Monday, December 2, 2019

T-Mobile US activates 5G on 600 MHz nationwide spectrum

T-Mobile activated commercial 5G service using its 600 MHz spectrum. T-Mobile 5G is now active across its nationwide network, covering more than 200 million people and more than 5,000 cities and towns.

T-Mobile is offering two new 5G phones: the exclusive OnePlus 7T Pro 5G McLaren and the Samsung Galaxy Note10+ 5G. Both units are ready to use Sprint’s 5G spectrum (2.5 GHz) when available from the New T-Mobile if the merger closes.

5G access costs the same as LTE.

“5G is here on a nationwide scale. This is a HUGE step towards 5G for All,” said John Legere, CEO of T-Mobile. “While Dumb and Dumber focus on 5G for the (wealthy) Few, launching in just a handful of cities — and forcing customers into their most expensive plans to get 5G — we’re committed to building broad, deep nationwide 5G that people and businesses can access at no extra cost with the New T-Mobile … and today is just the start of that journey.”

“The carriers have been over-hyping 5G for years now, setting expectations beyond what they can deliver. When Verizon says #5GBuiltRight, they must mean sparse, expensive and limited to outdoors only,” said Neville Ray, T-Mobile President of Technology. “Meanwhile at T-Mobile, we built 5G that works for more people in more places, and this is just the start. With the New T-Mobile, we’ll see 5G speeds follow the same path as LTE, increasing exponentially over time. Plus, real broad and deep 5G will unleash whole new categories of innovation that will touch almost every area of the economy. The 5G future is bright, and it starts today.”

AWS previews Quantum Computing cloud service

AWS is previewing new, fully-managed quantum computing cloud service based on hardware from D-Wave, IonQ, and Rigetti. The AWS Braket service allows scientists, researchers, and developers to experiment with quantum computing.

The company is also launching an AWS Center for Quantum Computing that will bring together quantum computing experts from Amazon, the California Institute of Technology (Caltech), and other top academic research institutions. In addition, an Amazon Quantum Solutions Lab will connect customers with quantum computing experts from Amazon and its technology and consulting partners.

“With quantum engineering starting to make more meaningful progress, customers are asking for ways to experiment with quantum computers and explore the technology’s potential,” said Charlie Bell, Senior Vice President, Utility Computing Services, AWS. “We believe that quantum computing will be a cloud-first technology and that the cloud will be the main way customers access the hardware. With our Amazon Braket service and Amazon Quantum Solutions Lab, we’re making it easier for customers to gain experience using quantum computers and to work with experts from AWS and our partners to figure out how they can benefit from the technology. And with our AWS Center for Quantum Computing and academic partnerships, we join the effort across the scientific and industrial communities to help accelerate the promise of quantum computing.”

https://aws.amazon.com/braket/

Ericsson tests 5G Spectrum Sharing with Swisscom and Telstra

Ericsson completed an industry-first data call using spectrum sharing on a 3GPP Frequency Division Duplex (FDD) band. The call connected Bern, Switzerland and Gold Coast, Australia, using Ericsson Spectrum Sharing deployed in Swisscom and Telstra’s commercial 5G networks at the respective sites.  Pre-commercial 5G smartphones from OPPO, powered by the Qualcomm Snapdragon X55 5G Modem-RF System, were used on both ends of the call. OPPO is the first 5G device manufacturer to implement Ericsson Spectrum Sharing in its smartphones. 

The data call success validates the support for Ericsson Spectrum Sharing across its 5G ecosystem, from chipsets to 5G devices, and communication service providers’ network products and solutions. The strengthening of the ecosystem is also a step towards the commercial introduction of Ericsson Spectrum Sharing.

Ericsson Spectrum Sharing, part of Ericsson Radio System, is a dynamic spectrum sharing solution based on the 3GPP standard with additional intelligent scheduler algorithms. This allows the deployment of both 4G and 5G in the same band through a software upgrade, and dynamically allocates spectrum based on user demand. The switch between 4G and 5G carriers happens within milliseconds, minimizing spectrum wastage and enabling best user performance.

Fredrik Jejdling, Executive Vice President and Head of Networks, Ericsson, says: “This industry-first highlights the value that Ericsson Spectrum Sharing has to communication service providers as they roll-out and ramp-up 5G. With this milestone achieved with our 5G ecosystem partners OPPO, Qualcomm Technologies, and customers Swisscom and Telstra, we’ve shown that our unique solution will not only enable service providers to re-use their 4G spectrum assets for 5G but that it will also support all 5G devices. It is the most economically feasible way to launch 5G on existing bands, enabling nationwide 5G coverage and helping make 5G accessible around the world.”

https://www.ericsson.com/en/press-releases/2019/12/ericsson-spectrum-sharing-milestone-connects-continents-5g-live-networks-and-5g-devices

MainOne connects Ivory Coast and Senegal with Subcom's WSS ROADM

Two new branches of the MainOne Cable System are ready for service. The branches, which extend from the MainOne omnibus cable between Seixal, Portugal, and Accra, Ghana, have landing stations in Dakar, Senegal, and Grand Bassam, Ivory Coast, and are connected to MainOne’s 7,000km cable system, which runs from Portugal to Nigeria.

Both branches utilize SubCom’s SL17-A1 cable on the system and is designed to maximize flexibility of wavelength distribution between landing stations. The branches use SubCom’s undersea WSS ROADM technology and a spectrum sharing solution on the omnibus fiber pairs to achieve wavelength distribution.

Subcom says the use of the WSS ROADM technology is not only a first for Africa, but the first to be put into service in a system, worldwide. The WSS ROADM, when applied along with the terrestrial ROADM functionality in Ghana, provides MainOne with direct transmission between the new landings and all of the previous landings, including Lagos, Nigeria. Furthermore, the system has a protected, diverse terrestrial route with automatic protection switching between the cable landing station (CLS) and the PoP in the Ivory Coast.

“We’re very pleased to have completed the MainOne branch extensions, utilizing some of our new technology to provide more network flexibility,” said Debbie Brask, VP Project Management at SubCom.

Juniper names Raj Yavatkar as CTO

Juniper Networks named as Raj Yavatkar as Chief Technology Officer, replacing Bikash Koley who is leaving the company.

Yavatkar is currently an IEEE Fellow and previously headed the development of Network Virtualization Infrastructure and products for Cloud Networking at Google. Prior to Google, Yavatkar held leadership roles at VMware and Intel where he pioneered new hybrid cloud product categories and served as the Chief Software Architect to deliver four generations of IXP family of Network Processing Units (NPUs). He also founded a Systems Technologies Lab (STL) and led advanced R&D in technologies such as system security, manageability and virtualization. Yavatkar received Bachelor’s and Master’s degrees in Technology in Engineering from the Indian Institute of Technology and a PhD degree in Computer Science from Purdue.

"Raj is a visionary who has been able to translate a deep understanding of customer and market needs into breakthrough products and solutions for the past fifteen years. I’m truly pleased and honored to have Raj help us in our strategy to change networking for the cloud era," said Rami Rahim, CEO, Juniper Networks.

Juniper appoints Bikash Koley, formerly with Google, as CTO


Juniper Networks has named Bikash Koley as chief technology officer (CTO), reporting to chief executive officer Rami Rahim, with responsibility for charting Juniper's technology strategy and leading and executing several of the company's critical technology innovations, including Contrail and AppFormix.

Mr. Koley, who is expected to join Juniper in August 2017, has extensive experience in both IP and optical domains and in designing and operating large scale networks.

Mr. Koley is currently serving as a distinguished engineer and the head of network architecture, engineering and planning at Google. He is an expert in the areas of software-defined networking (SDN), packet and optical network integration, warehouse-scale computing and large-scale data centre interconnection.

While with Google, Bikash Koley designed, built and operated Google's production network infrastructure, spanning data centre, backbone(s), optical and the content edge. His team also oversaw the company's SDN evolution, network technology strategy and networking research and innovation, enabling ubiquitous programmability and high reliability.

Prior to Google, Mr. Koley served as the CTO of Qstreams Networks, a company he co-founded. He also spent a number of years with Ciena in a range of technical roles related to the development of DWDM and Ethernet technologies.

What's happening with 400G?



It's happening, but maybe not quite yet except for the hyperscale clouds. Bikash Koley, CTO of Juniper Networks, provides a quick update on 400G, including a mention of the upcoming in-house silicon photonics.

Hawaiki subsea cable to extend to New Caledonia

Hawaiki Submarine Cable announced a multi-million dollar contract to connect its transpacific cable system to New Caledonia , including a subsea branch to the capital city of Noumea.

The new cable, dubbed Tomoo, benefits from a customized network design, including connection of both New Caledonia’s Main Island and Isle of Pines. Tomoo is scheduled for completion by 2021.

The Hawaiki cable system recently celebrated the one-year anniversary of its connection to American Samoa. In that short time, the US territory has reported a 10-times increase in internet speeds and an exponential increase in business and residential connections.

“Thanks to SCCI and the Tomoo cable, New Caledonia will be able to enjoy the multiple benefits of Hawaiki’s international connectivity and boost the development of its digital economy, both locally and in the Pacific region,” said Hawaiki chief sales officer, Virginie Frouin.

Apple completes purchase of Intel's Smartphone Modem Business

Intel completed the sale of the majority of its smartphone modem business to Apple.

The deal, which was valued at $1 billion, includes intellectual property, equipment, leases and approximately 2,200 Intel employees.

Intel said the transaction enables it to focus on developing technology for 5G networks while retaining the option to develop modems for non-smartphone applications, such as PCs, internet of things devices and autonomous vehicles.

Combining the acquired patents for current and future wireless technology with Apple’s existing portfolio, Apple will hold over 17,000 wireless technology patents, ranging from protocols for cellular standards to modem architecture and modem operation. Intel will retain the option to develop modems for non-smartphone applications, such as PCs, internet of things devices and autonomous vehicles.

GTT completes acquisition of KPN International

GTT Communications completed its previously announced acquisition of KPN International, which operates a global IP network serving enterprise and carrier clients. GTT paid approximately €50 million in cash, on a cash and debt-free basis.

The acquisition adds more than 400 strategic enterprise and carrier clients. GTT will also be the preferred international network supplier for several hundred additional clients retained by KPN.

GTT said the purchase adds to its portfolio of cloud networking services with wide area networking, internet and transport services, and adds depth to its global Tier 1 IP network in Europe across 21 countries.

“The great client base contributed by this acquisition, combined with a talented group of employees, strengthens GTT’s presence in Europe,” said Rick Calder, GTT president and CEO. “We are pleased to welcome this blue-chip roster of clients from KPN International who can now access GTT’s expansive global network and comprehensive service portfolio, as we deliver on our purpose of connecting people across organizations, around the world and to every application in the cloud.”

Amazon backs 3 more solar power projects

Amazon announced two new renewable energy projects in the US and one in Spain.

Amazon is backing solar projects in Lee County, Illinois and in Northern Virginia totaling 180 MW. The facilities are expected to generate almost 400,000 MWh of renewable energy annually. This will be Amazon’s first large-scale renewable energy project in the state of Illinois and ninth in the Commonwealth of Virginia.

In Spain, Amazon is pursuing a large-scale solar project southeast of Sevilla. Once complete, the new solar farm will provide 149 megawatts (MW) of new renewable capacity.

To date, Amazon has launched over 70 renewable energy projects that will provide over 1,900 MW of renewable capacity and are projected to deliver more than 5.3 million MWh of renewable energy annually. These projects include 21 utility-scale wind and solar farms and more than 50 solar rooftops installed on fulfillment centers and sort centers around the globe.

“Earlier this year, we announced The Climate Pledge, setting a goal to meet the Paris Agreement 10 years early and be net zero carbon by 2040. We also plan to run on 80% renewable energy by 2024 and 100% renewable energy by 2030,” said Kara Hurst, Director of Sustainability, Amazon. “We’re committed to investing in renewable energy as a critical step toward addressing our carbon footprint globally.”