Monday, April 6, 2020

Ethernet Technology Consortium focuses on 800G

The 25 Gigabit Ethernet Consortium, originally established to develop 25, 50 and 100 Gbps Ethernet specifications, has changed its name to the Ethernet Technology Consortium in order to reflect a new focus on higher-speed Ethernet technologies, the 800GBASE-R specification for 800 Gigabit Ethernet (GbE).

The 800 GbE specification introduces a new media access control (MAC) and Physical Coding Sublayer (PCS). It essentially re-purposes two sets of the existing 400GbE logic from the IEEE 802.3bs standard with a few modifications in order to distribute the data across eight 106 Gb/s physical lanes. As the PCS is reused, the standard RS(544, 514) forward error correction is retained, for simple compatibility with existing physical layer specifications.

The Ethernet Technology Consortium said its goal is to enhance the Ethernet specification to operate at new speeds by utilizing specifications that are developed or in development. This allows the organization to work alongside other industry groups and standards bodies to adapt Ethernet at a pace that aligns with the rapidly evolving needs of the industry. The ETC has more than 45 members with top-level promoter members that include Arista, Broadcom, Cisco, Dell, Google, Mellanox and Microsoft.

“Ethernet is evolving very quickly and as a group, we felt that having 25G in the name was too constraining for the scope of the consortium,” said Brad Booth, chair of the Ethernet Technology Consortium. “We wanted to open that up so that the industry could have an organization that could enhance Ethernet specifications for new and developing markets.”

“The intent with this work was to repurpose the standard 400GbE logic as much as possible to create an 800 GbE MAC and PCS specification with minimal overhead cost to users implementing multi-rate Ethernet ports,” said Rob Stone, technical working group chair of the Ethernet Technology Consortium. “The 800 GbE specification is an exciting first announcement under the consortium’s new name, reflecting the true capability of the organization. We are proud of the hard work of our member companies in completing this specification.”

https://ethernettechnologyconsortium.org

Low latency spec for 50GbE tweaks forward error correction

The 25 Gigabit Ethernet Consortium has completed a low-latency forward error correction (FEC) specification for 50 Gbps, 100 Gbps and 200 Gbps Ethernet networks.

The new spec cuts FEC latency approximately in half by using a shortened codeword FEC variant – RS (272, 257+1, 7, 10) that replaces the IEEE 802.3cd and 802.3bs standard FEC.  The shortened codeword contains 272 x 10-bit symbols rather than the 544 x 10-bit symbols originally specified. Nothing else changes in the symbol distribution process from the output of the encoder to the FEC lanes in the new FEC, but that process is implemented more quickly due to the shortened codeword.

This will have a significant impact on overall physical layer latency, in particular for hyperscale datacenter networks comprised of a large number of nodes, with multiple hops between servers.

“Five years ago, only HPC developers cared about low latency, but today has latency sensitivity has come to many more mainstream applications,” said Rob Stone, technical working group chair of the 25G Ethernet Consortium. “With this new specification, the consortium is improving the single largest source of packet processing latency, which improves the performance that high-speed Ethernet brings to these applications.”

The specification is available at https://25gethernet.org/ll-fec-specification

MaxLinear to acquire Intel’s Home Gateway Platform Division

MaxLinear agreed to acquire Intel’s Home Gateway Platform Division assets in an all-cash, asset transaction valued at $150 million. The Home Gateway Platform Division comprises Wi-Fi Access Points, Ethernet and Home Gateway SoC products deployed across operator and retail markets.

MaxLinear said the acquisition will complement its existing portfolio, bringing together a complete and scalable platform of connectivity and access solutions for its customers across target end-markets, as well as creating potential new revenue opportunities in adjacent target end-markets.

MaxLinear expects initially to add approximately $60 million to $70 million in quarterly revenue, and the acquisition is expected to be accretive to MaxLinear’s non-GAAP earnings, in the first full quarter post close.

“MaxLinear is excited by the strong potential for growth and the ability to enhance our value proposition to our existing customers with the addition of the Intel Home Gateway Platform Division, which includes its Wi-Fi Access Point assets, Ethernet, and Home Gateway SoC products,” said Kishore Seendripu, Ph.D., Chairman and CEO of MaxLinear. “These assets add significant scale to our entire business while enabling us to provide a compelling WiFi product offering with tremendous growth opportunities inside and outside of the Connected Home, including expanding the portfolio to include IoT solutions. We are excited to welcome a world class engineering team with best in class technology competency that will greatly expand MaxLinear’s significant analog/RF mixed-signal portfolio with large scale SoC product capabilities, software expertise, and comprehensive networking competencies spanning our target markets.”

“Intel and MaxLinear have a strong track record of collaboration to deliver gateway platforms for the home, and I’m confident this will be a seamless transition for our mutual customers and employees,” said Weng Kuan Tan, general manager of the Home Gateway Platform Division and corporate Vice President of the Client Computing Group at Intel. “It will also allow Intel’s Client Computing Group to focus on our vision of delivering PC platforms that power every person’s greatest contribution while having no impact on Intel’s Internet of Things Group or Intel’s Network Platform Group.”

Cisco to acquire Fluidmesh for wireless backhaul

Cisco agreed to acquire Fluidmesh Networks, a start-up offering wireless backhaul systems. Financial terms were not disclosed.

Fluidmesh’s technology is designed to provide zero loss of data transfer when assets such as trains and subways are moving at high rates of speed. Fluidmesh's outdoor wireless solutions support Point-to-Point, Point-to-Multipoint, Mesh, and Mixed architectures with the same hardware.


Cisco said the acquisition will accelerate its Industrial IoT business and broaden its reach to key partners and end users.

“Cisco provides one of the most secure and reliable networking technologies on the market today,” said Liz Centoni, senior vice president and general manager for Cloud, Compute, and IoT businesses. “With wireless technology playing a greater role in every organization’s multi-access IoT strategy, reliable wireless connectivity is paramount to organizations operating Industrial IoT environments, whether that’s manufacturing, mining, rail, or ports, where wireless technology automates operations to improve safety and lower costs. The acquisition of Fluidmesh strengthens Cisco’s offerings in this space with leading technology that’s designed to provide zero loss of data transfer at speeds in excess of 300 Km/h.”

http://newsroom.cisco.com/

  • Fluidmesh Networks is based in Brooklyn, New York with European headquarters in Milano, Italy. The company was founded in 2005.

BT confirms no layoffs or furloughs due to coronavirus

BT reported that its fixed broadband network – the UK's communications backbone, and EE – its number one mobile network, are both performing strongly.

  • BT announced a raft of measures in response to the COVID-19 emergency. These include:
  • Prioritising support for critical services, specifically the NHS, from connecting the new Nightingale Hospitals, to innovating to allow isolated patients to speak with their loved ones. 
  • A commitment that, whilst ongoing transformation programmes will continue, no employee will lose their job in the foreseeable future – at least the next three months – as a direct result of changing trading conditions brought about by coronavirus. 
  • Throughout the same period, BT will continue to pay all employees’ salaries in full and – in line with its commitment to maximise support to the UK’s national effort – will not put any staff on publicly-funded ‘furlough’. 
  • BT will offer an annual pay increase of 1.5% effective from 1 July 2020 to its team members (non-managerial staff) in the UK.
  • BT has decided not to make an annual pay increase to its managers in 2020/21.
  • BT also reconfirms its previous commitment to make an award of £500 worth of BT of shares to all employees in June. The ‘yourshare’ scheme amounts to around a £50m investment this year in making all BT Group colleagues shareholders in the company.
  • BT Chief Executive Philip Jansen has decided that, for at least the next six months, whilst the business works through the crisis, he will donate his salary to the NHS Charities Together Covid-19 appeal and to affected small businesses in his local community.

Philip Jansen said: “BT is stepping up, standing by the country in this time of need and standing by our people who are working tirelessly to keep everyone connected, safe and working. I have been extremely proud of the commitment shown by BT colleagues to support our customers in the last few weeks and want to recognise that. This is an unprecedented situation and I want to give our people some certainty about the months ahead. This period requires sacrifices from us all, and I want our people to know we are all in this together.”

https://newsroom.bt.com/bt---standing-by-the-country-standing-by-our-people/

Myriota raises $19M for satellite IoT

Myriota, a start-up based in Adelaide, Australia, announced  US$19.3 million in Series B funding for its low-cost and low-power satellite connectivity for the Internet of Things (IoT).

Myriota has pioneered a new way to retrieve data from anywhere on Earth through the connectivity between its constellation of satellites and low-power IoT modules. The company said its technology will revolutionize the way companies share information across multiple industries, such as agriculture, defense, mining, transport & logistics, and more.

The new funding round was led by Hostplus and Main Sequence Ventures. Additional investors include In-Q-Tel, Inc., Right Click Capital, Singtel Innov8, Boeing HorizonX, South Australian Venture Capital Fund, and Malcolm Turnbull – the former Australian Prime Minister who led the government that established the Australian space agency in 2017. This latest round of funding brings Myriota’s total funding to more than US$37 million.

“This is a critical time for IoT. Presently, 90 percent of the earth’s surface lacks connectivity. At Myriota, we’ve been focused on filling that gap and overcoming constraints in existing infrastructure. With this new round of funding, we’ll continue to grow our network of satellites to deliver on an affordable, environmentally friendly, and powerful solution to make data accessible for our global customer base,” said Alex Grant, Co-founder and CEO, Myriota.

"Myriota is a leader and innovator in low cost, low power IoT. They have paved the way in bringing products to market for global and local applications, both here in Australia's flourishing space sector and across the world. Myriota’s growth plans will only strengthen its ability to provide industry-leading connectivity across its network of international partners,” said Malcolm Turnbull, 29th Prime Minister of Australia.

https://myriota.com

Rakuten joins Cloud Native Computing Foundation

Rakuten has joined the Cloud Native Computing Foundation (CNCF) as a silver member.

“Container technologies will play a pivotal role in the 5G-ready architecture of our new mobile network and other group systems,” said Dr. Ashiq Khan, Executive Officer and head of cloud infrastructure engineering and operations, Rakuten Mobile. “We are delighted to join the Linux Foundation and CNCF and with our development and operational know-how, we hope to enrich the CNCF and its innovative community by not being only a consumer but also an active contributor.”

“CNCF is excited to have Rakuten join as a silver member,” said Dan Kohn, executive director of the Cloud Native Computing Foundation. “We look forward to Rakuten's participation in the community and their contribution to the growth and development of cloud native technologies.”

Separately, Rakuten Mobile is using drones to conduct inspections of base stations for its mobile network.

Red Hat appoints Paul Cormier as CEO

Red Hat, which is a subsidiary of IBM,  named Paul Cormier as president and chief executive officer, replacing Jim Whitehurst, who is now president of IBM.

Cormier previously served as Red Hat’s president of Products and Technologies. He is credited with pioneering the subscription model that transformed Red Hat from an open source disruptor to an enterprise technology mainstay, moving Red Hat Linux from a freely downloadable operating system to Red Hat Enterprise Linux, which now powers more than 90% of Fortune 500 organizations. Cormier has driven more than 25 acquisitions at Red Hat.

In addition to his new role as president of IBM, Whitehurst becomes chairman of Red Hat, succeeding Arvind Krishna, who is now CEO of IBM.

GTT names new CFO

GTT Communications named Steven Berns as its new Chief Financial Officer. Prior to joining GTT, he served as Co-Chief Operating Officer and Chief Financial Officer at Shutterstock, a leading global technology company.

“Steven has a distinguished track record leading finance organizations in several mid- to large-size public companies,” stated Rick Calder, GTT President and CEO. “He will add seasoned executive leadership towards the achievement of GTT’s organic revenue growth and operational excellence objectives as we deliver on our purpose, connecting people around the world and to every application in the cloud. With the appointment of Steven, we would like to thank Dan Fraser for his dedicated service as Interim Chief Financial Officer. Dan will continue to serve as Senior Vice President, Finance, and Controller.”

GTT's revenue dips to $420 million, considers sale of European assets

GTT Communications reported revenue of $420.0 million for the quarter ended September 30, 2019, a decline of 6.4% compared to 3Q18, and a decline of 3.2% compared to 2Q19. The sequential revenue decline of 3.2% was attributable to a 0.9% decline in monthly recurring cash revenue, a 0.8% decline from foreign currency, a 0.7% decline in non-recurring and other revenue, a 0.6% decline in the runoff of non-cash deferred revenue, and a 0.2% increase in revenue credits.

Net loss for the quarter was $26.2 million compared to net loss of $23.4 million in 3Q18 and net loss of $33.3 million in 2Q19.

Net install trends improved sequentially over the course of the quarter and net installs were positive in October.

GTT also announced an expansion of its non-strategic and non-core asset divestiture exploratory process to include its pan-European fiber assets, subsea transatlantic fiber and data center infrastructure, which the company acquired as part of the Interoute and Hibernia acquisitions.

MaxLinear trims Q1 revenue guidance

MaxLinear now expects preliminary total revenue of approximately $61.75 million to $62.25 million in Q1 2020. This compares with revenue guidance provided on February 5, 2020 in the range of $65 million to $70 million. The company cited industrywide dynamics related to the novel coronavirus (COVID-19), including supply constraints early in the quarter, and certain customer push-out requests.

http://www.maxlinear.com