Verizon Business offers managed Kubernetes for edge and multi-cloud

Verizon Business introduced VNS Application Edge service for managing Kubernetes clusters and containerized app deployment. The offering was developed in collaboration with Rafay Systems.

Verizon's VNS Application Edge is a Platform as a Service (PaaS) offering that provides a turnkey automation framework for Kubernetes. Verizon will now deliver a unified experience for both network and containerized application lifecycle management, using a single orchestrated platform and end-to-end service management even in complex, multi-cloud and multi-cluster environments.

Potential use cases for VNS Application Edge include:

• Apply computer vision models at the edge to Instrumentation and Telemetry data in the field for near-real-time anomaly detection and mitigation
• 
  Improve in-store customer experience by deploying microservices in retail and enterprise locations to automate inventory management, order handling, and more.
• Predictive Maintenance - Improve assembly output quality, reduce downtime and maintenance costs in manufacturing with the latest IOT technology, leveraging AI/ML innovations, right at the edge.

“VNS Application Edge is key to enterprises evolving to deliver a new set of experiences and functionalities,” said Aamir Hussain, SVP Chief Product Officer, Verizon Business. “With enterprises able to easily and rapidly deploy applications anywhere across multi-cloud and edge environments, enterprises can quickly adapt to meet market needs and further enhance the customer experience.”

“Verizon has a track record of launching successful, enterprise-focused offerings, and we are excited to partner with them on the VNS Application Edge solution,” said Haseeb Budhani, co-founder and CEO of Rafay Systems. “With a majority of enterprises modernizing their applications to meet market needs, VNS Application Edge is the right offering at the right time to help enterprises accelerate their application modernization journeys.”

Read More

Telefónica Peru to deploy TIP-developed Disaggregated Cell Site Gateway

Telefónica Peru will commercially deploy a Disaggregated Cell Site Gateway (DCSG) solution based on a Telecom Infra Project (TIP) design and using Infinera’s DRX-30 hardware and Converged Network Operating System (CNOS). The deployment is part of Telefónica’s Fusión Project, an initiative that aims to transform Telefónica’s global transport network by simplifying network operations while increasing capacity for customers.

The deployment of TIP’s DCSG solution in Peru is intended to support 4G and 5G mobile connectivity and fixed services across Telefónica’s global footprint. 

“The DCSG solution deployed is comprised of open and disaggregated hardware and software from Infinera, enabling Telefónica to prepare its nationwide transport network for upcoming new services, which will help increase the agility in the introduction of new functionalities and drive operational efficiencies,” said Victor López, network architect at Telefónica and co-chair of the Open Optical Packet Transport group at TIP.

“Infinera is excited to work alongside TIP to develop open, disaggregated solutions to support the delivery of high-capacity mobile transport solutions for the 5G era,” said Mikko Hannula, Vice President, Engineering & Product Management at Infinera. “The expansion of the DCSG network deployment with Telefónica Peru further validates the commercial viability of DCSG for large-scale commercial rollouts in diverse and competitive markets.”

“We are excited to see such a wide industry adoption of DCSG tech in large-scale live deployments,” said Luis MartinGarcia, Network Technologies Manager at Facebook and co-chair of the DCSG group at TIP. “The collaboration between leading global service providers and technology suppliers in TIP’s open community has been critical to advancing carrier-class DCSG implementations that are beginning to deliver real-world value.”

Telefónica leads first TIP Disaggregated Cell Site Gateway deployment

Monday, November 11, 2019  Infinera, TIP  

Telefónica is undertaking the first large-scale commercial deployment of Disaggregated Cell Site Gateways (DCSG) technology developed by Telecom Infra Project (TIP). Infinera, and Edgecore Networks are suppliers for the project. Initially part of a recently announced nationwide open mobile transport deployment by Telefónica in Germany, the DCSG solution is a white-box cell site gateway device based on an open and disaggregated architecture for existing...

READ MORE

Telefónica Deutschland deploys Infinera DRX disaggregated routers

Monday, September 30, 2019  Germany, Infinera  

Telefónica Deutschland, a Tier 1 operator in Germany, selected theTelefónica Deutschland, Series to modernize its nationwide mobile transport network. The Infinera DRX Series, a disaggregated router family that combines a carrier-class white box portfolio with the Infinera CNOS software, enables Telefónica Deutschland to prepare its nationwide mobile transport network for 5G mobile services with scale, efficiency, and automation. Telefónica...

READ MORE

Read More

Huawei's growth rate slows to 10%

Huawei reported revenue of CNY671.3 billion (approximately US$100.42 billion) for the first three quarters of 2020, an increase of 9.9% over the same period last year. The company said it achieved a net profit margin in this period was 8.0%, in line with its expectations.

Huawei also said its global supply chain is being put "under intense pressure and its production and operations face significant challenges" due to COVID-19. 

https://www.huawei.com/en/news/2020/10/huawei-announces-q3-2020-business-results-business-performance

Huawei reports a 13% increase in 1H sales to US$64.9 biliion

Tuesday, July 14, 2020  Financials, Huawei  

The company issued the following statement: "As countries around the globe are grappling with the COVID-19 pandemic, information and communications technologies (ICT) have become not only a crucial tool for combatting the virus, but also an engine for economic recovery. Huawei reiterated its commitment to working with carriers and industry partners to maintain stable network operations, accelerate digital transformation, and support efforts to contain local outbreaks and reopen local economies."

Huawei reported overall revenue of CNY454 billion (approx. US$64.9 billion) in revenue for the first half of 2020, a 13.1% increase year-on-year, with a net profit margin of 9.2%.

Huawei's carrier, enterprise, and consumer businesses achieved CNY159.6 billion, CNY36.3 billion, and CNY255.8 billion in revenue, respectively.  "The complex external environment makes open collaboration and trust in global value chains more important than ever. Huawei has promised to continue fulfilling its obligations to customers and suppliers, and to survive, forge ahead, and contribute to the global digital economy and technological development, no matter what future challenges the company faces."

Read More

Intel posts a 7% drop in Q3 data center group revenue

Citing COVID-19 effects in enterprise and government, Intel reported third-quarter revenue of $18.3 billion, down 4 percent year-over-year (YoY). Data-centric revenue declined 10 percent while PC-centric revenue was better than expected, up 1 percent YoY. Third-quarter GAAP earnings-per-share (EPS) was $1.02, down 25 percent YoY; non-GAAP EPS of $1.11 was down 22 percent YoY, above July expectations.

"Our teams delivered solid third-quarter results that exceeded our expectations despite pandemic-related impacts in significant portions of the business,” said Bob Swan, Intel CEO. “Nine months into 2020, we’re forecasting growth and another record year, even as we manage through massive demand shifts and economic uncertainty. We remain confident in our strategy and the long-term value we’ll create as we deliver leadership products and aim to win share in a diversified market fueled by data and the rise of AI, 5G networks and edge computing.”

Some highlights

• In the Data Center Group (DCG), Cloud revenue grew 15 percent YoY on continued demand.
• DCG's Enterprise & Government market segment was down 47 percent YoY following two quarters of more than 30 percent growth.
• The pandemic also weighed on third-quarter data-centric results in the Internet of Things Group and the memory business (NSG). 
• Mobileye revenue returned to growth in the third quarter as global vehicle production improved. The business also launched its new Mobileye SuperVision surround-view ADAS solution.
• The PC-centric business (CCG) was up 1 percent YoY in the third quarter on continued notebook strength to support the work- and learn-at-home dynamics of COVID-19. 
• Intel's third 10nm manufacturing facility, which is located in Arizona, is now fully operational and the company now expects to ship 30% higher 10nm product volumes in 2020 compared to January expectations.

http://www.intc.com/results.cfm

Read More

Telefónica bets on cybersecurity startups

Telefónica is launched a new investment vehicle to foster cybersecurity startups.

Telefónica Tech Ventures, which is promoted by Telefónica ElevenPaths cybersecurity company and Telefónica Innovation Ventures (TIV), aims to discover and support the most innovative ideas in cybersecurity. It begins operations with a group of nine invested cybersecurity startups selected from the portfolio of TIV and Wayra, Telefónica’s global open innovation hub. Over the next three years it also intends to invest in up to 15 startups, both early-stage and more mature ones, entering into series A, B and C and devoting the necessary resources to execute follow-ons in the best-performing startups.

The new investments will be geared towards startups with high disruptive potential in areas such as threat intelligence, cloud security, data protection and the application of automations and artificial intelligence in defence of any organisation, regardless of its size and the nature of the asset to be protected (e.g. its business, IT/OT processes, data, people, image or reputation). The focus of the investments will be on the strategic markets for Telefónica (Spain, Brazil, Germany and the United Kingdom) and other significant technological markets such as the United States and Israel, with an investment ticket of up to 6 million euros. Telefónica Tech Ventures will target startups that can complement the ElevenPaths product portfolio, integrate new capabilities into the company and even establish themselves as M&A opportunities.

“Since we created ElevenPaths eight years ago we’ve remained close to the entrepreneurial ecosystem and the hacking community and this new vehicle will enable us to get even closer”, declared Chema Alonso, chief digital consumer officer at Telefónica and current chairman of ElevenPaths. “It will be an opportunity for them not only to have Telefónica as an investor but also to turn us into a customer or even a business partner, thus providing them with the chance to develop their projects around the world”.

Read More

US Conec develops 1x16 Multimode ferrule

US Conec, a leading supplier of high-density optical interconnects, introduced 16 fiber multimode MT Elite ferrules optimized for angled physical contact (APC). 

The new MT-16 ferrule is developed to support next-generation, high-speed link applications using transmission protocols, which require enhanced return loss performance.

US Conec said emerging multimode link designs using pulse-amplitude modulation are susceptible to multipath interference issues requiring return loss performance beyond industry norms. The enhanced return loss requirements are unattainable with traditional physical contact multimode connector designs. Optimized for angled physical contact, the new 1x16 multimode APC MT Elite ferrule enables return loss of >50 dB while offering US Conec's industry hailed MT Elite low insertion loss performance.

The new multimode MT Elite MT-16 ferrule is compatible with US Conec's TIA-604-18 compliant MTP-16 connector product family. Samples are now available for evaluation. 

Read More

AT&T reports wireless and fiber subscriber gains as overall revenue dips

 AT&T reported consolidated revenues for the third quarter of $42.3 billion, down 5% from $44.6 billion in the year-ago quarter. Third-quarter net income attributable to common stock was $2.8 billion, or $0.39 per diluted common share, versus $3.7 billion, or $0.50 per diluted common share, in the year-ago quarter.

AT&T said the COVID-19 pandemic impacted revenues across all businesses, particularly WarnerMedia and also domestic wireless service revenues, primarily from lower international roaming. For the quarter, revenue declines included domestic video, Warner Bros. television and theatrical products, legacy wireline services and Latin America due to foreign exchange pressure. These declines were partly offset by higher wireless equipment revenues and higher advertising revenues associated with timing shift of sports from the first half of 2020.

“We delivered a solid quarter with good subscriber momentum in our market focus areas of connectivity and software-based entertainment,” said John Stankey, AT&T chief executive officer. “Wireless postpaid growth was the strongest that it’s been in years with one million net additions, including 645,000 phones. We added more than 350,000 fiber broadband customers and are on track to grow our fiber base by more than 25% this year. And we continue to grow and scale HBO Max, with total domestic HBO and HBO Max subscribers topping 38 million — well ahead of our expectations for the full year. Our strong cash flow in the quarter positions us to continue investing in our growth areas and pay down debt. We now expect 2020 free cash flow of $26 billion or higher with a full-year dividend payout ratio in the high 50s%.”

Communications 

Mobility:

• More than 5 million total domestic wireless net adds
• More than 1 million postpaid net adds, including 645,000 postpaid phones (phones include 151,000 Keep Americans Connected Pledge (KACP) paying accounts)
• 245,000 prepaid net adds, including 131,000 prepaid phone net adds
• Postpaid phone churn of 0.69%, significant improvement year over year (0.77% when excluding KACP paying accounts)
• Service revenues down 0.3% due to decline in international roaming; equipment revenues up year over year
• Fastest nationwide 5G network and, for the 7th consecutive quarter in a row, the fastest network in the nation

Entertainment Group:

• A record high 357,000 AT&T Fiber net adds and 158,000 total broadband net adds (includes 28,000 and 104,000 KACP paying accounts, respectively).
• Solid IP broadband and video ARPU gains
• AT&T TV gains helped offset premium TV loss
• 590,000 net loss, the result of lower churn and higher quality base (includes 116,000 KACP paying accounts)

WarnerMedia 

• Total domestic HBO and HBO Max subscribers4 top 38 million and 57 million5 worldwide, respectively
• 38 million exceeds previously announced year-end target of 36 million
• HBO Max activations more than doubled from second-quarter levels
• HBO Max advertising-supported service on track to launch in 2021
• Industry-leading 38 Primetime and 15 News and Documentary Emmy Awards
• Results impacted by the COVID-19 disruption and return of sports programming in the quarter

Read More

Verizon reports decline in Q3 revenue citing COVID-19, raises guidance

Verizon reported consolidated Q3 operating revenues of $31.5 billion, down 4.1 percent from third-quarter 2019.  EPS was $1.05, compared with $1.25 in third-quarter 2019, including approximately negative 5 cents of COVID-19-related net impacts. Third-quarter 2020 EPS included a net pre-tax charge of about $1.1 billion related to a mark-to-market adjustment for pension liabilities. 

“We continue to demonstrate our strength and resilience by delivering very strong third quarter financial results,” said Verizon Chairman and CEO Hans Vestberg. “We are energized by the transformational technology that our 5G Ultra Wideband and 5G nationwide bring. Our purpose-driven culture paired with our network leadership will shape the future, for the better."

Year-to-date capital expenditures were $14.2 billion.

Some highlights:

Consumer

• Total Verizon Consumer revenues were $21.7 billion, a decrease of 4.3 percent year over year, primarily driven by a significant decrease in wireless equipment revenue due to reduced customer activity. 
• Consumer reported 136,000 wireless retail postpaid net additions. This consisted of 142,000 phone net additions and 113,000 tablet net losses, offset by 107,000 other connected device net additions. Postpaid smartphone net additions were 258,000.
• Consumer wireless service revenues were $13.4 billion in third-quarter 2020, a 0.7 percent decrease year over year.
• Total retail postpaid churn was 0.80 percent in third-quarter 2020, and retail postpaid phone churn was 0.63 percent. 
• Consumer reported 139,000 Fios Internet net additions in third-quarter 2020, an increase from 30,000 Fios Internet net additions in third-quarter 2019. Consumer and Business reported 144,000 total Fios Internet net additions, the most Fios Internet net additions since fourth-quarter 2014. Consumer reported 61,000 Fios Video net losses in third-quarter 2020, reflecting the ongoing shift from traditional linear video to over-the-top offerings. 
• In third-quarter 2020, segment operating income was $7.4 billion, a decrease of 0.7 percent year over year, and segment operating income margin was 34.2 percent, an increase from 33.0 percent in third-quarter 2019. Segment EBITDA (non-GAAP) totaled $10.3 billion in third-quarter 2020, flat year over year. Segment EBITDA margin (non-GAAP) was 47.4 percent in third-quarter 2020, up from 45.3 percent in third-quarter 2019, and included approximately 60 basis points of headwind from the deferral of commission expense. 

Business results

• Total Verizon Business revenues were $7.7 billion, down 1.7 percent year over year. The Business segment continues to be resilient through a challenging environment as the company provides critical solutions to customers across state and local government agencies and education providers.
• Business reported 417,000 wireless retail postpaid net additions in third-quarter 2020. This consisted of 141,000 phone net additions, 86,000 tablet net additions, and 190,000 other connected device additions.
• Business wireless service revenues were $3.0 billion in third-quarter 2020, a 4.9 percent increase year over year, primarily driven by Public Sector and Small and Medium Business. 
• Total retail postpaid churn was 1.19 percent in third-quarter 2020, and retail postpaid phone churn was 0.96 percent.  
• In third-quarter 2020, segment operating income was $923 million, a decrease of 5.5 percent year over year, and segment operating income margin was 11.9 percent, compared with 12.4 percent in third-quarter 2019. Segment EBITDA (non-GAAP) totaled $2.0 billion in third-quarter 2020, a decrease of 1.9 percent year over year. Segment EBITDA margin (non-GAAP) was 25.2 percent, which was flat year over year.

Media results

• Total Verizon Media revenues were $1.7 billion, down 7.4 percent year over year, but an increase of 21.2 percent from second-quarter 2020. 
• Year over year revenue trends improved each month during third-quarter 2020. 
• Trends resulting from the COVID-19 pandemic continued to impact both search and advertising in the quarter, though Media continues to drive increased customer engagement on its owned and operated properties.

Read More

Zayo appoints Steve Smith as its new CEO

Zayo Group named Steve Smith as Chief Executive Officer, replacing Dan Caruso.. 

Smith was recently a Managing Director of the Private Equity firm GI Partners. Before that, he was CEO of Equinix for over 10 years, growing revenues from $400 million to $4.4 billion across 200 data centers, in 52 markets. He is a West Point graduate and an 8-year Army veteran.

“Steve’s track record successfully managing growing digital infrastructure businesses while maintaining high levels of operational reliability and excellence is the perfect fit for Zayo as it enters the next phase of its growth,” said Marc Ganzi, President and Chief Executive Officer of Colony Capital, and CEO of Digital Colony. “Steve will have big shoes to fill. Dan built an amazing company in just over a decade and we look forward to benefiting from his contributions as a key member of our Board of Directors.”

“Dan has built and developed Zayo from a startup into one of the defining companies of the digital transformation,” added Jan Vesely, Partner at EQT Partners, “and we are proud to continue working with Dan and Zayo on our ambitious growth plans for the company.”

DataBank to acquire Zayo's zColo data centers

Tuesday, September 29, 2020  Data Centers, Mergers And Acquisitions, Zayo  

DataBank agreed to acquire Zayo Group's zColo business, including 44 data centers across 23 markets in the U.S. and Europe. Financial terms were not disclosed.

The deal will make DataBank one of the largest privately-held data center operators in the U.S. and a leading provider of edge colocation and connectivity solutions to hyperscale, technology, and content customers across the U.S. Zayo Group will become a significant customer and continue to be an anchor tenant within the zColo facilities. Following completion of the deal, DataBank's assets will include:

• 64 data centers in 29 markets (up from 20 data centers and 9 markets)
• Over 3,000 customers including many Fortune 100 and leading cloud and content providers
• Pro forma annual revenue of over $450M
• 1.1M raised square feet of data center space
• 141 MW of installed UPS capacity
• Over 30,000 network cross connects
• 18 major network interconnection points
• 12 cloud nodes

The transaction is being funded by an investor group led by Colony Capital (NYSE: CLNY), DataBank’s controlling shareholder, which includes Nuveen Real Estate and others. In addition to leading a consortium of world-class institutional investors to support the acquisition, Colony Capital is investing $145 million from its balance sheet to maintain its 20% stake in DataBank. Debt financing associated with the transaction has been underwritten by TD Securities, Truist Securities and Société Générale, acting as Joint Lead Arrangers and Joint Bookrunners for the new Credit Facility.

Zayo shareholders approve acquisition by Digital Colony Partners

Friday, July 26, 2019  Zayo  

Shareholders of Zayo Group Holdings approved all proposals related to the definitive merger agreement to be acquired by affiliates of Digital Colony Partners and the EQT Infrastructure IV fund.

“Today’s favorable shareholder vote supports our view that this transaction is a very good outcome for shareholders and will enable Zayo to accelerate its growth and strengthen its industry leadership,” said Dan Caruso, chairman and CEO at Zayo. “The entire Zayo team is excited to work with EQT and Digital Colony to leverage our fiber assets to continue to fuel global innovation.”

The closing of the deal is expected to close in the first half of calendar 2020.

Private investors to acquire Zayo for $14.3 billion in cash

Wednesday, May 08, 2019  Zayo  

Affiliates of Digital Colony Partners and the EQT Infrastructure IV fund will acquire Zayo Group Holdings for $35.00 in cash per share of Zayo's common stock in a transaction valued at $14.3 billion, including the assumption of $5.9 billion of Zayo’s net debt obligations. The offer price represents a 32% premium to the volume-weighted price average of the last six months of $26.44.

Read More

MaxLinear raises financial guidance

 MaxLinear announced preliminary results for the third quarter 2020.

“During the third quarter, our business improved significantly with greater-than-expected revenues driven by strong demand in the broadband data access market, as well as market share gains across multiple product lines. We are benefiting from the work-from-home environment that is driving a noticeable inflection in demand for access data bandwidth and its in-home distribution utilizing multigigabit Wi-Fi. Our infrastructure business also saw meaningful quarterly improvements, which supports our positive outlook on new product ramps that are in the early stages of deployment,” commented Kishore Seendripu, Ph.D., Chairman and CEO.

“MaxLinear realized partial quarter contribution from the acquisition of Intel’s Home Gateway Platform Division, which has exceeded our prior expectations of revenue driven by market share gains and the continuing work-from-home dynamics. We have taken expeditious actions to improve the overall profitability and focus of the business which bodes well for continued future success. Additionally, our NanoSemi acquisition, which closed on September 9th, will bolster MaxLinear’s 5G wireless infrastructure product offerings and strengthen our competitive positioning going into 2021. Overall, we are confident that the company is on track to exceed our prior expectations primarily due to new product cycles, market share gains in our broadband business, and disciplined expense management,” continued Dr. Seendripu.

Read More