GlobalFoundries acquires Tagore Technology’s GaN IP

GlobalFoundries announced the acquisition of Tagore Technology’s proprietary and production-proven Power Gallium Nitride (GaN) IP portfolio. This high-power density solution is designed to enhance efficiency and performance in various power applications, including automotive, IoT, and AI datacenters. As the digital landscape evolves with technologies like Generative AI, GaN is emerging as a crucial solution for sustainable and efficient power management, especially in datacenters.

Tagore Technology, founded in January 2011, specializes in GaN-on-Silicon (GaN-on-Si) semiconductor technology for RF and power management applications. As a fabless semiconductor company, it operates design centers in Arlington Heights, Illinois, USA, and Kolkata, India. Tagore Technology’s R&D team focuses on developing innovative solutions leveraging wide bandgap technologies to address RF and power design challenges, accelerating time-to-market for a wide range of applications. This acquisition includes a team of experienced engineers from Tagore Technology, who will join GlobalFoundries, enhancing its technical expertise and manufacturing capabilities.

Key Points:

• GlobalFoundries acquires Tagore Technology’s Power GaN IP portfolio. Financial terms were not disclosed.
• GaN technology enhances efficiency and performance in automotive, IoT, and AI datacenter applications.
• The acquisition supports large-scale manufacturing, improving datacenter power efficiency, reducing costs, and managing heat.
• Tagore Technology engineers will join GlobalFoundries, bringing expertise in GaN technology.
• GlobalFoundries received $1.5 billion under the U.S. CHIPS and Science Act, with part of the investment aimed at high-volume GaN manufacturing.

https://gf.com/gf-press-release/globalfoundries-acquires-tagore-technologys-gan-technology-to-accelerate-disruptive-powermanagement-solutions/

• Gallium Nitride (GaN) is a wide bandgap semiconductor material known for its high efficiency and performance in power electronics. GaN technology is used in various semiconductor applications due to its ability to operate at higher voltages, temperatures, and frequencies compared to traditional silicon-based semiconductors. This makes GaN particularly advantageous in power conversion systems, RF amplifiers, and high-frequency communication devices. In power electronics, GaN transistors and diodes offer lower switching losses, faster switching speeds, and higher power density, leading to more efficient and compact power supplies and inverters. In RF applications, GaN’s high electron mobility and breakdown voltage enable the development of powerful and efficient RF amplifiers for wireless communication and radar systems. Furthermore, GaN is crucial in developing next-generation power devices for electric vehicles, renewable energy systems, and various industrial applications, where its superior performance characteristics contribute to overall system efficiency and reliability

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AST SpaceMobile touts its 850 MHz low-band spectrum

Following the recent signing of commercial agreements with Verizon and AT&T, Abel Avellan, Chairman and Chief Executive Officer of AST SpaceMobile, published a letter to partners, shareholders, and future space-based cellular broadband network users highlighting recent milestones.

The integration of 850 MHz spectrum from both AT&T and Verizon will enable AST SpaceMobile to provide reliable cellular broadband across the United States. This dual partnership ensures that AT&T and Verizon subscribers can benefit from seamless nationwide satellite coverage without needing specialized equipment. The strategic use of low-band frequencies ensures exceptional propagation, superior coverage, and compatibility with existing smartphones, promising a more consistent and reliable cellular experience for users.

These developments are part of AST SpaceMobile’s broader mission to bridge the digital divide. With plans to deploy a constellation of satellites in low Earth orbit, the company aims to provide global cellular broadband coverage. The collaboration with industry leaders like AT&T and Verizon, along with innovative technologies such as the AST5000 ASIC, positions AST SpaceMobile to transform connectivity, particularly in remote and underserved areas. The company’s partnerships with over 45 mobile network operators worldwide, including Vodafone, Rakuten, and Bell Canada, further solidify its path toward achieving this goal.

Key Points:

• Strategic Partnerships: Agreements with Verizon and AT&T to use 850 MHz low-band spectrum for nationwide satellite coverage.
• Technological Advancements: Deployment of the largest commercial communications satellite in low Earth orbit and innovative AST5000 ASIC architecture.
• Global Ambition: Aiming to bridge the digital divide with a constellation of satellites providing worldwide cellular broadband coverage.
• Seamless Integration: Ensuring compatibility with existing smartphones for a consistent user experience without the need for specialized equipment.
• Broad Collaboration: Partnerships with over 45 mobile network operators globally, targeting a market of more than 2.8 billion subscribers.

https://ast-science.com/

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Japan's APRESIA to integrate Infinera's ICE-X coherent pluggables

APRESIA Systems,a Japanese provider of network infrastructure solutions, will integrate Infinera’s software-programmable ICE-X coherent pluggables into its own portfolio of locally manufactured Layer 2/3 switching and optical transmission products. 

APRESIA, a resale partner of Infinera in Japan and a member of the Open XR Optics Forum, will utilize the XR optics-enabled capabilities of Infinera’s ICE-X pluggables to expand its access network applications. This integration will initially focus on high-speed point-to-point and 100G bidirectional transport applications. It will enable APRESIA’s telecommunications service providers and cable operator customers to extend the reach of high-speed optical services cost-effectively using Infinera ICE-X’s unique digital subcarrier technology. APRESIA also plans to support point-to-multipoint functionality with ICE-X, significantly improving network efficiency and potentially reducing CapEx and OpEx by up to 70 percent.

“The growing demand for capacity at the edge of the network is driving the need for innovative access solutions optimized for speed, flexibility, and efficiency,” said Kenta Watabiki, Director, Sales Div., APRESIA Systems Ltd. “With the integration of Infinera’s ICE-X pluggables into our portfolio of networking devices, we can offer our service provider, data center, cloud, and cable operator customers new approaches to access and edge connectivity as their networks scale.”

“APRESIA’s strong track record of providing high-performance access network solutions makes it an ideal partner as Japan’s service providers, data center operators, and cable operators face pressing new traffic demands at the edge of the network,” said Ryan Perera, Senior Vice President, Infinera APAC Sales. “The addition of our suite of ICE-X pluggables in APRESIA’s product portfolio will unlock new value for these customers.”

https://www.infinera.com/press-release/japans-apresia-systems-expands-network-with-infinera-ice-x/

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Telefónica teams with Nokia for Private 5G in Spain

 Nokia announced a strategic agreement with Telefónica, encompassing its divisions Telefónica Mobile Spain and Telefónica IoT & Big Data Tech Spain, to foster the growth of the 5G private network market in Spain. This three-year partnership will see the deployment of 100 Nokia Digital Automation Cloud (DAC), Modular Private Wireless (MPW), MX Industrial Edge (MXIE) solutions, and industrial devices. These deployments aim to address the needs of critical industries such as ports, manufacturing, and logistics, focusing on enhancing productivity, worker safety, and sustainability in the Spanish enterprise market.

Nokia’s platform for industrial digitalization, which includes DAC, MXIE, industrial devices, and digitalization applications, is designed to streamline digital transformation. By providing a secure, reliable wireless infrastructure and on-premises computing capabilities, Nokia’s solutions facilitate real-time operational technology (OT) data access, accelerating the digitalization process. This initiative not only enhances Telefonica’s network capabilities but also sets a clear trajectory for migrating various use cases to 5G technology.

Key Points:

• Nokia Digital Automation Cloud (DAC): Provides a high-performance, reliable wireless infrastructure for industrial digitalization.
• Modular Private Wireless (MPW): Offers customizable private wireless network solutions tailored to specific industrial needs.
• MX Industrial Edge (MXIE): Delivers on-premises computing capabilities to enable real-time OT data access and processing.
• Deployment Scope: 100 DAC, MPW, and MXIE solutions, along with industrial devices, to be implemented over three years.
• Industry Impact: Aimed at key sectors such as ports, manufacturing, and logistics to improve productivity, safety, and sustainability.
• Private 5G momentum: Nokia has deployed mission-critical networks to over 2,600 enterprise customers and over 730 private wireless customers worldwide.

https://www.nokia.com/about-us/news/releases/2024/07/01/nokia-and-telefonica-collaborate-to-develop-the-private-network-market/

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ZTE launches Nebula Telecom Large Model for Autonomous Networks

ZTE launch its Nebula Telecom Large Model product series with the goal of empowering global operators to achieve highly autonomous networks.

The Nebula Telecom Large Model, leveraging the “ZTE Digital Nebula” assemblable architecture, is designed to address complex issues and accelerate the development of autonomous networks. It facilitates collaboration from cross-domain to single-domain operations and provides full-scenario empowerment centered around agents. This model aims to transform operational systems by shifting from “human+machine” to “machine+human” interactions, promoting a new era of network autonomy.

In addition to the core model, ZTE has introduced the agent factory, a development and maintenance platform that industrializes the creation and management of agents. This platform enables operators to refine their application development modes and product forms. In complex scenarios, agents can orchestrate human-machine interactions using LUI mode and integrate traditional AI and generative AI models for seamless operational evolution. Key applications such as Network Insight Expert, Monitoring Expert, and iAssurance Expert have been launched, demonstrating the practical benefits of the Nebula Telecom Large Model in enhancing network planning, fault diagnosis, and emergency response efficiency.

https://www.zte.com.cn/global/about/news/zte-launches-the-nebula-telecom-large-model-opening-a-new-paradigm-for-highly-autonomous-networks.html

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Lightmatter appoints Simona Jankowski as CFO

Lightmatter, a start-up developing photonic interconnect and compute products, has appointed Simona Jankowski as Chief Financial Officer (CFO). Jankowski previously was vice president of investor relations and strategic finance at NVIDIA during a period of unprecedented growth for the company. Before that, she was a managing director at Goldman Sachs, where she led equity research for the hardware and communications technology sectors and managed the Global Investment Research office in San Francisco.

"Generative AI is driving unprecedented demand for a new class of extreme-scale data centers. Lightmatter has made foundational breakthroughs in photonics that enable data centers to increase in scale and performance by orders of magnitude, and with greater energy efficiency. With a generational performance lead, Lightmatter is poised to drive the data center photonics revolution,” said Jankowski. “I am thrilled to join this brilliant team of inventors, technologists, and accomplished industry executives to help scale the company for significant growth in the years ahead."

The appointment follows Lightmatter’s $310M fundraise in 2023, which valued the company at $1.2B, and comes at a time of significant growth for the company. 

• Company Focus: Lightmatter specializes in photonic computing, using light for data processing to achieve higher efficiency and lower heat production.
• Products: The company offers photonic chips like Envise for AI workloads and Passage for interconnecting processors with optical networks.
• Funding and Valuation: Lightmatter has raised approximately $420 million, achieving unicorn status with a valuation of $1.2 billion.
• Expansion Plans: Lightmatter has offices in Boston and Mountain View, California. The company plans to expand its team and open a new office in Toronto in 2024.
• Investors: Key investors include GV (formerly Google Ventures) and Viking Global Investors.

https://lightmatter.co/

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