Cisco Networking cloud brings the Meraki stack to Catalyst

Cisco outlined its vision a single platform experience for seamlessly managing all networking domains. The Cisco Networking cloud will be the powerful and intelligent platform to proactively manage the network, eliminate silos, assure performance, and reduce human workload.

The idea is to deliver a common set of cloud management components based on the Meraki dashboard and stack for the entire Cisco networking products portfolio.

“Today we are sharing our vision and first steps to eliminate networking complexity and securely connect the world,” said Jonathan Davidson, Executive Vice President and General Manager, Cisco Networking. “Only Cisco has the portfolio, experience, and partner ecosystem to bring together campus and branch, data center, compute, IoT, and SD-WAN to optimize outcomes using one networking management platform to deliver unified experiences.”

As a first step, Cisco is delivering the following components across its existing networking products portfolio:

• Single sign-on (SSO) simplifying access across Cisco networking platforms.
• API key exchange/repository, when linked with SSO, making it easier for Cisco networking platforms to connect and exchange data through automation to reduce friction and opportunities for error.
• Cross-platform navigation, delivering more seamless navigation between Cisco networking platforms.
• Common user interface across Cisco networking platforms, bringing greater consistency and ease of use across a customer’s operational functions.
• Cisco ThousandEyes for end-to-end network assurance over any network
• Enhancements to the Meraki dashboard will now support new capabilities for Cisco Catalyst switches including a CLI view, image management, and advanced troubleshooting. 

https://newsroom.cisco.com/c/r/newsroom/en/us/a/y2023/m06/cisco-showcases-vision-to-simplify-networking-and-securely-connect-the-world.html

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NTT selects Fujitsu's 1FINITY Ultra Optical for national core network

NTT has adopted Fujitsu's 1FINITY Ultra optical transport platform as a verification system for use in trials ahead of the construction of the next optical core network covering Japan. 

Fujitsu received the system order in June 2023 and will deliver it in the first half of fiscal 2023.

The 1FINITY Ultra Optical platform leverages an open architecture system that enables flexible network construction. It is anticipated that the system, which will operate nationwide, will deliver transmission speeds of 1.2 Tbps for metropolitan areas such as Tokyo, and transmission speeds at 800 Gbps connecting remote locations, etc., optimized according to the use and the needs of the region.

NTT has proposed its IOWN concept for information and communications infrastructure. To support this concept, Fujitsu is building an All-Photonics Network (APN) that uses photonics in all areas of the communications network. APN features large capacity transmission, diminished delay, and low power consumption which greatly exceeds conventional communication technologies and will be used for the next optical core network which NTT Group will start to construct nationwide.

Fujitsu’s “1FINITY Ultra Optical System” meets the specifications required by the IOWN Global Forum for Open APN and can provide optimum solutions such as world-class high-capacity transmission of 1.2 Tbps per optical wave and long-distance transmission at 800 Gbps. In a world-first, the optical transmission equipment also uses liquid cooling to reduce CO2 emissions from the entire system by 60% compared to conventional products. Fujitsu is offering the "1FINITY Ultra Optical System" globally.

https://www.fujitsu.com/global/about/resources/news/press-releases/2023/0606-01.html

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OIF launches four new projects

 OIF has commenced work on four new projects.

• Management of Smart Optical Modules Project: Current system management paradigms require tight coupling between hosts and pluggable optical modules. As module capabilities advance, host software must be updated. This additional development cycle delays the deployment of these advanced capabilities. In multi-vendor environments, it is becoming challenging for the various equipment developers to implement and track all the advanced features implemented by the various module vendors. There is also the requirement by end users for disaggregation of IPoDWDM solutions. This new OIF project will result in a white paper describing a new paradigm that decouples the cont
  
  
  roller from host software development, enabling faster realization of advanced module capabilities.
• Energy Efficient Interfaces Framework Project: This umbrella framework project will study energy-efficient electrical and optical interfaces (sometimes referred to as “Linear” or “Direct Drive”) necessary to support the energy-efficient application requirements prioritized by OIF’s Physical Layer User Group Working Group.
• 800G/1.6T FlexE Project: This project will define interoperable next-generation FlexE specifications for 800G/1.6T PHY rates for mobile backhaul and data center interconnect applications. It will result in the revision of the OIF-FLEXE-02.2 implementation agreement by adding support for 800Gb/s and 1.6Tb/s FlexE PHYs.
• Digital Twin Optical Network as an Enhanced Network Operation Project: Digital twins can enhance and accelerate network transformations, systems and operational process integrations. Verifying the accuracy of configuration or optimization orders provided by Digital Twin Network (DTN) systems is a challenge. This project will result in a white paper that identifies the challenges and technical requirements for digital twin modeling as an enhanced optical network operation. It will specify the relationship between the DTN and network management and control, interface operation, input/output data requirements and data collection – essential steps to broaden the adoption of digital twin use in optical networks.

At last month's hybrid Q2 2023 Technical and MA&E Committees meeting held in Budapest, Jia He, Huawei Technologies Co., Ltd., was re-elected as Chair of the Networking & Operations Working Group and Tom Huber, Nokia, was appointed as Physical & Link Layer Working Group Protocol Vice Chair.

http://www.oiforum.com

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Ciena's quarterly sales rise 19% yoy to $1.13 billion

Ciena reported revenue of $1.13 billion or its fiscal second quarter ended April 29, 2023, up 19% as compared to $949.2 million for the fiscal second quarter 2022.

Ciena's GAAP net income for the fiscal second quarter 2023 was $57.7 million, or $0.38 per diluted common share, which compares to a GAAP net income of $38.9 million, or $0.25 per diluted common share, for the fiscal second quarter 2022.

Ciena's adjusted (non-GAAP) net income for the fiscal second quarter 2023 was $110.4 million, or $0.74 per diluted common share, which compares to an adjusted (non-GAAP) net income of $76.4 million, or $0.50 per diluted common share, for the fiscal second quarter 2022.

"We delivered outstanding results for the fiscal second quarter as we were able to ship more to customers with continued improvements in supply chain dynamics," said Gary Smith, president and CEO of Ciena. "We are confident in our ability to take market share given our backlog and strategic industry position with market-leading technologies and an expanding addressable market."

Some highlights

• One customer represented 10%-plus of revenue for a total of 10.9% of revenue
• Cash and investments totaled $1.34 billion
• Cash flow from operations totaled $229.8 million
• Headcount totaled 8,385
• Non-telco represented 42% of total revenue in fiscal Q2 2023
•  Direct Cloud Provider revenue increased 20% YoY
• Service Provider revenue increased 22% YoY
• Routing and Switching revenue increased 19% YoY in fiscal Q2 2023, reflecting strong contribution across the routing portfolio
• APAC revenue increased 60% YoY and 19% QoQ driven by strength in India

https://investor.ciena.com/financials/quarterly-results#section=quarterly

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Digital Realty raises $1.1 billion, sells Texas data center

Digital Realty raised approximately $1.1 billion of gross proceeds from the sale of approximately 11 million shares issued under the company's at-the-market program, including 3.5 million shares to be issued pursuant to forward sales agreements. 

In addition, Digital Realty sold a data center in Texas for approximately $150 million. The data center was originally acquired in 2012 and leased as a powered shell facility. The property was sold at a 4.4% cap rate, based on projected 2023 net operating income and generated a capital gain of approximately $88 million. 

Digital Realty expects to use the combined proceeds from the asset sale and ATM issuance to pay down debt and ultimately to fund ongoing and future investment activity. 

"Consistent with our goals for this year, this transaction enables us to recycle capital from a non-core asset at an attractive valuation," said Digital Realty Chief Investment Officer Greg Wright. "We are consistently enhancing our portfolio by redeploying proceeds into strategic investments with premium growth prospects. Institutional demand for data centers remains robust and we look forward to continued execution on our capital plan." 

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