Aviz unveils Networking 3.0 Stack and AI Copilot

Aviz Networks unveiled its Networking 3.0 Stack, a suite including ONES for network operations, OPB for Packet Brokers, and its new GenAI-based conversational Network Copilot. With this stack Aviz offers comprehensive vendor agnostic solutions spanning Data Centers, Edge Networks, and AI Fabrics. 

The Networking 3.0 Stack features compatibility across multiple ASICs, switches, NOS, clouds, and LLMs, and empowers network owners with choice and control enabling dramatic cost savings. 

Aviz said its new Network Copilot, which is available for on-premise and AWS deployments, can integrate into pre-existing data lakes or can generate its own data lake while keeping data ownership with customers. In its initial release, Network Copilot . Network Copilot leverages open source LLMs and enables customers to stay abreast of the latest developments in the Generative AI domain. 

Utilizing Network Copilot, clients have the capability to pre-train models tailored to their network benchmarks, facilitating ongoing model refinement and adjustment using live data from their networks. This methodology opens up various possibilities, including enhancing network operations, ensuring regulatory compliance, optimizing capacity planning, and beyond. Moreover, clients are provided with the chance to engage with the Aviz Prompt Engineering team to delve into and cultivate novel, previously unexplored applications, thereby pushing the frontiers of innovation in network management.

“With the launch of Network Copilot we have delivered on our vision for enabling open, cloud and AI first networks using a data centric Networking 3.0 stack. Our products enable customers to standardize their NOS, NetOps, Network Data and AIOps layers, giving them the control they need to enable vendor choice while creating long term value,” said Vishal Shukla, CEO for Aviz Networks. “Network Copilot is designed to eliminate entry barriers for network professionals to integrate GenAI into their daily jobs. Network Copilot provides network architects, managers and executives with the ability to work with GenAI technology, laying the path for them to be future GenAI leaders.”

https://youtu.be/AuaLo9EOeIE

https://aviznetworks.com/

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Cisco reports revenue of $12.8B, down 6%

Cisco reported revenue of $12.8 billion for its second fiscal quarter ended January 27, 2024, down 6% year over year. GAAP EPS was $0.65, down 3% year over year, and Non-GAAP EPS was $0.87, down 1% year over year.

• Revenue by geographic segment was: Americas down 4%, EMEA down 7%, and APJC was down 12%.
• Product revenue performance reflected growth in Security up 3%, Collaboration up 3% and Observability up 16%. Networking was down 12%.

“We delivered a solid second quarter with strong operating leverage and capital returns,” said Chuck Robbins, chair and CEO of Cisco. “We continue to align our investments to future growth opportunities. Our innovation sits at the center of an increasingly connected ecosystem and will play a critical role as our customers adopt AI and secure their organizations.”

“Focused execution and operating discipline drove our solid top and bottom-line results and strong margins in Q2,” said Scott Herren, CFO of Cisco. “We are making good progress in our business model shift to more recurring revenue while remaining focused on financial discipline, operating leverage and shareholder returns, as evidenced by our increased dividend.”

On the quarterly conference call, Cisco executives noted a greater degree of caution and scrutiny by customers; longer intervals for customers to deploy the elevated levels of products shipped to them in recent quarters; and weak demand from telco and cable service provider customers. The company is looking to capitalize on the multibillion-dollar AI infrastructure opportunity. 

https://investor.cisco.com/events/event-details/2024/Cisco-Q2FY24-Earnings-Conference-Call-2024-Va2rK4vZ2P/default.aspx

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NTT to establish its first data center in Paris

NTT Ltd. will develop and operate its first data center campus in the Paris market, a key data center region in Europe.

The data center campus is comprised of 14.4 hectares (approx. 35.5 acres) and will support a planned capacity of 84 MW of critical IT load across three data centers. The site is located 50km south of Paris in the municipalities of Le Coudray-Montceaux and Corbeil-Essonnes, in close proximity to key digital infrastructure and has power reserved for day one deployment.

"Paris is a significant addition to our global offering and an important area in our expansion efforts," said Doug Adams, CEO and President, NTT Global Data Centers & Submarine Cable. "We are pleased to continue to add to our existing portfolio and market share in EMEA and enhance our client offerings to include Paris."

"This investment complements our existing and growing presence in Frankfurt, London and Amsterdam, and will complete our footprint in the FLAP Tier 1 markets in Europe," said Florian Winkler, Chief Executive Officer EMEA and Global Chief Operating Officer, NTT Global Data Centers. "We will develop our presence in the Paris metro area in close partnership with the local municipalities, partners, and the government. The addition of Paris builds upon our long-term proven track record of developing and operating in continental Europe and the UK and is a precursor for NTT's further expansion and growth in both, existing and additional new markets in Europe."

https://services.global.ntt/en-US/newsroom/ntt-ltd-to-enter-paris-market-with-agreement-for-significant-data-center-expansion

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Renesas to acquire Altium for PCB design software

Renesas Electronics agreed to acquire Australia-based Altium Limited, a leader in electronics design systems, for a cash price of A$68.50 per share, representing a total equity value of approximately A$9.1 billion.

The merger will establish an integrated and open electronics system design and lifecycle management platform that allows for collaboration across component, subsystem, and system-level design. The combination will also enable integration with third-party vendors across the ecosystem to execute all electronic design steps seamlessly on the cloud. 

Development processes continue to evolve and accelerate. With our Purpose “To Make Our Lives Easier” in mind, our vision is to make electronics design accessible to the broader market to allow more innovation through a cloud-based platform,” said Hidetoshi Shibata, CEO of Renesas. “Addition of Altium will enable us to deliver an integrated and open development platform, making it easier for businesses of all sizes and industries to build and scale their systems. We look forward to working with Altium’s talented team as we continue to invest and drive our combined platform to the next level of value for our customers."

"I strongly believe that electronics is the single most critical industry to building a smart and sustainable world. Renesas’s visionary leadership and commitment to making electronics accessible to all resonates strongly with Altium. Altium’s vision of industry transformation finds its fullest expression in service of this grand vision of Renesas,” said Aram Mirkazemi, CEO of Altium. “Having worked closely with Renesas as a partner for nearly two years, we are excited to be part of the Renesas team as we continue to successfully execute and grow.”

https://www.renesas.com/us/en/about/press-room/renesas-acquire-pcb-design-software-leader-altium-make-electronics-design-accessible-broader-market

• In June 2023, Renesas announced that it had standardized development of all PCB design on the Altium 365 cloud-based platform from Altium. Renesas has been working with Altium to publish all its products’ ECAD libraries to the Altium Public Vault. W

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cPacket lands $67M investment for observability platform

cPacket Networks, which sells a hybrid-cloud observability platform, completed a $67 million transaction, including a primary and secondary equity investment by funds managed by Morgan Stanley Expansion Capital and a debt refinancing by Trinity Capital.

cPacket will use the funds to accelerate product development, including 400Gbps Observability nodes, expanding its Cloud and hybrid footprint and introducing innovative use of AI/ML to drive deep but business relevant insights from customers packet data. In addition, the company will continue to scale its sales and marketing efforts globally.

“We are delighted to have the support and endorsement of Morgan Stanley Expansion Capital and Trinity Capital. We will strategically utilize their funding to drive market expansion and talent acquisition, as we accelerate delivery of our ground-breaking network observability solutions for our clients across financial services, healthcare, high-tech and government sectors.”

-- Brendan O’Flaherty, CEO cPacket Networks Inc.

https://www.cpacket.com/

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QuantumScape appoints Dr. Siva Sivaram as CEO

QuantumScape, which develops solid-state lithium-metal battery technology, announced the appointment of current President, Dr. Siva Sivaram, as CEO, succeeding Co-founder and CEO Jagdeep Singh, who will continue to serve as Chairman of the Board of Directors.

Dr. Sivaram, a semiconductor and data storage industry veteran, joined QuantumScape as President in September 2023. He joined from Western Digital Corp., where he also served as President, leading corporate strategy and technology. 

“Founding QuantumScape has been the highlight of my career. I profoundly believe in the mission and the success of this company and team, and we are closer than ever to having a real impact on the automotive industry,” said Mr. Singh. “Siva immediately impressed the team after coming on as President with his operational skills, strategic vision and ability to drive results. Siva is the right leader at the right time to take on the challenge of bringing the company’s technology into high-volume production. I look forward to our continued work together to bring QuantumScape’s solid-state lithium-metal batteries to market.”

Quantumscape noted the following milestones over the past year:

• the company's best-performing A0 prototype cell achieved more than 1,000 full cycle equivalents with 95% discharge energy retention in testing at PowerCo’s labs. 
• The company made key improvements to the components and processes necessary to transition from prototype to product, 
• bolstered the balance sheet with a follow-on offering, 
• strengthened relationships with OEM partners, and 
• announced the first planned commercial product, QSE-5. 

https://www.quantumscape.com/

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