SES activates commercial service on O3b mPOWER System

SES' second-generation, software-enabled O3b mPOWER satellite system is now operational and delivering commercial services.

The first six O3b mPOWER satellites are operating at medium Earth orbit (MEO) or 8,000km. SES also has extensive ground infrastructure in place, enabling connectivity services ranging from tens of Mbps to multiple gigabits per second. 

To date, SES has launched six out of 13 O3b mPOWER high-throughput and low-latency satellites, which together with strategically located satellite ground stations, enable SES to serve customers across multiple market segments around the world.

In combination with SES’s MEO and geostationary (GEO) networks as well as access to low Earth orbit (LEO) solutions via strategic partnerships, SES is uniquely positioned as an all-orbit solutions provider delivering an attractive combination of high data rates, low latency, service reliability, and flexibility to meet customers’ requirements anywhere.

“We are very excited that O3b mPOWER is now ready to serve our customers around the world. Over the last few years, our SES team, along with our technology partners across space and ground segments, have worked tirelessly to bring our O3b mPOWER system online. I’m proud to say that all the core infrastructure is deployed, tested and ready on a global basis,” said Adel Al-Saleh, CEO of SES. “The demand for O3b mPOWER solutions is very high, and this moment has been long-awaited by our customers. Over the coming weeks we will work with our mobility, government, enterprise and cloud customers on O3b mPOWER onboarding plans. We’re eager to empower their operations with reliable, high-performance, and secure services.”

The launch of the next two O3b mPOWER satellites is expected in late 2024. 

https://www.ses.com/press-release/sess-o3b-mpower-system-starts-providing-high-performance-connectivity-services

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NASA's Deep Space Optical Comms breaks record

NASA's Deep Space Optical Communications (DSOC) experiment, which is onboard the Psyche asteroid mission spacecraft, successfully transmitted engineering data from over 140 million miles (226 million kilometers) away, 1½ times the distance between Earth and the Sun. The near-infrared transceiver’s 22-centimeter aperture telescope is mounted on an isolation-and-pointing assembly that stabilizes the optics and isolates it from spacecraft vibrations. 

The data sent back by the DSOC transceiver on Psyche was collected by the 200-inch (5.1-meter) Hale Telescope at Caltech’s Palomar Observatory in San Diego County, California, using a sensitive superconducting nanowire photon-counting receiver to demonstrate high-rate data transfer.

Signals sent back to the spacecraft are emitted by a high-power near-infrared laser transmitter at the Jet Propulsion Laboratory’s Table Mountain facility near Wrightwood, California. 

During the April 8 test, the spacecraft transmitted test data at a maximum rate of 25 Mbps, which far surpasses the project’s goal of proving at least 1 Mbps was possible at that distance.

"We downlinked about 10 minutes of duplicated spacecraft data during a pass on April 8,” said Meera Srinivasan, the project’s operations lead at NASA’s Jet Propulsion Laboratory in Southern California. “Until then, we’d been sending test and diagnostic data in our downlinks from Psyche. This represents a significant milestone for the project by showing how optical communications can interface with a spacecraft’s radio frequency comms system.”

NASA is also working using an array of receivers that are geographically dispersed on different mountains to boost the signal.

https://www.nasa.gov/missions/psyche-mission/nasas-optical-comms-demo-transmits-data-over-140-million-miles/

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Google Cloud's Q1 revenue jumps to $9.57B, up 28% yoy

Google Cloud revenue jumped 28% year-over-year to $9.57 billion in Q1 2024. Google Cloud's operating income grew nearly 5x to $900 million in Q1 2024, up from $191 million in Q1 2023.

Alphabet's overall revenue grew 15% year-over-year to $80.5 billion in Q1 2024, driven by strong performances from Google Search, YouTube, and Google Cloud.

Sundar Pichai, CEO, said: “Our results in the first quarter reflect strong performance from Search, YouTube and Cloud. We are well under way with our Gemini era and there’s great momentum across the company. Our leadership in AI research and infrastructure, and our global product footprint, position us well for the next wave of AI innovation.”

Ruth Porat, President and Chief Investment Officer; CFO said: “Our strong financial results for the first quarter reflect revenue strength across the company and ongoing efforts to durably reengineer our cost base. We delivered revenues of $80.5 billion, up 15% year-on-year, and operating margin expansion.”

https://abc.xyz/assets/91/b3/3f9213d14ce3ae27e1038e01a0e0/2024q1-alphabet-earnings-release-pdf.pdf

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Microsoft Q1 revenue grows to$61.9 billion, up 17%

 Citing robust growth in cloud services, Microsoft reported Q1 revenue of $61.9 billion, up 17% compared to last year. Net income was $21.9 billion, up 20%, and diluted earnings per share was $2.94, up 20%.

"Microsoft Copilot and Copilot stack are orchestrating a new era of AI transformation, driving better business outcomes across every role and industry,” said Satya Nadella, chairman and chief executive officer of Microsoft.

“This quarter Microsoft Cloud revenue was $35.1 billion, up 23% year-over-year, driven by strong execution by our sales teams and partners,” said Amy Hood, executive vice president and chief financial officer of Microsoft.

Highlights

Revenue in Productivity and Business Processes was $19.6 billion and increased 12% (up 11% in constant currency), with the following business highlights:

• Office Commercial products and cloud services revenue increased 13% (up 12% in constant currency) driven by Office 365 Commercial revenue growth of 15%
• Office Consumer products and cloud services revenue increased 4% and Microsoft 365 Consumer subscribers grew to 80.8 million
• LinkedIn revenue increased 10% (up 9% in constant currency)
• Dynamics products and cloud services revenue increased 19% (up 17% in constant currency) driven by Dynamics 365 revenue growth of 23% (up 22% in constant currency)

Revenue in Intelligent Cloud was $26.7 billion and increased 21%, with the following business highlights:

• Server products and cloud services revenue increased 24% driven by Azure and other cloud services revenue growth of 31%

Revenue in More Personal Computing was $15.6 billion and increased 17%, with the following business highlights:

• Windows revenue increased 11% with Windows OEM revenue growth of 11% and Windows Commercial products and cloud services revenue growth of 13% (up 12% in constant currency)
• Devices revenue decreased 17% (down 16% in constant currency)
• Xbox content and services revenue increased 62% (up 61% in constant currency) driven by 61 points of net impact from the Activision acquisition
• Search and news advertising revenue excluding traffic acquisition costs increased 12%

https://www.microsoft.com/en-us/Investor/earnings/FY-2024-Q3/press-release-webcast

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T-Mobile US posts strong Q1, raises guidance

T-Mobile US reported Q1 service revenues of $16.1 billion, up 4% year-over-year. Net income was $2.4 billion, up 22% year-over-year, and diluted earnings per share was $2.00, up 27% year-over-year.

“T-Mobile had a great start to 2024 with industry-leading growth in service revenues and profitability,” said Mike Sievert, CEO of T-Mobile. “Even as the rest of wireless saw moderated customer growth, our momentum continued thanks to our increasingly differentiated combination of the best value, best network, and best experiences that customers love. We’re excited about our path forward and our raised guidance for 2024 reflects our confidence in what’s to come.”

Some operating metrics

• Postpaid net account additions of 218 thousand decreased 69 thousand year-over-year.
• Postpaid net customer additions of 1.2 million decreased 73 thousand year-over-year.
• Postpaid phone net customer additions of 532 thousand decreased 6 thousand year-over-year. Postpaid phone churn of 0.86% improved 3 basis points year-over-year.
• Prepaid net customer losses of 48 thousand decreased 74 thousand year-over-year. Prepaid churn of 2.75% improved 1 basis point year-over-year.
• High Speed Internet net customer additions of 405 thousand decreased 118 thousand year-over-year. T-Mobile ended the quarter with 5.2 million High Speed Internet customers.
• Total net customer additions of 1.2 million decreased 147 thousand year-over-year. 
• Total customer connections increased to a record high of 120.9 million
• Nearly 95% of 5G network traffic is carried on mid-band spectrum, including the recently deployed Auction 108 spectrum. 
• 85% of 5G traffic on sites with all three spectrum bands (600MHz, 1.9GHz, and 2.5GHz) deployed

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Intel posts Q1 revenue of $12.7B, up 9% yoy

Intel reported Q1 revenue of $12.7 billion, up 9% year over year (YoY). There was GAAP earnings (loss) per share (EPS) attributable to Intel was $(0.09).

“We are making steady progress against our priorities and delivered a solid quarter,” said Pat Gelsinger, Intel CEO. “Strong innovation across our client, edge and data center portfolios drove double-digit revenue growth in Intel Products. With Intel 3 in high-volume production, leading-edge semiconductors are being manufactured in the U.S. for the first time in almost a decade and we are on track to regain process leadership next year as we grow Intel Foundry. We are confident in our plans to drive sequential growth throughout the year as we accelerate our AI solutions and maintain our relentless focus on execution, operational discipline and shareholder value creation in a dynamic market.”

Highlights

• CCG:As of the end of the first quarter, more than 5 million AI PCs have shipped since the December 2023 launch of Intel Core Ultra processors, supported by more than 100 software vendors. Intel expects to exceed its prior forecast of 40 million AI PCs by the end of 2024.
• DCAI: At Intel Vision, the company introduced the Intel Gaudi 3 AI accelerator, projected to deliver on-average 50% faster inference and 40% greater inference power efficiency than Nvidia H1001 on leading generative AI (GenAI) models. Intel also announced new Intel Gaudi accelerator customers and partners, including NAVER, Dell Technologies, Bosch, Supermicro and many others. Additionally, the next-generation E-core Intel Xeon, code-named Sierra Forest, achieved product release this week, and Intel expects Granite Rapids to be released in the third quarter.
• NEX: At Mobile World Congress in Barcelona, Intel introduced the new Intel Edge Platform – a modular, open software platform enabling enterprises to develop, deploy, and manage edge and AI applications at scale. The Intel Edge Platform has broad ecosystem support from Amazon Web Services, Lenovo, Red Hat, SAP and Wipro. Intel also announced the Open Platform for Enterprise AI, which aims to accelerate secure, cost-effective GenAI deployments for businesses by driving interoperability across a diverse and heterogeneous ecosystem, starting with retrieval-augmented generation (RAG).

Intel Foundry Highlights

Intel continues to drive customer adoption of Intel 18A, with a major U.S. aerospace and defense customer committing to Intel 18A, bringing Intel Foundry's external customer commitments on Intel 18A to six. This quarter, Microsoft also announced its plans to design a chip on Intel 18A.

Intel unveiled its process technology roadmap beyond its five-nodes-in-four-years process goal, adding Intel 14A to its leading-edge node lineup following Intel 18A and announcing several specialized node evolutions for Intel 3, Intel 18A and Intel 14A to enable customers to develop and deliver products tailored to their specific needs.

Intel Foundry has a strong pipeline of nearly 50 customer test chips, and has engagements with almost every foundry customer in the industry on advanced packaging, including five design awards.

Intel is forecasting second-quarter 2024 revenue of $12.5 billion to $13.5 billion; expecting second-quarter EPS of $(0.05).

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T-Mobile to acquire Lumos and set up Fiber JV with EQT

T-Mobile US has formed a joint venture (JV) with EQT’s Infrastructure VI fund (EQT) that will acquire fiber-to-the-home platform Lumos from EQT’s predecessor fund EQT Infrastructure III.    

The JV will bring T-Mobile’s retail, marketing, brand and customer experience strengths together with EQT’s fiber infrastructure investment expertise. Together they will acquire Lumos’ scalable fiber network build capabilities to deliver best-in-class high-speed fiber internet connectivity to customers across the U.S. without access to fiber today. After the transaction closes, Lumos, which currently reaches 320,000 households over 7,500 route miles with fiber optic internet and home wi-fi service in the Mid-Atlantic, will transition to a wholesale model with T-Mobile as the anchor tenant owning customer relationships and leveraging its brand to attract new subscribers. The JV will focus on market identification and selection, network engineering and design, network deployment, and customer installation.

T-Mobile is expected to invest approximately $950 million in the JV to acquire a 50% equity stake and all existing fiber customers, with the funds invested by T-Mobile being used by Lumos for future fiber builds. The next capital contribution by T-Mobile out of an additional commitment of approximately $500 million is anticipated between 2027 and 2028. These combined investments are expected to allow Lumos to reach 3.5 million homes passed by the end of 2028. T-Mobile continues to expect to complete its remaining authorization for share repurchases and dividends in 2024.

The transaction is expected to close in late 2024 or early 2025.

"As the demand for reliable, low-latency connectivity rapidly increases, this deal is a scalable strategy for T-Mobile to take a significant step forward in expanding on our broadband success and continue shaking up competition in this space to bring even more value and choice to consumers,” said Mike Sievert, CEO of T-Mobile. “Together with EQT and Lumos, T-Mobile is building on our position as the fastest growing broadband provider in the country in a value-accretive way that complements our sustained growth leadership in wireless. Customers – homes and businesses – who get the fast, affordable, and reliable internet they need will be the real winners.”

https://investor.t-mobile.com/events-and-presentations/news/news-details/2024/T-Mobile-and-EQT-Announce-Joint-Venture-to-Acquire-Lumos-and-Build-Out-the-Un-carriers-First-Fiber-Footprint/default.aspx

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TSMC previews A16 node, Chip on Wafer on Substrate, SiPh Engine

 At its 2024 North America Technology Symposium in Santa Clara, California, TSMC previewed a number of key developments, including:

• TSMC A16 Technology: With its N3E technology now in production, and N2 on track for production in the second half of 2025, TSMC debuted A16, the next technology node on its roadmap. A16 will combine TSMC’s Super Power Rail architecture with its nanosheet transistors for planned production in 2026. It improves logic density and performance by dedicating front-side routing resources to signals, making A16 ideal for HPC products with complex signal routes and dense power delivery networks. Compared to TSMC’s N2P process, A16 will provide 8-10% speed improvement at the same Vdd (positive power supply voltage), 15-20% power reduction at the same speed, and up to 1.10X chip density improvement for data center products.
• TSMC NanoFlex Innovation for Nanosheet Transistors: TSMC’s upcoming N2 technology will come with TSMC NanoFlex, the company’s next breakthrough in design-technology co-optimization. TSMC NanoFlex provides designers with flexibility in N2 standard cells, the basic building blocks of chip design, with short cells emphasizing small area and greater power efficiency, and tall cells maximizing performance. Customers are able to optimize the combination of short and tall cells within the same design block, tuning their designs to reach the optimal power, performance, and area tradeoffs for their application.
• N4C Technology: Bringing TSMC’s advanced technology to a broader range of of applications, TSMC announced N4C, an extension of N4P technology with up to 8.5% die cost reduction and low adoption effort, scheduled for volume production in 2025. N4C offers area-efficient foundation IP and design rules that are fully compatible with the widely-adopted N4P, with better yield from die size reduction, providing a cost-effective option for value-tier products to migrate to the next advanced technology node from TSMC.
• CoWoS, SoIC, and System-on-Wafer (TSMC-SoW ): TSMC’s Chip on Wafer on Substrate (CoWoS) has been a key enabler for the AI revolution by allowing customers to pack more processor cores and high-bandwidth memory (HBM) stacks side by side on one interposer. At the same time, our System on Integrated Chips (SoIC) has established itself as the leading solution for 3D chip stacking, and customers are increasingly pairing CoWoS with SoIC and other components for the ultimate system-in-package (SiP) integration. With System-on-Wafer, TSMC is providing a revolutionary new option to enable a large array of dies on a 300mm wafer, offering more compute power while occupying far less data center space and boosting performance per watt by orders of magnitude. TSMC’s first SoW offering, a logic-only wafer based on Integrated Fan-Out (InFO) technology, is already in production. A chip-on-wafer version leveraging CoWoS technology is scheduled to be ready in 2027, enabling integration of SoIC, HBM and other components to create a powerful wafer-level system with computing power comparable to a data center server rack, or even an entire server.
• Silicon Photonics Integration: TSMC is developing Compact Universal Photonic Engine (COUPE) technology to support the explosive growth in data transmission that comes with the AI boom. COUPE uses SoIC-X chip stacking technology to stack an electrical die on top of a photonic die, offering the lowest impedance at the die-to-die interface and higher energy efficiency than conventional stacking methods. TSMC plans to qualify COUPE for small form factor pluggables in 2025, followed by integration into CoWoS packaging as co-packaged optics (CPO) in 2026, bringing optical connections directly into the package.
• Automotive Advanced Packaging: After introducing the N3AE “Auto Early” process in 2023, TSMC continues to serve our automotive customers’ needs for greater computing power that meets the safety and quality demands of the highway by integrating advanced silicon with advanced packaging. TSMC is developing InFO-oS and CoWoS-R solutions for applications such as advanced driver assistance systems (ADAS), vehicle control, and vehicle central computers, targeting AEC-Q100 Grade 2 qualification by fourth quarter of 2025.

https://pr.tsmc.com/english/news/3136

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Ansys collaborates on TSMC's COUPE silicon photonics platform

Ansys announced a collaboration with TSMC on multiphysics software for TSMC's Compact Universal Photonic Engines (COUPE). 

COUPE is a Silicon Photonics (SiPh) integration system and Co-Packaged Optics platform that mitigates coupling loss while significantly accelerating chip-to-chip and machine-to-machine communication.

TSMC COUPE, along with Ansys multiphysics solutions that are integrated with Synopsys' 3DIC Compiler unified exploration-to-signoff platform, enables the next generation of silicon photonics and co-packaged optics designs for applications in AI, datacenter, cloud, and HPC communications. The work spans multiple areas, including fiber-to-chip coupling, integrated electronic-photonic chip design, power integrity verification, high-frequency electromagnetic analysis, and critical thermal management.

TSMC COUPE integrates multiple electrical ICs with a photonic IC and fiber optic connections into a single package. These include Ansys Zemax for optical input/output simulation, Ansys Lumerical for photonic simulation, Ansys RedHawk-SC and Ansys Totem for multi-die power integrity signoff, Ansys RaptorX to model high-frequency electromagnetic analysis between dies, and Ansys RedHawk-SC Electrothermal for vital thermal management of the multi-die heterogenous system. Additionally, Lumerical allows custom Verilog-A models for electronic photonic circuit simulations, which work seamlessly with the TSMC Modeling Interface (TMI) and are co-designed with TSMC's Process Design Kit (PDK).

"By providing a good silicon photonics integration system we can address both critical issues of energy efficiency and computing performance to support the explosive growth in data transmission that comes with the AI boom," said Dan Kochpatcharin, head of the design infrastructure management division at TSMC. "We have aligned closely with our Open Innovation Platform® (OIP) partners like Ansys to provide our customers with a solution to the design challenges in this breakthrough technology, enabling their designs to achieve a new level of performance and energy efficiency."

"Ansys' multiphysics platform for TSMC's COUPE technology underscores our focus on delivering the most comprehensive multiphysics portfolio with the best solution for every need," said John Lee, vice president and general manager of the semiconductor, electronics, and optics business unit at Ansys. "Ansys is a leader in delivering a deep and broad portfolio of integrated multiphysics simulation solutions and platforms. Together, TSMC and Ansys are enabling the next wave of technological innovation."

https://www.ansys.com/news-center/press-releases/4-24-24-ansys-collaborates-with-tsmc-coupe-on-multiphysics

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IBM to acquire HashiCorp for multi-cloud automation - $6.4 billion

IBM agreed to acquire HashiCorp for $35 per share in cash, representing an enterprise value of $6.4 billion. 

 HashiCorp, which is based in San Francisco, provides multi-cloud infrastructure automation software. Its key products include Terraform for infrastructure as code, Vault for secrets management, Consul for service networking, and Nomad for workload orchestration. These tools allow enterprise customers to provision, secure, connect, and run infrastructure seamlessly in hybrid and multi-cloud environments.

The company has experienced rapid growth, with over 450 million product downloads in 2022 alone. HashiCorp serves enterprise customers across various industries, including technology, financial services, healthcare, government, and more. Its open-source roots and cloud-agnostic approach have made its tools popular among developers and operations teams.

After raising over $1 billion in funding from investors like Mayfield, GGV Capital, IVP, and Bessemer Venture Partners, HashiCorp went public in 2021. The company continues to innovate and expand its product offerings to meet the evolving needs of modern cloud infrastructure management.

IBM said the rise of cloud-native workloads and associated applications is driving a radical expansion in the number of cloud workloads enterprises are managing. In addition, generative AI deployment continues to grow alongside traditional workloads. As a result, developers are working with increasingly heterogeneous, dynamic, and complex infrastructure strategies. This represents a massive challenge for technology professionals.

HashiCorp's capabilities enable enterprises to use automation to deliver lifecycle management for infrastructure and security, providing a system of record for the critical workflows needed for hybrid and multi-cloud environments. HashiCorp's Terraform is the industry standard for infrastructure provisioning in these environments. HashiCorp's offerings help clients take a cloud-agnostic, and highly interoperable approach to multi-cloud management, and complement IBM's commitment to industry collaboration (including deep and expanding partnerships with hyperscale cloud service providers), developer communities, and open-source hybrid cloud and AI innovation. HashiCorp's offerings, combined with IBM and Red Hat, will give clients a platform to automate the deployment and orchestration of workloads across evolving infrastructure including hyperscale cloud service providers, private clouds and on-prem environments.

"Our strategy at its core is about enabling companies to innovate in the cloud, while providing a consistent approach to managing cloud at scale. The need for effective management and automation is critical with the rise of multi-cloud and hybrid cloud, which is being accelerated by today's AI revolution," said Armon Dadgar, HashiCorp co-founder and chief technology officer. "I'm incredibly excited by today's news and to be joining IBM to accelerate HashiCorp's mission and expand access to 

"Enterprise clients are wrestling with an unprecedented expansion in infrastructure and applications across public and private clouds, as well as on-prem environments. The global excitement surrounding generative AI has exacerbated these challenges and CIOs and developers are up against dramatic complexity in their tech strategies," said Arvind Krishna, IBM chairman and chief executive officer. "HashiCorp has a proven track record of enabling clients to manage the complexity of today's infrastructure and application sprawl. Combining IBM's portfolio and expertise with HashiCorp's capabilities and talent will create a comprehensive hybrid cloud platform designed for the AI era."

Upon close, HashiCorp is expected to drive significant synergies for IBM, including across multiple strategic growth areas like Red Hat, watsonx, data security, IT automation and Consulting. For example, the powerful combination of Red Hat's Ansible Automation Platform's configuration management and Terraform's automation will simplify provisioning and configuration of applications across hybrid cloud environments. The two companies also anticipate an acceleration of HashiCorp's growth initiatives by leveraging IBM's world-class go-to-market strategy, scale, and reach, operating in more than 175 countries across the globe.

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AT&T posts flat Q1 revenue of $30 billion, lower CAPEX

AT&T reported Q1 revenue of $30.0 billion versus $30.1 billion in the year-ago quarter, down 0.4%. Net income was $3.8 billion versus $4.5 billion in the year-ago quarter.

The company attributed the dip to declines in Mobility equipment revenues, driven mainly by lower sales volumes, and lower Business Wireline revenues. This was mostly offset by increased service revenues, driven by Mobility, Consumer Wireline, and Mexico. Revenue trends also include increases from favorable impacts of foreign exchange rates in Mexico.

Capital expenditures were $3.8 billion in the quarter versus $4.3 billion in the year-ago quarter. Capital investment, which includes $0.8 billion of cash payments for vendor financing, totaled $4.6 billion versus $6.4 billion in the year-ago quarter.

First-Quarter Highlights

• 349,000 postpaid phone net adds with an expected industry-leading postpaid phone churn of 0.72%
• Mobility service revenues of $16.0 billion, up 3.3% year over year
• 252,000 AT&T Fiber net adds; 17th consecutive quarter of 200,000+ net adds
• Consumer broadband revenues of $2.7 billion, up 7.7% year over year
• 27.1 million consumer and business locations passed with fiber

"Our results this quarter reflect continued strong growth in our Mobility and Consumer Wireline connectivity businesses, which represent about 80% of our total revenues," said John Stankey, AT&T CEO. "Customers are choosing AT&T and staying with us. We achieved a record-low first-quarter postpaid phone churn, grew consumer broadband subscribers for the third consecutive quarter, and expanded margins in Mobility and Consumer Wireline. We're also delivering on our commitment to grow and improve the quality and cadence of free cash flow, which increased by more than $2 billion year over year. This consistent, solid performance driven by our investment-led strategy gives us confidence to re-affirm our full-year consolidated financial guidance."

https://investors.att.com/

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Vantage Data Centers plans 52MW Ireland campus

Vantage Data Centers announced its entrance into the Irish market with the development of a multi-phase data center campus (DUB1). The company will invest more than €1 billion over multiple phases to support the construction and delivery of the campus in one of the largest data center markets in Europe. The first two phases consist of 52MW of IT capacity, with the first phase expected to be operational in late 2024. Upon completion, DUB1 will mark Vantage’s 14th EMEA campus in a growing regional portfolio that spans seven countries.

The company’s flagship Ireland campus will be located approximately nine miles (15 kilometers) from the Dublin City Center in Profile Park, Grange Castle, an area known for its data centers. Sited on 22 acres (nine hectares), the 405,000 square foot (38,000 square meter) campus will consist of one 32MW facility and one 20MW facility and has available land and power to add a third facility in the future. The highly efficient campus is being built in alignment with Vantage’s sustainable blueprint to deliver an industry-leading annualized Power Usage Effectiveness (PUE) of 1.2 using virtually no water for cooling.

Vantage Data Centers is committed to achieving net zero carbon emissions by 2030 and drives emission reductions through the use of renewable energy and sustainable fuel alternatives across its value chain. 

The DUB1 campus will include an on-site 100MVA multi-fuel generation plant capable of running a combination of fuels, primarily hydrotreated vegetable oil (HVO), a renewable fuel, and gas fed by Gas Networks Ireland. Given the temporary power constraints in Dublin, this on-site generation plant will support current capacity constraints by alleviating pressure on energy demand from the grid while achieving optimal efficiency and power output. The generation plant is also capable of funneling power back to the grid, further supporting power availability in the Dublin area. In addition, Vantage plans to deploy HVO in place of conventional diesel fuel throughout its fleet of back-up generators and is working to obtain corporate power purchase agreements (CPPAs) for green energy, such as biomethane from local providers. Currently, the company is leveraging HVO for 99% of its fuel requirements during the construction phase. 

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Nokia ships Buy America-Compliant products manufactured by Sanmina

Nokia's first Buy America-compliant products have rolled off the Sanmina manufacturing line. 

The first Nokia products to come off the Sanmina manufacturing line are its Optical Line Terminal (OLT) cards. Nokia will self-certify each product according to NTIA specifications to ensure that listed vendors comply with the final guidelines. The Nokia OLTs can be ordered as individual products or as part of Nokia’s Network-in-a-Box program.      

Sandy Motley, President of Fixed Networks at Nokia, said: “As leaders in broadband, we're excited to announce a significant milestone: our Buy America-compliant products are now rolling off the production line, giving BEAD applicants and infrastructure providers access to technology that will be critical to bridging the digital divide. By aligning with Buy American guidelines, we're actively contributing to the U.S. government's mission of expanding nationwide broadband access.”    

Nokia turns to Sanmina to build fiber broadband products in USA

Thursday, August 03, 2023  Nokia  

Nokia announced a partnership with Sanmina to manufacture fiber-optic broadband network electronics products and optical modules in the U.S. for use in the Broadband Equity, Access and Deployment (BEAD) program. 

Nokia’s plans for U.S manufacturing will include:

• Optical Line Termination card for a modular Access Node
• A small form factor OLT
• OLT optical modules
• An “outdoor-hardened” Optical Network Terminal (ONT)

Sanmina will expand its state-of-the-art manufacturing facility in Pleasant Prairie, Wisconsin, adding about 200 jobs.

The investment comes in the wake of the Biden administration’s Broadband Equity, Access and Deployment (BEAD) program and the Build America Buy America Act, which were enacted as part of the Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act. 

Pekka Lundmark, President and CEO of Nokia, said: “At Nokia, we create technology that helps the world act together. We are committed to connecting people and communities. However, many Americans still lack adequate connectivity, leaving them at a disadvantage when it comes to accessing work, education and healthcare. Programs like BEAD can change this. By bringing the manufacturing of our fiber-optic broadband access products to the U.S., BEAD participants will be able to work with us to bridge the digital divide. We look forward to bringing more Americans online.”

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STL offers 'Build America, Buy America' compliant fiber optics

STL confirmed that their fiber optic cable products manufactured in the US are compliant with the 'Build America, Buy America' (BABA) provisions of the Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act (IIJA). Along with this announcement, STL also unveiled its Rapid series of products, which will add to its "In America, For America" portfolio of fiber optic cables. Rapid series of optical fiber cables range from high-capacity ribbonized cables to ruggedized designs for different applications like duct, direct buried, aerial and last-mile connectivity.

STL is showing its dedication to helping rural America and local businesses by investing $56 million in local manufacturing. This investment is aimed at meeting the demand for broadband projects, both government-funded and private, including those in the BEAD Program. Their North American headquarters in South Carolina, known as the "Palmetto Plant," opened in September 2023 and has since created 125 full-time jobs. 

Paul Atkinson, CEO - Optical Networking, STL, said, "With multiple BEAD projects on the horizon, the next five years will be landmark years for broadband and rural connectivity in the US, and we are very excited to support this program. Driven by our purpose of 'Transforming Billions of Lives by Connecting the World', our teams here are engaging with service providers to enable fast and seamless fiber rollouts in every corner of the United States. STL remains committed to continuous product innovation and providing superior quality, craft-friendly optical products for faster network roll-out that meet or exceed industry standards."

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Ribbon reports Q1 sales of $180m, major contract with VZ

Ribbon Communications reported Q1 2024 revenue of $180 million, compared to $186 million for the first quarter of 2023. First quarter 2024 GAAP Loss from Operations improved $22 million year over year, and Non-GAAP Adjusted EBITDA improved $14 million to $12 million. GAAP and Non-GAAP Gross Margin improved over 700 basis points year over year.

"I am very pleased with the improvement in our profitability year over year, exceeding the high end of our guidance. Sales in the EMEA region were strong across Service Provider and Critical Infrastructure markets, growing 24% year over year," stated Bruce McClelland, President and Chief Executive Officer of Ribbon Communications.

"Sales in our IP Optical Networks segment increased year over year for the seventh consecutive quarter, up 9% over the previous year. Lower product costs and strong regional mix contributed to the gross margin being above 40% for the segment once again," Mr. McClelland added. "While Cloud & Edge sales were down in the first quarter, we believe we have reached a low point in U.S. Tier One Service Provider spending. We expect the new multi-year Verizon Network Modernization program announced today, recovery in broader Service Provider spending, and continued growth in Enterprise, including new U.S. Federal projects, to return our Cloud & Edge segment to growth."

For the second quarter of 2024, the company projects revenue of $200 million to $210 million. Non-GAAP gross margin is projected in a range of 53.5% to 54.5%. Adjusted EBITDA is projected in a range of $20 million to $25 million.

Separately, Ribbon reported a major network modernization contract with Verizon to retire legacy TDM switching platforms and replace their function with modern cloud-based technologies.  Verizon is leveraging Ribbon's portfolio of Voice Products including the vC20 Call Controller, G5 Line Access Gateway, G6 Universal Media Gateway, virtual and Cloud-native Session Border Controllers, and other products which allows for the consolidation and replacement of equipment with energy efficient, software-centric platforms while maintaining full feature functionality. 

 "Our continuous goal at Verizon is to provide the most advanced technologies for our customers while simultaneously improving our cost of operations and advance our sustainability efforts in power consumption," said Eric Lia, Senior Vice President of Engineering at Verizon. "These network upgrades will allow us to rapidly decommission legacy central office equipment while improving overall quality and reliability of service, and reducing our environmental footprint." 

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HPE Aruba debuts Wi-Fi 7 Access Points

 Hewlett Packard Enterprise (HPE) has introduced new Wi-Fi 7 access points (APs) through its Aruba Networking division, offering up to 30% greater capacity compared to similar products. These APs enhance network security and improve location-based services, supporting enterprise needs in AI, Internet of Things (IoT), and security applications.

The APs utilize HPE's patented ultra tri-band hardware technology to maximize efficiency in the 5GHz and 6GHz bands, reducing contention and increasing performance. Managed by HPE Aruba Networking Central, the APs incorporate built-in support for various IoT protocols, including Zigbee and Bluetooth, eliminating the need for separate IoT network overlays. This integration facilitates secure connectivity for a growing array of IoT devices at the network edge, such as cameras and sensors.

Moreover, these APs are part of a broader ecosystem involving over 350 HPE technology partners, enhancing the ability of organizations to process and utilize IoT-generated data for AI applications. This includes developing predictive maintenance, digital twins, and personalized customer experiences, thereby enabling effective use of AI data lakes for real-time business insights.

Key features:

• More Wi-Fi performance: UTB filtering eliminates channel interference on adjacent channels in 5GHz and 6GHz bands, maximizing performance and capacity, giving organizations the flexibility to use both bands simultaneously.
• Enhanced wireless security: Policy-based access control and Layer 7 application firewalls build upon a foundation of security-first wireless features such as HPE Aruba Networking Central Client Insights for improved IoT visibility and automated Dynamic Segmentation to deliver role-based access for users and IoT devices. Additional features include new link level encryption (MACsec) capabilities, which extend wired data protection to the AP, and a personal wireless network mode that provides secure, self-service onboarding of user devices in group environments such as college campuses.
• Eliminate IoT Overlay Networks: HPE Aruba Networking Central’s IoT Operations dashboard streamlines device onboarding and eliminates high-overhead vendor-specific IoT overlay networks, allowing APs to act as a connector and local processing element for IoT devices to communicate directly with third-party IoT services.
• Wider support for IoT protocols: Dual dedicated Bluetooth and Zigbee radios provide support for high-density IoT environments, and dual USB ports provide robust connectivity for a broad range of IoT devices using proprietary protocols. The AP’s integrated, non-permanent external antennas are designed for challenging radio frequency (RF) environments.
• AP as a data processing solution: The HPE Aruba Networking 730 Series APs feature twice as much SDRAM and Flash memory than previous HPE models, enabling application-specific containers to run on the APs themselves, resulting in streamlined data transmissions and local processing of data for more rapid response to real-time conditions such as temperature or motion.
• Precision location services: The HPE Aruba Networking 730 Series APs are also the first to leverage the new Wi-Fi location standard, for improved location-aware services that deliver precision within one meter, for real-time, immersive, and industrial use cases, as well as support for the IEEE 802.11az standard to help enable self-location networks. Additional features include a Global Navigation Satellite System (GNSS) receiver and a barometric sensor for floor-level mapping, which incorporate Bluetooth Low Energy (BLE) 5.4 for bi-directional IoT location data that can boost user engagement and track valuable assets to reduce loss.
• Sustainability and energy savings: An AI-powered, dynamic power save mode helps lower energy footprint and costs for enterprises.

“With more than two decades of Wi-Fi innovation leadership, HPE Aruba Networking continues our commitment to delivering customers the reliable, secure, high-performance connectivity they need to meet their business objectives, which can range from immersive fan experiences to automated manufacturing processes,” said Stuart Strickland, wireless chief technology officer, HPE Aruba Networking. “Our Wi-Fi 7 APs go far beyond improvements in performance and efficiency to become an intelligent IoT hub, securing the network, distributing the workload, characterizing the environment, and providing a foundation for business and operational analytics.”

https://www.hpe.com/us/en/newsroom/press-release/2024/04/hpe-aruba-networking-introduces-high-capacity-wi-fi-7-access-points-to-improve-enterprise-security-address-ai-and-iot-challenges.html

Wi-Fi 7, known technically as IEEE 802.11be, brings several significant improvements over its predecessor, Wi-Fi 6:

• Higher Data Rates: Wi-Fi 7 is expected to offer significantly higher data rates, potentially up to 30 Gbps, which is nearly three times faster than Wi-Fi 6. This is achieved through more efficient use of spectrum, higher-level modulation schemes (4096-QAM), and increased bandwidth (up to 320 MHz).

• Improved Latency: Wi-Fi 7 aims to reduce latency significantly, which is crucial for applications requiring real-time responses such as gaming, virtual reality, and video conferencing. Techniques like Multi-Link Operation (MLO) allow devices to transmit data over multiple frequency bands simultaneously, reducing delay and improving reliability.

• Greater Efficiency in High-Density Environments: With the growing number of devices per household and per enterprise, Wi-Fi 7 introduces enhancements that manage crowded networks more efficiently. Features like improved spatial reuse protocols help to minimize interference and manage airtime fairness better among multiple devices.

• Enhanced Reliability: Wi-Fi 7 incorporates advanced technologies to improve signal reliability and resilience, even in environments prone to interference and physical obstructions. This includes more robust error correction and packet recovery mechanisms.

• Increased Bandwidth and Spectrum Utilization: By supporting wider channels (up to 320 MHz) and additional spectrum in the 6 GHz band (on top of existing 2.4 GHz and 5 GHz bands), Wi-Fi 7 can handle more data simultaneously, providing a broader highway for information flow.

• Backward Compatibility: Like previous Wi-Fi generations, Wi-Fi 7 is designed to be backward compatible with older Wi-Fi standards, ensuring that new devices can still communicate with older ones without requiring a complete network overhaul.

• Multi-Link Operation (MLO): This feature allows devices to use multiple Wi-Fi bands or channels simultaneously, which can boost throughput, balance traffic loads more efficiently, and enhance robustness against interference.

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Vantage Data Centers secures another $3B in loans

Vantage Data Centers has secured a $3 billion green loan to fund the ongoing development of its North America data centers. So far this year, Vantage has announced a total of nearly $10 billion in financing to drive the company’s continuing global growth.

The loan was provided by a bank syndicate led by structuring bank Wells Fargo Securities, LLC and joint bookrunners TD Securities, Truist Securities, Inc. and Scotiabank.

The financing is a revolving credit facility with an initial collateral pool of eight leased and greenfield sites in both new and existing markets totaling nearly 1.4GW of IT capacity. Compared to typical project-specific construction loans, this model enables faster time-to-market for Vantage and its customers. Additionally, the loan affords Vantage the ability to add more North American assets to this credit facility in the future. Currently, Vantage’s North America platform includes 12 campuses across the United States and Canada.

“For the past several years, Vantage has prioritized innovative funding avenues to support our rapid expansion, and this revolving multi-asset development financing is no exception,” said Christophe Strauven, senior vice president, capital markets at Vantage. “We are dedicated to meeting our customers where they need us most. Our decision to pursue a flexible revolving credit facility allows us to access capital quickly and, therefore, begin development much earlier than project-specific loans, enabling Vantage to meet the ambitious timelines our customers require for critical IT capacity across North America.”

 In addition to today’s announcement, the company also announced a $6.4 billion equity investment led by DigitalBridge and Silver Lake in January, followed by a $64 million loan to support the development of Vantage’s first campus in Taiwan in March.

https://vantage-dc.com/data-center-locations

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Comcast's Xfinity Mobile hotspots deliver up to 1 Gbps

Comcast reports that its new “Xfinity Mobile” hotspots enable customers on its Xfinity Mobile and Comcast Business Mobile devices to access Internet speeds over WiFi up to 1 Gbps. 

“We’re supercharging hotspots to unlock the full potential of our customers’ mobile devices and give you the boost you need, when you need it, to download a large file, stream a live sporting event, or host an important video call,” said Kohposh Kuda, senior vice president, Xfinity Mobile, Comcast. “A billion devices connect to WiFi over our network because it delivers a superior experience. We’ve invested billions of dollars in a network that can support the massive growth in data consumption and our WiFi Boost upgrade is a huge win for our mobile customers.”

• Currently, 90 percent of the mobile data traffic on Xfinity Mobile devices travels over WiFi, not cellular. 
• Comcast has over 23 million WiFi hotspots.
• Comcast has invested more than $20B over the past five years to upgrade and expand the Xfinity network and introduce new innovative features like WiFi Boost to support the constantly increasing number of connected devices consumers use both inside and outside of the home.

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Comcast Business launches Managed Detection and Response

Comcast Business introduced a Managed Detection and Response (MDR) solution that combines an advanced security analytics platform and Security Operations Center (SOC) to help medium and large enterprise customers detect, analyze, and mitigate cyber threats in an ever-evolving and challenging threat landscape.

Managed Detection and Response is a cybersecurity service that combines technology and human expertise to perform cyber threat hunting, monitoring, and response. One of the primary benefits of MDR is that it helps rapidly identify and limit the impact of threats without the need for additional staff and resources.

Highlights

• 24/7 Monitoring and Response – Around the clock monitoring and fast response to security incidents.
• Advanced Threat Detection – AI and machine learning to identify and address known and emerging threats, like Advanced Persistent Threats (APTs) and zero-day exploits.
• Expertise and resources – Security Operations Center (SOC) with security professionals with extensive knowledge and industry certifications.
• Fast Incident Response – 24/7 monitoring for quick and effective response to security incidents.
• Compliance – Reporting to help businesses with important documentation often requested for compliance audits.

https://business.comcast.com/enterprise/products-services/cybersecurity-services

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Lightpath launches Enhanced DDoS Protection

Lightpath introduced its next-generation network safeguard against a growing list of DDoS (Distributed Denial of Service) attack types.     

Lightpath's LP DDoS Shield utilizes advanced DDoS detection and mitigation technology from Radware, a leading provider of cybersecurity solutions. Radware's automated DDoS defense includes patented algorithms and AI-powered technology to more quickly detect, identify, and mitigate zero-day attacks, the hardest to defend against, as well as IoT-based, Burst, DNS and TLS/SSL attacks, phantom floods, and more. In addition, the solution offers customers complete visibility and reporting through a private portal.

As new types of DDoS threats appear, the solution leverages Radware's behavioral-based technology and global footprint to accurately identify the attacks and automatically generate signatures in real-time. The new signatures are then automatically distributed and enabled to keep customers protected.

"At a time when DDoS attacks are increasing in size, scale, and sophistication, enhanced DDoS protection is fundamental to our commitment to providing customers with a solution for secure, reliable, and future-ready connectivity," stated Tim Haverkate, SVP of Commercial Operations for Lightpath. "LP DDoS Shield dramatically improves the protections that we can offer our customers to help protect them against DDoS threats thanks to its advanced, dynamic technologies."

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Cignal AI: the 800 GbE optical market is ramping up fast

 Datacom optical component revenue grew for the 4th straight quarter with the explosion of demand for optics used in AI clusters, according to the most recent 4Q23 Optical Components Report from research firm Cignal AI. Nvidia, Coherent, and Innolight lead in 800GbE Datacom module shipments for hyperscale AI applications. Acacia and Marvell lead in shipments of high-performance coherent interfaces based on large volumes of 400ZR pluggables.

“Datacom shipments, especially 800GbE optics, are ramping up fast and shipped units are forecast to reach 8 million in 2024," said Scott Wilkinson, Lead Analyst for Optical Components at Cignal AI. "Telecom is slowly recovering from a bottom in Q3, but no immediate reversal is in sight.”

More Key Findings from the 4Q23 Optical Component Report:

• Datacom revenue reached record levels, up 11% YoY, and module shipments grew rapidly in the last 2 quarters of 2023 as AI demand accelerated. For all of 2023, total Datacom revenue was down -4%, weighed down by poor performance at the start of the year.
• After a sharp drop at the start of 2023, 400GbE port shipments recovered and grew over 50% YoY in 4Q23.
• The high-speed Datacom optical component market is forecast to exceed $10 billion by 2025.
• Coherent port shipments increased QoQ, but they were down slightly YoY. 400ZR/ZR+ shipments grew 25% QoQ.
• The market for embedded and pluggable coherent optical modules is forecast to exceed $6 billion in 2024.
• Huawei, Infinera, Acacia, and Nokia shipped Gen120P 1.2T high speed coherent ports for revenue in 4Q23, which is the first quarter of production shipments for this new technology.
• Cignal AI's 2024 forecast for 800GbE modules was increased 8% based on accelerating demand, and initial forecasts of 1600ZR modules were also added to the Optical Components report this quarter.

https://cignal.ai/

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Intel Foundry advances in DoD's RAMP-C

Intel has been awarded Phase Three of the U.S. Department of Defense’s (DoD) Rapid Assured Microelectronics Prototypes - Commercial (RAMP-C) program. This development marks a crucial step in testing and deploying defense industrial base (DIB) product prototypes. Announced via the National Security Technology Accelerator’s consortium-based program, this phase emphasizes Intel's readiness in process technology and the ability to meet high-volume manufacturing demands with its Intel 18A technology.

The latest phase of RAMP-C allows for the commencement of manufacturing both commercial and DIB product prototypes using Intel’s advanced 18A process technology. Kapil Wadhera, Intel's vice president for Foundry Services and general manager of the Government Engagements and Business Operations Group, noted that for the first time in decades, U.S. government and defense customers will access leading-edge technology concurrently with commercial markets. 

RAMP-C is strategically designed to reinstate the U.S. as a leader in cutting-edge semiconductor technology by fostering a robust, resilient, and trusted commercial foundry ecosystem. Here are some key points about the program and Intel’s involvement:

• Phase Three Focus: Extensive testing of DIB product prototypes using Intel 18A process technology.
• Collaboration: Intel Foundry works with major industry players such as Microsoft, Nvidia, IBM, and others to support the design and manufacturing of advanced integrated circuits.
• Future Milestones: Dr. Dev Shenoy of the DoD highlighted that RAMP-C aims to showcase prototype production on Intel 18A by 2025, significantly enhancing processing capabilities for military applications.
• Security and Performance: The program addresses the critical need for secure and highly performant microelectronics in U.S. military systems.
• Industry Integration: Intel has created the U.S. Military, Aerospace, and Government (USMAG) Alliance to ensure functional and operational security requirements are met through a dedicated semiconductor IP ecosystem.

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Samsung: 1024 QAM boosts downlinks by 20%

Samsung Electronics and Qualcomm Technologies have successfully completed tests for 1024 Quadrature Amplitude Modulation (QAM) on both Frequency Division Duplex (FDD) and Time Division Duplex (TDD) spectrum bands. This accomplishment is notable as it marks the first time 1024 QAM has been achieved in an FDD band, a significant step in advancing 5G technology. The tests, which were conducted in Samsung’s R&D lab in Korea, utilized Samsung’s 5G vRAN software and radios, along with a Qualcomm Snapdragon® X75 5G Modem-RF System equipped test device.

In the recent tests, using a 20MHz bandwidth on the FDD spectrum, the technology achieved downlink speeds up to 485Mbps, which is more than 20% higher than the speeds achievable with the currently widespread 256 QAM. 

Looking ahead, Samsung said it will continue its testing on 1024 QAM with traditional RAN systems and plans to make the technology commercially available within the year. This ongoing collaboration between Samsung and Qualcomm is part of a broader effort to push the limits of 5G technology, which also saw them achieving the world’s first simultaneous 5G 2x uplink and 4x downlink carrier aggregation for FDD spectrum last year.

Key Points:

• First in FDD: Samsung and Qualcomm achieved an industry first by successfully testing 1024 QAM for the FDD spectrum.
• Enhanced Speeds: Tests showed a 20% increase in downlink speeds compared to existing 256 QAM, reaching up to 485Mbps.
• Future Availability: Samsung plans to commercialize the 1024 QAM technology later this year, following additional tests on traditional RAN systems.
• Continued Collaboration: The companies continue to collaborate on advancing 5G capabilities, building on previous achievements like 5G carrier aggregation.

https://news.samsung.com/global/samsung-and-qualcomm-achieve-innovative-industry-first-milestone-with-advanced-modulation-technology

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Verizon posts flat Q1 revenue of $33.0 billion

 Citing price increases and a substantial cut in CAPEX,  Verizon reported operating revenue of $33.0 billion, up 0.2 percent from first-quarter 2023. Consolidated net income was $4.7 billion, compared to consolidated net income of $5.0 billion in first-quarter 2023. Consolidated adjusted EBITDA of $12.1 billion, up from $11.9 billion in first-quarter 2023. Earnings per share of $1.09, compared with earnings per share of $1.17 in first-quarter 2023.

Some highlights

Total wireless service revenue in first-quarter 2024 was $19.5 billion, up 3.3 percent year over year, driven primarily by pricing actions implemented in recent quarters, higher premium price plan adoption, and growth of our fixed wireless subscriber base.

First-quarter 2024 capital expenditures were $4.4 billion, compared to $6.0 billion in first-quarter 2023.

• Verizon's total unsecured debt as of the end of first-quarter 2024 was $128.4 billion, a $0.1 billion decrease compared to fourth-quarter 2023, and $3.6 billion lower year over year.
• Consumer wireless service revenue in first-quarter 2024 was $16.1 billion, up 3.4 percent year over year, driven by growth in Consumer wireless postpaid average revenue per account (ARPA) from pricing actions and continued FWA adoption. 
• Consumer wireless retail postpaid churn was 1.03 percent in first-quarter 2024, and wireless retail postpaid phone churn was 0.83 percent. 
• In first-quarter 2024, Consumer reported 158,000 wireless retail postpaid phone net losses, representing an improvement of 105,000 from first-quarter 2023 net losses of 263,000, driven by improvements in both gross adds and churn. This represents Verizon Consumer's best first-quarter performance since 2018. 
• Consumer postpaid phone gross additions in first-quarter 2024 increased 5.3 percent year over year, driven by the continued success of myPlan and last year's go to market improvements. 
• Consumer reported 216,000 wireless retail prepaid net losses in first-quarter 2024. Wireless retail prepaid net losses excluding SafeLink Wireless, Verizon's brand offering access to government-sponsored connectivity benefits and programs, were 131,000. 
• Consumer reported 203,000 fixed wireless net additions and 49,000 Fios Internet net additions in first-quarter 2024. Consumer Fios revenue was $2.9 billion in first-quarter 2024. 
• Total Verizon Business revenue was $7.4 billion in first-quarter 2024, a decrease of 1.6 percent year over year, as increases in wireless service revenue were more than offset by decreases in wireline revenue and wireless equipment revenue. 
• Business wireless service revenue in first-quarter 2024 was $3.4 billion, an increase of 2.7 percent year over year. This was driven by continued strong net additions in the quarter for both mobility and fixed wireless, as well as benefits from pricing actions implemented in recent quarters. 

For 2024, Verizon continues to expect the following: 

• Total wireless service revenue growth2 of 2.0 percent to 3.5 percent.
• Adjusted EBITDA growth of 1.0 percent to 3.0 percent.
• Adjusted EPS1 of $4.50 to $4.70.
• Capital expenditures between $17.0 billion and $17.5 billion. 
• Adjusted effective income tax rate1 in the range of 22.5 percent to 24.0 percent.

https://www.verizon.com/about/news/verizon-begins-2024-strong-wireless-service-revenue-growth-solid-cash-flow-and-continued

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euNetworks adds metro fiber network in Brussels

euNetworks Ghas added a new duct and fibre-based network in Brussels to its Pan-European network footprint. This new addition takes the company’s owned and operated metropolitan network count to 18 in Europe. This is the latest of the company’s investments in digital infrastructure in the Benelux region, following the addition of a duct-based fibre network in Belgium through acquisition in April 2023.

Last year, the 1,660 kilometres of fibre network acquired added unique routes in Brussels and long haul routes across Belgium, delivering a solid complement to euNetworks’ in-place network in the region. It also presented compelling additional investment opportunities for euNetworks in the long haul, in adjacent geographies and in building a new Brussels city network to give customers a truly end-to-end experience.

Since then, euNetworks has invested further in the Brussels metropolitan area, overbuilding acquired duct, purchasing additional cable and duct, and building additional high fibre count connectivity and diversity between key data centre sites, clusters and network aggregation points to deliver this new Brussels footprint.

Brussels Metro:

• 41 kilometres of duct and high-fibre count network
• Connects 5 data centres day 1, including LCL Brussels-North, Digital Realty BRU1, BRU3 & BRU4, AtlasEdge Brussels BRU001
• With multiple, diverse entry points to these on-net data centres
• Additional data centres are in the pipeline to be connected to support customer demand
• Dark Fibre, Long Haul and Metro Wavelengths and Ethernet-based services are available across this footprint, with four diverse 100G Ethernet nodes to be installed, delivering resiliency and redundancy
• Seamless connectivity between Brussels connected data centres and other regional data centre clusters and hubs in Ghent, Antwerp, Charleroi and Saint Ghislain
• With multiple diverse long haul connectivity options from Brussels

“Belgium is a growing digital hub, with significant investment in the region to support emerging technology trends such as IoT and GenAI, which drive Cloud adoption and strategies,” said Paula Cogan, Chief Executive Officer of euNetworks. “Our Brussels and wider Belgium investments strengthen our leadership in European critical infrastructure as we focus on the ongoing densification of the high-bandwidth demand region of FLAP (Frankfurt, London, Amsterdam and Paris). We continue our approach to deliver a differentiated proposition to the market, offering unique and scalable network routes to our customers between key data centres. We also have a strong pipeline of ongoing investment to continue to support their growing bandwidth needs, further capitalising on the investment we made last year. I’m very proud of what the team have accomplished in a relatively short timeframe, delivering our eighteenth metro network to market. We’ve also expanded our local operations and sales presence, enabling strong support for our customers locally as they move forward with their infrastructure investments.”

https://eunetworks.com/

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