BT now operates on 100% renewable energy

BT Group, the joint-largest private purchaser of electricity in the UK, confirmed that its network, offices and shops worldwide are now powered with 100% renewable electricity. 

The company has committed to run its global operations on renewable electricity where markets allow and will purchase the remainder from neighbouring markets until local solutions can be found.

Cyril Pourrat, Chief Procurement Officer at BT, said: "As an organisation that consumes nearly 1% of the UK’s electricity, it is important for BT to demonstrate its commitment to a green recovery. Our team has worked hard to secure renewable electricity contracts for our sites globally, a crucial step towards the Paris agreement’s 1.5°c target.”

BT’s transition to renewable electricity has been delivered through supporting the development of local renewable energy markets, with 16% of its electricity supplied through corporate Power Purchase Agreements (PPAs) and the remainder from high-quality green tariffs or in a small number of markets, renewable certificates.

In addition, Openreach, which has the second largest commercial fleet in the UK, is aiming to switch out a third of its 27,000 combustion engine vehicles to electric by 2025. With 33,000 vehicles, the entire BT Group fleet accounts for two thirds of its operational emissions.

In June 2020, BT Group including Openreach joined forces with the Climate Group to launch the UK Electric Fleets Coalition. The coalition of 27 companies has taken a leading role in communicating the benefits of switching from combustion engine vehicles to electric vehicles (EVs) and has called for supportive policy measures which target 100% electric car and van sales by 2030; extend grants for electric vehicles and charging points through to at least 2023 and speed up the rollout of public charge-points across the country.

 

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AT&T elects William Kennard as its chairman

The board of directors of AT&T elected William E. Kennard to serve as its chairman, effective January 2021, replacing Randall Stephenson who is retiring after serving in the role since 2007. 

Mr. Kennard served as general counsel to the U.S. Federal Communications Commission from 1993 to 1997. In 1997, he was appointed FCC Chairman, a position he held until 2001. From 2009 to 2013, he served as the U.S. Ambassador to the European Union. 

Kennard also has held positions with The Carlyle Group, a global asset management firm, at which he led investments in the telecommunications and media sectors, and the law firm of Verner, Liipfert, Bernhard, McPherson and Hand (now DLA Piper), where he was a partner and member of the board of directors. He has served on the AT&T board since 2104. He also serves on the boards of Duke Energy Corporation, Ford Motor Company and MetLife, Inc.  He is also co-founder of Astra Capital Management, a private equity firm.  Kennard received his B.A. in Communications from Stanford University and earned his law degree from Yale Law School. He currently serves on the board of trustees of Yale University.

“Bill’s deep knowledge of communications, media and technology, proven leadership and broad experience across capital markets and government uniquely positions him to serve as AT&T’s new chairman,” Stephenson said. “He is an outstanding choice to lead our board of talented directors who possess diverse expertise and experience.” 

“It’s an honor to be selected to serve as chairman of AT&T’s board of directors,” Kennard said. “On behalf of the board, I want to thank Randall for his outstanding leadership and countless contributions as chairman. We wish him all the best.  I look forward to working with our CEO and fellow board member John Stankey and the entire board to continue creating long-term value for all stakeholders – investors, customers, employees and the communities we serve.” 

https://about.att.com/story/2020/william_e_kennard_att_board_of_directors.html

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China Mobile now has 114 million 5G customers

China Mobile's operating revenue increased by 1.4% year-on-year to RMB574.4 billion for the first three quarters of 2020. Of which, revenue from telecommunications services grew by 2.5% year-on-year to RMB525.7 billion whereas that from the sales of products and others declined by 9.2% year-on-year to RMB48.7 billion. 

The Group’s profit attributable to equity shareholders fell slightly by 0.3% year-on-year to RMB81.6 billion for the first three quarters of 2020. 

China Mobile said it will continue to put in an all-out effort to implement its “5G+” plan, further promote scale-based and value-oriented operations and foster the all-round development of CHBN markets, thereby maintaining growth in telecommunications services revenue for the full-year of 2020.

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NTT's revenue dips, income increases on flat subscriber trends

NTT Group reported operating revenues ¥5,711.4 billion, down approximately 3% from the same period last year. Operating income increased ¥1,008.6 billion, up 2.6% year-on-year.

Overseas sales were $9.1 billion, down 7.3% year-on-year due in part to the pandemic.

In order to provide customers with appropriate services both during and after COVID-19, NTT has created a lineup of services under a new service brand called "Remote World".  This will include “OriHime”, a remote-controlled avatar robot; customer support screen sharing service; a new “elgana” business chat service; a new SwipeVideo service that allows different video by swiping the screen.“Smart Me™” digital employee ID that uses smartphones instead of traditional employee badges.

https://www.ntt.co.jp/news2020/2011efgz/pdf/rzkv201106a_all.pdf

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Deutsche Telekom enters sales partnership with Zoom

Deutsche Telekom has entered into a sales partnership with Zoom Video Communications.

Customers who book Zoom via Telekom will benefit from the advice of specialized customer teams and contract handling with their usual contractual partner.  

“With Telekom, our sales ecosystem is growing to include a strong partner with excellent market knowledge, extensive experience and an established name. We are pleased to reach completely new target audiences through this partnership, small and medium-sized businesses, for example,” commented Peer Stemmler, Head of DACH at Zoom. “We are convinced that Telekom’s clientele will also be delighted with the simple and frictionless video communication Zoom enables.”

“Most recently, ‘zooming’ has become synonymous with online video telephony. We can now offer this experience directly to our customers through our channels,” said Peter Schamel, VP of Business Collaboration Services at Deutsche Telekom. “As a telecommunications company, it is essential for us to keep up with the times. With Zoom, we are now integrating an intuitive and widely used tool into our portfolio. We are making sure that we can provide our business customers with the modern technology they need in the current situation and beyond from a single source.”

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American Tower to acquire InSite, adding 3,000 communication sites

American Tower agreed to acquire InSite Wireless Group, which owns, operates and manages approximately 3,000 communications sites, primarily in the U.S. and Canada, for approximately $3.5 billion.

Insite's portfolio includes more than 1,400 owned towers in the U.S., over 200 owned towers in Canada and approximately 70 distributed antenna system (“DAS”) networks in the U.S. In addition, InSite controls more than 600 land parcels under communications sites as well as approximately 400 rooftop sites.

Tom Bartlett, American Tower’s Chief Executive Officer stated, “This transaction augments our foundational U.S. business through the addition of a well-run, high-quality, complementary, macro-tower focused portfolio, while also marking our entry into Canada. We believe that these assets are positioned to enhance our organic growth and cash flow trajectory in the future as 5G deployments accelerate and densification initiatives progress.”

“Nearly two decades ago, we set a goal to build a leader in wireless communications by providing critical infrastructure to wireless carriers and other customers,” said David E. Weisman, co-founder and CEO of InSite. “On behalf of InSite, I want to thank our customers, employees, and investors for their support and partnership over the years in building InSite into where it is today. We believe the acquisition of InSite by American Tower will result in even greater benefits for our customers in the future.”

American Tower expects the assets to generate approximately $150 million in property revenue and approximately $115 million in gross margin in their first full year in its portfolio. 

http://www.americantower.com

• American Tower currently controls a portfolio of 181,000 communication sites.

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T-Mobile US now has 100 million mobile customers

T-Mobile US crossed the 100 million customer milestone, surpassing AT&T to become the No.2 largest mobile operator in the U.S. The milestone comes 7 months after its acquisition of Sprint.

Highlights for the quarter:

• Net customer additions were 2,035,000 in Q3 2020, a record-high and the 23rd consecutive quarter of industry-leading performance in this category. The total customer count increased to a record-high of 100.4 million.
• Postpaid net customer additions were 1,979,000 in Q3 2020, a record-high and the 11th consecutive quarter of industry-leading performance in this category.
• Postpaid phone net customer additions were 689,000 in Q3 2020, leading the industry and marking the 27th consecutive quarter of leading the national carriers. Postpaid phone churn was 0.90%.
• Postpaid other net customer additions were 1,290,000 in Q3 2020, leading the industry and nearly double Verizon and AT&T combined as T-Mobile for Business continued to connect educational institutions during COVID-19.
• Prepaid net customer additions were 56,000 in Q3 2020 and prepaid churn was 2.86%.
• Total service revenues increased year-over-year to $14.1 billion in Q3 2020, driven by the Sprint merger and continued customer growth.
• Total revenues increased year-over-year to $19.3 billion in Q3 2020, driven by the Sprint merger and continued customer growth.
• Net income increased year-over-year to $1.3 billion in Q3 2020, as revenue growth outpaced expense increases. Merger-related costs were $288 million pre-tax and $208 million, net of tax, in Q3 2020.
• EPS was relatively flat year-over-year at $1.00 in Q3 2020, as growth in net income was offset by a higher number of outstanding shares as a result of the Sprint merger.

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Russia's Yandex upgrades Moscow DCI network with ADVA

Yandex, Russia's leading search engine, has deployed the ADVA FSP 3000 TeraFlex to upgrade its data center interconnect (DCI) transport network to 600 Gbps.

Yandex’s Moscow data centers are now connected in a point-to-point network with ADVA’s high-density TeraFlex terminal. Serving 36 bidirectional 100GbE client ports, the 1RU solution injects new levels of channel capacity and spectral efficiency into Yandex’s network. Built specifically to maximize fiber utilization, TeraFlex features software-defined fractional QAM modulation capabilities. This enables it to leverage different modulation formats and optimize all optical paths over any distance.

The ADVA FSP 3000 TeraFlex was plugged into Yandex’s existing line system. The terminal supports 600 Gbps over a single wavelength and delivers a total duplex capacity of 3.6 Tbps in one rack unit. 

“We’re proud of what our FSP 3000 TeraFlex technology is helping Yandex achieve. Without the effort or expense of a complete system upgrade, it’s enabled one of Russia’s biggest technology companies to transform its infrastructure. By unlocking the full value of its fiber assets, Yandex is opening the door to further growth and innovation,” commented Hartmut Müller-Leitloff, SVP, sales, EMEA, ADVA. “Our TeraFlex™ has a large degree of configuration flexibility, using different modulation formats and software-defined fractional QAM to optimize data rate transmission performance. Together with its plug-and-play simplicity, TeraFlex™ made it easy for Yandex to transform its existing DCI infrastructure.”

“We’re helping Yandex to massively expand the capacity of its network and accommodate ever-increasing traffic demands. Our TeraFlex terminal is ensuring that one of Russia’s leading technology companies can meet its customers’ expectations and continue growing its business well into the future,” said Stephan Rettenberger, SVP, marketing and investor relations, ADVA. “Tens of millions of people rely on Yandex’s products and services on a daily basis. That’s why it’s a company keen to deliver even more by leveraging the most advanced technology on the market. Our solution enables it to continue innovating and improving quality. And, with the space- and power-efficiency of TeraFlex, Yandex’s new network also ensures that future growth is fully sustainable.”

http://www.adva.com

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Ayar Labs raises $35m for its in-package optical interconnect

Ayar Labs, a start-up based in Santa Clara, California closed $35 million in Series B financing for its in-package optical interconnect (I/O) solutions.

Ayar Labs said optical I/O (OIO) solves the major computing bottlenecks in interconnect bandwidth, power consumption, and reach.  The company is developing a monolithic in-package optical I/O (MIPO) solution for applications that require high bandwidth, low latency and power-efficient short-reach interconnects. The company's patented approach uses industry-standard silicon processing techniques to develop high speed, high density, low power optical-based interconnect “chiplets” and lasers to replace traditional electrical-based I/O. The company was founded in 2015. 

Ayar Labs publicly demonstrated its monolithic electronic photonic TeraPHY chiplet at the Supercomputing 2019 conference and is now working with select semiconductor manufacturers, OEM systems builders, and end users. 

The funding round was co-led by Downing Ventures and BlueSky Capital. New investors include Applied Ventures, LLC, Castor Ventures, Downing Ventures (U.K.), and SGInnovate (Singapore), expanding Ayar Labs’ investor base with strategic ecosystem and global investors. Existing investor participation includes BlueSky Capital, Founders Fund, GLOBALFOUNDRIES, Intel Capital, Lockheed Martin Ventures, and Playground Global.

“Over the last year, we have continued to invest and grow our organization, and have demonstrated a number of technology firsts while securing additional customer and ecosystem relationships,” said Charles Wuischpard, CEO of Ayar Labs. “The investment interest from new and existing strategic and financial investors despite these difficult global times allows us to continue executing our long-range plan for making Ayar Labs Optical I/O a ubiquitous computing solution.”

http://www.ayarlabs.com

Ayar Labs selected for Intel’s DARPA PIPES Project

Thursday, November 21, 2019  Ayar, DARPA  

Ayar Labs has been selected as Intel’s optical I/O solution partner for their recently awarded DARPA PIPES (Photonics in Package for Extreme Scalability) project. The PIPES project aims to develop integrated optical I/O solutions co-packaged with next generation FPGA/CPU/GPU and accelerators in Multi-Chip Packages (MCP) to provide extreme data rates (input/output) at ultra-low power over much longer distances than supported by current technology....

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Ayar raises $24m for TeraPHY chips, appoints CEO

Sunday, November 18, 2018  Start-Ups  

Ayar Labs, a start-up based in Emeryville, California, raised $24 million in Series A funding for its work in silicon photonics for high-speed connectivity. Ayar Labs said it is pursuing a unique silicon photonics approach that uses fiber optic technology to move data between chips, rather than traditional copper pins and wires. It delivers improvements of 10x more bandwidth and 10x lower power compared to electrical interconnections. The funding...

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Movistar Colombia deploys Nokia's Digital Operations software

Telefónica Colombia affiliate, Movistar,is deploying Nokia Digital Operations software to modernize its Operations Support Systems (OSS).

Nokia’s Catalog-Driven Fulfillment solution is supporting the operator’s voice, mobile data, value-added and over-the-top services for 3G and 4G, as well as portability requests and VoLTE provisioning for Movistar’s 19 million mobile subscriber and 3 million fixed subscribers and TV users.

Nokia says its Digital Operations software will enable Movistar Colombia to complete more than 43 million tasks on a monthly basis, 

Francisco Javier Bertran, Digital Transformation Director Movistar Colombia, said: "Nokia is a strategic partner for Movistar's digital transformation process, allowing a convergent and profitable provision of services at scale, which facilitates reaching the market in an agile and timely manner with services for both fixed and mobile clients."

Bhaskar Gorti, President of Nokia Software and Nokia Chief Digital Officer, said: “By modernizing its OSS with Nokia Software solutions, Movistar Colombia is better equipped to deliver new customer-centric products and services and to manage these with extreme automation. Through our Common Software Foundation, Nokia Software solutions, like Digital Operations, are designed to give operators wide operational flexibility. We are pleased to be helping Movistar Colombia through its digital transformation.”

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Infinera posts Q3 revenue of $340 million, up 4.2%

Infinera reported GAAP revenue for the quarter was $340.2 million, up 2.6% compared to $331.6 million in the second quarter of 2020 and up 4.2% from $325.3 million in the third quarter of 2019. GAAP gross margin for the quarter was 31.8% compared to 29.4% in the second quarter of 2020 and 26.7% in the third quarter of 2019. Non-GAAP net income for the quarter was $4.2 million, or $0.02 per share, compared to a net loss of $(17.2) million, or $(0.09) per share, in the second quarter of 2020, and a net loss of $(30.5) million, or $(0.17) per share, in the third quarter of 2019.

“We delivered a very strong Q3, achieving non-GAAP operating profitability with non-GAAP revenue, gross margin and operating margin growing both sequentially and year-over-year,” said David Heard, Infinera COO. “We remain focused on the opportunity to grow our market share, expand margins and drive earnings growth through innovation and operational execution.”

“I continue to be very optimistic about the opportunities ahead of us that are created as the industry transitions to 800G, Open Optical networks and intelligent pluggables,” continued Tom Fallon, Infinera CEO. “These transitions are happening in a healthier competitive environment where vertical integration and assurance of network security are increasingly valued.”

https://investors.infinera.com/home/default.aspx

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CommScope reports Q3 sales of $2.168 billion, down 8.9% yoy

CommScope reported net sales of $2.168 billion up 3% the preceding quarter but down 8.9% from a year earlier. Net sales declined primarily due to year over year decreases in the Home Networks and Outdoor Wireless Networks segments.

CommScope generated a net loss of $(116.3) million, or $(0.66) per basic share, in the third quarter, compared to the prior year period's net loss of $(156.5) million, or $(0.88) per basic share. Non-GAAP adjusted net income for the third quarter of 2020 was $123.1 million, or $0.51 per diluted share, versus $126.9 million, or $0.55 per diluted share, in the third quarter of 2019.

“Since joining CommScope in October, I have been impressed by the team’s relentless focus on executing against our strategic objectives and delivering for our customers around the world,” said Chuck Treadway, president and chief executive officer. “Communication networks are essential to our economies, education system and for keeping us connected on a personal level. I couldn’t be happier to be a part of a company providing such critical network connectivity.

“As we look ahead, the Board and management team are focused on growing our business and creating long-term, profitable growth through a combination of investment opportunities and cost-cutting measures. While there remains much to do, we are confident in our ability to deliver enhanced profitability and unlock even greater value for CommScope and our shareholders. I am excited for CommScope to continue to play a critical role in advancing the 5G and 10G revolutions and shaping our global networks, today and in the future.” 

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MACOM posts sales of $147 million

MACOM Technology Solutions reported revenue of $147.2 million for its fiscal fourth quarter and fiscal year ended October 2, 2020, an increase of 31.2% compared to $112.2 million in the previous year fiscal fourth quarter and an increase of 7.3% compared to $137.3 million in the prior fiscal quarter.

Gross margin was 52.8%, compared to 47.2% in the previous year fiscal fourth quarter and 51.6% in the prior fiscal quarter. Net income was $17.5 million, or $0.22 per diluted share, compared to net income of $10.5 million, or $0.16 per diluted share, in the previous year fiscal fourth quarter and net loss of $25.0 million, or $0.37 loss per diluted share, in the prior fiscal quarter.

“During fiscal 2020, we took steps to improve MACOM's financial performance, reinvigorate new product development and update our strategic plan,” said Stephen G. Daly, President and Chief Executive Officer. “We look forward to continued improvements during fiscal 2021.”

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VIAVI posts revenue of $284.7 million, sees growth year ahead

VIAVI reported net revenue of $284.7 million for its first fiscal quarter ended October 3, 2020, down from $299.8 million in the same period a year ago. First quarter of fiscal 2021 GAAP net income was $14.3 million, or $0.06 per share. Non-GAAP net income was $48.3 million, or $0.21 per share.

"Our OSP business segment delivered an all-time record quarterly revenue driven by strong demand in 3D Sensing and Anti-Counterfeiting products.  Together with a stabilizing demand environment in NSE and operating expense control, we achieved a non-GAAP EPS at $0.21 which exceeded both the guidance range and a year ago levels," said Oleg Khaykin, VIAVI's President and Chief Executive Officer. "We expect NSE revenue to continue recovering and strengthen sequentially driven by Field Instruments. OSP strength is expected to continue with modest pullback in 3D Sensing and Anti-Counterfeiting products, inline with fiscal Q2 seasonality."

Khaykin added, "The near-term macroeconomic uncertainty notwithstanding, we expect calendar 2021 to be a growth year driven by the secular demand for 5G Wireless, Fiber and 3D Sensing."

• Americas, Asia-Pacific and EMEA customers represented 33.5%, 38.0% and 28.5%, respectively, of total net revenue for the quarter ended October 3, 2020.
• As of October 3, 2020, the Company held $595.5 million in total cash, short-term restricted cash and investments.

https://investor.viavisolutions.com/financials/quarterly-results/default.aspx

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DE-CIX in Frankfurt hits peak of 10 Tbps

DE-CIX in Frankfurt has set a new record for data throughput by reaching a peak of 10 Terabits per second shortly after 8 pm on November, 3, 2020. With more than 1000 connected customers, DE-CIX in Frankfurt maintains its position as one of the largest Internet Exchanges in the world.

At the beginning of March, DE-CIX Frankfurt broke through the 9 Tbps peak for the first time. 

DE-CIX is also reporting new peak throughput records for its exchanges in New York, Madrid, Marseille, Istanbul, and Dubai.

“Whether it’s for home-schooling, work-from-home, or private use, the global outbreak of the Covid-19 pandemic earlier in the year resulted in a meteoric rise in the use of digital applications – for streaming, chatting, or gaming. This year, there was also no slow-down in the summer months – quite the opposite! As a result of the coronavirus, digitalization has been boosted at all levels. We see in particular that large enterprises and listed corporations are currently adapting their interconnection strategies and are specifically seeking consultations and investigating the possibility of data exchange at and via Internet Exchanges like DE-CIX. With all eyes on the US election this week, a further impact on traffic has been felt around the world. It has already been made clear that the Internet can withstand massive loads – like those of a global lock-down. Now is the time to increase the quality of the Internet maximally, right through to the end user,” says Dr. Thomas King, CTO at DE-CIX.

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INDIGO subsea cable to deploy Ciena’s GeoMesh Extreme

Ciena has been selected by SUB.CO and its Australian entity APX Partners to upgrade the INDIGO subsea cable system, which connects Sydney, Perth, Jakarta and Singapore.

The Indigo submarine cable network spans approximately 9,000 kilometers, has two fiber pairs, and features new spectrum-sharing technology that allows consortium members to independently upgrade their networks and increase capacity, as needed and on-demand. 

This upgrade will use Ciena’s GeoMesh Extreme, powered by WaveLogic 5 Extreme on the 6500 platform, to deliver 500 Gbps single-wavelength channels speeds across the submarine cable network. SUB.CO and APX Partners will leverage Ciena’s Hosted Manage, Control and Plan (MCP) software via Ciena Services. The deployment of the Hosted MCP Software-as-a-Service is a first in the Asia Pacific region. Ciena Services will also be used for site engineering, installation, testing and end-to-end project management.

“Looking to where the industry is heading SUB.CO is focused on building and operating hyperscale and software defined submarine cable capacity by fusing dedicated spectrum/fiber infrastructure ownership economics with optical platforms that will allow us to maximize spectral efficiency, yet be flexible in configuration for all our different customer demands. Deploying both Ciena’s latest coherent optical solution over a shared spectrum cable and its hosted network management software in the Southeast Asia region is a key piece of our long-term strategy,” states Bevan Slattery, CEO, SUB.CO and APX Partners.

INDIGO subsea cable is ready for service

Monday, June 03, 2019  Australia, INDIGO, Subsea  

The INDIGO subsea cable system, which connects Australia and Southeast Asia, is officially ready for use.

INDIGO features two-fibre pairs with a design capacity for up to 36 terabits per second. The cable system will utilise new spectrum sharing technology so each consortium member will have the ability to independently take advantage of technology advancements for future upgrades and capacity increases on demand.

INDIGO is backed by AARNet, Google, Indosat Ooredoo, Singtel, SubPartners and Telstra.

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Qualcomm posts revenues of $6.5 billion, up 35% yoy

Qualcomm reported quarterly revenue of $8.3 billion, up 73% year-over-year, above the high end of prior guidance issued by the company. Non-GAAP revenues were $6.5 billion, up 35% year-over-year. Non-GAAP diluted EPS was $1.45, an increase of 86% year-over-year, above the high end of our prior guidance range.

“Our fiscal fourth quarter results demonstrate that our investments in 5G are coming to fruition and showing benefits in our licensing and product businesses,” said Steve Mollenkopf, CEO of Qualcomm Incorporated. “We concluded the year with exceptional fourth quarter results and are well positioned for growth in 2021 and beyond. As the pace of disruption in wireless technology accelerates, we will continue to drive growth and scale across our RF front-end, Automotive and IoT adjacencies.”

Some highlights:

• MSM chip shipments: 162 million, an increase of 7% year-over-year, above the midpoint of the prior guidance range.
• QCT revenues: $5.0 billion, an increase of 38% year-over-year, above the high end of the prior guidance range
• QTL revenues: $1.5 billion, an increase of 30% year-over-year, above the high end of the prior guidance range.

Regarding the 5G environment, Qualcomm notes:

• Over 400 operators investing in 5G and more than 110+ operators in almost 50 countries / territories have launched commercial 5G services- across both sub-6 and millimeter wave spectrum
• 35+ operators offer 5G fixed wireless access or home broadband services
• 148 5G phones commercially available (+56% vs June 2020) – 200 announced (+48% vs June 2020)
• 222 5G devices commercially available (+64% vs June 2020) – 444 announced (+40% vs June 2020)
• Release 16 completed, which expands 5G to new spectrum and services, working on Releases 17 and 18

https://investor.qualcomm.com/financial-information/historical-financial-results

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Spectra7 Sets Sights on 56Gbps PAM4 NIC designs

Spectra7 Microsystem announced three new reference designs targeted at new server connectivity needs implementing 56Gbps PAM4 signaling on Ethernet Network Interface Cards (NICs). 

As servers adopt higher bandwidth ports that utilize 56Gbps PAM4 signaling, passive cables cannot serve all lengths needed. Instead of deploying optical interconnects that are much higher power and more costly, operators are looking to Active Copper Cables (ACCs) to serve this growing need. One example is Tencent who demonstrated a Spectra7 enabled ACC for server connectivity in September at China’s Open Data Center Committee (ODCC) conference. The 200Gbps demonstration showed a Spectra7 enabled ACC “splitter cable” connecting from a 200Gbps top-of-rack (ToR) switch port to 2 separate servers with 100Gbps NIC ports. The signaling in the cable was 56Gbps PAM4. This “splitter cable” architecture is being widely planned both in the US and in China for next generation deployments.

GCS-QSFP Reference Design

Server Connectivity Splitter Cable with 200Gbps QSFP56-CR4 form factor module at switch end and 2 QSFP56-CR2 form factor modules at server ends. A total of 4 GC2502 ICs are used in this reference design.

GCS-DSFP Reference Design

Server Connectivity Splitter Cable with 200Gbps QSFP56-CR4 form factor module at switch end and 2 DSFP-CR2 form factor modules at server ends. A total of 4 GC2502 ICs are used in this reference design.

GCS-SFP-DD Reference Design

Server Connectivity Splitter Cable with 200Gbps QSFP56-CR4 form factor module at switch end and 2 SFP-DD-CR2 form factor modules at server ends. A total of 4 GC2502 ICs are used in this reference design.

http://www.spectra7.com/pam4-referencedesigns

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FCC fines T-Mobile $200 million for Lifeline violations at Sprint

The Federal Communications Commission’s Enforcement Bureau imposed a $200 million fine on T-Mobile in connection with Sprint's non-compliance with rules pertaining to waste, fraud, and abuse in the Lifeline program for low-income consumers.  

The payment is the largest fixed-amount settlement the FCC has ever secured to resolve an investigation. 

Prior to its merger with T-Mobile, Sprint was claiming monthly subsidies for serving approximately 885,000 Lifeline subscribers even though those subscribers were not using the service, in potential violation of the Commission’s “non-usage” rule.  The matter initially came to light as a result of an investigation by the Oregon Public Utility Commission.  In addition to paying a $200 million civil penalty, Sprint agreed to enter into a compliance plan to help ensure future adherence to the Commission’s rules for the Lifeline program.

The Lifeline program helps make phone and broadband service more affordable for low-income consumers.  Providers participating in the program receive a $9.25 monthly subsidy for most Lifeline subscribers, which they must pass along to consumers as a discount.  For most mobile Lifeline consumers served by Sprint and many other providers, the subsidy makes the service free to the consumer.

“Lifeline is key to our commitment to bringing digital opportunity to low-income Americans, and it is especially critical that we make the best use of taxpayer dollars for this vital program,” said Chairman Ajit Pai.  “I’m pleased that we were able to resolve this investigation in a manner that sends a strong message about the importance of complying with rules designed to prevent waste, fraud, and abuse in the Lifeline program.  In addition to the great work of our Enforcement Bureau team, I would like to thank the Oregon Public Utility Commission for its efforts in this case.  States play an important role in helping low-income consumers get access to affordable communications through Lifeline and making sure the program is run efficiently.” 

 

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Zain Group cites impact of COVID-19 on telecom revenues

Zain Group reported consolidated revenue of KD 1.2 billion (USD 3.9 billion) for the first nine months of 2020, down 2% Y-o-Y, while consolidated EBITDA for the period reached KD 502 million (USD 1.6 billion), down 7% Y-o-Y, reflecting a healthy EBITDA margin of 42%. Consolidated net income amounted to KD 132 million (USD 429 million), reflecting a 14% Y-o-Y decrease. Earnings per share amounted to 30 fils (USD 0.10) for the nine-month period. For 9M 2020, foreign currency translation impact, predominantly due to the 14% currency devaluation in Sudan from an average of 46 at 9M 2019 to 53.7 at 9M 2020 (SDG / USD), cost the Group USD 78 million in revenue, USD 36 million in EBITDA and USD 9 million in net income. 

Zain highlighted e notable 68% Y-o-Y increase in net income at Zain Iraq and healthy 28% revenue growth in USD terms at Zain Sudan.   

Mr. Bader Nasser Al-Kharafi, Zain Vice-Chairman and Group CEO commented, “The telecom sector is not immune to the current pandemic facing the global community that will continue to play havoc across all aspects of socio-economic life for the foreseeable future. Nevertheless, we continue our resolve and commitment to ensuring meaningful connectivity and implementing more digitalization initiatives to better serve businesses, governments, and societies, aiming to lessen the impact of COVID19 on society.”

Operational review of key markets for the nine months ended 30 September, 2020

• Kuwait: Maintaining its market leadership, Zain Group’s flagship operation saw its customer base serve 2.6 million. It remains the Group’s most profitable operation with revenue for 9M 2020 reaching KD 236 million (USD 770 million), EBITDA reaching KD 85 million (USD 277 million), representing an EBITDA margin of 36%. Net income reached KD 58 million (USD 189 million) for 9M 2020, with data revenue accounting for 39% of total revenue.
• Saudi Arabia: For the 9M 2020, Zain KSA generated revenue of SAR 5.9 billion (USD 1.6 billion), EBITDA for the period reached SAR 2.6 billion (USD 695 million), reflecting an EBITDA margin of 45%. Net income for the nine months reached SAR 224 million (USD 60 million).  Data revenue represents 51% of total revenue and customers served stood at 7.0 million. 
• Iraq: Zain Iraq’s 9M 2020 revenue reached USD 708 million and EBITDA amounted to USD 285 million, reflecting EBITDA margin of 40%. The operation reported an impressive net profit of USD 61 million for 9M 2020. The operator served 15.7 million customers maintaining its market leading position.
• Sudan: For 9M 2020, Zain Sudan generated revenue of SDG 14.9 billion (USD 278 million), with EBITDA amounting to SDG 6.5 billion (USD 121 million), reflecting an EBITDA margin of 44%. Net income for the period reached SDG 1.9 billion (USD 36 million). Data revenue represented 25% of total revenue, while the operator’s customer base reached 16.0 million, maintaining its market leadership.
• Jordan: For 9M 2020, Zain Jordan revenue reached USD 359 million, EBITDA reached USD 160 million, reflecting an EBITDA margin of 44%, with net income reaching USD 56 million. With the ongoing expansion of 4G services across the country, data revenue represented 46% of total revenue.  Zain Jordan served 3.5 million customers maintaining its market leading position.
• Bahrain: Zain Bahrain generated revenue of USD 123 million for 9M 2020. EBITDA for the period amounted to USD 42 million, reflecting an EBITDA margin of 34%. Net income amounted to USD 10 million. 

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