MEF State of the Industry Report: SASE

MEF published a report that explores multiple factors dramatically increasing the risk of major cyberattacks worldwide. 

“State of the Industry Report: SASE – Validating Cyber Defense in an Era of Unprecedented Threats” explains how enterprise networking and cybersecurity decisionmakers can utilize MEF standards-based SASE certification to choose the best solutions with validated cyber defense effectiveness and application performance. 

According to the report, many organizations are responding to today’s high-risk threat environment by prioritizing investment in SASE, a cloud-based cybersecurity model, to advance secure digital transformation. SASE solutions protect users, devices, and applications at scale regardless of their location, combining network connectivity via SD-WAN, cloud-based security including Zero Trust (ZT) and Security Service Edge (SSE), and subscriber policies, to provide a high level of application performance and a tightly integrated set of security capabilities.  

Key findings include: 

• Industry Collaboration Essential: Stronger collaboration to develop effective, standardized and scalable cybersecurity solutions to protect critical infrastructure is essential. The SASE market is a logical focal point for collaboration. 
• Increased Investments: Global spending on cybersecurity, the top area of technology investment in 2024, is expected to increase at double-digit rates. According to Gartner, nearly 40% of CIO’s will or plan to deploy SASE solutions by mid-2025. 
• MEF Standards and Certification Drive Adoption: SASE industry standards and certification programs like MEF’s are crucial for ensuring consistent terminology, interoperability, and validated security effectiveness of SASE solutions, building trust, and accelerating adoption. 
• Benefits of Standards-Based SASE Certification 

https://www.mef.net/news/mef-state-of-the-industry-report-highlights-critical-need-for-certified-sase-solutions-to-combat-rising-cyber-threats/

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Windstream expands Beach Route dark fiber to Miami

Windstream Wholesale has expanded its Beach Route Dark Fiber Alliance to include South Reach Networks (SRN). This extends Windstream Wholesale’s reach by adding a new segment from the Jacksonville, Fla., Cable Landing Station to Miami. This extension adds 360 miles of dark fiber, bringing the total alliance route mile count to 1,400.

The new expansion passes through key locations in South Florida, enhancing connectivity options for international data traffic. Miami's strategic position as a major gateway for communication between North America, Latin America, and Europe makes it a Tier 1 access hub for data exchange between continents. The 100% underground fiber optic network from Miami to Jacksonville provides customers with a seamless, high-performing solution. Meanwhile, Windstream Wholesale's Beach Route spans 690 miles from Jacksonville to Raleigh, North Carolina, offering low-latency connections crucial for cloud services and content delivery providers. The route has been extended north by 315 miles through the Beach Route Dark Fiber Alliance, which includes Mid-Atlantic Broadband, Tilson Infrastructure, and SummitIG, linking key hubs along the East Coast.

Windstream Wholesale now offers a one-stop fiber solution between Miami and Ashburn, managing all aspects of the network transaction under one contract and one dedicated account team while the customer enjoys the benefits of more fiber, more miles, and more diversity and connectivity options along the coast.

Joe Scattareggia, president of Windstream Wholesale, expressed his enthusiasm for the expanded alliance, stating, “Extending the Beach Route to Miami marks a pivotal milestone in our mission to deliver unparalleled connectivity solutions and maintain our commitment to flexible partnerships. Including South Reach Networks in our alliance allows us to offer our customers even greater reach and performance, further cementing our position as a market leader.”

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Ciena supplies XGS-PON to Georgia's Seimitsu

Seimitsu, a Savannah-based service provider, is launching residential broadband services in the Isle of Hope, Dutch Island, and Sandfly neighborhoods, utilizing Ciena's XGS-PON solution. The communities, nestled along Georgia's coast, have been lacking in reliable high-speed fiber internet service, a issue community leaders sought to address.

The TrueConnX Home service, powered by Ciena's technology, will deliver broadband speeds of up to 10Gb/s over fiber, ending slow connections, buffering, and lag for residents. The service will be accessed through an all-underground fiber network that stretches across Chatham County and up to Atlanta.

Highlights

• Seimitsu's TrueConnX Home service will be available in late summer 2024, passing around 2,300 homes in the initial stage.
• The service will be powered by Ciena's 5164 Routers, XGS-PON uOLTs, and 3802 ONUs.
• Seimitsu plans to pass 24,000 homes in Chatham County as it expands throughout the Low Country, aiming to bring the same reliability and velocity it has provided to business customers since its inception.

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Dell'Oro: Insatiable Demand for GPUs and Accelerators

 The server and storage component market grew 152 percent in 1Q 2024, reaching a new record, according to a new report from Dell'Oro Group. This rapid growth is primarily the result of high demand for GPUs and custom accelerators for the hyperscale cloud market. General-purpose server and storage components also experienced double-digit revenue growth following an inventory correction cycle in 2023.

“While accelerators continue to set record shipments quarter after quarter, the unit growth of the traditional server and storage component market returned to positive year-over-year growth for the first time in eight quarters as vendors and the Cloud service providers resume purchases in anticipation of higher system demand later this year,” stated Baron Fung, Senior Research Director at Dell’Oro Group. “Average selling price (ASP) of components has increased significantly from a year ago adding to topline growth. For CPUs, an increasing mix toward fourth- and fifth-generation CPUs, which have more cores and feature sets compared to their predecessors, have commanded higher ASPs. Storage drives and memory have seen a significant increase in pricing as vendors ensure supply does not exceed demand. In the case of memory, the three major suppliers have shifted production capacity from DRAM to AI-focused HBM products,” explained Fung.

Additional highlights from the 1Q 2024 Data Center IT Semiconductors and Components Quarterly Report:

• In 1Q 2024, NVIDIA led all vendors in component revenues, followed by Samsung and Intel. NVIDIA accounted for nearly half of the reported component revenues as H100 GPU supplies improved for both the Cloud and Enterprise markets.
• Strong growth for accelerators is expected to continue into 2024. GPUs will remain the primary choice for training and inference, with NVIDIA’s upcoming Blackwell platform strengthening the firm’s leadership. Dell'Oro also anticipates that custom accelerators and other vendors will gain some share with competitive offerings such as the AMD MI300X/MI325X Instinct and Intel Gaudi3.
• Smart NIC and DPU revenues grew more than 50 percent in 1Q 2024, driven by strong hyperscale adoption for both AI and non-AI use cases.

https://www.delloro.com/news/insatiable-demand-for-gpus-and-accelerators-pushed-data-center-semiconductor-and-component-market-up-152-percent-in-1q-2024/

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Broadcom updates VMware Cloud Foundation, its private cloud platform

Broadcom announced the latest updates to VMware Cloud Foundation (VCF), its flagship private cloud platform. The new release includes several key advancements designed to modernize infrastructure, accelerate innovation, and simplify cloud operations.

VCF now includes a new VCF Import capability, which enables customers to integrate existing vSphere and vSAN environments into the platform, centralizing management and optimizing resources. The platform also provides full support for vSAN Max and vSAN ESA stretched clusters, offering petabyte-scale disaggregated storage and active-active availability.

The new VCF Edge configuration is optimized for edge use cases, providing scalable, cost-efficient, and flexible management. VCF also simplifies application deployment and management with quick start templates, easy network integration, and advanced performance insights.

In addition, the platform offers Tanzu Kubernetes Grid (TKG) as an independent service, delivering asynchronous TKG releases to align with upstream Kubernetes. VCF networking enables developers to focus on coding and testing, facilitates better collaboration, and supports more efficient CI/CD pipelines.

The new release also includes several security and resilience enhancements, including ESXi Live Patching, Flexible VCF Component upgrade, and dual DPU support with vSphere Distributed Services Engine. vSAN Data Protection enables administrators to more easily protect and recover VMs from accidental deletions and ransomware attacks.

“VMware Cloud Foundation is the industry’s first private-cloud platform to offer the combined power of public and private clouds with unmatched operational simplicity and proven total cost of ownership value,” said Paul Turner, Vice President of Products, VMware Cloud Foundation Division, Broadcom. “With our latest release, VCF is delivering on key requirements driven by customer input. The new VCF Import functionality will be a game changer in accelerating VCF adoption and improving time to value. We are also delivering a set of new capabilities that helps IT more quickly meet the needs of developers without increasing business risk. This latest release of VCF puts us squarely on the path to delivering on the full promise of VCF for our customers.”

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Intel Foundry highlights progress from ecosystem partners

Intel Foundry reported progress from several ecosystem partners on its Embedded Multi-die Interconnect Bridge (EMIB) technology, which is designed used to connect multiple silicon dies within a single package, allowing for high-bandwidth communication between them without the need for traditional interposers. EMIB enables the integration of different types of dies, such as CPUs, GPUs, and other specialized processors, in a compact and efficient manner, improving performance and reducing latency. It is particularly useful in creating advanced multi-die systems that require high data transfer rates and efficient power usage.

Intel's EMIB technology has already been proven in Intel’s own microprocessors, including the Intel GPU Max Series (code-named Ponte Vecchio), 4th Gen Intel Xeon and Xeon 6 processors, and Intel Stratix 10 FPGAs. 

The company now reports that key EDA and IP partners are making progress with  EMIB packaging technology for their projects. Announcements from  ecosystem partners this week include:

•  Ansys is collaborating with Intel Foundry to deliver signoff verification of thermal and power integrity and mechanical reliability of Intel’s EMIB technology spanning advanced silicon process nodes to various heterogenous packaging platforms.
• Cadence announced the availability of a complete EMIB 2.5D packaging flow, digital and custom/analog flows for Intel 18A, and design IP for Intel 18A.
• Siemens also announced the availability of an EMIB reference flow for Intel Foundry’s customers. This is in addition to their announcement of Solido Simulation Suite certification for custom IC verification on Intel 16, Intel 3, and Intel 18A nodes.
• Synopsys announced the availability of its AI-driven multi-die reference flow for Intel Foundry’s EMIB advanced packaging technology, accelerating the development of multi-die designs. 

“Today’s news shows how Intel Foundry continues to combine the best of Intel with the best of our ecosystem to help our customers realize their AI systems ambitions,” stated Suk Lee, vice president for Ecosystem Development, Intel Foundry.

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AST SpaceMobile appoints AT&T exec to its board

AST SpaceMobile has appointed Chris Sambar to its Board of Directors. 

Sambar, currently AT&T's Head of Network, brings extensive experience in network infrastructure and global markets to AST SpaceMobile as the company prepares to launch its first commercial satellites this summer. His appointment comes at a crucial time for the company, which aims to provide cellular broadband service from space. Sambar, a former Navy SEAL with over two decades of experience at AT&T, will also serve on the company's Network Planning and Spectrum Committee. 

In May 2024, AT&T and AST SpaceMobile entered a commercial agreement to provide space-based broadband network direct to everyday cell phones. The deal runs through 2030.

This summer, AST SpaceMobile plans to deliver its first commercial satellites to Cape Canaveral for launch into low Earth orbit. These initial five satellites will enable commercial service that was previously demonstrated with several key milestones. 

Key Takeaways :

• AT&T and AST SpaceMobile announce a commercial agreement to provide their first space-based broadband network direct to everyday cell phones.
• The two companies have been on this path together since 2018. This agreement is another key step to providing even more expansive connectivity.
• Chris Sambar, Head of Network for AT&T, will soon be appointed to AST SpaceMobile’s board of directors. AT&T will continue to work directly with AST SpaceMobile on developing, testing, and troubleshooting this technology to help make continental U.S. satellite coverage possible.
• On target for July or August delivery of 5 Block 1 satellites to Cape Canaveral
• First 5 satellites allow U.S. nationwide non-continuous service with 5,600+ cells in premium low-band spectrum
• Activities and discussions with government regulatory bodies, including FCC, are advancing as expected
• Continue to advance discussions with additional strategic partners, following the blueprint of commercial payments alongside commercial agreements

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Adtran and Iridium launch Advanced Synchronization solutions

Adtran, in collaboration with Iridium Communications, has announced the launch of its advanced synchronization solutions featuring Iridium Satellite Time and Location (STL) technology in Europe and the Asia-Pacific region. This move addresses the growing threats to Global Navigation Satellite Systems (GNSS) by providing enhanced resilience and reliability for critical infrastructure, including 5G networks and defense systems. The OSA 5405-S PTP compact grandmaster clock with STL capabilities and the OSA 5400 STL module are now available to timing network operators in Western Europe, major countries in Eastern Europe, Turkey, and parts of Asia-Pacific, including the majority of Southeast Asia, Japan, and South Korea. Leveraging low-Earth orbit (LEO) satellites, these solutions deliver precise and secure positioning, navigation, and timing (PNT) services, ensuring continuous synchronization even in compromised GNSS environments.

Iridium STL services utilize LEO satellites to transmit encrypted signals that are significantly stronger than those of GNSS, enhancing their ability to penetrate urban canyons and indoor areas without rooftop antennas. Now a key feature of Adtran’s Oscilloquartz product lineup, the versatile OSA 5405-S PTP grandmaster clock supports STL time services, multi-constellation GNSS, and various other timing sources within a zero-trust architecture. This architecture leverages multiple diverse timing sources for enhanced resilience. Additionally, the OSA 5400 STL module extends these advanced STL/GNSS receiver capabilities to third-party equipment requiring timing, enabling precise, robust synchronization for a wide range of applications.

Highlights:

• Adtran and Iridium launch synchronization solutions featuring Iridium® STL technology in Europe and Asia-Pacific.
• Solutions enhance the resilience of critical infrastructure, such as 5G networks and defense systems.
• Iridium STL services utilize LEO satellites to provide stronger, encrypted signals that penetrate challenging environments.
• The OSA 5405-S PTP grandmaster clock and OSA 5400 STL module support multiple timing sources within a zero-trust architecture.
• Available purchasing options include an annual service license or bundled equipment for long-term financial planning.

“We partnered with Iridium to bring the benefits of its STL services to critical timing infrastructure around the world because we share a common goal. We’re committed to making PNT networks as resilient and secure as possible. STL is a powerful solution for fortifying zero-trust architecture and ensuring reliable PNT even when GPS signals fail, making it ideal for both indoor and challenging outdoor locations. By empowering operators of mission-critical networks to access reliable timing in the most demanding environments, we’re also eliminating the need to install outdoor antennas and core through concrete, significantly reducing expenses,” commented Gil Biran, GM of Oscilloquartz, Adtran. “We’re excited to bring these advantages to so many more customers across Europe and APAC. Today’s announcement marks a significant advancement for the network operators and people of these regions, whose daily lives increasingly depend on robust PNT.”

“The weakness of GNSS signals is increasingly being exploited to create serious problems. As Europe, APAC and the rest of the world have become more dependent on PNT data, attacks on GNSS have only escalated, creating an urgent need to pivot away from the exclusive use of these satellites,” said Michael O’Connor, executive vice president of PNT at Iridium. “By integrating our STL service into Adtran Oscilloquartz devices and making it available across much of Europe and key areas of APAC, we’re providing network operators with valuable new options. They can choose to use our solution as a primary source of timing data in indoor environments, or they can leverage our secure, high-strength LEO signals as a backup source of PNT information when GNSS is unavailable. This offers the strongest ever safeguard against the threats that compromise so many aspects of our daily lives.”

https://www.adtran.com/en/newsroom/press-releases/20240624-adtran-and-iridium-strengthen-pnt-resilience-in-europe-and-asia-pacific-with-stl-technology

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Samsung builds CXL infrastructure certified by Red Hat

Samsung Electronics has built a Compute Express Link (CXL) infrastructure certified by Red Hat.

 Elements that configure servers, from CXL-related products to software, can now be directly verified at the Samsung Memory Research Center (SMRC) located in Hwaseong, South Korea. Once CXL products are verified by Samsung, they can be requested for product registration to Red Hat, enabling faster product development.

“We’re very pleased that our partnership with Red Hat is able to deliver CXL memory products with enhanced reliability to our customers,” said Taeksang Song, Vice President and Head of the New DRAM Solution Development Team at Samsung Electronics. 

Kyeong Sang Kim, Red Hat Korea GM said, “The optimization of Samsung’s hardware for Red Hat’s software underscores the value of open source technology as an imperative when it comes to expanding next-generation memory solutions such as CMM-D. We look forward to continuing our collaboration with Samsung to further extend CXL solutions to the market.”

Compute Express Link (CXL) is an open industry-standard interconnect technology designed to address the growing need for high-speed, low-latency communication between processors, accelerators, and memory devices in data centers and high-performance computing environments. CXL is designed to work alongside and complement other interconnect technologies like PCIe.

Key features of CXL include:

• High bandwidth and low latency communication
• Cache coherency between CPUs and accelerators
• Memory sharing and expansion capabilities
• Compatibility with the PCIe physical and electrical interface
• The CXL standard is being developed by the CXL Consortium, which was founded in 2019, and which includes Samsung and others.

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Ceva expands Edge AI NPU family with Ceva-NeuPro-Nano

Ceva has extended its Ceva-NeuPro family of Edge AI NPUs by introducing the Ceva-NeuPro-Nano NPUs. These highly-efficient, self-sufficient NPUs are designed to deliver the power, performance, and cost efficiencies required for semiconductor companies and OEMs to integrate TinyML models into their SoCs for consumer, industrial, and general-purpose AIoT products. TinyML refers to deploying machine learning models on low-power, resource-constrained devices, bringing the power of AI to the Internet of Things (IoT).

Driven by the increasing demand for efficient and specialized AI solutions in IoT devices, the market for TinyML is rapidly growing. According to ABI Research, by 2030, over 40% of TinyML shipments will be powered by dedicated TinyML hardware rather than all-purpose MCUs. The Ceva-NeuPro-Nano NPUs address the specific performance challenges of TinyML, aiming to make AI ubiquitous, economical, and practical for a wide range of use cases, including voice, vision, predictive maintenance, and health sensing in consumer and industrial IoT applications.

The new Ceva-NeuPro-Nano Embedded AI NPU architecture is fully programmable and efficiently executes neural networks, feature extraction, control code, and DSP code. It supports advanced machine learning data types and operators, including native transformer computation, sparsity acceleration, and fast quantization. The optimized, self-sufficient architecture enables superior power efficiency, a smaller silicon footprint, and optimal performance compared to existing processor solutions for TinyML workloads. Additionally, Ceva-NetSqueeze AI compression technology processes compressed model weights directly, achieving up to 80% memory footprint reduction, addressing a key bottleneck in the adoption of AIoT processors.

Key Features of Ceva-NeuPro-Nano NPUs:

• Fully programmable for neural networks, feature extraction, control code, and DSP code.
• Scalable performance with configurations up to 64 int8 MACs per cycle.
• Supports advanced ML data types and operators, including 4-bit to 32-bit integers and native transformer computation.
• Advanced mechanisms like sparsity acceleration, non-linear activation acceleration, and fast quantization.
• Single-core design eliminates the need for a companion MCU for computational tasks.
• Ceva-NetSqueeze technology reduces memory footprint by up to 80%.
• Innovative energy optimization techniques, including automatic on-the-fly energy tuning and weight-sparsity acceleration.
• Ceva-NeuPro Studio provides a unified AI stack and supports open AI frameworks like TensorFlow Lite for Microcontrollers and microTVM.
• Fast time to market with a Model Zoo of pretrained and optimized TinyML models.
• Optimized runtime libraries and application-specific software.

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AMS-IX Hong Kong and Taiwan's TPIX sign interexchange agreement

Chief Telecom, which operates Taiwan’s largest Internet Exchange (TPIX), has signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) with AMS-IX and HGC Global Communications Limited (HGC) for providing a seamless traffic exchange between the Taipei Internet Exchange (TPIX) and AMS-IX Hong Kong. 

Through this strategic partnership, TPIX members will be able to expand their network resources and enhance content sharing and localization, not only within Hong Kong but also across HGC’s diversified global network. This connectivity allows access to other AMS-IX exchanges in Asia, including Singapore, Bangkok, and Manila, as well as globally in locations such as Amsterdam, the Bay Area, and Chicago. The reliable remote peering solution will significantly enhance end-user experiences by providing seamless and efficient network access.

• TPIX members can now utilize HGC’s global network, facilitating content sharing and localization.

• The partnership enables access to AMS-IX exchanges across Asia and globally, enhancing the peering ecosystem.

• AMS-IX Hong Kong members gain additional network connections and access to the Taiwan user base, driving more traffic exchange.

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Telstra Ventures rebrands as Titanium Ventures

Telstra Ventures has changed its name to Titanium Ventures, reflecting the continued evolution of Telstra Ventures’ relationship with Telstra since its successful spin-out in 2018 and Telstra’s strategic decision to explore selling its current investments in Telstra Ventures’ funds as part of its focus on capital discipline and active portfolio management.

The firm’s team and investment thesis remain the same. Titanium Ventures will continue to identify and scale the most promising companies across a variety of AI, digital and software sectors by complementing its strong, experienced team with proprietary Data Science insights and its Revenue Acceleration platform. The firm, which has almost US$1B funds under management, has invested in 99 portfolio companies during which there have been 12 IPOs, 17 unicorns, 42 liquidity events which have returned US$678M cash to investors.

“Our journey over the past 13 years has been remarkable and this is a significant milestone for us as we approach 100 investments in our portfolio,” said Mark Sherman, San Francisco-based Managing Partner. “We are grateful for Telstra’s support since our inception in 2011. Our new brand is a natural progression as the team has been operating as an independent, global VC firm since 2018. Today we have more than 50 LPs and we have refined our identity and what we represent. We look forward to continuing to work with Telstra on a commercial basis to generate more revenue for our portfolio companies. It’s business as usual.”

“Consistent with our focus on capital discipline and active portfolio management, we are exploring options to sell our current investments in Telstra Ventures’ funds. We believe that through the relationships we have fostered over the years, we can continue working together and Telstra will be able to access leading edge technologies in the portfolio companies of Titanium Ventures.”

Mr. Koertge added, “This is an exciting next chapter in our story. Titanium Ventures will accelerate the extraordinary, fueling the growth of standout disruptors, that’s what we have done for over a decade and that’s what our investors and founders expect us to do in the decades to come."

https://www.ti.vc

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Coherent ships 300-millionth optical transceiver from Malaysia

Coherent Corp. announced a significant milestone with the shipment of its 300-millionth optical transceiver from its manufacturing facility in Ipoh, Malaysia.  Established in 2001, the Ipoh facility spans 640,000 square feet and employs 3,600 workers. It plays a critical role in producing next-generation 800G optical transceivers and is preparing for future advancements such as 1.6T and 3.2T. Strategically located between Kuala Lumpur and Penang, the site benefits from access to a vast talent pool from nearby universities and technical colleges. 

Highlights:

• Coherent Corp. ships its 300-millionth optical transceiver from Ipoh, Malaysia.
• The facility, established in 2001, spans 640,000 square feet and employs 3,600 workers.
• It produces next-generation 800G transceivers and is preparing for 1.6T and 3.2T.
• Strategic location and robust infrastructure provide a competitive edge.

https://www.coherent.com/news/press-releases/manufacturing-milestone-300-million-transceiveres-shipped

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Starlink signs Comcast Business as a reseller

Comcast Business agreed to provide Starlink Low Earth Orbit (LEO) satellite service to its enterprise customers.

The collaboration enhances Comcast Business’ Managed Connectivity portfolio with advanced satellite capabilities, providing fast, reliable connectivity for enterprise customers, including those in underserved regions.

“As the first major network provider to collaborate with Starlink, we’re excited to uniquely enhance our extensive managed connectivity portfolio with advanced satellite capabilities to better serve our enterprise customers,” said Jon Friedman, Sr. Vice President, Product Strategy and Operations, Comcast Business. “Starlink's LEO satellite technology complements our existing network infrastructure, extends our reach and further enhances Comcast Business’ ability to deliver reliable connectivity solutions to enterprises with a human touch.”

“Starlink is excited to work with Comcast Business to deliver reliable connectivity to customers,” said Jason Fritch, Vice President of Starlink Enterprise Sales at SpaceX. “This agreement with a leading service provider is an acknowledgement of Starlink’s growing role as a critical element in modern enterprise networks.”

Some recent developments at Starlink:

1. June 2024: Starlink Mini dish is announced. The Starlink Mini is designed to be highly portable, fitting into a backpack. It measures 28.9 cm by 24.8 cm, making it comparable in size to an iPad Pro and more compact than the standard Starlink dish. Elon Musk revealed that the Starlink Mini dish would cost about half the price of the standard dish, which is priced at $599. This suggests a potential cost of around $299 for the mini dish. Musk also revealed that the mini dish could be set up in under five minutes and would support multiple 4K video streams simultaneously. The dish also features a built-in WiFi router and LAN ports, supporting both 2.4 GHz and 5 GHz bands with 802.11ax and 3x3 MIMO technology​
2. June 2024: SpaceX launched additional Starlink satellites, reaching a milestone of 3 million customers and expanding service to the Republic of Fiji. The service now is offered in 100 countries. 
3. May 2024: Starlink introduced the first set of satellites for what the National Reconnaissance Office called “proliferated systems featuring responsive collection and rapid data delivery.”
4. May 2024: Starlink's revenue jumped from $1.4 billion in 2022 to $6.6 billion in 2024.
5. May 2024: SpaceX launched a Falcon 9 carrying the first set of satellites for the Starshield program, a classified derivative of Starlink designed to be operated for and can host payloads for military or government purposes.
6. May 2024: SpaceX launched 21 Gen2 (or V2) Mini satellites, representing the next and upgraded version of its V1 and V1.5 satellites.
7. May 2024: The deployment of the first 1,440 satellites in 72 orbital planes of 20 satellites each, with a requested lower minimum elevation angle of beams to improve reception.
8. May 2024: Starlink introduced the ability to rent Starlink equipment instead of outright purchasing it.
9. May 2024: SpaceX launched the first batch of Starlink satellites equipped with direct-to-cell capability, allowing users to connect to the internet directly through their mobile devices.

 

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Tenstorrent licenses Baya's WeaveIP fabric

Tenstorrent has licensed Baya Systems’ customizable WeaveIP fabric to scale its AI and RISC-V chiplet solutions. Baya’s IP and software flow enables Tenstorrent and its partners to analyze, customize and deploy its intelligent compute platform for current and future workloads and deliver highly scalable chiplet solutions to meet the emerging demand.

Baya Systems’ WeaveIP portfolio optimizes standard protocols, distributed caching, advanced coherent and non-coherent fabric while allowing customizable protocols for AI and other applications over a unique transport architecture. The WeaverPro software provides a data-driven platform that enables designers to architect cache and memory architecture followed by algorithmically optimized unified fabric design from concept to post-silicon tuning, accelerating the development and deployment of a chiplet-ready system architecture that is globally and locally optimized. The company is based in California.

Tenstorrent, founded in 2016 by Ljubisa Bajic and based in Toronto, Ontario, is developing high-performance processors and software for AI and machine learning applications. Their products include the Grayskull AI processor, designed for complex neural networks, and Wormhole, an interconnect technology for scalable AI workloads, along with various software solutions. Tenstorrent has raised significant funding, including $200 million in a Series C round led by Fidelity Management & Research Company, with participation from Eclipse Ventures and others. The company has a notable partnership with Siemens. Tenstorrent has attracted industry leaders like Jim Keller, who joined as President and Chief Technology Officer (CTO) in 2021, later becoming CEO.

“Tenstorrent is reputed for highly customized, high-performance AI and RISC-V solutions tailored to specific workloads and applications, which need to be future-proof,” said Sailesh Kumar, CEO of Baya Systems. “We believe Baya’s high-performance, reliable chiplet-ready fabric, and advanced analysis capability, design-time, and post-silicon runtime tuning, will be an essential component of Tenstorrent’s ability to deliver high-performance cost-effective multi-chip designs that next-level energy efficiency and are future-proofed for fast evolving applications.”

“Baya makes great, comprehensive fabric tools. Their tools start with top level architecture then allow us to plan at a detail level including performance modeling, transport, quality of service and cache coherency," said Tenstorrent CEO Jim Keller. "This, coupled with their visualization tools, enables designers to build next generation chips, chiplets and IP. This data-driven, correct by construction fabric IP delivers the performance and scale needed for Tenstorrent's chiplet-based solutions.”

https://bayasystems.com/

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Bharat 6G Alliance signs European partners

The Bharat 6G Alliance(B6GA), which is an initiative of Indian industry, academia, national research institutions and standards organizations, has signed partnership agreements with two European bodies:

• The 6G Smart Networks and Services Industry Association (6G-IA) is the voice of European Industry and Research for next generation networks and services. The 6G-IA carries out a wide range of activities in strategic areas including standardization, frequency spectrum, R&D projects, technology skills, collaboration with key vertical industry sectors, notably for the development of trials, and international cooperation.
• 
  The 6G Flagship programme is a world-leading research initiative funded by the University of Oulu and the Research Council of Finland. It aims to develop key 6G technology components, establish a comprehensive 6G Test Centre, and drive the societal digitisation of the 2030s through ground-breaking 6G research and innovation.

Last year, B6HA announced a similar partnership with ATIS’ Next G Alliance, which is an initiative to advance North American wireless technology leadership over the next decade.

https://bharat6galliance.com/bharat6G/

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SES ASTRA 1P broadcast satellite launched

 The SES ASTRA 1P satellite was successfully launched by a SpaceX Falcon 9 rocket from Cape Canaveral Space Force Station in Florida.

ASTRA 1P, which was built by Thales Alenia Space, is based on the 100% electric Spacebus NEO platform and features 80 transponders capable of delivering 500 HD TV channels. It is the most powerful satellite to operate at 19.2 degrees East, seamlessly replacing the current four satellites at the orbital location and continuing their mission of serving 119 million TV households.

The Ku-band satellite will enhance SES's TV neighbourhood at 19.2 degrees East, delivering content to public and private broadcasters, sports organizations, and content owners across Europe's largest TV markets. ASTRA 1P will also provide premium HD content to subscribers of HD+, SES’s high-definition satellite TV platform in Germany.

Recent developments at SES

• November 2023: SES successfully launched its fifth and sixth O3b mPOWER satellites. This completion of the six-satellite constellation marks a significant milestone in its second-generation medium Earth orbit (MEO) system, enhancing global high-performance connectivity services​ (.
• January 2024: SES and Luxembourg-based satellite ground infrastructure provider, RHEA Group, announced a collaboration to develop advanced cybersecurity solutions for satellite communications, enhancing the security of SES’s global network​ 
• February 1, 2024: SES appointed Adel Al-Saleh as its new CEO, effective February 2024, bringing in leadership from his previous role as CEO of T-Systems International GmbH 
• April 24, 2024: SES’s O3b mPOWER system began providing high-performance connectivity services. This new system, with its first six satellites in MEO, is designed to offer flexible and low-latency services globally, ranging from tens of Mbps to multiple Gbps​
• April 30, 2024: SES announced its plan to acquire Intelsat for $3.1 billion. The acquisition is aimed at expanding SES’s multi-orbit space network and enhancing its competitive position in the market. The deal is expected to close in the second half of 2025​
• May 15, 2024: SES and Microsoft announced a partnership to deliver improved cloud and connectivity solutions via Azure Orbital, leveraging SES’s multi-orbit satellite network to provide seamless cloud access in remote and underserved regions​
• June 10, 2024: SES signed a contract with the US Department of Defense to provide satellite communication services worth $180 million. This agreement underscores SES’s strategic role in providing reliable and secure communications for defense operations​
  

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Ribbon Secures $385 million credit facility

 Ribbon Communications finalized a $385 million senior secured credit facility. This new financial arrangement, known as the 2024 Credit Facility, includes a $350 million term loan and a $35 million revolving credit line. The funds will be utilized to refinance an existing credit facility, fully redeem Ribbon's outstanding Series A Preferred Stock, and cover associated fees and expenses. Any remaining proceeds will support the company's working capital and other general corporate needs, facilitating further network modernization and protection for its global clientele.

The loans under the 2024 Credit Facility are set to mature on June 21, 2029. Initially, the interest rate will be SOFR plus 6.25%, which will adjust to a range between SOFR plus 5.75% to 6.25% depending on Ribbon's consolidated net leverage after the fiscal year ending December 31, 2024. Alternatively, Ribbon has the option to choose an interest rate based on an alternative base rate with a margin from 4.75% to 5.25%. The credit facility is secured by nearly all of Ribbon's and certain subsidiaries' assets. HPS Investment Partners, LLC will act as the Administrative Agent, with HPS and WhiteHorse Capital serving as joint lead arrangers and bookrunners.

Key Points:

• Ribbon Communications finalizes a $385 million senior secured credit facility.
• The facility includes a $350 million term loan and a $35 million revolving credit line.
• Proceeds will refinance existing debt, redeem Series A Preferred Stock, and support general corporate purposes.
• Loans mature on June 21, 2029, with interest rates tied to SOFR plus a margin based on net leverage.
• HPS Investment Partners, LLC and WhiteHorse Capital lead the arrangement and administration of the facility.

https://ribboncommunications.com/

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Alphawave demos 9.2 Gbps HBM3E, 1.2 TBps memory bandwidth

Alphawave Semi has announced a 9.2 Gbps HBM3E sub-system (PHY + Controller IP) silicon platform, achieving an unprecedented memory bandwidth of 1.2 Terabytes per second (TBps) through chiplet-enabled technology.

In collaboration with Micron, channel simulations have demonstrated the platform’s exceptional performance, reaching 9.2 Gbps in an advanced 2.5D package across a complete HBM3E system. This system comprises the HBM3E IP subsystem, an innovative Alphawave Semi silicon interposer, and Micron’s HBM3E memory. 

HBM3E has become the preferred memory choice for AI and HPC systems due to its high bandwidth, optimal latency, compact footprint, and excellent power efficiency. Alphawave Semi customers are deploying comprehensive HBM subsystem solutions that integrate the company’s HBM PHY with a versatile, JEDEC-compliant, highly configurable HBM controller, which can be fine-tuned to maximize efficiency for application-specific AI and HPC workloads.

Alphawave Semi has also developed an optimized silicon interposer design to achieve best-in-class results in signal integrity, power integrity, and thermal performance at 9.2 Gbps.

“Micron is committed to advancing memory performance through our comprehensive AI product portfolio as the demand for AI continues to grow in data centers,” said Praveen Vaidyanathan, vice president and general manager of Micron’s Compute Products Group. “With their end-to-end channel simulations, we are pleased to see Alphawave Semi demonstrate a performance of 9.2 Gbps for AI accelerators with HBM3E. Together, we are empowering customers to accelerate system deployment with our Micron HBM3E solutions, delivering up to 30% lower power consumption compared to competitive offerings.”

“We are excited to lead the industry in delivering a complete 9.2 Gbps HBM3E PHY and controller chiplet-enabled platform achieving 1.2 TBps bandwidth, backed by channel simulations across the SoC, interposer, and Micron’s HBM3E memory,” said Mohit Gupta, senior vice president and general manager, Custom Silicon and IP, Alphawave Semi. “Leveraging this, along with our leading-edge custom silicon and advanced 2.5D/3D packaging capabilities, allows Alphawave Semi to provide a significant time-to-market advantage to our hyperscaler and data center infrastructure customers for their AI-enabled systems.”

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Denmark's TDC NET upgrades to 800G with Ciena

TDC NET will deploy Ciena’s converged packet optical solutions to upgrade its metro and long-haul networks with 800G. 

TDC NET will deploy a modern OTN network based on Ciena’s 6500 family of Packet Optical platforms, powered by WaveLogic 5 Extreme programmable 800G technology and WaveLogic 5 Nano 100G-400G coherent pluggable transceivers.

TDC NET will utilize a range of Ciena products and services:

• 6500 Family of Platforms and O-NIDs that enable sustainable OTN network evolution from the edge to the core with scalability, flexibility, and multi-layer programmability.
• WaveLogic 5 Extreme to efficiently support up to 800 Gb/s speeds and 400GE client connectivity across any distance.
• WaveLogic 5 Nano coherent pluggables that offer power- and space-efficient connectivity up to 400 Gb/s.
• Coherent ELS edge-optimized open line system (OLS) for cost-efficient delivery of 100G to 800G coherent DWDM.
• Navigator Network Control Suite that provides end-to-end visibility and assurance from a single point of control.

“By upgrading our network with Ciena we can offer our customers a full suite of modern digital services both nationally and internationally,” said Robert Dogonowski, Chief Commercial Officer of TDC NET. “We wanted a vendor that could support our network transformation without disrupting service and allow us to remain in control of the customer experience. The Ciena team has been collaborative throughout the process, and we are excited by what Ciena’s technology can do for our network.”

Anders Grand, Senior Director and General Manager, Ciena, added: “Leading service providers like TDC NET know the importance of being able to sustainably scale their networks. With Ciena’s WaveLogic technology, TDC NET can offer 800 Gb/s connectivity to its customers while also providing important savings in power usage to reach its climate targets.”

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