LightRiver and Infinera showcase Coherent Pluggables in Multi-Vendor Networks

Infinera and LightRiver have completed a multi-vendor interoperability technology demonstration that leverages Infinera’s ICE-X line of intelligent coherent pluggables deployed in third-party host devices, including routers from Juniper Networks operating over a Smartoptics open ROADM system and the leading FTTX PON solution.

LightRiver’s netFLEX Transport Domain Orchestration and Control Software, combined with Infinera’s Intelligent Pluggables Manager (IPM) software, provided multi-vendor network automation.

The demonstration validates how network operators can leverage next-generation coherent pluggables to provide significant improvement in network efficiencies and expand network capacity by as much as 40 times, while also delivering new high-speed business services to currently underserved remote rural areas, including over single-fiber FTTX PON infrastructures.

“This demonstration highlights how disruptive and comprehensive technologies like Infinera’s ICE-X intelligent coherent pluggable solution provides network operators visibility to the optical layer of their network that was previously missing to deliver an accurate view to streamline operations,” said Tom Burns, General Manager of Optical Modules & Coherent Solutions Group at Infinera. “Infinera remains committed to delivering industry-leading open optical networking solutions, and we are proud to collaborate with LightRiver and other industry vendors to validate that these multi-layered disaggregated solutions can be rapidly deployed and managed.”

"Illustrating the power of LightRiver's netFLEX® network automation platform alongside Infinera's ICE-X intelligent coherent pluggable technology is a great opportunity for our companies to show how collectively we can help network operators improve efficiency and speeds,” added Matt Briley, SVP of Global Sales & Network Solutions Engineering at LightRiver. “Specifically, this multi-vendor integration showcases how next-gen network operators can achieve higher performance with fewer resources by leveraging automation and collaboration.”

The companies will exhibit their joint solution at Fiber Connect 2023, held August 20-23, 2023, at the Gaylord Palms in Kissimmee, Florida.

https://www.infinera.com/press-release/lightriver-and-infinera-to-showcase-the-power-of-next-gen-coherent-pluggables/

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CENIC brings native 400 Gbps to CalREN

The Corporation for Education Network Initiatives in California (CENIC) kicked off a new phase of the California Research and Education Network (CalREN) backbone: the upgrade of major node sites to support native 400 Gbps handoffs from member institutions, beginning with the San Diego node site located at the San Diego Supercomputer Center (SDSC) at UC San Diego. The Sunnyvale, Emeryville, Sacramento, Riverside, Tustin, and Los Angeles node sites are scheduled to be completed through this fiscal year.

Frank Würthwein, SDSC Director and Professor in the Department of Physics and at the Halıcıoğlu Data Science Institute at UC San Diego, sees great benefit to the big-data research community in California. “SDSC is excited to work with CENIC on translating innovation into practice. While the first science driver for 400G is experimental particle physics in collaboration with Caltech’s Harvey Newman, we see many other disciplines in the wings, from astronomy to cybersecurity research to genomics to neuroscience, and of course Artificial Intelligence across them all.”

"These new native 400Gbps handoffs, along with the panoply of services that CENIC currently offers — Layer2 Virtual Private Network Services, Optical Services, and Optical Spectrum Services — will further pre-position one of the world’s leading research communities with additional cyberinfrastructure tools to continue a remarkable history of scientific and medical innovations," said CENIC’s President and CEO, Louis Fox.

https://cenic.org/news/cenic-completes-first-backbone-upgrade-allowing-native-400-gbps-handoffs-to-calren

• In December 2022, CENIC validated ZR Plus coherent pluggables over CENIC’s production optical line system between Los Angeles and Sunnyvale, spanning a 750 km amplified distance. The demonstration used ZR Plus coherent optics in QSFP-DD form factor installed in a router at each end. CENIC turned up a 300G optical service and confirmed the error-free performance of the service, with a comfortable operating margin.
• “We are pleased with these initial results, and we will continue to report to the community as we complete additional validations and adoption of coherent pluggables in our production network,” said Sana Bellamine, CENIC’s Director of Regional and International Infrastructure.
• The Los Angeles to Sunnyvale turn-up was completed in close collaboration with Cisco.

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Arelion deploys Cisco 400G QSFP-DD Bright Optical Modules

Arelion has today announced that it has taken another landmark step in con­­­­­­­­­­verging its IP and optical layers as the first global network to 

Arelion confirmed the deployment of Cisco 400G QSFP-DD Bright Optical Modules in its production IP backbone. 

The first regional reach deployment spans 675 kilometers between Stockholm and Copenhagen, over third-party Optical Open Line System (O-OLS).

Cisco 400G QSFP-DD Bright Optical Modules, with greater than +1 dBm transmit power, substantially simplify integration with brownfield and greenfield deployments. The streamlined architecture eliminates the need for excessive hardware, thereby reducing potential points of failure. As a result, it achieves 64% CAPEX and 76% OPEX savings. This contributes to a significantly more cost-efficient network with fewer interfaces to control and maintain.

Arelion said the deployment streamlines its overall network architecture, and also improves energy efficiency and ensures a more efficient expansion process.

"Almost four years ago, Cisco established the mission to redefine the economics of the internet through innovative products and solutions, like Routed Optical Networking. Together, we are helping Arelion achieve impressive cost savings and greater efficiency with Cisco 400G QSFP-DD Bright Optical Modules," said Bill Gartner, SVP and General Manager, Optical Systems and Optics, Cisco.

"With constantly rising demand for our IP services and increasing traffic across the Internet, Arelion is constantly looking to deploy the latest technology. The deployment of Cisco 400G QSFP-DD Bright Optical Modules will ensure cost-effective, high-performance connectivity for our customers and help us grow our network in scale as we continue to connect the world. In addition, the coherent pluggable modules also help us achieve our sustainability goals through improved energy efficiency and redeploying redundant hardware assets," said Dariusz Solowiej, VP Network Technology & Customer Operations, Arelion.

https://wwwArelion.com

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Australia’s TPG Telecom deploys Ericsson’s Expert Analytics

TPG Telecom has awarded a new multi-year agreement to Ericsson for its cloud-native and AI-powered analytics tool.

Based on Ericsson Expert Analytics and EXFO Adaptive Service Assurance, the solution gives TPG Telecom’s Technology, Network and Care teams an in-depth, end-to-end understanding of subscriber’s experience at an individual level. Through the new agreement, TPG Telecom will gain insights from its 4G and 5G Mobile, Fixed Wireless Access and IoT subscribers using smart data collection with embedded intelligence to predict, prioritise, and resolve performance issues as they arise in real-time.

The solution integrates Ericsson Expert Analytics, EXFO adaptive service assurance and Ericsson software probes, provided as part of Ericsson’s dual-mode 5G Core, to deliver end-to-end network visibility and reduced total costs.

Ericsson said TPG Telecom is the first in Australia and one of the first communication service providers (CSP) globally to deploy Ericsson Expert Analytics in a commercial network using cloud-native technologies. 

https://www.ericsson.com/en/press-releases/7/2023/tpg-telecom-and-ericsson-launch-australian-first-analytics-and-troubleshooting-solution-to-boost-network-performance-for-customers

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Intel and Synopsys expand partnership to advanced notes

Under an expanded strategic partnership, Synopsys will enable a range of its standardized interface IP portfolio on Intel's leading-edge process technologies, including Intel 3 and Intel 18A. This will give Intel's foundry customers access toIPs built on Intel advanced process technologies, and will help them accelerate design execution and project schedules for system-on-chips (SoCs).

Intel said the collaboration is an important milestone in its IDM 2.0 strategy, which is a multiyear transformation to regain and strengthen technology leadership, manufacturing scale and long-term growth. 

“Marking another important step in our IDM 2.0 strategy, this transaction will foster a vibrant foundry ecosystem by allowing designers to fully realize the advantages of Intel 3 and Intel 18A process technologies and quickly bring differentiated products to market,” said Stuart Pann, senior vice president and general manager of IFS. “Synopsys brings a strong track record of delivering high-quality IP to a broad customer base, and this agreement will help accelerate the availability of IP on advanced IFS nodes for mutual customers.

https://www.intel.com/content/www/us/en/newsroom/news/intel-partnership-news-aug-2023.html?cid=iosm&source=twitter&campid=newsroom_posts&content=100004477226984&icid=always-on&linkId=100000213854494#gs.4f85x2

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Intelsat expects $3.7B in accelerated spectrum relocation payments

Intelsat expects to receive nearly $3.7 billion in the fourth quarter after completing C-band frequency clearing.

The FCC C-Band Transition Order set a deadline to clear the spectrum by December 2025 but offered incentive payments to satellite operators if cleared before December 2023. With the validated certification now complete, Intelsat will receive accelerated relocation payments totaling $3.67 billion.

“Intelsat’s C-band transition facilitates broader 5G services in the United States, while strengthening our financial position,” said Dave Wajsgras, CEO at Intelsat. “We reached this milestone well ahead of expectations, and I’m exceptionally proud of the Intelsat team and the hard work that led to this remarkable achievement.”

“Half of these proceeds will be used to deleverage our balance sheet, consistent with our debt covenants, while the remainder provides Intelsat with various options to create value and opportunities for all of our stakeholders,” Wajsgras said. “The Intelsat team is well positioned to remain a leader in the satellite communications industry as we continue transforming the company for the future.”

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