Joint Warfighting Cloud contracts for AWS, Google, Azure, Oracle

The U.S. Department of Defense awarded Joint Warfighting Cloud Capability (JWCC) contracts to Amazon Web Services (AWS), Google Support Services, Microsoft, and Oracle. 

JWCC is a multiple-award contract vehicle that will provide the DoD the opportunity to acquire commercial cloud capabilities and services directly from the commercial Cloud Service Providers (CSPs) at the speed of mission, at all classification levels, from headquarters to the tactical edge. 

This Indefinite-Delivery, Indefinite-Quantity (IDIQ) contract vehicle offers commercial pricing, or better, and streamlined provisioning of cloud services. With JWCC, warfighters will now have the opportunity to acquire the following capabilities under one contract:

• global accessibility
• available and resilient services
• centralized management and distributed control
• ease of use
• commercial parity
• elastic computing, storage, and network infrastructure
• advanced data analytics
• fortified security 
• tactical edge devices 

https://www.hacc.mil/Blogs/Blog-Display/Article/3240370/joint-warfighting-cloud-capability-jwcc-contract-awarded/

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U.S., Australia, Canada and U.K. seek Open RAN diversity

The governments of the United States, Australia, Canada and the United Kingdom issued a joint statement expressing their commitment to ensuring the security and resilience of  telecommunications networks, including by fostering a diverse supply chain and influencing the development of future telecommunications technologies such as 6G. 

The four nations further announced the endorsement of the Open RAN Principles, published by the United Kingdom in April 2022. 

The Open RAN Principles are consistent with the 2021 Prague Proposals and seek to help guide industry towards the characteristics that governments want Open RAN to deliver in order to maximise the benefits that it will bring. The four principles are:

• Open disaggregation, allowing elements of the RAN to be sourced from different suppliers and implemented in new ways.
• Standards-based compliance, allowing all suppliers to test solutions against standards in an open, neutral environment.
• Demonstrated interoperability, ensuring disaggregated elements work together as a fully functional system - at a minimum matching the performance and security of current solutions.
• Implementation neutrality, allowing suppliers to innovate and differentiate on the features and performance of their products.

The U.S. government plans to invest $1.5 billion to enable carriers to replace Huawei equipment and boost the adoption of Open RAN.

 Kristian Toivo, executive director, Telecom Infra Project, states “Operators and vendors are already deploying Open RAN equipment across the States, and this investment will incentivise wider scale deployments. Open RAN gives carriers more choice, innovation opportunities and improved economics, and will be vital for rural operators as they look to close the digital divide."

 “This funding helps tackle one of the hurdles of ripping out and replacing equipment. The next step is to provide MNOs with blueprints for how Open RAN can be deployed in different scenarios and use cases, to ensure that effective investments are made. TIP is already seeing significant demand and encouraging signs of collaboration within the industry to support MNOs across regions to realise the benefits of Open RAN."

https://www.ntia.doc.gov/press-release/2022/joint-statement-between-united-states-america-australia-canada-and-united

Sunday, February 06, 2022  FCC  

 FCC Chairwoman Jessica Rosenworcel notified Congress that providers have initially requested approximately $5.6 billion from the Secure and Trusted Communications Networks Reimbursement Program to cover the costs of removing, replacing, and disposing of insecure equipment and services in U.S. networks.“Last year Congress created a first-of-its kind program for the FCC to reimburse service providers for their efforts to increase the security...

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Key provisions of the CHIPS and Science Act of 2022

Thursday, July 28, 2022  CHIPs, Gov  

The U.S. House of Representatives voted 243-187 to pass the CHIPS and Science Act of 2022. The legislation was approved by the U.S. Senate last week. President Biden is now expected to sign it into law.The principal aim of the CHIPS Act is to onshore domestic manufacturing of semiconductors. It will also substantially increase government funding for science and technology development programs impacting the networking and telecommunications fields. The...

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Marvell samples its Spica Gen2 800Gbps PAM4 in 5nm

Marvell Technology has begun sampling its Spica Gen2 800Gbps PAM4 electro-optics platform.

The highly integrated Spica Gen2 platform is built on advanced 5nm process technology with companion transimpedance amplifiers (TIAs) and driver to deliver power savings and advance the transition to 800Gbps networking inside the data center. 

Key features of Spica Gen2 include:

• Support for 1x800G, 2x400G, 8x100G Ethernet traffic with breakout
• 25% power savings enabling <12-Watt 800G
• CMIS compliant with advanced diagnostic features
• Integration of enhanced optical modulator driver

Spica Gen2 Linear TIAs:

The IN5660TA is a 56GBaud octal channel, linear TIA for PAM4 optical modules. The IN5665TA and IN5669TA are each 56GBaud quad channel, linear TIA offerings. 

Features of the Spica Gen2 linear TIAs include:

• Wide dynamic range to meet the different link requirements for optical applications
• Best-in-class linearity, low noise for optimized platform performance
• Low-power and in bare die form

Spica Gen2 Linear Driver:

The IN5614DV is a 56GBaud quad-channel, linear VCSEL driver for PAM4 optical modules. 

Features include:

• VCSEL multimode fiber for AOC and transceiver
• Excellent linearity, high bandwidth, adjustable gain to optimize the PAM4 system performance
• Low-power driver in bare die form

Marvell said its Spica Gen2 extends the company’s leadership in 800G PAM4 DSPs, building on its Spica DSP announced in 2020 in 7nm as part of the industry’s first 800Gbps PAM4 electro-optics platform. Since that time, the Spica platform has been ramping in artificial intelligence (AI) applications as the demand for higher bandwidth networking infrastructure continues to increase. 

“There is an ever-increasing need for higher bandwidth, lower latencies, and reduced complexities in managing data center infrastructure,” said Xi Wang, vice president of product marketing, Optical Connectivity at Marvell. “With the introduction of the Spica Gen2 5nm optical PAM4 DSP, Marvell is continuing to innovate and enhance the power efficiency with the 800G electro-optics platform while increasing bandwidth in the data center, which is crucial to achieving green and efficient data center architectures. Spica Gen2 enables lower latencies, higher levels of integration, and simplifies switch port management for next-gen cloud data center optical interconnects.”

“Demand for optical technology is expected to grow 14% per year through 2027, primarily driven by the projected sales of 800G and 1.6T transceivers as cloud providers and carriers enhance their infrastructures to meet customer expectations,” said Vlad Kozlov, founder and CEO of Light Counting Market Research. “Spica Gen2 is part of Marvell’s effort to raise the bar in terms of performance, power and TCO to allow clouds to scale.”

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Ciena reports sales of $3.63 billion, supply chain improvements

Ciena reported revenue of $971.0 million for its fiscal fourth quarter ended October 29, 2022, as compared to $1.04 billion for the fiscal fourth quarter 2021. Ciena's GAAP net income for the fiscal fourth quarter 2022 was $57.6 million, or $0.39 per diluted common share, which compares to a GAAP net income of $103.5 million, or $0.66 per diluted common share, for the fiscal fourth quarter 2021.

For fiscal year 2022, Ciena reported revenue of $3.63 billion, as compared to $3.62 billion for fiscal year 2021.

"Our strong fiscal fourth quarter financial results were better than expected as we benefited from some favorable supply chain developments in the second half of the quarter," said Gary Smith, president and CEO of Ciena. "Looking ahead, we expect to deliver outsized revenue growth in fiscal 2023 given our significant backlog and continued signs of gradual supply improvement. And, we remain confident that the durability of secular demand drivers and our strategic investments to expand our addressable market position us to deliver strong revenue growth over the next several years."

Some highlights:

• Non-telco represented 38% of total revenue in fiscal Q4 2022
• Routing and Switching revenue increased 39% YoY in fiscal Q4 2022, reflecting strong contribution from the recently acquired Vyatta platform and organic portfolio enhancements
• Platform Software and Services increased 8% YoY in fiscal Q4 2022, representing 7% of total revenue.
• GAAP R&D investment was approximately 17.2% of total revenue in fiscal Q4 2022
• There were 776 100G+ total customers, which includes 17 new wins on WaveLogic Ai and 15 new wins on WaveLogic 5 Extreme

https://investor.ciena.com/static-files/f91d0663-ba27-4d7a-bfd6-a7a64880f294

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Broadcom reports Q4 revenue of$8.9 billion, infrastructure silicon remains strong

Broadcom reported Q4 revenue of $8.930 billion, up 21% from $7.407 billion for the same period a year earlier. Earnings per common share - diluted amounted to $7.83, compared with $4.45 a year earlier.

•  Semiconductor solution sales amounted to $7.092 billlion compared with $5.634 billion a year earlier
• Infrastructure software sales amounted to $1.838 billion compared with $1.773 billion a year earlier

"Broadcom's fiscal year 2022 revenue grew 21% year-over-year to a record $33.2 billion, as a result of strong demand from hyperscale, service providers, and enterprise," said Hock Tan, President and CEO of Broadcom Inc. "This growth was driven by our strong partnerships with customers and accelerated adoption of our next generation technologies. As we look into fiscal 2023, our increased R&D investments during the preceding years position us to extend our leadership in next generation products within the end markets we address."

"In fiscal 2022 we achieved record adjusted EBITDA margin of 63%, generating $16.3 billion in free cash flow or 49% of revenue, demonstrating our stable and focused business model," said Kirsten Spears, CFO of Broadcom Inc. "Consistent with our commitment to return cash to shareholders, we will resume our authorized share repurchase programs for the remaining $13 billion, and we are increasing our quarterly common stock dividend by 12 percent to $4.60 per share for fiscal year 2023. The target fiscal 2023 annual common stock dividend of $18.40 per share is a record, and the twelfth consecutive increase in annual dividends since we initiated dividends in fiscal 2011."

Cash from operations of $4,583 million for the fourth quarter, less capital expenditures of $122 million, resulted in $4,461 million of free cash flow, or 50 percent of revenue.

https://investors.broadcom.com/news-releases/news-release-details/broadcom-inc-announces-fourth-quarter-and-fiscal-year-2022

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SpaceX carries OneWeb 1 mission to orbit

SpaceX launched 40 OneWeb satellites to low-Earth orbit from Kennedy Space Center in Florida using a Falcon 9 rocket.

The mission added 40 satellites to OneWeb’s 648 LEO satellite fleet, almost 80% of its first-generation constellation that will deliver global wholesale connectivity for its partners. This milestone mission marks OneWeb’s first time launching from Florida, where its satellites are also produced by OneWeb Satellites – a joint venture between OneWeb and Airbus. 

The launch will enable the company to significantly expand service and initiate additional connectivity solutions soon for partners across the U.S., Europe and much of the Middle East and Asia, representing all points north of the 35th parallel. The expansion of the OneWeb fleet will also enable coverage between the South Pole and the 35th parallel south, opening up connectivity services in Southern Australia, South Africa and parts of South America.

OneWeb’s connectivity solutions are already active in Alaska, Canada, the UK, Greenland and wider Arctic area to provide internet connectivity to unserved and underserved rural and remote communities and businesses.

OneWeb said it is on track to deliver global coverage in 2023.

The first stage SpaceC Falcon 9 booster previously launched CRS-24, Eutelsat HOTBIRD 13F, and one Starlink mission. Following stage separation, the first stage landed on Landing Zone 1 (LZ-1) at Cape Canaveral Space Force Station.

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SGP picks Nokia's IP/MPLS for Grand Paris Express metro network

Société du Grand Paris (SGP) has selected Nokia's 5G-ready IP/MPLS multiservice, mobile core and radio access network (RAN) solutions to support the implementation of four automated train lines that link 200 kilometers of Paris and up to two million passengers a day. 

The Grand Paris Express, the future metro of Greater Paris, is the largest metro rail project in Europe. With 200 kilometres of rail network, the project includes the creation of four new lines (15, 16, 17 and 18) around Paris, the extension of line 14, the construction of 68 new metro stations and the development of new neighbourhoods around these future urban centres.

The Nokia solutions include a state-of-the-art, multi-service IP/MPLS high-speed network to support all Grand Paris Express operational and maintenance requirements. The private mobile radio solution is designed for operational communications and indoor/outdoor connectivity across all Grand Paris Express stations, lines and depots. Mission-critical application requirements across the four lines will be supported by the multi-service IP/MPLS network.

The contract builds on Nokia’s relationship with SGP following the deployment of an LTE network across three of the new Paris metro lines.

Matthieu Bourguignon, Vice President Enterprise Europe Sales at Nokia, said: “These projects provide critical high-speed connectivity and performance at all points within the new Grand Paris metro and its operations, giving SGP the highest levels of confidence in its end-to-end Nokia network. We are incredibly proud to be selected by SGP as a supplier and excited to deploy our world-leading wireless access, IP/MPLS routing and mobile core solutions as a part of this ambitious project to digitally transform one of Europe’s largest rail systems.”

https://www.societedugrandparis.fr

https://www.nokia.com/about-us/news/releases/2022/12/08/nokia-ip-and-private-wireless-chosen-by-societe-du-grand-paris-to-power-one-of-europes-largest-metro-rail-projects/

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ADVA launches optical cesium clock for resiliency

ADVA launched its latest optical cesium atomic clock designed to protect synchronization networks from satellite signal interruptions while providing stability and lifetime holdover margins.

The Oscilloquartz OSA 3350 SePRC is a super ePRC that leverages optical pumping technology to deliver full high-performance frequency stability. When used with enhanced primary reference time clocks (ePRTCs), it delivers holdover of 100 nanoseconds for a minimum of 45 days and typically 55 days. In order to achieve the same performance with the market’s current solutions, users would need multiple magnetic cesium clocks. 

ADVA said its OSA 3350 SePRC provides optimum stability for ten years, a substantially longer lifespan compared with all other high-performance magnetic cesium clocks. 

“Across all nations, our well-being and safety are more dependent than ever on critical networks using satellite-derived synchronization. At the same time, this infrastructure has never been more exposed to risk. Mitigating this risk is a fundamental part of a PNT framework. That’s why we’ve created a solution that offers a new level of protection by holding accurate timing for far longer than any other available technology,” said Gil Biran, GM of Oscilloquartz, ADVA. “With the industry-leading holdover of our Oscilloquartz OSA 3350 SePRC™, operators can ensure that even when timing networks come under sustained GNSS cyberattack, the essential services we all depend on will continue to function.”

http://www.adva.com

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CyrusOne aims for carbon neutrality by 2030

CyrusOne has pledged to become climate neutral by 2030, moving up its previous 2040 commitment by a decade.

To achieve this milestone, CyrusOne will continue to improve the energy efficiency of its new and existing data centers, procure renewable electricity at an accelerated rate to power the facilities, and investigate zero-carbon alternatives to traditional diesel backup generators. These efforts build upon the progress CyrusOne has already made, including achieving 100% renewable electricity across its full European portfolio starting in 2021.

“Our customers’ commitments to reduce their carbon footprints has inspired us to quicken our efforts,” said Kyle Myers, Vice President of Environmental Health, Safety, and Sustainability at CyrusOne. “It is becoming more and more evident that our previous target of climate neutral by 2040 was ambitious for its time, but is no longer ambitious enough. We not only plan to reach carbon neutrality by the end of this decade, but to do so while decreasing our water consumption in vulnerable regions.”

https://www.cyrusone.com

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Keysight intros 5G automated service assurance probe

Keysight Technologies introduced a set of 5G solutions for automated service assurance, end-to-end quality of experience (QoE) and quality of service (QoS) verification, and active testing in private and public 5G networks. 

Keysight's solutions for maintaining QoE and QoS in 5G networks includes its Nemo Industry Probe, which supports early detection of issues such as interferences originating from multiple sources. Accumulated, these interferences in the network lead to QoS issues that adversely impact the efficiency of an operation.

Keysight combines the new Nemo Industry Probe with Nemo Cloud and Nemo Analyze to provide advanced capabilities that enable network operators to remotely monitor and visualize key performance indicators (KPIs) such as latency, data connection quality, voice and video quality, and data throughput. These measurements take into account issues such as interferences introduced by wideband noise from machinery and other radio frequency (RF) signals that user equipment (UE) may encounter in highly complex environments.

Keysight also introduces the new Keysight Nemo Active Probe, an advanced 5G network active remote monitoring solution that is ideal for large-scale deployments in fixed and mobile locations such as airports, stadiums, shopping malls, and train stations. The monitoring solution enables wireless service providers and national regulators to assure 24/7 operational network service, meeting service level agreements (SLAs) established to ensure adequate 5G connectivity levels.

In addition, Keysight offers a cohesive, software-focused portfolio of private 5G network lifecycle management solutions for advanced network visibility, end-to-end performance, and security assurance as well as network optimization across the protocol and application stack.

Matti Passoja, Head of Nemo Wireless Solutions at Keysight, said: "Keysight's new Industry 4.0 compliant active monitoring solution offers enhanced visibility into the state of a 5G private network from the perspective of the user equipment (UE). These new capabilities enable private 5G network operators to maintain continuous mission-critical levels of cellular connectivity in harsh indoor environments."

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