II-VI tapes out DSP for 100 Gbps coherent optical access

by James E. Carroll

II‐VI has taped-out its Steelerton digital signal processor (DSP) for 100 Gbps coherent transmission in optical access and aggregation networks.  

The company says its Steelerton DSP, miniaturized and with ultralow power dissipation, typically of 2 W, was designed specifically to enable 100 Gbps digital coherent optics (DCO) in a pluggable QSFP28 format, one of the most widely deployed 100 Gbps transceiver form factors in access networks.

“The Steelerton DSP promises to bring 100 Gbps QSFP28-DCO transceivers into the mainstream in access networks,” said Matthias Berger, Vice President, Coherent Technology, II-VI Incorporated. “It’s a breakthrough solution that enables wide-scale deployment of full C-band tunable coherent transceivers into QSFP28 ports, of which there are tens of millions in service. The Steelerton DSP is less than one-fifth the size and consumes less than half the power of any other 100 Gbps coherent DSP commercially available.”

https://ii-vi.com/news/ii-vi-incorporated-develops-ultralow-power-dsp-for-100-gbps-coherent-transmission-in-optical-access-networks/

ADVA and II-VI debut 100ZR pluggable coherent transceiver

Tuesday, June 21, 2022  ADVA, II-VI  

ADVA and II‐VI introduced a jointly-built, 100ZR pluggable coherent transceiver for the optical network edge.The new Coherent 100ZR, which is rated for both commercial- and industrial-temperature (C-temp and I-temp) operating ranges, features the II-VI Steelerton coherent digital signal processor (DSP). The device plugs directly into existing head-ends, switches, and routers, enabling existing network elements to transmit 100 Gbps signals over links...

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IFS makes a splash: $1B fund, Arm & RISC-V support, Open Chiplet Platform 

Monday, February 07, 2022  Intel, Silicon  

by James E. CarrollThe newly established Intel Foundry Services (IFS) announced several initiatives to accelerate its entrance into the semiconductor fabrication market: a $1 billion investment fund, support for Arm and RISC-V in addition to x86, and pioneering work with chiplet architecture based on 3D packaging technology.The new $1 billion investment fund has three aims:Equity investments in disruptive startups.Strategic investments to accelerate...

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Intel intros NetSec Accelerator Reference Design

Intel introduced a new design blueprint that enables fast deployment of network security workloads.

The new Intel NetSec Accelerator Reference Design allows original design manufacturers to quickly build – and bring to market – PCIe add-in cards featuring Intel QuickAssist Technology (Intel QAT) acceleration and full Intel-based server functionality, including orchestration and management. Ideal for IPsec, SSL/TLS, firewall, SASE and analytics workloads, design-optimized cards can be integrated by network and security vendors within their solutions to expedite the integration of network and security functions and maximize the capabilities of server infrastructure at the edge.

Intel says its ecosystem partners are currently developing products based on the reference design. Silicom and F5 will be among the first to utilize the Intel NetSec Accelerator Reference Design to offer integration and acceleration of networking and security functions for rapid scale and time to market.

https://www.intel.com/content/www/us/en/products/docs/processors/atom/netsec-accelerator-reference-design-solution-brief.html

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Juniper adds Cloud Access Security Broker to SASE

Juniper Networks has expanded its SASE offering with the addition of Cloud Access Security Broker (CASB) and advanced Data Loss Prevention (DLP) capabilities to its Juniper Secure Edge solution. When combined with its SD-WAN solution driven by Mist AI, Juniper says it can now offer a full-stack SASE solution with visibility into both the edge and the data center.

Juniper delivers CASB and DLP to secure SaaS applications and help prevent unwanted access, malware delivery and distribution, and data exfiltration. Both capabilities are part of Juniper's Secure Edge cloud-delivered security solution managed by Security Director Cloud, which secures remote users and on-premises users alike. It easily manages Zero Trust and SASE architectures through one management portal using a single-policy framework. 

Key benefits:

• Prevent unauthorized access to data residing in the cloud by allowing only validated users to have access. Data access control gives security teams the greatest visibility and control over SaaS applications — both sanctioned and unsanctioned — including data, usage, compliance, threat prevention and access, which complements the suite of cloud-delivered security capabilities offered by Juniper Secure Edge.
• Expand visibility for IT operations and security teams with DLP by creating identity-based micro-perimeters around users, SaaS applications and the data within them, and keeping sensitive and confidential data within the organization safe.
• Protect SaaS applications from compromise by controlling user actions on a granularlevel, scanning all existing and new files within SaaS applications for malware, and preventing upload and download of the compromised files.
• Take a stepwise approach to SASE. Organizations can leverage their existing SRX security policies and extend them to their SASE architecture with Secure Edge to meet the business needs of today and beyond, growing with them as they expand their SASE footprint. Whether they’re starting with SD-WAN or SSE or both, Juniper is the only vendor in the market today that provides organizations with both the flexibility they need and the simplicity they want.

"The biggest challenge with SASE solutions today is that they require organizations to abandon existing technology investments that are working for them, forcing them to start from scratch and rebuild Zero Trust principles into a new architecture," said Samantha Madrid, Group VP of Security Business & Strategy, Juniper Networks. "Now, with the addition of CASB and DLP, Juniper addresses these concerns with a full-stack SASE suite of capabilities that are flexibly adopted and deployed while extending Zero Trust principles already implemented across the network to the cloud.”

https://newsroom.juniper.net/news/news-details/2022/Juniper-Networks-Offers-New-Secure-Edge-CASB-and-DLP-Capabilities-to-Simplify-the-SASE-Experience/default.aspx

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Orange Polska awards 10-year contract to Nokia

Orange Polska awarded a ten-year contract extension to Nokia. The improved deal, which will cover 50 percent of Orange’s network in northern Poland and run until 2036, will see the modernization of the operator’s existing radio network infrastructure as well as enhance its 5G capabilities. The move will support Orange’s strategy of delivering best-in-class services to its customers.

Under the contract, Nokia will upgrade all existing networks including equipment supporting phasing out Orange’s 3G network and infrastructural solutions enabling reallocating the frequencies to enhance its 4G coverage and capacity. This network refresh is scheduled to continue until 2025. Nokia will also supply equipment from its latest energy-efficient AirScale portfolio including Single RAN, AirScale base stations, and 5G Massive MIMO antennas for the operator’s 5G solution that covers all deployment scenarios from dense-urban capacity to wide-area coverage.

Nokia will also deliver equipment supporting C-Band spectrum when it is made available in Poland. C-Band spectrum, between 3.4 GHz and 3.8 GHz, is a crucial resource for operators to offer the best mix of 5G network capacity and coverage to subscribers. These solutions will support Orange’s network leadership while delivering superior connectivity and capacity to its customers. Nokia will also provide services, including digital deployment, technical support for operations and maintenance, as well as professional services.

Nokia also noted that it operates global R&D facilities with thousands of engineers in Wroclaw and Krakow.

https://www.nokia.com/about-us/news/releases/2022/06/07/nokia-wins-ten-year-network-expansion-deal-with-orange-polska/

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AT&T Private 5G powers DoD Smart Warehouse demo

AT&T participated in a U.S. Department of Defense (DoD) and U.S. Navy demonstration showcasing a variety of 5G-powered technology solutions that can support the enablement of a Naval "Smart Warehouse."

AT&T's private 5G network, which powered the demonstrations at a warehouse in Naval Base Coronado in San Diego, delivered data throughput speeds of 3.9 Gbps with less than 10 milliseconds of latency.

The 5G Smart Warehouse project at Naval Base Coronado is the DoD program's use-case incorporating 5G capabilities for transshipments between shore facilities and naval units. The goal is to increase the efficiency and fidelity of naval logistic operations including identification, recording, organization, storage, retrieval, and the transportation of materiel and supplies.

Lance Spencer, Client Executive Vice President – Defense, AT&T Public Sector and FirstNet, states: "The AT&T 5G-powered solution we've delivered at Naval Base Coronado is a first of its kind, high-performance, highly secure, and scalable private network solution. We expect it will serve as the foundation for improved efficiency, timeliness, accuracy, security, and safety of Naval warehouse operations."

https://about.att.com/story/2022/smart-warehouse-dod-navy.html

• In October 2020, the Department of Defense (DoD) announced $600 million in awards for 5G experimentation and testing at five U.S. military test sites, representing the largest full-scale 5G tests for dual-use applications in the world. DOD seeks to remain at the forefront of cutting-edge 5G testing and experimentation to strengthen our Nation's warfighting capabilities as well as U.S. economic competitiveness in this critical field.

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Dell'Oro: Supply constraints hit Wireless LAN Market in 1Q22

 Supply constraints plagued the Wireless LAN market in 1Q22, and would likely worsen in 2Q22 as a result of the China Covid lockdowns, according to a recently published report by Dell’Oro Group. 

Several US-based wireless LAN manufacturers announced that backlogs approached ten-to-fifteen times higher than normal.

“Many enterprises have planned network upgrades and the popular connection is Wi-Fi. The trouble is getting it. Several manufacturers announced that components from second and third-tier suppliers became the bottleneck in 1Q22,” said Tam Dell’Oro, Founder, CEO and Wireless LAN Analyst. “Supply constraints have resulted in highly volatile quarterly performance vendor-to-vendor depending on whether or not they have all the components. For example, sales may be up 20 percent in one quarter and down 20 percent the next. Another item, which could potentially cause delays, that we are keeping our eye on are the contract negotiations between the west coast dockworkers union and the Maritime Association,” added Dell’Oro.

Additional highlights from the Wireless LAN 1Q22 Quarterly Report:

• Wi-Fi 6E sales accelerated during the quarter as more manufacturers launched products and Extreme Networks and HPE Aruba expanded their portfolios. The adoption of Wi-Fi 6E (meaning the percent of total Indoor unit shipments as of the third quarter of the technology shipping) is tracking below the rates of the previous two technologies, Wi-Fi 6 and Wi-Fi 5 Wave 2. However, it is still early days and three quarters do not make a trend.
• For the fourth consecutive quarter, the Retail vertical continued to rank among the top-performing verticals.

https://www.delloro.com/news/supply-constraints-plague-wireless-lan-market-in-1q22-likely-worsen-in-2q22/

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Digital Realty appoints Mary Hogan Preusse as Chairman

Digital Realty appointed Mary Hogan Preusse as Chairman of the Board, succeeding Laurence Chapman, who will continue to serve on the Board of Directors. 

Ms. Hogan Preusse, a 30-year REIT industry veteran, joined Digital Realty's Board of Directors as an independent director in May 2017. Prior to joining Digital Realty's Board, from 2000-2017, she served as Managing Director and co-head of Americas Real Estate at APG Asset Management, managing the firm's public real estate investments in North and South America. Before APG, Ms. Hogan Preusse spent eight years as a sell-side analyst covering the REIT sector and began her career as an investment banking analyst at Merrill Lynch. 

"I was delighted to have Mary join the Board in 2017 and am confident that she is the right person to take the reins at this exciting time for Digital Realty and to lead the Board as we continue to accelerate the growth of our global platform," said Mr. Chapman. "Mary has played an instrumental and strategic role in driving Digital Realty's expansion and innovation since joining the Board. It has been a privilege to serve as Chairman of this strong and diverse Board, and I look forward to continuing to collaborate with Mary and the Digital Realty management team as a Director." 

"On behalf of the management team, I thank Laurence for his significant contributions and exemplary leadership as Chairman over the past five years," said Digital Realty Chief Executive Officer A. William Stein. "Mary's extraordinary investment experience and knowledge of our industry and technology-driven platform will be tremendously valuable as we continue to adapt to the changing world and enable our customers to execute on their digital transformation initiatives globally.  I'm thrilled to work even more closely together with her to execute our long-term strategy." 

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WD considers its strategic options

Responding to input from Elliott Investment Management and other investors, Western Digital announced that it is reviewing potential strategic alternatives aimed at further optimizing long-term value for its shareholders. The Executive Committee of the Western Digital Board, chaired by Western Digital CEO, David Goeckeler, will oversee the assessment process and fully evaluate a comprehensive range of alternatives, including options for separating its market-leading Flash and HDD franchises. 

“The Board is aligned in the belief that maximizing value creation warrants a comprehensive assessment of strategic alternatives focused on structural options for the company’s Flash and HDD businesses,” said Goeckeler. “Through this process, we are actively engaging in a broad range of strategic and financial alternatives that will help further optimize the value of Western Digital, including Elliott’s offer to invest incremental equity capital in our Flash Business. We look forward to continuing our constructive dialogue with Elliott as this process unfolds.”

Elliott Managing Partner Jesse Cohn and Senior Portfolio Manager Jason Genrich said, “Western Digital is strongly positioned in an industry that represents a compelling growth opportunity, and we have confidence in David and his management team’s execution, strategic vision and focus on shareholder value. We’re encouraged by the positive direction of our discussions so far, and by Western Digital’s openness to considering a full separation of its Flash business. We are pleased that Western Digital’s Board is conducting this review, and Elliott is prepared to provide strategic resources and additional capital to help the company realize the full value of both of its businesses.”

https://www.westerndigital.com/company/newsroom/press-releases/2022/2022-06-07-western-digital-announces-review-of-strategic-alternatives

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