Novva Data Centers raises $355 million for continued expansion

Novva Data Centers, which operates data center campuses in Colorado Springs, Colorado, and West Jordan, Utah, raised $355 million in capital from CIM Group, bringing the company's total equity commitment to Novva to $450 million in just over two years.

The funding will support Novva's plans to expand across the United States in order to offer 1,000 MW of designed data center capacity by 2027 at several strategic, yet-to-be-named locations. 

It also supports CIM Group and Novva's ongoing partnership to create a world-class product, as well as a unique, bespoke "wholocation" experience to customers. Wholocation refers to a combination of wholesale scale and retail colocation, which provides the ability to serve clients of any size and scalability needs — from those requiring 1 cabinet to 1,000+ cabinets. 

"This equity investment from CIM Group will allow Novva to continue delivering on our company vision of providing the best wholesale and multi-tenant colocation infrastructure services to clients at the lowest possible cost," said Novva CEO Wes Swenson. "We're thrilled to have a partner like CIM Group that shares the same vision of delivering a bespoke, premium data center experience to each and every client."

"CIM Group is excited to continue to invest in Novva Data Centers' growth strategy as Novva demonstrates it is among one of the most innovative data center developers and operators in the industry." said Avi Shemesh, Co-Founder of CIM Group.

http://www.novva.com

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Dell'Oro: Strong growth for optical transport solutions in the Americas

The worldwide Optical Transport equipment market grew 2 percent year-over-year in 1Q 2022, according to a new report from Dell'Oro Group.  The market was driven by the stellar growth in the American regions, comprising North America and Latin America.

"Growth in Americas more than offset declines in other regions," said Jimmy Yu, Vice President at Dell'Oro Group. "There was definitely strong demand for optical equipment in North America and Latin America, and vendors were able to deliver products even with component shortages and supply issues hampering them. Unfortunately, due to reasons that included the war in Ukraine, COVID lockdowns, supply problems, and weaker currency, optical revenue declined year-over-year in all of the other regions, including Europe, Asia Pacific, and China," added Yu.

Additional highlights from the 1Q 2022 Quarterly Report:

• Optical Transport revenue in North America and Latin America grew 25 percent and 19 percent year-over-year, respectively. The other regions declined at a mid-single-digit rate in the same period.
• The vendors with the highest market share in the American regions include Ciena, Fujitsu, Infinera, and Cisco. Together, these companies have nearly 80 percent share of the regional revenue.
• Component shortage and supply problems lowered the year-over-year worldwide optical market growth rate in the quarter from an estimated 6 percent to 3 percent.

https://www.delloro.com/news/north-america-optical-transport-equipment-market-grew-25-percent-in-1q-2022/

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Tech Update: Market Traction for MEF LSO APIs

https://youtu.be/evRXR5HLXPs

MEF Lifecycle Service Orchestration (LSO) is a reference architecture and framework for enabling end-to-end automation and orchestration, across multiple provider networks.  LSO defines the reference points between key functions within the service provider and extending out to the enterprise and the cloud. MEF standardizes these reference points, developing information models, business requirements and use cases, and data schemas, packaged within SDKs that enable developers to build open APIs to support each reference point. 

Here is an update from Michael Kearns, Co-founder and Chief Strategy Officer for Amartus and Co-Chair of MEF LSO Subcommittee, covering:

• What primary use cases are emerging for MEF LSO APIs by global Service Providers? 
• How are Service Providers leveraging LSO APIs to meet enterprise demand?
• Are we reaching a market inflection point for MEF LSO APIs?

More info on MEF LSO is here: https://www.mef.net/service-automation/lso-apis/

Get up to speed on SmartNICs by downloading our 2022 SmartNICs and Infrastructure Acceleration Report: https://ngi.how/ia-2022

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ADVA launches GPS-backup-as-a-service

ADVA introduced a GPS/GNSS-backup-as-a-service (GBaaS) that employs a combination of multi-layer detection, multi-source backup and fault-tolerant mitigation to render timing networks more secure. Embedded in all timing devices, ADVA’s Syncjack technology provides comprehensive and precise synchronization performance monitoring and analytics, enabling the Ensemble Sync Director network management suite to intelligently operate and prioritize multi-source timing feeds across the network. Onboard multi-band GNSS receivers boost timing accuracy and also protect against attacks like jamming and spoofing. But for those times when GNSS is either unavailable or compromised, a dispersed network of autonomous cesium atomic clocks and network backup timing feeds is always sitting on standby, ready to deliver highly accurate network timing over long periods of GNSS unavailability.

ADVA says its solution addresses new guidelines and standards for redundant positioning, navigation, and timing (PNT) architectures. 

“GBaaS is a completely new way for service providers to sell critical PNT infrastructure as a service without the burden of investment and maintenance. For the first time, they can offer their customers SLAs at a range of levels that ensure the resilient and assured timing needed across time-sensitive networks and applications,” commented Nino De Falcis, senior director of business development at Oscilloquartz, ADVA. “The flexibility and protection that GBaaS affords is bad news for any malicious actors looking to attack PNT services. Service providers can now offer their customers a guarantee: When GNSS is compromised or goes offline, ADVA’s robust network of defense-in-depth PTP timing devices will be there to provide the accuracy and backup they urgently need.”

“Threats to hamper PNT capabilities are growing, and much of the world’s critical infrastructure is still without adequate protection from GNSS vulnerabilities. All of that can change when service providers are able to offer GBaaS. It’s based on our aPNT+ platform, which leverages a suite of technologies, including multi-band GNSS receivers and AI- and ML-based management software. As well as making networks more resilient against cyberattacks, our aPNT+ platform also delivers highly accurate backup when GNSS fails,” said Gil Biran, GM of Oscilloquartz, ADVA. “Now service providers can offer ADVA’s aPNT+™ protection as a subscription-based service as part of their SLAs. This will enable many more timing networks to achieve very high levels of resilience and assurance. Across a wide range of industries, this will be the easiest and most flexible way to guarantee robust PNT services.”

https://adva.li/gbaas-slides

https://www.adva.com

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HPE reports Q2 sales of $6.7B, strong demand, supply chain issues

Citing strong customer and growth in subscription sales, Hewlett Packard Enterprise reported Q2 revenueof $6.7 billion, up 0.2% and 1.5% adjusted for currency from the prior-year period and in line with Q2 outlook. Diluted net earnings per share (GAAP) were $0.19, flat from the prior-year period primarily due to $126 million of Russia-related charges. Non-GAAP earnings amounted to $0.44, down 4% from the prior-year period due to impact from Russia-related operations and currency.

“Persistent demand led to another quarter of significant order growth and higher revenue for HPE, underscoring the accelerating interest customers have in our unique edge-to-cloud portfolio and our HPE GreenLake platform,” said Antonio Neri, president, and CEO of Hewlett Packard Enterprise. “I am optimistic that demand will continue to be strong, given our customers’ needs to accelerate their business resilience and competitiveness. We remain focused on innovating for our customers and on executing with discipline so that we translate that demand into profitable growth for HPE.”

“We are particularly pleased with the resiliency of our gross margins despite the inflationary environment and ongoing supply chain disruptions,” said Tarek Robbiati, EVP and CFO of Hewlett Packard Enterprise. “With record levels of high-quality backlog, we are well positioned for growth in FY22 and beyond, and confident in realizing the financial commitments we set at our Securities Analyst Meeting last October.”

Segment Results

• Intelligent Edge revenue was $867 million, up 8% from the prior-year period in actual dollars and 9% when adjusted for currency, with 12.6% operating profit margin, compared to 15.7% in the prior-year period. Aruba Services revenue was up double-digits from the prior-year period and Intelligent Edge as-a-Service ARR4 was up 50%+ from the prior-year period.
• High Performance Computing & Artificial Intelligence (“HPC & AI”) revenue was $710 million, up 4% from the prior-year period in actual dollars and 5% when adjusted for currency, with (5.6%) operating profit margin, compared to 2.6% from the prior-year period. The operating loss was driven by supply constraints and delayed customer acceptances. We remain on track to exceed the expected 11% market CAGR from FY21-24.
• Compute revenue was $3.0 billion, flat from the prior-year period in actual dollars and up 1% when adjusted for currency, with 13.9% operating profit margin, compared to 11.2% from the prior-year period. Margin expansion was driven by strategic pricing actions more than offsetting input cost increases.
• Storage revenue was $1.1 billion, down 3% from the prior-year period in actual dollars and 2% when adjusted for currency, with 12.6% operating profit margin, compared to 16.8% from the prior-year period reflecting higher supply chain costs and unfavorable mix shift.
• Financial Services revenue was $823 million, down 2% from the prior-year period in actual dollars and flat when adjusted for currency, with 12.6% operating profit margin, compared to 10.8% from the prior-year period. Net portfolio assets of approximately $12.6 billion, down 4% from the prior-year period or up 1% when adjusted for currency. The business delivered return on equity of 20.4%, up 2.1 points from the prior-year period, well above pre-pandemic levels.

https://investors.hpe.com

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Ligado picks Sony for IoT chips for its 5G satellite service

Ligado Networks has selected Sony Semiconductor Israel  to develop chipsets for Ligado's 5G mobile satellite network for the Internet of Things (IoT).

As a leading provider of cellular IoT chipsets, Sony will build on extensive design efforts and standards coordination to adapt 5G IoT technology and manufacture IoT chipsets that are compatible with Ligado's L-band MSS spectrum, which 3GPP has standardized as Band 255 for Non-Terrestrial Networks. Ligado plans to deploy a 5G satellite IoT network to support mainstream devices using low-cost chipsets for both satellite and terrestrial connectivity. 

Ligado says its 3GPP standards-based 5G satellite IoT network will support tens of millions of mobile devices powering critical machine-to-machine communications in the transportation, agriculture, utilities, and energy sectors. The partnership with Sony brings Ligado one step closer to providing standalone satellite and combined satellite and terrestrial connections to enterprise customers.

"As a leader in developing IoT standards for mobile satellite networks, we are excited to work with Sony to advance new capabilities and serve the growing market for 5G mobile satellite connectivity anywhere in the U.S. and across North America," said Sachin Chhibber, Ligado Chief Technology Officer. "This satellite capability will also support our 5G mobile private network solution by enabling ubiquitous coverage and reliability, which are essential for critical infrastructure enterprises as they modernize operations."

"We are excited to support Ligado's 5G mobile satellite network," said Dima Feldman, Vice President of Product Management and Marketing at Sony Semiconductor Israel. "The addition of satellite connectivity to our market-leading 5G IoT chipsets improves utility for critical communications customers and expands our market reach."

https://ligado.com

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Kajeet picks ONF’s Aether Private 5G open source platform

Kajeet has selected Open Networking Foundation's (ONF's) Aether platform to build their own private 5G Networks-as-a-Service offering. The Kajeet solution provides a cloud-based platform providing enterprises Private LTE and 5G, both indoor and outdoor, with seamless mobility between public and private cellular networks, as a turnkey cloud-managed Network-as-a-Service.

Kajeet’s Private 5G platform provides cloud-based SIM management, device and network management, and end-to-end smart network slicing with QoS SLA assurance for addressing the challenges of mission-critical enterprise applications. It enables customers to manage their private wireless networks with 24/7/365 Tier-1 support from Kajeet. 

ONF has deployed and demonstrated the capabilities of Aether at multiple global sites in concert with its leading vendor and carrier partners. Since its introduction in 2020, Aether has achieved a number of significant milestones, including:

“We are excited to work with the ONF to offer an innovative, open, carrier-grade Private 5G Platform that is purpose-built for enterprises. It seamlessly combines Kajeet’s public and private wireless solutions and expertise," states Derrick Frost, SVP and GM of Private Wireless Networks at Kajeet. 

https://opennetworking.org/category/news-and-events/latest-news/

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Telia sells 49% stake in its Swedish tower business to Brookfield and Alecta

 

Telia sold 49 percent of its tower business in Sweden to Brookfield and Alecta at a price corresponding to an enterprise value (EV) for 100 percent of SEK 11,224 million (US$1,140 billion) on a cash and debt free basis. The valuation of the Swedish tower business equals 28.2x normalized EBITDA 2021.

Allison Kirkby, Telia Company President and CEO, says: “We are delivering on our strategy to both develop and crystalize the value of our digital infrastructure, and I am delighted that we have Brookfield and Alecta as our Tower partners in Norway, Finland and now in Sweden. Having created the Nordic region's leading Tower company with an EV of EUR 2.6 billion, we aim to be an even stronger foundation to the continued digitalization of the Nordics."

With the completion of the transaction of the minority stake in the Swedish tower business, and the previous completion of the sale of 49 percent of Telia’s Norwegian and Finnish tower business to Brookfield and Alecta, as announced on December 29, 2021, the tower assets are placed in Telia Towers AB which is 51 percent owned by Telia with the remaining 49 percent owned by Brookfield and Alecta.

 https://www.teliacompany.com/en/news/press-releases/2022/6/telia-company-completes-the-sale-of-a-minority-stake-in-its-swedish-tower-business-to-brookfield-and-alecta/

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TIM and Open Fiber contemplate merger

TIM and Open Fiber and major investors reached a preliminay integration agreement aimed at accelerating the rollout of fiber broadband across Italy.

The deal would create a single, non-vertically integrated telecommunications network operator, controlled by CDPE and invested in by Macquarie Asset Management and Kohlberg Kravis Roberts (KKR). The transaction may be structured by separating TIM's fixed network infrastructure activities from its commercial activities - through a corporate transaction or combination of corporate transactions to be defined - and the integration of the former with the network controlled by Open Fiber in a manner to be defined.

At this stage, the parties have signed a non-binding MoU and negotiations are expected to continue in the coming months.

https://www.gruppotim.it/en/press-archive/corporate/2022/PR-MoU.html

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EFFECT Photonics opens regional HQ in Maynard, MA

EFFECT Photonics, which is a developer of integrated coherent optics solutions and a spin-off from the Eindhoven University of Technology in the Netherlands,  opened its Americas Headquarters in Maynard, Massachusetts. The new facility provides further support for North and South American customers and partners as well as for global customers with operations in the region.

EFFECT Photonics aims to democratize photonics technology by making complex high-performance optical systems simpler and more affordable for a variety of industries including telecommunications, aerospace, lidar and quantum technology. The company recently acquired ViaSat’s coherent digital signal processing business. In addition, EFFECT Photonics is working on subcomponents such as DSP, tunable lasers (iTLAs) as well as full modules for direct detect solutions. 

“Photonics represents one of the fastest-growing industries as it provides an ideal solution to respond to the soaring demand of higher bandwidth and enable increased interconnectivity to make people’s lives better and easier,” said James Regan, CEO, EFFECT Photonics. “With the opening of our new Americas headquarters, EFFECT Photonics is well-suited to meet worldwide demand and able to realize our goal of becoming a global company.”

https://effectphotonics.com

EFFECT Photonics acquires Viasat's Coherent Optical DSP business

Tuesday, March 08, 2022  Effect Photonics  

 EFFECT Photonics agreed to acquire coherent optical digital signal processing (DSP) and forward error correction (FEC) technology as well as a highly experienced engineering team, from Viasat. Financial terms were not disclosed.Viasat is a long-established player in DSP and FEC technology with eight generations of design IP.From this acquisition, EFFECT Photonics said it will now own the entire coherent technology stack of all optical functions,...

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EFFECT Photonics and Jabil Photonics target QSFP-DD

Monday, March 07, 2022  Effect Photonics, QSFP-DD  

EFFECT Photonics and Jabil Photonics agreed to co-develop a next generation of coherent QSFP-DD  optical modules. EFFECT Photonics will make available its System-on-Chip optical technology and Jabil will leverage its track record of manufacturing coherent modules in very large quantities with extensive sourcing capabilities.“One of the ambitions we have as an organization is to build strong partnerships to increase our ability to develop...

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EFFECT Photonics raises $43 million for system-on-chip

Sunday, April 25, 2021  Academia, Funding, Netherlands, Start-Ups  

EFFECT Photonics, a leading developer of DWDM components based on its optical System-on-Chip technology, announced $43 million in Series-C funding.EFFECT Photonics, which is a spin-off from the Eindhoven University of Technology in the Netherlands, has developed a photonic chip in which light signals can be generated, modulated, filtered, and detected. The first close of the investment round, was co-led by Smile Invest together with existing...

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