State of NFV: Telco Cloud Integration

State of NFV Resource Site and Report: https://ngi.how/nfv-20 The cost to operate a network is much higher than the cost to initially deploy a network says Ben Baker, Senior Director, Cloud/SP Marketing at Juniper Networks. Service providers realize they need more agility and speed. Juniper Networks is working with SPs to virtualize service delivery points farther out to the edge while keeping management and control centralized. ...

Read More

Dell'Oro: Demand for 400G switch expected to grow this year

Ethernet Switch Data Center port shipments are forecast to surpass 60 million by 2024, with more than 50 percent of the port shipments will operate at 100 Gbps, 400 Gbps and 800 Gbps - according to a recent report from Dell'Oro Group. “800 Gbps, 400 Gbps, as well as new waves of 100 Gbps will be enabled by faster SerDes technologies and higher speed optics,” said Sameh Boujelbene, Senior Director at Dell’Oro Group. “Optics will continue to play...

Read More

Dell'Oro: 5G backhaul transport equipment sales to hit $3B by 2024

5G mobile backhaul transport equipment revenue will reach $3 billion by 2024. Demand for 5G backhaul is expected to drive multiple years of growth for the total mobile backhaul transport market for the next few years, according to a new report from Dell'Oro Group. “We anticipate the Mobile Backhaul Transport market to return to a period of growth as operators roll out 5G,” said Jimmy Yu, Vice President at Dell’Oro Group. “Hence, we are predicting...

Read More

Spectra7 and Luxshare demo 400G with OSFP Active Copper Cables

Spectra7 Microsystems and Luxshare-ICT demonstrated OSFP format Active Copper Cables (ACCs) using Spectra7 technology in a live demo passing 400Gbps Ethernet traffic generated by a 12.6 Tbps switch. Luxshare-ICT, which offers high performance interconnects and cable assemblies, has chosen Spectra7’s GaugeChanger technology for integration into this new line of OSFP Active Copper Cables. The embedded Spectra7 GC2502 Linear EQ Chips dramatically increase...

Read More

Spectra7 and Molex showcase 400G Active Copper Interconnects

Spectra7 Microsystems and Molex showcased 400 Gbps Active Copper Cables (ACCs) at DesignCon in the Santa Clara, California. Molex recently began shipping its Passive Copper QSFP-DD (Quad Small Form Factor–Double Density) Cable Assemblies in volume production and the same customers are asking for Active Copper versions for longer lengths. "Spectra7 has created a compelling solution to address the dramatically increasing power and cost of data center...

Read More

AWS sales in Q4 reached $9.95 billion, up 34% yoy

Amazon Web Services (AWS) generated revenue of $9.954 billion during Q4 2019, up 34% compared to a year earlier. Operating income for AWS was up 19% year over year, reaching $2.596 billion for the quarter. On an annualized basis, AWS is on a $35 billion run rate and represents 12% of Amazon's overall revenue. Some additional highlights for AWS during Q4: AWS announced several significant new customer commitments and migrations during the...

Read More

CenturyLink wins Social Security Administration WAN contract

CenturyLink was selected by the U.S. Social Security Administration (SSA) as a key provider for its Wide Area Network and related high-speed network services. Under the contract, CenturyLink will provide Ethernet, virtual private network, intrusion prevention and self-healing optical wave ring services with speeds ranging from 100 Mbps to 100 Gbps at each of SSA's more than 1,700 locations in the U.S. and around the world, including data centers,...

Read More

BT provides operational update

As part of its quarterly financial, provided the following operational updates: 5G now live in over 50 locations; EE found to have broadest 5G network by RootMetrics Openreach accelerates FTTP build at c.26k premises passed per week; 2.2m FTTP premises passed to date Openreach awarded two of three lots to provide superfast speeds to Scotland; vast majority of build to be FTTP Consumer fixed ARPC £38.2, down 4% year on year due to decline in voice...

Read More

2020 State of NFV Report and Resource Site

It’s been seven years since a group of telecom service providers launched the initiative that came to be known as NFV. We decided to sit down with 12 service providers from around the world to understand the status of their NFV deployments, the business benefits they have realized, and the challenges they see ahead. In this video, Charlie Ashton, President at 21K Consulting working with AvidThink, talks about some key findings from the carriers...

Read More

Alcatel Submarine Networks develops 3D WSS ROADM

Alcatel Submarine Networks introduced a new 3 Degree WSS ROADM unit designed to reduce the number of fiber pairs in the branch, leading to significant cost savings in subsea networks. The new ASN 3D WSS ROADM provides full WSS device flexibility maintaining East+West connectivity between trunk and branch. This simplifies the topology of complex networks and facilitates the implementation of branches on branches. Key features: Full flexibility...

Read More

Microsoft Azure grew at 62% annual clip in Q4

Revenue for Microsoft Azure rose 62% yoy in the fourth quarter of 2019 compared to a year earlier. Overall, Microsoft reported 4Q19 revenue of $36.9 billion, up 14% yoy.  Operating income was $13.9 billion, up 35% yoy. Net income was $11.6 billion, up 38% GAAP and 36% non-GAAP. “We are innovating across every layer of our differentiated technology stack and leading in key secular areas that are critical to our customers’ success,” said Satya...

Read More

Spectra7 and Molex demo 400G Active Copper Interconnects

Spectra7 Microsystems and Molex are demonstrating 400 Gbps Active Copper Cables (ACCs) at DesignCon in the Santa Clara Convention Center in Santa Clara, California. GaugeChanger is an innovative and disruptive technology that allows copper to extend much longer lengths without the cost and power penalty of optics. It works equally well at 25 Gbps NRZ and 50 Gbps PAM-4 enabling new connector standards of 100, 200 and 400 Gbps. Molex recently began...

Read More

Inphi intros its 2nd gen 112Gbps SerDes in 7nm

Inphi released its second-generation, high performance 112Gbps SerDes IP solution in 7nm. Inphi said its new Capella SerDes IP is designed to ensure high performance across the most demanding environments for network connectivity and data transmission. The announcement builds on Inphi’s track record of having shipped over a million 56Gbps and 112Gbps ports to date. “Delivering the next generation of SerDes IP technology is a significant milestone...

Read More

Luxshare-ICT and Inphi demo 800G OSFP over copper

Luxshare-ICT and Inphi are showcasing 800G OSFP over copper at the DesignCon 2020 at the Santa Clara Convention Center in California. The demonstration shows how Inphi’s new SerDes IP solution, Capella, can robustly drive the 800G Luxshare copper cables with exceptional BER performance. “We are extremely excited in our joint demo with Inphi. The Capella IP can easily drive the passive cable for total channel loss <= 35dB. When we integrate other...

Read More

Alcatel Submarine Networks to link Tokelau atolls

Alcatel Submarine Networks (ASN) will deploy a submarine cable linking the three Tokelau atolls of Atafu, Nukunonu and Fakaofo in the South Pacific. The contract covers an unrepeated (OALC5) 250km-long open cable based on 2 fiber pairs and built by ASN. The cable will provide a connection to the archipelago up to 20 Tbps. This new subsea cable will be interconnected with the Southern Cross NEXT submarine cable, also built and deployed by ASN. The...

Read More

Summary of AT&T results

AT&T reported 4Q2019 revenue of $46.8 billion (~$48.0 billion excluding HBO Max investment) versus $48.0 billion in the year-ago quarter. Net income was $2.4 billion, or $0.33 per diluted common share, versus $4.9 billion, or $0.66 per diluted common share, in the year-ago quarter. AT&T cited growth in domestic wireless services and strategic and managed business services revenues partially offset declines in revenues from domestic video,...

Read More

Saudi Telecom to acquire 55% of Vodafone Egypt for US$2.39 billion

Saudi Telecom Company agreed to acquire Vodafone’s 55% shareholding in Vodafone Egypt for US$2.392 million (SAR 8,970m3). This implies a total enterprise value of US$4.350 billion for Vodafone Egypt. Nasser al Nasser, Chief Executive of stc, said: “The potential acquisition of Vodafone Egypt is in line with our expansion strategy in the MENA region. The transaction, which is still subject to detailed due diligence, confirms stc’s eagerness to maintain...

Read More

SpaceX launches 60 more Starlink satellites

SpaceX successfully launched 60 Starlink satellites aboard a Falcon 9 rocket. This brings the total number of Starlink satellites in orbit to 180. Following the launch, SpaceX recovered the Falcon 9 boost and its fairing. ...

Read More

Mellanox says Infiniband continues strong growth

Mellanox Technologies posted 4Q2019 revenue of $379.8 million, an increase of 30.9 percent, compared to $290.1 million in the fourth quarter of 2018. GAAP gross margins were 66.2 percent in the fourth quarter, compared to 65.4 percent in the fourth quarter of 2018. GAAP net income was $73.9 million in the fourth quarter, compared to $42.8 million in the fourth quarter of 2018. Non-GAAP net income was $129.3 million in the fourth quarter, compared...

Read More

UK allows Huawei in 5G, defying U.S. pressure

The UK will permit Huawei to participate in the rollout of 5G and gigabit-capable networks with certain conditions. The decision defied pressure from the U.S. government to ban Huawei on security grounds. The UK's National Cyber Security Centre (NCSC) has recommended the "high risk vendors" should be: Excluded from all safety related and safety critical networks in Critical National Infrastructure Excluded from security critical ‘core’ functions,...

Read More

Dell’Oro: Optical Transport Market 5-Yr Forecast

Coherent port shipments on DWDM systems are forecast to reach 1.3 million by 2024, according to a recent report from Dell'Oro Group. A major share of these port shipments will operate at 400 Gbps. Additional highlights from the Optical Transport 5-Year Forecast Report: Total Optical Transport market consisting of Multiservice Multiplexers and WDM systems are forecast to reach nearly $18 billion by 2024. Deployment of WDM systems in metro applications...

Read More

Europes's OPENQKD uses ADVA for quantum key distribution

The OPENQKD project, whose mission is to create and trial a secure communication network across Europe based on quantum key distribution (QKD), will leverage ADVA's FSP 3000 and FSP 150 platforms. ADVA will provide optical and Ethernet encryptors as well as open line systems for multiple testbed locations. OPENQKD, which is funded by the European Commission, seeks to accelerate the commercial adoption of QKD technology and to promote interoperability...

Read More

GSMA monitors potential impact of Coronavirus on MWC Barcelona

GSMA is monitoring and assessing the potential impact of the Coronavirus on MWC Barcelona 2020, which will occur 24-27 February 2020. So far, GSMA confirms that there have been no registration impacts on MWC Barcelona and that preparations for the event are continuing. The GSMA will undertake the following measures: Carefully follow and adhere to:  the World Health Organisation’s (WHO) recommendations, all applicable Chinese government recommendations,...

Read More

Apstra adds support for faster data center recovery, SONic

Apstra released a new version of is network operating system for simplifying the management of data center networks. Major enhancements in AOS 3.2 include: an Intent Time Voyager capability to decrease MTTR from network outages. This enables network engineers to recover their entire data center fabric state, configuration, and real time continuous validation to a specific point in time; backward or forward with a few clicks.   Intra...

Read More

Semtech debuts LoRa transceiver for Smart Home IoT sensors

Semtech introduced a transceiver designed for battery-powered LPWAN based smart home, community and consumer applications. The new Semtech LoRa Smart Home transceiver provides low power, broad coverage for indoor and neighborhood area IoT devices connecting to sensors and actuators for safety, environmental and convenience use cases. The company said its design will power sensors with multi-year operation. It features 600nA of sleep current and 4.6...

Read More

ServiceNow to acquire Passage AI

ServiceNow agreed to acquire Passage AI, a start-up based in Mountain View, California, for its conversational AI platform. Financial terms were not disclosed. ServiceNow said the acquisition will enhance its deep learning AI capabilities and accelerate its vision of supporting all major languages across the company’s Now Platform and products, including ServiceNow Virtual Agent, Service Portal, Workspaces and emerging interfaces. “Work flows more...

Read More

Telecom Fiji picks Oracle to modernize customer engagement

Telecom Fiji is working with Oracle Communications to better serve their customers, orchestrate memorable events, and develop new revenue streams. Specifically, Telecom will deploy Oracle Communications Billing and Revenue Management, Oracle Communications Order and Service Management, Oracle Communications Network Charging and Control, Oracle Field Service Cloud, Oracle Live Experience Cloud, and Oracle Marketing Cloud as part of the Oracle Digital...

Read More

DustPhotonics adds to its team

DustPhotonics, a start-up developing optical modules for high-performance data center connectivity, announced the appointment of Anthony Musto as VP of Sales and Marketing, Brian Mulroe as Senior Director of Strategic Business Development, and Yaron Refaely as Vice President of Research & Development. Musto brings 20 years of experience in fiber optics and the broader telecommunications industry. He was a founder and Vice President of Sales...

Read More

SoftBank to offer 128 Technology's SD-WAN

SoftBank will enterprise customers a tunnel-free, managed SD-WAN solution from 128 Technology. The service is being branded as “SD-WAN Type X”. 128 Technology said that by eliminating tunnels, its 128T Networking Platform and Session Smart Router will more effectively route network traffic to better pathways when there is network congestion, increasing both connectivity and bandwidth. Additionally, SoftBank’s “SD-WAN Type X” offering reduces complexity...

Read More

MACOM posts quarterly revenue of $119 million

MACOM Technology Solutions reported quarterly revenue of $119.1 million, a decrease of 21.0% compared to $150.7 million in the previous year fiscal first quarter and an increase of 6.1% compared to $112.2 million in the prior fiscal quarter. Gross margin was 48.9%, compared to 50.8% in the previous year fiscal first quarter and 47.2% in the prior fiscal quarter. Net loss was $28.4 million, or $0.43 loss per diluted share, compared to net loss of...

Read More

FCC opens the 3.5 GHz band for commercial operations (#CBRS)

The FCC certified four Spectrum Access System (SAS) Administrators, paving the way for full commercial operations in the 3.5 GHz band. Specifically, the FCC has certified CommScope, Federated Wireless, Google, and Sony as Spectrum Access System administrators in the 3.55-3.7 GHz band. “The FCC has made it a priority to free up mid-band spectrum for advanced wireless services like 5G.  And today, I’m pleased to announce the latest step to achieve...

Read More

ServiceNow goes industry-specific, including telecom support

ServiceNow is pursuing a new industry solutions strategy, including for telecommunications and banking. ServiceNow said its new telecommunications solution will align customer care and service assurance to transform how communication service providers deliver great customer experiences by proactively anticipating issues and addressing them quickly while maximizing availability and quality of service. The company's new banking solution will simplify...

Read More

Comcast Business acquires Blueface for cloud-based UC

Comcast has acquired Blueface, a developer of unified communications solutions based in Dublin, Ireland. Financial terms were not disclosed. Comcast Business will add Blueface’s proprietary and fully customizable cloud voice unified communications platform to its portfolio of business-grade solutions. “The addition of Blueface’s Unified Communications (UC) solution to the Comcast Business portfolio will provide customers access to industry-leading...

Read More

Juniper posts Q4 sales of $1.208 billion, up 2% YoY

Juniper Networks reported preliminary net revenues of $1,208.1 million for 4Q2019, an increase of 2% year-over-year, and an increase of 7% sequentially. GAAP operating margin was 14.8%, a decrease from 16.7% in the fourth quarter of 2018, and an increase from 12.2% in the third quarter of 2019. GAAP net income was $168.4 million, a decrease of 12% year-over-year, and an increase of 70% sequentially, resulting in diluted earnings per share of $0.49....

Read More

Keysight: more than 600 validated 5G test cases

Keysight Technologies, which was engagements with all four U.S. mobile operators, has now surpassed 600 validated 5G test cases for its 5G network emulation solution suite. Keysight leveraged contributions to 5G NR standards and certification forums such as 3GPP, Global Certification Forum (GCF) and PTCRB, to create a comprehensive range of test cases used by mobile operators and their ecosystem of device makers to ensure new 5G devices operate...

Read More

F5 Networks reports sales of $569 million, up 5% YoY

F5 Networks reported revenue of $569.3 million for the first quarter of its fiscal year 2020, up 5% from $543.8 million in the first quarter of fiscal year 2019, driven by software solutions revenue growth of 50%. GAAP net income for the first quarter of fiscal year 2020 was $98.5 million, or $1.62 per diluted share compared to first quarter fiscal year 2019 GAAP net income of $130.9 million, or $2.16 per diluted share. Non-GAAP net income for...

Read More

Iguazio raises $24M for its data science platform

Iguazio, a start-up based in Herzliya, Israel, raised $24 million in funding for its data science platform for real time machine learning applications. The Iguazio data science platform helps data scientists create real-time AI applications while working within their chosen machine learning stack. The funding was was led by INCapital Ventures, with participation from existing and new investors, including Pitango, Verizon Ventures, Magma Venture...

Read More