PhotonDelta extends from Netherlands to Silicon Valley

PhotonDelta, a photonic chip accelerator based in Eindhoven, Netherlands, has announced the opening of a new office in Silicon Valley. This move is part of PhotonDelta’s strategy to foster collaboration between European and North American organizations, both of which are leaders in the emerging field of photonic chip technology. The expansion aims to boost the photonic chip industry by leveraging the strengths of both regions to overcome the limitations of traditional semiconductor technology, thereby accelerating innovation in AI and other advanced applications.

Photonic chips are crucial for developing smaller, faster, and more energy-efficient devices, which are essential for sustainable advancements in AI. These chips not only enhance data center performance and reduce energy consumption but also hold significant potential for quantum computing and sensing solutions in various sectors such as healthcare, agriculture, and automotive. To support these innovations, PhotonDelta has secured $1.2 billion in funding to run numerous R&D programs, lead international roadmapping activities, and invest in pioneering startups that utilize photonic integrated circuit (PIC) technology.

PhotonDelta’s new North American hub will bring the Netherlands’ world-class photonic chip capabilities to North American organizations. The PhotonDelta ecosystem includes over 70 organizations, forming a complete value chain from design services to multiple foundries for photonic chip fabrication, packaging, assembly, and testing. This ecosystem also comprises an increasing number of fabless companies that use PIC technology for innovative solutions. Jorn Smeets, Managing Director North America at PhotonDelta, emphasized the importance of this expansion in connecting know-how, expertise, networks, and funding between North America and the Netherlands.

Key Points about PhotonDelta:

• Founded: Based in the Netherlands

• Funding: $1.2 billion to support R&D programs and invest in startups

• Platforms: Indium Phosphide (InP), Silicon Nitride (SiN), and a pilot line for Silicon Photonics (SiPh)

• InP PICs: Ideal for communication and sensing applications

• SiN PICs: Suited for detectors, spectrometers, biosensors, and quantum computers

• SiPh PICs: Used in photonic circuits compatible with CMOS fabrication

• Packaging Partner: PHIX

https://www.photondelta.com

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Keysight automates PCIe and UCIe chiplet design

Keysight Technologies introduced PCIe Designer, a new addition to its Advanced Design System (ADS) suite, designed to support simulation workflows for high-speed, high-frequency digital designs. This intelligent design environment is tailored for modeling and simulating the latest Peripheral Component Interconnect Express (PCIe) Gen5 and Gen6 systems. Additionally, Keysight has enhanced its electronic design automation (EDA) platform by upgrading the Chiplet PHY Designer tool to estimate chiplet die-to-die link margin performance and Voltage Transfer Function (VTF) compliance.

PCIe is a critical interface standard in the electronics industry, known for its high-speed data transfer, scalability, and adaptability. Its applications range from consumer electronics to high-performance computing and critical infrastructure systems. Keysight’s new PCIe Designer and enhanced Chiplet PHY Designer aim to simplify complex design processes and ensure compliance, thereby improving productivity and reducing time-to-market.

Key Features and Enhancements:

• PCIe Designer:
• Automates setup for multi-link, multi-lane, and multi-level (PAM4) PCIe systems.
• Simplifies simulation setup, reducing time-to-first-insight.
• Facilitates quick AMI model generation for system analysis.
• Supports NRZ and PAM4 modulations with wizard-driven AMI model generation for transmitters (Tx) and receivers (Rx).
• Streamlined, simulation-driven virtual compliance testing to ensure design quality and reduce design costs.
• Chiplet PHY Designer Enhancements:
• First simulation solution for Universal Chiplet Interconnect Express (UCIe) standards.
• Predicts die-to-die link margin, VTF for channel compliance, and forwarded clock capability.
• New design exploration and report generation features for accelerated signal integrity analysis and compliance verification.

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Global IT Outage: Crowdstrike Root Cause Analysis still Pending

A faulty update from Crowdstrike on Friday morning impacted IT systems worldwide dependent on Microsoft Windows machines. The outage, which has been described at the largest global IT outage to worldwide, led to the severe disruption of businesses, government functions,  and health services.

By the weekend, most systems appeared to have been restored, however a technical root cause analysis as to how the faulty release made it past QA points, had yet to be published by the company.

Statement from George Kurtz, CEO of CrowdStrike

“CrowdStrike is actively assisting customers affected by a defect identified in a recent content update for Windows hosts. This issue does not impact Mac or Linux hosts and is not related to a security incident or cyberattack. We have identified and isolated the problem, and a fix has been deployed. We advise customers to check the support portal for the latest updates and to continue monitoring our website for comprehensive and ongoing information. We also recommend that organizations communicate with CrowdStrike representatives through official channels to ensure they receive accurate information. Our team is fully mobilized to guarantee the security and stability of our customers’ systems.”

Tech Update page from CrowdStrike:

https://www.crowdstrike.com/blog/falcon-update-for-windows-hosts-technical-details/

About CrowdStrike

CrowdStrike was founded in 2011 by George Kurtz, Dimitri Aliev, and Glenn Gerber, with headquarters in Austin, Texas and major office in Sunnyvale, California.

Major Revenue-Producing Services

CrowdStrike's major revenue-producing services include:

1. Falcon endpoint protection: A cloud-native endpoint security solution that provides real-time threat detection and response.

2. Falcon Intelligence: A threat intelligence platform that provides customers with insights into emerging threats and attack trends.

3. CrowdStrike Services: A team of security experts who provide incident response, threat hunting, and security consulting services to customers.

4. Cloud Security: A cloud-based security solution that provides customers with secure access to cloud-based applications and data.

CEO and Background

George Kurtz is the CEO of CrowdStrike. He has over 30 years of experience in the technology industry, with a focus on cybersecurity. Prior to founding CrowdStrike, Kurtz was the CEO of Foundstone, a leading provider of security services, which was acquired by McAfee in 2006.

Financial Performance

CrowdStrike has experienced rapid growth in recent years, driven by the increasing demand for advanced cybersecurity solutions. Here are some highlights from their financial performance:

• In 2023, Crowdstrike's revenue was $3.1B.
• In 2022, Crowdstrike's revenue was $2.2B.

Major Clients and Partners:

• CrowdStrike has a diverse customer base across various industries, including:
• Government agencies: The US Department of Defense, the National Security Agency (NSA), and the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI).
• Fortune 500 companies such as Microsoft, Uber, and Netflix.
• Healthcare providers: Organizations such as the Stanford Health Care System and the University of California, San Francisco (UCSF) Medical Center.

Some of CrowdStrike's notable partnerships include:

• Microsoft: A strategic partnership to integrate CrowdStrike's Falcon endpoint protection with Microsoft's Azure Active Directory.
• IBM: A partnership to integrate CrowdStrike's Falcon endpoint protection with IBM's Watson for Cybersecurity platform.
• NVIDIA: A partnership to combine CrowdStrike's threat intelligence with NVIDIA's graphics processing unit (GPU) technology for AI-powered threat detection.

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Aire Networks picks Nokia Mobile Core in Spain

Aire Networks has partnered with Nokia to modernize its network in Spain, aiming to improve customer experience through expanded coverage, faster data speeds, and enhanced reliability. The deal includes Nokia’s voice core, packet core, subscriber data management, policy control, and signaling solutions, which will increase network capacity and support Aire’s network evolution to unlock new services and business models.

Key Points:

• Network Enhancement: Expanded coverage, faster data speeds, and improved reliability.
• Comprehensive Solutions: Includes Nokia’s voice core, packet core, subscriber data management, policy control, and signaling.
• Increased Capacity: Solutions designed to boost network capacity.
• New Services: Enables faster time to value and new revenue streams.
• Network Management: Aire Networks will use Nokia’s MantaRay NM for optimized network monitoring and management.
• Existing Infrastructure: Integration with current Nokia products like Switching Fabric.

https://www.nokia.com/about-us/news/releases/2024/07/17/spains-aire-networks-selects-nokia-mobile-core-solutions-to-enhance-customer-experience/

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Brightspeed picks Ribbon for Network Upgrade

Brightspeed, one of the nation’s largest fiber builders, selected Ribbon Communications' network infrastructure while ensuring uninterrupted services for existing customers. The deployment includes Ribbon’s C20 Call Controller, Application Server, SBC, PSX centralized policy and routing server, and Ribbon Application Management Platform (RAMP).

•  Infrastructure Upgrade: Replacement of power-hungry legacy equipment with efficient, next-generation technology.
•   Operational Efficiency: The new infrastructure will use less power, HVAC, and real estate while offering enhanced capabilities.
•   Long-term Reliability: Ensures Brightspeed’s network remains reliable without impacting operational or billing systems.
•   Professional Services: Ribbon’s top-tier services make the deployment seamless for customers and regulatory bodies.

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