Tuesday, January 11, 2022

2022 Predictions from Thought Leaders

AT&T Cybersecurity  

Top 5 Cybersecurity Trends this Year

Bindu Sundaresan, Director at AT&T Cybersecurity





Microsoft Azure

Cloud-driven Economic Disruption for Services

Sanjay Mewada, Worldwide Marketing Leader at Microsoft Azure






Telia Carrier

Network Sophistication and More Bandwidth  

Mattias Fridström, Vice President & Chief Evangelist at Telia Carrier






Telstra

Next-gen Satellites, Hybrid Work, Emerging Markets Infrastructure

Noah Drake, Vice President of Customer Solutions, Americas at Telstra

Nokia expects to exceed 2021 financial guidance

Nokia updated its financial guidance for 2021, saying its underlying business performed largely as expected in Q4 2021. However, other operating income was higher than expected including further benefits from venture fund investments, leading to a stronger comparable operating margin exceeding the 2021 guidance.

Based on preliminary and unaudited financial results for 2021 Nokia now estimates net sales of approximately €22.2bn within its previous guidance of €21.7 to 22.7bn and a comparable operating margin of 12.4 to 12.6% above its previous guidance of 10 to 12%. The company estimates it has benefited from approximately 150bps of one-offs in financial year 2021 to its comparable operating margin (up from 100bps expected at our Q3 earnings) related to venture fund investments, a one-off software contract in Q2, bad debt provision reversals and some other one-time benefits.

https://www.nokia.com/about-us/news/releases/2022/01/11/nokia-expects-to-exceed-2021-financial-guidance-and-provides-operating-margin-guidance-for-2022/

New PCIe 6.0 spec delivers 64 GT/s raw data rate

PCI-SIG, the organization responsible for the widely adopted PCI Express standard, officially released the PCIe 6.0 specification boasting a top raw data rate of 64 GT/s (gigatransfers per second) -- double the bandwidth and power efficiency of the PCIe 5.0 specification (32 GT/s).

Applications for PCIe 6.0 are expected to include data centers, AI/ML, HPC, and defense systems.

PCIe 6.0 Specification Features

  • 64 GT/s raw data rate and up to 256 GB/s via x16 configuration
  • Pulse Amplitude Modulation with 4 levels (PAM4) signaling and leverages existing PAM4 already available in the industry
  • Lightweight Forward Error Correct (FEC) and Cyclic Redundancy Check (CRC) mitigate the bit error rate increase associated with PAM4 signaling
  • Flit (flow control unit) based encoding supports PAM4 modulation and enables more than double the bandwidth gain
  • Updated Packet layout used in Flit Mode to provide additional functionality and simplify processing
  • Maintains backwards compatibility with all previous generations of PCIe technology

“PCI-SIG is pleased to announce the release of the PCIe 6.0 specification less than three years after the PCIe 5.0 specification,” said Al Yanes, PCI-SIG Chairperson and President. “PCIe 6.0 technology is the cost-effective and scalable interconnect solution that will continue to impact data-intensive markets like data center, artificial intelligence/machine learning, HPC, automotive, IoT, and military/aerospace, while also protecting industry investments by maintaining backwards compatibility with all previous generations of PCIe technology.”

https://pcisig.com


Aptiv to acquire Windriver for $4.3 billion

Aptiv, a leading supplier of automotive parts, agreed to acquire Wind River from TPG Capital, the private equity platform of global alternative asset management firm TPG, for $4.3 billion in cash.

Wind River is a global leader in delivering software for the intelligent edge. Used on over two billion edge devices across more than 1,700 customers globally, Wind River’s software enables the secure development, deployment, operations and servicing of mission-critical intelligent systems. Wind River generated approximately $400 million in revenues in 2021.

Aptiv said it plans to combine the Wind River Studio offering with its complementary SVA platform and automotive expertise to extend its position in automotive software solutions, providing automotive customers with a faster and economical path to full vehicle software architecture. Led by Kevin Dallas, Wind River will continue to operate as a stand-alone business within Aptiv as part of the Advanced Safety & User Experience (AS&UX) segment.

“The automotive industry is undergoing its largest transformation in over a century, as connected, software-defined vehicles increasingly become critical elements of the broader intelligent ecosystem,” said Kevin Clark, president and chief executive officer of Aptiv. “Fully capitalizing on this opportunity requires comprehensive solutions that enable software to be developed faster, deployed seamlessly and optimized throughout the vehicle lifecycle by leveraging data-driven insights. These same needs are driving the growth of the intelligent edge across multiple end markets. With Aptiv and Wind River’s synergistic technologies and decades of experience delivering safety-critical systems, we will accelerate this journey to a software-defined future of the automotive industry. In addition, we are committed to further strengthening Wind River’s competitive position in the multiple industries it serves. We look forward to welcoming the world class Wind River team to the Aptiv family as we continue to develop a safer, greener and more connected world.”    

“Wind River has established itself as a worldwide leader in cloud-native, intelligent edge software that delivers the highest levels of security, safety, reliability and performance,” said Kevin Dallas, president and chief executive officer of Wind River. “Combining Wind River’s industry-leading software, customer base and talent with Aptiv’s complementary technologies, global resources and scale will realize our vision of the new machine economy. Together we will accelerate the digital transformation of our customers across industries through best-in-class intelligent systems software. We look forward to working with the Aptiv team to reach even greater heights and provide further growth opportunities for our customers and partners.”

https://www.windriver.com/news/press/news-20220111

Intel spins out Wind River

Intel has agreed to sell its Wind River subsidiary to TPG, a global alternative asset firm. Financial terms were not disclosed.

Wind River noted that its software "runs the computing systems of the most important modern infrastructure, including manufacturing plants, medical devices, aircraft, railway, automobiles, and communications networks."


“This acquisition will establish Wind River as a leading independent software provider uniquely positioned to advance digital transformation within critical infrastructure segments with our comprehensive edge to cloud portfolio,” said Jim Douglas, Wind River President. “At the same time, TPG will provide Wind River with the flexibility and financial resources to fuel our many growth opportunities as a standalone software company that enables the deployment of safe, secure, and reliable intelligent systems.”

Wind River President, Jim Douglas, and his existing executive management team will lead the newly independent Wind River after the transaction closes.




Mangata Networks raises $33M for hybrid satellite/terrestrial platform

 Mangata Networks, a start-up based in Phoenix, Arizona, announced a $33 million Series A round to support its next-gen connectivity architecture linking  HEO (highly elliptical orbit) & MEO (medium earth orbit) satellite constellations, combined with the power of a terrestrial system of MangataEdge™ micro data centers, extending the cloud to the edge of the network close to users. This single core network will provide scalable B2G and B2B connectivity, that is both affordable and accessible to anyone, anywhere on the planet.

“We are out to change the world and that requires visionary investors and partners. We are really thrilled to announce this collaboration today. These investors, whose intercontinental representation reflects our own global mission, are championing a new evolution in human connectivity. We believe we have a unique combination of coverage, technology, performance, and cost that no one else can provide to their customers,” said Brian Holz, CEO – Mangata Networks.

Mangata said it is is developing a patented architecture to connect micro data centers over satellite, hosting cloud service platforms with the capability to extend connectivity directly into localized 5G, IoT and Wi-Fi networks on a global basis. Initial community networks to be deployed as early as 2023, prior to launch of its initial satellites. This will allow customers to evaluate use-cases and conduct commercial trials before the start of service. Early in 2023 the company will be implementing multiple trial networks around the world to begin product testing and evaluation in advance of its first launch, starting with South Korea in Asia, the 5G Open Innovation Lab in Seattle, and the Scotland 5G Centre in the UK.

Mangata Networks aims to initiate service for the entire Northern Hemisphere starting in 2024 with its initial launch of 8 HEO satellites. The company plans subsequent launches of 24 MEO satellites to provide complete global coverage and increased overall system capacity. 

The new funding was led by US-based venture capital firm Playground Global. Other major investors including Temasek which is headquartered in Singapore, ktsat from South Korea, Scottish Enterprise in the UK, Promus Ventures from its Orbital Ventures Fund, and MetaVC Partners, also in the US.

"Mangata is founded by a dream team that substantially designed and implemented the O3b and OneWeb NGSO satellite constellations," said Jory Bell, general partner at Playground Global. "The Mangata system represents a 'goldilocks' architecture that provides the best of GEO and LEO offerings with a highly configurable modern HEO / MEO constellation that can be incrementally built out while generating real revenue from day one of first deployment. We are thrilled to be able to lead an international team of investors to partner with Brian and his team as they build the world’s best integrated space-based communications and data network."

https://www.mangatanetworks.com

Mangata Networks was founded in February of 2020 and initially financed by MetaVC Partners. 

The companies headquartered out of Phoenix, AZ with operations in Denver, Prestwick (Scotland) , Singapore and Seoul, South Korea in East Asia. 

The name ‘Mangata’ is a Swedish word, referring to the path of light that the moon draws on water. 

TELUS looks to Automation Anywhere to accelerate migration to Google Cloud

TELUS International announced a collaboration with Automation Anywhere to simplify the delivery and migration of automation solutions on Google Cloud.

Automation Anywhere specializes in robotic process automation (RPA).

As part of this collaboration, TELUS International will provide on-demand RPA-as-a-Service solutions to customers around the world while delivering large-scale transformation projects across the automation life cycle.

“We are excited to extend our long-standing partnership with Google Cloud into our growing relationship with Automation Anywhere,” said Jim Radzicki, chief technology officer, TELUS International. “Automation and other digital transformation tools delivered via cloud technology are growing in prevalence as more organizations prioritize flexibility and agility within their workforce. As such, the future of work requires automation solutions that support humans, and it has been proven time and time again that providing services on cloud architecture is critical for providing strong and reliable performance.”

As a Platinum Preferred Partner and Managed Services Provider of Automation Anywhere, TELUS International is enabling the end-to-end development of RPA solutions on Google Cloud to improve business tasks with more speed, accuracy, and efficiency.

“Automation is a key component to building a resilient workforce,” said Jim Lambe, managing director, Google Cloud Canada. “We’re proud to partner with TELUS International and Automation Anywhere to empower organizations to grow with easy-to-deploy, cost-effective and scalable cloud solutions that accelerate transformation.”

https://www.automationanywhere.com

Google Cloud builds its telco cloud base, signs 10-year deal with TELUS

Google Cloud and TELUS announced a 10-year collaboration and strategic alliance focused on new services and solutions that support digital transformation within key industries, including communications technology, healthcare, agriculture, security, and connected home. The partnership will accelerate TELUS’ digital transformation.

Key elements of the partnership:

  • Reimagining the future through co-innovation: Google Cloud and TELUS will generate new industry solutions and go-to-market strategies that will drive growth in adjacent industries, commencing with communications technology, healthcare, agriculture, security and automation. One of the areas of focus will be on redefining the way healthcare and agriculture solutions are delivered, increasing collaboration and efficiency between healthcare providers, providing consumers with fresher and healthier food by improving traceability, and enabling business customers to streamline their IT and network operations. 
  • Accelerating TELUS’ digital transformation: TELUS will accelerate its public cloud adoption on Google Cloud’s enterprise platform to drive greater operational efficiency of its core IT and network infrastructure. Through this partnership, Google Cloud will also become one of TELUS' partners in the delivery of 5G services and Multi-Access Edge Computing (MEC), which leverages Google Cloud’s managed application platform, Anthos. TELUS will utilize Google Cloud Contact Center AI to reinvent the customer experience, improving customer interactions and realizing significant savings. To increase growth opportunities, TELUS can expect enhanced agility, scalability, and reliability across its wireless and wireline services and numerous lines of business including security, agriculture and healthcare.
  • Embracing sustainability and social responsibility: As recognized global leaders in corporate social responsibility, TELUS and Google Cloud will prioritize working together to improve the social, economic, environmental, and health outcomes for Canadians. TELUS and Google Cloud will strengthen their respective commitments to building a more sustainable world through technology by reducing TELUS’ carbon footprint, creating value along the entire supply chain for businesses significantly impacted by COVID-19, and optimizing industry solutions.
“This announcement represents an important milestone in our longstanding growth strategy, reflecting our team’s unwavering commitment to innovation as we accelerate our digital transformation journey,” said Darren Entwistle, President and CEO of TELUS. “Our strategic partnership with Google will propel our digital leadership across the communications technology, healthcare and agriculture sectors, whilst amplifying our Customers First priority, redefining how service is delivered in Canada and globally. As world leaders in social capitalism, our organizations will leverage the potency of our technology to create meaningful human and social outcomes, as we continue to build stronger, healthier and more sustainable communities.” 

Ireland's eir names Oliver Loomes as next CEO

eir announced the appointment of Oliver Loomes as its Chief Executive Officer-designate, replacing Carolan Lennon, who has served as CEO since 2018.

Loomes, an experienced corporate leader, has spent 30 years working in consumer-focused industries, his most recent position was Chairman and Managing Director at Diageo Ireland. 

Lennon departs eir having led four consecutive financial years of growth in profits, as well as the significant expansion of the company’s customer base, during her tenure. From 2018 to 2021, eir’s fibre broadband customer base grew by 30% to 823,000 customers, while the number of mobile bill pay customers grew by 60% to 869,000. Additionally, more than 500,000 premises have been added to eir’s fibre-to-the-home broadband network during her time overseeing an unprecedented investment of over €1bn by the company in its infrastructure.

David McRedmond, Chairman of eir, said: "Carolan has successfully steered eir through a momentous rebuilding phase that has seen significant expansion of both its customer base and network reach. She and her team have built the platform for future success. The large-scale investment that eir’s shareholders have made in the company positions it as, not only Ireland’s leading telecoms provider, but one that is future-proofed to navigate pace of technological change. This investment serves one clear purpose: to provide our customers with the world-class products and services they need. 

https://www.eir.ie

Toshiba adds to its line-up of Ethernet Bridge ICs for automotive

Toshiba Electronic Devices & Storage Corporation introduced a new device in its line-up of Ethernet bridge ICs to provide support for 10Gbps communications in automotive information communications systems and industrial equipment. Sample shipments have started and volume production will start in August 2022.

The new bridge IC has Toshiba’s first 2-port 10Gbps Ethernet, and the interface can be selected from USXGMII, XFI, SGMII, and RGMII. The two ports support Ethernet AVB and TSN, which facilitate real-time processing and synchronous processing, respectively. They also support “simplified” SR-IOV (virtual functions). 

Toshiba said its new IC can be used not only for zone architecture but also for various automotive applications such as IVI and telematics, and also in industrial equipment. It is also postioned to be a successor to current TC9560 and TC9562 series products supporting 1Gbps Ethernet.

The new device offers three PCIe Gen 3 switch ports for communications with the host SoC and connection to devices equipped with PCIe interfaces. The PCIe switch part is configured with one 4-lane upstream port for connection with the host SoC and two 1-lane downstream ports for connection to devices with a PCIe interface. Using the 3-port PCIe switch function for connections to such devices can help mitigate PCIe interface shortages.