Sunday, March 3, 2024

Intel restores Altera as a standalone FPGA company

Eight years after acquiring Altera, a provider of field-programmable gate array (FPGA) technology for approximately $16.7 billion, Intel announced plans to relaunch Altera as a standalone FPGA company. Since the acquisition in late 2015, the former Altera has operated as Intel's Programmable Solutions Group (PSG).

Sandra Rivera will serve as the new Altera's CEO and Shannon Poulin will be Chief Operating Officer. 

In addition, Altera announced the following new products and services:

  • Agilex 9 is now in volume production. It offers the industry's fastest data converters, which are ideal for radar and military-aerospace applications that require high-bandwidth mixed-signal FPGAs.
  • Agilex 7 F-series and I-series devices are released to production. With 2x better fabric performance per watt versus competing FPGAs, they are tailored toward high-bandwidth compute applications like data center, networking and defense.
  • Agilex 5 is now broadly available. It delivers the only FPGA fabric infused with AI, best-in-class performance and 1.6x better performance per watt versus competing products. It is geared toward embedded and edge applications.
  • Coming soon: Agilex 3. It will bring a leading value, low-power line of FPGAs to low-complexity functions for cloud, communications and intelligent edge applications.

“As customers deal with increasingly complex technological challenges and work to differentiate themselves from their competitors and accelerate time to value, we have an opportunity to reinvigorate the FPGA market. We’re leading with a bold, agile and customer-obsessed approach to deliver programmable solutions and accessible AI across a broad range of applications in the  comms, cloud, data center, embedded, industrial, automotive and mil-aero market segments,” stated Sandra Rivera, chief executive officer of Altera.

In the AI domain, Altera is addressing those opportunities with FPGA AI Suite and OpenVINO, which generate optimized intellectual property (IP) based on standard frameworks like TensorFlow and Pytorch.

https://www.intel.com/content/www/us/en/newsroom/news/intel-launches-altera-standalone-fpga-operation.html#gs.5wng0q

Synopsys launches 1.6T Ethernet IP for data center chips

Synopsys introduced a 1.6T Ethernet IP solution to help companies build the fastest silicon for AI and data center applications.

Highlights:

  • The Synopsys IP solution includes 1.6T MAC and PCS Ethernet controllers, 224G Ethernet PHY IP, and verification IP, aimed at reducing time to market for AI and HPC networking chips.
  • The 1.6T Ethernet IP solution is designed to improve energy efficiency in hyperscale data centers, potentially cutting interconnect power consumption by up to 50% compared to current SoC implementations.
  • Synopsys' new 1.6T Ethernet MAC and PCS Controllers feature a multi-channel, multi-rate design that can reduce area usage by 50% and lower latency by 40%, thanks to a patented Reed-Solomon Forward Error Correction architecture. This ensures reliable data transmission across Ethernet rates from 10G to 1.6T.
  • The 224G Ethernet PHY IP is silicon-proven to provide strong link performance, excellent signal integrity, and seamless interoperability across various channel lengths.
  • Synopsys introduces the industry's first Ethernet verification IP capable of supporting speeds up to 1.6T, utilizing native SystemVerilog and Universal Verification Methodology to accelerate the time to first test.

“The massive compute demands of hyperscale data centers require significantly faster Ethernet speeds to enable emerging AI workloads,” said John Koeter, senior vice president of marketing and strategy for IP, Synopsys. “Our complete IP solution for 1.6T Ethernet, pre-verified subsystems, successful ecosystem interoperability, and decades of expertise in developing and delivering the industry’s broadest interface IP portfolio allow designers to confidently integrate the necessary functionality into their SoCs with less risk.”

https://news.synopsys.com/2024-02-29-Synopsys-Launches-Industrys-First-Complete-1-6T-Ethernet-IP-Solution-to-Meet-High-Bandwidth-Needs-of-AI-and-Hyperscale-Data-Center-Chips#close

#MWC24: Marvell on Implementing AI Directly on the RAN

New possibilities are emerging now that 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.

Joel Brand, SR Director of Product Marketing from Marvell, explains:

- Marvell's Octeon product line, used by industry giants like Nokia and Samsung, has embedded an AI accelerator, or NPU, to leverage machine learning and AI in the Radio Access Network.

- The unique implementation of this NPU is exposed through MLDEV, part of the Linux Foundation's Data Plane Development Kit (DPDK) , into the broader development community via the Apache TVM project, which is an open-source machine learning (ML) compiler framework for accelerating the deployment of deep learning models on various hardware platforms. 

- This innovation allows the use of standard open-source tools to configure and innovate directly on the Radio Access Network, potentially driving incremental revenue in the Telco environment.


https://youtu.be/sXQJJuNP2WQ

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#MWC24: HPE on Telco Core Automation with AI

 AI holds the potential to vast improve the operations of a 5G network and speed up time to market with new services. Andrew Border, VP Product Management, Telco Solutions from Hewlett Packard Enterprise explains:

- How HPE's product, Telco Core Automation, leverages AI to address multicloud, multivendor, multi-domain public 5G Network build-outs. It integrates separate silos of orchestration and assurance, automating them and simplifying operations.

- The challenges that Telcos face when moving to the cloud in a multivendor environment, and how AI can help overcome these by eliminating the need for operators to check alarms across disparate systems.

- The power of AI in driving both orchestration and assurance, enabling service providers to bring up new services in just 10-20 minutes, as opposed to 4 days. This is achieved through a closed-loop solution that uses AI to automatically give the operator the choice to bring up a network virtualized function on an entirely new server and infrastructure.


https://youtu.be/DLssrLY_avk

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#MWC24: Dell on Standardizing the Telco Cloud Stack

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

Cloud transformation is rapidly reshaping mobile infrastructure. What steps can Communications Service Providers take to optimize their networks? 

Sandro Tavares, Director of Telecom Systems Marketing from Dell, provides insightful answers:

- He emphasizes the critical role of standardization in the network's transformation, highlighting the industry's evolution towards the application of cloud principles in the network.

- Tavares discusses the current industry mindset of operating in silos, and how this approach limits the full realization of the benefits that cloud technology can offer. He advocates for a shift towards sharing resources across functions for better cloud economics and flexibility.

- Lastly, he underscores the need for changes in processes, operations models, and industry mindset to truly transform the architecture of telecommunications providers. This transformation, he argues, will not only lower costs but also generate new revenue opportunities by operating at cloud speed.


https://youtu.be/WHc-InpO-K8

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#MWC24: Console Connect on AI's Massive Impact on Carrier Networks

Is AI already having a big impact on carrier networks and traffic volume? Paul Gampe, CTO from Console Connect, discusses his company's perspective:

- The increasing demand for data migration in carrier networks, illustrated by a customer's need to move 5 petabytes of data from Amazon to Google.

- The role of AI in driving the need for large-scale data migration and data repatriation.

- How Console Connect's product, Cloud Router, directly connects one hyperscaler to another, simplifying the complex problem of moving large amounts of data.


https://youtu.be/tXE0Oz3Xpk4

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#MWC24: NTT on AI & Data Analytics for Optimized Networks

Wondering how AI and data analytics can revolutionize your business operations? Bennett Indart, VP of Smart World Solutions from NTT, explains:

- How data analytics can optimize transit networks: Bennett discusses the creation of a digital twin of an entire transit system using data. This allows for AI-assisted planning and proactive changes, transforming static systems into dynamic ones.

- The role of AI in sports: Using the example of Indy car races, Bennett explains how AI interprets and utilizes data from the cars to manage the race, creating interesting narratives and outcomes.

- The future of business with AI: Bennett predicts that AI will completely revolutionize the way business is conducted, offering a glimpse into the future of AI in business operations.


https://youtu.be/qRHX3Aij7Ms

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Telstra tests Adtran's FSP 150 edge compute device

Telstra has successfully trialed Adtran's FSP 150 edge compute device, opening the door to enhanced network services for business customers across Australia. 

By integrating Red Hat's OpenShift software into Adtran's hosting platform, Telstra has made it easier to manage and operate small applications directly on the devices themselves. This setup allows several applications to run on a single device, cutting down on the need for more hardware. 

The edge hosting device utilized in the trial was the FSP 150-XG304u, which is powered by an Intel Xeon D processor. 

“Together with Telstra and Red Hat, we’re helping transform traditional edge hardware into versatile devices capable of running multiple applications. By enabling operators like Telstra to host VNFs directly at the network edge, we’re optimizing response times and reducing the need for extensive backhaul bandwidth, leading to significant energy and opex savings. Bringing cloud capabilities to the edge also eliminates the need for additional network elements and extra space at the customer premises, ensuring a more streamlined and cost-efficient infrastructure,” commented Anthony Camilleri, APAC CTO at Adtran

HPE's Q1 revenue dips 14% yoy as it eyes AI opportunities

Hewlett Packard Enterprise (HPE) reported revenue of $6.8 billion for its first quarter ended January 31, 2024, down 14% from the prior-year period in actual dollars and in constant currency. Non-GAAP earnings per share was $0.48, down 24% from the prior-year period and down 8% sequentially, at the high end of the guidance range of $0.42 to $0.50.

"HPE exceeded our profitability expectations and drove near-record year-over-year growth in our recurring revenue in the face of market headwinds, demonstrating the relevance of our strategy,” said Antonio Neri, president and CEO of Hewlett Packard Enterprise. “Despite a mixed quarter, I remain very confident that our focus on customer-centric innovation and our track record of operational discipline will allow us to capitalize on the significant market opportunities in AI as well as across edge and hybrid cloud and to deliver value to our shareholders.”

Highlights

  • Server revenue was $3.4 billion, down 23% from the prior-year period in actual dollars and in constant currency, with 11.4% operating profit margin, compared to 15.7% from the prior-year period. The Server business segment combines the previously separately reported Compute and HPC & AI business segments, with adjustments for certain product lines that are now reported in Hybrid Cloud. The merged Server segment more accurately reflects HPE’s position in the market as well as recent organizational and leadership changes that were implemented in Q1 FY24.
  • Intelligent Edge revenue was $1.2 billion, up 3% from the prior-year period in actual dollars and 2% in constant currency, with 29.4% operating profit margin, compared to 19.4% in the prior-year period.  
  • Hybrid Cloud revenue was $1.2 billion, down 10% from the prior-year period in actual dollars and in constant currency, with 3.8% operating profit margin, compared to 5.8% from the prior-year period.
  • Financial Services revenue was $873 million, flat from the prior-year period in actual dollars and down 2% in constant currency, with 8.5% operating profit margin, compared to 7.2% from the prior-year period. Net portfolio assets of $13.2 billion, up 0.3% from the prior-year period in actual dollars and up 0.7% in constant currency. The business delivered return on equity of 15.4%, down 2.4 points from the prior-year period.


AT&T adds Marissa Mayer to Board

AT&T elected Marissa Mayer to its board of directors, effective immediately. She will serve on the Audit committee as well as the Corporate Development and Finance committee. Her election brings the number of AT&T directors to 11.

Mayer currently holds the position of Chief Executive Officer at Sunshine Products, a technology start-up she helped establish in 2018. Before taking on this role, she served as Chief Executive Officer, President, and a board member of Yahoo!. Mayer's professional background includes 13 years at Google, where she made significant contributions as the company's first female engineer.

“Mayer’s extensive background in technology and her deep understanding of how consumers experience and engage with the internet will be a valuable addition to the board,” said Bill Kennard, chairman of AT&T’s board of directors. “We welcome her leadership and expertise as AT&T advances its investment-led strategy to become America’s best connectivity provider.”