Reliance/GCX Launch SD-WAN

Reliance Communications & Global Cloud Xchange are teaming up to offer a global SD-WAN solution for enterprises.  The service delivers enhanced MPLS class VPN connectivity for enterprises, featuring low cost, Cloud-based, secure routing across the world’s largest subsea cable infrastructure.

“In today’s market, it is evident that SD WAN is rapidly gaining momentum as it offers an innovative way to adapt traditional WANs to Cloud services,” said Bill Barney, CEO, RCOM (Enterprise) and GCX. “Cloud X WAN, was developed to address the market, offering an affordable solution which embraces flexibility, scalability and enhanced security.”

RCOM/GCX’s Cloud X WAN will provide cloud-based managed services globally across the company’s proprietary CLOUD X platform; a leading edge Cloud ecosystem and multi-service orchestration platform implemented in key hubs along GCX’s Global subsea network infrastructure.

“Cloud X WAN is an evolution of GCX’s existing hybrid WAN service which already connects more than 20,000 locations to a global MPLS network via the Internet. A simple SD WAN router will form the basic building block, carrying out instructions from a centralized SD WAN controller. This device will perform key routing functions and other virtualized network services as selected in real-time in a portal by the customer” said Braham Singh, SVP, Product Management, RCOM (Enterprise) and GCX.

http://www.globalcloudxchange.com

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Virtru Raises $29 Million for Trusted Data Format Encryption

Virtru, a start-up specializing in encryption and data protection, announced $29 million in Series A financing led by Bessemer Venture Partners (BVP) with New Enterprise Associates (NEA), Soros Fund Management, Haystack Partners, Quadrant Capital Advisors, and Blue Delta Capital also participating in the round.

Virtru, which first launched in 2014, provides email and file encryption to more than 4,000 organizations around the world. The Virtru solution integrates encryption, access control, and data loss prevention (DLP) into tools like Gmail, Google Drive, and Microsoft Outlook.

The company's innovations and patented technologies include full-text search of encrypted content and the ability to use existing identity for authentication -- ensuring that customers no longer need to trade privacy for convenience. Virtru will use the new capital to accelerate support for cloud platforms like Microsoft Office 365 and extending its SDKs and APIs for software developers to integrate Virtru into their applications.

Virtru's architecture is built on the Trusted Data Format (TDF), an open-source technology invented by company Co-Founder Will Ackerly, a former cloud security architect at the NSA. Unlike network-based approaches to security such as firewalls and intrusion prevention systems, Virtru protects the data itself, throughout its lifespan and wherever it travels. Each content object is wrapped in its own secure envelope that can only be accessed by authorized parties. Customers manage their own encryption keys and access privileges can be revoked or changed at any time, even after content has been opened or shared.

"We've always been about making it easy for people to take back control of their private information, on their terms and without unnecessary complexity," said John Ackerly, CEO and Co-Founder of Virtru. "With the new funding and the support of best security and privacy investors and operators in the industry, we will take our mission to more businesses, software developers and individuals around the world."

http://www.virtru.com

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Second Intelsat EpicNG Satellite Launched into Orbit

Intelsat 33e, the second of seven planned Intelsat EpicNG high throughput satellites, was launched successfully from French Guiana aboard an Ariane 5 launch vehicle.

Intelsat 33e, manufactured by Boeing, will bring high throughput capacity in both C- and Ku-band to the Africa, Europe, Middle East and Asia regions from 60°E. The satellite will join Intelsat 29e, the first Intelsat EpicNG satellite, which was launched in January 2016 over the Americas and North Atlantic Ocean region, to form a high throughput overlay to Intelsat’s fleet of enterprise-grade, wide beam satellites.

“Intelsat 33e marks another significant milestone as we continue our ‘epic’ journey toward meeting our customers’ needs for higher performance, improved economics and simplified access to satellite solutions,” stated Stephen Spengler, Chief Executive Officer, Intelsat. “Our first high throughput satellite, Intelsat 29e, is already in service and exceeding our customers’ expectations in the Americas. With Intelsat 33e, customers operating in EMEA and the Asia Pacific regions will now be able to leverage Intelsat EpicNG’s differentiated capabilities and greater efficiencies to grow their businesses and deliver enhanced value to their customers.”

http://www.intelsat.com

First Intelsat EpicNG Satellite Successfully Launched by Arianespace

Thursday, January 28, 2016  Arianespace, Intelsat, Satellite  No Comments

The first of the Intelsat EpicNG high throughput satellites was launched successfully from French Guiana aboard an Ariane 5 vehicle.

The Intelsat 29e (IS-29e), which is the first of the EpicNG satellites, combines high throughput Ku- spot beams in the Americas to meet broadband demand for carrier-grade telecom and enterprise connectivity as well as Atlantic Ocean and Caribbean coverage for dense aero and shipping routes. It also offers a transatlantic Ku- wide beam overlay and provides efficient broadcast capabilities for in-flight entertainment. C-band wide beam provides full South American continent coverage for media distribution. Boeing served as prime contractor.

“Today’s launch represents a truly ‘epic’ moment in communication’s history, as we begin a new era of high throughput satellite services for our customers,” stated Stephen Spengler, Chief Executive Officer, Intelsat. “This is a testament to the innovation and creativity of the Intelsat team who envisioned the Intelsat EpicNG platform nearly four years ago. Through design expertise and a deep understanding of our customers’ requirements, the Intelsat EpicNG platform will deliver high performance, improved economics and simplified access that will expand the addressable market for our solutions.”

http://www.intelsat.com/Intelsat29e
http://www.arianespace.com/mission/ariane-flight-va228/

• Intelsat has previously named a number of customers in the region who have already committed to Intelsat EpicNG, include Compania Anonima Nacional Telefonos de Venezuela, BT Latam Venezuela, Anditel, S.A.S, Axesat, Amazonia Cabo Ltda., Cadena Ecuatoriana de Television C.A., Canal 10 CETV, Corporacion Nacional de Telecommunicaciones CNTE.P., Fox Latin America Channels do Brasil, Igrege Mundial do Poder de Deus, Radio e Televisao Banderantes and Telefonica del Peru.
• In 2012, Intelsat first unveiled its EpicNG platform -- a new approach to satellite and network architecture utilizing multiple frequency bands, wide beams, spot beams and frequency reuse technology. EpicNG will be the company's next generation of satellites, promising higher throughputs and lower cost per bit. It will be a complementary overlay to the company's existing constellation of satellites and global IntelsatONE terrestrial network.

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Red Hat Updates its Kernel-based Virtual Machine

Red Hat updated its Kernel-based Virtual Machine (KVM)-powered virtualization platform for both Linux- and Windows-based workloads.

Red Hat Virtualization 4 includes both a high-performing hypervisor (Red Hat Virtualization Host) and a web-based virtualization resource manager (Red Hat Virtualization Manager) for management of an enterprise’s virtualization infrastructure. Specifically, Red Hat Virtualization 4 introduces new and enhanced capabilities around:

• Performance and extensibility
• Management and automation
• Support for OpenStack and Linux containers
• Security and reliability
• Centralized networking through an external, third-party API
• Performance and Extensibility

“While virtualization remains a key underpinning for the modern datacenter, customer needs are rapidly evolving to demand more than simply virtualizing traditional workloads. Modern virtualization platforms need to address these standard scenarios while making way for the emergence of virtualized containers and cloud computing, key aspects that Red Hat Virtualization can address in an open, extensible fashion," stated Gary Chen, research manager, Software Defined Compute, IDC.

http://www.redhat.com

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Digicel Signs Usain Bolt as "Chief Speed Officer"

Digicel Group, which offers mobile and entertainment services in 33 markets in the Caribbean, Central America and Asia Pacific, has signed Usain Bolt to serve as its "Chief Speed Officer (CSO)."

Digicel has been a sponsor of Usain Bolt since 2004 - when he was fresh out of high school.

In his role as Digicel CSO, Usain will promote the company in a number of ways from both a commercial and community point of view and will continue to inspire, motivate and captivate customers and fans across the globe for many years to come.

Peter Lloyd, Director of Marketing for Digicel Group, said; “We are honoured to be turning our twelve year relationship with Usain into a lifelong relationship. Our relationship with Usain transcends sport – he is a unique human being who inspires millions of people across the world. We take pride in having been the first to offer superfast LTE and fibre to the home services in our markets across the globe and to be delivering a truly cutting edge communications and entertainment experience to our customers. As our Chief Speed Officer, we expect Usain to challenge us constantly to deliver awesome experiences to our customers be it from a product, service or community perspective.”

http://www.digicelgroup.com/en.html

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SoftBank Adopts SanDisk's Multi-petabyte Flash Platform

SoftBank has adopted the SanDisk InfiniFlash all-flash storage platform for its software-defined storage solution.

Specifically, SoftBank has built a new software-defined, multi-petabyte in-house system using the SanDisk InfiniFlash platform as its core storage engine for real-time data transaction applications, enabling the installation of software in general-purpose servers. Previously, SoftBank was running an in-house traditional storage system combining hard disk drives (HDD) and solid state drives (SSD) for some of its applications.

SanDisk said its InfiniFlash platform offers up to 512TB of recording density in one 3-rack-unit (3U) platform.

http://www.sandisk.com

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