MPLS SDN NFV World : Announcing the Programme

The 22nd Edition of the MPLS + SDN + NFV World Congress will take place from 31st March to 3rd April 2020. Here is a summary of the programme.

 AI and 5G Impact for Networks: Status & Perspectives 

The 2020 agenda covers (1) the impact of AI and 5G on IP/MPLS networks; (2) whether SD-WAN and MPLS are complementary technologies; (3) current encoding options for SR; (4) the impact of 5G and IoT on IP networks; (6) how far disaggregation must go; (7) AIOps: evolution or revolution?

The 1st plenary session will be shared with the Third Edition of the AI Net conference. 

The Sessions: Disaggregation, Service Assurance, AI, Segment Routing, SD-WAN, 5G Architectures, Network Slicing, Automation 

Track 1 of the conference covers in detail the recent evolutions and perspectives of Segment Routing. Also addressed: the SD-WAN phenomenon and the global path to its deployment at scale, including Automation aspects. 

Track 2 addresses 5G and its impact on the connectivity network as well as Network Slicing challenges, NFV and IP/Optical integration. 

Track 3 explores AI/ML potential for network operations, Reinforcement Learning and Self Healing Networks. 

A Strong Presence of Service Providers and OTTs 

As in previous years, the agenda benefits from numerous contributions from SPs and OTTs. 

Verizon, Orange, Telefonica, BT, Vodafone, Deutsche Telekom, Telia, Turk Telekom, SFR, Telecom Argentina, China Mobile, Colt, Line Corporation, Charter, Brazilian National Research Network will describe their current deployments and explain their expectations.

https://www.uppersideconferences.com/mpls-sdn-nfv/

Read More

Veeam to be acquired for $5 billion - cloud back-up solutions

Insight Partners agreed to acquire Veeam Software in a deal valued at approximately $5 billion. Financial details were not disclosed.

Veeam Software offers backup solutions that deliver Cloud Data Management. The company, which was founded in 2006 and currently is headquartered in Switzerland, has estimated 2019 revenues of US$1 billion. Veeam has approximately 4,000 employees.

Under the ownership of Insight Partners, Veeam will become a U.S. company, with a U.S.-based leadership team, while continuing its global expansion from offices in 30 countries and with customers in over 160 countries.  Veeam co-founders, Ratmir Timashev and Andrei Baronov, will be stepping down as members of the Board of Directors at the close of the transaction and will not be employed by the company, although they will continue as consultants. Bill Largent will assume the role Chief Executive Officer (CEO) in addition to his position as Chairman of the Board of Directors.  In addition, Jim Kruger has been promoted to Chief Marketing Officer (CMO) and Danny Allan promoted to Chief Technology Officer (CTO) & Senior Vice President (SVP) of Product Strategy.

https://www.veeam.com/

Read More

Wayfair extends its e-commerce platform on Google Cloud

Wayfair, an $8 billion e-commerce company that sells furniture and home-goods, has selected Google Cloud as the foundation for its new hybrid cloud strategy.

Wayfair is partnering with Google Cloud to handle the burst capacity needed to successfully run Way Day—the company's annual furniture and home decor sale that brings in thousands of new customers and involves millions of transactions. Wayfair now uses several different Google Cloud solutions—including compute, storage, and networking, data and analytics, and G Suite productivity tools—to enhance a shopping experience that delights customers from product discovery to final delivery.

"As an e-commerce leader, Wayfair has always been committed to improving the shopping experience with cutting-edge technologies, and that's why we partnered with an innovator in the retail technology space like Google Cloud," said Steve Crusenberry, vice president, infrastructure and platform engineering, Wayfair. "Google won us over with the speed, reliability and performance of their technology, but more importantly, their team's willingness to work side-by-side with us at every level to solve our trickiest scaling challenges."

"Retailers face urgent challenges whether it's the need to reach consumers on new channels, integrate disparate systems, or build entirely new revenue streams based on new technology tools like AI and ML," said Carrie Tharp, Vice President, Retail at Google Cloud. "We're proud to partner with Wayfair, one of the fastest-moving and most innovative retailers in the world, on their technology transformation journey."

Read More

American Tower pursues infrastructure in Ghana and Uganda

by Benedict Chua, Assistant Editor

American Tower has reached an agreement to acquire with MTN Group's minority stakes in joint ventures in Ghana and Uganda for total consideration of approximately $523 million. The transaction is expected to close in the first quarter of 2020, subject to regulatory approval, and will result in a one-time impact for American Tower of approximately $65 million in 2020 from the payment of previously deferred cash interest related to joint venture debt.

In addition, American Tower recently closed its previously announced acquisition of Eaton Towers, adding approximately 5,700 communications sites to its African portfolio. Total consideration for the acquisition, subject to certain post-closing adjustments, was approximately $1.85 billion.

American Tower to acquire 5,500 sites in five African markets

Thursday, May 30, 2019  American Tower, Mergers And Acquisitions  

American Tower agreed to acquire Eaton Towers, which owns and operates approximately 5,500 communications sites across five African markets, for approximately $1.85 billion. American Tower expects to accelerate new build activity across the region due to expanded relationships with multiple key tenants.

The Eaton towers are located in Ghana, Uganda, Kenya, Burkina Faso and Niger. Eaton Towers was co-founded in 2009 by Terry Rhodes, CEO. Alongside the majority shareholder, Capital International, investors include Development Partners International, Ethos and Standard Chartered.

American Tower said the Eaton assets are expected to generate approximately $260 million in property revenue and approximately $165 million in gross margin, at current exchange rates, in their first full year in American Tower’s portfolio.

Jim Taiclet, American Tower’s Chief Executive Officer stated, “This transaction will significantly augment our existing footprint in Africa and positions ATC to take even better advantage of the growth opportunity in the region as 4G mobile data technology is deployed to serve millions of Africans over the coming years.”

http://www.americantower.com

• American Tower's global portfolio includes more than 177,000 sites.

Read More

Alitheon raises $14.9 million for machine vision software

Alitheon, a start-up based in Bellevue, Washington, closed $14.9 million in venture capital financing for its machine vision software.

Alitheon's FeaturePrint technology transforms how objects, components and finished products are authenticated, tracked and traced across supply chains and distribution systems throughout the world. Once registered by Alitheon's optical artificial intelligence system, any individual item can be subsequently identified wherever it exists to verify authenticity, determine place and time of origin, detect signs of tampering, measure wear and identify grey market and counterfeit products including unauthorized "over runs" and previously rejected products. Unauthorized and counterfeit items cost legitimate manufacturers more than a trillion dollars and claim as many as a million lives a year.

Participants in the round include BMW i Ventures, IPD Capital and Shasta Ventures alongside current and former senior management from Accenture, Boeing and Fidelity.

https://www.alitheon.com

Read More