ADVA demos first 100G quantum-safe transport over 2,800km

ADVA demonstrated 100 Gbps quantum-safe optical communication over a long-haul network -- a world-first -- in conjunction with leading European national research and education networks (NRENs).

The trial link stretched 2,800km between Poznań, Poland, and Trondheim, Norway, and covered multi-operator optical transport in three separate research and education networks. Broadnet, GÉANT, NORDUnet, PSNC and UNINETT were all instrumental partners in the joint demo.

ADVA said the demonstration highlights how high-speed, secure connectivity with robust protection even against large-scale quantum computer attacks is possible over deployed operational infrastructure.

"What we’ve accomplished here is of enormous significance to any organization transporting large volumes of sensitive and valuable data. Alongside our NREN partners, we’re proving how quantum-safe site-to-site connectivity can be achieved using our FSP 3000 optical transport technology with ConnectGuard AES encryption and a post-quantum key exchange algorithm. And by showcasing the solution in a very realistic scenario, we’re underlining how network operators can offer long-term security to their customers right now," said Jörg-Peter Elbers, SVP, advanced technology, ADVA.

"The appeal of post-quantum cryptography compared to quantum key distribution is that it offers a straightforward, seamless transition from current key exchange protocols. As a digital method, it is independent on the physical layer, making it easily deployable also over long-haul and multi-operator links. Both methods can, of course, be used in combination providing an even higher level of security."

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ADVA FSP 3000 powers UK’s first quantum network

ADVA's FSP 3000 platform is powering a metro transport system in the city of Cambridge that is being used for the UK's first quantum network.

The project, which is conducted by the UK National Quantum Technologies Programme, super-encrypts data using quantum key distribution (QKD) for complete and long-term cryptographic data security.

ADVA said the openness of its ADVA FSP 3000 platform, which can accept keys from third-party systems utilizing standard protocols, is a vital component of the ultra-secure ROADM-based network. For several years, ADVA has worked closely with Toshiba and the Quantum Communications Hub to engineer the groundbreaking data protection system.

The ADVA FSP 3000’s open interface was developed to comply with early drafts of the new ETSI quantum-safe cryptography standard currently being developed by an ISG headed by Toshiba. This enables the platform to interoperate with external systems and is crucial to the viability of the new QKD solution as it allows the ADVA FSP 3000 to securely and robustly accept keys. What’s more, ADVA’s WDM platform is able to utilize the same fiber for sending high-speed encrypted data as well as for distributing (or generating) quantum keys. QKD is widely predicted to be fundamental to the future of transport network security, especially for finance and government network applications. Distributing encryption keys by transmitting quantum states guarantees the secrecy of data as any attempt to intercept traffic disturbs photons, introducing coding errors and alerting network operators. This makes QKD the ultimate defense against man-in-the-middle attacks.

“As part of the UK National Quantum Technologies Programme in the Quantum Communications Hub, we’re bringing together a wide range of universities, public sector bodies and private companies in a unique collaboration. Our shared goal is realizing the potential of QKD technologies to deliver secure communications. Now, alongside key partners such as ADVA, we’ve reached the stage where QKD-based security is ready for live traffic,” said Tim Spiller, York University and director of the Quantum Communications Hub.

“This launch is a genuine milestone for data protection. By working with Toshiba and the Quantum Communications Hub to advance QKD, we’re ushering in a new age of robust security. This technology will provide peace of mind to businesses most at risk from cyberattacks both now and in the future. They and their customers can have confidence that their data will be shielded from all threats including data harvesting for future quantum hacking,” commented Jörg-Peter Elbers, SVP, advanced technology, ADVA. “In recent years, our encryption technology has earned a formidable reputation for protecting service provider and enterprise networks while ensuring highest capacity, lowest latency and maximum scalability. Our ConnectGuard™ suite offers the strongest protection possible at Layers 1, 2, 3 and 4. Using our FSP 3000 to enable QKD protection ensures our technology will remain at the forefront of secure data transport, even in the post-quantum era.”

“Developing quantum cryptography in fiber optic networks has long been a focus for our team. Over the years, we’ve taken it from PoCs in the lab to real-world demonstrations and we were the first company to achieve a transfer rate of more than 1Mbit/s for quantum communication. Now, through close collaboration with ADVA and the Quantum Communications Hub, we’ve created a fully operational transport network secured by QKD and ready to carry live data,” said Andrew Shields, assistant managing director, Toshiba Research Europe Limited, Cambridge Research Lab. “At a time of increasingly frequent and severe cyberattacks, this technology will prove vital to enterprises looking to fortify their data security, particularly those in the financial sector. Not only does it offer a new level of protection against intrusion on fiber optic networks, but it also safeguards against the upcoming threat of hacking in a post-quantum world.”

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Microsemi teams with China Telecom on optimized OTN for 5G

Microsemi is working with China Telecom Beijing Research Institute to define and develop next-generation optical transport solutions for 5G.

China Telecom is leading the Next-Generation Optical Transport Network Forum (NGOF) consortium formed to drive industry collaboration and technological innovations to define converged optical transport network (OTN) which meet the needs of 5G deployments. As part of this collaboration, Microsemi is bringing to market the DIGI-G5, the newest member of its DIGI OTN processors, supporting new 5G optimized architecture that enables the stringent synchronization, latency and network slicing requirements being placed on optical networks to support 5G deployments.

“China Telecom plans to be the pioneer in both 5G commercial service and 400G OTN network commercial deployments. A mobile-optimized converged metro, multiservice and cloud-based OTN transport network is critical to both initiatives,” said Zhang Chengliang, vice president, China Telecom Beijing Research Institute. “The availability of Microsemi’s DIGI-G5 will help the industry deliver a new generation of OTN equipment to enable the 5G era.”

Microsemi said its new 5G optimized architecture of the DIGI-G5 reduces the total latency for single hop close to 1 microsecond. In addition, the DIGI-G5 integrates close to two terabits of on-chip ODUk switching for hard traffic isolation and grooming in support of network slicing.

DIGI-G5 also delivers nanosecond level time stamping accuracy and provides mechanisms to carry critical timing information over the OTN network, ensuring that platforms will meet Precision Time Protocol’s (PTP’s) Class C requirements.

“As a market leader in OTN processors powering packet optical transport networks world-wide, we are focusing our investments to enable service providers to leverage economy of scale and realize operational efficiencies by extending OTN from their metro networks to the access as the packet optical topology for 5G transport,” said Babak Samimi, vice president and business unit manager for Microsemi's Communications business unit. “As a founding member of NGOF along with China Telecom, Microsemi is innovating and optimizing OTN for mobile applications and DIGI-G5 is bringing together the critical pieces like synchronization, latency, and network slicing needed for 5G.”

DIGI-G5 features supporting 5G:

• New OTN 3.0 rates, enabling flexible (FlexO) and fractional 100G+ transmission
• Comprehensive Ethernet support including 25GE, 50GE and 100Gbps
• Close to 1 microsecond datapath latency
• Supports hard traffic isolation and slicing over OTN
• High precision nanosecond level IEEE 1588 PTP timestamping accuracy
• Integrated G.HAO bandwidth-on-demand processing for OTN switching networks closer to the access

http://www.microsemi.com/digi-g5

About NGOF - http://ngof.net

Microsemi's DIGI-G5 powers Terabit OTN switching cards

Thursday, March 08, 2018  #OFC2018, Microsemi, OTN, PMC-Sierra, Silicon  No Comments

Microsemi introduced its DIGI-G5 Optical Transport Network (OTN) processor for terabit capacity OTN switching cards.

The company said this newest generation in its DIGI franchise enables packet-optical transport platforms to triple in capacity while slashing power consumption by 50 percent per port.

DIGI-G5 delivers 1.2 terabits per second (Tbps) of combined OTN and client interfaces and is first to market with newly standardized 25 Gigabit Ethernet (GE), 50GE, 200GE, 400GE, Flexible OTN (FlexO) and Flexible Ethernet (FlexE) with integrated security engine enabling flexible encrypted optical connections.

Transporting Ethernet, storage, intellectual property (IP)/ multiprotocol label switching (MPLS) and 4G/5G Common Public Radio Interface (CPRI)/eCPRI services over 100G OTN switched connections has proven to be the most fiber, power and cost-efficient deployment solution for moving bits in today's metro and long-haul networks.

“Our DIGI OTN processor portfolio has been instrumental in transforming service provider networks to mass deploy 100G OTN switched networks,” said Babak Samimi, vice president and business unit manager for Microsemi's Communications Business Unit. “Our DIGI-G5 breaks new ground by enabling the industry’s transition to new OTN 3.0 architectures at terabit scalability by delivering three times the port density while lowering power consumption by 50 percent per port.”

DIGI-G5 highlights

• Total interface bandwidth of up to 1.2Tbps
• Comprehensive Ethernet support: 10GE, 25GE, 50GE, 100GE, 200GE, 400GE and the new OIF FlexE specification
• New OTN 3.0 rates, enabling flexible (FlexO) and fractional 100G+ (OTUCn, OTUCn-m) transmission
• 56G PAM-4 Serializer/Deserializer (SerDes) allows direct connection to QSFP-DD, OSFP and coherent digital signal processors (DSPs)
• Integrated packet test set enables remote troubleshooting and debug, driving down capital and operating expenditures
• Integrated security engine enabling end-to-end AES-256 based encryption and authentication
• Integrated G.HAO bandwidth-on-demand processing for OTN switching networks
• Innovative DIGI-Mesh-Connect architecture which enables compact, pay-as-you-grow OTN switching at lowest cost and power by eliminating the need for a centralized switch fabric device.
• Sampling is expected in Q2

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ZTE resumes trading, seeks loan from Chinese banks

For the first time since April 16th, shares of ZTE resumed trading on the Hong Kong Stock Exchange. The shares were valued significantly lower than the previously listed price.

ZTE also announced its intention to seek a 30 billion yuan ($4.9 billion) line of credit from Bank of China and a separate $6 billion credit line from China Development Bank.

ZTE also informed the market that it has agreed to the settlement with the U.S. Department of Commerce and will pay civil monetary penalties totalling US$1.4 billion, including a lump sum payment of USD1 billion to
be paid within 60 days of the issuance of the 8 June 2018 Order, and an additional suspended penalty of US$0.4 billion to be placed within 90 days of the issuance of the 8 June 2018 Order.

ZTE also listed the following conditions imposed by the order.

1. A new denial order (the “New Denial Order”) for a period of ten years from the issuance of the 8 June 2018 Order (the “Probationary Period”) that would, among other things, restrict and prohibit ZTE from applying for, obtaining, or using any license, license exception, or export control document, and participating in any way in any transaction involving any commodity, software, or technology that is subject to the U.S. Export Administration Regulations (the “Regulations”) shall be imposed, but the New Denial Order shall be suspended during the Probationary Period, and thereafter be waived subject to ZTE's compliance with the Agreement
and the 8 June 2018 Order.

2. ZTE shall replace the entire boards of directors (the “Boards of Directors”) of both the Company and ZTE Kangxun within 30 days of the issuance of the 8 June 2018 Order. Within 30 days of replacing the Boards of Directors, ZTE shall create special audit/compliance committees under the Boards of Directors composed of three or more independent members of the new Boards of Directors. The chair of the Boards of Directors can be a member of the committee but cannot chair the committee.

3. ZTE shall terminate all current members of the senior leadership of both the Company and ZTE Kangxun at or above the senior vice president level as well any executive or officer who participated in, oversaw, or was otherwise responsible for the conduct described in the proposed charging letter issued by BIS in March 2017 or the 15 April 2018 Denial Order, within 30 days of the issuance of the 8 June 2018 Order, and prohibit the re-hire of those employees by ZTE and any of its subsidiaries or affiliates. ZTE will promptly report to BIS on its implementation of this term. BIS, at its sole discretion, may consider exemptions to this term.

4. ZTE shall retain at its expense an independent special compliance coordinator (“SCC”) within 30 days of the issuance of the 8 June 2018 Order to coordinate, monitor, assess, and report on compliance by ZTE and its subsidiaries or affiliates worldwide with the U.S. Export Administration Act of 1979, the Regulations, the Agreement and the 8 June 2018 Order during the Probationary Period. The SCC will report to the chief executive officer and the Board of Directors of ZTE and to BIS, equally.

5. ZTE shall complete and submit nine audit reports of its compliance with U.S. export control laws. At the conclusion of the term of the independent compliance monitor created according to the agreement signed between the Company and the United States Department of Justice (as disclosed in the announcement of the Company dated 8 March 2017) and any related court orders, the SCC will be responsible for conducting the six remaining audit reports. 

6. ZTE shall provide extensive training on applicable export control requirements to its leadership, management and employees, and the leadership, management and employees of its subsidiaries, affiliates, and other entities worldwide over which it has ownership or control.

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ECI expands Muse portfolio with multivendor NMS

ECI announced today the availability of its Muse multivendor network management system (NMS) module of its Elastic Services Platform to aid in simplifying operations in multivendor environments.

ECI's Muse enables customers to onboard, provision and manage network elements from different vendors simply and easily all from a single-seat, network management system. The multivendor NMS provides a comprehensive visual status of all network elements. It also accelerates mean time to repair (MTTR) by allowing operators to localize faults quickly and perform right-first-time repair procedures.

ECI said its new multivendor NMS module provides end-to-end visibility and control of network elements and even provides a centralized management system for network elements that do not currently have their own management systems deployed.  Devices can be managed directly under the module or elements can be managed under ECI’s LightSOFT network management system. With the multivendor NMS, management of resources is made simple with an advanced ergonomically designed GUI (graphical user interface) and on-screen tools which accelerate operational activities. Integrated network assurance allows operators to rapidly identify network failures and initiate the correct actions the first time, to maintain maximized service continuity and availability.

“Today’s telecommunications networks are becoming more and more multivendor as customers are increasingly demanding best in class solutions for each aspect of their network. Now, 5G is around the corner and this will place added pressures on the network. Network operators need to meet this demand while building the network towards the future, all while maximizing current network investments and resources,” said Gali Malkiel, head of software line of business at ECI. “Operators should not be limited to deciding on an investment solely based on the technology currently being deployed. They need to be empowered to build a network using the best technologies available to provide the best experience to customers while ensuring the best return on investment.”

The new module is made available through the Muse modular software suite and ECI’s overarching Elastic Services Platform launched earlier this year with the purpose of introducing increased functionality and automation, better performance and faster time to market.

http://www.ecitele.com/muse-applications

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Nokia advances its 5G Acceleration Services

Nokia introduced a number of new services to help mobile operators bring 5G-based services to market faster. The additions to Nokia 5G Acceleration Services include:

• Nokia 5G Digital Design - a unique, patent-pending concept that leverages the Nokia AVA cognitive services platform and machine learning algorithms to simulate the impact of 5G use cases on networks. In the future, it will also use digital twin technology to quickly and accurately show the technological and cost impacts of real-world 5G implementation, and provide automated recommendations for action.
  
• Cross-Domain Architecture and Site Evolution Services -- simplifies the complexity of multivendor and legacy networks, providing architecture and design solutions tailored to operator-specific 5G use cases. Comprehensive testing ensures that networks deliver the required latency, throughput and reliability.
  
• Site Evolution Services -- help operators to evolve their 2G-4G networks to 5G quickly and cost-efficiently, saving both CAPEX and OPEX. Efficiencies are achieved with the reuse of existing site infrastructure and minimizing the number of site changes and visits, and quality is assured with field-proven site solutions tested with Nokia 5G equipment. 

Sanjay Goel, President, Global Services at Nokia, said: "5G network evolution is not only about the radio, but the entire cross-domain architecture and how operators can manage it. It's about where to invest first - and how to keep the investments and total cost of ownership under control. Nokia's use case-focused 5G services recognize that operators might initially want to use 5G for different purposes: some to offer consumer services, others focusing more on industrial applications. Leveraging Nokia's artificial intelligence, automation and multivendor expertise can help operators prioritize their investments based on their 5G strategies."

Nokia also announced Software Defined Network and virtual private networks capabilities within the Nokia Wavence microwave transmission system, enabling the creation and dynamic management of separated network slices for user groups in microwave segments in a 5G network.

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Verizon and Nokia hit 1.8 Gbps in 5G NR tests in 28 GHz spectrum

Verizon and Nokia announced two industry firsts: the successful completion of a series of data sessions over the 3GPP New Radio 5G standard outdoors – rather than in a lab; and successful multi-carrier aggregation to boost those signals into Gbps range.

The testing trasmitted multiple live interactive virtual reality (VR) sessions and simultaneous 4k streaming video on Verizon’s 28 GHz millimeter wave spectrum with latencies of 1.5 milliseconds.

The companies used 4CC (component carrier aggregation) to achieve throughput speeds up to 1.8 Gbps.

"By continuing to push the technological envelope and make advancements like these, we’re driving the ongoing development of 5G technology and bringing it to life for our customers,” said Sanyogita Shamsunder, vice president, 5G Ecosystems & Innovation for Verizon. “Verizon continues to lead the way toward the realization of true 5G technology."

 "Nokia is committed to supporting Verizon's advanced effort to bring 5G to commercial reality,” said Marc Rouanne, president of Mobile Networks, Nokia. “Our successful trial pushes the testing distance and because it has been conducted outside, tests the interference variables in an outdoor environment. This is a major milestone for preparing Verizon for widespread 5G implementation.”

Verizon completes its first 5G call

Tuesday, February 13, 2018  #5G, #MWC18, Nokia, Qualcomm, Verizon  No Comments

Verizon completed its first over-the-air call on a 3GPP-compliant 5G New Radio (NR) system using licensed millimeter wave spectrum.

The call, which was completed at Nokia’s facility in Murray Hill, New Jersey earlier this month, used Nokia's 5G CloudRAN solution, which is comprised of the Nokia AirScale baseband and radio, AirFrame server, and AirScale Cloud RAN running 5G NR 3GPP-compliant software. Qualcomm provided 5G NR prototype devices in smartphone form factors.

The companies described the test as an important milestone on the road to preparing Verizon’s network for widespread implementation of commercial 5G mobile services for consumers and enterprises.

“With this first 3GPP NR standards-based connection, Verizon continues to lead the development of 5G technology,” said Ed Chan, senior vice president and chief technology architect, Corporate Network & Technology, Verizon. “By partnering with Nokia and Qualcomm to combine 5G technology with our deep millimeter wave spectrum, we’re well on the way to being the first to usher in the next era of wireless communications for customers.”

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Coriant to resell nuPSYS data center automation tools

Coriant will market, sell, and support nuPSYS’  automation and visualization solutions worldwide. The companies said they are already engaged with multiple Tier-1 prospective customers for these.

nuPSYS provides data center and wireless cell site automation and visualization solutions (nuVIZ) including simultaneous and correlated 3D-Network-IoT triple views (physical-logical-cameras/sensors), supporting full lifecycle management from design to monitoring. nuVIZ enables Virtual-Presence and significant automation resulting in substantial cost, time and risks savings for data center and cell site design and operations, for Multi-access Edge Computing (MEC), mobile and wired networks, and IoT.

“Our teaming with nuPSYS enhances the value proposition Coriant can offer its global customers with disruptive innovation optimized for new service creation and significant cost savings,” said Homayoun Razavi, Chief Customer Officer and Executive Vice President of Global Sales and Digital Marketing, Coriant.

http://www.nupsys.com
http://www.coriant.com

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AppViewX names Ryan Windham as CEO - former head of Cedexis

AppViewX, a start-up focused on the management, automation, and orchestration of network services, named Ryan Windham as its new CEO, succeeding Anand Purusothaman, who will continue as Chairman of the Board.

Ryan Windham was previously CEO at Cedexis, which was acquired by Citrix Systems in February. Prior to Cedexis, Windham was VP of Product Management at F5 Networks, where he drove product and business strategy. Before joining F5 Networks, Windham spent 10 years at Websense where, among other roles, he led Product Development and Cloud Operations for the company’s Security-as-a-Service platform.

https://www.appviewx.com

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Aviatrix offers cloud networking as a service for AWS, Azure and Google Cloud

Aviatrix, a start-up based in Palo Alto, California, announced a hosted service to build and manage virtual private cloud (VPC) networks in Amazon Web Services (AWS), Microsoft Azure and Google Cloud Platform (GCP) public cloud environments.

The Aviatrix Hosted Service provides a centralized console for building and managing all secure connectivity. The company said its software-defined router goes well beyond what existing instance-based virtual routers offer. The solution consists of the Aviatrix Controller, now available via the Hosted Service, and Aviatrix Gateways, which are deployed in VPCs to support cloud networking use cases that include AWS global transit networks, remote user VPN and VPC egress security.

“Even using a public cloud vendor’s console—which makes it straightforward to build compute and storage in the public cloud—VPC networking has remained complex, especially as the number of VPCs grow from single digits to many hundreds across the globe,” said Steven Mih, CEO of Aviatrix. “The Aviatrix Hosted Service—the first cloud networking-as-a-service option—provides the easiest way to build out VPC networks in the public cloud. Using our hosted service, it takes less than 10 minutes, and requires no serious networking expertise, to deploy and securely connect a large number of VPCs. It’s your central console for all things networking.”

Key use cases include:

• Next-gen global transit network. Create VPCs in seconds, scale and migrate workloads from on-premises sites, and manage growing numbers of VPCs with ease from a software-defined, centrally managed controller.
• VPC egress security. Control VPC traffic outbound to the internet with powerful Layer 7 filtering that enables organizations to allow or deny access based on policies using high-availability, in-line gateways.
• Remote user VPN. Provide secure remote access to VPCs and cloud services for developers, employees and partners—using the cloud-native Aviatrix solution, based on OpenVPN® technologies.
• Multicloud peering. Simplify networking among AWS, Azure and GCP public cloud infrastructures. Use Aviatrix’s native, API-based approach to centrally manage connectivity and eliminate complexity for implementations spanning multiple cloud services.
• Encrypted peering. Meet corporate and regulatory compliance requirements by encrypting data in motion. Use IPsec between any two VPCs to centrally manage secure peering across accounts and clouds.
• Site-to-cloud VPN. Quickly create secure connections from on-premises data centers, sites or branch locations to cloud resources. Use existing on-prem hardware and internet infrastructure to minimize costs.

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