Thursday, October 1, 2020

ADVA delivers timing over PTP-optimized optical transport channels

ADVA introduced a mechanism that uses PTP-optimized optical transport to provide accurate synchronization from the core of the network all the way to the edge for 5G, smart grid and other time-sensitive applications. 

ADVA said its TrueTime technology offers new levels of robust and precise synchronization by using a bidirectional channel to deliver SyncE and PTP traffic. Accuracy is ensured by PRTC/ePRTC core clocks featuring OSA 5430/40 in combination with OSA 3230/3350 cesium atomic clocks. Closely-spaced, out-of-band wavelengths help TrueTime tackle asymmetric delay and leave all other channels available for customer traffic. Every element of the TrueTime solution is transparently controlled by ADVA’s Ensemble Controller and Ensemble Sync Director management system, featuring Syncjack monitoring technology. 

“Our TrueTime solution addresses some of the most urgent challenges for operators of critical infrastructure. It enables highly accurate synchronization throughout the transport network and offers a future-proof way to tackle the risk of reliance on satellite-based timing. From governments concerned with the growing risk of blocked GNSS signals to mobile network operators rolling out next-generation services, our TrueTime™ technology will prove invaluable,” said Henning Hinderthür, VP, product line management, ADVA. “TrueTime combines our PTP-optimized FSP 3000 optical transport with our ultra-precise Oscilloquartz technology, including PTP grandmasters with ePRTC capabilities in the core and boundary clock class D technology in metro locations. This even reduces cost and complexity by eliminating the need for unnecessary equipment, enabling operators to streamline their timing infrastructure.”

http://www.adva.com



Jabil Photonics tests its CFP2 Digital Coherent Optics 100G/200G module

 Jabil successfully completed live network trials for the application of its CFP2 Digital Coherent Optics (DCO) 100G/200G module in unamplified metro regional link scenarios.

The first network scenario showcased an unamplified metro Wavelength-Division Multiplexing (WDM) point-to-point link with 8 channels at 100Gb/s rate with the module achieving a 32dB error-free link (approximately 130Km single mode fiber) using the 100G Quadrature Phase Shift Keying (QPSK) with Soft-Decision Forward Error Correction (SD-FEC) mode enablement.

The second network scenario for the same CFP2 DCO module involved a single channel 100Gb/s application reaching a 38dB 100G error-free link (more than 150Km single mode fiber) with the same working mode.

“The success of these network scenario trials demonstrates that Jabil’s module design can achieve these significant results, positioning the 100G/200G CFP2 DCO module as an optimized solution for unamplified metro datacenter interconnect and 5G networks,” said Stefano Schiavoni, vice president and GM of Jabil’s Photonics business unit.

https://www.jabil.com/industries/photonics.html


Equinix completes acquisition of 13 data centers from Bell Canada

Equinix completed its previously announced acquisition of 13 data centers in Canada from Bell. The all-cash deal was valued at CA$1.041 billion and includes more than 600 customers, of which more than 500 are new to Equinix, and approximately 1.2 million gross square feet of data center space. Equinix and Bell have entered into an strategic partnership to integrated networking and hybrid multicloud services that combine Bell’s telecommunication services and technology expertise with Equinix’s global platform of interconnected data center and business ecosystems.  

Equinix now operates 15 data centers in Canada. Equinix also announced that Andrew Eppich, a six-year veteran of Equinix originally from Toronto, has been appointed Managing Director, Canada. 

Finally, Equinix and Bell have begun a strategic partnership that delivers industry-leading joint offers in Canada and globally. This partnership will enable enterprises in Canada to leverage integrated networking and hybrid multicloud services, combining Bell’s telecommunication services and technology expertise with Equinix’s global platform of interconnected data center and business ecosystems.  


Equinix to acquire 13 data centers from Bell Canada

Equinix agreed to acquire a portfolio of 13 data centers across Canada from BCE Inc. ("Bell") for US$750 million (CA$1,041 million) in cash.

The 13 data center sites, which represent 25 Bell data center facilities, are expected to generate approximately US$105 million annualized revenue, which represents a purchase multiple of approximately 15x EV / adjusted EBITDA.  The deal includes approximately 1.2 million gross square feet of data center space and 400,000 square feet of colocation space.

The deal will expand Equinix's coverage in Canada coast to coast, making it a market leader in data center and interconnection services. In addition to adding new capacity in Toronto, Ontario, where Equinix currently operates two International Business Exchange data centers, it will extend Equinix's interconnection services to seven new metros. These metros include Calgary, Alberta; Kamloops and Vancouver, British Columbia; Millidgeville, New Brunswick; Montreal, Quebec; Ottawa, Ontario; and Winnipeg, Manitoba.

Oracle activates cloud data center in Dubai

 Oracle announced the availability of the first of two planned second-generation Cloud regions in the UAE. Located in Dubai, the new Cloud region will offer all Oracle Cloud services, including Oracle Autonomous Database and Oracle Cloud Applications.  Etisalat is the telecom partner for the Oracle Cloud region in Dubai.

This brings the nuber of Oracle Cloud Regions worldwide to 26.  Oracle has previously outlined plans to to have 36 Cloud regions worldwide by July 2021. 

“The contribution of digital economy to the UAE’s GDP stood at 4.3 per cent in 2019, and His Highness Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Vice President and Prime Minister of the UAE and Ruler of Dubai, has set a target to double this contribution by enhancing the country’s digital readiness. Oracle’s second-generation cloud region in Dubai will help accelerate the digital transformation initiatives of organizations across the UAE’ government entities, large enterprise and SMEs, thus directly supporting the country’s economic vision,” said Abdul Rahman Al Thehaiban, senior vice president – Technology, MEA & CEE, Oracle.

“With this strategic announcement, Etisalat will be part of Oracle’s growth path on bringing the next generation of cloud to the region. During this unprecedented period, global markets are looking at enhancing digital services availability and adding new capacities for businesses and the entire community. The partnership with Oracle further complements the existing capabilities of Etisalat which brings flexibility and availability for the private and public sector through the deployment of Oracle’s next generation of cloud services,” said Salvador Anglada, Group Chief Business Officer, Etisalat.



Cisco to acquire Portshift for Kubernetes-native security platform

 Cisco agreed to acquire Portshift, a start-up based in Tel Aviv, Israel, offering a Kubernetes-native security platform. Financial terms were not disclosed.

Portshift is focused on application security solutions. Its platform adopts an agentless approach using a Kubernetes admission controller for seamless integration and native enforcement. This serves as Kubernetes-native guardrails for deployed containers.

In a blog post, Cisco's Liz Centoni writes that "Portshift aligns to Cisco’s approach of providing secure connectivity between users, devices and apps, wherever they reside; visibility and actionable insights from the end user to the application; a simplified consumption model that includes cloud-first Secure Access Service Edge (SASE) capabilities; commitment to an open source and open standards philosophy; and breaking down the siloes between developers, security teams, infrastructure teams, operations and SRE teams."

https://www.portshift.io/

VMware to acquire SaltStack for automation platform

VMware has agreed to acquire SaltStack, a developer of security software for event-driven IT automation, remote task execution, and configuration management. Financial terms were not disclosed.

SaltStack, which is based in Utah, offers an open source automation platform written in Python for configuration management. Year to date, the company reports 17M+ downloads and more than 260 new contributors for its project.

https://www.saltstack.com/blog/salt-community-announcement-vmware-acquisition-news/




UK's Huawei Cyber Security Evaluation Centre cites flaws

 The UK's Huawei Cyber Security Evaluation Centre (HCSEC) Oversight Board issued its sixth annual report concerning risks arising from the involvement of Huawei in parts of the

United Kingdom’s critical national infrastructure. The report discusses a security flaw of "national significance" with currently deployed equipment and well as systemic problems in the way Huawei has mitigated previous problems.

The HCSEC report states it "has not yet seen anything to give it confidence in Huawei’s capacity to successfully complete the elements of its transformation programme that it has proposed as a means of addressing these underlying defects. The Board will require sustained evidence of better software engineering and cyber security quality verified by HCSEC and NCSC."

In addition, the Oversight Board stated it "can only provide limited assurance that all risks to UK national security from Huawei’s involvement in the UK’s critical networks can be sufficiently mitigated long-term."

https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/huawei-cyber-security-evaluation-centre-oversight-board-annual-report-2020




Chua Sock Koong steps down as CEO of Singtel

 Ms Chua Sock Koong has decided to retire as Singtel's Group Chief Executive Officer on 1 January 2021. 

The Singtel Board has appointed Mr Yuen Kuan Moon to succeed Chua as the Group’s CEO. Yuen, currently the CEO of Singtel’s Singapore Consumer Business and the Chief Digital Officer, is a Singtel veteran who joined the Group in 1993. He has risen through the ranks of the company, with leadership positions in marketing, business development and sales, and Telkomsel in Indonesia, before his appointment as CEO, Consumer Singapore in 2012. 

Mr Lee Theng Kiat, Chairman of Singtel, said, “On behalf of the Board, I want to acknowledge Sock Koong’s demonstrated leadership and outstanding contributions to Singtel.”

“Sock Koong is one of Singapore’s most successful CEOs and has played a key role in making Singtel the operationally and financially strong company it is today. Joining when it was still a statutory board, she has led the company through its corporatisation, market listing, market deregulation in Singapore and regionalisation. Under her leadership, Singtel added Optus in Australia to its portfolio, building an unrivalled footprint across Asia, with stakes in all the lead telecom players in India, Indonesia, Philippines and Thailand. In 2012, Sock Koong led the Group on its digital transformation, which included the digitalisation of its core telecom business as well as the growth of new digital businesses. This has seen the building out of its global cyber security business which continues to scale. She has also developed a strong enterprise business with a thriving ICT arm in NCS. In recent months, Sock Koong led the team on its 5G investment plans that not only promises 5G coverage for Singapore but repositions Singtel for growth in the converging world of telecoms and tech.”

Ms Chua said, “It has been an immense privilege to be involved in Singtel’s growth and transformation. It has been an amazing 31 years, 13 of those as GCEO.”



CommScope appoints Charles Treadway as CEO

CommScope appointed Charles “Chuck” Treadway as its new president and CEO, replacing Eddie Edwards, who is stepping down after 15 years of service to the company. 

Most recently, Mr. Treadway served as CEO of Accudyne Industries, where he drove significant revenue growth and margin expansion with strategic focus, product innovation, improved sales and marketing efforts, and disciplined execution.

CommScope also announced that Frank M. Drendel, in recognition of his unique status and distinguished service to CommScope, has been named Chairman Emeritus. Mr. Drendel founded CommScope in 1976 and has served continuously as its CEO and/or Chairman of the Board since. In those capacities, Mr. Drendel has advanced the evolution of CommScope from a small coaxial cable business established at his kitchen table into the diversified, global communications infrastructure business that it is today.

. Drendel will remain on the Board and is succeeded as Chairman by Bud Watts, who most recently served as the Board’s Lead Independent Director.