IBM's 7nm POWER10 processor optimized for cloud computing

IBM unveiled its POWER10 CPU for enterprise hybrid cloud computing.

The IBM POWER10 processor uses a design focused on energy efficiency and performance in a 7nm form factor with an expected improvement of up to 3x greater processor energy efficiency, workload capacity, and container density than the IBM POWER9 processor.

IBM said its POWER10 chip includes breakthrough new security features including, memory inception to improve cloud capacity and delivers faster with 4x additional encryption engines for today’s toughest standards and future encryption standards like quantum-safe cryptography, and new enhancements to container security.

It also features a new technologycalled Memory Inception that brings support for multi-petabyte memory clusters, which will improve cloud capacity and economics for memory-intensive workloads from ISVs like SAP, the SAS Institute, and others as well as large-model AI inference.

New processor core architectures in the IBM POWER10 processor with an embedded Matrix Math Accelerator which is extrapolated to provide 10x, 15x and 20x faster AI inference for FP32, BFloat16 and INT8 calculations per socket respectively than the IBM POWER9 processor to infuse AI into business applications and drive greater insights.

"Enterprise-grade hybrid clouds require a robust on-premises and off-site architecture inclusive of hardware and co-optimized software," said Stephen Leonard, GM of IBM Cognitive Systems. "With IBM POWER10 we've designed the premier processor for enterprise hybrid cloud, delivering the performance and security that clients expect from IBM. With our stated goal of making Red Hat OpenShift the default choice for hybrid cloud, IBM POWER10 brings hardware-based capacity and security enhancements for containers to the IT infrastructure level."

The company notes that IBM POWER10 is its first commercialized processor built using 7nm process technology. IBM Research has been partnering with Samsung Electronics Co., Ltd. on research and development for more than a decade, including demonstration of the semiconductor industry's first 7nm test chips through IBM's Research Alliance.

https://newsroom.ibm.com/Stephen-Leonard-POWER10

Read More

China Mobile on track for 300,000 5G base stations this year

China Mobile had 188,000 5G base stations in service as of mid-year and is on track to build 300,000 new 5G bases tations this year. The company will have commercial 5G services in the urban areas of cities at prefecture level and above across China this year.

In its recently filed financial report, China Mobile disclosed first half 2020 revenue of RMB 389.86 billion (approximately US$56.2 billion), relatively flat compared with the first half of 2019. Service revenue rose by nearly 2% while equipment sales declined. Net profit also dipped -0.5%.

CAPEX for 2020 is now expected to be RMB 179.8 billion, compared with RMB 165.9 billion last year. Nevertheless, CAPEX for second half of the year will be lower than in the first half of the year.

Some highlights:

China Mobile now has 947 million mobile customers, including 70.2 million on 5G plans.

Read More

Claro Brasil implements Ericsson Spectrum Sharing

Claro Brasil is the first 5G network in Latin America using Ericsson’s dynamic spectrum sharing technology.

Ericsson’s dynamic spectrum sharing solution gives Claro a head-start in rolling out initial 5G services while waiting for the 3.5GHz and the 26GHz bands. In addition to these bands, Brazil’s National Telecommunications Agency is expected to award frequencies in the 700MHz and 2.3GHz bands during the 5G auction expected to happen in 2021.

Claro's 5G services are being rolled out initially across 12 areas in Brazil in São Paulo and Rio de Janeiro.

Ericsson said its Spectrum Sharing will enable Claro to deliver data speeds reaching 400Mbps. 

José Félix, President of Claro, says: “Ericsson Spectrum Sharing allows us to offer the first 5G network in Latin America. Claro has state-of-the-art infrastructure, which already offers the fastest 4.5G in the country, and now we take the lead by offering migration to 5G, even before the new frequencies dedicated to this new technology have been granted in Brazil. We have unique conditions to offer the best 5G experience and this reinforces our commitment to Brazil and to innovation. Despite the difficult times we have all been experiencing, we will continue to evolve and invest in order to always offer the best to our clients.” 

Arun Bansal, President of Europe and Latin America, Ericsson, says: “Claro’s customers in Brazil will soon be able to tap into the incredible power of 5G. This next generation network has far-reaching potential to transform the country, from agriculture to smart cities.

With Ericsson Spectrum Sharing, 5G can be activated through a software update on any of the five million 5G-ready radios that Ericsson has delivered to the world market since 2015, with more than 400,000 in Brazil.

Read More

ZTE demos 3 energy saving technologies for 5G

ZTE has demonstrated three energy saving technologies suitable for the existing 5G wireless network: DTX shutdown (inclusive of timeslot shutdown and symbol shutdown), channel shutdown, and deep sleep.

The technologies have been tested by the Liaoning branch of China Unicom in Dalian, China.

ZTE said the trial results show that the power consumption can be reduced by 10% to 20% with DTX shutdown technology, 15% to 25% with channel shutdown technology, and 60% to 80% with deep sleep technology. When the energy saving technologies combination is enabled, a single 5G base station with S111 configuration can save 10 to 12 KWh per day on average, with network KPIs remaining stable.

To address 5G challenges of larger bandwidth, more channels, higher frequency bands, and denser sites, ZTE has also introduced a 7nm high-integration chip, a new-generation GaN high-efficiency power amplifier, and a V-tooth heat dissipation technique that uses a bionic leaf vein design.

Read More

NTT launches Private Cloud in Hong Kong and Singapore

NTT Ltd. has launched a Private Cloud for Enterprise service in Hong Kong and Singapore.

NTT provides the infrastructure where clients can optimally deploy their workloads on NTT's private cloud, data center and network or as part of their own IT service and public cloud services.  The hybrid offer incorporates robust managed services which offer a simple user experience, orchestration, management and support across the data center, cloud environment including hyperscale offerings, up to the application layer.  NTT also provides consulting services to help clients navigate to the cloud.

"NTT Ltd.’s cloud solutions continue to evolve to meet the demands of a dynamically changing landscape. We are proactive in our development of high-performance software solutions and with Private Cloud for Enterprise, we are able to leverage the most up-to-date technology to deliver enhanced network economics to our customers. With leading SLAs, security and compliance features, this cloud solution helps us meet our customers’ business imperatives and rapidly expand into new markets, on a global scale," said Ramnik Kamo, EVP, Global Operations and CIO, Mavenir.

Masaaki Moribayashi, Senior Executive Vice President, Services for NTT Ltd, said, “Enterprises today are using various applications with a large amount of data stored in various platforms and they want to manage their hybrid IT securely. Our Private Cloud service will specifically target these high growth sectors supporting clients to manage their critical applications, including SAP, to enhance the agility and flexibility in securely managing large volumes of data in the cloud. Our top tier infrastructure, managed and professional services will respond to the strong and growing digital transformation demands in Asia. Financial clients, for example, can quickly develop new businesses by incorporating the latest technologies while complying with security regulation in each country. Manufacturers, for example, can fuel growth of their business leveraging private cloud to power critical and time-sensitive business operations.”

Read More

Arianespace completes triple mission with Ariane 5 rocket

Arianespace successfully orbited two telecommunications satellites and one satellite servicing vehicle for Intelsat, B-SAT and Northrop Grumman using an Ariane 5 rocket launched from the Guiana Space Center.

The Galaxy 30 UHD video distribution/broadcast and broadband satellite, built for global network operator Intelsat, will cover North America. It is the first satellite in Intelsat’s Galaxy fleet refresh plan and will replace Galaxy 14 at 125 degrees west once it is in service in early 2021.

Intelsat also said Galaxy 30 will play an important role in its U.S. C-band spectrum transition plan, which is accelerating America’s path to 5G. Intelsat is facilitating the work of the U.S. Federal Communications Commission (FCC) in transitioning and safeguarding media services currently utilizing the lower portion of the band to make way for 5G wireless services. Intelsat is not seeking any reimbursement costs from the FCC’s public auction proceeds for any aspect of the Galaxy 30 launch or relocation.

BSAT-4b will be used for Ultra-High-Definition (UHD, 4K and 8K) direct-to-home television broadcasting across Japan, in conjunction with its twin, BSAT-4a, launched by Arianespace in 2017.

Read More