GSMA’s Open Gateway adopted by over 40 mobile operator networks

One year after it was unveiled at MWC 2023, the GSMA’s Open Gateway Initiative has now been adopted by over 40 mobile operator networks, unlocking the potential of 5G networks and commercialising network APIs through the GSMA Open Gateway initiative.

 GSMA Open Gateway APIs are defined, developed, and published in CAMARA, the open-source project for developers to access enhanced network capabilities, driven by the Linux Foundation, in partnership with TM Forum.

A total of 47 mobile operator groups, representing 239 mobile networks and 65% of connections around the world, have now signed up to the initiative. GSMA Open Gateway is focused on accelerating the growth of digital services and apps, by ensuring they integrate seamlessly with hundreds of participating networks around the world. This is done through single, programmable, access points, which are common among all mobile operators, known as Application Programmable Interfaces (APIs).

 Working with technology partners and cloud providers, including AWS, Infobip, Microsoft, Nokia and Vonage, a part of Ericsson, more than 40 mobile operator networks have now made a combined total of 94 APIs commercially available to enterprise developers in 21 markets across Asia-Pacific, Africa, Europe, the Middle East and the Americas.

 With online fraud and cybercrime being one of the biggest issues facing online commerce, the GSMA, mobile operators and technology partners are first focusing the GSMA Open Gateway initiative on tackling online crime. Recent activities include:

 * Four Sri Lankan operators who have launched three APIs on a single operator platform providing robust authentication to secure customer online transactions;

* Three Brazilian operators who have launched three APIs to combat fraud;

* Three Spanish operators who have announced the launch of two anti-fraud APIs, working with online retailers;

* Four Indonesian operators who launched three APIs to improve online security and customer experience; and

* Three South African operators who are combatting fraud and digital identity theft in sectors including banking, finance, insurance, and retail through two new APIs.

* Three German operators who have today made two APIs available to help app developers and enterprises tackle online fraud and protect the digital identities of mobile customers.

 “It’s been an exciting year for GSMA Open Gateway, and the mobile industry, where we have begun to build a unified ecosystem and unlock the full potential of 5G networks. This has culminated in the birth of a new API era,” said Mats Granryd, Director General of the GSMA. “Our collective job for 2024 is to nurture and grow this opportunity and provide ubiquitous access to enterprise developers and cloud providers, so they can do what they do best, which is launch game changing new services that can maximise the benefits of 5G networks.”

 Ishwar Parulkar, Chief Technologist for Telecom and Edge Cloud at Amazon Web Services at AWS, said: “The progress of GSMA’s Open Gateway initiative over the past year had been very encouraging. As we get into the next phase of telcos productizing more APIs and monetizing them through various go-to-market channels, the role of a common, aligned approach across operators, hyperscalers and other channel aggregators that Open Gateway is promoting becomes even more critical.”

 Ankur Jain, Vice President, Google Cloud Telco, said: “Google Cloud has engaged with the GSMA Open Gateway initiative since its inception, and we are pleased to see progress towards giving developers simplified access to network capabilities in an open, standardized, and aggregated way. We look forward to working with our CSP partners and developers to bring innovative use cases to market.”

Ross Ortega, Vice President, Product Management, Microsoft Azure for Operators, said: "Microsoft proudly champions the Open Gateway initiative, underscoring our commitment to making network programmability universally accessible to developers of connected applications. We believe that the standardization of network capabilities and APIs is crucial for ensuring that developers can easily understand and adopt these technologies. Azure Programmable Connectivity is at the forefront of this effort, aligning closely with Open Gateway standards to pave the way for seamless integration and innovation.”

 

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Marvell Open Sources OCTEON 10 ML/AI Accelerator Software

Marvell is open sourcing software for building machine learning models that can be executed on OCTEON 10 processors, which are widely deployed in base stations around the world. The move paves the way for OEMs and operators, such as Nokia and Vodafone, to develop and implement ML/AI models using the network infrastructure.

Some highlights

• The OCTEON 10 processor family is purpose-built to serve as the primary processing unit in RUs, DUs, enterprise networking equipment, or as a data processing unit in clouds and AI clusters. It incorporates digital signal processors, Arm Neoverse CPUs, and optimized hardware accelerators like the inference processor and inline crypto engine.

• Using open-source ML frameworks such as TensorFlow, PyTorch, and ONNX, developers can create their own models for optimizing the performance of the RAN Distributed Unit (DU) and Radio Unit (RU). Via standard APIs, these models can be implemented on the OCTEON 10 ML/AI accelerator, providing OEMs and service providers with enhanced ability to optimize massive MIMO beam selection, improve channel estimation, identify security risks or address other tasks to improve network performance, efficiency and operating economics.
• The OCTEON 10 ML/AI accelerator features a scalable tiled architecture and best-in-class performance-power ratio at 8 trillion operations per second per watt. The new API access follows the same principles used in DPDK’s Ethernet Device framework and Crypto framework already supported by OCTEON 10 processors.

“We are proud to be the first vendor to incorporate AI/ML into our ReefShark SoCs and AirScale portfolio. This technology allows us to differentiate our solutions and offer the best spectral efficiency and cell edge performance in the industry. We are now at the forefront of bringing machine learning technology to our customers and exploring its enormous possibilities ahead of the 6G era,” said Mark Atkinson, Head of RAN at Nokia.

“The ever-increasing complexity of RAN makes AI/ML the ideal technology to efficiently solve challenges around radio resource configuration, allocation, and optimization. Vodafone is a pioneer in this field, having deployed multiple uses of AI/ML in our network since 2017,” said Francisco Martin (Paco), Head of Open RAN at Vodafone. 

“Our commitment to open-source integration is evident in the vast Marvell contribution to DPDK, OPI, and similar initiatives,” said Will Chu, senior vice president and general manager, Custom, Compute and Storage Group at Marvell. “Giving developers access to processor modules will enable industry innovations that build smarter, faster, and more secure RAN networks.”

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Dell’Oro: Optical Transport Market Declined 6% in 4Q 2023

The Optical Transport market declined 6 percent year-over-year in fourth quarter 2023 due to reduced demand in North America, Europe, and Japan, according to a new report from Dell’Oro Group.

“Excess inventory, worsening macroeconomic conditions, and higher interest rates were the main reasons cited for the decline in these regions,” said Jimmy Yu, Vice President at Dell’Oro Group. “North American service providers accumulated excess inventory after splurging on equipment in 2021 and 2022. We estimate that North American optical equipment sales increased nearly 30 percent in that period. Hence, a decline in 2023 was expected to occur. Inventory build-up was less of an issue in Europe and Japan. The economy, however, was on unstable ground for the past year. Europe's GDP is expected to be up only half a percent in 2023 and Japan has technically entered an economic recession in the second half of 2023,” added Yu.

Additional highlights from the 4Q 2023 Optical Transport Quarterly Report:

* The worldwide Optical Transport market grew 2 percent in full year 2023, reaching nearly $16 billion.

* Spending on optical equipment significantly improved in China after two years of decline as service providers increased investments in their optical backbone.

* The vendors that gained the most market share in 2023 were Ciena, FiberHome, and Nokia. The vendors that lost the most market share in the year were Cisco and Fujitsu.

https://www.delloro.com

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Vonage opens Network Registry for APIs

A new Vonage Network Registry has been launched with the aim of simplifying developer access to network APIs. The service will also facilitate CSPs in effectively scaling the consumption of network APIs by standardising the approval process and granting access to network  providers' APIs for Application Service Providers (ASPs). 

Vonage is working with multiple operators in Europe and North America including Deutsche Telekom, Orange, Telefonica, Vodafone, AT&T and Verizon to unlock programmable network  capabilities for developers, and with KDDI in Japan, who is reselling its communications APIs. Vonage also announced a collaboration with AWS to leverage communications and network APIs to accelerate the availability of new solutions to developers, along with a new Fraud Protection Solution to be made available in the AWS Marketplace.

 

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Microsoft preview Azure Programmable Connectivity via APIs

 Microsoft's Azure Programmable Connectivity (APC) has launched in public preview at Mobile World Congress Barcelona 2024, featuring APIs like number verification and SIM swap among other capabilities. APC, building a robust partner ecosystem with global operators such as AT&T, BT, Claro, Deutsche Telekom, Orange, MEO, Rogers, Singtel, T-Mobile, Telefónica, TIM Brasil, Verizon, and Vivo, aims to extend its reach further. 

Enterprises like Banco Itaú Unibanco and NAGRA are adopting APC for developing network-aware applications, enhancing security, and combating fraud. 

Microsoft is also working with network technology partners and network programmability aggregators, such as Ericsson and Vonage, as well as Nokia and Nokia’s Network as Code platform, making concrete progress accelerating the ecosystem on network programmability.

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AWS and Liberty Global announce NaaS framework

Amazon Web Services (AWS) and Liberty Global have announced a collaboration to create a Network-as-a-Service (NaaS) framework that enables developers to use and access Liberty Global’s fixed and mobile networks as a platform for innovation. The two companies will focus on sectors, such as home productivity, logistics/transportation, remote care/assistance to improve people’s lives across Liberty Global markets. 

Services will be based on GSMA Open Gateway standards and use CAMARA standard APIs to ensure worldwide standardization and wider adoption.

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Xerox moves to Verizon’s NaaS

Xerox is adopting Verizon’s Network as a Service (NaaS) Solutions framework to accelerate the organization’s Reinvention and operating model evolution. 

This will enable Xerox to dynamically scale network resources. 

Delivering on the Zero Trust journey using Advanced SASE, Verizon Business will provide Xerox with internet connectivity and a full suite of managed services via NaaS Solutions, including Wide Area Network, Local Area Network and Wireless Local Area Network. Additional services include; Verizon Operational and Financial Governance, Contact Center Management, Network and Security Consulting Services and Verizon Maintenance across the Network utilizing Verizon Care.

“This collaboration with Xerox underscores our commitment to enabling our customers to thrive in the digital age,” said Massimo Peselli, CRO, Verizon Business. “Verizon’s intelligent network framework is designed to empower enterprises to embrace the future of network services, providing unparalleled flexibility and scalability. We look forward to supporting Xerox as they transform their IT infrastructure.”

“As part of our Reinvention, Xerox is committed to simplifying our systems to drive enterprise-wide efficiency and scalability to best serve our clients,” said Louie Pastor, Chief Transformation & Administrative Officer, Xerox. “Expanding our partnership and deploying Verizon’s NaaS as our global network infrastructure is a natural next step to staying at the forefront of innovation, while helping us drive efficiencies across all the geographies we serve.”

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Indonesia’s Telkomsel Looks to Google Cloud for Gen AI

 Telkomsel announced a strategic collaboration with Google Cloud to integrate enterprise-grade generative AI into its operations and core product offerings for consumers and businesses. 

Telkomsel is turning to gen AI to assist its network planning, product development, and sales teams to transform network operations and strengthen digital inclusion in Indonesia. The company is embarking on a strategic initiative with Google Cloud to build a gen AI-powered solution that analyzes data from cell towers and fiber optic systems to deliver recommendations in natural language. This solution can then be used to more quickly and easily identify locations with connectivity gaps for future network infrastructure expansion and design fixed mobile convergence (FMC) offerings tailored for different customer segments. 

In addition, using Google Cloud’s Vertex AI platform and foundation models, Telkomsel has built a gen AI-powered conversational agent that is being integrated into its MOANA (Mobile Office Application and Automation) app used by more than 6,000 employees.


MOANA serves as a central hub for employees to complete HR-related tasks like requesting leave, accessing personal records, and reviewing payslips. It is also the source for company updates, policies, and resources. The conversational agent will offer employees instant support and on-demand guidance—with embedded links to relevant information sources, helping workers reclaim significant time spent deciphering complex HR policies or waiting for HR assistance. 

Telkomsel already uses Google’s AI-powered advertising tools like Performance Max, aims to transform employee and customer interactions, boosting satisfaction across the board and setting up the company for its next phase of business growth.

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Corning debuts RAN Compute Platform with Dell, Intel

Corning introduced a new Radio Access Network (RAN) Compute Platform, developed in collaboration with Dell Technologies and Intel to speed the deployment of 5G networks inside high-density buildings.

The platform is the hardware and software hub of Corning’s recently launched Everon 5G ERAN solution designed for Radio Access Networks, the radio-enabled portion of an enterprise cellular network that connects users to the Internet. It features the 4th Gen Intel Xeon Scalable processor, Intel FlexRAN reference software, and Dell PowerEdge servers.

“Consumers are looking for reliable access no matter where they go. Enterprise network operators are looking for flexibility in design, predictability in deployment, and scalability for future needs – all vital attributes as 5G enterprise networks move forward,” said Shirish Nagaraj, chief technology officer, Wireless, Corning Optical Communications. “Through our longstanding collaboration with Dell and Intel, Corning is delivering another life-changing innovation.”

The platform’s Open RAN architecture accommodates components from multiple vendors. It also uses Virtualized RAN technology, offering hardware flexibility through cloud-based data processing.

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Eurofiber and Nokia team on Private 5G

 Eurofiber and Nokia announced a partnership for supplying Mobile Private Network (Private 5G).

Eurofiber has a 70,500 km fiberoptic network in the Netherlands, Belgium, France and Germany. This network is expanded by 50 km per week on average. Eurofiber companies operate ten datacenters in the Netherlands and France. 

The new private mobile service aligns seamlessly with the solutions that Eurofiber currently offers over its fixed fiberoptic network. As a result, implementation and market introduction can be started relatively quick. Eurofiber’s new Mobile Private Network service is expected to be available in mid-2024. 


Stephan Litjens, VP of Nokia Enterprise Campus Edge Solutions, said: “The importance of robust Private Networks in supporting operational and business infrastructure cannot be understated. Our collaboration with Eurofiber will enhance private network offering in the region, build upon existing infrastructure and enabling future digitalisation. We are extremely excited to embark on this journey with Eurofiber and look forward to helping them as they continue to simplify the complexity in current private 5G network systems.”

Paul Naastepad, Managing Director at Eurofiber Netherlands: “Eurofiber embraces a vision of achieving success through close collaboration. Accordingly, I am delighted to have Nokia partnering with us for MPN as well. This enables us to offer a significant extension of our fiber and cloud connectivity for business customers handling operations-critical traffic. MPN offers an additional option for even more flexibility and security in transporting data within the company, along with seamless connectivity to the outside world or into the cloud. I look forward to a fruitful collaboration!”

 

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#MWC24: The Pivotal Year for Network APIs

 Check out complete MWC Barcelona 2024 Showcase at: https://ngi.fyi/mwc24yt

After so many years of development, will 2024 be the pivotal for Network APIs? Usman Javaid, Chief Products & Marketing Officer from Orange Business explains:

- The mobile industry has come together for the first time to establish a common set of standards for Network APIs, ensuring a consistent experience for developers across different mobile network operators globally.

- The convergence of the ecosystem of hyperscalers with mobile network operators, allowing for enriched developer ecosystems through the exposure of APIs via hyperscaler partners and other API providers.

- The potential for application developers to incorporate networking functionality within their applications using Network APIs, enabling them to create a myriad of use cases such as Geo fencing and fraud detection.

https://youtu.be/PwOSDXAvJns

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#MWC24: Making Every Connection Count with AI

Check out complete MWC Barcelona 2024 Showcase at: https://ngi.fyi/mwc24yt

Perhaps AI's greatest near term potential for Service Providers is improving network operations. Sally Bament, GVP of Marketing from Juniper, explains: 

• How Juniper's AI-native networking platform is designed to collect the right data from network users and devices, action real-time responses to network issues, and ensure a secure infrastructure.
• The benefits of AI automation and sustainable service orchestration capabilities, which simplify the validation, provisioning, and management of complex SLA Bank Network Services.
• The integration of AI Ops into data center operations and managed service offerings, simplifying the experience for operators and assuring an amazing experience for their business customers.

https://youtu.be/iHY6PZXra5c

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#MWC24: Next Gen Networks for AI

Underlying every powerful AI implementation is a powerful network.  At the heart of every networking is a switching/routing architecture. Sanjay Kumar, VP of Products and Marketing from Arrcus, explains:

- The world of AI is going to be distributed with workloads and workflows across the entire network. To access these seamlessly, Arrcus has introduced a platform that acts as a network fabric, connecting all these different AI pieces and delivering applications wherever required.

- Arrcus has announced support for new platforms that provide higher connectivity using ethernet, and features that help with lossless connectivity, allowing operators to manage workloads efficiently and reduce job completion time.

- Arrcus also supports SmartNIC and DPU platforms like Nvidia Bluefield, which offloads IPC and provides secure connectivity within a data center at higher speeds. This, along with AR IQ, an observability platform, helps network operators secure their data centers and get a comprehensive view of the network, enabling them to take remedial actions wherever required.

https://youtu.be/h3-TpOYAFhc

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Ericsson refreshes is radio portfolio at MWC

Ericsson is rolling out extensive updates to its radio, transport and antenna portfolio, including its flagship AIR 3255, a Massive MIMO time division duplex (TDD) radio boasting more than 25 percent energy savings and 20 percent lower embodied carbon footprint compared to the previous generation radio.

The new AIR 3255 is equipped with new small metal filter technology that is scalable to all TDD sub-6GHz frequency bands to incentivize 5G mid-band deployment. This radio is also the first to use the new generation of Massive MIMO Ericsson Silicon (System on a Chip) with enhanced receiver processing and improved energy efficiency. In addition, AIR 3255 uses only one printed circuit board that is unique to the industry in terms of building practice, as well as passive cooling.

Some other product updates/introductions from Ericsson:

• Triple-band Massive MIMO FDD radio AIR 3284 (32T/32R) providing 2x higher downlink and 4x higher uplink capacity compared to 4T/4R.
• Radio 4823 (4T/8R), boosting uplink performance (2x) with separate remote electrical tilt on the 2.6GHz frequency band to extend coverage or capacity based on the deployment choice.
• AIR 5343 for high-capacity and high-performing Fixed Wireless Access with macro deployment. Up to 1600 MHz total carrier bandwidth and 11 dB extended coverage.
• Radio 4461HP (high power) with 50 percent more output power and 42 percent lower embodied carbon footprint and Radio 8873 in both standard power and high power (HP) variants
• Uplink Multi-User Massive MIMO FDD with up to four layers in the uplink based on full interference rejection combining (IRC) advanced receiver to add capacity and speed.
• Uplink-aware Advanced Multi-Layer Coordination –identifies the best cell set for each user, taking into account UE capability, network configuration, service requirements as well as downlink and uplink cell load.
• Automated Energy Saver – the sweet spot between maximized performance and energy efficiency, autonomously executed via an intent defined by the CSP to adjust radio resources and improve energy efficiency while securing the best user experience.
• MINI-LINK 6355 – improved E-band performance with next-gen, all-outdoor E-band node. The 2x output power and 25GE interfaces extend hop-length and capacity in multi-carrier configurations. Added Radio Deep Sleep energy-saving feature for E-band.
• Antenna 4206 – two low-band, four mid-band; 2.1m based on new antenna structure. Latest Ericsson Antenna System high-performing solution with up to 85 percent beam efficiency and 49 percent savings in embodied carbon footprint and 24 percent less weight, using 100 percent thermoplastic radome and lighter build. Fully recyclable.

https://www.ericsson.com

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Open XR Optics Forum releases 400G MSA specs

The Open XR Optics Forum released its first Multi-Source Agreement (MSA) specifications for 400G transceivers.  

The specifications were developed by the Forum's transceiver working group, which includes representatives from 11 member companies. The goal of these specifications is to define standards that ensure interoperability among products from different vendors and support multi-sourcing of compliant coherent transceiver modules.

The release includes two key documents. The first sets out specifications related to the mechanical form factor and client interface, while the second document details the optical and electrical interface requirements. 

These specifications are part of the Forum's broader objective to foster the adoption of advanced coherent network architectures, both point-to-point and point-to-multipoint, by promoting interoperability across different vendors. This approach is intended to enhance network flexibility and achieve cost efficiencies.

The specifications released are titled "Open XR Transceiver Optical and Client Interface Specification" and "Open XR 400G Optical Module Form Factor Hardware Specifications." Additionally, two more documents, focusing on the management interface between pluggable modules and host devices, and signal format specifications, are in development. These will complete the suite of Open XR Optics-compliant transceiver specifications.

The specifications can be downloaded from the Open XR Optics Forum website:

https://openxropticsforum.org

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O2 Telefónica begins first Cloud RAN in Europe with Ericsson

O2 Telefónica will begin deploying Ericsson Cloud RAN, supporting 5G Standalone (SA), in Offenbach, Germany during the first half of this year. 

The joint initiative will leverage Ericsson's virtualization and cloud technologies, enabling a new range of services and enhanced customer experiences for the European market. The inclusion of cloud-centralized components will also enable the exploration of new business models and revenue generation initiatives.

Mallik Rao, Chief Technology & Information Officer, O2 Telefónica, says: ”We are constructing our network of the future to offer Germany’s consumers and businesses the best network experience and new digital services. Our cloud transformation in the core and RAN network is an important building block for a flexible, fully automated, high-performance network. We are delighted to partner with Ericsson to add modern Cloud RAN technology to our partner portfolio. We are working with the best players in the field to drive forward network innovation in the German market.”

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ServiceNow, Hugging Face, and NVIDIA offer open-access LLMs

 ServiceNow, Hugging Face, and NVIDIA recently announced the launch of StarCoder2, a new set of open-access large language models (LLMs) focused on code generation. This collaboration between the companies aims to offer models that are not only high-performing but also transparent and cost-effective. StarCoder2 is a product of the BigCode community's efforts, with ServiceNow, a company specializing in digital workflows, and Hugging Face, a platform known for its extensive open-source contributions to the machine learning community, playing pivotal roles in its development.

Designed to be versatile, StarCoder2 has been trained on 619 programming languages, enabling its application across a variety of coding tasks such as generating application source codes, automating workflows, and summarizing texts. The model is structured to support further training and integration into enterprise systems for specialized functions. It is available in three sizes to suit different needs and computational capacities: a 3 billion-parameter model developed by ServiceNow, a 7 billion-parameter model from Hugging Face, and a 15 billion-parameter model created by NVIDIA using NVIDIA NeMo technology on their accelerated computing infrastructure. These options aim to balance computational efficiency with performance, offering a choice between smaller, less resource-intensive models and larger, more powerful versions.

“StarCoder2 stands as a testament to the combined power of open scientific collaboration and responsible AI practices with an ethical data supply chain,” emphasized Harm de Vries, lead of ServiceNow's StarCoder2 development team, and co-lead of BigCode. "The state-of-the-art open-access model improves on prior generative AI performance to increase developer productivity and provides developers equal access to the benefits of code generation AI, which in turn enables organizations of any size to more easily meet their full business potential.”

“The joint efforts led by Hugging Face, ServiceNow and NVIDIA enable the release of powerful base models that empower the community to build a wide range of applications more efficiently with full data and training transparency,” said Leandro von Werra, machine learning engineer at Hugging Face and co‑lead of BigCode. “StarCoder2 is a testament to the potential of open‑source and open science as we work toward democratizing responsible AI.”“StarCoder2 stands as a testament to the combined power of open scientific collaboration and responsible AI practices with an ethical data supply chain,” emphasized Harm de Vries, lead of ServiceNow's StarCoder2 development team, and co-lead of BigCode. 

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Keysight intros test platform for AI/L networks

Keysight Technologies introduced a test platform for AI / ML network validation and optimization.

Highlights of the Keysight AI Data Center Test Platform:

• Emulates high-scale AI workloads with measurable fidelity – Offers deep insights into collective communication performance
• Simplifies the benchmarking process – Provides validation of AI network fabric with
• pre-packaged benchmark applications, built through partnerships with the largest AI operators and AI infrastructure vendors
• Executes defined AI / ML behavioral models – Enables sharing between users and customers to help reproduce experiments
• Offers a choice of test engines – Choose between AI workload emulation on Keysight hardware load appliances and software endpoints or real AI accelerators to compare benchmarking results
• The Keysight platform enables large scale validation and experimentation with fabric design in a realistic and cost-effective way. This solution complements testing AI / ML workloads using GPUs, providing AI operators with a more scalable, robust, and integrated AI test platform.

Ram Periakaruppan, Vice President and General Manager, Network Test & Security Solutions, Keysight, said: “As a leader in testing ultra-high-speed 800G Ethernet networks, Keysight continues to lead the way in innovation, having formed close partnerships with hyperscalers to co-design this groundbreaking new AI test platform that realistically benchmarks and emulates high-scale AI workloads unlike other test tools available today.”

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Zayo appoints Nikos Katinakis as CTO

Zayo Group has appointed Nikos Katinakis as Chief Technology Officer. 

Katinakis brings network leadership experience from Telstra, Australia’s largest mobile network, Indian pioneer Reliance Jio, Canadian telecommunications giant Rogers, and infrastructure provider Ericsson.

“Next-generation technology is being deployed faster than ever before. To meet increasing capacity demands, it’s critical to take an enhanced approach to innovation in the network,” said Steve Smith, CEO of Zayo. “Our strategic appointment of Nikos underscores Zayo’s dedication to advancing network excellence. His network experience and expertise combined with Zayo’s capabilities and automated technology will ensure our customers can meet – and exceed – connectivity expectations, now and in the future.”

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#MWC24: AI is Fundamental to Operations

What role is AI playing in the transformation of the world’s leading carrier networks? Jean-Christophe Laneri, VP and Head of Cognitive Network Solutions from Ericsson, explains:

- How AI helps manage urgent network issues and supports strategic transformation, ensuring customers have the best networks in their respective markets.

- The role of AI in bringing customer-centricity to network operations, providing consistency, scale, and quality by understanding hundreds of KPIs for the entire network.

- Ericsson's unique approach to AI, including the development of their own AI algorithms and the use of their cognitive software solution, as well as their focus on applied research in graph neural network algorithms and large language models.

https://youtu.be/wcttMaGBBTo

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Check out complete MWC Barcelona 2024 Showcase at: https://ngi.fyi/mwc24yt

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#MWC24: AI's Impact on Optical Transport Networks

What impact will AI have on optical transport networks? Jon Baldry, Director Metro Marketing from Infinera, explains:

• AI is a significant bandwidth driver, currently driving massive bandwidth inside data centers and anticipated to spill out into inter-data center networks in the near future.
• AI's need for a large data pool to make informed decisions will drive a higher volume of traffic in data center networks.
• AI, particularly machine learning, can be used to help network operators optimize their networks, predict network behavior, guide network maintenance, and improve overall network efficiency.

https://youtu.be/EjhG0HKsSWo

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#MWC24: Industrial Use Cases Drive AI

Global Carriers are watching AI quite closely.  What are the strongest uses cases? Parm Sandhu, VP Enterprise 5G Products & Services from NTT DATA, shares: 

- The increasing importance of AI in various sectors such as manufacturing, pharma, transportation, and logistics, enhancing worker efficiency, productivity, and faster product turnaround.

- The role of AI in supply chain management, parts management, and worker training to resolve problems and reduce downtime.

- The upcoming collaboration between NTT and Schneider, combining Schneider's ecostructure capabilities and NTT's Edge as a service infrastructure for developing AI transformation at the edge. 

https://youtu.be/SI4al2zTY7A

Join us to learn more about these real-world applications of AI and how they're shaping the future of industrial operations.

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Samsung’s 5G Standalone Core powers KDDI

Samsung's cloud-native Standalone (SA) Core went live supporting KDDI’s nationwide commercial 5G SA services in Japan. This enables improved reliability and faster response times, required for applications such as cloud gaming, autonomous vehicles, real-time robotics and immersive video.

Samsung’s 5G SA Core supports:

•  Multi-level redundancy. Leveraging the cloud-native architecture, Samsung’s 5G SA Core is designed to have no single point of failure with multi-level redundancy. This ensures high resilience and reliable service continuity in every part of the system.
• Multi-vendor interoperability. It can be easily integrated with third-party 5G core network functions and OSS for flexible deployment and automation.
• Seamless upgrades to SA. With one software package that supports NSA and SA, Samsung’s solution can facilitate a smooth migration to 5G SA.
• Session continuity with geo-redundancy. Deployed at various locations, Samsung’s 5G SA Cores provide session continuity support to ensure stability and reliability. Each SA core is dimensioned to pick up loads in case one of the active core becomes unavailable due to traffic bursts or natural disasters.

One of the key benefits of 5G SA Core is network slicing, which divides a single physical network infrastructure into multiple virtual slices, and each slice is dedicated to a specific user case or application. A single network can dynamically support multiple 5G use cases and applications at once, accelerating the delivery of new services and meeting the tailored demands of enterprises and consumers.

Recently, KDDI and Samsung signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) to form a 5G Global Network Slicing Alliance, aiming to introduce an array of commercial 5G network slicing services and to assess new business models.

https://news.samsung.com/global/samsungs-5g-standalone-core-goes-live-in-kddis-nationwide-commercial-network

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DOCOMO and NEC to establish "OREX SAI” Joint Venture for O-RAN

NTT DOCOMO and NEC will establish a joint venture company called OREX SAI with a mission to support the full-scale global deployment of Open RAN services.

OREX SAI will locally source products and services from members of OREX PARTNERS in each market and perform system verifications to deliver mobile networks tailored to the needs of each overseas telecommunications operator. Leveraging NEC's established business infrastructure and global network in over 50 countries and territories, the joint venture will accelerate its global expansion of Open RAN business.

In addition, DOCOMO and NEC plan to strengthen cooperation with OREX PARTNERS through OREX SAI to promote the commercialization and realization of true Open RAN that enables the interoperability of equipment and systems from diverse vendors.

https://group.ntt/en/newsrelease/

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Joint Statement Endorsing Principles for 6G

The governments of the United States, Australia, Canada, the Czech Republic, Finland, France, Japan, the Republic of Korea, Sweden, and the United Kingdom published a joint statement on  shared principles for the research and development of 6G wireless communication systems.

The shared principles:

Trusted Technology and Protective of National Security     

• 6G technologies that are supported by secure and resilient technology as part of a wider secure trusted communications ecosystem, facilitating the ability of participating governments and partners to protect national security.
  

Secure, Resilient, and Protective of Privacy     

• 6G technologies developed by organizations that have systematic approaches to cybersecurity, including through the use of technical standards, interfaces, and specifications; approaches such as security-by-design, able to ensure the availability of essential services; and systems designed to fail safely and recover quickly.   
• 6G technologies that are reliable, resilient, safe, and protect the privacy of individuals.  
• 6G technologies and architectures that provide a high level of security on communication networks, including by mitigating potential risks posed by greater network complexity or larger attack surfaces.

Global Industry-led and Inclusive Standard Setting & International Collaborations

• 6G technologies that are built on global standards, interfaces, and specifications that are developed through open, transparent, impartial and consensus-based decision-making processes.
• 6G technologies that are built on global standards that respect intellectual property rights, that promote sustainability, accessibility, inclusive participation, interoperability, competitiveness, openness, and security.

Cooperation to Enable Open and Interoperable Innovation     

• 6G technologies that use standards in line with principles laid down under the Global Industry-led and Inclusive Standard Setting & International Collaborations principle and interfaces to enable seamless interoperability between products from different suppliers, including software and hardware.
• 6G technologies that recognize the importance of international cooperation in promoting open, secure, resilient, inclusive, interoperable networks, such as Open Radio Access Networks, and safe, resilient, inclusive, and sustainable 6G ecosystem.
• 6G technologies that benefit from joint research, development and testing, and which leverage innovative technologies such as virtualization, software-defined networking, artificial intelligence.
• Affordability, Sustainability, and Global Connectivity   
• 6G technologies that allow for energy-efficient deployments and operation, improving both environmental sustainability, reparability and recyclability of equipment, and the affordability necessary to support social sustainability.
• 6G technologies that are accessible through mechanisms such as economies of scale, enabled by standardization and competitive environment, and able to bridge digital divides, delivering reliable coverage and consistent quality of experience, minimizing disparity in service levels wherever possible while allowing for innovative use cases.
• 6G technologies that contribute towards empowering other industries and sectors to reduce their environmental impacts by promoting digital transformation.
• 6G technologies that are widely available and accessible to developing nations.
• 6G technologies that leverage non-terrestrial networks (NTN) such as satellite and High-Altitude Platform Station (HAPS).

Spectrum and Manufacturing     

• 6G technologies that have secure and resilient supply chains.
• 6G technologies that promote a globally competitive market along the ICT value chain and in all elements of the compute and connectivity continuum, with multiple software and hardware suppliers.
• 6G technologies that could make use of new spectrum allocations or spectrum that has already been allocated for wireless services.
• 6G technologies that use spectrum efficiently and incorporate spectrum sharing mechanisms by design to coexist with incumbent service providers. 

https://ised-isde.canada.ca/site/ised/en/joint-statement-endorsing-principles-6g-secure-open-and-resilient-design

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Samsung runs vRAN 3.0 with Intel's Granite Rapids-D

 Samsung Electronics, in collaboration with Intel, completed the industry's first end-to-end call in a laboratory setting using a future Intel Xeon processor, codenamed Granite Rapids-D, within a virtualized Open RAN network powered by Samsung's vRAN 3.0. The companies are committed to advancing the capabilities of virtualized Open RAN networks to improve performance and increase capacity. The successful test, conducted in Samsung's R&D facilities in Korea, utilized Samsung's vRAN technology, which is compliant with O-RAN standards, integrated with Intel's upcoming processor, alongside Samsung's Core and testing devices, achieving notable performance enhancements and power efficiency.

This latest development builds upon a fruitful multi-year collaboration between the two tech giants that began in 2017, focusing on virtualized RAN (vRAN) technologies. Over the years, this partnership has led to significant advancements in vRAN deployment, including the use of Intel's processors to enhance vRAN performance across various generations, culminating in the commercial deployment of large-scale vRAN networks with leading Tier-1 operators. Notably, the collaboration achieved a milestone with the 4th Gen Intel Xeon Scalable processors by completing the industry's first data call on a commercial network shortly after these processors became commercially available. The results of the most recent tests, demonstrating the advancements in vRAN technology and efficiency, are set to be showcased at the upcoming Mobile World Congress 2024, indicating the ongoing innovation and leadership of Samsung and Intel in the telecommunications industry.

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NEC selected by NTT DOCOMO for vRAN

 NTT DOCOMO named NEC as a virtualized radio access network (vRAN) vendor for its nationwide 5G commercial network services. NEC already provides virtualization technologies for vEPC for DOCOMO’s 4G commercial services and 5G mobile core network (5GC). Going forward, by promoting the virtualization of the RAN domain, NEC will flexibly support DOCOMO’s wide range of services and contribute to the creation of a high-quality 5G network.

In addition, through OREX —the Open RAN service brand provided by DOCOMO in collaboration with telecom carriers and vendors worldwide—NEC’s software will be globally deployed in the same manner as the products and services of other OREX partners to create and promote an Open RAN ecosystem.

This vRAN, which achieves carrier-grade quality that is compliant with the O-RAN specifications defined by the O-RAN ALLIANCE, is cloud-native and was developed based on NEC’s 5G hardware base station technology and knowhow, for which it has a proven large-scale commercial track record. Equipped with software compatible with commercially available servers using the latest generation microprocessors, it also delivers high-speed, large-capacity communications unique to 5G by proactively utilizing hardware acceleration to speed up processing.

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Edgecore Wi-Fi intros OpenLAN Switching Lineup

Edgecore Networks introduced its OpenLAN Switching (OLS) product line with six switch series and over twenty unique models, enhancing Edgecore Wi-Fi's position in the industry. It also establishes Edgecore Wi-Fi as the supplier with the most diverse OLS product offerings on the market. 

The Telecom Infra Project's OpenLAN Switching (OLS) initiative, which upon the OpenWiFi framework, offers a harmonized solution for LAN switches, embodying the same principles as OpenWiFi: it is open-source, supports a multi-vendor environment, ensures robust interoperability with white-box devices, and provides an improved, thoroughly verified end-to-end system. OLS is particularly focused on fulfilling these essential criteria to meet the modern demands of LAN infrastructure.

The series includes the ECS1100, ECS2100, ECS4100, ECS4125, ECS4150, and ECS4650 models, each offering diverse port configurations, multi-Gigabit capabilities, and various PoE (Power over Ethernet) budget options.

Specifically, OLS is dedicated to meeting the following key requirements:

• Support for advanced PoE++ functionality required by Wi-Fi 6E/7 and 6 GHz access points.
• Provide a unified Wi-Fi and switch solution.
• Extremely low latency and high bandwidth experiences.
• Deliver applicable solutions for millions of commercial buildings across industries such as education, retail, and hospitality.

ECS1100 Series: Tailored for small to medium network needs, the ECS1100 series is an entry-level Layer 2 smart switch suite from 5 to 28 ports, offering up to 480W of PoE++ power. The ECS1100-5P model is perfect for chain-stores and small offices, whereas the ECS1100-10HP & ECS1100-28HP are designed to handle more connections and devices with higher power requirements.

ECS2100 Series: The Layer 2/Layer 2+ switch. This mid-range suite ranges from 8 to 48 ports with variable PoE power levels, apt for medium-sized businesses seeking scalability. For instance, the ECS2100-28PP delivers up to 370W of PoE power, ideal for supporting several high-power devices such as Wi-Fi 6 access points.

ECS4100 Series: Targeting enterprise environments that require superior performance, the ECS4100 series is a Layer 2+/Layer 3 Lite switch that offers 8 to 48 port configurations, with select models featuring up to 370W of PoE power. Models like the ECS4100-52P are suitable for extensive office complexes or educational facilities, where the demand for high throughput and low latency.

ECS4125 and ECS4150 Series: Catering to high-end market needs, the ECS4125 series and ECS4150 series are Layer 2+/Layer 3 Lite switches that come equipped with functionalities including static routing and RIP (Routing Information Protocol), enhancing their versatility and capability. The ECS4125-10P has eight 2.5G ports and two 10G SFP+ uplink ports, providing up to 240W PoE++ power that is geared towards SMBs with higher data rate requirements. The ECS4150 series, exemplified by the ECS4150-54P model, targets high-performance sectors with its robust 740W PoE support and six 25G SFP28 ports, accommodating extensive high-speed network deployments and readiness for emerging technologies.

ECS4650 Series: Engineered for high-density access and swift uplink demands, the ECS4650 series stands out as a full Layer 3 switch. The ECS4650-54T model boasts 48 1GbE ports, six 25G SFP28 uplinks, and a substantial 369Gbps switching capacity. Meanwhile, the ECS4650-54P variant enhances its capabilities with extensive PoE+ and PoE++ options, delivering a total power output of 740W across its ports to cater to diverse device requirements. With support for static and dynamic routing, this series is well-suited for data centers and large enterprises seeking advanced networking solutions.

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Global Telco AI Alliance targets Large Language Models

A newly-launched Global Telco AI Alliance (GTAA), backed by Deutsche Telekom, e& Group, Singtel, SoftBank Corp. and SK Telecom, plans to develop Large Language Models (LLMs) specifically tailored to the needs of telecommunications companies. The initiative will lead to the establishment of a Joint Venture Company within this year.  

The goal is to develop multilingual LLMs optimized for languages including Korean, English, German, Arabic and Japanese, with plans for additional languages to be agreed among the founding members. These will be used by digital assistants and chatbots to improve customer service.

The joint venture plans to focus on deploying innovative AI applications tailored to the needs of the Global AI Telco Alliance members in their respective markets, enabling them to reach a global customer base of approximately 1.3 billion across 50 countries. Deutsche Telekom boasts about 250 million subscribers across 12 countries, including Germany and the U.S. The e& Group has 169 million subscribers in 16 countries across the Middle East, Asia, and Africa, while the Singtel Group has 770 million subscribers in 21 countries, including Australia, India, and Indonesia. 

"We want our customers to experience the best possible service. AI helps us do that. Already today, more than 100,000 customer service dialogs a month in Germany are handled by Generative AI. By integrating telco-specific large language models, our 'Frag Magenta' chatbot becomes even more human-centric: AI personalizes conversations between customers and chatbots. And our joint venture brings Europe and Asia closer together,” says Claudia Nemat, Member of the Board of Management for Technology and Innovation at Deutsche Telekom.

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Microsoft advances its Azure Operator Nexus

 Microsoft reports steady progress with Azure Operator Nexus, its carrier grade, hybrid platform. Some highlights: 

• Additional Operator Nexus deployments supporting 5G standalone roll outs as primary platform.
• Expanding capabilities to address national security requirements in multiple regions.
• Increasing support for common operational requirements and refining approach to the DevSecOps models supporting multi-vendor network function deployments.
• Additional form factors to support RAN and additional workloads.
• As a service model to support customer and partner lab deployments in Microsoft datacenters.
• Expanded Nexus Ready program with over 20 certified partners and over 80 network functions.

Operator Nexus enables operators to run workloads on-premises or on Azure, seamlessly deploying and managing everything from the bare metal to the network to the tenant. Purpose-built for and validated by tier 1 operators to run mission-critical workloads, Operator Nexus:

• Accelerates time to market for new services.
• Lowers total cost of ownership (TCO).
• Drives operational efficiency and resiliency.
• Critically, improves the security of highly distributed, software-based networks.

“As part of e& UAE’s transformation to becoming a digital telco we are excited to collaborate closely with Microsoft as we drive innovation in our services and excellence in our customer experience. The use of Azure Operator Nexus and Azure Operator 5G Core to support our core network will better enable us to leverage the power of AI and automation and provide new avenues for monetization,” stated Khalid Murshed, Chief Technology and Information Officer, e& UAE.

“AT&T is moving to the next phase of our cloud migration that includes deploying Microsoft’s Azure Operator Nexus platform in our network as part of the next phase of our 5G SA deployment. Continuing its leadership in cloud networking, AT&T is using cloud native DevOps tools to drive improvements such as one-touch deployment, vendor-agnostic framework, CI/CD integration, automated network testing, in-service upgrades, and advanced security and compliance management. Azure Operator Nexus’ API-driven solution helped us to significantly simplify, automate, and improve the deployment cycle time for cloud infrastructure software and configuration in our data centers,” stated Yigal Elbaz, Senior Vice President, Network CTO.

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Keysight and Intel combine mMIMO with O-RAN

 Keysight Technologies and Intel are collaborating to enable mMIMO) beamforming designs for use in Open Radio Access Networks (RAN).

Open RAN architectures revolutionize mobile networks by decoupling software from hardware, enabling operators to combine components from various suppliers for enhanced flexibility and cost savings. This approach, complemented by the use of mMIMO technology, which employs numerous antennas to improve data transmission efficiency, offers substantial benefits in network performance. However, integrating these technologies poses significant challenges in ensuring compatibility and interoperability among different vendors' equipment.

Intel has tackled these challenges head-on with its mMIMO digital beamforming solution, housed on an Intel Agilex™ 7 SoC FPGA, optimized for Open RAN systems through dynamic beamforming techniques. By leveraging Keysight's Open RAN Studio for validation, Intel ensures its solution fits seamlessly within the Open RAN ecosystem, enhancing the ability to handle numerous connections essential for 5G's high data demands. Open RAN Studio, a key component of the Keysight Open RAN Architect (KORA) portfolio, offers advanced tools for testing and optimizing Open RAN configurations, ensuring efficient, secure, and high-performing 5G networks.

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#MWC24 NTT video: AI Opportunity at the Edge

 Check out complete MWC Barcelona 2024 Showcase at: https://ngi.fyi/mwc24yt

We're really just getting started with AI and the main area of focus will shift to the edge. Devin Yaung, SVP, Global Enterprise IoT from NTT explains:

- AI is only as effective as the data it's fed, and that's where Edge computing comes into play. It's the layer closest to the physical environment, collecting data to feed AI models.

- Companies are running out of processing power on the edge due to over-reliance on the cloud. Now, the focus is shifting back to the edge, with IoT sensors playing a crucial role in data collection.

- The importance of Edge computing is highlighted in applications like computer vision, where constant data collection from various environmental constraints is necessary to train the model effectively. The right network, devices, and Edge compute are vital in this process.

https://youtu.be/2IKTqVL2wgM

Like our videos? Want to participate? Contact info@nextgeninfra.io

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Adtran confirms Build America, Buy America compliance

Capitalizing on its 30-year history of US-based manufacturing, Adtran confirmed its compliance with the final Build America, Buy America ruling.

Adtran will supply BABA-compliant optical line terminals (OLTs), cabinets, ONTs and pluggable optics, providing a comprehensive solution fully ready to meet the needs of the BEAD program.

“We welcome the clarity of the final BABA ruling, enabling us to align our solutions with federal requirements and ensure our readiness to support the BEAD program in closing America’s digital divide. As we continue to align our efforts with the program’s objectives, we’re looking forward to the National Telecommunication and Information Administration (NTIA) providing the certification process and website details. This step is crucial for operators to design their BEAD networks with confidence, ensuring they can leverage our BABA-compliant solutions and accelerate the deployment of high-speed broadband infrastructure across the nation,” said Robert Conger, GM of software platforms and strategy at Adtran. “The BEAD program is improving access to key digital services and driving economic growth while also empowering communities by generating high-quality jobs. At Adtran, we have a longstanding tradition of harnessing home-grown innovation and building on American soil. That’s why our support for the BABA Act isn’t a new direction for us — it’s a reaffirmation of our legacy.”

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Nokia to meet Buy America guidelines by mid-2024

Nokia confirmed that its fiber optic broadband network electronics and optical modules manufactured in the U.S. meet the final Buy America guidelines issued by the Department of Commerce for BEAD participants.

State and infrastructure builders can order Nokia BEAD-certified products today with delivery starting from June 2024 onwards.

Nokia Buy America Compliant fiber-optic products

• Nokia FX and MF OLT modular product lines
• Nokia SF-8M sealed OLT
• XS-220X-A ONT 


Sandy Motley, USA Country Manager at Nokia, said: “We are proud to be Buy America compliant and to support the U.S. government's efforts to bring broadband to every American. We believe broadband is a fundamental right and a vital social and economic development enabler. As a leader in fixed access technologies, we have the solutions and experience to help states eliminate the digital divide and deliver high-quality broadband services to their communities.”

 

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NTT partners with SKT and Rohde & Schwarz on 6G

NTT DOCOMO and NTT added two new global partners to their collaborative 6G trials: SK Telecom and Rohde & Schwarz, a manufacturer of high-frequency high-performance measurement instruments.

The two new companies join existing collaborators Fujitsu, NEC, Nokia, Ericsson and Keysight Technologies.

As part of its technical collaboration with DOCOMO and NTT, SK Telecom will participate in trials using AI technology to tailor radio interfaces for various propagation environments, which is being conducted jointly by DOCOMO with NTT and Nokia. The trial will now be expanded to include environments closer to envisioned uses, leveraging SK Telecom’s expertise as a telecom operator and ecosystem creator, similar to DOCOMO. 

In addition, Rohde & Schwarz will use its measurement-system design technology in channel models to evaluate new wireless-sensing solutions beyond mobile communication technologies, and evaluate wireless-sensing performance using measurements and channel models in real-world environments.

Separately, DOCOMO and NTT also announced the following results of trials using new wireless communication technologies and AI.

 

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DT and Sony test live TV production via network API

Deutsche Telekom and Sony are testing the use of 5G network Application Programming Interfaces (APIs) to manage Nevion’s VideoIPath media orchestration platform. Nevion is a subsidiary of Sony.

The solution uses Deutsche Telekom’s network APIs to make optimum use of the 5G network and offer low latency and reliable bandwidth, which is essential for live, professional video production.

The tests successfully combined Nevion’s smart bandwidth management capabilities and Sony’s ultra-low latency video compression technology with seamless access to Deutsche Telekom’s 5G SA network and optimized via network APIs. The tests were carried out on a 5G standalone (SA) testbed in a Deutsche Telekom lab environment in Krakow, Poland. As part of this test, Sony used its recently-launched CBK-RPU7 HEVC 4K/HD remote production unit for the video compression, and its new 5G Portable Data Transmitter PDT-FP1 – both attached to a camera.  These devices complement the solution by enabling cameras in the field to connect to the broadcast production center over the 5G network. The network APIs used in the tests follow the standards set by CAMARA, the open-source network API project within the Linux Foundation, of which Deutsche Telekom is an active member.

https://www.telekom.com/en/media/media-information/archive/successful-test-of-live-tv-production-via-network-api-1060876

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Fujitsu: Trial of distributed MIMO at 100GHz and 300GHz

The trial successfully acquired propagation channel information equivalent to a distributed MIMO system using Fujitsu's 100GHz phased-array antenna prototype and wireless circuit.

Simulations will be performed to analyze factors such as shielding resistance and distributed MIMO characteristics.

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Amazon to launch AWS infrastructure Region in Mexico

Amazon Web Services (AWS) plans to launch an AWS infrastructure Region in Mexico by early 2025. 

The new AWS Mexico (Central) Region is the latest in AWS’s ongoing investments in Mexico to provide customers with advanced and secure cloud technologies. 

The new AWS Region will consist of three Availability Zones at launch, adding to AWS’s existing 105 Availability Zones across 33 geographic regions globally. With today’s announcement, AWS has plans to launch 15 more Availability Zones and five more AWS Regions in Malaysia, Mexico, New Zealand, Thailand, and the AWS European Sovereign Cloud. AWS Regions consist of Availability Zones that place infrastructure in separate and distinct geographic locations. Availability Zones are located far enough from each other to support customers’ business continuity, but near enough to provide low latency for high availability applications that use multiple Availability Zones. Each Availability Zone has independent power, cooling, and physical security and is connected through redundant, ultra-low-latency networks. AWS customers focused on high availability can design their applications to run in multiple Availability Zones to achieve even greater fault tolerance.

“Cloud services are an essential part of everyday life, helping us to digitally and economically transform Mexico,” said Raquel Buenrostro, Mexican secretary of economy. “We welcome AWS’s investment and expansion in Mexico because it is a sign of trust and demonstrates conditions are right to support the nearshoring trend across many sectors of our economy. We also welcome AWS’s investment in training students, micro, small and medium-sized companies, and digital entrepreneurs in Mexico at scale.”

https://aws.amazon.com/about-aws/global-infrastructure

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AT&T activates Ericsson Cloud RAN

AT&T has begun deploying Ericsson Cloud RAN technology on its commercial 5G network. This includes migrating the 3700MHz band for C-Band traffic to Cloud RAN infrastructure. 

AT&T now has commercial traffic flowing on Cloud RAN sites, the first ones of which are located south of Dallas, Texas. The configuration allows third-party vendors to use this configuration for Open RAN in the future.

The companies describe the deployment as the next step in the ongoing collaboration between AT&T and Ericsson to realize the benefits of Cloud RAN and move AT&T closer to their goal of a fully open, agile, programmable wireless network.

Chris Sambar, Head of Network, AT&T, says: “This is the next milestone in AT&T’s Open RAN journey. By moving traffic to cloud RAN sites, we’re accelerating our c-band deployment and continuing to virtualize our network. The open network future is coming fast and we’re looking forward to seeing the innovation that it brings for our customers.”

Fredrik Jejdling, Executive Vice President and Head of Networks, Ericsson, says: “Taking the next leap is second nature to us at Ericsson as we constantly innovate and capitalize on technology trends and shifts to stay ahead of the curve. This progress in our collaboration with AT&T shows our commitment to supporting their Open RAN ambition.”

https://www.ericsson.com

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Intel previews Xeon Granite Rapids and Sierra for telco AI acceleration

At MWC 2024, Intel unveiled its next-gen Xeon processor (code-named Granite Rapids) for vRAN applications and its its next-gen Intel processor (code-named Sierra Forest) for 5G cores. The company also introduced a modular and open software platform that enables enterprises to build, deploy, run, manage and scale edge and AI solutions on standard hardware

Highlights

• Granite Rapids-D, featuring the latest generation of P-cores, promises significant gains in performance and power efficiency utilizing improved Intel AVX for vRAN and integrated Intel vRAN Boost acceleration alongside other architectural and feature enhancements. Silicon is currently sampling. Samsung has demonstrated a first-call at their research and development lab in Suwon, South Korea. Ericsson has also demonstrated a first-call validation in the Ericsson-Intel joint lab in Santa Clara, California. Intel is also working with Dell Technologies, Hewlett Packard Enterprise (HPE), Lenovo, Red Hat, Wind River and other leading ecosystem partners to ensure market readiness. Granite Rapids-D is planned to launch in 2025, following the launch of Granite Rapids server CPUs in 2024.
•  Sierra Forest, which will launch later this year, brings up to 288 Efficient-cores (E-cores) on a single chip. It is well-suited for 5G core workloads to advance network core performance and power savings. By utilizing Intel’s latest E-core technology, operators will recognize greater energy and cost savings, driving to a 2.7x performance per rack improvement1 and industry-leading performance per rack for 5G core workloads.

• Intel Infrastructure Power Manager, which enables operators to take advantage of the built-in telemetry of Intel Xeon processors to reduce CPU power by an average of 30%, is gaining market traction. Casa Systems, NEC, Nokia, and Samsung are planning to deliver in 2024.

“Intel is delivering innovations for our partners and their customers across network, edge and enterprises to modernize their networks, monetize new services at the edge, and bring AI everywhere,” said Sachin Katti, senior vice president and general manager of the Network and Edge Group at Intel. “Intel’s network- and edge-optimized SOC strategy uniquely integrates general purpose compute and acceleration for networking, AI and vRAN workloads, and we are announcing market-leading next generation products for 5G core with Sierra Forest and 5G vRAN with Granite Rapids-D.”

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