QSFP-DD Group releases Hardware and Common Mgt Interface Specs

The Quad Small Form Factor Pluggable Double Density (QSFP-DD) Multi Source Agreement (MSA) group released a hardware specification revision 6.0 updating QSFP-DD, introducing QSFP-DD800 and introducing QSFP112.

With the inclusion of support for 100 Gb/s electrical host interfaces, this 7th public release adds QSFP-DD800 and QSFP112 Mechanical and Board Definitions. It also adds QSFP112 electrical and management timing. Revision 6.0 includes updated power supply test methods and support for an increased module power rating to 25 W. The module power contact rating is increased from 1 A to 1.5 A. An appendix with normative connector performance data has also been added.

The group also announces the release of an updated Common Management Interface Specification (CMIS) revision 5.0 for QSFP-DD, QSFP-DD800 and QSFP112. The CMIS defines the host-to-module interactions needed to ensure that modules will initialize and operate consistently. This revision provides several extensions and a comprehensive technical and editorial consolidation. It is harmonized with timing parameters defined in QSFP-DD MSA HW Spec revision 5.1 previously published and in this revision 6.0. CMIS is broadly implemented across the industry, beyond just the QSFP/QSFP-DD family of module types. The feedback from many implementers has also been consolidated to improve and extend the specification.

“It is exciting to see how the 63 companies involved came together to harmonize these important QSFP/QSFP-DD form factors and software to future-proof data centers while maintaining backward compatibility,” said Scott Sommers, founding member, and MSA co-chair.

The MSA group also announces the release of a new thermal management whitepaper. High performance network environments need efficient cooling of pluggable optical modules. This is particularly true for the new high power 25 W modules for QSFP-DD800 systems, which must dissipate heat effectively to ensure operational performance. Careful thermal design of module, cage, heatsink, and the overall system for QSFP-DD modules is required for efficient heat dissipation. This new whitepaper explains techniques that can be used to achieve this goal in QSFP-DD/QSFP-DD800 module design and QSFP-DD/QSFP-DD800 system design. It includes both experimental and simulation studies to demonstrate the efficacy of these techniques.

“The performance and power demands for high-speed network solutions are constantly increasing,” said Mark Nowell, founding member, and MSA co-chair. “This whitepaper captures the design experience garnered over the recent years from many companies and was written to help design engineers understand how they can achieve the thermal characteristics their system requires, even when using new 25 W modules, thus ensuring the reliable operation of their products.”

http://www.qsfp-dd.com

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Movandi tests mmWave repeaters for 5G cellular vehicle-to-everything

Movandi has demonstrated the use of mmWave repeaters that could power 5G cellular vehicle-to-everything (C-V2X) communications for the next generation of connected cars. 

A Movandi BeamXR powered mmWave repeater installed inside a car enabled greater than 10x performance gains with an average throughput of 1.5 Gbps on the Verizon 5G Ultra Wideband network. Test results showed a 25X throughput improvement of a typical 4G LTE service and was conducted on behalf of an industry partner. 

Movandi said 5G access points could be spaced approximately 1,000 meters apart to extend continuous coverage and provide a smooth handoff between gNBs to maintain continuity. 

“Through in-vehicle testing of Movandi powered repeaters in real-world conditions, we’ve proven that our mmWave technology provides a ready to go solution for extending 5G coverage, whether it’s fixed or mobile, for a vastly improved user experience. Today we showed our technology is ready for mass scale deployment in connected vehicles,” said Maryam Rofougaran, CEO and co-founder of Movandi. “We optimized the performance of our BeamX mmWave powered repeaters for demanding automotive applications by holistically tailoring the 5G radio as a complete system and co-designing the RF chipset, DSP functions, beamforming and algorithms. We partnered with Airfide Networks, a 5G software innovator, to develop the handoff algorithm that makes our BeamXR-powered repeaters so highly effective in rapid signal transfers.”

https://movandi.com/

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Amdocs moves to Microsoft Azure and the Azure for Operators

Amdocs is bringing its BSS/OSS portfolio to Microsoft Azure and the Azure for Operators (AFO) initiative. 

Amdocs says its expanded cooperation with Microsoft will accelerate the communications and media industry’s journey to the cloud by enabling its cloud-native BSS/OSS solutions and services to benefit from the cloud capabilities of Azure at scale. This integrated platform will enable service providers to automate and virtualize their network while looking for opportunities to monetize 5G both for consumers and enterprise, as well as offer their enterprise customers private and public edge solutions, such as private enterprise networks (PEN) and multi-access edge computing (MEC).

"As service providers embark on the most widespread transformation the communications and media industry has seen, Microsoft is playing a pivotal role in accelerating CSP journeys to the cloud," said Shuky Sheffer, president and chief executive officer, Amdocs. "We are therefore delighted to become a Microsoft preferred Industry Priority Scenario (IPS) Partner. With Amdocs and Microsoft, service providers will be able to transform with cloud-native solutions and cloud services and deploy 5G networks in the cloud with Azure for Operators, automated by the Amdocs NEO service and network automation suite and monetized by Amdocs Charging. This collaboration enables us to fulfil our promise to the industry of delivering cloud at scale."

"In the era of 5G and the cloud, service providers have a unique opportunity to future-proof their networks, lower operating costs and boost revenue," said Judson Althoff, executive vice president, Microsoft’s Worldwide Commercial Business. "Still, to realize the benefits of the cloud, service providers need a business system infrastructure that can operate with scale, agility and pace. Our collaboration with Amdocs delivers the advantages of 5G and the cloud in addition to offering service providers a rich ecosystem of apps and devices. With our joint integrated platform, service providers can provide mobile edge computing and private networks for the digital enterprise."

http://www.amdocs.com

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Hokkaido's HOTnet deploys Infinera's open optical

Hokkaido Telecommunications Network Co. (HOTnet) has deployed Infinera’s open optical networking solutions over its existing optical infrastructure. The installation includes Infinera’s GX Series Compact Modular Platform, 7100 Series Packet-Optical Transport Platform, and mTera Series Universal Transport Platform solutions.

HOTnet’s optical long-haul and metro networks interconnect major cities across Hokkaido, a major island in Japan, and supports a wide range of business and residential communications services, including data center interconnect, private cloud, video streaming, broadband internet access, and high-definition digital broadcast services.

“Open optical networking is a great way for network operators to seamlessly integrate the latest solutions into their network,” said Nick Walden, Senior Vice President, Worldwide Sales, Infinera. “Infinera’s open optical solutions will enable HOTnet to offer new and differentiated services over their existing optical infrastructure, helping to ensure their customers receive the highest level of service.”

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Ericsson warns of potential impact to its operations in China

 Ericsson warned that its economic interests in China may be at risk due to the decision by Sweden's Post and Telecommunication Authority (PTS) to exclude Chinese vendors’ products from 5G networks in Sweden. The financial disclosure warning comes as Ericsson is currently in the process of issuing a EUR 500 million unsecured 8-year bond.  

Ericsson notes that it has been invited to various ongoing tender processes in China, the final outcome remains uncertain and it is the company’s current assessment that the risk has increased that Ericsson will in those tenders be allocated a significantly lower market share than its current market share. 

"The geopolitical situation can have consequences on the entire industry, with an increased likelihood of further industry split, separation of global value chains and separation of global standards for mobile telecommunications. This overall development has also led to several countries evaluating how to ensure uninterrupted access to telecommunication network infrastructure, for example through promoting disaggregation of the Radio Access Network and support of national communication network infrastructure champions as alternative to the established global vendors such as Ericsson although the timing and extent of this remains unclear."

https://www.ericsson.com/en/press-releases/2021/5/ericsson-updates-risk-factors-for-euro-corporate-bond-prospectus

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Sceye tests LTE from the stratosphere

Sceye has tested LTE connections delivered from its high-altitude platform station (HAPS) at an altitude of 64,600 ft over New Mexico. 

Sceye’s unmanned stratospheric platform launched from Roswell at 11:20 a.m. MDT on Wednesday, May 19, and landed approximately 2 hours later.  The company recently conducted tests to determine the data connection range of its systems. Standard LTE technology allows for a range of 100km; Sceye’s systems have added an additional 40km, setting a long-range record in LTE OpenRAN architecture. 

Sceye said this combination of technologies can cover areas as wide as 27,000 square miles with high-speed broadband for all users of fixed and mobile, carving a path forward to providing true equitable access.

Sceye, Sacred Wind Communications, CellularOne, PVT Networks, Santa Fe Indian School, and Navajo Technical University are banding together with the goal of achieving 100% connectivity across the Navajo Nation. According to the Navajo Tribal Utility Authority, 60% of the Navajo Nation’s over 300,000 residents do not have fixed Internet access.

“We view the successful flight and the record setting data connection as a significant milestone for our technology; one that could dissolve the rural broadband barrier,” said Sceye CEO Mikkel Vestergaard Frandsen.

https://www.sceye.com/

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Ericsson and Volvo test 5G network vehicular handover

 As part of the EU-funded 5GCroCo project, Ericsson and Volvo Cars have carried out the first successful test handover of connected cars between two national mobile 5G networks. The test occurred at the AstaZero test track in Sweden.

As part of the test, Ericsson deployed a 5G mobile radio network while two Volvo cars received an HD map of the route ahead. By updating the maps with information from sensor readings, connected cars can detect and distinguish between driving lanes ahead.

Mikael Prytz, Research Director, Ericsson Area Networks, says: “Sharing an updated map with other cars is a latency-sensitive task and requires high network performance within and across multiple networks. During the test at the AstaZero track, we could tackle this challenge with promising results. We are excited to continue our cooperation with Volvo Cars to expand the network mobility of autonomous and connected cars.”

https://www.ericsson.com/en/news/2021/5/volvo-cars-and-ericsson-in-connected-car-milestone

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SiLC raises $17 million for machine vision

SiLC Technologies, a start-up based in Monrovia, California, announced a $17 million Series A funding round for its machine vision silicon.

SiLC describes its FMCW 4D imaging chip as a significant step forward in the quest to make machine vision more like human vision. 

The funding was led by Alter Venture Partners and Dell Technologies Capital with additional participation from Fluxunit – OSRAM Ventures, Sony Innovation Fund by IGV, Epson, UMC Capital, Yamato Holdings and Global Brain. The company has now raised $29 million to date.

“Image processing capabilities of AI systems remain vastly inferior to those of humans, despite the use of massive computing power and high-resolution camera sensors,” said Mehdi Asghari, founder and CEO, SiLC. “The key difference is that our visual cognition is based on far more information than traditional image sensors. Our 4D+ vision sensors provide critical additional data and cues needed for efficient machine image processing and visual cognition much like the human eye does to the brain. The quality of investors we have attracted underscores the transformative potential of SiLC’s unique technology. This latest funding round will be critical as we continue on our journey towards revolutionizing the 3D sensor market.”

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