Samsung Foundry targets 3nm in 2022, 2nm in 2025

Samsung Foundry is scheduled to start producing its customers' first 3nm-based chip designs in the first half of 2022, while its second generation of 3nm is expected in 2023.

During its 5th annual Samsung Foundry Forum (SFF) 2021 underway this week, Samsung Electronics unveiled plans for continuous process technology migration to 3- and 2-nm based on the company’s Gate-All-Around (GAA) transistor structure.

Samsung said its first 3nm GAA process node utilizing Multi-Bridge-Channel FET (MBCFETTM) will allow up to 35 percent decrease in area, 30 percent higher performance or 50 percent lower power consumption compared to the 5nm process. In addition to power, performance, and area (PPA) improvements, as its process maturity has increased, 3nm’s logic yield is approaching a similar level to the 4nm process, which is currently in mass production.

The 2nm process node with MBCFET is in the early stages of development with mass production in 2025.

“We will increase our overall production capacity and lead the most advanced technologies while taking silicon scaling a step further and continuing technological innovation by application,” said Dr. Siyoung Choi, President and Head of Foundry Business at Samsung Electronics. "Amid further digitalization prompted by the COVID-19 pandemic, our customers and partners will discover the limitless potential of silicon implementation for delivering the right technology at the right time."

Additionally, Samsung is advancing its 14nm process in order to support 3.3V high voltage or flash-type embedded MRAM (eMRAM) which enables increased write speed and density. It will be a great option for applications such as micro controller unit (MCU), IoT and wearables. Samsung’s 8nm radio frequency (RF) platform is expected to expand the company’s leadership in the 5G semiconductor market from sub-6GHz to mmWave applications.

http://news.samsung.com

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POET's Interposer selected for 100G CWDM4 and LR4 engines

POET Technologies has secured a commitment from a leading network systems company for a unique multi-engine design for 100G CWDM4 and 100G LR4 Optical Engines based on the POET Optical Interposer.  The combined value of the NRE and the purchase order for initial units exceeds US$1.2 million.

The POET Optical Interposer enables the integration of electronic and photonic devices into a single multi-chip module using advanced wafer-level semiconductor manufacturing techniques and packaging methods. The company says its platform eliminates costly components and labor-intensive assembly, alignment, burn-in and testing methods employed in conventional photonics. 

“We have been engaged with this customer for several months on a breakthrough design to incorporate multiple optical engines in a single industry standard transceiver module, something that only a POET Optical Interposer-based engine can enable,” noted Vivek Rajgarhia, President & General Manager of POET Technologies Inc. “The LR4 product is directed at the client side of major telecom networks, using rigorous standards for data communication between a transport network backbone to data centers and customer locations globally. Our customer is already selling into the well-established telecom equipment market, and with the POET Optical Engines, will be able to offer a solution to its customers that delivers superior performance at a price that cannot be matched today by competing solutions."

http://www.poet-technologies.com

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AT&T to leverage Frontier’s Ethernet and fiber infrastructure

AT&T announced a deal with Frontier Communications to bring fiber-optic connectivity to large enterprise customers outside AT&T’s current footprint. The two companies signed multi-year strategic agreements that will also support deployment of AT&T’s 5G mobility network.

Frontier is pursuing a Build Gigabit America fiber expansion plan that will pass 10 million locations by the end of 2025. Frontier expects to make fiber available to 600,000 new locations in 2021, resulting in approximately 4 million fiber locations passed by the end of the year. 

AT&T said the agreement will enable it to quickly reach additional locations by utilizing Frontier’s fiber network. Together, the two companies will enable high-speed connectivity to large enterprise customers within Frontier’s 25-state footprint.

Specifically, AT&T will be able to utilize Frontier’s fiber network to help reach enterprise customers in Frontier’s service territories reaching 25 states. AT&T will also use Frontier’s network to strengthen nationwide deployment of its 5G network. In addition, AT&T will tap Frontier’s Ethernet network to boost connectivity between cell towers and the core network.

https://about.att.com/story/2021/att_frontier_deal.html

Frontier accelerates fiber buildout

Thursday, August 05, 2021  Frontier  

 Frontier Communications has set a new objective to reach 10 million total fiber locations by the end of 2025. Frontier made significant progress toward this objective in the second quarter of 2021, building fiber to approximately 157,000 new locations. Frontier now expects to reach 600,000 new locations in 2021, resulting in approximately 4 million fiber locations passed by the end of the year.

Nick Jeffery, President and Chief Executive Officer of Frontier, said “Demand for high-speed broadband is growing rapidly, and fiber is the best product to meet the needs of consumers and businesses. Frontier is already doing what customers want and cable can’t – delivering symmetrical download and upload speeds with far lower latency than our competition. Early next year, we will start delivering 2 gigabit per second services, further stretching our performance lead to where only fiber can compete. We have hard work ahead of us, but momentum is increasing as we rally the Frontier team around our mission to Build Gigabit America.”

The company provided the following updates:

• Frontier’s currently is able to deliver symmetrical 1 Gbps download and upload speeds;
• The company plans to launch a symmetrical 2 Gbps offering in the first quarter of 2022 that will unlock next-generation digital experiences for customers;
• Frontier plans to deploy fiber to reach 10 million locations by 2025; and
• Frontier has set a new target of $250 million run rate savings by 2023 from simplifying its operations and improve the customer experience.

In addition, Frontier reported consolidated Q2 revenue of $1.62 billion, a 7.9% decline from consolidated revenue reported in the second quarter of 2020, due to declining consumer copper subscribers and wholesale revenue, and the impact of fresh start accounting. 

Frontier’s overall data and internet services revenue of $839 million decreased slightly in the second quarter of 2021 primarily due to declining copper subscribers. fiber broadband revenue was $268 million, a 13.6% increase over the second quarter of 2020, due to subscriber gains and higher ARPU. Consumer fiber net adds were approximately 12,000 in the quarter, the eighth consecutive quarter of positive consumer fiber net adds, resulting in broadband customer growth of 3.3% relative to the second quarter of 2020.

Second quarter 2021 operating income was $298 million. Net income was $4.58 billion due to approximately $4.2 billion of reorganization gains in the quarter, primarily related to the extinguishment of debt.

Capital expenditures increased to $385 million in the quarter from $225 million in the second quarter of 2020, as fiber expansion initiatives accelerated.

https://investor.frontier.com/

https://s1.q4cdn.com/144417568/files/doc_financials/2021/q2/FYBR-2021-Investor-Day-Presentation.pdf

Frontier emerges from Chapter 11 and sets sights on fiber expansion

Sunday, May 02, 2021  Frontier  

Frontier Communications completed its financial restructuring process and emerged from Chapter 11. Through the bankruptcy proceedings, Frontier has reduced its debt by approximately $11 billion and annual interest expense by approximately $1 billion. The company says it is now well-positioned to accelerate its transformation to become a leading telecommunications technology company in the United States through investment in innovation, fiber...

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Vertical Systems: Gigabit services driving U.S. retail Carrier Ethernet

Gigabit services are the largest and fastest growing source of U.S. retail Carrier Ethernet revenue, according to Vertical Systems Group’s latest ENS (Emerging Networks Service). 

The Ethernet services delivered using 1 Gbps and higher speed ports now contribute more than half (54%) of U.S. Ethernet revenue, and comprise just over one quarter (26%) of ports installed at customer sites.

Solid revenue growth is projected through 2025 for gigabit port capacities, in contrast to revenue erosion for lower speed Ethernet connectivity. 

Vertical’s analysis includes detailed projections for six services across five speed segments. The speed segments are 10+ Gbps, 1 Gbps, 100 Mbps, 10 Mbps, and Sub-10 Mbps. Service segments covered include DIA (Dedicated Internet Access), Ethernet Access to IP/MPLS, EPL (Ethernet Private Lines), EVPL (Ethernet Virtual Private Lines), Metro LAN and WAN VPLS (Wide Area Network Virtual Private LAN Service).

Ethernet Research Highlights

• Total U.S. Ethernet revenue dipped as a result of COVID-related disruptions and price compression, however the number of Ethernet ports installed at customer sites continued to expand.
• 1 Gbps is the top speed segment based on Ethernet revenue through 2025.
• 100 Mbps remains the largest Ethernet speed segment based on customer port installations.
• EPL is the top Ethernet service segment based on revenue through 2022.
• DIA has the highest projected CAGRs through 2025 for both ports and revenue. Demand for DIA is boosted by requirements for secure, dedicated connectivity to cloud services and data centers, as well as access links for SD-WAN underlays.
• Bandwidth utilization for U.S. Ethernet customer ports is climbing at double digit rates. By 2025, gigabit speed services will contribute an estimated 97% of total Ethernet bandwidth.
• Requirements for gigabit Ethernet services are spurring new fiber buildouts. All of the Ethernet Service Providers ranked on Vertical’s Mid-2021 U.S. Carrier Ethernet LEADERBOARD also hold a rank position for fiber provider leadership on the latest U.S. Fiber Lit Buildings LEADERBOARD.
• Ethernet price compression continues across every service and speed combination as billed to customers (i.e., average ‘street price’ net of discounts).
• Challenges to Ethernet market expansion include SD-WAN, wavelength services and dark fiber.

https://www.verticalsystems.com/2021/10/04/statflash-gigabit-ethernet-2021/

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Nokia and MediaTek achieve 3.2 Gbps with FDD/TDD aggregation

Nokia and MediaTek achieved 3.2Gbps peak downlink throughput by aggregating 5G Standalone (5G SA) spectrum using 3 Components Carrier (3CC) aggregation, effectively combining 210MHz of FDD and TDD spectrum.

Nokia supplied its latest AirScale equipment including its AirScale 5G SA architecture powered by its ReefShark System-on-Chip (SoC) technology as well as its cloud-native 5G core. MediaTek provided its new M80 5G modem which combines mmWave and sub-6 GHz capabilities onto a  single chip as well as the user equipment testing platform.

Frequency division duplex (FDD) in 600MHz (n71) is a lower frequency band that provides a wide coverage area, improving cell edge performance. Time-division duplex (TDD) in 2600MHz (n41) has higher bandwidth and capacity. The combination of these spectrum bands supports a range of 5G deployment scenarios including indoor as well enhanced outdoor coverage. The high-band sub-6Ghz spectrum bands support high-capacity and extreme mobile broadband capabilities.

JS Pan, General Manager, Wireless Communication System, and Partnerships at MediaTek, said: “This test demonstrates the importance of carrier aggregation in enabling mobile operators around the world to deliver best-in-class speed and capacity to their subscribers. The combination of Nokia’s AirScale portfolio and our technology boosts the possibilities of spectrum assets and 5G networks. We look forward to continuing to partner with Nokia to advance the 5G ecosystem.”

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Arista ships a Wi-Fi 6E access point

Arista Networks has begun taking orders for a new Wi-Fi 6E access point as part of its cognitive campus edge portfolio.

The C-360 wireless platform for next generation campus edge infrastructures is Arista’s cognitive unified edge solution with advanced AI/ML capabilities for understanding which devices are on the wired and wireless network, what they're doing, and whether they're properly segmented. 

Key specs for the C-360

• Full-featured Wi-Fi 6E, 12 Stream AP
• Access radios: 4x4:4 6/5GHz Radio + 4x4:4 5GHz Radio + 4x4:4 2.4 GHz Radio
• 2x2 tri-band multifunctional radio for network assurance, RRM, security and troubleshooting
• 2x 10 Gigabit Ethernet PoE ports (MACsec capable)
• Integrated IoT support (BLE/Zigbee)
• Distributed Data and Control plane
• IZero-touch deployment through automatic cloud activation and configuration
• AI/ML driven diagnostics and troubleshooting
• Network Assurance with Client Connectivity tests
• Next generation 6 GHz Wireless Intrusion Prevention System (WIPS)

https://www.arista.com/en/company/news/press-release/13241-pr-20211006

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Syniverse confirms long running breach of its global SMS network

In an SEC filing, Syniverse, which provides SMS connectivity services for nearly all mobile carriers, confirmed that a cyber breach discovered in May 2021 had been underway since May 2016.

Syniverse said an individual or organization gained unauthorized access to databases within its network on several occasions, and that login information allowing access to or from its Electronic Data Transfer (“EDT”) environment was compromised for approximately 235 of its customers. All EDT customers have been notified and have had their credentials reset or inactivated, even if their credentials were not impacted by the incident. All customers whose credentials were impacted have been notified of that circumstance.

 In its filing, Syniverse also noted that AT&T Mobility generated 11.4% and 13.5% of its total revenues for the six months ended May 31, 2021 and the eleven months ended November 30, 2020, respectively. A significant amount of Syniverse’s remaining revenues were generated by a small number of additional customers, including Twilio. For the six months ended May 31, 2021, Syniverse’s top 10 carrier customers accounted for approximately 45% of its carrier revenue, and its top 10 enterprise customers accounted for approximately 53% of its enterprise revenue.

https://www.sec.gov/Archives/edgar/data/1839175/000119312521284329/d234831dprem14a.htm

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Nokia: network automation delivers 65% OPEX cost avoidance

Operators can expect up to a 65% cost avoidance after implementing IP network automation according to Nokia based on a study performed by research firm Analysys Mason.

The study focused on network automation implemented for the operator’s service fulfilment, network lifecycle management, and network and service assurance processes with the Nokia NSP, a domain controller for multivendor IP, optical and microwave networks.

Analysys Mason interviewed a group of global operators on their network automation strategies and results, collecting more than 60 data points. Analysys Mason then extrapolated the quantified benefits that can be expected from automating IP networks.  Analysys Mason found cost avoidance at the domain controller is the result of multiple factors:

• 
  Process automation reduces the labor time requirement for manual workloads by up to 68%.
• Consequently, the time needed to roll out new services is reduced by up to 88%.
• Less manual tasks also means less human errors and higher predictability. The use of a standardized scenarios reduces the frequency of order fallout and issues that require manual correction. Overall, the time spent to process errors is reduced by up to 85%.
• Automating alarm correlation and root cause analysis offers a significant improvement to the mean time to repair (MTTR) – up to 71%.

Larry Goldman, Chief Analyst and Project Director, Analysys Mason, said: “Our study shows clear benefits at the domain layer, and we highly recommend operators automate network management processes for their IP services. Network automation will be critical to enable future network slicing-based business models. Operators should also look for a network automation platform such as the Nokia NSP to reap the benefits of automation and ensure the efficient and automated management and control of network slice-based services.”

https://www.nokia.com/about-us/news/releases/2021/10/05/nokia-study-finds-operators-can-avoid-65-of-operational-costs-with-ip-network-automation/

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Cadence debuts 3D-IC for multi-chiplet and advanced packaging

Cadence Design Systems released its Integrity 3D-IC platform integrating 3D chip design planning, implementation and system analysis.

Cadence says its platform provides system planning, integrated electrothermal, static timing analysis (STA) and physical verification flows, enabling faster, high-quality 3D design closure. It also incorporates 3D exploration flows, which take 2D design netlists to create multiple 3D stacking scenarios based on user input, automatically selecting the optimal, final 3D stacked configuration. 

Features and benefits:

• Common cockpit and database: Lets SoC and package design teams co-optimize the system concurrently, allowing system-level feedback to be incorporated efficiently.
• Complete planning system: Incorporates a 3D-IC stack planning system for all types of 3D designs, enabling customers to manage and implement native 3D stacking.
• Seamless implementation tool integration: Provides ease of use through direct script-based integration with the Cadence Innovus Implementation System for high-capacity digital designs with 3D die partitioning, optimization and timing flows.
• Integrated system-level analysis capabilities: Enables 3D-IC design through early electrothermal and cross-die STA, which allows early system-level feedback for system-driven PPA.
• Co-design with the Virtuoso Design Environment and Allegro packaging technologies: Allows engineers to seamlessly move design data from Cadence analog and packaging environments to different parts of the system through the hierarchical database, enabling faster design closure and improved productivity.

“Cadence has historically offered customers strong 3D-IC packaging solutions through its leading digital, analog and package implementation product lines,” said Dr. Chin-Chi Teng, senior vice president and general manager in the Digital & Signoff Group at Cadence. “With recent developments in advanced packaging technologies, we saw a need to further build upon our successful 3D-IC foundation, providing a more tightly integrated platform that ties our implementation technology with system-level planning and analysis. As the industry continues to move toward different configurations of 3D stacked dies, the new Integrity 3D-IC platform lets customers achieve system-driven PPA, reduced design complexity and faster time to market.”

http://www.cadence.com/go/3DIC

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Henshall steps down as CEO of Citrix

 David J. Henshall stepped down as President and CEO of Citrix Systems and as a member of the company’s board.

Citrix named Bob Calderoni, Chair of the Citrix Board of Directors as interim CEO and President, effective immediately.

“I would like to thank David for his many contributions to Citrix,” said Bob Calderoni. “David played a key role in accelerating our cloud transition and has driven significant improvements in our products, with over a dozen SaaS services actively supporting more than 11 million subscribers.

“David has also been instrumental in helping the Company and our employees navigate the pandemic, and successfully positioned Citrix to help customers around the world and across industries maintain business operations with minimal disruption. The entire Board thanks him for his contributions over nearly 20 years.”

In addition, based on preliminary unaudited financial information, Citrix said it expects to report revenue at the midpoint to the high end of its previously announced guidance range of $765 million to $775 million for the third quarter ended September 30, 2021. Citrix will report full financial results for the third quarter on Thursday, November 4, 2021, before market open.

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VodafoneZiggo picks RedHat Openstack

VodafoneZiggo will deploy a hybrid cloud platform based on Red Hat OpenShift to unify its application infrastructure in the Netherlands, including its new standalone 5G core. The carrier has selected Red Hat OpenShift as its foundation for cloud-native applications across both the network and the business, with 5G Core as its first deployment. After a successful proof of concept, VodafoneZiggo enlisted Red Hat Consulting to support the production roll out of Red Hat OpenShift and to provide guidance for embracing agile development models like DevSecOps as well as moving to a more open, collaborative culture. 

VodafoneZiggo already had a common platform in place for its 4G mobile core and several business applications, built on Red Hat OpenStack Platform. 

“Through a flexible, open strategy, Red Hat strives to help service providers be more central to the digital value chain as they navigate changing industry and consumer dynamics. Red Hat helps drive open innovation around real-world needs in the telecommunications industry, bringing many of these innovations in cloud-native networking to Red Hat OpenShift. We are proud to provide VodafoneZiggo with a foundation to support a wide range of 5G use cases whilst helping minimize operational complexities and costs, ultimately powering diverse new services for people and businesses,” states Darrell Jordan-Smith, senior vice president, Industries and Global Accounts, Red Hat.

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