MEF releases LSO Sonata APIs for inter-carrier services

MEF released four LSO (Lifecycle Service Orchestration) Sonata API technical specifications and Software Development Kits (SDKs) for inter-provider orchestration of current and emerging MEF 3.0 services (e.g., Carrier Ethernet, IP, SD-WAN, Optical Transport, security, and other virtualized services).

The four LSO Sonata technical specifications related to serviceability, product inventory, quoting, and ordering cover business requirements, use cases, and attributes that serve as the basis for the associated LSO Sonata API SDKs and data models.

Each SDK includes an API developer guide, a Swagger data model, and other artifacts that enable a developer to rapidly build out these Sonata LSO APIs within their business systems. The four LSO Sonata SDKs currently available on the MEF public GitHub allow service providers and business system vendors to start developing their use of the LSO Sonata APIs for serviceability, product inventory, quoting, and ordering.

MEF notes that more than 40 service and technology companies have contributed to or supported the MEF LSO Sonata standardization and certification effort, participated in MEF 3.0 LSO Sonata implementation work, and/or participated in the LSO Sonata-related PoCs at MEF18.

“The LSO Sonata Developer Release celebrated this week at MEF18 involves technical specifications and SDKs with the progression towards standardization related to serviceability, product inventory, quoting, and ordering APIs,” said Nan Chen, President, MEF. “We are delighted to advance the LSO Sonata API standardization with an eye toward production deployments for inter-provider orchestration of MEF 3.0 Carrier Ethernet services starting in early 2019. We appreciate the dedication of key contributors who have been working hard to meet aggressive development targets. Further advancements to the set of LSO Sonata APIs will include support for the full range of MEF 3.0 services without changing the basic API structure itself thanks to the polymorphic approach used in collaboration with ONAP and TM Forum.”

In addition, the MEF 3.0 certification program for service providers and technology solution providers will be expanded on a pilot basis in 1Q 2019 to include cloud-based testing of LSO APIs, beginning with certification of LSO Sonata APIs for serviceability, product inventory, quoting, and ordering.

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MEF circulates SD-WAN Service draft specification

MEF completed a draft technical specification that defines an SD-WAN service and its various attributes. The draft spec is circulating among MEF members. A complete MEF 3.0 SD-WAN Service Attributes and Service Definition standard is expected in 1Q 2019.

SD-WAN service standardization will enable a wide range of ecosystem stakeholders to use the same terminology when buying, selling, assessing, deploying, and delivering SD-WAN services. The SD-WAN service definition is a foundational step for accelerating sales, market adoption, and certification of MEF 3.0 SD-WAN services orchestrated across a global ecosystem of automated networks.

“MEF’s groundbreaking work in standardizing an SD-WAN service addresses one of the biggest obstacles impacting SD-WAN service market growth,” said Nan Chen, President, MEF. “In a recent joint MEF and Vertical Systems Group survey of service providers worldwide, nearly 80% of respondents identified the lack of an industry-standard service definition as a significant challenge for service providers to offer or migrate to SD-WAN services. MEF’s SD-WAN service standardization will undoubtedly accelerate sales of SD-WAN products and services like MEF accomplished with Carrier Ethernet service standardization.”

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Two big announcements at MEF18 - SD-WAN and LSO Sonata API

MEF's mission is to accelerate the adoption of assured services across automated networks. Nan Chen, president of MEF, makes two important announcements:

1. The industry's first SD-WAN service definitions, which provide common terminology for buying, selling and delivering standardized SD-WAN services. Look for these in Q1 2019.

2. LSO Sonata API - providing the ability to automate MEF services end-to-end globally. A developer release is now available.

https://youtu.be/MnbhmGAu-2A

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Nokia intros WaveSuite software for Optical Transport Services

Nokia introduced its WaveSuite software for optimizing and virtualizing the optical networks of service providers, wholesalers, and large enterprises.

Nokia describes WaveSuite as a new breed of intelligent software applications driven by real-world use cases.

Nokia’s WaveSuite applications are organized into three categories:

WaveSuite Node Automation: an approach to streamline service supporting equipment, leading to faster deployment, task automation and faster time to revenue

WaveSuite Service Enablement: virtualizes network infrastructure, enabling the support of new customers and new market channels

WaveSuite Network Insight: provides real-time network intelligence and contextual analysis to ensure networks are running at their maximum potential

WaveSuite complements Nokia’s Network Services Platform carrier SDN solution and its FlowOne OSS by providing enhanced services orchestration and operational tools for the optical networking domain. Support for open northbound and southbound interfaces ensure its functionality in multi-vendor environments.

Sam Bucci, head of optical networks for Nokia, said: “As part of Nokia’s already rich portfolio of network software, WaveSuite applications provide the tools operators need to accelerate their business transformation. These innovations are the result of years of working closely with our customers to address all aspects of optical networking with open applications enhancing not just operations, but opening up new services and business models.

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Ciena launches cloud-based analytics-as-a-service

Ciena is launching a cloud-based analytics-as-a-service offering to help network providers translate network performance data into actionable insights.

Ciena said its Insights Service, which builds on its existing consulting practice, consolidates a wide array of analytics-based capabilities into a single, multi-tiered service offering designed to ensure networks are securely “fit for flexibility” today and into the future.

The offer is available in three tiers of service and through a subscription-based model. Highlights:

• Discover: gives network operations personnel greater visibility into network assets, service availability, network health, and areas of risk.
• Analyze: uses machine learning capabilities to process trend information to create actionable insights for network optimization.
• Predict: helps network operators head off issues before they occur to prevent customer churn or costly outages and preemptively determines the best direction for optimizing and transforming the network to further improve network availability, customer satisfaction, lower operational costs and more.

“Our holistic analytics approach enables a smooth transition path for network providers to evolve toward building more adaptive networks. Each customer’s analytics needs are unique in this journey. We’ve designed our Analytics portfolio so customers can easily choose and deploy the analytics services and/or software applications that best meet their needs today, while gaining the flexibility to add capabilities as their analytics strategy evolves,” stated Ricardo Warfield, Vice President of Global Services, Ciena.

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NTT DATA acquires Canada's Sierra Systems for IT consulting

NTT DATA Services, the global technology services arm of the NTT Group, agreed to acquire Sierra Systems Group, Inc., the Canadian subsidiary of The Sierra-Cedar Group, Inc. Financial terms were not disclosed.

Headquartered in Vancouver, British Columbia, Sierra Systems is a leading IT services and consulting firm offering a full range of IT consulting, systems integration, and application managed services across Canada.

In addition to industry and geographical expansion, Sierra Systems will expand NTT DATA’s digital services capabilities and bolster its talent in core areas, such as Microsoft Dynamics, Oracle and ServiceNow. Through its global capabilities and strength in infrastructure, application and digital services, NTT DATA will bring a broader portfolio of services to Sierra Systems’ existing clients as well as other Canadian companies.

“Sierra Systems’ reputation as a trusted advisor in Canada is evidenced by the strength of their client relationships, many of which have spanned decades,” said Bob Pryor, CEO, NTT DATA Services. “With the addition of Sierra Systems’ talented team, we’ll expand our ability to deliver innovation and business outcomes to clients in Canada and extend our North American delivery capabilities. Growth prospects are very strong in Canada, so this is an attractive market as we continue to grow globally.”

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Deutsche Telekom approves Sprint+T-Mobile deal

T-Mobile received a written consent of Deutsche Telekom Holding B.V., holder of approximately 63.5% of T-Mobile Common Stock, in favor of the Sprint transaction.

Regulatory approvals are still pending. T-Mobile expects the deal will be completed in the first half of 2019.

“This is another step forward in creating the New T-Mobile, so we can deliver on our promise to bring robust competition to the 5G era, giving consumers more for less and creating jobs,” said John Legere, Chief Executive Officer of T-Mobile. “For more than five years, T-Mobile’s Un-carrier strategy has disrupted the wireless industry, and together with Sprint we will continue our mission by securing U.S. leadership in nationwide 5G, creating a real alternative to fixed broadband and bringing a consumer-first mentality to entrenched giants. We can’t wait to continue improving the wireless industry for all consumers as the New T-Mobile.”

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A10 Networks posts Q3 sales of $60 million, better than expectations

A10 Networks reported Q3 2018 revenue of $60.5 million, compared with $62.0 million in third quarter 2017. GAAP gross margin of 78.5 percent, non-GAAP gross margin of 78.8 percent. There was a GAAP net loss of $1.8 million, or $0.02 per share, non-GAAP net income of $2.3 million, or $0.03 per share.

“We delivered a solid third quarter achieving revenue of $60.5 million, which exceeded the high-end of our guidance range. In the quarter, we continued to execute on our initiatives to transform our sales team, sharpen our focus on execution and expand our advanced suite of 5G, security and cloud solutions, and we are pleased with the initial results of our efforts,” said Lee Chen, president and chief executive officer of A10 Networks.

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CyrusOne reports continued growth in data center colocation

CyrusOne reported revenue was $206.6 million for the third quarter, compared to $175.3 million for the same period in 2017, an increase of 18%. The increase in revenue was driven primarily by a 26% increase in occupied CSF and additional interconnection services.

Net loss was $(42.4) million for the third quarter, compared to net loss of $(55.1) million in the same period in 2017. Net loss for the third quarter included a $(36.6) million unrealized loss on the company’s equity investment in GDS Holdings Limited (“GDS”), a leading data center provider in China, due to a decrease in GDS’s share price during the quarter.

Some highlights:

• Leased 15 megawatts (“MW”) and 114,000 colocation square feet (“CSF”) in the third quarter, totaling $27 million in annualized GAAP revenue
• Backlog of $89 million in annualized GAAP revenue as of the end of the third quarter, representing nearly $850 million in total contract value
• Closed acquisition of Zenium, establishing a presence in London and Frankfurt, the two largest data center markets in Europe
• Acquired 15 acres of land in Santa Clara, California, establishing a presence in a key West Coast market with an onsite power cogeneration facility
• Also acquired 40 acres of land in Northern Virginia (in addition to previously announced acquisition of 154,000 square foot powered shell) and 24 acres of land in Dallas to support continued strong growth in these markets
• Added seven Fortune 1000 companies as new customers (three through third quarter leasing, four through the acquisition), increasing the total number of Fortune 1000 customers to 208 as of the end of the quarter
• Raised nearly $400 million in net proceeds through a common stock offering of 6.7 million shares in late September and entered into a forward sale agreement with respect to an additional 2.5 million shares resulting in estimated net proceeds of nearly $150 million upon settlement by September 15, 2019

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