Verizon Business adds NaaS Cloud Management

Verizon Business introduced Network as a Service (NaaS) Cloud Management, a new service that allows businesses to control application components and network architecture across multiple cloud environments -- public, private and hybrid -- all on one unified online portal. 

This new service bridges the complexities of managing across public, private, and hybrid cloud environments through a single, streamlined online portal. Specifically tailored to integrate with Verizon Business' NaaS offerings, this solution greatly simplifies the multi-cloud management landscape, forming a key part of the NaaS flexible service-model fabric.

The move towards multi-cloud networking has been increasingly embraced by enterprises for its flexibility in hosting applications across diverse cloud environments, each with its own set of accessibility, compatibility, and data sovereignty considerations. However, this approach brings its own set of challenges:

• Streamlined Connectivity Across Clouds: NaaS Cloud Management addresses the challenge of linking workloads across various cloud platforms, facilitating smoother application connections and faster response times.
• Enhanced Visibility and Control: The solution offers a unified view into the health and performance of cloud networks and applications, allowing for better oversight of network traffic, cloud connections, and issue management.
• Simplified Integration: Users can easily establish connections between different cloud environments (public, private, and hybrid) and network infrastructure at the edge, promoting secure interactions among cloud service providers, data centers, and end users while upholding security standards.
• Standardization of Workload Connectivity: By offering a consistent approach to security protocols, governance, and configurations, NaaS Cloud Management simplifies the complexities of multi-cloud networking into an integrated workflow, aiding in business transformation efforts.
• Single Management Portal: Customers gain the ability to swiftly provision and manage secure cloud connectivity services across various cloud service providers through one centralized management portal.

“The NaaS Cloud Management solution can revolutionize the way IT teams deploy and manage cloud applications and monitor multi-cloud connections, making the process simpler and more user-friendly than ever before,” said Debika Bhattacharya, Chief Product Officer, Verizon Business. “Being able to deploy workload connections quickly between different environments empowers organizations to scale cloud engineering and development processes, mitigate risk, and operate with minimal friction.”

https://www.verizon.com/business/resources/solutionsbriefs/naas-cloud-management-solution-brief.pdf

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Verizon tests Ericsson's Low-Latency, Low-Loss, Scalable Throughput

Verizon recently tested Ericsson's Low-Latency, Low-Loss, Scalable Throughput (L4S) capabilities for optimizing the Verizon 5G network.

L4S is designed to enable content providers to use the specific, robust network resources needed for a variety of time-critical applications, including entertainment, gaming, AR/VR, real-time video conferencing, Vehicle to Everything (V2X) communications, teleoperated driving, and drone operations, which all have in common the need for fast and consistent throughputs and the ability to meet desired latency targets in real time.

Upon integration into the network, L4S will synergize with a suite of cutting-edge technologies to deliver the requisite speed, latency, and overall performance necessary for enhanced solutions. This includes Active Queue Management, caching strategies, Mobile Edge Compute (MEC) capabilities, the Verizon Cloud Platform (VCP), a fully virtualized 5G standalone core, virtualized Radio Access Network (RAN), artificial intelligence, network slicing, and comprehensive orchestration. Together within Verizon’s 5G ecosystem, these technologies will underpin sophisticated applications such as extended reality (XR) experiences, real-time vehicle communication, robotic coordination in manufacturing environments, instant data gathering from myriad sensors in logistics centers, or drones capturing and transmitting video with minimal delay.

The L4S trial, conducted in Ericsson’s D-15 5G innovation and co-creation lab in Santa Clara, CA, tested an XR application using an XR virtual reality headset over Ericsson’s 5G stand alone core connecting to Verizon’s C-Band spectrum. The trial demonstrated how enabling L4S signaling in the Radio Access Network allowed content providers to adjust the rates at which they sent their data packets, thereby markedly improving the performance of urgent, high-bandwidth applications over Verizon's 5G network. The results showed latency reduction by up to fifty percent, 

 “While the first wave of 5G saw massive network infrastructure deployments, increased 5G adoption, and rapid ecosystem building, the second wave of the 5G era will be characterized by widespread innovation built on speed, massive capacity, low latency, security and reliability,” said Adam Koeppe, Senior Vice President of Network and Technology Planning for Verizon. “Just as we worked to evolve 4G after its initial launch into a high-performance network, we are now evolving the Radio Access Network providing 5G technology by introducing advanced technology features that will push the boundaries of what this service can provide to our customers.”

 “Our goal from the beginning has been to create a transformational 5G network. That requires a redesigned, newly architected, fully virtualized network that can fundamentally manage mobile data differently than we have in the past,” said Koeppe. “With our virtualized Verizon Cloud Platform (VCP) core architecture, spectrum choices, virtualized RAN, owned and upgraded fiber footprint, edge platform capabilities and infused intelligence, we are leading the industry in introducing advanced technology and capabilities into the 5G network.”

 https://www.verizon.com/about/news/verizon-and-ericsson-collaborate-innovative-5g-feature-enhance-user-experience

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ESnet acquires transatlantic capacity on Aqua Comms

Aqua Comms signed a long-term lease agreement for Trans-Atlantic subsea spectrum with Energy Sciences Network (ESnet) the high-performance network built to support scientific research, funded by the U.S. Department of Energy’s (DOE’s) Office of Science and managed by Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory for 25% of a fibre pair between New York, Dublin and London. 

This agreement represents ESnet's first venture into acquiring Trans-Atlantic spectrum capacity. ESnet plays a crucial role for the Department of Energy's (DOE) research community, acting as its essential data network. It supports a vast number of scientists across all national labs, supercomputing centers, and major scientific projects, while also connecting with over 270 other research and commercial networks globally.

The deal secures a quarter-fibre-pair for 15 years, offering a dedicated 5 terabits per second (Tbps) connection. This substantial data channel is a key part of ESnet's strategy for the Atlantic, designed to handle the expected surge in data from DOE's scientific collaborations and facilities. This includes preparing for the upcoming high luminosity upgrade of the Large Hadron Collider at CERN, which will significantly increase data volumes.

 “Scientific research has entered the exascale era, and researchers need to be able to rapidly, seamlessly, and reliably move vast quantities of data from instruments to high-performance computing facilities to their human collaborators all over the world — and back again,” said ESnet Executive Director Inder Monga. 

“ESnet is committed to continuing to build a robust, redundant network ready to serve the Department of Energy’s research ecosystem now and for the long-term future.” Jim Fagan, CEO at Aqua Comms, said, “Subsea Spectrum offers the scalability and control of dark fibre at a fraction of the cost allowing customers to plan for their long-term network needs. By working with Aqua Comms, ESNet can be confident in our expertise and leading global subsea engineering services as we continue to demonstrate that we are at the forefront of the technology supporting the needs of our customers with high-bandwidth, efficient network services.”

https://aquacomms.com/latest-news/aqua-comms-announces-trans-atlantic-subsea-spectrum-agreement-with-energy-sciences-network/

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Credo intros 112G PAM4 SerDes supporting 800G and 1.6T designs

Credo Technology introduced its newest 112G PAM4 SerDes Intellectual Property (IP) family on TSMC’s N3 and N7/N6 process technologies. The SerDes IP can be used by other silicon companies to develop chips for 800G and 1.6T connectivity

These two new SerDes IPs complement Credo’s available IP in TSMC’s N5 process technology, which also includes the enhanced N4 version of the 5nm node. This comprehensive SerDes IP family supports a wide range of demands including long reach plus (LR+), long reach (LR), medium reach (MR) and very short reach plus (VSR), for applications including AI, machine learning, high performance compute, switching, security, and optical deployments.

Credo’s DSP-based 112G PAM4 SerDes architectures were developed and proven on TSMC’s 12nm process technology. The 12nm technology was then integrated into Credo’s  family of 112G per lane connectivity products for both copper and optical applications at 800G and 1.6T port rates. Credo then ported the 12nm, 112G SerDes to more advanced process technology nodes (N7/N6, N5/N4, and N3) – allowing customers to integrate the silicon proven technology into monolithic ASICs and chiplets.

Jeff Twombly, Vice President of Business Development commented, “Credo is committed to delivering industry leading performance combined with outstanding energy efficiency across the newest optimal process technologies and for a wide variety of reaches. By selecting from our broad portfolio of 112G PAM4 IP, our customers can design complex, monolithic chips rapidly and cost effectively for demanding applications.”

https://credosemi.com/credo-launches-112g-pam4-serdes-ip-for-tsmc-n3-process-technology/

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HPE says "business as usual" during merger process

One month after agreed to acquire Juniper Networks, the companies said they are continuing business as usual while working through the merger process.

In a blog post, Antonio Neri, Preside and CEO of HPE, writes: "We are pursuing this acquisition because we believe the combination of HPE and Juniper Networks will radically change the networking industry – not by eliminating products from either portfolio – but by creating greater choice in this sector. The incredible thing about a combination like this one is that there are strong offerings on both sides and by bringing them together, we will be accelerating value and flexibility for all of our customers. While it is too early for us to make any decisions or announcements regarding future product roadmaps, my commitment is that all HPE portfolio decisions will continue to be made carefully and thoughtfully."

Some additional key points:

• The merger aims to leverage AI-driven networking solutions, enhancing HPE's portfolio with high growth and margin areas, complementing the HPE Aruba Networking portfolio.
• The combined efforts aim to address customer challenges more effectively, creating a full-service networking company with a customer-centric product development approach.
• The acquisition's closure is anticipated for late 2024 or early 2025, with a commitment to minimal disruption during the transition.

https://www.hpe.com/us/en/newsroom/blog-post/2024/02/hpe-and-juniper-networks-accelerating-value-for-customers.html

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Broadband Forum bring disaggregation to access nodes

Broadband Forum released two technical reports:

•  TR-477 ‘Cloud CO Enhancement – Access Node Functional Disaggregation’ -  specifies the necessary architecture, NF definitions, requirements, interfaces and protocols associated with the Disaggregated OLT (D-OLT) software component enabling the deployment of OLTs withdisaggregated functionalities into a CloudCO architecture.
• MR-477 ‘Access Node Hardware Disaggregation’ -  extends the principle of disaggregation between the control and user planes onto the Access Nodes themselves, e.g., an OLT in a fibre network. In effect, this disaggregates control and management plane functions from the Access Node so that these can become virtualized functions within the CloudCO.

Broadband Forum says the releases provide network operators with a migration path from one of their largest network investments – existing Access Nodes such as Optical Line Terminals (OLTs) and Multi-Service Access Nodes (MSANs) – to a new disaggregated software-driven model approach.

“SDN-enabled Access Node disaggregation introduces new flexibility in the deployment of the management and control planes by supporting legacy investment and extending the principles of disaggregation, as well as using whitebox hardware and software solutions for future Access Node architecture,” said Bruno Cornaglia of Vodafone who also serves as a Broadband Forum SDN/NFV Work Area Director. “The latest standard will help network operators protect their investments, diversify the supply chain, and accelerate the transition to new physical layer access technologies.”

https://www.broadband-forum.org/2024-02-06-broadband-forum-extends-principles-of-network-disaggregation-onto-access-nodes

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Dell’Oro: XGS-PON to fuel new spending cycle beginning in 2025

A new report by Dell’Oro Group predicts that sales of Broadband Access Equipment are expected to decline by 1 percent from 2023, with the first half of 2024 seeing continued weakness followed by an improved spending environment in the second half of the year. Ongoing subsidization efforts, the shift from copper to fiber, and the rollout of cable distributed access architectures will all propel the Broadband Equipment market from 2025 on. 

“Although the inventory corrections seen in 2023 will continue through the first half of 2024, the second half of the year is expected to be the turning point towards renewed growth,” said Jeff Heynen, Vice President at Dell’Oro Group. “Service providers still have the same goals of increasing their fiber footprint, increasing the bandwidth they can offer their customers, and improving the reliability of their broadband services through the distribution of intelligence closer to subscribers,” added Heynen.

Additional highlights from the Broadband Access & Home Networking 5-Year January 2024 Forecast Report:

• PON equipment revenue is expected to grow from $10.8 B in 2023 to $11.8 B in 2028, driven largely by XGS-PON deployments in North America, EMEA, and CALA and early 50 Gbps deployments in China.
• Revenue for Cable Distributed Access Equipment (Virtual CCAP, Remote PHY Devices, Remote MACPHY Devices, and Remote OLTs) is expected to reach $1.3 B by 2028, as operators continue their DOCSIS 4.0 and early fiber deployments
• Revenue for Fixed Wireless CPE is expected to reach $2.5 B by 2028, led by shipments of 5G sub-6GHz and a growing number of 5G Millimeter Wave units.
• Revenue for Wi-Fi 7 residential routers and broadband CPE with WLAN will reach $9.3B by 2028, as the technology is rapidly adopted by consumers and service providers alike.

https://www.delloro.com/news/broadband-equipment-spending-expected-to-pick-up-2nd-half-of-2024/

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A10 posts Q4 revenue of $70M, in-line with expectations

Citing market conditions related to North American service provider customers’ capital expenditures, A10 Networks reported quarterly revenue of $70.4 million, in-line with guidance and down $7.2 million (9.3%) year-over-year. Sequentially, revenue increased 21.9%, reflecting delayed orders from the third quarter as expected. Non-GAAP net income amounted to $18.5 million (representing 26.2% of revenue), or $0.25 per diluted share (non-GAAP EPS) compared to non-GAAP net income of $18.4 million (23.7% of revenue) or $0.24 per diluted share in the fourth quarter of 2022.

Continued strong demand for our solutions and shift to focus on Enterprise customers partially mitigated broadly reported headwinds with Service Provider customers related to depressed capital expenditures and longer sales cycles,” said Dhrupad Trivedi, President and Chief Executive Officer of A10 Networks. Revenue from enterprise customers increased 8.6% on a full year basis.

“Simultaneously, A10 continues to deliver solid execution and we believe our business model positions us to navigate this challenging period better than others,” continued Trivedi. “We maintained our target gross margin level of 80 – 82% and EBITDA margin of 26 – 28% despite the revenue challenges, demonstrating our proven ability to allocate resources to the best strategic opportunities for future growth while driving operating efficiencies We were able to deliver flat full year EPS on a constant-currency basis in spite of a challenging macro environment. Over the last three years, we have delivered Adjusted EBITDA growth of 14%. We expect to grow our non-GAAP EPS in 2024 compared to 2023, enabling us to continue investing in future innovative solutions and returning capital to shareholders.”

https://investors.a10networks.com/news-events/events-presentations/default.aspx

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