Nokia migrates its on-premise IT infrastructure to Google Cloud

 Nokia and Google Cloud entered into a five-year strategic collaboration under which Nokia will migrate its on-premise IT infrastructure onto Google Cloud. Specifically, Nokia will migrate its data centers and servers around the world, as well as various software applications, onto Google Cloud infrastructure. Nokia will also use a suite of Google Cloud products and professional services.  Nokia plans to exit its IT data centers on a rapid schedule. In addition, Nokia’s infrastructure and applications will run in the public cloud or in a Software-as-a-Service model going forward.

Nokia said the deal reflects its operational shift to a cloud-first IT strategy.

Rob Enslin, President at Google Cloud, said: “We are excited to help Nokia revamp its IT infrastructure with our backbone network and our approach to data security, using advanced software-defined networking. We look forward to providing the full menu of our capabilities to help Nokia deliver on its cloud-first strategy and reach its performance requirements.”

Ravi Parmasad, VP Global IT Infrastructure at Nokia, said: “Nokia is on a digital transformation path that is about fundamentally changing how we operate and do business. This is crucial for how our employees collaborate so that we continue to raise the bar on meeting the needs of our customers. 

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Fujitsu expands family of 400G pluggable coherent transceivers

Fujitsu Optical Components Limited (FOC) released a 400G ZR+ transceiver that enables coherent WDM transmission greater than 120km in the same form factors (QSFP56-DD and OSFP) as its 400G ZR transceiver. 

FOC has started sample shipments of 400G ZR transceivers, expecting high volume commercial deployment of these 400G coherent products to begin in 2021.

The OpenZR+ MSA aims to expand the transmission distance by using higher performance OFEC (Open Forward Error Correction) from the OpenROADM standard, support multi-rate Ethernet, and enable the selection of the optimum transmission distance and capacity for user needs by supporting adjustable 100G, 200G, 300G, and 400G line side transport links. Separately, the Open ROADM MSA is moving forward with standardization focused on carrier applications and the specifications of flexible coherent pluggable transceivers that support additional specifications not in 400ZR, such as high optical output power, multi-rate, multiplexing function, and additional protocols such as OTN. 

FOC's 400G ZR+ transceiver is available in the same compact QSFP56 -DD and OSFP form factors as the 400ZR. In addition, the use of OFEC, which has higher performance than the CFEC used in 400ZR, allows for a longer transmission reach and ensures the desired interoperability. 

NTT Electronics and Acacia Communications have successfully completed module-level interoperability testing between DSPs in 400ZR and OpenZR+ operatiing modes,using modules supplied by FOC and Acacia. The line interface is configurable from 100GE to 400GE, enabling a wide range of transmission distances. The client interface supports 100GE to 400GE for efficient multiplexing, as shown below in a 4x100G to 400G muxponder application.

FOC’s 400G coherent pluggable transceivers use a next-generation coherent platform based on 7nm CMOS process coherent DSP (Digital Signal Processor), silicon photonics integrated optical devices, and high-density packaging technology. This enables a compact size, low power consumption and low cost per bit rate.

https://www.fujitsu.com/jp/group/foc/en/resources/news/press-releases/2020/20201009.html

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FCC qualifies bidders for $16B Rural Digital Opportunity Fund

 The FCC has qualified 386 applicants to bid in the upcoming Rural Digital Opportunity Fund Phase I auction. 

Qualified bidders will compete to receive up to $16 billion over ten years to provide broadband to wholly unserved areas, with priority given to bids for higher speeds (up to 1 Gbps) and lower latency.

“With today’s announcement, we are taking one of the last steps before ringing the opening bell for the Rural Digital Opportunity Fund, our biggest and boldest step yet to bridge the digital divide for over 10 million unserved consumers across rural America,” said FCC Chairman Ajit Pai.  “The unprecedented interest in this auction is due in large part to key decisions by the FCC, including providing substantial funding and promoting technological neutrality toward potential bidding participants, as well as our staff’s extensive work to spread awareness of the program and ensure the broadest participation in a competitive auction that will deliver real benefits to rural Americans across the country.” 

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IDC: Worldwide IT and business services revenue hit by pandemic

Due to the pandemic, worldwide IT and business services revenue declined 1.9% year over year (in constant currency) during the first half of 2020 (1H20), according to the International Data Corporation (IDC) Worldwide Semiannual Services Tracker. IDC estimates services revenue fell below $500 billion (in constant currency) in 1H20. Taking into account the strengthening dollar, the actual decline was 3.7% yoy.

Some key insights from IDC:

• IDC forecasts the market to continue to decline throughout the year, however, the near-term outlook is less pessimistic than a few months ago. The June market forecast update projected the market to decline 2.8% for 2020. The current forecast tempers that to just a 2.3% decline. 
• The forecast growth rate for 2021 has also been increased by 500 basis points, from 1.4% to 1.9%, reflecting optimism for a quicker and stronger recovery.
• IDC's view on the supply side remains intact. Most services providers have helped their clients' employees transition to working from home without major hiccups. As most providers expect to continue remote working throughout the year and even well into 2021, productivity and potential employee burnout remain a top challenge and concern for leadership. IDC believes that the short-term financial impact will be limited.
• The demand-side shock was indeed severe and immediate. Most large global vendors, including top Indian services providers, saw their second quarter reported revenue growth reduced by at least a few percentage points from pre-COVID-19 levels.
• Some vendors are reporting strong bookings in the second quarter and more active pipelines despite declining revenues. Sales teams are adopting quickly to virtual B2B selling and taking advantage the expanded "mind-share" of senior business leaders (more time or freed up due to no travelling/commuting and more open-minded to new ideas and new ways of doing things, unlocked by the crisis). This has already contributed to large deal making in the third quarter. Most vendors believe that in the long run the crisis is a net-positive with the COVID-19 crisis tipping organizations and consumers over to the digital world.
• From a regional perspective, IDC's outlook for the US services market is slightly more pessimistic, but improved for several major international markets, including Europe and China. 
• In the Americas, the services market is forecast to contract 2.7% in 2020, a slight improvement from the 2.3% contraction in the June update. 
• The forecast for Europe received significant upward adjustments in this forecast update. While the Euro area GDP is still projected to shrink by more than 8% this year, it is less severe than previously expected.

https://www.idc.com/getdoc.jsp?containerId=prUS46934520

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Spark New Zealand launches 5G with Nokia

Spark New Zealand launched 5G services in the Auckland Viaduct area using Nokia’s AirScale radio portfolio. 

Spark New Zealand and Nokia have a long-established relationship, crossing multiple domains, including IP, optical and wireless. Nokia and Spark have collaborated extensively on 5G technology, with Nokia supporting Spark’s 5G networks across New Zealand. The service rollout in Auckland adds to Nokia’s solid 5G momentum in the region, while it allows Spark to offer additional services in high traffic areas.

New Zealand blocks Huawei from 5G Infrastructure

Wednesday, November 28, 2018  Huawei, New Zealand  

The government of New Zealand will block Huawei from participating in 5G infrastructure.

Spark New Zealand disclosed that the Director-General of the Government Communications Security Bureau (GCSB) has notified the company of the decision based on national security concerns.

Spark was planning on deploying Huawei equipment in its 5G RAN rollout. Spark said is disappointed by the decision but remains on track to launch 5G services by mid-2020.

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Adamo picks Ekinops for optical transport in Spain

Adamo has selected Ekinops' FlexRate optical transport solution as part of a €250 million infrastructure investment which will deliver fiber optic services to homes and businesses in less densely populated areas across Spain. 

Adamo is currently deploying the Ekinops 200G FlexRate, a high-capacity optical transport platform which provides native 100 Gbps services. In combination with the aggregation of multiple 10GbE clients together on a single high-speed 200 Gbps link, it significantly lowers the cost-per-bit and operational expenditure, in addition to providing  400G and 600G compliance to accommodate future network growth. Ekinops' Celestis NMS (Network Management System) is also installed to monitor the network infrastructure to prevent outages and minimize service disruption.

"Adamo's mission is to provide greater internet connectivity to Spain's rural areas and smaller cities which are not well served by other operators," says Martin Czermin, CEO, Adamo. "Central to this mission is extending our backbone network and this cannot happen without a trusted supplier. Working with Ekinops is helping us to provide competitive and future-proofed high-speed optical fiber services to the market at the lowest cost per bit, with better than the required reliability."   

"Adamo's aim to provide high-quality internet and telecom services outside of key cities is admirable, and especially poignant in today's world where connectivity to work and loved ones is crucial," says Frank Dedobbeleer, Group Vice President Sales EMEA & APAC at Ekinops. "This seven figure implementation demonstrates how Ekinops can work with service providers to strengthen their optical fiber network with a robust, efficient solution which is able to overcome complex requirements such as Adamo's. We look forward to providing continued support as the company works towards its business goals."

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China Telecom completes 5G SA call with Ericsson Spectrum Sharing

China Telecom (Sichuan) completed China’s first 5G Standalone (SA 5G) Ericsson Spectrum Sharing data call on a commercial network. The milestone was achieved recently on China Telecom’s 2.1GHz commercial 5G network in Deyang City, Sichuan Province.

Ericsson said the demo  shows that Ericsson Spectrum Sharing can be deployed on a dual mode 5G Core-enabling Standalone 5G network. It provides another option for communications service providers such as China Telecom to speed up the roll-out of 5G services. This means China Telecom can roll out FDD New Radio 5G SA networks as part of its wider 5G commercial deployment in the country.

Per Narvinger, Head of Product Area Networks, Ericsson, says: “This achievement shows how communications service providers can use the advantages of the fast and cost-efficient 5G coverage enabled by Ericsson Spectrum Sharing to deploy 5G Standalone. This will create business opportunities for our customers and deliver superior user experiences for 5G subscribers. This is a key milestone for bringing 5G to everyone.”

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