Kinetic Edge Alliance targets major U.S. metros

Vapor IO, a start-up developing an infrastructure edge computing platform, is leading a new Kinetic Edge Alliance (KEA) to bring together the technology, assets and deployment partners to bring edge capabilities to major U.S. metro markets.

The key idea is to leverage Vapor IO’s Kinetic Edge, an infrastructure architecture that uses software and high-speed connectivity to combine three or more micro data centers that ring a metro area into a single logical data center.

The plan calls for tower-connected infrastructure for edge computing reaching nearly 50% of the nation’s population by the end of 2020. The Alliance will focus on the first six Kinetic Edge markets: Chicago, Pittsburgh, Atlanta, Dallas, Los Angeles and Seattle. Chicago, the first Kinetic Edge city, has two Kinetic Edge sites online today with a third coming online later in Q1.

KEA includes Deployment Partners — Federated Wireless, Linode, MobiledgeX, Packet and StackPath — and Technical Partners — Alef Mobitech, Detecon International, Hitachi Vantara, New Continuum Data Centers, Pluribus Networks, and Seagate Technology.

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ONF launches Converged Multi-Access and Core Initiative

The ONF has launched a Converged Multi-Access and Core (COMAC) initiative for delivering next-generation services over both mobile and broadband networks.

The new COMAC Reference Design, which leverages the ONF’s Strategic Plan and ONF’s Reference Design working model, will enable Service Providers to program network slices combining various access and core technologies.

Carriers supporting the COMAC initiative include AT&T, China Unicom, Deutsche Telekom, Google, and Türk Telekom.

The COMAC Reference Design will specify the common requirements agreed to collaboratively by the ONF operators, and will provide a blueprint for an open source approach to address the space.

Highlights

Converged Access: COMAC access architecture is built on disaggregated RAN (leveraging the O-RAN RU/DU/CU architecture), disaggregated mobile core, and disaggregated Broadband Network Gateway (BNG) components.  Elements from each are then redistributed and aggregated into a unified access layer, creating a SDN powered control plane and P4 powered user plane that each contain elements of the RAN CU, Mobile Core and BNG.  This reformulated and highly optimized stack can thus manage high-speed subscriber traffic regardless of a user’s access link.  COMAC will offer different implementation choices for 4G & 5G RAN as well as PON, WiFi, DOCSIS and fixed wireless broadband connectivity.
Converged Core: COMAC integrates unified subscriber management, blending Mobile MME, HSS and BNG-Authentication and billing functions into a common platform that will enable operators to manage their user base as a unified whole rather than as distinct and isolated service offerings.

The COMAC Open Source Project is crafting an Exemplar Platform (EP)with the support of operators AT&T, China Unicom, Deutsche Telekom, Google Cloud, Sprint and Türk Telekom and a supply chain ecosystem including Adtran, Intel, Radisys, GSLab and HCL.

https://www.opennetworking.org

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ONF begins Open Evolved Mobile Core Project

ONF is also launching an Open Mobile Evolved Core (OMEC) project, leveraging its earlier work for its Central Office Re-architected as a Data Center (CORD) initiative, and serving as an ‘upstream project’ to the newly launched COMAC project.

The OMEC project, which is being developed in collaboration with Sprint, is built using an NFV (Network Function Virtualization) architecture that is optimized for Intel platforms and tested for scale. OMEC is compliant with the 3GPP architecture, includes the following EPC and Charging components:

• SGW-C, PGW-C (Includes embedded PCEF), SGW-U, PGW-U, MME, HSS, HSS Database, Diameter Capability, PCRF, Forwarding Policy Control SDN Controller, CTF, CDF, SGX Billing Router
• Operational tools, including CLI, Logging and Statistics Interface APIs to VNFs
• DPDK based traffic generator for testing S1u and Sgi user planes
• CI/CD tools for deployment automation for bringing up core network VNFs, associated networking, package installation, provisioning, and configuration.

"Sprint is excited to be co-launching the OMEC project addressing the need for an open mobile core.  Sprint’s Clean CUPS Core for Packet Optimization (C3PO) project along with other elements are being contributed as seed code for the launch of OMEC.  We plan to conduct field trials using OMEC for edge applications this year, and we’re thrilled to be working with the ONF to build a broader community to leverage and build upon OMEC,” stated Ron Marquardt, Vice President of Technology, Sprint.

https://www.opennetworking.org

Update on ONF's SDN Enabled Broadband Access

Thursday, December 06, 2018  ADTRAN, ONF, SEBA  

Here's an update on the SDN Enabled Broadband Access reference design developed by Open Networking Foundation (ONF), presented by ADTRAN's Kurt Raaflaub. https://youtu.be/psvPvGUT_W4 SEBA is a lightweight platform based on a variant of R-CORD. It supports a multitude of virtualized access technologies at the edge of the carrier network, including PON, G.Fast, and eventually DOCSIS and more. SEBA supports both residential access and wireless...

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eir to invest EUR 500 million in FTTH across Ireland

eir announced plans to invest EUR 500 million in its FTTH network with the goal of passing an additional 1.4 million premises across Ireland.  The fixed network upgrade programme also aims to push top speeds to 10 Gbps.

"Ireland's Fibre Network", the next step in the evolution of eir's network and the expansion of the telecoms infrastructure of Ireland, will pass 180 towns and cities, including every town in the country with more than 1,000 premises.

The investment will follow the completion in June this year of eir's FTTH roll-out to 335,000 rural premises, at a cost of €250 million to eir and with no public subsidy. By June this year, eir will have invested more than €600m in fibre broadband, delivering high-speed fibre broadband to more than 80% of the premises in Ireland or 1.9 million homes and businesses across the country.

CEO of eir, Carolan Lennon said: "I am delighted to announce this substantial investment of more than half a billion euro, which is a key step in the evolution of eir’s network, and indeed of the entire telecoms infrastructure in Ireland. This ambitious project will see 180 towns and cities passed, including every town in the country with more than 1,000 premises. We will deliver not just the fastest and most extensive fibre network in Ireland, but also one of the most extensive in the whole world. We are also investing to improve eir’s customer care by bringing these services back in-house and provided by 750 new eir employees at three new regional hubs in Sligo, Cork and Limerick. Ultimately this investment will mean that eir customers will enjoy the fastest broadband speeds and the best mobile network supported by best in class customer care."

Carolan also said: "eir is by far the largest investor in telecoms in Ireland and over the past five years we have spent €1.5bn on our network. In June we will complete our €250 million rollout of broadband to 335,000 rural premises. While there is still more to be done to deliver high-speed broadband to everyone in rural Ireland, we are proud that our significant investments in rural Ireland to date has helped bring high-speed broadband to more than 90% of the population according to European Commission data, and Ireland is now in the top 25% of EU countries for rural high-speed broadband coverage. Our €1 billion capital investment programme over the next five years will deliver the very best fixed and mobile experience for all our customers across Ireland."

https://www.eir.ie/pressroom/eir-launches-0.5-billion-fixed-network-investment-programme/

• As of 30-September-2018, eir reported a broadband base of 925,000 customers, growing by 22,000 or 2% year on year, driven by growth in both retail and wholesale divisions. 651,000 customers were using the fibre-based high-speed broadband service, representing an increase of 77,000 customers year on year. 70% of broadband customers are connected to the fibre network, which represents a 36% penetration of fibre premises passed.
  
  eir's mobile base stood at 1,046,000 customers, decreasing by 11,000 year on year. The postpay subscriber base increased by 34,000 customers or 6% year on year. Postpay customers represent 52% of the total mobile base, an increase of 3 percentage points year on year.

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Vertical Systems: 2018 U.S. Carrier Ethernet LEADERBOARD

CenturyLink retains top position in Vertical Systems Group's 2018 U.S. Carrier Ethernet LEADERBOARD.

Six companies achieved a position on the 2018 U.S. Carrier Ethernet LEADERBOARD as follows (in rank order based on year-end 2018 retail port share): CenturyLink, AT&T, Verizon, Spectrum Enterprise, Comcast and Windstream.

To qualify for a rank on this LEADERBOARD, network providers must have four percent (4%) or more of the U.S. Ethernet services market. Shares are measured based on the number of billable retail customer ports in service as tracked by Vertical Systems Group.

“Despite its relative maturity, the Ethernet market continues to expand at a healthy pace. U.S. port installations grew more than twelve percent in 2018, in line with our forecasts,” said Rick Malone, principal of Vertical Systems Group. “However, revenue growth is not keeping pace with port growth due to falling prices and changing service mixes. One notable catalyst is the deployment of SD-WAN, which is resulting in customers shifting from switched Ethernet services to dedicated Internet access.”

Highlights of Vertical’s year-end 2018 U.S. Ethernet market share analysis:

• U.S. retail Ethernet customer installations grew to more than 1.1 million ports, up 12 percent from year-end 2017.
• Six Ethernet providers qualify for the 2018 LEADERBOARD, as compared to seven in 2017 and nine in 2016.
• Cox dropped out of the LEADERBOARD and into the Challenge Tier on slower than market port growth.
• Four Incumbent Carriers (CenturyLink, AT&T, Verizon, Windstream) and two Cable MSOs (Spectrum Enterprise, Comcast) are represented on the latest LEADERBOARD.
• The two Cable MSOs (Spectrum Enterprise and Comcast) had the highest port growth in the second half of 2018.
• Ethernet pricing declined in 2018 across all port speeds for the six service types tracked by Vertical (i.e., EPL, EVPL, DIA, Access to VPN, Switched Metro and VPLS).
• Each of the 2018 U.S. LEADERBOARD companies has received MEF CE 2.0 certification.
• In addition to the LEADERBOARD providers, all other companies selling Ethernet services in the U.S. are segmented into two tiers as measured by port share.

More: https://www.verticalsystems.com/2019/02/14/2018-us-ethernet-leaderboard/

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Lumos lights up 10G PON in rural Virginia with ADTRAN

Lumos Networks is deploying ADTRAN's 10G fiber access portfolio to deliver network-wide 10Gbps or 10G fiber services for small business customers in rural Virginia.

Lumos Networks, which has been an ADTRAN customer for nearly a decade, is using the ADTRAN Total Access 5000 fiber broadband platform as the cornerstone of its access network. The carrier is now using the ADTRAN software-defined access (SD-Access) architecture.

“The number of applications that require more robust broadband services continues to grow for both residential and small business customers, especially with emerging technologies accelerating network demands,” said Lumos Networks SVP and General Manager Diego Anderson. “Our partnership with ADTRAN positions us to create reliable connections with our customers while delivering a level of distinguishing service and support over a fiber-based infrastructure. The initial product offering will include tiered symmetrical speed profiles of two, four and eight gigabits per second for delivering higher-speed solutions to meet evolving customer requirements. We also anticipate increasing speed profiles in the future based on the flexibility provided within this platform.”

“Lumos Networks is committed to serve as the leading provider of fiber broadband services in each of its markets so that its customers can reap the benefits that next-generation 10G services bring to communities and individual customers,” stated ADTRAN’s Vice President and Head of Sales for the Americas Harris Razak.

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Conterra deploys Ciena’s 6500 Packet-Optical Platform

Conterra Networks, which provides services to enterprise, government and wholesale carriers in 22 states across the United States, has selected Ciena’s 6500 Packet-Optical Platform as its core switch.

Additionally, Conterra is expanding its deployment of Ciena’s 5170 Service Aggregation Switch, which enables Conterra to expand its offerings of MEF-compatible services such as E-Line and E-LAN services. Conterra is using Ciena’s network management software, providing end-to-end visibility of its services across all transport, switching, and packet network elements.

“Today’s unpredictable data traffic patterns make it difficult to scale and grow in a secure way, something Conterra prioritizes to benefit its customers. Ciena’s packet-optical networking platforms will facilitate Conterra’s efforts to deliver new levels of capacity, flexibility and resiliency,” stated Eric Danielson, Vice President of Regional Sales, Ciena.

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Vantage Data Centers raises $675M in debt and equity financing

Vantage Data Centers, which operates wholesale data centers in six strategic markets (Silicon Valley; Northern Virginia; Phoenix; Quincy, Washington; Montreal and Quebec City, Canada), raised more than $180 million in equity capital from existing investors and approximately $495 million in debt financing.

Vantage plans to use the funds for various growth initiatives, including the 4Degrees Colocation acquisition that closed in January and the build-out of the first data center on the company’s second campus in Santa Clara.

“The capital we raised over the last 90 days will help fund the explosive growth we’re experiencing and anticipate seeing throughout 2019 and beyond,” said Sharif Metwalli, CFO, Vantage Data Centers. “We have been executing on our growth and development and are well prepared to continue our current trajectory. This capital accelerates the funding of our long-term strategic plan.”

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Arista posts Q4 sales of $596 million, up 27% YoY

Arista Networks reported fevenue of $595.7 million for Q4 2018, an increase of 5.8% compared to the third quarter of 2018, and an increase of 27.3% from the fourth quarter of 2017. GAAP gross margin was 62.9%, compared to GAAP gross margin of 64.2% in the third quarter of 2018 and 65.7% in the fourth quarter of 2017. GAAP net income was $170.3 million, or $2.10 per diluted share, compared to GAAP net income of $103.8 million, or $1.29 per diluted share, in the fourth quarter of 2017. Non-GAAP net income was $182.2 million, or $2.25 per diluted share, compared to non-GAAP net income of $137.3 million, or $1.71 per diluted share, in the fourth quarter of 2017.

"We are pleased with our solid 2018 financial performance and continued momentum across cloud titan and enterprise verticals. Arista is earning a strategic role with customers deploying transformative cloud networking,” stated Jayshree Ullal, Arista President and CEO.

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NVIDIA expects return to sustained growth

NVIDIA reported revenue of $2.21 billion for its fourth quarter ended Jan. 27, 2019, down 24 percent from $2.91 billion a year earlier, and down 31 percent from $3.18 billion in the previous quarter. GAAP earnings per diluted share for the quarter were $0.92, down 48 percent from $1.78 a year ago and down 53 percent from $1.97 in the previous quarter. Non-GAAP earnings per diluted share were $0.80, down 53 percent from $1.72 a year earlier and down 57 percent from $1.84 in the previous quarter.

For fiscal 2019, revenue was $11.72 billion, up 21 percent from $9.71 billion a year earlier. GAAP earnings per diluted share were $6.63, up 38 percent from $4.82 a year earlier. Non-GAAP earnings per diluted share were $6.64, up 35 percent from $4.92 a year earlier.

“This was a turbulent close to what had been a great year,” said Jensen Huang, founder and CEO of NVIDIA. “The combination of post-crypto excess channel inventory and recent deteriorating end-market conditions drove a disappointing quarter."

“Despite this setback, NVIDIA’s fundamental position and the markets we serve are strong. The accelerated computing platform we pioneered is central to some of world’s most important and fastest growing industries – from artificial intelligence to autonomous vehicles to robotics. We fully expect to return to sustained growth."

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Supermicro sales exceed guidance

Super Micro Computer, which supplies server and storage solutions, expects to report the following financial results for the quarter ended December 31, 2018:

• Net sales in a range of $915 million to $925 million compared to its previous guidance range of $830 million to $890 million
• GAAP and non-GAAP gross margin in the range of 13.9% to 14.1%
• GAAP fully diluted earnings per share in the range of $0.25 to $0.30; non-GAAP fully diluted earnings per share in the range of $0.57 to $0.61
• Cash flow from operations of $42 million and capital expenditures of $4 million
• GAAP gross margin for the fiscal second quarter of 2019 that the Xompany expects to report is in the range of 13.9% to 14.1% and GAAP fully diluted earnings per share is in the range of $0.25 to $0.30.

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