Ericsson: The Next Gen Central Office (NGCO) Foundation for 5G

When we look at how the industry evolves toward cloudification, virtualization and containers, we see that this is really there to support 5G, says Anders Rosengren, Head of Architecture and Technology, Digital Services, Ericsson.

Apart from the cloud infrastructure, carriers must also consider how their network functions will evolve to virtualized and then to cloud-native.

A "2019 Next-Generation Central Office (NGCO) Report" from AvidThink is available for download. It covers the evolution in NGCO, recent trends, and key projects like CORD and VCO, as well as the role of the NGCO in new applications in edge computing and SD-WAN/vCPE.

https://nginfrastructure.com/

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Verizon tests Ericsson's cloud-native, containerized EPC

Verizon and Ericsson introduced a cloud-native, container-based technology on the core of Verizon’s active network.

The proof-of-concept trial deployment is described as the first container- based wireless EPC (Evolved Packet Core) technology deployment in a live network in the world.

The trial, which was conducted on Verizon's commercial network in Hillsboro, Oregon, used Ericsson Packet Core Controller deployed as a cloud-native and microservice-based Mobility Management Entity (MME) in an existing pool. The software used leverages docker images and helm charts, with expected updates on the software from Ericsson every two weeks.

Nils Viklund, Head of Solution Area Packet Core at Ericsson says: "The industry’s evolution to cloud native means big changes ahead. Ericsson is leading the industry when it comes to driving cloud-native design in order to bring the agility needed to manage workloads dynamically at the edge required for many new 5G use cases. Now together with Verizon, we are demonstrating how cloud native EPC can be an important step in increasing efficiency and utilization of the cloud infrastructure."

“The pace of technological advancement is rapid and is exponentially increasing. By evolving our core network past simply using virtualized machines and instead changing our underlying software architecture to run on cloud- native technology, we are able to achieve new levels of operational automation, flexibility and adaptability,” said Bill Stone, Vice President of Technology Development and Planning for Verizon.

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Cignal AI: Compact modular optical sales exceed $275M

Compact modular optical hardware is being used in more network applications than ever before, according to the latest Optical Applications Report from market research firm Cignal AI. The report finds that almost 30% of North American optical hardware shipments are mow in compact modular format, which was first used by cloud operators for data center interconnect applications but now includes many other operators and applications.

Market share leaders include the Ciena Waveserver, Infinera CX and Groove, and Cisco 1000 series.

“Network applications for the compact modular form factor have expanded well beyond the original data center interconnect deployments,” said Scott Wilkinson, Lead Analyst for Optical Hardware at Cignal AI. “Applications now include traditional telco networks, metro and long haul deployments, and even some early trials for subsea deployment. We expect this spending trend to increase in 2019 as new compact modular products come to market from a variety of vendors.”

Some highlights from Cignal AI:

• Compact modular hardware sales exceeded $275 million in Q1 and are tracking to exceed $1 billion in revenue this year. 
• Growth was most pronounced in North America this quarter, where it accounted for almost 30% of the entire optical market and is expected to continue advancing through 2023.
• Ciena expanded its dominance in compact modular with over 50% market share in Q1. The combined Infinera/Coriant held on to second place despite declining sales.
• Acacia AC1200-based platforms are expected to have an impact starting next quarter. Cisco compact modular sales paused in Q1 in anticipation of the NCS1004 platform.
• Almost 500k physical coherent ports have shipped in the last 12 months. Currently, over 70% of coherent ports are shipped by the top five vendors in the market.
• After a 2018 recovery year, long haul port shipments are starting to pick up. Metro growth is advancing at a similar pace, as next-generation coherent enables an upgrade from 100Gbps.
• Packet OTN growth is slowing. New deployments are limited to China and parts of APAC as networks in other regions evolve away from the packet OTN architecture.

https://cignal.ai/2019/07/compact-modular-sales-expand-reaching-over-275m/?utm_source=mailpoet&utm_medium=email&utm_campaign=PR

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IBM and AT&T enter strategic alliance

IBM and AT&T announced a multi-year strategic alliance with the following major points:

• AT&T will use IBM's expertise to modernize AT&T Business Solutions' internal software applications, enabling migrations to the IBM Cloud. 
• IBM will provide infrastructure to support AT&T Business's applications. 
• AT&T Business will utilize Red Hat's open source platform to manage workloads and applications. 
• IBM will make AT&T Business its primary provider of software defined networking. 
• AT&T Business will help transform IBM's networking solutions with their latest technologies including 5G, Edge Compute, and IOT as well as multi-cloud capabilities using Red Hat. 
• The two companies will also collaborate on edge computing platforms.

AT&T Business has previously been designated as IBM's strategic global networking provider.

"In AT&T Business, we're constantly evolving to better serve business customers around the globe by securely connecting them to the digital capabilities they need," said Thaddeus Arroyo, CEO of AT&T Business. "This includes optimizing our core operations and modernizing our internal business applications to accelerate innovation. Through our collaboration with IBM, we're adopting open, flexible, cloud technologies, that will ultimately help accelerate our business leadership."

"Building on IBM's 20-year relationship with AT&T, today's agreement is another major step forward in delivering flexibility to AT&T Business so it can provide IBM and its customers with innovative services at a faster pace than ever before," said Arvind Krishna, Senior Vice President, Cloud and Cognitive Software, IBM. "We are proud to collaborate with AT&T Business, provide the scale and performance of our global footprint of cloud data centers, and deliver a common environment on which they can build once and deploy in any one of the appropriate footprints to be faster and more agile."

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SK Telecom begins first 5G roaming with Swisscom

SK Telecom launched the world’s first 5G roaming service in partnership with Swisscom., the largest telecommunications provider in Switzerland.

SK Telecom launched its "baro" roaming service on December 17, 2018. As of June 2019, baro has attracted 2.2 million users and 38 million cumulative calls (total of 800,000 hours of voice calls).

Swisscom, which boasts over 6 million mobile subscriptions, started to roll out its 5G network on April 17.

SK Telecom’s customers using Samsung Galaxy S10 5G will be able to use 5G roaming service through Swisscom when visiting Switzerland after upgrading their devices with the latest software update. In the future, SK Telecom plans to provide software upgrades to LG V50 users and further expand 5G roaming service to other countries around the globe.

“SK Telecom once again proved its leadership in advanced roaming technology with the launch of world’s first 5G roaming service” said Han Myung-jin, Vice President and Head of MNO Business Supporting Group of SK Telecom. “We will continuously expand our 5G roaming service to enhance customer experience and benefits.”

SK Telecom's 5G network is live with 34,000 base stations deployed

Tuesday, April 02, 2019  5G, Korea, SK Telecom  

SK Telecom has activated a total of 34,000 5G base stations across Korea.

In a press conference at its headquarters in Seoul, SK Telecom marked "the beginning of the age of Hyper-Innovation with 5G".

The company's 5G network initially targets the nation's most data traffic-concentrated areas, including main areas of 85 cities nationwide (Seoul, six metropolitan cities, etc.), university districts, KTX, sports stadiums, expressways, subway lines (Seoul and Seoul Metropolitan Area) and beaches. SK Telecom is also expanding in-building coverage centered around 120 department stores, shopping malls and airports. In the second half of 2019, SK Telecom will expand 5G network coverage to subway systems nationwide, national parks and festival sites.

SK Telecom’s 5G network supports downlinks up to 2.7 Gbps.

New 5GX price plans go into effect on April 5, 2019. Four plans are offered.

• Slim offers 8GB of data (1Mbps speed after data cap) at KRW 55,000 month 
• 5GX Standard comes with 150GB of data (5Mbps after data cap) at KRW 75,000 per month.
• 5GX Prime comes with 200GB of data at KRW 95,000 per month
• 5GX Platinum comes with 300 GB of data at KRW 125,000 per month

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ADVA debuts monitoring for satellite-based timing

ADVA introduced an AI-powered analytics service for monitoring the quality of GNSS-based timing.

ADVA SatAware provides network operators with real-time insight into signal quality at a GNSS satellite receiver. It can help identify any physical objects blocking GNSS signals and resolve issues before they impact the synchronization network.

“Changes in the environment, such as newly built or modified buildings or trees growing, can have a serious impact on GNSS-based timing. Yet the specific physical causes of interference can often be difficult to detect and even harder to predict. With SatAware, maintenance teams can instantly react to these issues – or even preempt them – well before they affect network performance,” said Nir Laufer, senior director, product line management, Oscilloquartz, ADVA.

The ADVA SatAware service features a lightweight data collection engine deployed at GNSS receiver sites that securely shares information on all standard satellite receivers with the SatAware data pool. Using intelligent algorithms, the ADVA-hosted AI engine continuously analyzes the condition of each antenna. It provides up-to-the-minute information on sky-view plots, carrier-to-noise ratios and all trouble indicators. With SatAware™, network operators can easily visualize and evaluate GNSS reception by building a complete picture of signal strength for each individual satellite without the need for dedicated hardware or software at the GNSS receiver site.

https://www.advaoptical.com/en/newsroom/press-releases/20190715-adva-launches-industry-first-ai-powered-service-for-monitoring-of-satellite-based-timing

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Boingo cites DAS traction with tier 1 carriers

Boingo Wireless reports that Q2 was its biggest quarter ever for new DAS venue launches. In the second quarter of 2019, Boingo deployed 10 new DAS networks in partnership with Tier 1 carriers at high traffic venues throughout the U.S., increasing the company’s total live DAS venues to 69.

“Our strong DAS momentum continues with significant traction in venue deployments and strategic partnerships with carriers to densify networks and enhance cellular coverage,” said Mike Finley, CEO, Boingo. “This new record fuels growth for our neutral host DAS portfolio, a key driver for Boingo’s business, and helps our venue partners solve skyrocketing connectivity demands.”

In the first half of 2019, Boingo launched a total of 11 new DAS networks at large venues that include three major airports, seven amphitheaters and a commercial real estate property. The cellular solution boosts signal strength and increases network capacity for voice and data applications. As carrier networks migrate to 5G, densification with solutions like DAS will be key for facilitating increased capacity, faster speeds, lower latency and higher throughput.

Boingo neutral host DAS networks are designed to provide a high performance wireless experience to all venue customers and staff, regardless of which carrier they use.

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Alphawave intros PCIe Gen1 – Gen5 PHY

Alphawave IP introduced its PipeCORE PCIe Gen1-5 PHY, an advanced DSP based 7nm PCIe Gen1-5 PHY that is available on TSMC’s 7nm process technology.

The company says its PipeCORE can also demonstrate 64Gbps PAM4 rates for early PCI-Express Gen6 adopters.

The PipeCORE PHY leverages the same advanced high-speed ADC architecture utilized by Alphawave’s AlphaCORE Multi-Standard Serdes (MSS) IP that has been delivered to customers in 7nm since earlier in 2019.

“I am really proud that the Alphawave team has delivered working PCIe Gen1-5 silicon the first time!” said Tony Pialis, President and CEO of Alphawave.

https://awaveip.com/products/pipecore-gen1-5-phy/

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