Ericsson's 5G RAN slicing allocates resources with 1ms scheduling

 Ericsson announced commercial availability of its 5G network slicing solution for radio access networks.

The Ericsson 5G RAN Slicing allocates radio resources at 1 millisecond scheduling and supports multi-dimensional service differentiation handling across slices, ensuring high-quality end-user experience for diverse use cases. This allows for the effective use of dynamic radio resource partitioning, slice-aware quality of service (QoS) enforcement, and slice orchestration functionality for service-level agreement (SLA) fulfilment. 

Per Narvinger, Head of Product Area Networks, Ericsson says: “Ericsson 5G RAN Slicing dynamically optimizes radio resources to deliver significantly more spectrum-efficient radio access network slicing. What makes our solution distinct is that it boosts end-to-end management and orchestration support for fast and efficient service delivery. This gives service providers the differentiation and guaranteed performance needed to monetize 5G investments with diverse use cases. With 5G as innovation platform, we continue to drive value for our customers.”

Ericsson said it now has ongoing 5G network slicing engagements for RAN, transport, core network and orchestration across the globe involving use cases for the consumer segment and enterprises/industry verticals such as video-assisted remote operations, AR/VR, TV/Media for sports event streaming, cloud gaming, smart city, and applications for Industry 4.0 and public safety. 

An Ericsson report estimates USD 712 billion in an addressable consumer market for service providers by 2030. The addressable market for network slicing alone in the enterprise segment is projected at USD 300 billion by 2025 (GSMA data). As 5G scales up, service providers are looking to maximize returns on their investments by targeting innovative and high revenue-generating use cases such as cloud gaming, smart factories, and smart healthcare.

https://www.ericsson.com/4addb2/assets/local/networks/documents/ericsson-5g-ran-slicing.pdf

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RTI and OneQode offer Layer 2 connectivity from Queensland

 RTI Connectivity Pte. Ltd. (RTI) and the OneQode Group (OneQode)  are now offering international layer-2 carrier connectivity from the Sunshine Coast, Queensland via RTI's JGA-S, JGA-N and SEA-US cables, which use a high-capacity fibre branch terminating in Maroochydore, Queensland.

“The Sunshine Coast and wider Queensland area is home to many companies doing amazing things. RTI is passionate about unlocking latent potential in regions we connect our cables to, and we believe there’s an incredible amount of potential here. Connecting Queensland to the world will remove the region’s dependency on other capital cities and allow people to do business like never before.”

https://www.oneqode.com/media/oneqode-fastest-path-to-asia/

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Department of Homeland Security opens $3.4B data center contract

The U.S. Dept. of Homeland Security has opened a Request for Proposal for a single award contract value at $3.355 billion for Data Center and Cloud Optimization (DCCO) Support Services.

The contractor is to provide the Department of Homeland Security and its Components with management of its enterprise data center and to implement and manage its future state enterprise information technology (IT) hosting environment.

The main source of enterprise computing resource for DHS has been Data Center 1 (DC1), a Government Owned Contractor Operated data center located at the NASA Stennis Space Center in Mississippi. NASA owns and manages the data center facility and DHS leases approximately 36,000 square feet of raised floor space in the data center. 

https://beta.sam.gov/opp/17d9f5185e3b42ad89a5d559e578e974/view

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Verizon reports flat trends, continue buildout of 5G Ultra Wideband

Verizon reported total 4Q 2020 revenue of $23.9 billion, a decrease of 1.2 percent year over year. Earnings per share (EPS) amounted to $1.11, compared with $1.23 in 4Q 2019. Net income was $4.7 billion, a decline of 9.6 percent from fourth-quarter 2019, and adjusted EBITDA (non-GAAP) of  $11.7 billion, an increase of 5.3 percent from fourth-quarter 2019.

"Verizon finished the fourth quarter with strong financial performance," said Verizon Chairman and CEO Hans Vestberg. "2020 was marked by transformational change, including the launch of our 5G nationwide network. We witnessed a mass shift toward virtual collaboration, touchless retail and delivery, remote work, distance learning, and telemedicine. We continued to execute our multi-use network strategy; we were recognized by RootMetrics as the best overall wireless provider, undefeated in all categories; and we continue to be the partner of choice for the world’s most innovative brands. 

Some highlights

• Full-year 2020 capital expenditures were $18.2 billion. Capital expenditures continue to support the growth in traffic on the company's 4G LTE network and the continued build-out of the company's 5G Ultra Wideband and nationwide networks. 
• For 2021, capital spending is expected to be in the range of $17.5 billion to $18.5 billion, including the further expansion of 5G Ultra Wideband in new and existing markets, the densification of the wireless network to manage future traffic demands, and the continued deployment of the company's fiber infrastructure. 

Consumer

• Total Verizon Consumer revenues were $23.9 billion, a decrease of 1.2 percent year over year, primarily driven by a decline in wireless equipment revenue due to softer volumes in the quarter. For full-year 2020, total Consumer revenues were $88.5 billion, a decrease of 2.8 percent from full-year 2019, driven by a decline in wireless equipment revenue.
• In fourth-quarter 2020, Consumer reported 357,000 wireless retail postpaid net additions.This consisted of 163,000 phone net additions and 81,000 tablet net losses, offset by 275,000 other connected device net additions. Postpaid smartphone net additions were 284,000.
• Consumer wireless service revenues were $13.6 billion in fourth-quarter 2020, a 1.2 percent increase year over year. Full-year 2020 Consumer wireless service revenues were $53.6 billion, a 0.3 percent decrease from full-year 2019.
• Total retail postpaid churn was 0.96 percent in fourth-quarter 2020, and retail postpaid phone churn was 0.76 percent. 
• Consumer reported 92,000 Fios Internet net additions in fourth-quarter 2020, an increase from 35,000 Fios Internet net additions in fourth-quarter 2019. Consumer and Business reported 95,000 total Fios Internet net additions in fourth-quarter 2020, the most fourth-quarter total Fios Internet net additions since 2014. Consumer reported 72,000 Fios Video net losses in fourth-quarter 2020, reflecting the ongoing shift from traditional linear video to over-the-top offerings. 

Business results

• Total Verizon Business revenues were $8.1 billion, down 0.3 percent year over year. Wireless service revenue growth was offset by reductions in wireless equipment volumes and secular pressure on legacy wireline products. For full-year 2020, total Verizon Business revenues were $31.0 billion, a decrease of 1.5 percent from full-year 2019. 
• Business reported 346,000 wireless retail postpaid net additions in fourth-quarter 2020. This consisted of 116,000 phone net additions, 116,000 tablet net additions, and 114,000 other connected device additions.
• Business wireless service revenues were $3.1 billion in fourth-quarter 2020, a 7.1 percent increase year over year. Full-year 2020 Business wireless service revenues were $11.8 billion, a 5.5 percent increase from full-year 2019.
• Total retail postpaid churn was 1.19 percent in fourth-quarter 2020, and retail postpaid phone churn was 0.98 percent.  

https://www.verizon.com/about/news/verizon-ends-2020-strong-earnings-and-cash-flow-and-increased-wireless-service-revenue-growth

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FCC moves to 5G auction assignment, Rosenworcel appoints staff

The FCC released final guidance on the upcoming assignment phase of the 5G auction of C-band spectrum which has already generated gross proceeds exceeding $80.9 billion.  Bidders that won generic spectrum blocks in the recently concluded clock phase will have the opportunity to bid for their preferred combinations of frequency-specific license assignments, consistent with their clock phase winnings.

Acting FCC Chairwoman Jessica Rosenworcel stated “This auction has exceeded expectations, and, at this point, we are pushing forward to get this critical piece of mid-band spectrum to market quickly, where it will help American consumers tap into next generation wireless services,” said Rosenworcel.  “I thank the FCC staff who work so hard to ensure the success of our spectrum auctions.  Few things we do have as great an impact on the day-to-day lives of the American people as our work to ensure spectrum is available for wireless connectivity.”

Rosenworcel also announced the following appointments:

• P. Michele Ellison, Acting General Counsel
• Joel Taubenblatt, Acting Chief of the Wireless Telecommunications Bureau  
• Travis Litman, Acting Chief of Staff
• Kate Black, Acting Chief Policy Advisor
• Umair Javed, Acting Chief Counsel
• D’wana Terry, Acting Special Advisor to the Chairwoman and Acting Director of the Office of Workplace Diversity
• Sanford Williams, Acting Special Advisor to the Chairwoman and Director, Office of Business Communications Opportunities
• Trent Harkrader, Acting Special Advisor to the Chairwoman and Deputy Bureau Chief, Wireline Competition Bureau
• Holly Saurer, Acting Legal Advisor, Media:  Holly joins the office from the Media Bureau
• David Strickland, Acting Legal Advisor, Consumer, Enforcement, and International
• Ethan Lucarelli, Acting Legal Advisor, Wireless and Public Safety
• Aurelle Porter, Acting Staff Assistant
• Andi Roane, Acting Confidential Assistant

http://www.fcc.gov

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Verizon suffers fiber cut in Brooklyn

 Following widespread outages on the East Coast, Verizon confirmed a fiber cut in Brooklyn.

https://downdetector.com/status/verizon/

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Microsoft Azure clocks revenue growth of 50% YOY

Microsoft reported strong financial performance for the quarter ended 31-December-2020, with overall revenue of $43.1 billion, up 17%; operating income of $17.9 billion, up 29% YOY; net income of $15.5 billion, up 33% YOY; and diluted earnings per share of $2.03, up 34% YOY.

Highlights

 

Revenue in Productivity and Business Processes was $13.4 billion and increased 13% (up 11% in constant currency), with the following business highlights:

• Office Commercial products and cloud services revenue increased 11% (up 9% in constant currency) driven by Office 365 Commercial revenue growth of 21% (up 20% in constant currency)
• Office Consumer products and cloud services revenue increased 7% (up 6% in constant currency) and Microsoft 365 Consumer subscribers increased to 47.5 million
• LinkedIn revenue increased 23% (up 22% in constant currency)
• Dynamics products and cloud services revenue increased 21% (up 18% in constant currency) driven by Dynamics 365 revenue growth of 39% (up 37% in constant currency)

Revenue in Intelligent Cloud was $14.6 billion and increased 23% (up 22% in constant currency), with the following business highlights:

• Server products and cloud services revenue increased 26% (up 24% in constant currency) driven by Azure revenue growth of 50% (up 48% in constant currency)

Revenue in More Personal Computing was $15.1 billion and increased 14% (up 13% in constant currency), with the following business highlights:

• Windows OEM revenue increased 1%
• Windows Commercial products and cloud services revenue increased 10% (up 8% in constant currency)
• Xbox content and services revenue increased 40% (up 38% in constant currency)
• Surface revenue increased 3% (up 1% in constant currency)
• Search advertising revenue excluding traffic acquisition costs increased 2% (up 1% in constant currency)

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ExteNet integrates with Evoque's U.S. data centers

ExteNet Systems, a provider of mobility and fiber connectivity solutions, will integrate its line of cloud and network connectivity services into Evoque’s infrastructure at 14 key data centers throughout the United States.

Evoque Data Center Solutions, headquartered in Dallas, Texas, is one of the world’s 20 largest data center firms. It is a colocation services company that owns and operates 31 data centers across four continents, 11 countries and 25 markets.

Working with ExteNet, the Evoque Connectivity Suite now delivers point-to-point connections over an extensive footprint throughout North America. 

https://www.evoquedcs.com/

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Telefónica's Cloud Garden integrates IBM Cloud Pak, Red Hat

Telefonica introduced its Cloud Garden 2.0, the next phase of Telefonica’s cloud services platform designed to accelerate application modernization. 

Cloud Garden 2.0 is built on IBM Cloud Pak and Red Hat OpenShift. The platform lets Telefónica clients to run their applications based on  containers on premises or in the cloud environment of their choosing, as well as simplify and speed how they bring new solutions to market.

"We are very pleased to have been able to count on the right partners to accelerate our hybrid cloud strategy and offer our clients the speed, flexibility and decision-making power they need to modernize and quickly launch innovative digital services to their users and customers," said Andrés López Hedoire, de Enterprise Product Marketing Director, Telefónica España.

Cloud Garden 2.0 is hosted via Telefonica’s Virtual Data Center in Spain.

https://www.telefonica.com/en/web/press-office/-/telefonica-ibm-and-red-hat-join-forces-to-accelerate-digital-transformation-with-open-hybrid-cloud

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