Keysight's 800GE Layer 1-3 platform hits 51.2 Tbps test load

Keysight Technologies' AresONE-M 800GE Layer 1-3 Ethernet performance test platform set a new benchmark for validating Ethernet silicon switches by processing  1.2 Tbps of traffic across 64 x 800GE links while measuring loss, latency, and jitter.

The tests were conducted on the Marvell Teralynx 10 Ethernet switch chip.

Highlights from the validation include:

• High throughput and high speed – The Keysight AresONE-M 800GE generated 51.2 Tbps of traffic, sending it successfully through the Teralynx 10 switch to test its limits. The test validated an 800GE interface speed based on 112G SerDes, which facilitates faster data transfer between devices and extended reach in data center interconnects or telecommunications networks that run data-intensive AI applications.
• Scalability – Eight AresONE-M 8-port chassis were chained together, providing an industry first 64 x 800GE link configuration to achieve a high scale test bed running at 800GE line rate.
• Low latency – Low latency is critical for achieving the shortest job completion time for AI training and other highly distributed applications. These AI workloads depend on the switching fabric to provide the lowest possible latency — and to do so predictably.
• Performance analysis – Beyond the need for high bandwidth and low latency, measuring the performance of all 64 x 800GE links was an important aspect of the testbed, providing deeper, actionable analytics around loss, latency, and jitter at line rate. 

Rishi Chugh, Vice President of Product Marketing, Network Switching, Marvell, said: “To definitively measure and validate the low-latency capabilities of Teralynx 10, Marvell turned to Keysight and its industry-leading AresONE-M 800GE test equipment. Their thorough evaluation and collaboration with our team made the process smooth and ensured the integrity of the strong results we achieved.”

Ram Periakaruppan, Vice President and General Manager, Network Test & Security Solutions, Keysight, said: “The switching fabric is a vital component of the back-end network architecture used for AI training. AI training workloads trigger a huge increase in traffic volume and compared to front-end networks, are persistently pushing this higher traffic volume around the clock. At these sustained rates, benchmarking low latency becomes very critical for ensuring that the AI training algorithms achieve the most efficient job completion time.”

Keysight intros 800GE test platform 

Tuesday, July 18, 2023    

Keysight Technologies introduced its AresONE-M 800GE Layer 1-3 Ethernet performance test platform, supporting data center interconnect speeds from 10GE to 800GE. 

The new Keysight AresONE-M 800GE enables design engineers and data center operators to validate networking equipment interoperability and bandwidth performance while supporting the transition to 400GE and 800GE networks with the capability to also test slower, legacy Ethernet speeds.

Highlights of the AresONE-M 800GE:

• Ethernet speeds – 1x800GE, 2x400GE, 4x200GE, and 8x100GE.
• PAM4 and NRZ signaling support – Features 106.25 Gb/s host electrical lane signaling with the ability to downshift to the lower electrical lane speeds of 53Gb/s and 25Gb/s for 400GE and 100GE speeds.
• Single test platform – Supports all required forward error correction (FEC) types and a full array of in-depth link tuning, stability, reliability, and performance measurement statistics.
• Complete 800GE high-scale protocol emulation and performance testing – Provides the protocol support required to test enterprise, metro, and cloud-capable Layer 2 and Layer 3 switching and routing network equipment through the IxNetwork software application.
• Highest port density available today for 800GE test systems – Supports 8 ports in a single, 2-rackmount unit chassis with additional configurations for 2 and 4 ports.

The AresONE-M 800GE uses an integrated physical layer Digital Signal Processor (DSP) from Credo Technology Group for fast and efficient data transfer with low latency that enables data transit requirements of hyperscalers, enterprises, 5G carriers, and service providers. The Credo chip also optimizes power consumption to reduce operational costs, minimize heat dissipation, and meet energy-efficient standards for advanced networks.

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Google Cloud opens in Johannesburg

 Google activated its new Johannesburg cloud region in South Africa.  

The Johannesburg region is connected to Google’s secure network, including the recently-completed Equiano subsea cable system that connects Portugal with Togo, Nigeria, Namibia, South Africa, and St. Helena.

With this opening, Google now operates  40 cloud regions and 121 zones, which together deliver Google Cloud services to over 200 countries and territories worldwide.

https://cloud.google.com/blog/products/infrastructure/heita-south-africa-new-cloud-region

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Lumen expands NaaS with Ethernet On-Demand and IP-VPN

Lumen Technologies introduced two Network-as-a-Service (NaaS) offerings: Lumen Ethernet On-Demand and Lumen IP-VPN (Internet Protocol Virtual Private Network) On-Demand. 

These services are designed to provide private cloud connections, ensuring data protection and enhanced security, vital for businesses handling substantial amounts of sensitive data.

The new private Ethernet and IP-VPN Network-as-a-Service connections bring several advantages to Lumen's customers. These include enhanced security through encrypted data on private connections, compliance with strict data protection regulations, cost efficiency by accessing cloud resources on demand without the need for expensive hardware, scalability in bandwidth management, and reliable connections across multiple business locations. Furthermore, Lumen is set to bolster its secure on-demand experience by introducing DDoS (distributed denial-of-service) protection to its Lumen Internet On-Demand solution. This upcoming feature will be powered by threat intelligence from Lumen's Black Lotus Labs.

"Many businesses face a dilemma between security and innovation. They need to protect their data with robust and flexible network solutions, but they also want to leverage the cloud and AI for productivity and growth," said Miriana Martinova, Lumen SVP of Product Management. "Lumen NaaS Private Connections resolves this challenge by offering both performance and enhanced security over their network connections. Financial and healthcare companies can protect their data from breaches, cyberattacks, or unauthorized access across any cloud environment, with confidence in Lumen's secure, resilient, and global network."

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Dell'Oro: AI infrastructure is delaying front-end networks

AI infrastructure build-outs, also known as 'Back-End Networks', are causing budget cuts and project delays in general-purpose infrastructure, or 'Front-End Networks', according to a new report from Dell'Oro Group. Despite these project delays, 800 Gbps port shipments are forecast to quadruple in 2024.

"Recent interviews with major Cloud service providers (SPs) unveiled multiple projects experiencing delays or being put on hold due to a shift in focus to AI infrastructure build-outs," said Sameh Boujelbene, Vice President at Dell'Oro Group. "Project delays and budget cuts have led to a shift of the 800 Gbps adoption timeline by approximately a year for certain major Cloud SPs. Consequently, our forecast for sales of switches deployed in front-end networks has been revised downward compared to our July 2023 report.

"Despite project delays, 800 Gbps port shipments are expected to quadruple in 2024, driven mainly by the anticipated adoption by a major Cloud service provider, specifically Amazon; and propelled by the availability of 51.2 Tbps chips in the market. 800 Gbps will be adopted in both back-end as well as front-end networks. While our traditional data center switch report focuses on front-end networks, we delve into back-end network deployment in our recently published advanced research report 'AI Networks for AI Workloads'," added Boujelbene.

Additional highlights from the Ethernet Switch—Data Center 5-Year January 2024 Forecast Report:

• 1600 Gbps is expected to start shipping in 2025/2026. Together with 800 Gbps, these high speeds are expected to comprise nearly 40 percent of the data center switch ports by 2028.
• Linear Drive Optics, an alternative to Co-packaged optics, are expected to gain material traction during our forecast horizon.
• SONiC adoption is expected to accelerate, achieving a 10-20 percent penetration rate in Tier 2/3 Cloud SPs and large enterprises by 2028.

https://www.delloro.com/news/ai-infrastructure-focus-is-delaying-front-end-network-deployments/

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Qualcomm posts higher revenues and earnings

Qualcomm reported quarterly revenue of $9.935 billion, up 5% compared to $9.463 billion for the same period a year earlier. Net income amounted to $2.767 billion, up 24% compared to a year earlier.

“We are extremely pleased to report strong quarterly results, with revenues and EPS exceeding the high end of our guidance,” said Cristiano Amon, President and CEO of Qualcomm Incorporated. “Looking ahead, we are building on this momentum with our leading Snapdragon platforms and technology differentiation in connectivity, computing and on-device generative AI, across Handsets, Automotive, PC, XR and Industrial IoT.”

https://investor.qualcomm.com/financial-information/historical-financial-results

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MaxLinear sees promise in wireless and optical datacenter

MaxLinear reported net revenue of $125.4 million, down 8% sequentially and down 57% year-over-year. Non-GAAP diluted earnings per share was $0.01, compared to $0.02 in the prior quarter, and $1.07 in the year-ago quarter.

For the full Fiscal Year 2023, MaxLinear reported net revenue of $693.3 million, down 38% over fiscal 2022. GAAP gross margin was 55.6%, down from 58.0% in the prior year, and non-GAAP gross margin was 60.8%, down from 61.6% the prior year.

“As we look ahead, we believe 2024 will be the start of an exciting period of growth and opportunity for MaxLinear. Market headwinds of the past year in broadband and connectivity are likely to become tailwinds over time when customer inventory rationalization winds down and incentive programs begin to provide new market stimulus. Most importantly, the investments we made in product innovations in wireless and optical datacenter network infrastructure, Wi-Fi, ethernet, and fiber broadband access gateways are beginning to open up new and significant revenue opportunities that are expected to drive our growth for many years to come,” commented Kishore Seendripu, Ph.D., Chairman and CEO.

https://investors.maxlinear.com/

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Extreme Networks expects more normalized revenue/earnings

 Extreme Networks reported quarterly revenue of $296.4 million, down 6.9% year-over-year. SaaS ARR $158.0 million, up 37.4% year-over-year. Non-GAAP diluted EPS amounted to $0.24, compared to $0.27 in the prior year quarter. 

"The integration of AI, security and analytics into a single platform is a key differentiator for Extreme and helped drive 37% subscription ARR growth in the quarter. We enhance network security, visibility and performance through our AIOps and machine learning capabilities and Zero Trust security posture. With our One Network, One Cloud strategy, we make networking simple and flexible and help customers drive meaningful impact across their organizations. Meanwhile competitors in our space remain challenged by portfolio integration and rationalization," said Ed Meyercord, President and Chief Executive Officer.

"The networking industry, like much of IT, is exiting the final stage of the COVID-induced era of supply chain constraints, which is still impacting our business. As a result, our distributors and partners have lowered inventory purchases, which we expect to accelerate in the third quarter. We expect to emerge in the fourth quarter at a more normalized level of revenue and earnings. Our bookings trends and funnel of new opportunities are a better reflection of customer demand. We’re seeing stabilization across EMEA and growth in APAC. And, we remain focused on innovation with this week’s introduction of new Wi-Fi 7 access points and 4000 Series Universal Switches, which help highly distributed enterprise organizations improve network connectivity, security and application performance. These trends, and our expanded go to market opportunities, give us confidence that we are positioned for a return to meaningful growth in FY25," concluded Meyercord.

https://investor.extremenetworks.com/events-presentations

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NETGEAR's Patrick C.S. Lo steps down

NETGEAR that Patrick C.S. Lo, current Chief Executive Officer and Chairman of the board, is retiring from his position at NETGEAR and from the company’s Board. Lo will remain as a strategic advisor to support a seamless leadership transition through July 2024. 

NETGEAR's Board has appointed Charles (CJ) Prober, a senior technology executive, to succeed him effective immediately. Prober is also joining NETGEAR’s Board of Directors. is experience spans leadership positions at top consumer and technology brands, including roles as President of Life360, CEO at Tile (acquired by Life360), Chief Operating Officer at GoPro, and SVP of Digital Publishing at Electronic Arts (EA).

“As co-founder of NETGEAR, and leader for nearly three decades, it goes without saying that Patrick Lo’s impact on the company is undeniable. His vision for delivering the future of connectivity through advanced networking products and solutions has shaped who we are as a company, and we celebrate all he has accomplished,” said Thomas H. Waechter, NETGEAR Lead Independent Director. “CJ has the full confidence of the Board. We look forward to working with him and the NETGEAR leadership team to take the company forward for its next phase of innovation.”

“When Mark Merrill and I founded NETGEAR 28 years ago, the internet was beginning to show its impact on the world,” said Lo. “We seized the opportunity, and we’ve been innovating and leading the industry in the creation of advanced networking technologies for homes and businesses around the world ever since. We’ve pushed the boundaries of what can be experienced in a connected world, and I am all for the next chapter of the NETGEAR story.” 

• Separately, NETGEAR released preliminary financial figures, saying it currently expects net revenue for the fourth quarter of 2023 to be between $179 million and $189 million, compared to prior guidance of $175 million to $190 million for the fourth quarter of 2023. The company continued to experience strong underlying demand in the premium portion of its CHP product portfolio, riding on the success of its Orbi WiFi 7 launch which continued through the holiday season. The Company is also encouraged that its retail channel partners maintained their inventory positions as expected. The Company continued to work with its SMB channel partners to optimize their inventory carrying levels. The uncertain macro environment created by high interest rates, geopolitical tensions, and stagnant GDP growth in certain markets continued to weigh on the Company’s SMB business as expected.

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Dell'Oro: Wi-Fi 7 Sales Will Lift the Market

Sales of Wi-Fi 7 Access Points (APs) will reach nearly three quarters of total APs revenues by 2028, according to a new report from Dell'Oro Group.  The introduction of Wi-Fi 7 to enterprises will be one of the few bright spots for vendors in 2024, in a market that is expected to contract by 9 percent.

“There has been a flurry of vendors announcing new Wi-Fi 7 APs in January,” said Siân Morgan, Wireless LAN (WLAN) Research Director at Dell’Oro Group. “We expect that Wi-Fi 6E APs will still outsell Wi-Fi 7 in 2024, but adoption of Wi-Fi 7 will be responsible for all of the revenue growth by 2025.

“However, total WLAN AP revenues are expected to decrease in 2024. After the backlog-driven revenues of 2023, enterprises are busy digesting all the equipment they received.  It’s going to take a few more quarters of downturn before the market begins to expand again,” continued Morgan.

Additional highlights from the Wireless LAN 5-Year January 2024 Forecast Report:

• The geographic balance of WLAN revenues changed in 2023, with North America and Europe taking share from China.
• Wi-Fi 6E adoption is still growing but is forecasted to peak in 2024.
• Average Selling Prices for APs are expected to contract, putting further pressure on vendor revenues.
• HPE’s announced intent to purchase Juniper Networks has increased expectations of revenues from Public Cloud-Managed WLAN.
• The first AP shipments of the standard expected to be branded as ‘Wi-Fi 8’ are expected in 2028. 

https://www.delloro.com/news/wlan-vendors-headed-for-rocky-waters-as-market-set-to-contract-9-percent-in-2024/

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OIF kicks off Interoperable 1600ZR+ project

OIF kicked off two new projects:

• Interoperable 1600ZR+ - the project complements the 1600ZR project unveiled last September (2023). Responding to market demand for higher-performance (ZR+) modes, OIF is working towards integrating these modes into its application scope for 1600 Gb/s interfaces.
• Retimed Tx Linear Rx Specs EEI Project - focused on developing specifications for Retimed Tx Linear Rx (RTxLRx). The initial applications target Ethernet and AI/ML, operating at 200G/lane over 500m single mode fiber (SMF) and 100G/lane over 30m multimode fiber (MMF), with potential for alternate applications. The project aims for full plug and play functionality in both electrical and optical domains, meeting the industry demand for power and latency savings. RTxLRx addresses constraints found in Linear Pluggable Optics (LPO) and provides flexibility, making it a candidate when LPO is not suitable.

“OIF recognizes the importance of consolidated requirements in the ZR/ZR+ space to streamline development costs and enhance industry collaboration,” said Karl Gass, OIF PLL WG – Optical Vice Chair. “This project reinforces OIF’s role as the forum for coherent line interface discussions and demonstrates leadership by facilitating the evolution of next-generation technologies.”

At its recent Q1 2024 Technical and MA&E meeting in Jacksonville, Florida, OIF re-elected the Physical and Link Layer (PLL) Working Group (WG) Chair and released a white paper focused on advancing plug and play for Common Management Interface Specification (CMIS) modules. The meeting also featured Andrew Schmitt, Cignal AI as a guest speaker.

“OIF is an excellent forum for establishing standards on rapidly emerging technologies, and it is well-positioned to tackle the tough problems network operators and their suppliers face,” said Schmitt. “This meeting’s kick off of the 1600ZR+ process - a third generation follow up to the hugely successful 400ZR project - marks a major milestone for the industry. Further increasing the ease of deployment for 400ZR technology via CMIS is also a very valuable endeavor. I’m excited about these OIF initiatives and very pleased to offer Cignal AI’s current perspective on the market to such a capable and effective audience.”

OIF kicks off new projects: 224G PAM4, 1600ZR

Sunday, September 10, 2023    

OIF has kicked off four new projects:

224G PAM4 protocol agnostic link training for electrical interfaces project

Electrical interface link training holds considerable significance throughout the industry. This project will define communication method, messaging format and contents, training patterns, states and sequences, diagnostics and fault handling, etc. for link training of a 224G PAM4 class electrical link. The objective is to enhance overall link performance, a critical factor, particularly under challenging conditions, to establish a functional connection.

As part of this initiative, the CEI (Common Electrical IO) framework will be expanded with an additional tool to encompass a comprehensive solution, reinforcing OIF's leadership in the electrical/SERDES domain.

“This project is critical for OIF, yielding a standardized solution that seamlessly fosters SERDES interoperability and implementation, transcending the boundaries of specific applications,” said David Stauffer, OIF Physical & Link Layer Working Group Chair and Kandou Bus, S.A. “Through collaborative efforts with other industry groups, we aim to forge a consistent industry-wide solution that simplifies implementation.”

1600ZR Project

The 1600ZR project will define a power optimized solution for a multi-vendor interoperable 1600 Gbps coherent optical interface, with a focus on Data Center Interconnect (DCI) scenarios. This Implementation Agreement (IA) will create a comprehensive electrical/protocol/optical framework that facilitates realization into pluggable modules. It will also establish a reference point for additional applications that contribute to the growth of the coherent ecosystem.

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Microsoft reports a 30% growth in Azure and other cloud services

Microsoft reported revenue of $62.0 billion for the December quarter, up 18% (up 16% in constant currency), and net income of $21.9 billion, up 33% compared to same period a year earlier. Diluted earnings per share was $2.93 and increased 33%, and increased 26% non-GAAP (up 23% in constant currency).

"We’ve moved from talking about AI to applying AI at scale," said Satya Nadella, chairman and chief executive officer of Microsoft. "By infusing AI across every layer of our tech stack, we’re winning new customers and helping drive new benefits and productivity gains across every sector.”

“Strong execution by our sales teams and partners drove Microsoft Cloud revenue to $33.7 billion, up 24% (up 22% in constant currency) year-over-year,” said Amy Hood, executive vice president and chief financial officer of Microsoft.

Revenue in Productivity and Business Processes was $19.2 billion and increased 13% (up 12% in constant currency), with the following business highlights:

• Office Commercial products and cloud services revenue increased 15% (up 13% in constant currency) driven by Office 365 Commercial revenue growth of 17% (up 16% in constant currency)
• Office Consumer products and cloud services revenue increased 5% (up 4% in constant currency) and Microsoft 365 Consumer subscribers grew to 78.4 million
• LinkedIn revenue increased 9% (up 8% in constant currency)
• Dynamics products and cloud services revenue increased 21% (up 19% in constant currency) driven by Dynamics 365 revenue growth of 27% (up 24% in constant currency)

Revenue in Intelligent Cloud was $25.9 billion and increased 20% (up 19% in constant currency), with the following business highlights:

• Server products and cloud services revenue increased 22% (up 20% in constant currency) driven by Azure and other cloud services revenue growth of 30% (up 28% in constant currency)

Revenue in More Personal Computing was $16.9 billion and increased 19% (up 18% in constant currency), with the following business highlights:

• Windows revenue increased 9% with Windows OEM revenue growth of 11% and Windows Commercial products and cloud services revenue growth of 9% (up 7% in constant currency)
• Devices revenue decreased 9% (down 10% in constant currency)
• Xbox content and services revenue increased 61% (up 60% in constant currency) driven by 55 points of net impact from the Activision acquisition
• Search and news advertising revenue excluding traffic acquisition costs increased 8% (up 7% in constant currency)

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Google Cloud generated sales of $9.2 in Q4, loss of $863M

In its quarterly financial report, Alphabet said Google Cloud generated quarterly sales of $9.192 billion compared with $7.315 billion a year earlier, an increase of 26%. The quarterly operating loss for Google Cloud narrowed to ($863 million), compared with a loss of ($1.237 billion) a year earlier.

In January 2023, Google completed an evaluation of how long their servers and network equipment last. As a result, they extended the expected lifespan of their servers from four to six years, and for some network equipment from five to six years. This new accounting estimate, effective from fiscal year 2023, led to a decrease in depreciation expenses by $983 million and $3.9 billion. Consequently, net income increased by $765 million and $3.0 billion, which translates to earnings of $0.06 and $0.24 per basic share, and the same per diluted share, for the three and twelve months ending December 31, 2023, respectively.

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AMD posts strong Q4 sales, weaker outlook

AMD reported Q4 2023 2023 revenue of $6.2 billion, gross margin of 47%, operating income of $342 million, net income of $667 million and diluted earnings per share of $0.41. On a non-GAAP basis, gross margin was 51%, operating income was $1.4 billion, net income was $1.2 billion and diluted earnings per share was $0.77.

For the full year 2023, the company reported revenue of $22.7 billion, gross margin of 46%, operating income of $401 million, net income of $854 million and diluted earnings per share of $0.53. On a non-GAAP basis, gross margin was 50%, operating income was $4.9 billion, net income was $4.3 billion and diluted earnings per share was $2.65.

“We finished 2023 strong, with sequential and year-over-year revenue and earnings growth driven by record quarterly AMD Instinct GPU and EPYC CPU sales and higher AMD Ryzen processor sales,” said AMD Chair and CEO Dr. Lisa Su. “Demand for our high-performance data center product portfolio continues to accelerate, positioning us well to deliver strong annual growth in what is an incredibly exciting time as AI re-shapes virtually every part of the computing market.”

 “AMD executed well in 2023 despite a mixed demand environment,” said AMD EVP, CFO and Treasurer Jean Hu. “We drove year-over-year revenue growth in our Data Center and Embedded segments and successfully launched our AMD Instinct MI300 GPUs positioning us for a strong product ramp in 2024.”

Segment Summary

• Data Center segment revenue in the quarter was $2.3 billion, up 38% year-over-year and 43% sequentially driven by strong growth in AMD Instinct™ GPUs and 4th Gen AMD EPYC™ CPUs.
• For 2023, Data Center segment revenue was $6.5 billion, an increase of 7% compared to the prior year, driven by strong growth in AMD Instinct GPUs and 4th Gen AMD EPYC CPUs.
• Client segment revenue was $1.5 billion, up 62% year-over-year driven primarily by an increase in AMD Ryzen™ 7000 Series CPU sales.
• For 2023, Client segment revenue was $4.7 billion, down 25% compared to the prior year, due to a decline in the PC market.
• Gaming segment revenue was $1.4 billion, down 17% year-over-year and 9% sequentially, due to a decrease in semi-custom revenue, partially offset by an increase in AMD Radeon™ GPU sales.
• For 2023, Gaming segment revenue was $6.2 billion, down 9% compared to the prior year primarily due to lower semi-custom sales.
• Embedded segment revenue was $1.1 billion, down 24% year-over-year and 15% sequentially primarily due to customers reducing their inventory levels.  
• For 2023, Embedded segment revenue was $5.3 billion, up 17% compared to the prior year, primarily due to the inclusion of a full year of revenue related to the acquisition of Xilinx completed in February 2022.

For the first quarter of 2024, AMD expects revenue to be approximately $5.4 billion, plus or minus $300 million. Sequentially, AMD expects Data Center segment revenue to be flat, with a seasonal decline in server sales offset by a strong Data Center GPU ramp. Client, Embedded and Gaming segment sales are expected to decline sequentially, with semi-custom revenue expected to decline by a significant double-digit percentage. Non-GAAP gross margin is expected to be approximately 52%.

https://ir.amd.com/news-events/press-releases/detail/1180/amd-reports-fourth-quarter-and-full-year-2023-financial

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Juniper posts Q4 revenue of $1.365B

Juniper Networks reported Q4 2023 revenue of $1,364.8 million, a decrease of 6% year-over-year, and a decrease of 2% sequentially. Non-GAAP net income was $196.9 million, a decrease of 8% year-over-year, and an increase of 2% sequentially, resulting in non-GAAP diluted earnings per share of $0.61.

Full-Year 2023 net revenues were $5,564.5 million, an increase of 5% year-over-year. Non-GAAP net income was $736.4 million, an increase of 15% year-over-year, resulting in diluted earnings per share of $2.26, an increase of 16% year-over-year.

“We delivered record revenue results in 2023 and grew our business on a year-over-year basis for a third consecutive year,” said Juniper’s CEO, Rami Rahim. “These results reflect the strength of our enterprise business, which not only delivered a second consecutive year of solid double-digit revenue growth, but also achieved positive product order growth in the fourth quarter and on a full-year basis.”

Product orders at Juniper:

• Increased by double digits sequentially.
• Declined by single digits year-over-year.

Enterprise orders:

• Showed strong growth, increasing in the mid-teens year-over-year.

Backlog situation:

• Ended the year with a backlog of approximately $570 million.
• Slightly elevated compared to pre-pandemic levels.

Revenue by vertical in Q4:

• Enterprise: Largest vertical, up 8% year-over-year but down 9% sequentially.
• Cloud: Declined 17% year-over-year, increased 18% sequentially.
• Service Provider: Declined 15% year-over-year, 4% sequentially.

Customer solution revenue:

• AI-Driven Enterprise: Grew 1% year-over-year, declined 16% sequentially.
• Mist and other Mist Cloud products: Grew approximately 40% year-over-year.
• Cloud-Ready Data Center: Declined 30% year-over-year, grew 6% sequentially.
• Automated WAN Solutions: Down 5% year-over-year, up 4% sequentially.

Total Software and Related Services revenue:

• $360 million, an 18% increase year-over-year.

Annual Recurring Revenue (ARR):

• Grew 30% year-over-year.
• Ended the year at $384 million.

Total Security revenue:

• $161 million, down 5% year-over-year but up 1% sequentially.

Customer composition in Q4:

• Top 10 customers: Four from Cloud, three from Enterprise, three from Service Provider.
• Accounted for 36% of total revenue, compared to 34% in Q4'22.

https://investor.juniper.net/investor-relations/financial-reports/default.aspx

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Extreme launches cloud-managed switches + Wi-Fi 7 AP

 Extreme Networks launched two solutions aimed at enhancing network connectivity, security, and application performance for highly distributed enterprises. 

The first is the AP5020, a Wi-Fi 7 Universal Access Point (AP) operating on the 6 GHz spectrum. This AP is specifically designed to cater to high-bandwidth, latency-sensitive applications, and IoT devices, enabling enterprises to modernize and manage their operations more effectively. 

The second introduction is the 4000 Series cloud-managed switches, a new addition to Extreme's Universal portfolio. These switches are notable for their rapid setup capabilities, as they largely eliminate the need for manual configurations. When used in conjunction with ExtremeCloud Universal ZTNA, these switches support automated onboarding, configuration, and policy enforcement, which bolsters security as organizations transition to a Zero Trust architecture across their networks.

Highlights:

• The AP5020: A versatile, cloud-managed Wi-Fi 7 Access Point capable of supporting bandwidth-intensive and latency-sensitive applications and IoT devices, enhancing user experience and operational efficiency in high-density settings.
• IoT Capabilities: The AP5020 includes dual IoT radios that support multiple IoT devices and protocols, reducing total ownership cost and operational complexity.
• Power Over Ethernet (PoE) Failover: Ensures uninterrupted connectivity in critical environments like healthcare and education.
• Enhanced Security: Features a dedicated security sensor for wireless intrusion prevention, pairing with Extreme AirDefense to enhance network security and performance.
• The 4000 Series Switches: Comprising the 4120 and 4220 families, these switches are part of Extreme's Universal Switching portfolio, designed for easy deployment and management.
• Instant Stacking: Simplifies setup across multiple switches.
• Instant Port and Secure Port: Eliminates manual port configuration and integrates authentication and policy enforcement.
• 4120 Model Features: Offers multi-gigabit and 90W PoE support on all access ports, plus 200Gb+ uplink capacity, ideal for high-density environments.
• 4220 Model Flexibility: Available in various port models with gigabit and multi-gigabit access ports, up to 90W PoE and 4 x SFP+ uplink ports.

 https://www.extremenetworks.com/ 

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Juniper unveils AI-Native Networking Platform

 Juniper Networks unveiled its AI-Native Networking Platform, unifying all of the company's campus, branch and data center networking solutions with a common AI engine and Marvis Virtual Network Assistant (VNA). The idea is to leverage end-to-end AI for IT Operations (AIOps) for deep insight, automated troubleshooting and seamless end-to-end networking assurance. 

Juniper says its AI-Native Networking Platform provides the simplest and most assured Day 0/1/2+ operations, resulting in up to 85 percent loweroperational expenditures than traditional solutions, demonstrates the elimination of up to 90 percent of network trouble tickets, 85 percent of IT onsite visits and up to 50 percent reduction in network incident resolution times.

“AI is the biggest technology inflection point since the internet itself, and its ongoing impact on networking cannot be understated. At Juniper, we have seen first-hand how our game changing AIOps has saved thousands of global enterprises significant time and money while delighting the end user with a superior experience. Our AI-Native Networking Platform represents a bold new direction for Juniper, and for our industry. By extending AIOps from the end user all the way to the application, and across every network domain in between, we are taking a big step toward making network outages, trouble tickets and application downtime things of the past,” states Rami Rahim, Chief Executive Officer, Juniper Networks.

The new AI-Native Networking Platform includes two new enhancements to Marvis, the only AI-Native VNA in the industry driven by Mist AI, with proactive recommendations and self-driving operations plus a conversation interface (using GenAI for some use cases). With the following new capabilities, Juniper customers and partners get even more automation and insight:

• Marvis Minis: the only AI-Native Networking Digital Experience Twin, uses Mist AI to proactively simulate user connections to instantly validate network configurations and find/detect problems without users being present. Minis simulates end user/client/device/app traffic to learn the network configuration via unsupervised machine learning and to proactively highlight network issues. Data from Minis is continuously fed back into the Mist AI engine, providing an additional source of insight for the best AIOps responses. No manual configuration is required, as Minis is always on and can be deployed automatically during periods of low network usage (e.g. at midnight on weekends) or via trigger events (e.g. after a network configuration change). Also, unlike conventional digital twinning solutions and synthetic testing, Marvis Minis integrates directly with the network, eliminating manual monitoring and analysis via external sensors, clients and applications.
• Marvis Virtual Network Assistant (VNA) for the Data Center: Juniper is introducing the first and only AI-Native VNA for the data center, delivering the best insight throughout the entire data center lifecycle across any vendor’s hardware. For example, issues with data center cabling, configuration and connectivity from any vendor’s hardware are surfaced in the Marvis Actions UI (from Juniper Apstra) with suggested proactive actions. Additionally, the Marvis conversational interface (CI) allows IT teams to pose direct queries and get simple, seamless insight into the data center product documentation and knowledgebase using GenAI.

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Juniper intros QFX switches based on Broadcom's Tomahawk 5

Juniper Networks introduced new data center switches based on the most advanced Broadcom Tomahawk 5 silicon for 800GE:

• QFX5230-64CD switch is a high-radix class switch, dedicated for high- bandwidth network switching devices supporting up to 64 × 400GbE, 128 × 200GbE, 256 × 100GbE, 64 × 40GbE, 256 × 25GbE, 256 × 10GbE ports in 2 U form factor. The switch is designed for AI data center deployments and spine and super-spine roles within IP and Ethernet VPN– Virtual Extensible LAN (EVPN-VXLAN) fabrics. The additional Remote Direct Memory Access over Converged Ethernet (RoCEv2) capabilities of the QFX5230-64CD support IP storage deployments where instead of relying on deep buffer switching, the QoS mechanisms such as priority-based flow control-distributed services code point (PFC- DSCP) and explicit congestion notification (ECN) deliver high performance for the storage workloads. Support for ZR/ZR-M optics makes it suitable for edge and data center interconnect (DCI) use cases. 
• QFX5240 800GbE switch (64 port 800GbE) is a next-generation, fixed-configuration platform designed for spine, leaf, and border switch roles. The switch provides flexible, cost-effective, high-density 800GbE, 400GbE, 100GbE, and 50GbE interfaces for intra-IP fabric connectivity as well as higher density 200/400GbE NIC connectivity for AI/ML use cases. It’s 51.2Tbps unidirectional throughput meets the bandwidth requirement of AI/ML workloads and storage systems with latency in the range of 700-750ns. Remote Direct Memory Access (RDMA) is the de-facto data transfer technology used in AI/ML workloads, and it uses Remote Direct Memory Access over Converged Ethernet v2 (ROCEv2) for transport at the network layer.

Both platforms offer Juniper Apstra intent-based networking, which delivers full Day 0 through Day 2+ capabilities for IP/EVPN fabrics with closed-loop assurance in the data center. Apstra is a fabric management solution that empowers organizations to automate and manage their networks across virtually any data center design, vendor, and topology, making private data center as easy as cloud. Apstra provides full Day 2+ operations assurance with multiple built-in intent-based analytics probes to assure your network is running as designed. 

https://www.juniper.net/us/en/products/switches/qfx-series/qfx5240-switches-datasheet.html?utm_medium=website&utm_source=pressrelease&utm_campaign=LNCH_AMER_MEGA_AINAT_24Q01

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Juniper debuts 800GbE PTX Packet Transport Router

Juniper Networks introduced its PTX10002-36QDD router, a compact, high-density platform for use as core, peering, data center interconnect and data center edge, metro aggregation, and AI data center networking, for service and cloud providers, as well as enterprise networks.

The PTX10002-36QDD is a 2 U fixed-configuration 800GbE router with 28.8Tbps capacity for supporting 36x800GbE or 72x400GbE interfaces with inline MACsec. The platform is powered by Juniper’s custom Express 5 ASIC, which boasts 8M counters, 10M-plus FIB, 100,000-plus SR tunnels, 256 AES MACsec encryption supported on all ports, and wire-rate packet performance.

The PTX10002-36QDD offers a high radix routing platform with deep buffers and a cell-based switch fabric for spine or leaf in AI data center networking environments. AI data center networking capabilities include efficient, deep-buffered interfaces, scalable cell-based fabric design, VOQ scheduling, RoCEv2, Adaptive Load Balancing, 8M Counters, built-in IPFIX and INT-MD.

As a data center interconnect router, the PTX10002-36QDD features advanced EVPN, VXLAN, and data center connectivity including: EVPN/VXLAN, ECN/PFC, and in-band telemetry

The PTX10002-36QDD is also well suited for L2/L3 metro aggregation roles including: CFM/LFM – Y.1731; MC-LAG; hierarchical QoS; BIER; SRv6.

https://www.juniper.net/us/en/products/switches/qfx-series/qfx5230-64cd-switch-datasheet.html?utm_medium=website&utm_source=pressrelease&utm_campaign=LNCH_AMER_MEGA_AINAT_24Q01

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Arrcus brings Egress Cost Control to Multicloud

Arrcus introduced an Egress Cost Control (ECC) capability for its FlexMCN multi-cloud networking solution.

Arrcus' Egress Cost Control helps enterprises slash cloud connectivity costs by intelligently routing traffic to destinations with the lowest egress costs. 

This is especially useful for bandwidth-hungry applications such as distributed Large Language Models (LLM) for generative AI, Database Replication, High Performance Computing (HPC), as well as hybrid work. In these instances, customers routinely incur significant costs in their cloud bills because of hidden data egress charges. This is distinctly different from charges levied by a cloud provider when a customer exits the cloud permanently. 

"With Arrcus' ECC-enabled FlexMCN, organizations can now gain granular control over cloud egress costs to achieve significant savings," said Shekar Ayyar, Chairman and CEO at Arrcus. "We are committed to innovating and addressing the challenges faced by businesses in multi-cloud environments as is evident from this smart solution."

https://arrcus.com/solutions/multi-cloud/

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650 Group: Campus Ethernet switch NaaS market grows 60% Y/Y

The needs of enterprises are different now and will continue to evolve away from pure CAPEX consumption models, according to a new report from 650 Group, which provides insight into the NaaS market for campus/enterprise switching. While managed service providers historically took vendor equipment to offer solutions as a service, vendors offering the solution directly via the channel have been a relatively new phenomenon over the past two years. 

“NaaS is not a new concept for Campus Ethernet Switch networks. However, it has historically been implemented by managed service providers (MSPs) or local resellers,” said Alan Weckel, Founder and Technology Analyst at 650 Group. “The NaaS market for campus switching is still in the early stages of adoption but is showing robust growth. Existing vendors like HPE Aruba along with new vendors like NileSecure vie for first mover advantage. During 2023, several vendors enhanced their NaaS offerings and expanded solutions toward MSP partners. We continue to see vendors shift revenue away from traditional one-time CAPEX models towards subscription and NaaS to meet customer demand. Customers want options and flexibility as hybrid and remote work are here to stay, and applications reside in a multi-cloud world.”

650 Group’s Quarterly Ethernet Switch – Campus Switching NaaS report includes segmentation on a regional and worldwide basis and provides market data for the China and non-China markets. It also looks at the adoption rate of NaaS compared to Cloud Managed Solutions and provides additional adoption metrics. The reports will also examine the vendor’s current revenue splits between traditional CAPEX and subscription-related revenue. Future reports will include additional segmentation and vendors.

https://650group.com/press-releases/campus-ethernet-switch-naas-market-grows-60-y-y-to-new-all-time-high-in-3q23-according-to-650-group/

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Plans announced for Hawaiian Islands Fiber Link cable

The University of Hawaiʻi (UH) and Ocean Networks Inc. (ONI) announced plans to build a submarine optical fiber cable system, known as the Hawaiian Islands Fiber Link (HIFL), to link the Hawaiian Islands and enhance high-speed broadband internet access across the state.

HIFL will be a carrier-neutral, open-access system with landing sites on Oʻahu, Hawaiʻi, Maui, Kauaʻi, Lānaʻi and Molokaʻi. The system will have 24 fiber pairs with a design life of 25 years and is expected to be ready for service in late 2026. The project is being overseen by the UH System Office for Information Technology with support from the Research Corporation of the University of Hawaiʻi.

The $120 million project is a crucial part of the state's broadband strategy, Connect Kākou, which is a primary focus of Governor Josh Green's administration. Led by Lt. Governor Sylvia Luke, Connect Kākou is committed to providing reliable and affordable high-speed internet access to individuals from diverse backgrounds.

"This inter-island cable system will leverage the once-in-a-generation federal investment for technological infrastructure and position our state for long-term economic growth,” said Gov. Green, M.D. "The resulting network will be open to all carriers and sufficiently robust to support all manner of telecommunications carrier and enterprise traffic, including anticipated future high-capacity demands supporting healthcare, education, research, public service, commerce, and government uses."

ONI is responsible for the supply, construction, operations and maintenance of the inter-island cable system. Partial funding will be provided through a federal grant, and the remaining funds will be secured by ONI through private equity and secured debt. When it goes online, HIFL will be able to process a high volume of data with minimal delay and will be the inter-island backbone of Connect Kākou.

"This is just one part of our plan to guarantee the state’s long-term internet connectivity," said LG Luke. "Connect Kākou has over $500 million in federal grants, state funds, and private matching funds available as we work towards connecting the unconnected and make sure everyone has access to reliable, affordable, high-speed internet."

https://www.hawaii.edu/news/article.php?aId=13035

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European Investment Bank extends EUR 420 million to Ericsson

Ericsson has signed two 7-year loans with the European Investment Bank (EIB) for a total of EUR 420 million. The first EUR 250 million was disbursed in December 2023.

Ericsson said it will use the financing for research and development (R&D) in relation to enhanced wireless technology between 2023 and 2025. 

Carl Mellander, Ericsson’s CFO, says: “Wireless technology will play a key role in transitioning towards a low-carbon economy. The signing of the funding agreements with the European Investment Bank provides Ericsson with increased flexibility to drive critical research and development into making our own products more competitive and energy efficient. This will benefit our operator customers as well as other industrial sectors in their efforts to create a positive impact.”

https://www.ericsson.com

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FCC seeks improved network resiliency during disasters

The FCC updated its rules, and proposed additional updates, to improve communications network reliability, resiliency, and transparency during disasters and outages.  

The rule changes will increase participation in, and enhance the use of, the FCC’s Disaster Information Reporting System (DIRS), in which service providers report on their operational status during emergencies.  This operational data informs service restoration efforts during disasters, when it is vital for first responders and the public to maintain communications. 

Specific communication service providers must continuously submit reports of network disruptions to the FCC's Network Outage Reporting System (NORS). In times of disaster, the FCC may activate the Disaster Information Reporting System (DIRS) to enhance situational awareness, inform public safety authorities and the public about service disruptions, and aid in restoring services. However, participation in DIRS by the industry is optional, leading to potential gaps in information that can hinder emergency responses. Additionally, NORS also faces information gaps as not all communication providers are mandated to participate.

The new rules:

• Require cable communications, wireline, wireless, and interconnected VoIP providers to report daily infrastructure status information when DIRS is activated for geographic areas in which they provide service.   
• Suspend NORS reporting obligations when providers are required to report in DIRS during a disaster, so they are not obligated to report twice.   
• Require DIRS filers to provide a single, final summary DIRS report to the Commission within 24 hours of the deactivation of DIRS.   

The Commission is also seeking comment on:

• Whether to require TV and radio broadcasters, satellite providers, and broadband Internet access service (BIAS) providers to report in NORS and/or DIRS.
• The extent to which the First Responder Network Authority (FirstNet) should be subject to NORS and/or DIRS reporting.
• Whether providers should be required to supply the Commission with after-action reports detailing how their networks fared during the emergency or disaster event.
• Whether providers should be required to report the location of mobile recovery assets during a disaster response, as well other specifications of those assets. 

https://www.fcc.gov/document/fcc-acts-improve-network-reliability-during-disasters-0

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FCC updates rules in 70/80/90 GHz bands

The Federal Communications Commission today adopted updates to its rules for the 70, 80, and 90 GHz spectrum bands to facilitate broadband access on ships and aircrafts, in addition to backhaul service for 5G.  This action will promote the efficient use of spectrum and will provide opportunities for the development of new broadband service options. 

The new rules for the 71–76 GHz, 81–86 GHz, 92–94 GHz, and 94.1–95 GHz bands authorize certain point-to-point links to endpoints in motion in the 70 GHz and 80 GHz bands to facilitate the use of these frequencies for access to broadband services on aircraft and ships.  Modifidation to certain existing rules allow the use of smaller, more economical antennas, enhancing the delivery of backhaul services in the 70 GHz and 80 GHz bands. Additionally, it revises the link registration procedure for the 70/80/90 GHz bands, mandating the certification of construction for registered links. This change aims to optimize the utilization of this spectrum range and enhance the precision of the link registration database.

The FCC is seeking comment on the addition of another type of link as part of maritime operations, and the inclusion of Fixed Satellite Service earth stations in the light-licensing regime for the 70 GHz and 80 GHz bands.

https://www.fcc.gov/document/fcc-updates-rules-708090-ghz-bands-0

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Lufthansa Group to install EAN broadband on aircraft

Lufthansa Group, which operates the Lufthansa, SWISS and Austrian Airlines, selected Viasat and Deutsche Telekom to equip more than 150 aircraft with EAN (European Aviation Network).

EAN combines S-band satellite coverage from Viasat with a complementary ground network (CGN) operated by Deutsche Telekom. EAN provides high-speed Internet on airplanes that supports streaming and other broadband applications.

Viasat acquired Inmarsat last year and continues its long-standing, successful partnership with Deutsche Telekom and the Lufthansa Group. Inmarsat has been providing its satellite-based service (Ka-band) to the Lufthansa Group since 2015. This purely satellite-based solution is already on board 240 Lufthansa Group aircraft flying on short and medium-haul routes. Deutsche Telekom acts as an Internet service provider for various in-flight services. In February 2018, both partners launched the European Aviation Network, which is already being used by other European airlines.

Lufthansa Group says EAN will provide passengers with uniform, reliable connectivity in the aircraft eegardless of the route or the aircraft. The additional more than 150 aircraft include the Airbus A319, A320ceo, A320neo, A321ceo, A321neo and A220 fleet types. EAN is a unique example of Europe's technological and regulatory leadership. Air travelers can now enjoy excellent in-flight connectivity within the continent. 

https://www.telekom.com/en/media/media-information/archive/european-aviation-network-for-the-lufthansa-group-1057472

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MACOM intros laser drivers and TIA for pluggable

MACOM introduced its new dual channel laser driver and transimpedance amplifier (TIA) products. 

MACOM PURE DRIVE solutions offer an alternative to Digital Signal Processor (DSP) based architectures for pluggable optical modules and provide the opportunity to lower power consumption, improve signal latency and reduce overall module manufacturing costs.

The new products, MATA-39224 (2x100G TIA) and MALD-39225 (2x100G VCSEL Driver), join MACOM’s existing portfolio of four- and eight-channel devices, providing a cost and power optimized solution for DSFP/SFP-DD and SFP112 optical form factors targeting Ethernet, Fibre Channel and InfiniBand applications. These devices feature high bandwidth, broad dynamic range, and low noise to enable linear pluggable optical (LPO) solutions in targeted applications and form factors.

“We are pleased to expand our MACOM PURE DRIVE portfolio to address smaller module form factors used in the optical networking industry,” said Thomas Hwang, Senior Vice President of Global Sales. “The MACOM PURE DRIVE family enables customers to design and manufacture a variety of 100 G/lane linear modules.”

https://ir.macom.com/news-releases/news-release-details/macom-expands-pure-drive-portfolio

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Ericsson makes chages to executive team

 Ericsson announced three executive appointments:

• Niklas Heuveldop, currently Head of Market Area North America, is appointed new Head of Business Area Global Communications Platform and CEO of Vonage as of February 1, 2024
• Yossi Cohen, currently Head of Strategy, Technology, Marketing and Business Development within Market Area North America, is appointed Senior Vice President and Head of Market Area North America as of February 1, 2024
• Rory Read, currently Head of Business Area Global Communications Platform and CEO of Vonage, has decided to step down from his positions on February 1, 2024, and leave Ericsson at the end of the first quarter of 2024

Börje Ekholm, President and CEO of Ericsson, comments: “I’m very pleased that Niklas has accepted to lead Business Area Global Communications Platform at this pivotal time. The Vonage acquisition and our investments in the global network platform are foundational to our long-term strategy execution, driving growth in both the enterprise segment, but also reinforcing our network infrastructure business,” and continues:

“Niklas has proven himself in multiple roles on the executive team. Under his leadership we have significantly strengthened our position in North America, expanding our market share with all leading customers in the region and the industry-defining USD 14 billion deal with AT&T, creates a solid foundation for our business in the market for years to come. He is also an important driver of our ongoing organizational transformation, driving ethics, compliance and operational excellence.”

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Frontier is first SP in North America to offer Nile’s AI-driven NaaS

Frontier is introducing Network-as-a-Service (NaaS) powered by Nile's AI-driven platform. The service provides enterprises with scalable wired and wireless networks via the cloud on a subscription basis with no up-front costs. The Nile NaaS platform has built-in security features and uses AI to make automatic upgrades and proactively detect and resolve service issues, ensuring better network performance.

Frontier delivers high-speed, reliable fiber connectivity to businesses, including healthcare providers, universities and state and local governments, in 25 states.

“We’re thrilled to partner with Frontier to deliver the next stage in the evolution of the enterprise network,” said Pankaj Patel, Nile’s CEO and co-founder. “The Nile Access Service is ideal for service providers like Frontier, as it provides a complete wired and wireless Local Area Network (LAN) offering that enables them to deepen their partnerships with their enterprise customers but doesn’t add to their operational burden. It also eliminates the need for network lifecycle management for Frontier and its customers, enabling everyone involved to focus on mission-critical applications and services the enterprise network was built to support.”

 In August 2023, Nile, a start-up based in San Jose, California, closed a $175 million Series C investment round, bringing its total funding to date to $300 million.

Nile, which emerged from stealth mode less than a year ago, offers a network-as-a-service (NaaS) solution designed to deliver a more secure wired and wireless service through the ex Nile’s service incorporates Campus Zero Trust Network Access (ZTNA) principles by design, and automates network access control (NAC) mechanisms that traditionally required significant manual effort to provision and maintain. 

The latest funding round was  co-led by March Capital and Sanabil Investments, with strategic participation from solutions by stc, Prosperity7, Liberty Global Ventures, and stc CIF (Corporate Investment Fund), and contribution from 8VC, Geodesic Capital, U First Capital, and Valor Equity Partners. 

Nile was founded in 2018 by Pankaj Patel, formerly former EVP and Chief Development Officer at Cisco, and Suresh Katukam , who were joined by John Chambers and Sri Hosakote. John Chambers is the former Executive Chairman and CEO at Cisco. 

The company says this round of financing will further its mission to eliminate the operational complexities plaguing enterprise networks in their ability to support cloud-born enterprise IT solutions, while also delivering the highest levels of integrated defenses to protect both wired and wireless connectivity from cyber attacks. 

https://youtu.be/OSJdIeqU8Ac

What's the story with Nile? Is there room for another networking start-up? Pankaj Patel, CEO and co-Founder of Nile, discusses:

• Nile's mission to remove human dependency from the management of the network, similar to what cloud computing has done for storage and computing. 
• Nile's goals to transform the traditional network, often associated with security risks, into a security force multiplier with zero-trust access that requires no manual network operations.
• How Nile is committed to delivering outcome-based SLAs that matter most to customers on availability, capacity, and coverage, all through an insane level of automation and heavy use of AI/ML-driven automation and data analytics.

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Dell'Oro: Data Center Spending to hit 18% CAGR over next 5 Years

 Worldwide data center capex is forecast for a compound annual growth rate of 18 percent as investments shift towards AI, according to a new report from Dell'Oro Group. The report anticipates accelerated computing that are optimized AI workloads will account for a quarter of the data center capex.

“Accelerated computing optimized for domain specific workloads such as AI is forecast to exceed $200 billion by 2028, with the majority of the investments deployed by the hyperscale cloud service providers,” said Baron Fung, Senior Research Director at Dell’Oro Group. “In order to drive long-term sustainable growth, the cloud service providers will seek to streamline general-purpose computing infrastructure costs by transitioning to next-generation server platforms and rack-scale architectures. We also anticipate increased vertical integration efforts by the hyperscalers to control costs and bring further optimizations for their full stack. Meanwhile, the enterprise segment faces near-term headwinds related to economic uncertainties, and will adopt a hybrid cloud model for AI and traditional IT workloads,” explained Fung.

Additional highlights from the January 2024 Data Center IT Capex 5-Year Forecast Report:

• Worldwide server unit shipments are forecast to grow 8 percent by 2028.
• Over twenty percent of the global server deployments in 2028 are forecast to be accelerated.
• By 2028 the Top 4 US-based Cloud SPs—Amazon, Google, Meta, and Microsoft—will account for half of global data center capex.

https://www.delloro.com/news/ai-is-the-catalyst-for-data-center-spending-as-delloro-predicts-an-18-percent-cagr-over-next-5-years/

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T-Mobile US adds 540K fixed wireless customers in Q4 2023

T-Mobile US reported total Q4 2023 service revenues of $16.0 billion, up 3% year-over-year and up 3% year-over-year to $63.2 billion in 2023.  

Net income increased 36% year-over-year to $2.0 billion in Q4 2023 and increased 221% year-over-year to $8.3 billion in 2023, which included Merger-related costs, net of tax, of $775 million. Diluted EPS increased year-over-year to $1.67 per share in Q4 2023 and increased year-over-year to $6.93 per share in 2023. Diluted EPS also reflected the impact of 48.8 million shares issued to SoftBank Group in Q4 2023.

“This was a historic year for T-Mobile, with record outcomes across nearly every metric and industry-leading customer results – including our highest share of postpaid phone net adds since the merger and best-in-class growth in service revenues, profitability and cash flow – all while effectively completing the largest, most successful telecom integration in the world,” said Mike Sievert, CEO of T-Mobile. “What’s really exciting is that while we’ve delivered fantastic results, we’ve also got room to run. Thanks to the unmatched value and network leadership that we’ve built, we’re entering a phase of enormous value creation with a plan to deliver sustained customer and financial growth leadership. This is just the beginning of the next chapter for the Un-carrier.”

Some highlights

• Postpaid net account additions were 299 thousand in Q4 2023 and 1.3 million in 2023.
• Postpaid net customer additions were 1.6 million in Q4 2023 and 5.7 million in 2023.
• Postpaid phone net customer additions were 934 thousand in Q4 2023 and 3.1 million in 2023. Postpaid phone churn was 0.96% in Q4 2023 and 0.87% in 2023.
• Prepaid net customer additions were 53 thousand in Q4 2023 and 282 thousand in 2023. Prepaid churn was 2.86% in Q4 2023 and 2023 churn of 2.76% was the lowest in company history.
• High Speed Internet net customer additions were 541 thousand in Q4 2023 and 2.1 million in 2023, the highest in company history. T-Mobile ended the year with 4.8 million High Speed Internet customers.
• Total net customer additions were 1.6 million in Q4 2023 and 5.9 million in 2023. Total customer connections increased to a record high of 119.7 million.
• Postpaid service revenue grew 6% year-over-year in Q4 and 6% year-over-year in 2023.

https://investor.t-mobile.com/overview/default.aspx

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Intel posts stronger Q4 sales of $15.4 billion

Intel reported Q4 2023 revenue of $15.4 billion, up 10 percent year-over-year (YoY). Full-year revenue was $54.2 billion, down 14 percent YoY. Fourth-quarter earnings per share (EPS) attributable to Intel was $0.63; non-GAAP EPS attributable to Intel was $0.54.

“We delivered strong Q4 results, surpassing expectations for the fourth consecutive quarter with revenue at the higher end of our guidance,” said Pat Gelsinger, Intel CEO. “The quarter capped a year of tremendous progress on Intel's transformation, where we consistently drove execution and accelerated innovation, resulting in strong customer momentum for our products. In 2024, we remain relentlessly focused on achieving process and product leadership, continuing to build our external foundry business and at-scale global manufacturing, and executing our mission to bring AI everywhere as we drive long-term value for stakeholders.”

Highlights:

• In DCAI, momentum with Intel’s 4th Gen Intel Xeon Scalable processor remains strong, with more than 2.5 million units shipped since its introduction in January 2023. In the fourth quarter, DCAI launched its 5th Gen Intel Xeon processor.
• IFS won a key design award with a new high-performance computing customer, its fourth external Intel 18A customer win in 2023. 
• IFS has taped out more than 75 ecosystem and customers test chips and has more than 50 test chips in the pipeline across 2024 and 2025, 75% of which are on Intel 18A. 
• Intel also won three additional advanced packaging design wins during the fourth quarter. 
• Intel and UMC also announced a collaboration on the development of a 12-nanometer process platform to address high-growth markets, such as mobile, communication infrastructure and networking.
• In client computing, Intel ushered in the age of the AI PC with Intel Core Ultra processors. 
• In network and edge, OpenVINO adoption grew by 60% sequentially in the fourth quarter as it became a core software layer for AI inference on the edge, on the PC and in the data center. 
• Additionally, AT&T and Ericsson announced plans to lead the U.S. in commercial scale Open RAN deployment in collaboration with Intel and others as it plans for 70% of its wireless network traffic to flow across open-capable platforms by late 2026. 
• Cisco is working with Intel and others to create solutions including Ethernet technologies, GPU-enabled infrastructure, and jointly tested and validated reference architectures with a commitment to advancing AI networking.

https://www.intc.com/news-events/press-releases/detail/1672/intel-reports-fourth-quarter-and-full-year-2023-financial

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