NEC completes subsea cable for India's BSNL

NEC completed a submarine cable system in southern India connecting Kochi, a major port city in India, with 11 Lakshadweep islands: Agatti, Andrott, Amini, Bangaram, Bitra, Chetlat, Kadmat, Kavaratti, Kiltan, Kelpeni, and Minicoy. 

Spanning approximately 1,870 kilometers, the system offers an initial capacity of 2x100 Gbps, expandable up to 1,600 Gbps per fibre pair.

The Kochi-Lakshadweep Islands Submarine Cable (KLI), developed under the Government of India's 'Digital India' Mission, was inaugurated recently by Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi. 

Funded by the Universal Services Obligation Fund (USOF) under the Department of Telecommunications, Government of India, the project was executed by Bharat Sanchar Nigam Limited (BSNL), a telecommunications company under the ownership of the Government of India.

https://www.nec.com/en/press/202401/global_20240112_01.html

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Alphawave Semi Predictions 2024: AI Chiplets and Optical Communications

Tony Chan Carusone, Chief Technology Officer from Alphawave Semi, predicts:

 - Customized hardware with chiplets will be deployed to extend AI's capabilities. As AI models continue to strain our energy and data infrastructure, industry players will look to improve efficiency by customizing their hardware designs. In 2024, chiplets will be the answer.

- Hardware will become the most in-demand tech sector. With the growth of AI showing no signs of slowing down, the need for semiconductor solutions will only intensify. Expect to see more semiconductor companies rising the ranks of tech industry titans.

- 2024 will kick off an optical communication revolution. As we reach an inflection point in data from AI, the most prominent tech players in the world will be compelled to implement new optical connectivity technologies. This will set off a decade of technological progress.

https://youtu.be/m-IDeBodOyE

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APC Predictions 2024: Navigating the Evolving Optical Ecosystem

 Check out all 2024 Predictions from Industry Thought Leaders: https://ngi.fyi/predictions24yt

Jeff Maki, Distinguished Engineer from Advanced Photonics Coalition, predicts:

- The industry's ecosystem is undergoing significant changes, with increased opportunities for competitive aspects and understanding one's position within the ecosystem. Each level, from hyperscalers to material suppliers, has a responsibility to leverage opportunities with competitors to mature their level of the ecosystem.

- There will be an increase in competitors coming together to set future opportunities, particularly through the use of standards. Standards indicate maturing technology and offer licensing opportunities, even for technology backed by patents. 

- New standards bodies, like the Advanced Photonics Coalition, will emerge to meet the industry's evolving needs. These bodies will form working groups at different ecosystem levels, working towards specifications that document collaboration among competitors and bring value to end customers.

https://youtu.be/d3QVzs0dbos

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Telecom Infra Project Predictions 2024: AI, RICs & Sustainability

Check out all 2024 Predictions from Industry Thought Leaders: https://ngi.fyi/predictions24yt

How will AI shape the development of telecom infrastructure in 2024? Eugina Jordan, Chief Marketing Officer from Telecom Infra Project predicts:

- The rise of AI in Telecom: AI will revolutionize the Telecom industry by improving operations, enhancing customer experiences, and automating network configurations. Expect to see more AI tools like chatbots for better customer service and AI-driven network automation for efficient 5G and small cell network setups.

- The emergence of RIC: Real-time and non-real time RIC will be used by mobile operators for various use cases to optimize the quality of experience, manage their spectrum, and monetize their networks.

- Sustainability and TCO reduction: The Telecom industry will focus on sustainability and Total Cost of Ownership (TCO) reduction. Mobile operators will aim to reduce power consumption in data centers and on-site through AI and ML algorithms. RAN automation will also be used to shut down cell sites when not in use, contributing to sustainability goals.

https://youtu.be/LPvjQlqnOzc

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T-Systems expands its Quantum Cloud with AQT

T-Systems Quantum Cloud now provides access AQT's quantum computers. 

AQT, based in Innsbruck, is a leader in Europe for building ion trap-based quantum computers, known for their high-quality computations. This collaboration enhances Europe's independence in vital quantum technology. The integration has been successfully tested, and customers can begin using it along with T-Systems' consulting services.

T-Systems' clients can create quantum applications using AQT's quantum computers through cloud access. This connection will be part of Deutsche Telekom's comprehensive quantum cloud services. 

T-Systems offers support through training and resources. Customers can also use pre-made quantum algorithms and applications from the European PlanQK platform, which provides an easy start in quantum computing with pre-built programming modules. Services are available in various packages, including time-based or volume-based models, ranging from one-day introductions to multi-month proof-of-concept for business cases.

Jörn Kellermann, SVP Global Portfolio and Technology Excellence at T-Systems, explains: "We identified quantum computing early on as a critical key technology for the future. The first customers are already live on the T-Systems Quantum Cloud and the cooperation with AQT expands their possibilities – on a sovereign, European infrastructure."

Thomas Monz, CEO and founder of AQT, says: "Together with T-Systems, we offer our customers hands-on access to the best quantum computers in Europe. We are convinced that the synergy between our quantum computers and T-Systems' cloud infrastructure will open up completely new capabilities and markets for Europe."

https://www.telekom.com/en/media/media-information/archive/quantum-computing-1056220

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Ceragon lands Tier 1 Operator in India

Ceragon Networks signed an agreement with a global integrator, in support of a network modernization project for a Tier 1 Operator in India. 

This brand-new customer of Ceragon will be the first to deploy its newest solutions. All new microwave sites will utilize Ceragon's new ultra-compact, energy-efficient all-outdoor radio. In addition, several thousand mmW sites will be deployed using Ceragon's E-Band product.

The agreement, valued at approximately $150 million, comprises planning, product delivery and deployment services, as well as a multi-year contract for Ceragon's Managed Services that covers day-to-day monitoring, management, and maintenance oversite of the microwave and mmW (millimeter wave) network. 

Ceragon notes that the actual value of the agreement may vary by an increase or decrease of up to 25%, depending upon the actual deployment requirements during project roll-out. Ceragon is expected to begin delivery and deployment of the new sites in Q2 of 2024. Deployment is expected to complete within 7-9 quarters, with approximately 75% of the project value expected to be recognized in this timeframe. The remaining approximately 25% of the contract value is for Managed Services & Maintenance and is expected to start being recognized within a year from deployment, respectively.

Doron Arazi, Ceragon CEO, commented, "The scale and scope of this project reaffirms Ceragon's strong brand recognition as an innovative and trustworthy partner in the wireless transport space. We are excited to take part in providing the citizens of India with the future-friendly connectivity they need."

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BT signs Iraqi gas company for managed network services

Basrah Gas Company (BGC), Iraq’s largest gas flare reduction company and a joint venture among the Iraqi Government, Shell and Mitsubishi, awarded a new agreement to BT to securely connect the company’s operations in Iraq and help accelerate its digital transformation.

The new network will provide secure and reliable connectivity for BGC sites across multiple locations (gas fields, processing plants and offices). It will also provide enhanced connectivity to hyperscalers and delivery of cloud-based applications such as Microsoft 365 and SAP.

Andrew Wiper, Managing Director of BGC said: “Collaborating with BT is an important milestone for BGC. In forging this alliance, we propel BGC towards global excellence. The bedrock of our operations lies in robust and efficient connectivity, and this contract reinforces our commitment to efficiency and safety.”

Eyad Shihabi, Managing Director, Global Industries and Government, Business, BT said: “We’re very proud of our relationship with JV BGC. This partnership represents a new chapter in this relationship by delivering the high standards of quality and reliability of services directly to BGC in Iraq.”

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Ayar Labs adds Silicon Valley veterans

Ayar Labs announced two additions to its Board of Directors: 

• Ganesh Moorthy, President and CEO of Microchip Technology Inc., and 
• Craig Barratt, former CEO of Atheros and current Chair of the Board of Intuitive Surgical

The company also announced that co-founder Vladimir Stojanovic has been named Chief Technology Officer (CTO).

“Ganesh, Craig, and Vladimir are powerhouse additions to our team, and each will play a critical role as we move our technologies into production maturity,” says CEO Mark Wade. “Their collective knowledge and experience will help us accelerate our roadmap leadership, and deliver the transformative value of optical I/O in AI systems, high performance computing, and next-generation data center system architectures.”

“The work Ayar Labs is doing to make optical I/O a reality is essential to the forward progress of the entire industry. By addressing the performance and power bottlenecks of traditional electrical-based interconnects, Ayar Labs will help unleash the full potential of everything from AI and 6G networks to disaggregated data centers and so much more. I look forward to helping Ayar Labs expand its reach across the ecosystem as the company moves into its next phase of growth,” said Moorthy.

“Optical I/O solves long-standing data movement challenges in computing systems. With the dramatic bandwidth and performance needs in AI systems, a new generation of foundational technologies and products are needed. Ayar Labs’ leadership in breakthrough optical I/O solutions enables system performance that is not possible with alternative approaches,” said Barratt. “I look forward to leveraging my background in bringing new semiconductor technologies to market to accelerate the company’s growth.”

Bringing optical I/O as close as possible to the processor is key design aim for high-performance computing. Intel and Ayar Labs demonstrate  a 4 Tbps bidirectional communication between two optically enabled Intel FPGAs using Ayar Labs TeraPHY optical I/O chiplets. Data generated from each FPGA is optically transmitted from one board and received and verified on the other board.  https://youtu.be/pRQhrjdWtps

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