Next-Gen Infrastructure Acceleration

The need for infrastructure acceleration has never been so acute. Advances in silicon are making possible highly programmable and very efficient network flow path engines for true data-centric computing.

Our Next-Gen Infrastructure Acceleration series collects and curates thought leadership videos from top players in this space, including Digital Realy, Evoque Data Center Solutions, NVIDIA (Mellanox), Fungible, Vapor IO and others.

We also present our 2020 Next-Gen Infrastructure Acceleration Report, which discusses infrastructure acceleration technologies adopted by CSPs and explores the products available from leading vendors. The report is available as a free download upon registration.


https://nextgeninfra.io/infrastructure-acceleration/

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Australia's nbn suggests COVID data surge may have peaked

Data demand on Australia's nbn’s main wholesale access service this week continued to soften for a second consecutive week, but still remain significantly above pre-COVID levels.

Some metrics:

• For the week from Monday, 17 August to Sunday, 23 August, download throughput (the measure of data flowing through the nbn network) during the busy evening period peaked at 14.8 Terabits per second (Tbps) on the main nbn wholesale service. This represented a 5.9 percent decrease on the peak of the previous week.
• Download throughput during the same week peaked at 9.5Tbps in daytime business hours, consistent with peak download throughput observed in the previous week and at 13.4Tbps in the early evening hours, representing a decline of 5.7 percent on the peak download throughput of the previous week.
• Peak upstream throughput on the main nbn wholesale service in the evening busy hours for the week beginning 17 August was 0.96Tbps, holding approximately steady from the previous week’s peak of 0.97Tbps. 
• Peak upload throughput was also broadly consistent with the previous week during early evening hours, when peak upload throughput was 0.92Tbps, and daytime business hours, which experienced peak upload throughput of 0.87Tbps.
• Compared to the pre-COVID-19 baseline before social distancing measures were implemented, downstream network usage on the nbn main wholesale service during business hours on 21 August 2020 was 59 percent higher.
• Upstream network usage on the nbn™ main wholesale service during business hours on 21 August 2020 remained high compared to the pre-COVID-19 baseline, up 92 percent.

https://www.nbnco.com.au/corporate-information/media-centre/media-statements/moderate-decline-in-data-demand

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NeoPhotonics cites business impact from Huawei sanctions

NeoPhotonics said the recent tightening of restriction on Huawei and its affiliates by the U.S. Department of Commerce’s Bureau of Industry and Security (BIS) will have an impact on its financial performance.

In an investor update, NeoPhotonics stated that it is on track to achieve to meet the targts provided on August 4, 2020.  Shipments to Huawei are contributing approximately $40 million of revenue to NeoPhotonics in the current quarter. Beyond the third quarter, the NeoPhotonics is still assessing the full impact of the current BIS restrictions.

“Despite the near-term revenue impact resulting from the recent BIS restrictions, demand for our products broadly remains strong, driven by expanding high speed capacities, hyper-scale data center interconnects, network edge provisioning for increased cloud service usage and remote working,” said Tim Jenks, Chairman and CEO of NeoPhotonics. “We remain excited about the growth prospects ahead of us. In particular, our highest speed over distance products for 400G and above applications continue to gain traction with leading network equipment manufacturers and are expected to represent more than 20% of total revenue in 2020, after only two years in the market. Of note, revenue from customers beyond Huawei is expected to grow 40-50% over the next year independent of potential customer share shifts. Coupled with the upcoming 400ZR and 400ZR+ high speed module opportunity which is expected to begin volume production in 2H 2021, the end market for these products, as defined by high speed ports, is forecasted to increase at an 80% five-year compounded annual growth rate through 2024,” continued Mr. Jenks.

“Beyond topline growth, we must also ensure our operations remain aligned with the demand outlook and pursue appropriate expense adjustments and structural actions to mitigate the impact of revenue declines. We are fortunate to have entered this period with both a strong financial position and a management team with a demonstrated track record of taking the necessary actions to navigate uncertain times. Through the continued growth of our existing product lines and the ability to pull operational levers as needed, we feel confident in our ability to return to profitability by the end of 2021 with a greater level of diversity across our customer base,” concluded Mr. Jenks.

https://ir.neophotonics.com/news-releases/news-release-details/neophotonics-provides-business-update-following-recent-us

U.S. further restricts Huawei's access to components

Monday, August 17, 2020  China, Huawei  

The U.S. Department of Commerce added further restrictions on Huawei Technologies (Huawei) and its non-U.S. affiliates to prevent access to electronic components and other U.S. developed technologies.

Specifically, the Bureau of Industry and Security (BIS) in the Department of Commerce added another 38 Huawei affiliates to the Entity List, which imposes a license requirement for all items subject to the Export Administration Regulations (EAR) and modified four existing Huawei Entity List entries. BIS also imposed license requirements on any transaction involving items subject to Commerce export control jurisdiction where a party on the Entity List is involved, such as when Huawei (or other Entity List entities) acts as a purchaser, intermediate, or end user.

The restrictions have immediate effect. The Department of Commerce said this amendment further restricts Huawei from obtaining foreign made chips developed or produced from U.S. software or technology to the same degree as comparable U.S. chips.

“Huawei and its foreign affiliates have extended their efforts to obtain advanced semiconductors developed or produced from U.S. software and technology in order to fulfill the policy objectives of the Chinese Communist Party,” said Commerce Secretary Wilbur Ross. “As we have restricted its access to U.S. technology, Huawei and its affiliates have worked through third parties to harness U.S. technology in a manner that undermines U.S. national security and foreign policy interests. This multi-pronged action demonstrates our continuing commitment to impede Huawei’s ability to do so.”

https://www.commerce.gov/news/press-releases/2020/08/commerce-department-further-restricts-huawei-access-us-technology-and

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Qualcomm and Ericsson test 5G Carrier Aggregation

Qualcomm and Ericsson completed the world’s first interoperability tests for 5G standalone (SA) carrier aggregation across both FDD/TDD1 and TDD/TDD bands.

5G carrier aggregation allows operators to use multiple sub-6 GHz spectrum channels simultaneously to transfer data between base stations and a 5G mobile device. Implementation of 5G carrier aggregation delivers enhanced network capacity along with improved 5G speeds and reliability in challenging wireless conditions, allowing consumers to experience smoother video streaming and enjoy faster downloads.

The tests occurred at Ericsson’s labs in Beijing, China. The connection reached 2.5 Gbps peak speeds by aggregating 100 MHz + 60 MHz within the 2.5 GHz (n41) TDD band in a 70% downlink configuration and using 4x4 MIMO. In addition, in Sweden the companies established a successful 5G SA carrier aggregation data call by combining 20 MHz in the 600 MHz (n71) FDD band with 100 MHz of spectrum in the 2.5 GHz (n41) TDD band.

Both achievements used 5G infrastructure equipment from the Ericsson Radio System portfolio and a 5G smartphone form factor test device powered by a Qualcomm® Snapdragon™ X60 5G Modem-RF System, showcasing how the companies are on-track to provide operators, OEMs and the larger mobile ecosystem with the technologies to deploy 5G carrier aggregation at scale in 2021 in order to enhance the overall 5G experience.

Qualcomm Technologies is already shipping samples of Snapdragon X60, with commercial premium smartphones using the new Modem-RF System expected in early 2021. Ericsson is planning a commercial release of 5G NR carrier aggregation in the fourth quarter this year.

“As the world’s leading wireless innovator, Qualcomm Technologies continuously develops solutions that will help the fast proliferation of 5G globally,” said Durga Malladi, senior vice president and general manager, 4G/5G, Qualcomm Technologies, Inc. “We’re proud to collaborate with Ericsson on this 5G carrier aggregation milestone –the world’s first featuring both FDD/TDD and TDD/TDD aggregation– as this technology significantly enhances the performance of 5G networks worldwide, unlocking even higher average speeds and better 5G coverage for consumers.”

Per Narvinger, head of product area networks, Ericsson, says, “We are pleased to be a lead innovator of 5G carrier aggregation with Qualcomm Technologies as 5G scales from initial deployments in cities to wider area coverage. 5G carrier aggregation will be a key technology for extending the coverage of mid-band and high-band 5G in addition to enabling faster data speeds and enhanced performance. We expect to see the first deployments of 5G carrier aggregation in late 2020 with a ramp up in 2021.”

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Qualcomm, Casa and Ericsson complete 5G NR over mmWave at 3.8km

Qualcomm, Casa Systems and Ericsson completed the first extended-range 5G NR data call over mmWave, achieving a connection of 3.8 kilometers.

The extended range data call was completed in Regional Victoria, Australia on June 20, 2020. It was achieved by applying extended-range software to commercial Ericsson hardware – including Air5121 and Baseband 6630 – and a 5G CPE device powered by the Qualcomm® Snapdragon X55 5G Modem-RF System with the Qualcomm QTM527 mmWave antenna module.

The companies said the demo sets the stage for using mmWave technology for fixed wireless access (FWA).

“With the introduction of the Qualcomm QTM527 mmWave antenna module as part of the Snapdragon X55 5G Modem-RF System, we are empowering operators and OEMs to offer high-performance, extended-range multi-gigabit 5G broadband to their customers – which is both flexible and cost-effective, as they can leverage existing 5G network infrastructure,” said Gautam Sheoran, senior director, product management, Qualcomm Technologies, Inc.

“As operators look to close the digital divide and expand broadband services throughout rural, suburban and urban communities, the technology in this data connection underscores the critical role mmWave will play in the global proliferation of 5G networks,” said Steve Collins, senior vice president, access devices, Casa Systems. “This collaboration with Qualcomm Technologies and Ericsson is an industry milestone that makes it possible for operators to offer multi-gigabit broadband services wirelessly as a new broadband alternative solution using mmWave spectrum, and we look forward to delivering innovative CPE devices that further empowers the global broadband delivery ecosystem.”

“Ericsson has a long history of working with extended range across generations of mobile technologies, pioneering with 3G, then 4G and now with 5G. By collaborating with leading industry partners like Qualcomm Technologies and Casa Systems, we are able to ensure that everyone can access the transformative benefits of 5G connectivity. This achievement will open up opportunities for communications service providers around the world and how they can use mmWave spectrum for long-range use cases,” said Per Narvinger, head of product area networks, Ericsson.

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ZTE and MediaTek complete 5G carrier aggregation using 700 MHz and 2.6 GHz

ZTE and MediaTek announced 5G carrier aggregation verification of 700MHz and 2.6GHz spectrum based on commercial terminal chips. The test occurred in Xi’an, China and used ZTE's commercial 5G wireless base stations and its latest 5G core network equipment, along with the 5G test terminal featuring MediaTek Dimensity 800U 5G-integrated SoC.

The companies verified dual-carrier aggregation of 30MHz over 700MHz and 100MHz over 2.6 GHz, achieving an effective downlink data throughput of 1.849 Gbps.

Committed to the development of 5G industry, ZTE has invested heavily in the development of 700 MHz products, and has actively cooperated with industry partners to accelerate the commercialization of the 700 MHz frequency band.

In addition to releasing a series of 700 MHz commercial products, ZTE has also completed 700MHz SA networks, 700MHz VoNR (Voice over New Radio), and the  end-to-end interconnection tests on 30MHz, so as to strengthen the integration of Sub 1GHz & Sub 6GHz as well as the application research on 700MHz.

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Intelsat to buy Gogo's commercial aviation business for $400M

Intelsat agreed to acquire the commercial aviation business of Gogo, the largest global provider of in-flight broadband connectivity, for $400 million in cash.

Gogo’s leading commercial aviation business provides Intelsat with key airline relationships and customer-facing capabilities, including a leading software platform, ISP and network management infrastructure. It currently serves 21 commercial airlines, including 9 of the top 20 global carriers. More than 3,000 commercial aircraft are equipped with Gogo.

“Consumer demand for in-flight connectivity is expected to grow at a double-digit rate over the next decade, notwithstanding the impact of COVID-19. The addition of Gogo’s commercial aviation business provides compelling strategic value for our stakeholders and makes strong commercial sense,” said Intelsat’s Chief Executive Officer, Stephen Spengler. “Gogo’s business is a perfect fit with Intelsat’s expansive satellite network and infrastructure due to the breadth of Gogo’s technological solutions, global reach and operational excellence.”

Mr. Spengler continued: “A priority growth objective for Intelsat is to extend our reach closer to the millions of customers who use our satellite capabilities to stay connected around the world. The addition of Gogo’s commercial aviation business is a significant step toward this goal. We are growing beyond satellite connectivity to expand into consumer-optimized managed services.”

“We are excited to welcome the talented people of Gogo’s commercial aviation business to the Intelsat family and look forward to pairing their aviation expertise with Intelsat’s owned network capability to unlock new opportunities for growth. Our ability to execute this transaction in the midst of our financial restructuring speaks to the strength of our underlying business, our vision for the future, the commitment of key Intelsat stakeholders and the momentum that we have maintained over the past several months,” Mr. Spengler concluded.

Intelsat intends to fund the transaction using its existing debtor-in-possession (DIP) financing facility and cash on hand. Intelsat’s DIP lenders have agreed to amend the DIP credit agreement to facilitate the transaction, and Intelsat’s key economic stakeholders support the transaction. On August 31, 2020, the U.S. Bankruptcy Court for the Eastern District of Virginia, Richmond Division, approved Intelsat’s consummation of the transaction.

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Zoom reports 458% growth in key customer segment

Zoom Video Communications reported quarterly revenue of $663.5 million, up 355% year-over-year. GAAP net income was $185.7 million, or $0.63 per share, compared to GAAP net income attributable to common stockholders of $5.5 million, or $0.02 per share in the second quarter of fiscal year 2020. Non-GAAP net income for the quarter was $274.8 million.

“Organizations are shifting from addressing their immediate business continuity needs to supporting a future of working anywhere, learning anywhere, and connecting anywhere on Zoom's video-first platform. At Zoom, we strive to deliver a world-class, frictionless, and secure communication experience for our customers across locations, devices, and use cases,” said Zoom founder and CEO, Eric S. Yuan. “Our ability to keep people around the world connected, coupled with our strong execution, led to revenue growth of 355% year-over-year in Q2 and enabled us to increase our revenue outlook to approximately $2.37 billion to $2.39 billion for FY21, or 281% to 284% increase year-over-year.”

Some metrics:

• Approximately 370,200 customers with more than 10 employees, up approximately 458% from the same quarter last fiscal year.
• 988 customers contributing more than $100,000 in trailing 12 months revenue, up approximately 112% from the same quarter last fiscal year.
• A trailing 12-month net dollar expansion rate in customers with more than 10 employees above 130% for the 9th consecutive quarter.

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Digital Realty adds colo capacity in Toronto

Digital Realty announced an expansion of its One Century Place colocation data center in Toronto. The expansion of One Century Place in Vaughn, also known as TOR1, is expected to add 6,000 square feet and 1,500 kilowatts of colocation capacity to a broad cross-section of customers across industries. 

Digital Realty also noted that it will leverage IBM's next-generation Direct Link 2.0 capabilities, providing direct access to the IBM Cloud in Toronto. 

"Toronto is a more critical market than ever as businesses recognize the growing importance of the region as one of the next major technology hubs in North America," said Digital Realty Chief Executive Officer A. William Stein.  "Today's announcement marks a significant milestone in the expansion of PlatformDIGITAL as we continue to expand our colocation capabilities in strategic regions around the world.  We are enabling our customers to address the challenges of data gravity by deploying their digital infrastructure in close proximity to key cloud deployments, providing the coverage, capacity and connectivity requirements to support their current and future goals."

"Data rich technologies like AI and IoT are being deployed at a rapid scale, requiring enterprises to locate their infrastructure closer to highly-connected centers of data exchange.  Enterprises now need greater access to productized colocation offerings at the heart of where digital business is happening.  We see significant growth potential in greater Toronto as digital business accelerates," added Mr. Stein. 

Digital Realty completed the colocation expansion of TOR1 in July 2020.  Digital Realty currently operates over 20 megawatts of capacity across two data centers in the Toronto region, with more than 60 megawatts planned at full build-out.

https://www.digitalrealty.com/data-centers/toronto

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