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...

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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...

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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...

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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....

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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...

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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...

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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...

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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...

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