Wednesday, June 5, 2024

Juniper enhances AI-native networking for SD-WAN and SASE

Juniper Networks unveiled significant enhancements to its AI-Native Networking Platform, aiming to deliver seamless and secure SD-WAN and SASE experiences. The update introduces new AI capabilities for its WAN Assurance, Premium Analytics, and Marvis Virtual Network Assistant (VNA) products. Additionally, Juniper has launched a groundbreaking Routing Assurance product, offering an AI-native automation and insight solution for traditional edge routing topologies.

The enhanced Juniper solution utilizes AI for Networking to provide substantial value to enterprise WAN environments:

Assured SD-WAN Experiences with Proactive AIOps:

  • Marvis Minis, Juniper’s digital experience twin solution, now extends to SD-WAN, offering continuous WAN speed tests and proactive actions without user presence.
  • New WAN Congestion SLE alerts operators about network interface over-utilization to prevent poor user experiences.
  • Expanded streaming dynamic packet capture (dPCAP) for WAN to identify and fix hard-to-find issues, avoiding costly site visits.
  • Enhanced application insights for user-friendly traffic visualization, aiding in accurate planning and problem remediation.

Integrated SSE/SD-WAN (SASE) Insight via Expanded Premium Analytics Dashboard:

  • New security insights Mist dashboard within Premium Analytics offers comprehensive security event visibility and persona-based policy activation.
  • Actionable intelligence allows security teams to quickly identify incidents and respond to threats in real-time.
  • Shared portal for networking and security teams to streamline operational workflows, improving efficiency, agility, and cost savings.

First AI-Native WAN Routing Solution:

  • Routing Assurance product modernizes WAN edge with customizable service levels for swift issue resolution across connected WAN Edge and peering locations.
  • Marvis VNA, expanded to enterprise WAN edge routing, allows IT teams to use simple language queries for routing issue identification and resolution, powered by Generative AI.
  • Juniper’s AI-Native and cloud-native solution spans all key networking domains, from campus and branch to data center and all WAN links in between.

“Since the launch of our AI-Native Networking Platform in January, Juniper has delivered on the promise to build out our industry-leading AIOps across all enterprise network domains. Now embracing routing, these latest innovations enable simplified, fast assurance, monitoring, troubleshooting and issue resolution across multiple branch office, WAN Edge and peering locations. We are also uniquely combining the security and networking domains operationally, enabling insight-driven, holistic security management and audit within the broader networking context, replacing silos with collaboration. All these new innovations further enable exceptional, secure user experiences for the enterprise,” stated Sunalini Sankhavaram, Vice President, Product Development, Juniper Networks.



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Arista's Etherlink switches target large AI clusters

Arista Networks introduced a product family for AI workloads, including training and inferencing.

The Arista Etherlink AI portfolio supports AI cluster sizes ranging from thousands to 100,000s of XPUs with highly efficient one and 2-tier network topologies that deliver superior application performance compared to more complex multi-tier networks while offering advanced monitoring capabilities including flow-level visibility. 

  • The 7060X6 AI Leaf switch family employs Broadcom Tomahawk 5 silicon, with a capacity of 51.2 Tbps and support for 64 800G or 128 400G Ethernet ports.
  • The 7800R4 AI Spine is the 4th generation of Arista’s flagship 7800 modular systems. It implements the latest Broadcom Jericho3-AI processors with an AI-optimized packet pipeline and offers non-blocking throughput with the proven virtual output queuing architecture. The 7800R4-AI supports up to 460 Tbps in a single chassis, which corresponds to 576 800G or 1152 400G Ethernet ports.
  • The 7700R4 AI Distributed Etherlink Switch (DES) supports the largest AI clusters, offering customers massively parallel distributed scheduling and congestion-free traffic spraying based on the Jericho3-AI architecture. The 7700 represents the first in a new series of ultra-scalable, intelligent distributed systems that can deliver the highest consistent throughput for very large AI clusters.

A single-tier network topology with Etherlink platforms can support over 10,000 XPUs. With a 2-tier network, Etherlink can support more than 100,000 XPUs. Minimizing the number of network tiers is essential for optimizing AI application performance, reducing the number of optical transceivers, lowering cost and improving reliability.

All Etherlink switches support the emerging Ultra Ethernet Consortium (UEC) standards, which are expected to provide additional performance benefits when UEC NICs become available in the near future. The 7060X6 is available now. The 7800R4-AI and 7700R4 DES are in customer testing and will be available 2H 2024.


The company also highlights features of its Arista EOS and CloudVision, including AI-for-networking, security, segmentation, visibility, and telemetry. For example, Arista EOS’s Smart AI suite of innovative enhancements now integrates with SmartNIC providers to deliver advanced RDMA-aware load balancing and QoS. Arista AI Analyzer powered by Arista AVA™ automates configuration and improves visibility and intelligent performance analysis of AI workloads.

“Broadcom is a firm believer in the versatility, performance, and robustness of Ethernet, which makes it the technology of choice for AI workloads,” said Ram Velaga, senior vice president and general manager, Core Switching Group, Broadcom. “By leveraging industry-leading Ethernet chips such as Tomahawk 5 and Jericho3-AI, Arista provides the ideal accelerator-agnostic solution for AI clusters of any shape or size, outperforming proprietary technologies and providing flexible options for fixed, modular, and distributed switching platforms.”




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Edgecore supplies 64x800G switch for TensorWave’s AMD-Powered AI Data Centers

Edgecore Networks will provide advanced networking solutions for TensorWave’s AMD-powered AI data centers.

The cornerstone of this partnership is Edgecore Networks' AIS800 800G switch with 64 800G OSFP or QSFP-DD800G ports, embedded with a powerful Tomahawk5 high-performance, low-latency design.

"We are excited to partner with TensorWave and provide Edgecore’s advanced open networking solutions tailored to the specific needs of AI data centers," said Andy Wu, Chairman and President of Edgecore Networks. "Leveraging the leading AMD-powered AI/ML data center technology from TensorWave and innovative 51.2T open networking solutions provided by Edgecore, the collaboration will offer unparalleled performance, scalability, and efficiency, empowering data center operators to meet the demands of the AI revolution."

"We are excited to team up with Edgecore Networks to boost the networking capabilities of our AMD-powered AI data centers," said Darrick Horton, CEO of TensorWave. "With the combined expertise of Edgecore Networks and TensorWave, our customers can look forward to improved operational efficiency, reduced latency, and smooth integration with their existing AI workflows.”

www.edgecore.com

Tech Update: Previewing MEF's Global NaaS Event in Oct 2020

The "as-a-Service" business model has transformed many segments of IT. Will networking be next?  Kevin Vachon, COO from MEF, previews this fall's GNE event in Dallas:

- Discover the latest developments in the Networking-as-a-Service (NaaS) ecosystem, including the transformative role of AI in managing and optimizing network traffic in real-time.

- Learn about the adoption of software-defined infrastructure, which allows carriers to deploy, manage, and scale network services at the speed of software, making hardware limitations a thing of the past.

- Understand the power of open APIs in unlocking new potentials in interoperability, enabling seamless communication between carriers worldwide and redefining how the world connects.

https://youtu.be/Unpsp2gazms

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Integra Optics ships XGS-PON OLT transceiver

Integra Optics has begun shipping its SFP+, 10/2.5 G BiDi, 20km, XGSPON OLT transceiver. 

The new optical transceiver module is designed for XG/XGS-PON 10/2.5 G applications over a single strand of fiber with support for links up to 20 kilometers.

The XGSPON OLT optical module is able to bypass external WDM equipment in the network architecture, thereby reducing network construction and maintenance costs. Also, it offers network providers a seamless upgrade path from GPON (lower data rates) to XGS-PON (up to 10 G) without necessitating changes to the underlying infrastructure − a cost-effective solution for evolving towards higher bandwidth demands.

In addition to being fully compliant with SFP+ MSA and XG/XGS-PON standards, it boasts an industrial operating temperature range from -40°C to +85°C for reliability and performance under extreme conditions. These features make the transceiver an ideal choice for broadband access and fiber-to-the-home (FTTH) networks, among other high-speed optical link applications.

The transceiver's digital diagnostic interface aligns with the QSFP28 Multi-Source Agreement (MSA), ensuring broad compatibility and easy integration into existing networks. Additionally, by utilizing a single strand of fiber instead of two, the SFP+ XGSPON OLT transceiver significantly reduces network complexity and costs, while being available coded for compatibility across several platforms.

"This transceiver reinforces our commitment to innovation and our role in driving the future of optical networking," said Senior Engineering Manager Marlena Miller. "It is a testament to our dedication to providing high-quality, reliable solutions that meet the evolving needs of our customers and the industry at large."

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IEX Cable Lands in Egypt

Telecom Egypt and SubCom, the global subsea data system supplier, along with the India-Europe-Xpress (IEX) partners, announced the successful completion of IEX Subsea system’s landings in Egypt. 

The IEX subsea system, which lands in Egypt at two cable landing stations -- Zafarana2 on the Red Sea and Sidi Kerir on the Mediterranean -- connects two seas and two continents over two diversified trans-Egypt terrestrial crossing routes. 

Upon completion, IEX will directly connect India (Mumbai) to Europe (Milan, Italy).  SubCom was selected to engineer, manufacture, and deploy the 10,000km IEX system, which includes their space-division multiplexing (SDM) and Wavelength Selective Switch (WSS) ROADM technology.

Telecom Egypt played a significant role in facilitating the landing in two major segments; with each segment designed for high-capacity transmission with 13 fiber pairs. Telecom Egypt is providing IEX with landing facilities and support in Egypt, as well as new diverse terrestrial crossings between these facilities. 

Mohamed Nasr, Managing Director and Chief Executive Officer of Telecom Egypt, commented:

“Leveraging its cutting-edge infrastructure, Telecom Egypt played a pivotal role in connecting the IEX subsea cable system terrestrially between the Red Sea and the Mediterranean. By providing landing and crossing services at Zafarana2 and Sidi Kerir landing stations, and linking them through two novel crossing route diverse from those already used by the current 14 subsea systems crossing Egypt, we are presenting our international partners with unique opportunities via our state-of-the-art, highly reliable services and continuously developed international infrastructure. IEX subsea system is the fifth subsea to land in Egypt over the past decade and the tenth in terms of landings count. In addition, it is the first landing to take place at Sidi Kerir landing station and the fourth at Zafarana2. Through these important projects, Telecom Egypt aims to diversify its services and consolidate its placement as a main international telecommunications hub in the region. Our mission is to develop our infrastructure in line with the latest technologies and international standards, in addition to providing distinctive, competitive, commercial offerings to our partners and customers both locally and internationally.”

www.subcom.com

Tuesday, June 4, 2024

Cisco Nexus HyperFabric AI cluster brings NVIDIA acceleration

Cisco introduced a new Nexus HyperFabric AI cluster solution featuring NVIDIA accelerated computing and AI software. The on-premise, enterprise-ready infrastructure is designed for scaling generative AI workloads.

The Cisco Nexus HyperFabric AI cluster solution offers automated, cloud-managed operations across a unified compute and networking fabric combining Cisco's Ethernet switching based on its Cisco Silicon One chip, integrated with NVIDIA's accelerated computing and NVIDIA AI Enterprise software, and VAST’s data storage platform. This will include:

  • Cisco cloud management capabilities
  • Cisco Nexus 6000 series switches for spine and leaf that deliver 400G and 800G Ethernet fabric performance
  • Cisco Optics family of QSFP-DD modules
  • NVIDIA AI Enterprise software to streamline the development and deployment of production-grade generative AI workloads
  • NVIDIA NIM inference microservices that accelerate the deployment of foundation models while ensuring data security, and are available with NVIDIA AI Enterprise
  • NVIDIA Tensor Core GPUs starting with the NVIDIA H200 NVL, designed from the ground up to supercharge generative AI workloads
  • NVIDIA BlueField-3 data processing unit DPU processor and BlueField-3 SuperNIC for accelerating AI compute networking, data access and security workloads
  • Enterprise reference design for AI built on NVIDIA MGX, a modular and flexible server architecture
  • The VAST Data Platform, which offers unified storage, database and a data-driven function engine built for AI


“While the promise of AI is clear, the path forward for many just starting out is not. Customers often face economic and operational challenges to get an AI stack up and running.” said Jonathan Davidson, Executive Vice President and General Manager, Cisco Networking. “Cisco is committed to making the deployment and operation of AI infrastructure simpler. Together with NVIDIA, we are delivering a simple-to-deploy, cloud-operated AI-stack solution for on premise deployments that builds on our Cisco Networking Cloud platform vision for automation and simplicity.”
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Cisco launches $1 billion AI investment fund

Cisco announced a $1 billion AI investment fund. So far, $200 million has been committed, including with:

  • Cohere: Headquartered in Toronto and San Francisco, Cohere provides security-focused frontier large language models (LLMs) and industry-leading Retrieval-Augmented Generation (RAG) capabilities tailored to meet the needs of enterprises.
  • Mistral AI: Mistral AI is a global company headquartered in Paris specializing in generative artificial intelligence. The company develops new models of generative artificial intelligence for businesses, combining scientific excellence, an open approach and a responsible vision of technology.
  • Scale AI: Based in the U.S., Scale AI provides a data-centric, end-to-end platform providing training and validation for AI applications. Cisco recently participated in Scale AI’s Series F funding as the round’s largest strategic investor.

"For more than 30 years, Cisco Investments has invested and partnered with hundreds of companies to drive innovation both within Cisco's core markets and in new strategic areas. Our recent investments in generative AI companies align perfectly with this long-standing strategy," said Mark Patterson, Chief Strategy Officer, Cisco. "At Cisco, we believe we are well positioned to be the best strategic partner for our customers in the AI era as they look to build, secure, and power AI. In addition to building essential technology to connect, secure and advance AI, Cisco is committed to investing in the broader AI ecosystem to more effectively meet our customers' needs."

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Intel sells 49% stake in Irish fab for $11 billion

Intel will sell a 49% equity interest in a joint venture entity related to Intel’s Fab 34 to Apollo for $11 billion.

Located in Leixlip, Ireland, Fab 34 is Intel’s leading-edge high-volume manufacturing (HVM) facility designed for wafers using the Intel 4 and Intel 3 process technologies. To date, Intel has invested $18.4 billion in Fab 34.

Apollo is a high-growth, global alternative asset manager with approximately $671 billion under management.

Intel said the deal enables it to focus capital on other areas owhile continuing the build-out of Fab 34.

Under the agreement, the joint venture will have rights to manufacture wafers at Fab 34 to support long-term demand for Intel’s products and provide capacity for Intel Foundry customers. Intel will have a 51% controlling interest in the joint venture. Intel will retain full ownership and operational control of Fab 34 and its assets. Construction of Fab 34 is largely complete, and high-volume manufacturing of Intel® Core™ Ultra processors on Intel 4 technology began there in September 2023. The ramp of Granite Rapids, Intel’s next-generation data center product on Intel 3 technology, is also well underway.

“Intel’s agreement with Apollo gives us additional flexibility to execute our strategy as we invest to create the world’s most resilient and sustainable semiconductor supply chain. Our investments in leading-edge capacity in the U.S. and Europe will be critical to meet the growing demand for silicon, with the global semiconductor market poised to double over the next five years,” said David Zinsner, Intel CFO. “This transaction allows us to share our investment with an established financial partner on attractive terms while maintaining our strong investment-grade credit rating.”


Intel marks first EUV light at Fab 34 in Ireland

Intel celebrated first light from a new extreme ultraviolet (EUV) lithography system at its Fab 34 site in Leixlip, Ireland.The EUV scanner, which was supplied by ASML, generated its 13.5-nanometer wavelength light for the first time. The activation represents the first use of a high volume EUV scanner in Europe. Intel said the milestone ushers the way its Intel 4 technology, with manufacturing of products such as Meteor Lake expected in 20...


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Dell’Oro: Broadband Equipment Spending Reaches Two-Year Low

 Total global revenue for the Broadband Access equipment market decreased to $4.1 B in 1Q 2024, down 12 percent year-over-year (Y/Y), according to a new report from Dell’Oro Group. North American broadband providers reduced their spending by 25 percent Y/Y, as continued subscriber churn, excess inventory, and stubbornly high labor costs continue to put a damper on new equipment purchases.

“The North American broadband market is in the midst of a fundamental shift in the competitive landscape, which is having a significant impact on broadband equipment purchases,” said Jeff Heynen, Vice President with Dell’Oro Group. “In particular, cable operators are trying to navigate mounting, but predictable, broadband subscriber losses with the need to invest in their networks to keep pace with further encroachment by fiber and fixed wireless providers,” explained Heynen.

Additional highlights from the 1Q 2024 Broadband Access and Home Networking quarterly report:

  • Total PON equipment spending was down 9 percent from 1Q 2023, driven by a 22 percent decline in spending on PON OLTs.
  • Spending on Fixed Wireless CPE increased 29 percent in 1Q 2024, driven once again by strong growth in 5G Sub-6 Ghz unit shipments in North America.
  • Spending on DOCSIS infrastructure plummeted 24 percent Y/Y, with spending on Remote OLTs and vCMTS licenses seeing the biggest declines.
  • Wi-Fi 6E and Wi-Fi 7 Router and CPE unit shipments continue to show significant Y/Y increases.

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Telehouse America to upgrade NYIIX peering exchange with Nokia

Telehouse America has selected Nokia to update its NYIIX Peering Exchange production network in eight POPs located in the Northeastern United States. 

Once deployed, Nokia’s IP and optical interconnection solution will allow NYIIX to launch up to 400 Gigabit Ethernet (GE) interconnection services on the newly designed NYIIX Astron peering platform. 

The NYIIX Peering Exchange is one of the largest neutral IXPs in the world. Its mission is to provide the internet community with a neutral and scalable peering infrastructure, and to assure reliability and stable internet connectivity. Telehouse began operating in 1989 and is a global provider of carrier-neutral data centers, serving 3,000+ customers, including carriers, content providers, enterprises and financial services companies. Its US operation, Telehouse America, is a pioneer in the US data center industry, operating leading data center and colocation facilities in New York for over 35 years, providing direct access to major carriers with 99.999% SLA uptime.

Nokia has deployed a complete solution for Telehouse America that includes the Service Router Operating Systems (SR OS), 7750 Service Routers, 7250 Interconnect Routers and QSFP-DD 400G coherent optics. Nokia will also provide related professional services, such as network operator training and certification.

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Telia tests Nokia’s Massive MIMO outdoors in 6 GHz

 Telia completed a field pilot in the upper 6 GHz spectrum band range using a Massive MIMO based on Nokia’s AirScale Habrok platform.

The set up  could add crucial capacity and coverage to existing macro cell sites in dense urban environments for next-generation 5G-Advanced and 6G networks. 

Nokia says that given the rate at which data traffic is increasing, most operators will need to increase their TDD mid-band spectrum holdings in the second half of the decade. The allocation of the upper 6 GHz spectrum for mobile services, which means a possible 200 MHz of mid-band TDD spectrum per operator, was agreed upon at the World Radio Conference 2023. It is especially important in markets where the 7.2-8.4 GHz range will not be available.

During the trial, Nokia used a 128TRX Massive MIMO radio based on its AirScale Habrok platform and a test terminal from MediaTek with integrated antennas. The pilot examined whether the uplink coverage on the new, higher frequency is compatible with the existing inter-site distances. The companies tested the upper part of the band (n104) and used a 3.5 GHz massive MIMO cell of the same RF-bandwidth across various distances to replicate different real-world scenarios. Field tests confirmed the macro-grid-readiness of the upper 6 GHz spectrum used with Massive MIMO. It showed that massive capacity can be added in urban areas, where there is higher demand for TDD broadband, and high throughput can be achieved in suburban or rural areas. This offers operators an evolution path to 5G-Advanced and 6.

Luciana Camargos, Head of Spectrum at the GSMA, said: “The critical role which mobile networks play for society, enterprises and governments comes with increased demand for data traffic. Mobile operators need additional spectrum to serve growing connectivity needs, so commercialisation of the upper 6 GHz band will be an important tool in enabling the digital ambitions of each country.”


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HPE reports stronger AI server orders

Citing robust demand for AI servers, HPE reported revenue of $7.2 billion for its 2nd quarter ended April 30, 2024, up 3% from the prior-year period in actual dollars and 4% in constant currency.

Non-GAAP earnings per share amounted to $0.42, down 19% from the prior-year period and down 13% sequentially, above the company's guidance range of $0.36 to $0.41.

"HPE delivered very solid results in Q2, exceeding revenue and non-GAAP EPS guidance. AI systems revenue more than doubled from the prior quarter, driven by our strong order book and better conversion from our supply chain,” said Antonio Neri, president and CEO of Hewlett Packard Enterprise. “Our deep expertise in designing, manufacturing, and running AI systems at scale fueled growth of cumulative AI systems orders to $4.6 billion, with enterprise AI orders representing more than 15%. HPE’s AI advantage, increased HPE GreenLake adoption, and leading infrastructure portfolio, as well as an improved supply chain environment, set us up very well to deliver a strong second half."

“Stronger AI systems order conversion, prudent cost discipline, and higher-than-expected free cash flow drove a very solid performance in Q2. Because of our robust AI systems order momentum and disciplined execution across our entire portfolio, we are raising our revenue and non-GAAP EPS guidance for the full year,” said Marie Myers, executive vice president and CFO of Hewlett Packard Enterprise.

Highlights

  • Server revenue was $3.9 billion, up 18% from the prior-year period in actual dollars and in constant currency, with 11.0% operating profit margin, compared to 14.4% from the prior-year period.
  • Intelligent Edge revenue was $1.1 billion, down 19% from the prior-year period in actual dollars and in constant currency, with 21.8% operating profit margin, compared to 24.7% in the prior-year period.
  • Hybrid Cloud revenue was $1.3 billion, down 8% from the prior-year period in actual dollars and 9% in constant currency, with 0.8% operating profit margin, compared to 1.9% from the prior-year period.
  • Financial Services revenue was $867 million, up 1% from the prior-year period in actual dollars and in constant currency, with 9.3% operating profit margin, compared to 8.9% from the prior-year period.

Nokia supplies 10G PON to AccessPlus

AccessPlus will deploy Nokia’s XGS-PON fiber solution to enhance its fiber network and deliver new broadband services to its customers in the greater Pittsfield and Berkshires areas of Massachusetts. 

Using Nokia’s fiber solution, powered by the Quillion chipset, AccessPlus can quickly and efficiently boost speeds to 25G PON when and where needed, using the same network equipment.

Bassam El-Zakhem, Vice President Americas, Network Infrastructure at Nokia, said: “Fiber is increasingly being used by operators to connect everything with multi-gigabit services. As demand for multi-gigabit services grows, the use of next-generation fiber technology like XGS-PON and 25G PON will play a critical role in providing the ultra-broadband services customers require today and in the future. As the leading provider of XGS-PON globally and with more than 70% of fiber broadband lines in North America powered by Nokia, we were a natural fit for AccessPlus who was seeking a cost-effective path to 10Gbps and beyond.”


Monday, June 3, 2024

HPE integrates its Aruba Wi-Fi with Private 5G

Hewlett Packard Enterprise introduced Private 5G capabilities for its HPE Aruba Networking Enterprise for high levels of reliable wireless coverage across large campus and industrial environments. The integration follows the 2023 acquisition of private cellular technology provider Athonet, which brought successful customer deployments in various industries, including leading mobile operators, hospitals, airports, transportation ports, utilities, government and public safety organizations.

The new HPE Aruba Networking Enterprise Private 5G enables communications service providers (CSPs) to quickly deploy private 5G networks for their customers. This integrated private 5G solution complements existing Wi-Fi-based managed services and will help telco customers service the growing private cellular market and generate new revenue from their existing enterprise customers.

Key features HPE Aruba Networking Enterprise Private 5G:

  • An end-to-end offering that includes a 4G/5G core, HPE ProLiant Gen11 servers, SIM/eSIM cards, 4G/5G small cells, and dashboard.
  • New 4G/5G small cell radios from HPE that provide indoor/outdoor coverage, eliminating the need to integrate and use a separate management tool from a 3rd party vendor.
  • Simplified cloud-native management and automation for subscriber management, deployment management, core monitoring and radio monitoring, with future plans for integration with HPE Aruba Networking Central.
  • Expanded AI data capture and delivery for building AI data lakes and activating inference solutions.
  • Interoperability with shared spectrum for private enterprise use: Citizens Broadband Radio Service (CBRS) spectrum in the US, and globally, where regulatory frameworks allow, beginning in 2025.
  • Simplified configuration with pre-integrated, tested solution including everything needed to deploy an enterprise private 4G/5G network.
  • Ability to deploy solutions in under 30 minutes with zero touch provisioning and configuration wizards that mask the 3GPP cellular complexity.

"Enterprise and industrial customers are increasingly seeking to deliver wireless coverage in demanding environments, including large outdoor areas, serving fast-moving clients, and providing deterministic access in dedicated spectrum," said Stuart Strickland, wireless chief technology officer, HPE Aruba Networking. "The complexity of conventional approaches to private cellular networks has held them back. Building on HPE Aruba Networking's history of wireless innovation and leadership, we have uniquely positioned ourselves to enable new applications for private cellular by integrating Athonet core cellular solutions with our traditional strengths in enterprise networking.”

Intel debuts Lunar Lake with Foveros packaging

Intel outlined the architecture behind its upcoming Lunar Lake processors expected later this year. The design promises new benchmarks for performance and power management thanks to an integrated controller, enhanced Thread Director, memory-side cache and improved E-core cluster.

Lunar Lake’s microarchitecture consists of two unique tiles connected through Intel’s Foveros packaging technology, as well as memory on package:

Compute Tile – A new compute tile contains the latest-generation Efficient-cores (E-cores) and Performance-cores (P-cores), both of which introduce new microarchitecture enhancements and together bring unprecedented x86 efficiency. Also housed on the compute tile are the new Xe2 graphics processing unit (GPU), neural processing unit (NPU 4) and image processing unit (IPU).

o Xe2 GPU – Brings more than 80% more gaming performance and more than five times the AI throughput over the previous generation, delivering more than 60 tera-operations per second (TOPS) New microarchitecture for the display and media engines delivers a best-in-class visual experience.

o NPU 4 – Delivers three times more TOPS over the most recent generation, up to 48 TOPs, to accelerate AI computations with impressively low power.

o IPU – Provides a great camera experience with reduced power.

Platform Controller Tile (PCT)– The PCT is where security and connectivity are integrated. Security components deliver a robust integrated security solution with built-in security engines designed to establish a solid foundation for system protection. The upgraded connectivity suite integrates Wi-Fi 7.0, Bluetooth 5.4, PCIe Gen5 and PCIe Gen4 ports, and Thunderbolt 4 ports.

Memory on Package – Enables fast access to data and reduces latency, decreasing the overall power consumption of the system.

https://download.intel.com/newsroom/2024/client-computing/Lunar-Lake-Architecture-Fact-Sheet.pdf

About Intel Foveros

Intel’s Foveros packaging technology enables the stacking of multiple logic chips on top of each other, creating a more compact and efficient package. Foveros allows different types of processor cores to be integrated within a single package, improving performance, power efficiency, and form factor flexibility.


The implementation of Foveros technology involves the use of through-silicon vias (TSVs) to connect multiple active layers vertically. This method differs from traditional 2D chip designs, where components are laid out side by side. Foveros also integrates hybrid bonding techniques, enabling the combination of different process nodes and IP blocks within a single package. This approach allows for greater customization and optimization, matching specific workload requirements with tailored configurations. The ability to mix and match different chiplets enables a modular approach to chip design, which can accelerate time-to-market and reduce development costs.


Intel first announced its Foveros technology in December 2018. Since then, it has been used in various products, with the Lakefield processors being among the first to showcase its capabilities. Lakefield processors, introduced in 2020, featured a hybrid architecture with a mix of high-performance and low-power cores, demonstrating the versatility of Foveros. 


  • In January 2024, Intel celebrated the opening of Fab 9 in Rio Rancho, New Mexico. Fab 9 is set to play a pivotal role in driving Intel’s ongoing advancements in advanced packaging technologies. With the semiconductor industry transitioning into the heterogeneous era that embraces multiple “chiplets” within a single package, cutting-edge packaging technologies like Foveros and EMIB (embedded multi-die interconnect bridge) offer a swifter and more cost-effective path toward achieving the milestone of 1 trillion transistors on a single chip, extending Moore’s Law beyond 2030.


Intel unveils Xeon 6 processors for HPC, AI, and Cloud Applications

Intel introduced its Xeon 6 processor family featuring new P-core and E-core SKUs for workloads spanning from compute-intensive high-performance computing (HPC) and AI to scalable cloud-native applications.

The new Intel Xeon 6 processors bring generation-on-generation improvements for double data rate (DDR5), peripheral component interconnect express 5.0 (PCIe 5.0), ultra path interconnect (UPI), and compute express link (CXL):

The 6700 series offers up to 1.4x higher memory bandwidth—with multiplexer combined ranks (MCR) dual in-line memory module (DIMM) memory in P-core—to handle larger amounts of data at once and up to 1.1x increase in input/output (I/O) bandwidth versus 5th Gen Intel Xeon processors, delivering a faster, more efficient delivery system for data input and output.

The 6900 series offers up to 1.8x increased inter-socket bandwidth versus 5th Gen Xeon processors. This allows faster, more efficient communication between different parts of the system, significantly boosting performance, especially for the most demanding tasks.

Both the 6700 and 6900 series support CXL 2.0 – Type 1, Type 2, and Type 3. This new standard makes it easier for computers to connect and communicate with additional components like accelerators, memory expanders, and other devices.

Xeon 6 processors with E-cores are optimized for network and edge workloads and enable users to achieve up to 2.7x higher 5G user plane function performance per watt and up to 3.5x higher next-generation firewall performance per watt—as tested with Intel Ethernet 800 Series—compared to 2nd Gen Xeon processors. This helps to increase overall compute efficiency while supporting confidential computing capabilities for 5G networks and edge-to-cloud infrastructures.

AT&T teams with Cisco on 5G Fixed Wireless for Businesses

AT&T is working with Cisco to now offer 5G Fixed Wireless Access (FWA) for businesses nationwide.

Cisco’s newest line of cellular gateways, the Meraki MG52 and MG52E, are 5G Standalone (SA) capable, discreet FWA devices that offer cloud-managed eSIM technology powered by Cisco IoT Control Center. The new devices are paired exclusively with an integrated wireless WAN service experience and zero-touch, instant-on provisioning from AT&T.

"Together with Cisco, we are making it faster and easier than ever for companies to reimagine their networks and conduct business with next-level connectivity,” said Mike Troiano, Senior Vice President, Product and Pricing, AT&T Business. “This offer is yet another way we are demonstrating our commitment to simplifying business challenges and enhancing the end user experience.”

“As businesses continue to digitize their operations and connect more people, places, and things to the network, digital resiliency will continue to rise in importance,” said Jonathan Davidson, Executive Vice President and General Manager, Cisco Networking. “AT&T and Cisco share a vision to help businesses simplify operations so they can spend less time worrying about connectivity and security and focus on delivering unified experiences their customers can rely on.”



Netskope $500 million in annual recurring revenue

Netskope has surpassed $500 million in annual recurring revenue (ARR) for its Secure Access Service Edge (SAS) solution. The company says global demand for Netskope One, its SASE platform, is growing at a faster pace than the broader cybersecurity market.

Netskope raises $300 million for SASE

Some updates from the company:

  • Grew customer base to over 3,400 customers worldwide, including 4 of the 5 largest Fortune 500 financial services companies, 4 of the 6 largest Fortune 500 healthcare companies, 4 of the 5 largest Fortune 500 telecommunications companies, and 2 of the 4 largest Fortune 500 retail companies that have adopted Netskope One capabilities
  • Delivered critical AI capabilities in data and threat protection, safe enablement of generative AI applications, and numerous other areas, with more than 30% of Netskope customers having already fully implemented tools from SkopeAI, the suite of AI and machine learning solutions applied throughout the Netskope One platform
  • Earned key authorizations and certifications to do business with federal governments and public sector entities around the world, including securing the stringent FedRAMP® High Authorization in the United States, Protected B Certification in Canada, and the Information Security Registered Assessor Program (IRAP) assessment in Australia
  • With its proprietary NewEdge infrastructure, became the first technology vendor in the world to deliver a localized SSE experience to 220 different countries and territories, including every non-embargoed United Nations member state
  • Developed and has continued to grow numerous successful go-to-market partnerships, including with major global systems integrators and managed services providers such as BT, Deloitte, Orange, Telefónica, Telstra, Wipro, and more, and critical alliance partners such as Amazon Web Services, CrowdStrike, Google, Microsoft, Mimecast, Okta, ServiceNow, and more
  • Honored with countless industry awards, including a steady climb up the influential Forbes Cloud 100 list over seven years and counting, and ranked highest (#12) among security and networking companies in the most recent list (2023)
  • Demonstrated ongoing commitment to critical environment, social, and governance initiatives, including a Silver Medal in recognition of its sustainability achievement from EcoVadis, the world's largest and most trusted provider of business sustainability ratings
  • Launched Netskope for Good, a companywide program dedicated to supporting humanitarian and environmental sustainability work around the globe
  • Recruited top executives from Amazon Web Services, Fortinet, Palo Alto Networks, Verizon, etc

"Netskope was founded on the idea that the entire enterprise strategy for protecting critical data from threats depends on how well security and networking adapt to a cloud-first, AI-ready world. Sure enough, as cloud and SaaS app adoption soared, businesses began changing their unreliable legacy technology stacks to reduce risks, lower costs, and implement modern architecture," said Sanjay Beri, co-founder and CEO, Netskope. "We correctly anticipated that a converged, optimized platform approach would be needed to accomplish this, an opportunity now known as SASE. We have inspired confidence in companies all over the world that are adopting Netskope."

Coherent appoints Jim Anderson as CEO

Coherent Corp. appointed Jim Andersonas its new Chief Executive Officer, effective immediately, replacing Dr. Vincent D. (“Chuck”) Mattera, Jr., who is retiring as Chair and CEO of Coherent. Mr. Anderson also joins the company’s Board of Directors.

Anderson most recently served as president and CEO of Lattice Semiconductors. Prior to joining Lattice in 2018, Mr. Anderson was senior vice president and general manager of Advanced Micro Devices’ Computing and Graphics business group. He previously held leadership positions in general management, engineering, sales, marketing, and strategy at companies including Intel, Broadcom (formerly Avago Technologies), and LSI Corporation. He holds an MBA and Master of Science in electrical engineering and computer science from the Massachusetts Institute of Technology, a Master of Science in electrical engineering from Purdue University, and a Bachelor’s degree in electrical engineering from the University of Minnesota.

“Jim’s business acumen and technical capability, coupled with his extensive experience transforming complex global businesses to deliver above-market growth and profitability, make him the ideal leader to steer Coherent through its next chapter amidst a rapidly changing market,” said Enrico DiGirolamo, Board Chair. “I am confident that Coherent will benefit from Jim’s operational expertise, innovation-first approach, and in-depth knowledge of our market and platform, as we capitalize on the strong market demand we see across our AI-related datacom portfolio and improving industrial market, while leveraging our diversification strategy that continues to serve us well.”

“Chuck Mattera has been in and around this industry for almost half a century, conceptualizing and directing the acquisition and business development strategy that made Coherent the multi-billion dollar global entity it is today,” said Mr. DiGirolamo. “Chuck thoughtfully forged meaningful relationships with employees, customers, suppliers, government officials, key partners, and shareholders that established a values-based foundation.” DiGirolamo added, “On behalf of the Board, I have the privilege of thanking Chuck for his many years of visionary leadership, tireless execution, and energetic commitment to redefining the possibilities of our industry. We all look forward to learning about the next chapters of Chuck’s already accomplished story.”