KDDI connects mobile tower to Starlink for backhaul

KDDI has deployed the first mobile tower in Japan to use Starlink for backhaul. 

The tower is located in Hatsushima, a remote island in Sagami Bay. The service is now in commercial operation, following a series of tests beginning in 2021.

KDDI said that in order to ensure sufficient quality for cellular service with voice and data, Starlink  met its technical guidelines in latency, jitter and uplink/downlink bandwidth. KDDI has completed its evaluation of Starlink and confirmed the conformance in customer experience that could be comparable to that of optical fiber, which it uses for urban towers.

Starting with this location, KDDI will expand its coverage to 1,200 remote towers in order to pursue its vision to bring an urban mobile experience to its rural customers.

https://news.kddi.com/kddi/corporate/english/newsrelease/2022/12/01/6415.html

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FCC clears Starlink for up to 7,500 satellites

The FCC granted SpaceX authority to construct, deploy, and operate up to 7,500 satellites operating at altitudes of 525, 530, and 535 km and inclinations of 53, 43, and 33 degrees, respectively, using frequencies in the Ku- and Ka-band. The FCC defered a decision on the full SpaceX Gen2 Starlink application, which envisions up to 29,988 LEO satellites in its constellation,

The FCC also granted SpaceX’s request for authority to conduct launch and early orbit phase (LEOP) operations and testing during orbit-raising, as well as tracking, telemetry and command (TT&C) during the process of removing its satellites from orbit, consistent with the parameters described in the application and related materials.

In addition, the FCC ruling deferred consideration of SpaceX’s proposed use of E-band frequencies and tracking beacons. 

https://www.fcc.gov/document/fcc-partially-grants-spacex-gen2-broadband-satellite-application

• In a January 2022 filing with the FCC, SpaceX proposed to operate 29,988 satellites at altitudes ranging from 340 km to 614 km.39 Approximately two thirds of the satellites (19,440) would be deployed in shells centered at altitudes from 340 km to 360 km (below the International Space Station (ISS)), approximately one third (10,080) would be deployed in shells centered at altitudes from 525 km to 535 km (above ISS and below SpaceX’s Gen1 Starlink constellation), and 468 satellites would be deployed into retrograde inclinations in shells centered at altitudes of 604 km and 614 km (above Gen1).

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Australia's nbn to deploy Nokia’s new OLT and access controller

Australia's NBN Co has selected Nokia’s next-generation fiber broadband technology to deploy on the nbn network beginning in 2023. Financial terms were not disclosed.

The deal will see nbn deploy Nokia’s latest MF series Optical Line Terminals (MF-14) and the Altiplano Access Controller for delivering higher capacity broadband technologies, such as XGS PON, 25GS PON, 50G PON and beyond. 

nbn will be one of the first in the world – and the first operator in the southern hemisphere – to deploy the Nokia MF-14. 

nbn said deployment of Nokia MF-14 OLTs will bring  multi-gigabit residential speeds across its Fibre to the Premises (FTTP) network.  Nokia's Altiplano Access Controller will bring web-scale software management and control to the nbn network. This will allow nbn to deploy enhanced customer experience tools, incorporate smarter systems and automation to reduce costs and improve operational efficiency.

In November, the nbn network reached a record peak rate of 22.35 terabits per second downstream traffic, and this number is expected to increase up to 100 terabits per second in the next ten years.

Stephen Rue, nbn Chief Executive Officer, said: “Rapid technological advances will play a critical role in driving the economic prosperity of our nation and in enabling our transition to a smarter, digitally enabled economy. By leading the deployment of this next-generation technology, we can help meet our nation’s data demands now and into the future. Together with our network investment that is pushing fibre deeper into communities and extending fixed wireless and satellite coverage and capabilities, we are helping unlock social and economic benefits for households, businesses and communities across Australia. More than 8.5 million households and businesses are connected to services over the nbn network – this equates to approximately 20 million people relying on our network every day."

Ricky Corker, Nokia’s Chief Customer Experience Officer said “Nokia and nbn have been partners for more than 10 years and we’re excited to continue to support nbn in this next technological evolution, deploying more advanced and energy-efficient networking technology. "

https://www.nbnco.com.au/corporate-information/media-centre/media-statements/nbn-selects-nokias-next-generation-fibre-solutions

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NTIA awards $73M in high-speed Internet grants for Tribal lands

The  Department of Commerce’s National Telecommunications and Information Administration  (NTIA)  awarded nine grants as part of the Tribal Broadband Connectivity Program (TBCP). These new grants, totaling more than $73 million, bring the total of the program to $1.655 billion awarded to 121 Tribal entities. With funding from the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law, also known as the Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act, these grants will expand high-speed Internet service network deployment and digital skills training to improve access to education, jobs, and healthcare on Tribal lands.  

Tribes in six states received grants – California, Colorado, Massachusetts, New Mexico, Nevada, and Washington. 

The projects funded by these awards will directly connect 3,107 unserved Native American households that previously had no connectivity to high-speed Internet as well as businesses and anchor institutions. Additionally, the nine grants will create 49 new jobs.  Additional grant awards will be announced on a rolling basis. 

“The Biden administration is committed to fostering meaningful partnerships with Tribal Nations, which have been vital to our goal of connecting everyone in America, including American Indians and Natives, with affordable, reliable, high-speed Internet service,” said Secretary of Commerce Gina Raimondo. “These grants – made possible by the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law – highlight the Biden administration’s unprecedented commitment to closing the digital divide in Native communities.” 

https://www.ntia.doc.gov/press-release/2022/biden-harris-administration-announces-more-73-million-high-speed-internet-grants

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Swiss data center operator secures US$512M refinancing

Green, the leading Swiss data center operator, completed a refinancing package valued at CHF 480 million (approximately US$512.3 million) from leading international and Swiss banks. 

Green, which is owned by InfraVia Capital Partners, said the deal will fund the expansion of its current capacity from 33MW to 81MW through the construction of additional capacity in Dielsdorf campus, the expansion of the existing high-performance campus in Lupfig and through opportunities of new campuses in Switzerland.

In the last three years, Green has intensified its cooperation with leading enterprises and public cloud providers (hyperscale companies), invested in sustainable technologies and pioneering innovations and completed new, energy-efficient and high-performance data centers in Zurich and vicinity.

Roger Süess, CEO Green: “With the acceleration of the growth program, Green is responding to the high demand from hyperscale companies who put their trust in Green when it comes to geo-redundant solutions. Green provides space, networks and sustainable growth to the benefit of hyperscale companies, enterprises and Switzerland as a whole.”

https://www.green.ch/en/blog/detail/green-completes-a-chf-480-million-refinancing-and-accelerates-its-investment-programs-in-switzerland

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