Sunday, July 12, 2020

Orange tests Nokia's 5th gen Photonic Service Engine

Orange completed a series of optical transmission tests on its pan-European backbone using Nokia's 5th generation Photonic Service Engine (PSE-V) chipsets.

The live transmission tests, which were completed over three weeks in June, ran alongside live commercial traffic on the Orange International Networks Infrastructures and Services pan-European backbone. The tests were conducted from Paris’s network node to 15 Points of Presence (PoPs) creating 400Gbps services with reaches up to 3400km, enabling non-stop transmission from Paris to anywhere in Europe and beyond. In addition, bitrates up to 600Gbps with spectral efficiency of more than 6 Gbits/s/GHz have been implemented over paths longer than 1000km.

Orange said the testing opens new possibilities to interconnect European data center hubs as well as integrating them into new generation global submarine systems.

Jean-Luc Vuillemin, Executive Vice President Orange International Networks Infrastructures and Services commented: “At OINIS, we continuously benchmark our vendors’ technology advances in real-life scenarios to make sure every new development can consistently translate into tangible benefits for our customers. 5th generation chipsets seem promising as another step towards a more efficient, cost effective and environmentally sustainable network, which combined with submarine networks truly connects the whole world.”

Sam Bucci, Senior Vice President & General Manager, Optical Networks at Nokia, said: “We are delighted to showcase and field-proof the breakthroughs of our new generation chipsetand its improved probabilistic algorithms (PCS 2.0) over the network of OINIS. These tests validate our strategy to optimize around the best tradeoff between spectral efficiency, reach, power consumption and overall cost, which today means making 400G Ultra Long Haul and 600G regional a reality”.

https://www.orange.com/en/Press-Room/press-releases/press-releases-2020/Orange-and-Nokia-report-the-first-successful-trial-of-5th-generation-optical-technology-over-a-live-pan-European-network

Nokia debuts WaveFabric Elements: photonic chips, devices, subsystems

Nokia unveiled its WaveFabric Elements portfolio of photonic chips, devices and subsystems, including its fifth generation coherent digital signal processor family, the Photonic Service Engine V (PSE-V).
The company said its WaveFabric Elements address the demanding power, performance, and cost-per-bit requirements of 400G networking across data center, metro, core and subsea applications.

Nokia’s WaveFabric Elements portfolio combines digital signal processing (DSP) and optics technologies focused on emerging end-to-end 400G applications. The new, fifth generation coherent DSP family consists of multiple designs optimized for different optical networking applications, form factors, and platforms. These include:

  • PSE-Vs (super coherent), which can run up to 90 Gbaud and employ the second generation of Nokia Bell Labs-pioneered probabilistic constellation shaping (PCS). PSE-Vs are capable of transporting up to 800G, while providing 60% greater reach, 40% lower power per bit, and 15% greater spectral efficiency than previous DSP generations. 
  • PSE-Vc (compact), which enables programmable capacity from 100G to 400G with metro to long haul capability. Its extremely low power enables integration into a variety of pluggable transceiver modules.

The new DSPs are complemented by the CSTAR portfolio of coherent optical modules from its recent acquisition of Elenion Technologies. CSTAR leverages state-of-the-art silicon photonics and packaging technology, and addresses applications, including intra-data center, metro DCI and long-reach optical transport. In addition to pairing them with the new PSE-V DSPs within Nokia platforms, the company will sell them independently to industry partners for integration into pluggable transceiver modules available to the broader market.

The CSTAR family of optical engines is currently shipping to customers. PSE-V-based platforms and pluggables will be available beginning in Q4 2020.

Sam Bucci, Head of Optical Networks at Nokia, said: "Networks are truly at an inflection point, and 400G will be a catalyst for a significant transformation. With our WaveFabric Elements portfolio, Nokia is committed to supplying the 400G optical ecosystem with components, subsystems and design services, as well as continuing to build the highest performing optical transport solutions for the 400G era and beyond."



https://www.nokia.com/networks/technologies/pse-super-coherent-technology/

Google sharpens Cloud CDN with external origins

Google Cloud has enhanced its CDN and HTTP(S) Load Balancing services with the ability to support hybrid cloud customers. The new capability add support for external origins, enabling customers who have content, workloads or services that are on-prem or in other clouds to benefit of high availability, low latency, and convenience of a single anycast virtual IP address that HTTP(S) Load Balancing and Cloud CDN.  This means Google CDN customers can pull content or reach web services that are on-prem or in another cloud, using Google’s global high-performance network.

The new hybrid configuration are the result of new internet network endpoint groups, which allow the customer to configure a publicly addressable endpoint that resides outside of Google Cloud, such as a web server or load balancer running on-prem, or object storage at a third-party cloud provider. From there, the customer can serve static web and video content via Cloud CDN, or serve front-end shopping cart or API traffic via an external HTTP(S) Load Balancer, similar to configuring backends hosted directly within Google Cloud.

https://cloud.google.com/blog/products/networking/enabling-hybrid-deployments-with-cloud-cdn-and-load-balancing

Qualcomm to invest U$97 million in Jio

Qualcomm Ventures has committed to invest up to ₹ 730 crore (approximately US$97 million) in Jio Platforms at an equity value of ₹ 4.91 lakh crore and an enterprise value of ₹ 5.16 lakh crore.

Qualcomm Ventures’ investment will translate into 0.15% equity stake in Jio Platforms on a fully diluted basis.

Jio Platforms, a majority-owned subsidiary of Reliance Industries, is a next-generation technology platform focused on providing high-quality and affordable digital services across India, with more than 388 million subscribers. Jio Platforms has made significant investments across its digital ecosystem, powered by leading technologies spanning broadband connectivity, smart devices, cloud and edge computing, big data analytics, artificial intelligence, Internet of Things, augmented and mixed reality and blockchain. Jio’s vision is to enable a Digital India for 1.3 billion people and businesses across the country, including small merchants, micro-businesses and farmers so that all of them can enjoy the fruits of inclusive growth.

Mukesh Ambani, Chairman and Managing Director of Reliance Industries said, “Today, I am delighted to welcome Qualcomm Ventures as an investor in Jio Platforms. Qualcomm has been a valued partner for several years and we have a shared vision of connecting everything by building a robust and secure wireless and digital network and extending the benefits of digital connectivity to everyone in India. As a world leader in wireless technologies, Qualcomm offers deep technology knowhow and insights that will help us deliver on our 5G vision and the digital transformation of India for both people and enterprises.”

Steve Mollenkopf, CEO of Qualcomm Incorporated, said, “With our shared goal of extending the benefits of digital connectivity to everyone and everything, we anticipate Jio Platforms will deliver a new set of services and experiences to Indian consumers. With unmatched speeds and emerging use cases, 5G is expected to transform every industry in the coming years. Jio Platforms has led the digital revolution in India through its extensive digital and technological capabilities. As an enabler and investor with a longstanding presence in India, we look forward to playing a role in Jio's vision to further revolutionize India’s digital economy.”

https://www.qualcomm.com/news/releases/2020/07/12/qualcomm-ventures-investment-arm-qualcomm-incorporated-invest-730-crore-jio

Facebook bets $5.6 billion on India's Jio

Facebook will invest ₹ 43,574 crore (approximately US$5.6 billion) in Jio Platforms, a subsidiary of Reliance Industries that includes digital apps, digital ecosystems and India’s leading mobile operator.  The investment will give Facebook a 9.99% equity stake in Jio Platforms on a fully diluted basis.

Jio, which currently serves over 388 million subscribers, said its vision is to enable a Digital India for 1.3 billion Indians and Indian businesses, especially small merchants, micro-businesses and farmers.

India is home to some of Facebook’s most thriving communities on WhatsApp, Facebook, and Instagram.

The companies note that this is the largest investment for a minority stake by a technology company anywhere in the world and the largest FDI in the technology sector in India. The investment values Jio Platforms amongst the top 5 listed companies in India by market capitalization, within just three and a half years of launch of commercial services, validating Reliance Industries’ capability in incubating and building disruptive next-generation businesses, while delivering market-defining shareholder value.

Concurrent with the investment, Jio Platforms, Reliance Retail Limited ( and WhatsApp have also entered into a commercial partnership agreement to further accelerate Reliance Retail’s New Commerce business on the JioMart platform using WhatsApp and to support small businesses on WhatsApp.

Brazil's Padtec completes financial transformation

Padtec, a global provider of flexible and high-capacity optical transport solutions based in Brazil, completed the last stage of the merger of its shares by Padtec Holding, formerly Ideiasnet, a company traded on B3 (the Brazilian stock exchange), which becomes its sole shareholder.

Under the transformation, Padtec’s former shareholders become part of the new Padtec Holding’s shareholding structure. At a special general meeting of the company held today, statutory and corporate governance changes and the new name of the company, which changed from Ideiasnet to Padtec Holding, were approved. The trading code for the company’s shares on B3 has also been changed to PDTC3.

In practice, this operation turns Ideiasnet into Padtec. “Ideiasnet no longer has its own structure, giving way to Padtec. Padtec, on the other hand, starts to access the capital market more easily with the operation”, said Renato Jordão, CFO and Investor Relations Director of the new Padtec Holding.

Jordão also pointed out that the operation is part of the company’s strategy to continue to focus efforts on the market for high-capacity optical systems for data transmission networks. “Raising capital through a new share offering at B3 is something that we see in the medium term. The capital obtained with a new offering of shares in B3 will be directed, primarily, to the areas of research and development of cutting-edge technology. The objective is to expand the leadership in the Brazilian market and, also, expand Padtec’s performance in the international market”, says the executive. “With this, we will be able to offer increasingly advanced solutions and services to the market, in order to make the company even more competitive and accelerate its business in Brazil and abroad”, he added.

https://www.padtec.com.br/

MIT's “Light squeezer” reduces quantum noise in lasers

Researchers at MIT have developed a quantum “light squeezer” that reduces quantum noise in an incoming laser beam by 15%.

The portable light squeezer works at room temperature and could be used to improve laser measurements where quantum noise is a limiting factor. The setup is based on a marble-sized optical cavity, housed in a vacuum chamber and containing two mirrors, the first of which is smaller than the diameter of a human hair. The second, larger, nanomechanical mirror, which suspended by a spring-like cantileve, is the key to the system’s ability to work at room temperature.

“The importance of the result is that you can engineer these mechanical systems so that at room temperature, they still can have quantum mechanical properties,” says Nergis Mavalvala, the Marble Professor and associate head of physics at MIT. “That changes the game completely in terms of being able to use these systems, not just in our own labs, housed in large cryogenic refrigerators, but out in the world.”

http://news.mit.edu/2020/quantum-noise-laser-precision-wave-detection-0707

Ericsson selected for private 4G/5G at Paris airports

Groupe ADP and Air France selected Ericsson to deploy a private mobile network covering Paris-Charles de Gaulle, Paris-Orly and Paris-Le Bourget airports.

The mobile network will be effective across all outdoor spaces at the airports by the end of 2020 and indoors across all public and reserved areas for professionals working at the terminals by the end of 2021.

Ericsson said the 4/5G network will serve a professional ecosystem of more than 120,000 people who work at the three Paris airports every day.

Ã…sa Tamsons, Senior Vice President and Head of Business Area Technologies and New Businesses, Ericsson, says: “Anyone who has ever been to an airport knows that security, reliability and speed are key to ensure a good travel experience. The digital transformation of airports represents a big opportunity and private 5G networks will enable and accelerate this transformation. We are pleased to collaborate with Groupe ADP, Hub One and Air France to future-proof Paris airports with 5G ready networks delivering fast, secure and reliable wireless internet.”

IBM to acquire Brazil's WDG Automation

IBM agreed to acquire WDG Soluções Em Sistemas E Automação De Processos LTDA, a Brazilian software provider of robotic process automation (RPA). Financial terms were not disclosed.

WDG Automation, which is headquartered in São José do Rio Preto, Brazil, provides RPA, Intelligent Automation (IA), Interactive Voice Response (IVR) and chatbots primarily to customers in Latin America. The WDG Automation technology is designed for business users to create automations using a desktop recorder. These software robots can run on-demand by the end user or by an automated scheduler.

IBM said the acquisition further advances its AI-infused automation capabilities, spanning business processes to IT operations.

"IBM already automates how companies apply AI to business processes and IT operations so they can detect opportunities and problems and recommend next steps and solutions," said Denis Kennelly, General Manager, Cloud Integration, IBM Cloud and Cognitive Software. "With today's announcement, IBM is taking that a step further and helping clients accelerate automation to more parts of the organization, not just to routine, but more complex tasks so employees can focus on higher value work."

"Automation is crucial in the digital era, as businesses need to perform several repetitive or routine tasks, so that employees are able to focus on innovation. I'm incredibly proud of the role WDG Automation has played in the RPA market with a unified and integrated platform to help companies in Brazil increase their productivity," said Robson Felix, Founder and CEO, WDG Automation.

Ericsson's Börje Ekholm: A 5G killer app will emerge

Ericsson President and CEO, Börje Ekholm, said a killer app will emerge once the 5G infrastructure has been established.  Speaking virtually to the recent 2020 GTI Summit, Ekholm said “We do know that the killer app will be clear once the infrastructure has been built out and that will create multiples of value compared to the infrastructure itself.”

Ekholm said early movers in 5G will likely gain the same market advantage as with the 4G rollouts. This means the next three years will be critical in determining the make-up of the 5G landscape. Ericsson research shows that operators who took the lead in launching 4G technology and 4G networks were able to outlast and out-perform those who arrived late to the game.

The latest Ericsson Mobility Report forecasts 190 million 5G subscribers by the end of 2020, with numbers increasing to 2.8 billion by the end of 2025. This will make 5G the fastest scaling technology ever. It also forecasts 160 million fixed wireless access (FWA) connections by the end of 2025, accounting for approximately 25 percent of all traffic.

Another Ericsson study found that most consumers are willing to pay a 20 percent price premium for 5G, but this is dependent on two factors. First, an enhanced consumer experience, in which the differences between 4G and 5G are clear and noticeable. Secondly, new and unique 5G use cases that are bundled with 5G subscriptions.

Ekholm also said that industry digitization will generate an estimated USD 700 billion market opportunity for service providers by 2030, equivalent to approximately 35 percent of current industry revenue.  Moreover, Ericsson found that 70 percent of enterprises are seeking to engage with a non-telecoms service provider, while a third already consider communications service providers as an important partner in their digitization efforts.

https://www.ericsson.com/en/news/2020/7/once-5g-infrastructure-is-established-the-killer-app-will-emerge