H2 subsea Pacific cable system signs Subcom

Subcom has been selected to supply and build a new H2 submarine cable system linking Australia and Hong Kong with direct access to China. The cable design also allows for a number of branching units that can be deployed to locations including Taiwan, Papua New Guinea, Solomon Island, Guam, Queensland, Hawaii and Los Angeles.

A contract was signed at this week's SubOptic 2019 show in New Orleans.

H2 will provide the lowest latency from Australia across the Pacific Ocean, with the Sydney to Hong Kong branch carrying 15 Tbps per fiber pair and the Sydney to Los Angeles branch carrying more than 12.9 Tbps per fiber pair. The cable has a single end power feeding capability of more than 13,000 km. The branch between Sydney and Los Angeles will follow an entirely diverse route to the north of New Caledonia, which has not been used by any other cable.

“We are pleased to partner with SubCom and are confident their superior technology and operational excellence will enable a smooth system deployment,” said Georges Krebs, CEO of H2. “H2 will bring the necessary boost in connectivity to Australia, which has one of the fastest-growing international traffic streams in the world.”

Remi Galasso, Chairman of H2, added, “Growing capacity requirements and new traffic patterns emerging within the Asia-Pacific region require the deployment of innovative and versatile submarine infrastructures. The H2 cable, with its north and east segments, has been designed to deliver direct connectivity through new subsea paths and provide optimal diversity. We are excited to be at the forefront of this development.”

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BT first to deploy Nokia's 7750 SR-s platform

BT will be among the first operators in the world to deploy Nokia's 7750 Service Router (SR)-s platform to boost backbone network capacity in preparation for the continued rise in residential and mobile traffic driven by the traffic demands of FTTP and 5G.

The Nokia 7750 SR-s will augment the existing Nokia 7750 SR and 7950 Extensible Routing System (XRS) it BT's network. Financial terms were not disclosed.  Nokia described the deal as an exclusive agreement.

Howard Watson, BT Group CTIO, said: "BT's FTTP footprint is growing on a daily basis, and we are launching 5G this year in the busiest parts of 16 of the UK's busiest cities. These technologies create an amazing customer experience, and drive people to watch more, play more and share more. We have to stay ahead of the massive traffic growth that this will bring, and Nokia are a key part of that, giving us the capacity and automation that we need."

Sri Reddy, Co-President of IP/Optical Networks at Nokia, said: "Nokia's 7750 SR-s platform, based on our FP4 silicon, will offer BT's network the enhanced capabilities and automation needed to address continuously mounting capacity demands as it moves toward 5G. Our exclusive partnership will allow BT's converged core network to grow, and move to a programmable, insight-driven network architecture, creating a platform for BT's growth to continue as demand for its services in FTTP and 5G expands."

The Nokia 7750 SR-s is powered by the company's multi-terabit network processor silicon (FP4).

http://www.nokia.com

Nokia Unveils its Next Gen IP Routing Engine

Wednesday, June 14, 2017  Core, Nokia, Routing, Silicon  

Nokia unveils its fourth generation network processing silicon for powering the first petabit-class core IP routers.

The new FP4 silicon, which comes six years after the preceding FP3 chipset was announced, offers 2.4 Tb/s half-duplex capacity, or 6X more capacity than the current generation 400 Gb/s FP3 chipset. The FP4 will support full terabit IP flows. All conventional routing capabilities are included. Deep classification capabilities include enhanced packet intelligence and control, policy controls, telemetry, and security.


The FP4 could be used to provide an in-field upgrade to Nokia’s current line of core routers and carrier switches. It will also be used to power a new family of 7750 SR-s series routers designed for single-node, cloud scale density. In terms of specs, the SR-s boasts a 144 Tb/s configuration supporting port densities of up to 144 future Terabit links, 288 400G ports, or 1,440 100GE ports. Absolute capacity could be double for a maximum of 288 Tb/s configuration. It runs the same software as the company’s widely-deployed systems.  The first 7750 SR-s boxes are already running in Nokia’s labs. First commercial shipments are expected in Q4.

Nokia is also introducing a chassis extension option to push its router into petabit territory. Without using the switching shelf concept employed in the multi-chassis designs of its competitors, Nokia is offering the means to integrate up to six of its 7750 SRS-s routers into a single system. This results in 576 Tb/s of capacity, enough for densities of up to 2,880 100GE ports or 720 400G ports.

https://networks.nokia.com/ip-networks-reimagined

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Google Cloud offers ice cold archive storage

Google Cloud announced new archive class of Cloud Storage designed for long-term data retention as an alternative to tape storage.

Pricing starts at $0.0012 per GB per month ($1.23 per TB per month).

Access and management are performed via the same APIs used by Googles other storage classes, with full integration into object lifecycle management. Data in Cloud Storage is always redundantly stored across availability zones with 11 9’s annual durability.

Google Cloud also announced the general availability of Cloud Filestore, a managed file storage system that’s built for high performance. Cloud Filestore’s premium instances will now provide increased read performance up to 1.2 GB/s throughput and 60k IOPS.

https://cloud.google.com/blog/products/storage-data-transfer/whats-cooler-than-being-cool-ice-cold-archive-storage

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Keysight provides 5G NR device conformance test to DOCOMO

NTT DOCOMO has selected Keysight’s 5G Conformance Toolset, part of Keysight’s 5G network emulation solution portfolio, to ensure 5G new radio (NR) mobile devices comply to the latest 3rd Generation Partnership Project (3GPP) standards prior to market introduction of new 5G services.

Keysight’s 5G network emulation solutions were selected by NTT DOCOMO for characterizing and validating 5G NR mobile devices to ensure these operate as intended on the mobile operator’s 5G network. As an influential contributor to the 3GPP standards organization, Keysight helps mobile operators, such as NTT DOCOMO and its mobile device suppliers, confidently evolve with the latest 5G NR standards as defined by 3GPP and adopted in the GCF and PTCRB certification schemes.

"Keysight’s proven expertise in 5G and end-to-end 5G test solutions enable us to accelerate our 5G commercialization plans," said Toshiyuki Futakata, vice president and general manager of Communication Device Development Department, NTT DOCOMO. “By working with Keysight we are confident that our new 5G mobile devices comply to the latest 3GPP standards to meet our customers’ high expectations, enabling us to create new business opportunities based on 5G technology.”

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Aquantia and Qualcomm collaborate on 5G fixed CPE

Aquantia is collaborating Qualcomm Technologies on next-generation 5G NR fixed wireless access broadband equipment for high-speed Internet delivery to the customer premises.

The consumer premises equipment (CPE) platform will feature the Aquantia AQtion Multi-Gig Ethernet Controllers AQC107 (10GbE) and AQC111C (5GbE), which can be used in conjunction with the Qualcomm Snapdragon X55 5G modem available from Qualcomm Technologies.

The companies expect the first deployment in the United States in the first half of 2020. Aquantia has supplied samples of the reference design to early customers.

The Aquantia AQtion AQC107 is a high-performance, 5-speed, 10 G PCI Express (PCIe)–to–Multi-Gig Ethernet controller that integrates PCIe, MAC, and PHY to provide power and space-efficient connectivity for client systems. An x4/x2/x1 PCIe interface enables the AQC107 to easily handle up to 10Gbps line-rate performance while delivering maximum flexibility. The AQrate PHY technology integrated into the AQC107 delivers up to 10 Gbps network connectivity speed through 100 m of Cat 6a and up to 5 Gbps network connectivity speed on legacy Cat 5e or Cat 6 cabling.

The Aquantia AQtion AQC111C is a high-performance, Multi-Gig Ethernet controllers housed in a compact 9 x 9 mm package. Its ultra-small footprint and low-cost design makes it the perfect solution for embedded platforms as well as other PCIe LAN on Motherboard (LOM) implementations. By offering Multi-Gig Ethernet speeds of up to 5 and 2.5 GbE, Aquantia AQtion AQC111C offers flexible design options for a variety of networked devices including OEMs of consumer premises equipments, PCs and any device using a motherboards which to offer a seamless, Multi-Gig upgrade path.

“For more than 30 years, Qualcomm has provided foundational wireless technologies that help to transform industries. We are continuing that legacy by providing a robust platform designed to support seamless 5G connectivity in the connected home and enterprises, powered by our second generation Snapdragon X55 5G modem with support for both mmWave and sub-6 GHz spectrum bands,” said, Gautam Sheoran, Senior Director, Product Management, Qualcomm Technologies, Inc. “We are excited to work with Aquantia, as the use of our 5G connectivity platform with their Multi-Gig wired backhaul in the connected home and enterprises can help support the growth of connected devices and provide unsurpassed user experience.”

“Aquantia is very pleased to work with Qualcomm Technologies on this new class of service provider access device,” said LK Bhupathi, Vice President of Marketing at Aquantia. “Use of the Snapdragon X55 5G modem with Aquantia’s Multi-Gig wired backhaul has the potential to create new business models beyond what has traditionally been offered by Internet service providers. More importantly it can also spur the delivery of rich content services such as ultra-high definition video streaming, cloud gaming and virtual reality.”

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Versa Titan delivers cloud-managed SD-WAN branch and security

Versa Networks released a cloud-managed SD-WAN branch and security solution that simplifies the complexity associated with wide-area network transformation.

The new Versa Titan, which is available through certified partners as a cloud-managed service, incorporates all core functionality of Versa Secure Cloud IP, Versa's fully integrated, cloud native, contextually-aware software stack. Versa Titan delivers offers cloud-based SD-WAN and software-defined security management tools via a Web browser that enhance visibility into security vulnerabilities, application behavior, network performance and bandwidth utilization.

Versa Titan also brings to market the Versa Cloud Services Gateway (CSG), a Versa-branded appliance series that combines innovative hardware for high-performing advanced SD-WAN and security capabilities. Versa CSG runs Versa's FlexVNF software stack as a branch office endpoint appliance with integrated enterprise-class LTE, Wi-Fi and PoE to further simplify and improve the customer experience as organizations transition to multi-cloud and hybrid-WAN infrastructures.

"The complexity of traditional WAN infrastructure is cumbersome, performance inhibiting and counterproductive to fueling digital transformation. With limited ability to secure multi-device, mobile and IoT-centric networks, legacy WAN infrastructure restricts the ability to harness the advantages of cloud," said Rob Mustarde, Senior Vice President, Worldwide Sales, Versa Networks. "Versa Titan enables businesses to unleash the power and performance of a secure SD-WAN infrastructure without the added costs, complexity and footprint of legacy networking solutions."

https://www.versa-networks.com/partners/titan

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Mobile Experts: Small Cell market to reach $5.2B by 2024

The LTE Small Cells market grew 20% year over year in unit shipment and 20% year over year in over value in 2018, reaching $2.9 billion, according to a new 108-page report from Mobile Experts.

"As the market transitions to 5G, we will see some challenges for Small Cells—especially in the outdoor segment. Overall, we do see growth drivers in Private LTE and 5G, which are included in this forecast. Even after excluding the 5G millimeter wave radio units, our Small Cells market is expected to grow from over $2.9 billion in 2018 to $5.2 billion in 2024…a 10% CAGR," commented Principal Analyst Kyung Mun.

Mobile Experts tackles both the Carrier Indoor segment and the Carrier Outdoor segment with rigorous analysis. The Indoor segment, which includes Distributed Radio Systems (DRS) such as Huawei Lampsite, Ericsson RadioDot, ZTE Qcell, and Nokia ASiR, will remains a key driver for the overall market, according to the report.   The 5G network transitions will require some very interesting augmentation with in-building DRS deployment, so with 5G the small cell layer is becoming an integral part of the network from the beginning.

According to Mr. Mun, "5G Massive MIMO will have a profound impact on C-band small cell strategies, and we will see a shift to a new approach.   Also, Private LTE and Edge Computing use cases will drive significant growth in the small cell market, with new customer groups aligning to drive growth.    We also see substantial adoption for CBRS, LAA, and Wi-Fi connectivity in small cells as a low-cost way to add capacity."

This report provides a high level view of how CBRS, LAA, Wi-Fi, and MIMO will play roles in the small cell market.   Mobile Experts has published reports over the past year that dive into the deeper details of these technology areas, so the Small Cell report provides a business-level overview for all Small Cell deployment and how these features play into the overall HetNet.

https://www.mobile-experts.net/

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Uruguay's ANTEL deploys 5G with Nokia

ANTEL, the Uruguayan state owned operator, activated the first 5G commercial network in Latin America. Nokia is the supplier.

The deployment started in the Barra de Manantiales area, Maldonado Department, where the first 5G base stations are operational and ready to provide services.

Andrés Tolosa, President of ANTEL, said: "We are very proud to be the first operator in Latin America to set a 5G network into commercial service. This milestone is in line with our strong commitment to the development of the industrial and entertainment sectors as well as a great impulse to application development. We are a worldwide reference in FTTH networks and pioneers in providing our subscribers with state-of-the-art mobile networks. This great step towards 5G, with Nokia's support, enhances our technological ecosystem. Once again, we confirm our technological leadership in the region."week and pl

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Bharti Airtel expands VoLTE with Ericsson

Bharti Airtel is working with Ericsson to expand its VoLTE services in India.

The agreement will result in deployment of the Ericsson Cloud VoLTE solution, an industrialized solution to deliver VoLTE services onto a customer data center. Financial terms were not disclosed.

Randeep Sekhon, CTO, Bharti Airtel, says: "We remain committed to building a state-of-the-art future-ready network as part of our network transformation program - Project Leap - and deliver best-in-class digital experience to our smartphone customers. This partnership with Ericsson will allow us to rapidly increase VoLTE capacity to serve our growing traffic, and make our network prepared to easily introduce new communication services today and in 5G."

As per the June 2018 Ericsson Mobility Report, India is expected to have more than 780 million VoLTE subscriptions by 2023. VoLTE technology will also be the foundation for enabling 5G voice calls on different types of 5G devices.

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