IEEE 5G World Forum: T-Mobile says 5G is AWESOME

"5G is AWESOME" -- that's the message delivered emphatically by Egil Gronstad, Senior Director of Technology Development and Strategy for T-Mobile USA, speaking to a mostly academic audience at the 2018 IEEE 1st 5G World Forum (5GWF’18) in Santa Clara, California this week. 

The main takeaway from his half-hour presentation: 5G is happening now at T-Mobile USA. The rollout is real and is proceeding if for no other reason than higher performance, which is always desirable in networking.

Some key takeaways:

• T-Mobile's 5G commercial rollout begins this year in 30 cities and will be fully nationwide within 2.5 years. T-Mobile will deploy its 5G RAN using both 600MHz and 28GHz millimeter wave spectrum. Previously, Nokia confirmed that its equipment has been selected for the initial rollout.
  
• A key learning is that 5G requires mid-band spectrum and T-Mobile's newly licensed 600 MHz spectrum is a strategic advantage
  
• Building penetration loss for 5G in mmWave spectrum is significant
  
• T-Mobile is not expecting to charge more for 5G service compared to its existing plans. The company expects to attract new customers and applications as the cost justification for upgrading to 5G
  
• Voice needs to ride on the 5G network as soon as possible. In the transition to 4G, it was a mistake for voice to continue on the 3G for so long.
  
• T-Mobile USA has no current plans for 5G fixed wireless service but is looking very closely at the business case.
  
• T-Mobile USA has added one million or more users each quarter for the past 20 quarters

Video of Egil Gronstad's presentation:
http://ieeetv.ieee.org/conference-highlights/ieee-5g-world-forum-keynotes-full-stream-day-3-2018

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FCC looks to open 3.7 and 4.2 GHz for 5G

The Federal Communications Commission has identified up to 500 megahertz of mid-band spectrum between 3.7 and 4.2 GHz that could be open for 5G wireless services.

A newly adopted FCC order sets forth several steps toward making more mid-band spectrum available for terrestrial fixed and mobile broadband use.  Specifically, the Order will require Fixed Satellite Service earth stations operating in the 3.7-4.2 GHz band to certify the accuracy of existing registration and license information and will collect additional information from space station licensees on their operations in the band to assist the Commission and commenters in developing a clearer understanding of how the band is currently being used.  The Commission will then use this information to evaluate the most efficient way to drive the deployment of mid-band spectrum for mobile services and more intensive fixed services.

The FCC said its Notice also proposes to add a mobile (except aeronautical mobile) allocation to all 500 megahertz in the band and seeks comment on various proposals for transitioning part or all of the band for flexible use, working up from 3.7 GHz, including market-based, auction, and alternative mechanisms.  The Notice also seeks comment on allowing more intensive point-to-multipoint fixed use in some portion of the band, on a shared basis, working down from 4.2 GHz and on how to define and protect incumbent users from harmful interference, and it seeks comment on service and technical rules that would enable efficient and intensive use by any new services in the band.

"Our focus here is on making more intensive use of the 3.7-4.2 GHz band, commonly called the C-band.  To help us figure out the best way forward, we authorize the collection of additional information from the band’s current users.  That data will help us figure out how to accommodate the needs of incumbents, which are primarily using the band to provide Fixed Satellite Service.  It’ll also enable us to free up more spectrum for advanced wireless services," stated FCC Chairman Ajit Pai.

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Intel to acquire eASIC for programmable logic

Intel agreed to acquire eASIC, a privately-held developer of field programmable gate arrays (FPGAs). Financial terms were not disclosed.

eASIC, which was founded in 1999 and is based in Santa Clara, California, helps customers to develop custom silicon with low up-front costs. The company says it can deliver tested prototypes in as little as 5 weeks from tape out.  The eASIC Platform replaces SRAM based routing with a scheme that utilizes a single via, significant die size reduction can be achieved compared to comparable density FPGAs.

eASIC's fifth generation Nextreme-3S, which is built on a 28nm CMOS process, can be used for logic, DSP or memory intensive designs and provides greater than 1 terabit of bandwidth using a combination of 28 Gbps and 16 Gbps high speed transceivers.

Following the acquisition, the eASIC team will join Intel’s Programmable Solutions Group.

https://www.easic.com/
https://newsroom.intel.com/editorials/mcnamara-psg-expands-portfolio/

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DOJ to challenge AT&T's acquisition of Time Warner

The U.S. Department of Justice will appeal the decision by U.S. District Court in Washington, D.C. in the case involving the merger of AT&T and Time Warner.

On June 12th, U.S. federal judge Richard Leon ruled in favor of AT&T in the lawsuit brought by the Department of Justice to block its acquisition of Time Warner. Since then, AT&T has consummated its acquisition of Time Warner.

In response, David McAtee, AT&T General Counsel, issued the following statement: “The Court’s decision could hardly have been more thorough, fact-based, and well-reasoned.  While the losing party in litigation always has the right to appeal if it wishes, we are surprised that the DOJ has chosen to do so under these circumstances.  We are ready to defend the Court’s decision at the D.C. Circuit Court of Appeals.”

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Apstra at Live Cisco: Intent-Based Analytics

In this video, Carly Stoughton talks about the new enhancements to Apstra's analytics offering and extensive telemetry suite for Day 0, 1 and Day 2 operations.




See video: https://www.youtube.com/watch?time_continue=206&v=MTH6doD1bI

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Gogo announces restructuring

Gogo, which specializes in in-flight Internet connectivity, announced a corporated restructuring aimed at transforming its business model and cost structure.

Oakleigh Thorne, President and CEO of Gogo, said, "The initiatives we are executing under our Integrated Business Plan demonstrate our commitment to taking aggressive action to position Gogo for sustainable value creation. Gogo 2020 represents a new era for Gogo with a significantly reduced cost structure, much lower capital expenditures, and a streamlined and standardized approach to meeting the needs of our customers with improved quality and service. As we prioritize resources to strengthen the resiliency of our model, we remain focused on accomplishing our objectives without sacrificing our long-term growth opportunities and will continue to evaluate strategic options to drive revenue, monetize assets and realize the significant value of our business."

The Gogo 2020 plans calls for ,aterially reducing upfront equipment subsidies for airline contracts and reducing total operating spend in Gogo's Commercial Aviation "CA" business (excluding satellite costs) by nearly 20% by the end of 2020.

Gogo said it is reviewing strategic alternatives, including opportunities suggested by various strategic and financial parties, with the goal of maximizing shareholder value.

Gogo also updated its 2018 guidance as follows:

• Total revenue of $865 million to $935 million, in line with prior guidance;
• 2Ku incremental aircraft on-line to be at the low end of the prior guidance range of 550 to 650;
• Gross capex of $150 million to $170 million and cash capex of $110 million to $130 million, in line with prior guidance;
• Adjusted EBITDA guidance of $35-45 million.

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Keysight intros next gen oscilloscopes for optical researchers

Keysight Technologies new Infiniium UXR series oscilloscopes to support terabit research with real-time bandwidth up to 110 GHz industry-leading sample rate (256 GSa/s) and signal integrity (lowest noise and jitter).

Keysight said its Infiniium UXR series enable researchers to accelerate time to market with PAM-4, 5G, and optical solutions, by ensuring signals are clearer, eye diagrams are open, and results are accurate.

In addition, when paired with Keysight’s new up to 110GHz Optical Modulation Analyzer frontend and the VSA-based optical modulation software, the Keysight Infiniium UXR series turn into an end-to-end solution for optical research.

Key features of the Keysight Infiniium UXR:

• 10-bit resolution and industry leading signal integrity enables customers to experience superior effective number of bits (ENOB) during characterization of progressively complex modulation standards,
• four full-bandwidth channels to reduce timing error when working with dual-polarization coherent modulation,
• full self-calibration which ensures ongoing measurement accuracy while eliminating the need to take the unit out of service,
• a chipset based on a Keysight-proprietary Indium Phosphide (InP) process that enables exceptionally wide bandwidth and extremely low noise floor.

“The Infiniium UXR Series enables development teams to gain an extraordinary advantage in the race to beat their competition to market,” said Ron Nersesian, Keysight president and CEO. “Only Keysight has the expertise to deliver a system that moves multiple performance points ahead simultaneously. The industry leading 110GHz bandwidth, low noise floor and jitter, enables the acceleration of new designs in high-speed digital, optical research, wideband wireless, and beyond.”

www.keysight.com/find/UXR

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IP Infusion acquires Canadian software firm

IP Infusion, which supplies network software for telecom and data communications, has acquired Northforge Innovations, a Canadian-based software development company specializing in network infrastructure and network security. Financial terms were not disclosed. IP Infusion has been a customer of Northforge Innovations’ software development services for several years.

"Together, IP Infusion and Northforge will deliver next-generation OcNOS to satisfy the network quality and functionality requirements of service providers and data center operators," said Atsushi Ogata, President and CEO of IP Infusion. "We believe that our combined technology leadership, from IP Infusion’s years of networking operating software experience to Northforge’s extensive network communications expertise, will give networking customers more choices and the flexibility that disaggregated networking brings.”

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Clearfield intros multi-purpose fiber patch panel

Clearfield announced general availability of its FieldSmart Fiber Crossover Multi-Purpose (FxMP) Patch Panel, which can be deployed in 19" or 23" frames; data center racks or cabinets; or in Outside Plant (OSP) cabinets.

The patch panel can be used to interconnect or cross-connect for up to 288 ports of high-density fiber.

“Clearfield’s FieldSmart FxMP Patch Panel is a game changer for the Fiber to the Home, Business, Data Center and Central Office markets with its ability to transform what has been a labor, training and installation intensive process to something simple, intuitive and straightforward,” said Kevin Morgan, Clearfield’s chief marketing officer. “Operators have been seeking help to rationalize the equipment used to deliver fiber services and Clearfield is the first to deliver.”

http://www.SeeClearfield.com

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