Monday, September 30, 2019

Next Gen SD-WAN and 5G -Two storms colliding



Two industry storms are colliding.

SD-WAN and 5G are actually the perfect complement to each other, says Jeremy Wubs, Senior VO, Products & Marketing, Bell Business Markets.

There are a lot of very compelling use cases for combining fast wireless access with the flexibility of SD-WAN.



Interview by James E. Carroll

Nokia completes single-carrier terabit-per-second field trial

Nokia announced the world’s first field trial of single-carrier terabit-per-second data transmission. The test was completed on Etisalat's network.

The trial successfully transmitted a record 50.8 terabits per second using multiple wavelengths, each with a net information rate of 1.3 terabits per second, over a 93-km fibre route of Etisalat’s wavelength division multiplexing (WDM) network.

The single optical carrier operated at 100 Gigabaud and employed Nokia Bell Labs-pioneered probabilistic constellation shaping, or PCS, to intelligently shape the signal to achieve maximum capacity for the specific fibre route. Nokia’s Photonic Service Engine 3 – now shipping to customers as part of Nokia’s 1830 portfolio – is the first coherent digital signal processor to implement PCS.

Nokia said the field trial demonstrates that Etisalat’s existing network can support the higher optical wavelength bit rates that will be required to support high-bandwidth services such as 5G extreme mobile broadband (very fast wireless to the mobile), fibre-to-the-home (FTTH) and Data Center Interconnect (DCI) cloud services. Higher bit rates per wavelength provide power and space savings, improved network simplicity, increased spectral efficiency and capacity, and ultimately reduced cost per bit compared to optical networks composed of lower rate channels.

Esmaeel Alhammadi, Senior Vice President, Network Development at Etisalat, said: "We are pleased to have partnered with Nokia Bell Labs to demonstrate that our optical network is capable of transporting a terabit per second over a single wavelength, and a total per-fibre capacity of over 50 terabits-per-second.  Increasing network capacity helps us to provide bandwidth-hungry services such as 5G extreme mobile broadband, fibre-to-the-home and DCI for enterprises.”

Sam Bucci, Head of Optical Networking at Nokia, said: “The introduction of 5G will require a network that can support dramatic increases in bandwidth in a dynamic fashion. This ground-breaking trial with Etisalat is testimony to Nokia’s commitment to continue to invest in coherent and optical component technologies required to meet the 5G networking challenge at the lowest total cost of ownership for our customers.”

Telefónica Deutschland deploys Infinera DRX disaggregated routers

Telefónica Deutschland, a Tier 1 operator in Germany, selected theTelefónica Deutschland, Series to modernize its nationwide mobile transport network.

The Infinera DRX Series, a disaggregated router family that combines a carrier-class white box portfolio with the Infinera CNOS software, enables Telefónica Deutschland to prepare its nationwide mobile transport network for 5G mobile services with scale, efficiency, and automation.

Telefónica Deutschland plans to deploy multiple DRX Series platforms, including configurations that support 300G and 900G. The DRX Series in combination with the CNOS operating system enables a unique stacking capability that provides simple node expansion and increased resiliency. Multiple DRX Series elements can be connected to double or even triple node capacity while operating as a single routing entity.

Telefónica Deutschland offers mobile and fixed services for private and business customers, as well as innovative digital products and services including the Internet of Things and data analytics.  In the mobile segment alone, Telefónica Deutschland servers over 45 million connections.

“Telefónica Deutschland is on the forefront of innovation and expansion to ensure we provide our customers with the best experience and meet them where they live, work, and move,” said Cayetano Carbajo Martín, Chief Technology Officer at Telefónica Deutschland. “As we continue to improve network experiences for our customers now and into the future, we rely on solutions that are scalable and automated, and the Infinera DRX Series will be a great addition to our future 5G network environment.”

“We are pleased to be Telefónica Deutschland’s innovative and strategic supplier for a network modernization of this magnitude,” said Bob Jandro, Senior Vice President, Worldwide Sales at Infinera. “Infinera’s DRX Series enables customers like Telefónica Deutschland to benefit from a smooth transition to open networking while providing the scalability, flexibility and reliability required to meet the growing demand for 5G mobile bandwidth. As global mobile operators are transitioning from traditional routing and switching to a more open architecture, the DRX innovation is a natural transition.”

II‐VI completes merger with Finisar

II‐VI completed its acquisition of Finisar, bring together two optical networking industry leaders serving the broad set of fast-growing markets of communications, consumer electronics, military, industrial processing lasers, automotive semiconductor equipment and life sciences. The combined company's portfolio will span high-performance datacom transceivers, products based on coherent transmission technology and ROADM solutions for next-generation undersea, long-haul and metro networks, hyperscale datacenters and 5G optical infrastructure.

The new II-VI will be organized into two segments:

The Compound Semiconductors Segment is expected to be a market leader in differentiated materials and devices such as those based on gallium arsenide, indium phosphide, gallium nitride and silicon carbide, by independently driving investments that advance its technology roadmaps. The segment will be led by Dr. Giovanni Barbarossa – Chief Strategy Officer, II-VI Incorporated and President, Compound Semiconductors.

The Photonic Solutions Segment leverages II-VI’s compound semiconductor technology platforms to deliver components and subsystems that are differentiated based on deep knowledge of end user applications for our key end markets. The segment will be led by Sunny Sun – President, Photonic Solutions.

“Today our company is taking a giant leap forward in our scale to serve a significantly increasing addressable market,” said Dr. Vincent D. Mattera, Jr., Chief Executive Officer, II-VI Incorporated. “The powerful combination of II-VI and Finisar makes us the global leader in optical communications and continues our leadership in our other key end markets, with a world-class product portfolio and deep technology expertise that enables us to offer more tightly integrated solutions and exceptional overall value for our customers.”

“With nearly 80 years of combined business leadership in photonics and compound semiconductors, it makes sense for Finisar to join the II-VI family to continue to deliver the best products and solutions possible,” said Todd Swanson, Finisar’s Chief Operating Officer and co-CEO. “Thanks to the talents of numerous individuals across this new global powerhouse, II-VI and Finisar are ready to merge into one highly efficient and seamless company with a common culture, vision and mission.”

Under the deal, which was first announced on November 9, 2018, Finisar shareholders will receive on average $15.60 in cash and 0.2218 shares of II-VI common stock per 1.0 share of Finisar common stock depending on each shareholder’s election as laid out in the merger agreement. This transaction is fully taxable to Finisar shareholders. The company expects to achieve $150M in run rate synergies over the next three years. The financing for the transaction was $1.9B of cash raised in a combination of Term Loans A and B with a combined interest rate of L+251 and $1.1B of the company’s stock.  Finisar shareholders will own approximately 32% of the combined company.

II-VI also confirmed the following executive team:

  • Dr. Vincent D. Mattera, Jr – Chief Executive Officer
  • Walter R. Bashaw II –  President
  • Mary Jane Raymond –  Chief Financial Officer
  • Dr. Giovanni Barbarossa – Chief Strategy Officer, II-VI Incorporated and President, Compound Semiconductors
  • Jo Anne Schwendinger – Chief Legal & Compliance Officer, Corporate Secretary
  • Dr. Christopher Koeppen – Chief Technical Officer

II-VI to acquire Finisar in $3.2 billion deal

II-VI agreed to acquire Finisar in a cash and stock deal valued at approximately $3.2 billion, creating one of the largest photonics and compound semiconductor companies.

The deal, which has been approved by the boards of both companies, brings together two optical networking industry leaders serving the broad set of fast-growing markets of communications, consumer electronics, military, industrial processing lasers, automotive semiconductor equipment and life sciences. The combined company's portfolio will span high-performance datacom transceivers, products based on coherent transmission technology and ROADM solutions for next-generation undersea, long-haul and metro networks, hyperscale datacenters and 5G optical infrastructure.

The companies said their combined optoelectronics technology leadership based on GaAs and InP compound semiconductor laser design platforms, together with one of the world’s largest 6-inch vertically integrated epitaxial growth and device fabrication manufacturing platforms, will enable faster time to market for a greater number of opportunities in 3D sensing and LiDAR.

“Disruptive megatrends driven by innovative uses of lasers and other engineered materials present huge growth opportunities for both of our companies,” said Dr. Vincent D. Mattera, Jr., President and CEO, II-VI Incorporated. “In communications, materials processing, consumer electronics and automotive, we expect that the combination with Finisar will allow us to leverage our combined technology and intellectual property in InP, GaAs, SiC, GaN, SiP and diamond to achieve faster time to market, cost and scale. Together, we believe that we will be better strategically positioned to play a strong leadership role in the emerging markets of 5G, 3D sensing, cloud computing, electric and autonomous vehicles, and advanced microelectronics manufacturing.”

“The combination of our state-of-the-art technology platforms, deep customer relationships, great assets and amazing talent will enhance our ability to hit market windows that won’t stay open for long,” said Michael Hurlston, Finisar’s CEO. “This combination will accelerate our collective growth and will take advantage of the technology, products and manufacturing expertise that Finisar has uniquely developed over the course of its 30 year history.”

Highlights of the deal:
  • Finisar’s stockholders will receive, on a pro-rated basis, $15.60 per share in cash and 0.2218x shares of II-VI common stock, valued at $10.40 per share based on the closing price of II-VI’s common stock of $46.88 on November 8, 2018. 
  • The transaction values Finisar at $26.00 per share, or approximately $3.2 billion in equity value and represents a premium of 37.7% to Finisar’s closing price on November 8, 2018. 
  • Finisar shareholders would own approximately 31% of the combined company. 
  • Together, II-VI and Finisar will have 24,000 employees in 70 locations.
  • The combined company will hold over 2,700 patents
  • The combined company had approximately $2.5 billion of annual revenue. 
  • The combined company expects to realize $150 million of run-rate cost synergies within 36 months of closing. Synergies are expected to be achieved from procurement savings, internal supply of materials and components, efficient research and development, consolidation of overlapping costs and sales and marketing efficiencies.
  • The transaction is expected to drive accretion in Non-GAAP earnings per share for the first full year post close of approximately 10% and more than double that thereafter.
  • II-VI intends to fund the cash consideration with a combination of cash on hand from the combined companies’ balance sheets and $2 billion in funded debt financing.
  • The transaction is expected to close in the middle of calendar year 2019.


ProLabs Announces Clarity Auto-Tunable DWDM Transceivers

ProLabs introduced its line-up self-tuning Clarity Auto-Tunable DWDM transceivers.

Highlights of Clarity Auto-Tunable DWDM Transceivers include:

  • Auto-discovers and self-tunes to individual DWDM wavelengths without manipulation by OEM platform or peripheral devices;
  • System independent – works with switch platforms that do not natively support tunable transceivers;
  • Reduces the complexity of tuning to specific wavelengths in the field;
  • Reduces inventory for spare DWDM transceivers;
  • Provides up to 80KM reach and full industrial temperature performance;
  • Available in 50Ghz or 100Ghz channel spacing.
“While the idea of tuning products is certainly not new, the industry is accustomed to using products that require software or a separate device to perform this functionality,” said Raymond Hagen, global product line manager, ProLabs. “With Clarity, we have eliminated the need for technicians to track fibers or carry extra equipment to program the wavelength of each module during their deployment, which leads to faster deployment and reduced costs. It’s a win-win.”

http://www.prolabs.com

Intel appoints Karen Walker as CMO

Intel has appointed Karen Walker as senior vice president and chief marketing officer (CMO), effective Oct. 23.

Walker will oversee Intel’s global marketing group and be responsible for building and strengthening Intel’s brand, supporting growth strategies, cultivating opportunities in new and existing markets, and increasing demand for Intel’s products and solutions globally.

Walker joins Intel from Cisco, where she was chief marketing officer since 2015. In that role, she helped lead the company’s evolution to a hybrid business model selling hardware, software, services and software as a service (SaaS) solutions. At Cisco she transformed the marketing function, helping to increase the company’s brand value. Before Cisco, Walker also worked at Hewlett-Packard, where she held both business and consumer leadership positions.

DOCOMO tests 28 GHz-band 5G aboard Shinkansen

NTT DOCOMO achieved the first 28 GHz-band 5G mobile communications between base stations and a high-speed bullet train during experimental trials with Central Japan Railway Company (JR Central).

The test was conducted between a 5G experimental mobile terminal, installed in a test version of an N700S-model Shinkansen railcar traveling at 283 km/h, and 5G experimental base stations erected temporarily along the Tokaido Shinkansen tracks. DOCOMO reports  speeds exceeding 1.0 Gbps and consecutive handover among three base stations located along the tracks. The transmissions were facilitated with advanced beamforming and beam tracking technologies incorporated in the 5G experimental mobile and base stations. Also, ultra-high-definition 8K video contents were rapidly downloaded from the base stations for delivery to the railcar's mobile terminal and 4K video of the passing scenery was relayed live from the railcar's mobile terminal to the base stations.

Iron Mountain inaugurate Multi-Tenant Data Center in Singapore

Iron Mountain inaugurated an enterprise-class data center facility in Serangoon, Singapore. The

Singapore location, SIN-1, is Iron Mountain's first data center in Asia, providing customers access to 1.5 megawatts of capacity with the ability to deliver an incremental 3 megawatts in future phases.

With 5.5 megawatts of capacity across four 10,000 square foot data halls at full build-out, SIN-1 provides access to a number of hybrid IT services, including cloud backup, migration and disaster recovery, as well as a variety of flexible wholesale and retail colocation deployment options through private suites, secure cages and individual cabinets.

"With our new SIN-1 data center, Iron Mountain continues its commitment to building world-class data center offerings for global organizations," said Mark Kidd, Executive Vice President and General Manager, Data Centers at Iron Mountain. "We are excited to move into the next phase of growth for our digital strategy with the expansion of our global data center platform, building on our momentum in Phoenix and Western Europe. SIN-1 has been carefully designed to extend this progress and meet the rigorous needs of global customers, solidifying our global footprint with operations in this critical and fast-growing market."