Monday, September 7, 2020

Samsung wins huge 5G contract with Verizon

Samsung Electronics America has won a contract valued at approximately US$6.6 billion (7.9 trillion won) to supply network infrastructure to Verizon. The announcement was made in a financial disclosure posted by Samsung in Korea. The contract runs through 2025.

The contract is likely the largest 5G infrastructure deal to date for Samsung and likely comes as a loss to one of Verizon's European suppliers.

http://dart.fss.or.kr/dsaf001/main.do?rcpNo=20200907800091

Samsung offers 5G NR access unit for 28GHz

Samsung Electronics introduced a new 5G New Radio (NR) Access Unit (AU) supporting 28GHz spectrum and including a radio, antenna and digital unit in one compact box. The product is powered by Samsung’s in-house 5G RF chipset (announced earlier this year here and the company’s first 5G NR system-on-a-chip (SoC) modem (S9100).

Earlier this year, Samsung Networks successfully deployed its first-generation 5G NR radio base stations in the U.S. with separated radio and digital units (RU-DU separated radio). By integrating these RU-DU technologies with 1,024 antenna elements for mmWave spectrum into one compact box, the new AU can be more easily installed on streetlight poles and building walls, providing operators a faster, simplified way to build out 5G networks.

The AU can deliver 10Gbps throughput, enabling operators to deliver higher 5G NR speeds to more users. Additionally, improved cost-efficiency is achieved by eliminating the need for ‘fronthaul’ fiber connections, thanks to the AU’s integration of the digital unit. Samsung is currently shipping the new AU to a leading U.S. Tier One mobile network operator.

Samsung claims biggest share of Korea's 5G rollout

Equipment from Samsung Electronics Co. represents the largest share the recent 5G network rollouts from all three mobile operates in Korea.

Korean operators have been transmitting 5G signals in Seoul and metropolitan areas since December 1, 2018 using 5G base station radios and 5G core solutions from Samsung’s Networks Business unit.

Specifically, Samsung has supplied 5G core solutions and more than 53,000 5G radio base stations to Korea’s three operators. The deployments used Samsung’s 5G Massive-MIMO Unit (MMU) radio base station in the 3.5GHz spectrum. The ability to re-use existing sites has been key to enabling the Korean operators to deploy a 5G network consisting of tens of thousands of radios within just a few months since the December 1st launch.

The virtualized 5G core solutions, provided to all three Korean operators for their 5G commercial launch, support both legacy 4G networks and next-generation 5G services in Non-Standalone (NSA) mode. Samsung will support the migration to Standalone (SA) mode through a future software upgrade. Samsung’s solution implements many of the key technologies of 5G networks, such as Control and User Plane Separation (CUPS), which are essential for network operators to scale their networks and support the new services enabled by 5G technology.

“Korea is one of the first markets in the world in which the 5G experience is opening up for consumers, and we’re thrilled to play a key role in the nationwide rollout of 5G with our unparalleled 5G network solutions,” said Paul Kyungwhoon Cheun, Executive Vice President and Head of Networks Business at Samsung Electronics. “As a longstanding innovator in the 5G space and one of the few vendors offering a full end-to-end 5G solution, Samsung is at the forefront of pushing the limits of 5G and beyond.”

Delta builds 12.8Tbps switch with on-board optical modules

Taiwan-based Delta worked with Microsoft and the Consortium for On Board Optics (COBO) to develop a proof of concept (POC) open networking switch featuring 12.8Tbps bandwidth capacity as well as the seamless integration of five different optical module form factors in a single 4U rack.

The design features sixteen ports based on the COBO standard, which boasts up to 800 Gbps transmission speed (16 x 50Gbps) and energy savings as high as 30% when compared to similar peer technologies. The system also includes two 400G QSFP-DD, two 400G OSFP and sixty four 100G QSFP ports. Intel's 8-core 2.0 GHz D-1548 Broadwell high-performance chip sits at the core of the Delta COBO switch.



Mr. Brad Booth, Microsoft's Principal Network Architect and COBO's President, said, "We are pleased to see Delta's expertise in high-efficiency power electronics and in networking systems. Being capable of integrating COBO and other form factors into a single platform has been an integral contribution to this POC project to enable end users to perform hands-on evaluation and testing. Cloud data centers will require the support of networking systems featuring increased transmission speeds and low carbon footprint, and COBO represents a prime opportunity to deliver on these essential requirements."

Mr. Victor Cheng, Delta's Senior Vice President and General Manager of its Information & Communications Technology Business Group, said, "With the development of this highly innovative POC COBO open networking switch, we have completed the first phase of a new chapter in the successful collaboration story with our long-time partner Microsoft. The promising energy savings offered by the COBO optical form factor standard align perfectly with Delta's long-term commitment to energy conservation and lower CO2 emissions, and therefore, we look forward to cooperating with Microsoft and COBO to accelerate the growth of the 5G megatrend with this inventive technology."

Delta is a Microsoft Gold Certified Partner and Azure Cloud Solution Provider.

https://www.deltaww.com/news/pressDetail.aspx?secID=3&pID=1&typeID=2&itemID=12998&tid=0&hl=en-US

https://www.onboardoptics.org/

FCC: Cost to replace Huawei and ZTE is $1.8 billion

The FCC estimates it will cost $1.837 billion to remove and replace Huawei and ZTE equipment from U.S. telecommunications networks that receive support from the federal Universal Service Fund.

“It is a top priority of our nation and this Commission to promote the security of our country’s communications networks.  That’s why we sought comprehensive information from U.S. carriers about equipment and services from untrusted vendors that have already been installed in our networks.  Today’s announcement marks a critical milestone in our ongoing commitment to secure our networks,” said FCC Chairman Ajit Pai.  “By identifying the presence of insecure equipment and services in our networks, we can now work to ensure that these networks—especially those of small and rural carriers—rely on infrastructure from trusted vendors.  I once again strongly urge Congress to appropriate funding to reimburse carriers for replacing any equipment or services determined to be a national security threat so that we can protect our networks and the myriad parts of our economy and society that rely upon them.”

The list of eligible telecommunications carriers with existing Huawei and ZTE equipment and services:


Orange launches 5G in Spain

Orange activated its commercial 5G service in Madrid, Barcelona, Valencia, Sevilla y Málaga.

Ericsson confirmed that Orange is using its 5G Radio Access Network (RAN) and Core products and solutions in Madrid and Barcelona. Ericsson’s initial 5G deployments in Madrid and Barcelona will be followed by other locations under a four-year partnership to help Orange Spain develop its 5G offering across Spain. Operating on 3.6GHz spectrum, the 5G network in Madrid and Barcelona is powered by the Ericsson Radio System (Baseband 6648 and AIR 6488 antenna), delivering Massive MIMO, a key technology that significantly increases network capacity and spectral efficiency.

Ericsson also supplies Orange Spain with a 5G Evolved Packet Core to support 5G New Radio non-standalone (NSA), including control plane, user plane and policy network functions. These are all parts of the Ericsson Cloud Core portfolio.

Arun Bansal, President of Ericsson Europe and Latin America, says: “Ericsson’s 5G technology provides faster networks, much better mobile broadband experiences to end users and gives mobile networks greater innovation capabilities to meet future demands. Our core and radio portfolios are instrumental in providing a sustainable platform for innovation and economic growth in Spain. Ericsson is thrilled to partner with Orange Spain to help them capture the opportunities that 5G and related technologies will bring to their subscribers and to industries.”

Ericsson currently has 108 commercial 5G agreements and contracts with unique communications service providers, of which 58 are publicly announced 5G deals, including 60 live commercial 5G networks.

http://blog.orange.es/destacamos/orange-lanza-su-red-5g-en-madrid-barcelona-valencia-sevilla-y-malaga/?_ga=2.19251455.698697213.1599502386-1238123958.1599502386
https://www.ericsson.com/en/press-releases/2020/9/orange-launches-ericsson-powered-5g-in-spain

Telefónica activates 5G across Spain

Telefónica switched on its 5G network in Spain.

Telefónica is promising to bring 5G to 75% of the Spanish population by the end of the year.

The first phase of the rollout combines NSA (non-standalone) 5G and DSS (Dynamic Spectrum Sharing) using the 3.5 GHz band (the only 5G band frequency already licensed to operators) and the mid-band (1800-2100 MHz). The second phase will bring SA (standalone) 5G once the technology is fully standardized.

The new deployments will take place in tandem with a gradual shut-down of the 2G and 3G networks, which is slated for 2025. Telefónica also expects to have replaced 100% of its old copper network with fiber by 2025.

The announcement was made by José María Álvarez-Pallete, Telefónica’s Executive Chairman, who stressed that “the launch of our 5G network constitutes a leap forward towards the hyperconnectivity that will change the future of Spain”. The switching on of Telefónica’s 5G network comes after Álvarez-Pallete confirmed Telefónica’s commitment to promote the complete digitisation of the country last July. “It’s 5G for everyone, without any exceptions. In all the autonomous communities. Telefónica will accelerate the digitisation of SMEs, the public administrations and the general public with this initiative. “Like fibre and like so many other great things, 5G is Telefónica”, explained the company’s chief executive.

TDC activates 5G in Denmark with Ericsson

TDC activated its commercial 5G network across Denmark.  TDC is using the 3.5GHz spectrum band. The launch includes the major Danish cities of Copenhagen, Odense, Aarhus and Helsingør. Ericsson is the network vendor.

Ericsson was announced as TDC’s 5G radio and core provider in March 2019. Since September 2019, Ericsson has also operated TDC’s mobile network with Ericsson Operations Engine.

Ericsson’s 5G partnership with TDC Denmark includes Radio Access Network (RAN) products and solutions from Ericsson Radio System and core solutions from Ericsson’s 5G Core portfolio.

Site deployment of Ericsson 5G products and solutions got underway in October 2019.  Since then, almost 3,000 base station sites have been equipped with Ericsson’s 5G technology throughout Denmark, amounting to more than 100 sites per week. On one day alone, Ericsson field professionals equipped 35 sites.

Jenny Lindqvist, Head of Northern and Central Europe, Ericsson, says: “We have worked very closely with TDC to rapidly meet their 5G deployment needs. 5G will deliver huge benefits for both consumers and industries in Denmark. Our Innovation Hub – a joint TDC and Ericsson team driving innovation and new business opportunities related to 5G – will play an important role in this. It has already resulted in deploying the first industrial 5G network in Denmark with Grundfos, as well as developing new opportunities related to 5G within key industries such as manufacturing, healthcare, media and entertainment.”

Deutsche Telekom boosts mobile network in Germany

Deutsche Telekom upgraded 5,300 mobile sites across Germany in Q2, including the construction of 82 new sites, and the addition of 5G to 4,700 sites.

Deutsche Telekom's LTE network now covers 97% of the German population.

"We are pushing the pace with the mobile network expansion," says Walter Goldenits, Managing Director Technology at Telekom Deutschland. “We are planning over 1,500 completely new cell phone locations this year. In addition, we will increase the mobile communications capacities for our customers at thousands of other locations through expansion measures. As part of these massive expansion activities, we are also bringing 5G further to Germany. In mid-June, Telekom ignited the 5G boost for Germany. This means that 40 million people can already use 5G."

https://www.telekom.com/de/medien/medieninformationen/detail/telekom-erweitert-kapazitaet-an-5-300-mobilfunk-standorten-607302

SCMP: Huawei seeks to raise fresh funds from employees

Huawei has launched an internal funding program that is selling virtual shares to employees, according to South China Morning Post.  The program is seen as a way for Huawei to raise funds for its R&D programs amidst increasing pressure from U.S. sanctions. Huawei did not confirm the report.

https://www.scmp.com/tech/big-tech/article/3100548/huawei-seeks-raise-fresh-funds-employees-amid-us-trade-sanctions