you imagine your gas station siphoning unused gas from your car each month? The US wireless industry is even worse,” said John Legere, president and CEO for T-Mobile. “Americans have been gamed by the carriers into buying huge data plans – all to avoid getting screwed with overage penalties. Only to find out they bought more than they need which is then confiscated by the carrier. For the consumer it’s lose, lose."

http://www.t-mobile.com/offer/data-stash-data-roll.html

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Procera Ships its 100GE Interface Cards

Procera Networks confirmed several-million dollars of orders from Tier 1 operators for 100GE-equipped PacketLogic 20000 Platform. These deployments will leverage the 100GE interfaces deployed in existing or new PL20000 systems delivering Subscriber Experience solutions for fixed and mobile operators. Most of the revenue from these orders is expected to be recognized in the fourth quarter of 2014.

The PacketLogic 20000 offers up to 600Gbps of capacity and up to 8 ports (4 channels) of 100GE interfaces, enabling a fixed or mobile operator to handle millions of subscribers traffic flows with full subscriber experience visibility in both real-time and with historical visibility into the subscriber experience metrics that matter. The intelligence gathered from Procera's Perspectives solutions (RAN, Video, Subscriber, Device, Routing, Traffic, Content, and Topology) is displayed in real-time using Dynamic LiveView or streamed using IPFix, and then stored in the PacketLogic Intelligence Center for visualization in the Insights Product family (Engineering, Customer Care, and Marketing) or an external Big Data solution. The PL20000 can then act to improve the subscriber experience through Congestion Management, Policy and Charging, Advanced Traffic Steering, or Mitigation.

http://www.proceranetworks.com

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Broadcom's GPS-enabled Satellite Receiver Paves Way for Geo-locked Content

Broadcom introduced the industry's first GPS-enabled satellite outdoor unit (ODU), enabling operators to better track the location of subscriber equipment and pinpoint subscriber's service issues in the home.  The unit Broadcom's BCM4551 satellite TV device with its BCM4771 GPS receiver.

Broadcom said its new satellite dish solution can locate and validate a subscriber's home location. GPS technology within the low-noise block (LNB) of a subscribers' satellite dish also allows operators to geo-lock content to subscribers. Content geo-locking uses a subscriber's location to deliver video content specific to the subscriber's service address.

"By combining Broadcom's field-proven satellite ODU technology with GPS functionality, we are able to provide operators with the capability to more conveniently and cost-effectively track the location of their equipment and prevent redistribution of content to nonsubscribers," said Nicholas Dunn, Broadcom Vice President of Direct Broadcast Satellite Marketing. "This integrated technology can also open the door to operator delivery of location-based social media and business applications, providing subscribers with targeted content such as information on local service providers, retail operations and restaurants, or a specific televised event."

http://www.broadcom.com/

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Big Switch Achieves Red Hat Certification

Big Switch Networks' flagship Big Cloud Fabric has achieved certification with Red Hat Enterprise Linux OpenStack Platform 5.

The certification enables customers to replace complex and costly legacy box-by-box networking with SDN fabric. The Big Cloud Fabric plug-in for OpenStack Neutron provides dynamic creation of network segments on the physical leaf/spine SDN fabric. Additional support for OpenStack Nova networking provides increased flexibility to customers. To speed up diagnostics, online fabric connectivity testing is exposed directly into OpenStack Horizon GUI, so each tenant can verify workload connectivity without involving a cloud operations team. Such self-service diagnostic tools, enabled through Big Cloud Fabric's native REST APIs, further reduce the customer's operational expenses.

http://bigswitch.com/press-releases/2014/12/16/big-switch-networks-big-cloud-fabric-achieves-red-hat-certification-for

• In July 2014, Big Switch Networks unveiled its new flagship product -- Big Cloud Fabric, a switching fabric designed for hyperscale data centers powered by SDN software and bare metal switch hardware.  The Big Cloud Fabric leverages the company’s Switch Light Operating System on physical leaf and spine bare metal switch hardware.  It supports the latest Trident II silicon from Broadcom and is designed for 10G and 40G scale and resiliency, featuring headless mode high availability, zero-touch provisioning, L2/3 forwarding options, application-centric policy and service chaining. Management is available via OpenStack, Cloudstack, REST, CLI, or GUI.

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NBASE-T Alliance Builds Momentum for 2.5 and 5 GbE

The newly formed  NBASE-T Alliance, which promotes the development of 2.5 and 5 Gigabit Ethernet (GbE) over twisted pair copper cabling (2.5GBASE-T and 5GBASE-T) for enterprise network infrastructure, announced a dozen new members:  Aruba Networks, Brocade, Cavium, Centec Networks, CME Consulting, Intel, Microsemi Corp., Qualcomm, Ruckus Wireless, Shenzhen GLGNET Electronics Co., Tehuti Networks and Vitesse Semiconductor.

NBASE-T Alliance is working on a new standard to enable multi-gigabit speeds over existing Cat5e and Cat6 cabling.  The technology is especially relevant for supporting Wave 2 of 802.11ac access points without requiring enterprise customers to engage in the costly upgrade of their wired infrastructure.

Member companies gain access to the recently-released NBASE-T 1.0 specification – a specification based on silicon-proven, production-ready devices.  In addition, participants have the opportunity to join the alliance’s newly-formed Technical Working Group and Marketing Working Group.  The Technical Working Group will define a comprehensive end-to-end solution, including additional specifications to address application needs beyond the physical layer.  The NBASE-T Alliance and its participant companies are also working closely with IEEE to ensure rapid standardization and drive industry-wide adoption of multi-gigabit rates in enterprise infrastructures.

“Our diverse membership ensures that the broadest range of opinions and perspectives will be reflected when our working groups gather,” said Peter Jones, Chairman of NBASE-T Alliance. “We believe this level of diversity and collaboration is a requirement when driving new standards and building the product ecosystem required to support them.”

http://www.nbaset.org/

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Carrier Network Virtualization Outlook - @Mavenir Carlos Molina Responds

Which elements of carrier networks should be virtualized first?

Carlos Molina, Director of Product Strategy at Mavenir Systems, gives his one-minute take.

http://youtu.be/e2oavLrzTAY

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Carrier Network Virtualization Outlook - @RADdatacomms Eitan Schwartz responds

Which elements of carrier networks should be virtualized first?

Eitan Schwatz, VP, Service Provider Line of Business, North America, at RAD, gives his one-minute take.

http://youtu.be/n325BU4pZag

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Carrier Network Virtualization Outlook - @GENBAND Sanjay Bhatia responds

Which elements of carrier networks should be virtualized first?

Sanjay Bhatia, Senior Director of Product Marketing at Genband, gives his one-minute take.

http://youtu.be/Tcqg5TfBd7Q

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MRV Appoints New CEO

MRV appointed Mark J. Bonney, 60, as President and Chief Executive Officer, replacing David Stehlin, who resigned as an officer and director of MRV to pursue other interests.

Bonney has been a member of the MRV Board of Directors since April 2013 and served as Executive Vice President and CFO from August 2014 until December 2014. From January 2013 through August 2014, he served as the President and CEO of On Board Advisors, LLC, a strategic and financial advisory firm.

MRV also promoted Stephen Krulik, 42, who has served as Vice President of Finance since May 5, 2014 to Chief Financial Officer. These appointments were unanimously approved by the independent members of the Company’s Board of Directors.

Mr. Bonney commented, “Since taking on the role of CFO four months ago I have become increasingly confident in our people, our technology and our product and service offerings of both our Network Integration and Network Equipment businesses. I am excited to expand my role and work more closely with an excellent management team as we drive the MRV strategy forward.”

http://ir.mrv.com/phoenix.zhtml?c=103858&p=irol-newsArticle&ID=1999306

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