Thursday, January 27, 2022

Ericsson targets Dynamic Network Slicing for 5G devices

Ericsson introduced a Dynamic Network Slice Selection solution that will provide communication service providers with the ability to flexibly separate services in their 5G network and enhance traffic steering to maximize quality of experience on a single device. This will allow multiple tailored slices to 5G devices. 

Ericsson said it has taken the first steps to enable enterprise services in smartphones for high-quality connectivity, and support for consumer services in smartphones will follow, as well as support in other 5G devices. Ericsson has been actively working with the device ecosystem to introduce 3GPP-standards based user equipment route selection policies (URSP) in 5G networks to enable application traffic steering with network slices.

URSP is one of the main functionalities being implemented in 5G smartphones and 5G network infrastructure and allows devices to have multiple network slices on the same device with traffic detection and steering capabilities.

For instance, a user device might attach to different network slices for personal and work profiles. They could have one slice for generic mobile broadband traffic, another slice for a service like gaming, and one or several slices for work, like a high-security slice for enterprise applications like video conferencing and collaboration. Application developers could use this technology to improve the quality of experience for their applications, for example by decreasing the latency.

Monica Zethzon, Head of Solution Area Packet Core at Ericsson says: “We are now enhancing the Ericsson 5G Core portfolio with new network slicing capabilities, by introducing Ericsson Dynamic Network Slice Selection. This enables our customers to provide differentiated 5G services to their enterprise and consumer customers, by enabling multiple tailored network slices on a single 5G device.”

https://www.ericsson.com/en/news/2022/1/dynamic-network-slice-selection

  • In November last year FarEasTone and Ericsson demonstrated the world’s first 5G end-to-end multiple network slicing on commercial Android 12 devices based on an Ericsson-powered 5G standalone system.
  • In January 2021, Ericsson launched 5G RAN Slicing that supports customized business models and growth requirements, strengthening end-to-end network slicing capabilities needed to deliver different services over a common infrastructure and ensuring end-to-end network slice management and orchestration support for fast service delivery.



Nokia to power cloud servers using 3rd Gen AMD EPYC processors

 Exapnding its choice of processors, Nokia confirmed that its Core Networks business will 3rd Gen AMD EPYC processors to power the servers that deliver Nokia Core cloud-native software products for communication service providers. Servers powered by the 3rd Gen AMD EPYC processors are expected in the first half of this year. Nokia will continue to offer existing servers with other processor choices.

Nokia said it is targeting up to a 40% reduction in server power consumption to run Core workloads using AMD EPYC processors.

Dan McNamara, SVP & GM, EPYC, Server, AMD said: “We are excited to collaborate with Nokia to provide their customers with the performance, efficiency and overall sustainability benefits of 3rd Gen AMD EPYC processors. With our unique capability to offer high core counts in an energy efficient package, we are enabling outstanding performance for telco and 5G workloads, while supporting Nokia and the ICT industry’s quest to improve energy efficiency and the overall performance of its operations.”

Fran Heeran, SVP & Head of Core Networks, Cloud and Network Services at Nokia, said: “Through the latest generation of AMD EPYC processors and Nokia’s cloud-native Core software, we are helping CSPs shrink the carbon footprint of their networks. This is critical as advanced 5G service roll-out accelerates, with the associated implications for new demands on energy consumption and our continued innovation push to minimize the impact of those demands.”

GlobalConnect carries 600G using Nokia's PSE-V

GlobalConnect, which operates more than 74.500 kilometers of fiber, 3300 access nodes, and 16 data centers in Europe, completed a trial of Nokia PSE-V fifth generation super coherent optics (PSE-Vs). The trial demonstrated 600G transmission over a live long-haul network link of GlobalConnect Group’s GO-COLOR network. 

Nokia said the trial validated a planned upgrade of GlobalConnect's long-haul backbone networks using the PSE-Vs super coherent optics productized in Nokia’s 1830 PSI-M optical transport system. 

Anders Kuhn-Saaby, CTO, GlobalConnect Group, said: “This trial validates GlobalConnect’s commitment to offering scalable and flexible high-bandwidth services across our Nordic backbone network. We are pleased to validate Nokia’s latest generation of PSE-V super coherent optics as an important enabler of these continuous network upgrades, seamlessly operating over our live network with existing coherent channels.”  

James Watt, Head of Optical Networks Division, Nokia, said: “We are delighted to work with GlobalConnect to support continued capacity evolution of its core networks. With the introduction of the PSE-Vs super coherent capabilities across our entire 1830 portfolio, Nokia enables spectrally-efficient network capacity upgrades over real-world long-haul networks.”

https://www.nokia.com/about-us/news/releases/2022/01/26/nokia-and-globalconnect-demonstrate-600g-transmission-using-pse-v-super-coherent-optics/

Nokia debuts WaveFabric Elements: photonic chips, devices, subsystems

Nokia unveiled its WaveFabric Elements portfolio of photonic chips, devices and subsystems, including its fifth generation coherent digital signal processor family, the Photonic Service Engine V (PSE-V). The company said its WaveFabric Elements address the demanding power, performance, and cost-per-bit requirements of 400G networking across data center, metro, core and subsea applications. Nokia’s WaveFabric Elements portfolio combines digital signal...


Telstra Enterprise deploys Ericsson Private 5G

Telstra Enterprise has deployed Ericsson Private 5G for AgriFood Connect, an Australian not-for-profit organisation.

Ericsson Private 5G is a private wireless connectivity platform that facilitates advanced operations through automation, flexibility and intelligent connectivity. Using a single server 5G dedicated network based on a dual mode core, Ericsson Private 5G facilitates both LTE and 5G Standalone (SA) simultaneously.

The 5G SA capability delivered from the Ericsson Private 5G product, coupled with Telstra’s advanced network capabilities, offers an industrial wireless connectivity platform for enterprise that can deliver low latency, enhanced resiliency and the capacity to meet even the most demanding business operation requirements.

Telstra Network and Infrastructure executive, Iskra Nikolova, says: “The combination of a dedicated network in partnership with Telstra’s existing Network capabilities can facilitate the implementation of a whole variety of new and emerging technologies. Challenging locations in regional Australia, where there is comparatively limited backhaul capacity, will greatly benefit from this technology. For example, a remote farming or a manufacturing business could embrace the latest advancements in video analytics and IoT connectivity, almost regardless of their location, with the data processed on site.” 

https://www.ericsson.com/en/press-releases/7/2022/telstra-deploys-industry-first-ericsson-private-5g-for-enterprise

Juniper posts revenue of $1.3 billion, up 6% YOY

Juniper Networks reported revenues of $1,299.9 million for Q4 2021, an increase of 6% year-over-year, and an increase of 9% sequentially. GAAP operating margin was 11.8%, an increase from 8.0% in the fourth quarter of 2020, and an increase from 10.1% in the third quarter of 2021. Non-GAAP net income was $184.7 million, an increase of 2% year-over-year, and an increase of 22% sequentially, resulting in non-GAAP diluted earnings per share of $0.56.

For full year 2021, Juniper reported net revenues of $4,735.4 million, an increase of 7% year-over-year.

Juniper also noted that it is still experiencing "significant supply chain related headwinds associated with rising component costs and shortages, as well as elevated freight costs, which are expected to continue at least through the first half of the year. While we have taken pricing actions to offset these headwinds, we do not expect these actions to have an impact until later in the year."

Some highlights:

Revenue by vertical:

  • Cloud grew 19% year-over year and increased 10% sequentially. 
  • Service Provider was up 8% up year-over-year and up 15% sequentially.
  • Enterprise decreased 3% year-over-year but increased 4% sequentially. 
  • Total software and related services revenue was $242 million, an increase of 41% year-over-year

“We experienced better than expected demand during the December quarter, with strong double-digit order growth across all verticals, all customer solutions and all geographies,” said Juniper’s CEO, Rami Rahim. “Our commitment to delivering products that simplify operations and deliver a superior end-user experience, what we call experience-first networking, is resonating with our customers and allowing us to capitalize on several large and growing markets. We believe this focus, along with the investments we’ve made in our go-to-market organization, will enable us to accelerate our growth in 2022.”

“Our teams executed extremely well during the December quarter, delivering better than expected sales and non-GAAP earnings per share, despite the challenging supply chain environment,” said Juniper’s CFO, Ken Miller. “Our continued order strength, record backlog and actions to further strengthen supply, provide confidence in our ability to accelerate growth and deliver improved profitability in the upcoming year.”

https://investor.juniper.net/investor-relations/events/event-details/2022/Juniper-Networks-Q4-and-Fiscal-Year-2021-Financial-Results-Conference-Call/default.aspx


FCC revokes China Unicom's license

The FCC ordered China Unicom (Americas) Operations Limited to discontinue domestic interstate and international telecommunications services within the United States within 60 days.

The FCC said today's decision rests on the following:

First, the Order finds that China Unicom Americas, a U.S. subsidiary of a Chinese state-owned enterprise, is subject to exploitation, influence, and control by the Chinese government and is highly likely to be forced to comply with Chinese government requests without sufficient legal procedures subject to independent judicial oversight.  

Second, given the changed national security environment with respect to China since the Commission authorized China Unicom Americas to provide telecommunications services in the United States two decades ago, the Order finds that China Unicom Americas’ ownership and control by the Chinese government raise significant national security and law enforcement risks by providing opportunities for China Unicom Americas, its parent entities, and the Chinese government to access, store, disrupt, and/or misroute U.S. communications, which in turn allow them to engage in espionage and other harmful activities against the United States.  

Third, China Unicom Americas’ conduct and representations to the Commission and Congress demonstrate a lack of candor, trustworthiness, and reliability that erodes the baseline level of trust that the Commission and other U.S. government agencies require of telecommunications carriers given the critical nature of the provision of telecommunications service in the United States.  

Fourth, the Order finds that mitigation would not address these significant national security and law enforcement concerns.  

https://www.fcc.gov/document/fcc-revokes-china-unicom-americas-telecom-services-authority

Biden signs Secure Equipment Act

President Biden signed into law the “Secure Equipment Act of 2021,” which requires the Federal Communications Commission to adopt rules clarifying that it will no longer review or approve any authorization application for equipment that poses an unacceptable risk to national security.The bill would prevent further integration and sales of Huawei, ZTE, Hytera, Hikvision, and Dahua – all Chinese state-backed or directed firms – in the U.S. regardless...

FCC revokes China Telecom America's license

Citing national security concerns, the Federal Communications Commission a(FCC) revoked China Telecom (Americas) Corporation’s ability to provide domestic interstate and international telecommunications services within the United States.  China Telecom Americas has been ordered to discontinue any domestic or international services that it provides pursuant to its section 214 authority within sixty days following the release of the order.  The...


NEC to acquire Blue Danube for Massive MIMO 5G beamforming

NEC agreed to acquire Blue Danube Systems, a start-up based in Santa Clara, California. Financial terms were not disclosed. 

Blue Danube has successfully demonstrated its Coherent Massive MIMO 5G beamforming technology in numerous trials around the world, delivering up to 3X capacity increases with first generation software in commercial mobile networks using existing mobile phones. The company says its Coherent Massive MIMO together with autonomous AI/ML beam optimization software will enable mobile network operators to improve overall multi-site performance in both FDD and TDD bands. 

Blue Danube has been shipping products commercially for over 5 years.

Mark Pinto, CEO of Blue Danube, said, “We are excited about joining the NEC team that is an Open RAN leader and recognized for its end-to-end Open 5G solutions and system integration capabilities. Becoming part of NEC enables Blue Danube to expand our 5G product offerings, and together we will bring ever more powerful hardware and software products based on O-RAN specifications to customers worldwide.”

http://www.bluedanube.com

  • Blue Danube Systems was backed by Sequoia Capital and Silver Lake along with other investors including AT&T. 

Blue Danube announces coherent Massive MIMO

Blue Danube Systems announced its first Coherent Massive MIMO solution for TDD networks. Blue Danube said its approach to Massive MIMO starts by assuring RF array coherency which, in conjunction with digital processing, uniquely enables the definition, placement and dynamic coordination of high precision beams. These beams can be software controlled to direct RF energy towards high user-density areas, while minimizing adjacent sector interference,...

Blue Danube demos FDD Massive MIMO in Clustered Multi-Sectors

Blue Danube Systems announced the commercial deployment of its massive MIMO solution to multiple clustered cell sites. Blue Danube has performed multi-sector beam optimization using its BeamCraft 500 Massive MIMO systems at two different sites within the FDD-LTE network at a US mobile operator. The company said that it has not been clearly proven until now that Massive MIMO is deployable beyond isolated high-demand sectors where effects such as...

Blue Danube intros 96-element, Multiband, Massive MIMO Antenna

Blue Danube Systems, a start-up based in Santa Clara, California, introduced its 96-element, second-generation 5G-ready Massive MIMO system. Blue Danube's the BeamCraft 600 series supports simultaneous beamforming over multiple frequency bands and across multiple cellular standards, allowing operators to deliver increased capacity through a single compact system. The company said its Massive MIMO can dynamically direct radio frequency (RF) beams...


McAfee Enterprise appoints Gee Rittenhouse as CEO

Symphony Technology Group, a private equity firm focused on investing in the software, data and analytics sectors, announced the appointment of Gee Rittenhouse as CEO of McAfee Enterprise.

McAfee Enterprise is focused on data-aware Security Service Edge (SSE) solutions. STG is expected to rebrand the McAfee Enterprise SSE portfolio as a separate business later this quarter. McAfee Enterprise currently has approximately 3,000 SSE customers and 700 employees.

Rittenhouse most recently led Cisco’s Security Business Group. Prior to Cisco, Rittenhouse served as President of Bell Labs. Rittenhouse received his Doctorate in Electrical Engineering and Computer Science from Massachusetts Institute of Technology.

“Business-critical data is everywhere,” said Rittenhouse. “It resides in cloud applications, cloud infrastructure, data-centers and devices. It is essential for companies to know where their data is, who has access to it, and protect it. Our unique, data-centric approach simplifies these essential functions and allows companies to accelerate their digital transformation and secure their hybrid workforce. It is a privilege to join this amazing team.”

https://www.mcafee.com/enterprise/en-us/home.html




Trellix emerges from McAfee Enterprise + FireEye, ML extended detection and response

Symphony Technology Group (STG) announced the launch of Trellix, a new business that emerges from the previously announced merger of McAfee Enterprise and FireEye in October 2021.

Trelix will deliver extended detection and response (XDR) to organizations with a focus on accelerating technology innovation through machine learning and automation. The company says its new name evokes the structure of a trellis, a strong and safe framework used to support structured growth of climbing plants and trees. 

"As today's organizations push to achieve digital transformation, a strong security foundation is required to ensure continued innovation, growth and resiliency," said Bryan Palma, chief executive officer, Trellix. "Trellix's XDR platform protects our customers as we bring security to life with automation, machine learning, extensible architecture, and threat intelligence." 

STG is expected to launch the McAfee Enterprise Secure Service Edge (SSE) portfolio as a separate business later this quarter, inclusive of Cloud Access Security Broker (CASB), Secure Web Gateway (SWG) and Zero Trust Network Access (ZTNA).

https://www.trellix.com/

Investment group acquires FireEye Products business for $1.2 billion

A consortium led by Symphony Technology Group (STG) will acquire the FireEye Products business, including the FireEye name, in an all-cash transaction for $1.2 billion.The transaction, which is expected to close by the end of the fourth quarter of 2021, will separate FireEye’s network, email, endpoint, and cloud security products, along with the related security management and orchestration platform, from Mandiant’s controls-agnostic software and...


Airspan appoints Glenn Laxdal as president and COO

Airspan Networks appointed Glenn Laxdal as President and Chief Operating Officer. 

Laxdal was most recently SVP of Products at Infinera. He has also held senior leadership positions at Ericsson, Blackberry, and Nortel. 

In addition to hiring Laxdal, long-time Airspan executive Uzi Shalev has been appointed Chief Technology Officer and will continue to lead the company’s R&D operations.

https://www.airspan.com