ONF publishes SEBA, Trellis and ODTN reference designs

The Open Networking Foundation (ONF) released its first three Reference Designs (RD’s): SEBA, Trellis and ODTN.

Each of these reference designs are backed by network operators and supported by supply chain partners. The reference designs are paired with an open source Exemplar Platform (EP).  Both the RD and EP proceed in parallel, and RDs are not released unless a paired EP is available to prove out the architecture and accelerate adoption. 

Virtualized Broadband – SEBA

SEBA (SDN Enabled Broadband Access) is a lightweight virtualized broadband platform originally based on a variant of ONF’s R-CORD. It supports multiple virtualized access technologies at the edge of the carrier network (e.g. PON, G.Fast, DOCSIS), allowing each access technology to be controlled by OpenFlow®.  Furthermore, mediation software is provided to help operationalize the access devices and connect the SEBA implementation to OSS/BSS systems.  SEBA supports both residential access and wireless backhaul and is optimized such that traffic can run ‘fastpath’ straight through to the backbone without requiring VNF processing.  See ONF Reference Design TS-100 SEBA v1.0

NFV Fabric  – Trellis

Trellis defines a solution for an open multi-purpose L2/L3 spine-leaf Ethernet switch fabric for edge data centers and for interconnecting multiple sites.  It supports Virtualized Network Functions (VNFs) running on servers, network functions implemented directly within the switch fabric itself, and the interconnection of local and remote resources all in a single solution. Trellis builds a non-blocking fabric using OpenFlow® controlled white box switching hardware and open source software. The Trellis fabric does not run any embedded control protocols on the switches (e.g. BGP, OSPF or RSTP). Instead, intelligence is moved into applications running on a clustered ONOS controller.  Fabric switches are thus simplified, and the fabric can be optimized by leveraging a holistic view of all activity while new features and functionality can be deployed without upgrading the switches. See ONF Reference Design TS-101 Trellis v1.0

Optical Networking – ODTN (released as Informational)

ODTN (Open Disaggregated Transport Networking) describes a blueprint for constructing open source solutions for multi-vendor optical networks mixing transponders from multiple suppliers as well as Open Line System from yet a different source.  ODTN is being released as an “Informational” Reference Design. The ONF wants to share publicly the status of this work, but given that a paired open source Exemplar Platform is not yet available in a sufficiently mature state ready for deployment, this RD is being published as Informational.  See ONF Reference Design Info-1002 ODTN v0.4

“We are excited to see the first formal release of the ONF’s first Reference Designs.  SEBA is experiencing fantastic traction and AT&T has live field trials with additional plans to scale the network moving forward.  We are also pleased to see growth in both the developer community and in the number of interested operators,” said Eddy Barker, AVP- Design & Architecture, Converged Access Systems, AT&T Labs.

“Deutsche Telekom’s SEBA implementation called Access 4.0 creates edge data centers supporting broadband Internet using FTTH/B,” said Robert Soukup, Program Manager for DT. “This is true next generation edge access using SDN. It helps us to realize our vision on many fronts, including the case for cost reduction, increased automation, and reduced time to market. This year we are bringing the project into an extended field trial and strongly drive productization. The results benefit the entire community and this is at the heart of ONF’s mission for open source.”

Deutsche Telekom's Access 4.0 rethinks broadband access

Sunday, December 09, 2018  Deutsche Telekom, ONF  

Deutsche Telekom's Access 4.0 program rethinks broadband access in the context of the ONF's SEBA project, edge clouds, and FTTH/B. Presented by Robert Soukup, Program Manager.

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 backhaul and is optimized such that traffic can run ‘fastpath’ straight through to the backbone without requiring VNF processing on a server.

https://www.opennetworking.org/seba/

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CommScope completes acquisition of ARRIS

CommScope completed its previously announced acquisition of ARRIS International.

The acquisition brings together two companies—established and respected leaders in their respective markets—with a unique set of complementary assets and capabilities that are expected to enable end-to-end communications infrastructure and connectivity solutions, something that neither company could achieve on its own. The combination of the companies, which includes Ruckus Networks, is expected to create new opportunities across multiple markets, while increasing the companies’ relevance and importance with existing networking customers.

CommScope said it expects to generate nearly $1 billion of cash flow from operations in the first complete year post-close, and expects to use the free cash flow to aggressively pay down debt. Through the completion of the transaction, CommScope has expanded its product offerings and R&D capabilities, with the combined company having approximately 15,000 patents and patent applications globally and approximately $800 million in average annualized R&D spending.

“This is a major milestone in the evolution of these two great companies and a significant moment for our industry,” said Eddie Edwards, president and chief executive officer, CommScope. “With the completion of this exciting transaction, we are creating a new CommScope that will help shape communications connectivity and networks of the future with greater technology, solutions and employee talent. We are committed to building on our well-established track record in prior transactions of meeting or exceeding our synergy targets and generating significant value for shareholders.

CommScope to acquire ARRIS for $7.4 billion

Thursday, November 08, 2018  ARRIS, CommScope  

CommScope agreed to acquire ARRIS International (NASDAQ: ARRS) in an all-cash transaction for $31.75 per share, or a total purchase price of approximately $7.4 billion, including the repayment of debt. In addition, The Carlyle Group, a global alternative asset manager, has reestablished an ownership position in CommScope through a $1 billion minority equity investment as part of CommScope’s financing of the transaction.

ARRIS, an innovator in broadband, video and wireless technology, combines hardware, software and services to enable advanced video experiences and constant connectivity across a variety of environments – for service providers, commercial verticals, small enterprises and the people they serve. ARRIS has strong leadership positions in the three segments in which it operates:

• Customer Premises Equipment (CPE), featuring access devices such as broadband modems, gateways and routers and video set-tops and gateways;
• Network & Cloud (N&C), combining broadband and video infrastructure with cloud-based software solutions; and
• Enterprise Networks, incorporating the recently acquired Ruckus Wireless and ICX Switch businesses, and focusing on wireless and wired connectivity, including Citizens Broadband Radio Service solutions.
• For the 12 months ended September 30, 2018, ARRIS generated revenues of approximately $6.7 billion, consisting of $3.9 billion from CPE, $2.2 billion from N&C and $568 million from Enterprise Networks (reflecting only a partial year of Ruckus since its acquisition in December 2017). 

The combination of CommScope and ARRIS, on a pro forma basis, would create a company with approximately $11.3 billion in revenue and adjusted EBITDA (earnings before interest, taxes, depreciation and amortization) of approximately $1.8 billion, based on results for the two companies for the 12 months ended September 30, 2018.

CommScope said the combined company will drive profitable growth in new markets, shape the future of wired and wireless communications, and position the new company to benefit from key industry trends, including network convergence, fiber and mobility everywhere, 5G, Internet of Things and rapidly changing network and technology architectures.

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CenturyLink and Streamroot offer software-based mesh network

CenturyLink is working with Streamroot, a provider of peer-to-peer networking solutions, to offer a global mesh delivery platform for bandwidth-heavy streamed content.

CenturyLink's new mesh delivery platform intelligently sources video content from both a CDN and a mesh network of devices watching the same stream. This allows for rapid scalability and resiliency, even within hard-to-reach markets.

"Streamroot's work with CenturyLink demonstrates once more that the future of OTT streaming belongs to hybrid delivery," said Pierre-Louis Theron, CEO and Co-Founder of Streamroot. "The combination of CenturyLink's world-class CDN with Streamroot's proven peer-to-peer technology provides broadcasters a robust and scalable OTT delivery solution, and ushers in a new standard for large-scale video delivery to audiences around the world."

CenturyLink's CDN:

• Delivered ~42.8 exabytes of data globally in 2018.
• Answered 74.4 trillion requests globally for content like videos or photos in 2018.
• Saw global year-over-year peak traffic growth (from 15.75 Tbps in 2017 to 27.98 Tbps in 2018).
• Provides 40+ Tbps of total edge capacity across 6 continents in more than 100 major cities.
• Offers 60 petabytes of storage.

Streamroot delivered more than 7 billion video sessions globally in 2018, and manages an average of more than 300 million peer connections per day.

http://www.centurylink.com/cdn

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CenturyLink's Global Broadcast Fiber net connects to Google Cloud Platform

CenturyLink's  Vyvx suite of fiber-based broadcast services is now providing secure, high-performance connectivity into Google Cloud Platform (GCP).

Vyvx Cloud Connect provides broadcasters, as well as studios and stadium venues, a path for getting live and linear video in and out of the cloud.

Key Facts

• The service connects directly to Google Cloud's infrastructure, providing access to a wide array of products and services in the GCP ecosystem.
• Vyvx Cloud Connect offers multi-site, diverse connectivity paths into GCP.
• This is a fully managed and monitored Vyvx service to the demarcation point into GCP.
• Vyvx customers can also use this service for their own virtual private cloud (VPC) environments.

"OTT platforms, broadcasters and gaming companies need a high availability, low latency network solution to deliver their live events and linear programming to cloud service providers for encoding, packaging and delivery to their CDNs," said Bill Wohnoutka, vice president of global internet and content delivery services for CenturyLink. "CenturyLink's Vyvx Cloud Connect enables our customers to leverage a managed, monitored and secure private network path to reach GCP, enabling cloud-based workflows."

http://www.centurylink.com/asset/business/enterprise/brochure/en-vyvx-br-ovrtopvdeodlvry-br180024.pdf

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CoreSite offers 10G access to Google Cloud’s Dedicated Interconnect

CoreSite is now supporting Google Cloud’s Dedicated Interconnect product in both their Los Angeles and Denver markets. This service from Google Cloud allows enterprise and network service providers that are collocated with CoreSite to directly connect to Google Cloud Platform through 10 Gbps  fiber interconnects.

The  dedicated Interconnect offers guaranteed uptime of 99.99%.

“CoreSite is pleased to announce the availability of direct fiber interconnection to Google Cloud Platform, providing our customers with a dedicated, flexible and high-performance solution to optimize their evolving cloud and connectivity requirements,” said Maile Kaiser, Senior Vice President of Sales at CoreSite.

In addition to Dedicated Interconnect in CoreSite’s Los Angeles and Denver markets, CoreSite customers are able to connect directly to Google Cloud Platform via the CoreSite Any2Exchange in Chicago, Denver, and Los Angeles. Additionally, customers may access Google Cloud Platform from all of CoreSite’s markets via its network-rich ecosystem of providers or through its inter-site connectivity in select markets. CoreSite offers numerous inter-site connectivity options including lit transport solutions and dedicated dark fiber.

CoreSite’s Any2Exchange is the second-largest Internet exchange in the United States and is the largest Internet exchange on the West Coast. With CoreSite’s Any2Exchange, customers can make secure, SLA-backed, low-latency connections over one port and at a variety of speeds (including 1Gbps, 10Gbps, and 100Gbps) with direct peering to Google Cloud Platform. Customers connecting directly to Google Cloud Platform benefit from reduced congestion and routing issues, reduction in transit costs, lower latency and reduced complexity, all while having access to connect and peer with over 400 participating members.

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SES continues to build its O3b MEO constellation

SES announced the successful launch of four more O3b Medium Earth Orbit (MEO) satellites, bringing the number of O3b satellites to 20.

The launch was carried out by Arianespace from the Guiana Space Centre using the Soyuz rocket. The satellites were built by Thales Alenia Space.

The O3b MEO system is the only satellite-based system currently delivering fibre-like high-performance data connectivity services, MEF Carrier Ethernet certified services and certified Cloud connectivity services.

“This launch marks a very important part in the O3b journey. We started O3b with this bold vision of changing lives by connecting people. We wanted to create a meaningful impact, and we have. We have connected underserved communities with high-performance internet. We have restored connectivity across disaster zones. We have changed the notion that you can’t be as connected at sea as on land. And we have made the cloud available to businesses where it was never possible before,” said John-Paul Hemingway, Chief Executive Officer of SES Networks. “As this launch completes our first-gen O3b system of 20 satellites, it also marks the transition into our next-generation MEO system, O3b mPOWER, the only fully-funded NGSO broadband system in development today. When O3b mPOWER launches in 2021, SES will bring massive scale to our proven O3b model – driving digital transformation and cloud adoption virtually everywhere on the planet.”

Column: How Satellites will Reshape Data Connectivity in 2019

Tuesday, February 05, 2019  Satellites  

by Eric Watko, EVP, Product Marketing & Strategy, SES Networks Next-generation satellite services are set to transform data connectivity as we know it, opening up new markets and bringing the opportunities of the digital era to unconnected – and under-connected – industries and end-user populations around the world, to what would be roughly 3.7 billion people that were still offline by the end of 2018 according to the International Telecommunications...

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NEC and Ceragon announce alliance for 5G wireless backhaul

NEC Corporation and Ceragon Networks announced a collaboration agreement to further expand their global wireless backhaul business footprint. 

The agreement calls for a development program, wherein the companies will leverage both parties' rich experience and unique capabilities in microwave and millimeter-wave communications, to develop advanced technologies which will further accelerate innovation and deliver premium cutting-edge solutions for 5G wireless backhaul. NEC and Ceragon will each provide their own differentiated solutions based on these advanced technologies.

"NEC and Ceragon will collaborate to further develop and provide more attractive technologies for communications service providers," said Akihiko Kumagai, Senior Executive Vice President, NEC Corporation. "NEC has more than 80 years of experience in the microwave radio market, and this partnership is one part of NEC's long-term commitment to and strategy for the market. It will help NEC to continue to grow as a global leader in the wireless backhaul business," he added.

"This collaboration reaffirms Ceragon's commitment to continue aggressively developing next generation technologies," said Ira Palti, President & CEO of Ceragon Networks. "The agreement will allow Ceragon to increase its market leadership by spearheading innovation that delivers elite technological advancements in the 5G wireless backhaul market, allowing service providers to stay well ahead of the curve."

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