Windstream expands SDN-powered wavelength service across U.S.

Windstream announced a major expansion of its SDN Orchestrated Waves (SDNow) transport service.

SDNow, which is a high-speed optical wave service delivered using a centralized, programmable SDN environment – is now available in 50 markets across the U.S., including major cloud connectivity and peering locations in the United States.  The service was first launched in May.

The Windstream network leverages multi-vendor service orchestration and automated provisioning. This enables customers to order SDNow 10G point-to-point circuits for 1,500 long-haul route combinations, with delivery in 20 days.

“This SDNow expansion brings the benefits of SDN-provisioned service to even more transport customers across our national footprint – a definite game-changer for Windstream,” said Joseph Harding, executive vice president and enterprise chief marketing officer at Windstream. “With its accelerated 20-day service delivery, SDNow will allow Windstream customers to advance their cloud migration and digital transformation efforts with the increased speed, agility and efficiency required for business innovation and success.”

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Infinera intros Auto-Lambda tuning for DAA cable networks

Infinera introduced an Auto-Lambda capability to simplify Distributed Access Architecture (DAA) for cable network operators.

Auto-Lambda provides auto-tuneable 10 Gb/s DWDM automation for optical cable access networks. The capability, which operates over up to an 80-kilometer reach over both single and dual fibers, addresses the need for a “plug-and-go” installation model for service activation. First, central office equipment is configured to a desired wavelength. Later, when a field technician installs the customer premise equipment, Auto-Lambda ensures that the proper wavelength is selected automatically, significantly simplifying the installation. This will enable network operators to scale to extremely large numbers of 10G access points.

The capability is expected to be available in the Infinera XTM Series in the first half of 2018.

Infinera said its Auto-Lambda technology builds on its experience deploying optical networks for several of the top cable operators across North America and Europe.

“With our history of innovation in DWDM access and cable networks, we are excited to directly address DAA,” said Sten Nordell, CTO, Infinera Metro Business Group. “Auto-Lambda demonstrates our ability to greatly simplify access network operations for next-generation cable network architectures.”

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Ciena supplies packet/optical to Israel Electric Corporation

Ciena is supplying its converged packet optical and software platforms to transform the network of the Israel Electric Corporation (IEC).

The upgrade to 100G and OTN switching equipment enables IEC to respond to the growing demand for IT and telecommunications services, as well as to build and deliver secure high-speed broadband services for private overlay networks.

IEC will use Ciena’s 6500 Packet-Optical Platform to power a 100G DWDM OTN-switched core network . Ciena’s WaveLogic Encryption will provide protection of critical in-flight information. IEC will also use Blue Planet’s Manage, Control and Plan (MCP) software for unified network management and end-to-end service provisioning and planning. Financial terms were not disclosed.

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ADTRAN posts strong quarter, earnings up 28% yoy

Citing strong sales for broadband equipment and growing service revenues, ADTRAN reported Q3 2017 sales of $185.1 million compared to $168.9 million for the third quarter of 2016. Net income was $15.9 million compared to $12.4 million for the third quarter of 2016. Earnings per share, assuming dilution, were $0.33 compared to $0.26 for the third quarter of 2016.

ADTRAN Chairman and Chief Executive Officer Tom Stanton stated, “We are very pleased with the company’s performance in the third quarter as we continued to see strong sales in our domestic ultra-broadband solutions and services, which have more than doubled from the same period last year. Total company revenues grew by 10% compared to the same period last year as a result of strength in both our Network Solutions segment and a record performance in our services revenues, which again grew at a double-digit pace. We were also pleased to see growth in our Customer Devices category in the quarter. Our customers are increasingly relying on ADTRAN to help them plan, provision and deploy network assets to the best effect, ensuring the network is prepared for the emergence of exciting applications and mission critical services.”

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SoftBank plans new JV targeting U.S. cell towers

SoftBank and Australia's Lendlease Group are planning to a joint venture company to own and operate cell towers across the U.S, according to The Wall Street Journal and other media sources. The initial plan envisions the acquisition of about 8,000 cell sites, many but not all of which would come from Sprint. SoftBank holds a 70% equity stake in Sprint.

In April 2016, Sprint announced an arrangement to sell and lease back certain existing network assets, thereby raising $2.2 billion for addressing upcoming debt maturities.

Under the deal, several bankruptcy remote entities (collectively “Network LeaseCo”) will acquire certain existing network assets and then lease them back to Sprint. The assets acquired by Network LeaseCo will be used as collateral to raise approximately $2.2 billion in borrowings from external investors, including SoftBank. The $2.2 billion of cash proceeds Sprint expects to receive from the transaction is scheduled to be repaid in staggered, unequal payments through January 2018.

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IBM sees growth in cloud and as-a-service categories

IBM reported Q3 2017 revenue of $19.2 billion, flat compared to a year ago and down 1% yoy when accounting for currency.

In the third quarter, the company generated net cash from operating activities of $3.6 billion, or $3.3 billion excluding Global Financing receivables. IBM’s free cash flow was $2.5 billion. IBM returned $1.4 billion in dividends and $0.9 billion of gross share repurchases to shareholders.

"In the third quarter we achieved double-digit growth in our strategic imperatives, extended our enterprise cloud leadership, and expanded our cognitive solutions business," said Ginni Rometty, IBM chairman, president and chief executive officer. "There was enthusiastic adoption of IBM's new z Systems mainframe, which delivers breakthrough security capabilities to our clients."

Some highlights:

• Q3 cloud revenues increased 20 percent to $4.1 billion. 
• Cloud revenue over the last 12 months was $15.8 billion, including $8.8 billion delivered as-a-service and $7.0 billion for hardware, software and services.
• The annual exit run rate for as-a-service revenue increased to $9.4 billion from $7.5 billion in the third quarter of 2016. 
• Q3 revenues from analytics increased 5 percent. 
• Q3evenues from mobile increased 7 percent
• Q3 revenues from security increased 51 percent (up 49 percent adjusting for currency).
• IBM continues to make capital investments in cloud and cognitive capabilities.

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Ekinops powers Pennsylvania’s KINBER

Ekinops is supplying optical networking equipment to the Keystone Initiative for Network Based Education and Research (KINBER), Pennsylvania’s statewide research, education and community networking organization.

Harrisburg-based KINBER provides network connectivity and services – including IP, Ethernet, and wavelength services – to more than 80 organizations in Pennsylvania. KINBER owns and operates a more than 1,800-mile fiber network across the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania with access points in 47 of the 67 Pennsylvania counties.

For this upgrade, KINBER successfully installed two 100G long-haul connections using its Ekinops 360 platform. One span extends 166 miles and the other extends 609 miles of the East Ring of the PennREN Network with a round-trip latency of only 11 milliseconds on the longer route. KINBER’s PennREN network upgrade using Ekinops 360 represents the first availability of 100GE capability across the Commonwealth.

Ekinops noted that its equipment was installed over an existing third-party ROADM network.

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