Facebook to build its next data center in DeKalb, Illinois

Facebook unveiled plans to build a data center in DeKalb, Illinois, approximately 55 miles west of downtown Chicago.

The 907,000-square-foot, LEED Gold facility will be powered entirely by renewable energy. Facebook estimates its investment in the facility at $800 million.

Mortenson Construction was selected as the general contractor.

The DeKalb facility will be its 12th in the United States.

“There are many variables that enter into the decision process for data center locations, and DeKalb provided many compelling reasons for Facebook to bring our newest data center to Illinois,” said Rachel Peterson, Vice President of Data Center Strategy for Facebook.

https://www.facebook.com/watch/DeKalbDataCenter/

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Zayo adds U.S. wavelength routes

Zayo announced four new long-haul optical wavelength routes in the U.S:

• Miami to New Orleans features a high-capacity DWDM network, an architecture used to increase bandwidth. This route, which provides a diverse route out of Miami, provides an option for Latin American carriers that require backhaul from cable landing stations in the area. With completion expected in the third calendar quarter, the route will expand Zayo’s growing presence in Florida. The company is currently constructing 2,300 miles of high-fiber count network in Tampa and Orlando.
• Dallas to Atlanta to Washington DC and Ashburn, Virginia is scheduled to be completed soon. Driven by demand from customers that need coast-to-coast capacity, this is a new C+L Band Flex Grid DWDM network. The technology enables much better use of available spectrum, providing more capacity than traditional C-band only systems.
• Chicago to Toronto will create a diverse route from the Chicago Mercantile Exchange to the Toronto Stock Exchange, even faster than Zayo’s existing market leading route. The high-capacity Flex Grid DWDM network will connect Lansing and Grand Rapids to Zayo’s North American Waves Network.
• Seattle to the Bay Area has been driven by strong customer demand for a high capacity network between these two important West Coast markets. The C+L Band Flex Grid DWDM network connects to the cable landing stations in Portland / Hillsboro, providing trans-Pacific carriers with backhaul. The route also connects to key data centers located in Oregon and California.

“These strategic routes will provide dedicated, high-capacity connectivity to meet the bandwidth needs of customers in commercial, financial and tech sectors,” said Annette Murphy, executive vice president of Lit Solutions. “Our owned infrastructure and range of flexible solutions position Zayo to be the provider of choice for wavelengths.”

https://investors.zayo.com/news-and-events/press-releases/press-release-details/2020/Zayo-Expands-Wavelength-Networks-Between-Strategic-Markets/default.aspx

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Telma Madagascar switches on 5G

Telma Madagascar activated its 5G commercial network in multiple cities across the nation.

Telma activated the 5G network on 3.6-3.7 GHz mid-band using the latest radio access and transport products from the Ericsson Radio System portfolio. Two key 5G use cases for the Madagascar market are enhanced mobile broadband (eMBB) and Fixed Wireless Access (FWA).

Patrick Pisal Hamida, CEO, Telma Madagascar, says: “5G will transform how we use and adopt technology and will have a huge impact on businesses and society in Madagascar. It will bring high speed, ultra-low latency and highly secure connectivity to a massive number of devices and is a technology that will unlock a vast array of new use cases through Telma’s next-generation network. We are very proud to be among the first countries in the world to roll out this technology. It’s a new step ahead for Madagascar as one of the leading ICT countries in the Indian Ocean and Africa.” 

Fadi Pharaon, President of Ericsson Middle East and Africa, says: “Today’s announcement marks an important milestone in our long-standing partnership with Telma, as we launch the first 5G network in Madagascar. 5G will accelerate the digital transformation of all society sectors as well as industries in the country, enabling new opportunities and applications in areas such as healthcare, education, energy services and agriculture. We look forward to driving joint innovations with Telma, bringing our industry-leading technology in support of Madagascar’s connectivity vision and our commitment to Africa.”

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Ericsson debuts AIR (antenna-integrated radio) for mid-band 5G

Ericsson introduced two new antenna-integrated radio (AIR) solutions to help communications service providers to deploy mid-band 5G networks faster and on a wider scale without adding to their site footprint.

The new Hybrid AIR and Interleaved AIR additions to the Ericsson Radio System portfolio address physical space restrictions at some base station sites.

Per Narvinger, Head of Product Area Networks, Ericsson, says: “It’s a footprint issue. At some network sites, size literally is everything. Communications service providers globally often have limited possibilities to increase the space occupied by network equipment. They need solutions that fit in existing sites and still provide great performance. With the Hybrid AIR and Interleaved AIR solutions, we can help our customers to quickly deliver the benefits of 5G Massive MIMO to more end users. This launch also shows the effectiveness of fully integrated Kathrein Mobile Communication products in our Ericsson Radio System.”

The new Hybrid AIR and Interleaved AIR combine antenna-integrated radios and multiband passive antenna technology in one enclosure. Ericsson calculates that an upgrade to Hybrid AIR or Interleaved AIR with Massive MIMO can result in up to seven times greater mobile broadband capacity than currently available from existing multiband antennas. The capacity gains come from improved Frequency Division Duplex (FDD) spectral efficiencies, new FDD bands and added Massive MIMO mid-bands. The new AIR solutions also boost 4G capacity.

Swisscom and the Vodafone Group have been working with Ericsson on these solutions.

Daniel Staub, Head of Mobile at Swisscom, says: “At Swisscom, we have rolled out 5G technology nationwide as the first provider in Europe. We reached 90 per cent population coverage at the end of 2019 already. Close collaboration with Ericsson and deploying the Hybrid AIR helped us to reach that goal. We are now delivering wide mid-band capacity, while reusing established sites and minimizing additional footprint. We continue to work and innovate to bring the best end-user experience to our 5G subscribers.”

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IP Infusion releases Virtual SD-Edge for Cloud-based Secure Routing

IP Infusion announced the general availability of its Virtual SD-Edge router in the Azure Marketplace and as a VM image for private cloud or x86 based virtual environments. It will soon be on Amazon Web Services (AWS).

The Virtual SD-Edge router securely extends WAN connectivity into hybrid cloud environments for Enterprises and MSPs. It supports enterprise class networking features such as routing, VPN, firewall, NAT and QoS in a comprehensive package. Virtual SD-Edge provides carrier class routing and enables multiple use cases, including cloud migration, branch to cloud as well as multi-site, multi-cloud connectivity.

IP Infusion said its Virtual SD-Edge is based on DANOS-Vyatta edition (DVe), which is widely deployed across multiple, white box use cases in AT&T’s production network as well as other service provider networks. DVe is built on DANOS, the first open source, carrier-targeted network operating system (NOS) project hosted by the Linux Foundation, and offers industry-leading control plane features and a more complete data plane integration for switching silicon. DANOS is available on GitHub to facilitate evaluations and Proof of Concepts of disaggregation for VNFs and applications.

“To reduce costs and become more agile, large and small businesses are rapidly migrating to the cloud and require enterprise-class cloud connectivity. Our Virtual SD-Edge is optimized for streamlined packet processing and virtualized resource utilization,” said Atsushi Ogata, President and CEO, IP Infusion. “The combination of a compact footprint, ability to drive 10 Gbps+ throughput per Physical Core and advanced control plane enable a broad range of virtual and cloud networking use cases.”

http://www.IPInfusion.com/VirtualSD-Edge
https://www.danosproject.org

IP Infusion's new Open SD-Edge enables uCPE based on DANOS

Wednesday, May 20, 2020  DANOS, IP Infusion, Linux Foundation, UCPE  

IP Infusion introduced its Open SD-Edge platform for universal Customer Premise Equipment (uCPE) based on DANOS-Vyatta edition software, which is widely deployed at scale for multiple, white box use cases in AT&T’s production network.

DANOS is a carrier-targeted network operating system (NOS) project hosted by the Linux Foundation. By pre-integrating with the FRR (FRRouting) and DPDK (Data Plane Development Kit) projects, DANOS facilitates evaluations and Proof of Concepts for VNFs and applications.

IP Infusion said its Open SD-Edge platform supports a range of uCPE use cases and delivers a platform for operational simplicity, agile deployment of virtualized services and lower CAPEX, leading to reduced total cost of ownership. It includes white box hardware, DANOS-Vyatta edition, and hosts third-party Virtualized Network Functions (VNFs) for SD-WAN, routing, VPN, and firewall support for VNFs on a general-purpose appliance. This eliminates the need for stacks of proprietary equipment and software that require specialized IT skills to install, configure, and maintain.

“As a leader in disaggregated networking, IP Infusion’s Open SD-Edge platform allows our customers a streamlined path to migrate to Software-Defined services, simplify network infrastructure and management, while future-proofing their networks as their business needs evolve,” said Atsushi Ogata, President and CEO, IP Infusion. “Today’s agile businesses require support at lightning speeds. With industry standard hardware infused with open source software, and virtualized technology, our customers can realize unprecedented agility and automation at a lowest cost per bit.”

Under an agreement with AT&T, IP Infusion is the value-added integrator of DANOS-Vyatta edition and has the rights to sell DANOS-Vyatta edition as a commercial solution and provide ongoing support for carrier customers who need additional integration expertise. It also allows provides the flexibility for users to choose from multiple hardware vendors.

DANOS-Vyatta edition now covers cell site router (CSR) and uCPE applications in a common platform for both wide area and local area networking. The three new Open SD-Edge use cases planned for delivery in 2020 are:

• Virtual SD-Edge – General availability in Q2’20 - available in virtual form-factor to securely extend VPN to the public or private cloud and deliver scalable WAN, Security and CG-NAT functions.
• Branch SD-Edge – General availability in Q3’20 - available in a white-box or virtual form-factor for securely interconnecting branch offices and migrating workloads to the cloud.
• Universal SD-Edge – General availability in Q4’20 - cloud managed uCPE for enterprise/branch connectivity including security, SD-WAN and WAN optimization use cases, with the flexibility to add VNF services from third parties.

The Cloud Services Router and uCPE solutions are now available for demonstration in the Azure cloud marketplace and as a VNF (VM) for server environments.

http://www.IPInfusion.com/uCPE

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DISH picks Fujitsu for 5G radio units and Altiostar for virtualized RAN

DISH confirmed a large purchase of 5G radio units (RUs) from Fujitsu and a multi-year agreement with Altiostar to deliver a cloud-native Open vRAN software solution.

DISH, which is committed to use O-RAN architecture in its 5G network, will be utilizing Fujitsu's Low Band Tri-Band RU and Mid Band Dual-Band RU, both industry firsts for O-RAN radios, across the company's spectrum portfolio. In addition to radio units, Fujitsu will provide support through its integrated supply chain to deliver best-in-class radio and antenna integration. Additionally, Fujitsu will manage DU/RU hardware validation between vendors, including Altiostar and Mavenir, which are delivering cloud-native 5G radio software to DISH.

In addition, Altiostar's software solution, DISH will be able to dynamically scale its network depending on the type of applications and services being deployed. The openness, modularity, agility and scalability provided by Altiostar will enable DISH to quickly deploy new 5G services for consumers and businesses.

"By using open architecture to build the first standalone 5G network in the U.S., we are able to work with the best vendors from across the supply chain to effectively serve multiple segments, including consumers, enterprises and emerging 5G vertical markets," said Marc Rouanne, DISH Executive Vice President and Chief Network Officer. 

"As the leading radio access network manufacturer in Japan, Fujitsu is honored to bring our wireless expertise to DISH and the North American market," said Shingo Mizuno, EVP, Vice Head of System Platform Business at Fujitsu Limited. "Our proven radio technology, backed by O-RAN principles of openness and intelligence, equal a best-in-class solution for DISH, enabling them to deliver a superior experience to their customers."

"Altiostar is excited to partner with DISH and execute on their vision to build the first cloud-native, O-RAN 5G network in the U.S.," said Ashraf Dahod, CEO of Altiostar Networks. "As a U.S. company, we are proud to contribute our leading open vRAN technology innovation to DISH, and work with the fast growing O-RAN ecosystem to accelerate 5G leadership in the U.S."

DISH to deploy Mavenir for Cloud-native Open RAN

Sunday, April 26, 2020  Dish, Mavenir  

Mavenir confirmed that it has been awarded a multi-year agreement by DISH Network to supply its cloud-native OpenRAN software. Financial terms were not disclosed.

“The open and intelligent architecture of our greenfield network will give us the ability to source a diverse technology ecosystem, including U.S.-based solution providers,” said Marc Rouanne, DISH’s Chief Network Officer. “Mavenir will help us lay the foundation for an innovative software-defined network with the flexibility, intelligence and scalability to deliver applications that will redefine the U.S. wireless industry.”

“We are honored to be partnering with DISH Network and being recognized for our innovation and leadership in developing and delivering innovative solutions,” said Pardeep Kohli, President and CEO of Mavenir. “Working with DISH, we will be supporting the deployment of the world’s largest cloud-native OpenRAN 5G network.”

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FCC designates Huawei and ZTE as National Security Threats

The FCC officially designated Huawei and ZTE, as well as their parents, affiliates, and subsidiaries, as national security threats.

As a result of the designation, money from the FCC’s $8.3 billion a year Universal Service Fund may no longer be used to purchase, obtain, maintain, improve, modify, or otherwise support any equipment or services produced or provided by either company. 

“With today’s Orders, and based on the overwhelming weight of evidence, the Bureau has designated Huawei and ZTE as national security risks to America’s communications networks—and to our 5G future,” said FCC Chairman Ajit Pai.  “Both companies have close ties to the Chinese Communist Party and China’s military apparatus, and both companies are broadly subject to Chinese law obligating them to cooperate with the country’s intelligence services.  The Bureau also took into account the findings and actions of Congress, the Executive Branch, the intelligence community, our allies, and communications service providers in other countries.  We cannot and will not allow the Chinese Communist Party to exploit network vulnerabilities and compromise our critical communications infrastructure.  Today’s action will also protect the FCC’s Universal Service Fund—money that comes from fees paid by American consumers and businesses on their phone bills—from being used to underwrite these suppliers, which threaten our national security.”

• In November 2019, the FCC unanimously adopted a ban on the use of universal service support to purchase, obtain, or maintain any equipment or services produced or provided by companies posing a national security threat to the integrity of communications networks or the communications supply chain.  

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Rural Cloud Initiative looks to Edge opportunities

The Rural Cloud Initiative (RCI), which is a coalition of network and edge innovation partners backed by Trilogy Networks, is aiming to deploy a unified, distributed cloud covering an area of 1.5 million square miles of rural America.

Trilogy Networks and other RCI partners have built a Digital Transformation Showcase at the New Continuum West Chicago NAP data center in Chicago to demonstrate Internet offload, rich media streaming, AI-based network capacity planning, and AI-based video analytics.

RCI has also launched the first phase of its "Farm of the Future" series at Hurst Greenery in Westboro, MO. Here the idea is to use distributed cloud edge capabilities to facilitate and unlock the value of precision agriculture.

“The proliferation of smart technology has sparked America’s fourth Industrial Revolution, with a massive impact on the opportunity to drive enhanced productivity and increased security. The rural market is rife with IoT devices critical to industries like agriculture and the digital oilfield,” said George Woodward, CEO of Trilogy Networks. “Supporting this transformation will require the deployment of connected devices at the network edge that will enable new business models for both network operators and rural industries. While others are talking about it - Trilogy and our RCI partners are proving that both the technology and business value of edge solutions is provable, scalable and repeatable across a number of use cases and vertical applications.”

“Automating energy, water and yield management with such transformative technologies are critical for family farms to protect future agriculture production,” said Blake Hurst, owner of Hurst Greenery, as well as President of the Missouri Farm Bureau and Vice-Chair of the FCC Precision Connectivity Working Group. “As this network scales it will be able to address the needs of the 2,300 farms in this coverage area.”

http://www.ruralcloud.com

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