Adtran Predictions 2024: Service Provider Networking Trends in 2024

 Ronan Kelly, CTO, EMEA from Adtran, predicts:

- Better inventory alignment at carriers to reduce their high uncertainty buffers of stock. This will free up cash flow, allowing a renewed investment on connecting subscribers.

- A shift towards more efficient solutions, not just for energy, but broader resource consumption, streamlined workflows, and improved operational efficiency.

- A growing need for interoperability, allowing operators to bring disparate networks from different vendors under common control, delivering a homogeneous service offering.

https://youtu.be/DR8p0yLw4JE

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DISH lands $50M NTIA grant for 5G Open RAN center

DISH Wireless has been awarded a  $50 million grant from the U.S. Department of Commerce's National Telecommunications and Information Administration (NTIA) to establish the Open RAN Center for Integration & Deployment (ORCID). 

ORCID, which will be housed in DISH's secure Cheyenne, Wyoming campus, will allow participants to test and validate their hardware and software solutions (RU, DU and CU) against a complete commercial-grade Open RAN network deployed by DISH. The facility will be supported by consortium partners Fujitsu, Mavenir and VMware by Broadcom and technology partners Analog Devices, ARM, Cisco, Dell Technologies, Intel, JMA Wireless, NVIDIA, Qualcomm and Samsung. 

At ORCID, participants will be able to test and evaluate individual or multiple network elements to ensure Open RAN interoperability, performance and security, and contribute to the development, deployment and adoption of open and interoperable standards-based radio access networks. ORCID's "living laboratory" will drive the Open RAN ecosystem — from lab testing to commercial deployment.  

Highlights:

• ORCID will combine both lab and field testing and evaluation activities. ORCID will be able to test elements brought by any qualified vendor against DISH's live, complete and commercial-grade Open RAN stack. 
• ORCID will use DISH's spectrum holdings, a combination of low-, mid- and high-band frequencies, enabling field testing and evaluation. 
• ORCID will evaluate Open RAN elements through mixing and matching with those of other vendors, rather than validating a single vendor's stack. DISH's experience in a multi-vendor environment will give ORCID unique insights about the integration of Open RAN into brownfield networks. 
• ORCID's multi-tenant lab and field testing will occur in DISH's secure Cheyenne, Wyoming facility, which is already compliant with stringent security protocols in light of its satellite functions.

"The Open RAN Center for Integration and Deployment (ORCID) will serve a critical role in strengthening the global Open RAN ecosystem and building the next generation of wireless networks," said Charlie Ergen, co-founder and chairman, EchoStar. "By leveraging DISH's experience deploying the world's first standalone Open RAN 5G network, ORCID will be uniquely positioned to test and evaluate Open RAN interoperability, performance and security from domestic and international vendors. We appreciate NTIA's recognition of DISH and ORCID's role in driving Open RAN innovation and the Administration's ongoing commitment to U.S. leadership in wireless connectivity."

https://dish.gcs-web.com/news-releases/news-release-details/dish-wireless-awarded-50-million-ntia-grant-5g-open-ran

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EKINOPS publishes 2023 financial results

 EKINOPS reported its consolidated revenue figures for the fiscal year ending on December 31, 2023, revealing the following key points:

• Total Revenue: EKINOPS reported a consolidated revenue of €129.1 million for the year 2023, marking a modest year-over-year increase of +1% compared to the previous fiscal year. When accounting for constant exchange rates, annual revenue showed slightly stronger growth at +2%.
• Fourth Quarter Growth: In Q4 2023, EKINOPS experienced a sequential revenue growth of +9% compared to the previous quarter, recovering from Q3 2023, which was the low point of the year. However, year-over-year, Q4 2023 revenue decreased slightly to €30.3 million from €31.5 million in Q4 2022, representing a quarterly decline of -4% (-3% at constant exchange rates).
• Optical Transport Success: EKINOPS saw substantial growth in its Optical Transport business line, with a +27% increase in revenue over the course of 2023. This growth was driven by successful implementations of Wavelength Division Multiplexing (WDM) solutions, particularly in France and EMEA (Europe - excluding France - Middle East and Africa). New customer wins, especially in Eastern Europe, contributed significantly to this success.
• 
  Access Solutions Decline: In contrast, sales of Access solutions faced challenges in 2023, experiencing a significant decline of -15% over the year. This decline was particularly pronounced in the second half of the year, with a -25% decrease. Factors contributing to this decline included a slowdown in demand, increased caution among clients in making investments, high equipment inventories among major operators, and difficulties in securing financing sources for operators.
• Software & Services Growth: The share of Software & Services in EKINOPS' revenue increased to 17% of the company's total revenue for FY 2023, compared to 15% in the previous fiscal year. In H2 2023, Software & Services accounted for 20% of the company's revenue. Revenue generated by Software & Services saw an impressive +12% growth over the full year, driven by network virtualization solutions, SD-WAN solutions, and associated services.
• International Expansion: EKINOPS recorded an +8% growth in international sales for the fiscal year 2023. In North America, revenue increased by +6%, reaching €31.7 million, despite a demanding comparison basis from the previous year. EMEA showed robust growth, with revenue in the region increasing by +23%. In contrast, Asia-Pacific experienced a substantial -63% decline in revenue.
• Domestic Market Performance: EKINOPS' sales in its domestic market, France, decreased by -11% in 2023. Access equipment, the company's core business in France, saw a -18% drop in sales due to the economic slowdown and high inventory levels at major operator customers. However, Optical Transport continued to perform well, with a significant +57% increase in sales over the year.
• EBITDA Margin Target: Despite challenging market conditions, EKINOPS confirmed its EBITDA margin target for 2023, aiming for a margin between 13% and 17%. The second half of 2023 was particularly impacted by adverse market conditions in the Access activity.

Didier Brédy, Chairman and CEO of Ekinops, said: "Changes in the economic climate during 2023, affecting company investment policies and health, penalized our Access business in the second half of the year. In contrast, we significantly outperformed the Optical Transport market, both in Europe and the United States. After the low point of Q3, our aim is to generate a higher level of revenue in H1 2024 than that of H2 2023. FY 2024 revenue should be driven by a rebound in Access equipment sales as the economy recovers, and by the launch of a major new optical transport product over the summer.

In terms of acquisitions, Ekinops' management remains fully mobilized, and we aim to complete one or more transactions over the coming months, while favoring non-dilutive financing."

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HPE + Juniper merger targets AI-native networking

Citing higher growth and higher margin opportunities for modernized networking optimized for hybrid cloud and AI, Hewlett Packard Enterprise (HPE) confirmed plans to acquire Juniper Networks for $40.00 per share in cash, representing an equity value of approximately $14 billion and a 32% premium over the unaffected closing price of Juniper’s common stock on January 8, 2024.

HPE saysJuniper’s complementary portfolios supercharges its own edge-to-cloud strategy with an ability to lead in an AI-native environment based on a foundational cloud-native architecture. 

The combined company will target next-generation AI-native networking and enable new digital experiences through secure, intelligent connectivity. Networking will become the new core business and architecture foundation for HPE’s Hybrid Cloud and AI solutions delivered through our HPE GreenLake hybrid cloud platform. 

“HPE’s acquisition of Juniper represents an important inflection point in the industry and will change the dynamics in the networking market and provide customers and partners with a new alternative that meets their toughest demands,” said Antonio Neri, CEO of HPE. “This transaction will strengthen HPE’s position at the nexus of accelerating macro-AI trends, expand our total addressable market, and drive further innovation for customers as we help bridge the AI-native and cloud-native worlds, while also generating significant value for shareholders. I am excited to welcome Juniper’s talented employees to our team as we bring together two companies with complementary portfolios and proven track records of driving innovation within the industry.”

“Our multi-year focus on innovative, secure AI-native solutions has driven Juniper Networks’ outstanding performance,” said Rami Rahim, CEO of Juniper Networks. “We have successfully delivered exceptional user experiences and simplified operations, and by joining HPE, I believe we can accelerate the next phase of our journey. In addition, this combination maximizes value for our shareholders through a meaningful all-cash premium. We look forward to working with the talented HPE team to drive innovation for enterprise, service provider and cloud customers across all domains, including campus, branch, data center and the wide area network.”

Some highlights:

• Juniper CEO Rami Rahim will lead the combined HPE networking business, reporting to HPE President and CEO Antonio Neri.
• On a pro forma basis, the new networking segment will increase from approximately 18% of total HPE revenue as of fiscal year 2023 to approximately 31%[1] and contribute more than 56%1,[2] of HPE’s total operating income.
• The transaction is expected to be funded based on financing commitments for $14 billion in term loans, which will ultimately be replaced, in part, with a combination of new debt, mandatory convertible preferred securities, and cash on the balance sheet. 
• The combined company is expected to achieve operating efficiencies and run-rate annual cost synergies of $450 million within 36 months post close. 
• The acquisition is currently expected to close in late calendar year 2024 or early calendar year 2025.

https://www.hpe.com/us/en/newsroom/press-release/2024/01/hpe-to-acquire-juniper-networks-to-accelerate-ai-driven-innovation.html

From HPE's Q4 2023 financial presentation

From Juniper's Q3 2023 financial presentation

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HPE Aruba Networking Predictions 2024: Private 5G, AI & Zero Trust

Check out all 2024 Predictions from Industry Thought Leaders: https://ngi.fyi/predictions24yt

Phil Mottram, EVP and GM from HPE Aruba Networking, predicts:

- Private 5G will become Enterprise ready. Private 5G will coexist with Wi-Fi, particularly benefiting outdoor spaces and areas where speed is crucial.

- AI becomes more mainstream in networking. Network managers will become more efficient, focusing more on strategy rather than individual network issues. 

- Zero trust will be a significant element of security deployments. Zero trust will bridge the gap between network and security departments, providing users with necessary application access while maintaining an organization's security posture. 

https://youtu.be/5ZkpTAK328c

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Juniper Predictions 2024: Sustainability & 800G Networking Shape Future

 How will sustainability, 800G, and AI operations will shape the future of network infrastructure? Sally Bament, VP of Cloud & Service Provider Marketing from Juniper, explains:

- The importance of sustainability in network infrastructure purchasing decisions: Suppliers who can't demonstrate that their products are energy-efficient and recyclable will be at a significant disadvantage. The term "green networking" will become ubiquitous, and businesses will be held accountable to benchmarks aligned with scientific understanding to ensure real contributions to global sustainability efforts.

- The emergence of 800G networking as a hero technology: With the continued growth of data-heavy applications and services demanding ultra-fast experiences, 800G networking will emerge, led by cloud providers, telecom operators, and data center operators. This technology will enable performance without compromise and equip operators to navigate sustainable growth while balancing capacity needs, space efficiencies, and cost management.

- The adoption of on-prem automation and cloud-based AI Ops by operators: Operators will begin experimenting with cloud-based AI operations, influenced by security compliance and data sovereignty needs. By adopting a nuanced strategy, operators will proactively reduce customer-detected issues and improve customer retention to support their broader business goals. Automation will shift focus from cost reduction to enhancing operational efficiencies and user experience. 

https://youtu.be/deoqNO_iOL8

Join Sally as she shares her insightful predictions for 2024 in the world of network infrastructure.

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Juniper Predictions 2024: Shift to On-Premises AI Data Centers

Wondering about the future of AI data centers and how they will evolve in 2024? Ben Baker, Senior Director of Cloud/SP Marketing from Juniper, provides insightful predictions:

- The Shift from Public to Private: Baker discusses the trend of companies moving away from public cloud due to its complexity and cost. He predicts a rise in on-prem AI data centers for better control, tighter security, and lower costs.

- The Importance of Renewable Energy: With data center racks consuming more power, Baker emphasizes the increasing importance of renewable energy. He foresees a rise in 100% renewable powered data centers and innovative cooling methods to minimize power consumption.

- The Role of AI in Network Management: Baker highlights the growing role of AI in network management. He predicts AI Ops will be used for predictive maintenance and troubleshooting, reducing repair time and improving system navigation.

https://youtu.be/0An9_ZnhFnM

Join us as we delve into these predictions and more, exploring the future landscape of AI data centers.

Want to be involved our video series? Contact info@nextgeninfra.io

 Check out all 2024 Predictions from Industry Thought Leaders: https://ngi.fyi/predictions24yt

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Juniper Predictions 2024: AI & IoT for Network Security & Scalability

What's next for enterprise networking in 2024? Christian Gilby, Sr. Director of Product Marketing from Juniper, predicts:

- The importance of transitioning to the cloud for integrated network security and management, and how network access control will make a significant comeback in 2024, synergizing with AI Ops and aligning more cohesively with cloud applications.

- How IoT will witness deeper integration into access points and gateways within network infrastructure in 2024, enhancing scalability and making IoT integrations fundamental in leveraging the network to boost outcomes.

- The evolution of client user experience learning in networking, facilitating cross-domain troubleshooting and application integrations, enhancing the overall network application performance and delivering amazing user experiences.

https://youtu.be/TlhpxTEMQ60

Stay ahead of the curve and learn how to harness AI Ops to simplify and optimize Wi-Fi networks, take advantage of the expansion to the 6 GHz Spectrum with Wi-Fi 6E, and prepare for the emergence of Wi-Fi 7. 

Want to be involved our video series? Contact info@nextgeninfra.io

 Check out all 2024 Predictions from Industry Thought Leaders: https://ngi.fyi/predictions24yt

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DigitalBridge and Silver Lake invest $6.4B in Vantage Data Centers

Vantage Data Centers announced a $6.4 billion equity investment led by investment vehicles managed by DigitalBridge Group and Silver Lake.

The investment, across North America and EMEA, is incremental to the recently announced €1.5 billion to be invested by AustralianSuper in Vantage EMEA and includes expected investment from DigitalBridge and Silver Lake co-investors. These investments accelerate and extend Vantage’s strategic capabilities across North America and EMEA to partner with global hyperscalers in meeting unprecedented cloud and AI demand.

Vantage owns or controls 25 sites in North America and EMEA totaling more than three gigawatts of expected capacity. As part of the company’s investment plan, Vantage’s strategic land bank is expected to drive an estimated $30 billion of additional development, extending Vantage's track record of bringing market leading capacity and innovative solutions to customers around the world. 

“We are delighted that Silver Lake is joining DigitalBridge to support Vantage’s continued expansion across North America and EMEA,” said Sureel Choksi, president and CEO of Vantage. “Cloud computing, AI and related technologies are driving unprecedented demand for digital infrastructure. The market opportunity in front of us is extraordinary, and we are excited to chart our next phase of growth with two premier investors who have been great partners to us and have an unmatched understanding of our global technology customers and their infrastructure needs.”

“We are excited about supporting the next chapter of Vantage’s growth in partnership with Silver Lake,” said Jon Mauck, senior managing director at DigitalBridge, who leads the company’s data center investment strategy. “We believe the combination of DigitalBridge’s unparalleled insight into the digital infrastructure landscape and Silver Lake’s technology focus creates a unique partnership to further enable Vantage’s strategic expansion and long-term growth plan. Vantage is a critical partner to the leading cloud and technology platforms globally and is well positioned to continue to support accelerating adoption of cloud- and AI-based technologies.”

https://vantage-dc.com

• Silver Lake launched Vantage in 2010 as a single data center campus in Santa Clara, California, recruited the management team that continues to lead Vantage today, and grew the company to have the then-largest wholesale data center footprint in Silicon Valley focused on serving sophisticated technology companies. 
• A DigitalBridge-managed vehicle acquired Vantage in 2017 and has been the key strategic partner for nearly seven years, further emphasizing the company’s strategy to support cloud and now AI adoption and scaling Vantage into a global market leader with 32 operational or developing hyperscale data center campuses across five continents.

https://vantage-dc.com

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Open XR Optics Forum validates intelligent coherent transceivers

The Open XR Optics Forum recently showcased the effectiveness of their Management Architecture Specification through a demonstration. This initiative, led by Liberty Global, successfully integrated smart transceivers into various network systems and routers. A wide range of currently deployed network configurations was tested using line systems from multiple vendors in point-to-point and point-to-multipoint applications."

Key benefits of Open XR optics include simplification of network architecture enabled by coherent point-to-multipoint connectivity, intergenerational compatibility of high-speed and low-speed transceivers, and software-configurable bandwidth. Realization of these benefits in legacy networks requires compatibility with a diversity of routers and transport host devices as well as coexistence of XR signals in a variety of brownfield DWDM and PON line systems. In many cases, seamless integration with existing network management methods is also needed. Open XR optics advanced management features enable a dual management paradigm that preserves host-independent management of optical functions to maintain the delineation between the IP layer and optical layer management present in many optical transport networks today.

This trial successfully demonstrated the extreme versatility of Open XR transceivers and management methods by operating in 400G routers on 400G line systems in point-to-point connections, 400G to 4 x 100G point-to-multipoint configurations, and 2 x 100G transmission over a 50 GHz line system optimized for only 10G transmission. The trial also demonstrated the ability to transmit 100G full-duplex optical signals over a single-fiber PON infrastructure coexisting with the 10G XGS-PON signal. This PON overlay technique highlights how network operators can leverage XR signals over existing PON infrastructure to deliver new high-speed business services with minimal incremental investment.

Open XR Optics Forum members DriveNets, Infinera, Juniper Networks, Liberty Global, and UfiSpace all participated in this interoperability demonstration. 

The details and results of this demonstration were reported at the European Conference on Optical Communications held in Glasgow, Scotland in October and are now available in the full Open XR Optics Forum report, Dual Management of Open XR pluggable modules in P2MP Applications Hosted in Various Routers with Transmission over Multiple Line Systems Proof of Concept Demonstration. 

http://www.openxrforum.org

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Boingo Wireless launches first Wi-Fi 7 Public Venue

Boingo Wireless activated the first Wi-Fi 7 network at a public venue. The network is live at the Las Vegas Monorail Boingo Station at the Las Vegas Convention Center and will be on display during CES at the Boingo Innovation Center.

AI-driven RUCKUS R770 enterprise-class Wi-Fi 7 access points (APs) were utilized for Boingo’s deployment.

“Boingo is proud to lead the charge in launching the world’s first Wi-Fi 7 network at a public venue, unlocking a new era of reliable, secure Wi-Fi connectivity for high-trafficked, diverse enterprise environments including airports, transit stations, hotels, casinos, stadiums, hospitals and military bases,” said Boingo CEO Mike Finley. “CES and Las Vegas have been home to groundbreaking technology unveilings, and Boingo is excited to contribute to that list with this inaugural Wi-Fi 7 deployment.”

Boingo’s Wi-Fi 7 deployment adds to its wireless firsts, including launching the first commercial DAS network, first Passpoint network, first CBRS airport private network and first Wi-Fi 6 network at an airport.

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Intel to acquire Silicon Mobility SAS

Intel agreed to acquire Silicon Mobility, a fabless silicon and software company that specializes in SoCs for intelligent electric vehicle (EV) energy management. Financial terms were not dislosed.

 Silicon Mobility’s SoCs feature acceleratorsfor energy delivery and co-designed with highly advanced software algorithms for significant gains in vehicle energy efficiency. The company is headquartered in Sophia Antipolis, France, and has expanded its presence with offices in Silicon Valley, Munich, Japan, and China. Silicon Mobility's technologies focus on controlling key elements of electric powertrains, such as electric motors, battery charging, and power conversion systems, contributing to increased EV range, reduced emissions in hybrid cars, and enhanced passenger safety.

Intel also announced: a new family of AI-enhanced software-defined vehicle system-on-chips (SoCs).

“Intel is taking a ‘whole vehicle’ approach to solving the industry’s biggest challenges. Driving innovative AI solutions across the vehicle platform will help the industry navigate the transformation to EVs,” said Jack Weast, vice president and general manager of Intel Automotive. “The acquisition of Silicon Mobility aligns with our sustainability goals while addressing a critical energy management need for the industry.”

https://www.intc.com/news-events/press-releases/detail/1668/intel-drives-ai-everywhere-into-automotive-market-at

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WSJ: HPE nears deal to acquire Juniper for $13B

 The Wall Street Journal reported on Monday afternoon that Hewlett Packard Enterprise (HPE) is nearing a deal to acquire Juniper Networks in a deal valued at approximately $13 billion.  

Neither company has commented publicly on the article as of Monday evening.

As of last Friday, the market capitalization of Juniper Networks was approximately $9.6 billion, so the offer would represent a 35% premium.

https://www.wsj.com/business/deals/hewlett-packard-enterprise-near-deal-to-buy-juniper-networks-6995a464 (paywall)

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Windstream Wholesale adds wavelength Route Creator tool

Windstream Wholesale introduced a Route Creator tool that empowers customers to design their own wavelength routes. The tool, which is available via the customer portal, provides a clear view of accessible wave routes on the Windstream Intelligent Converged Optical Network (ICON). Customers can evaluate up to five wavelength route options, enhancing their network management capabilities.

Customers can view information on mileage, latency, and number of network hops aligned to each route option. Additionally, the route tool enables the user to customize the route options by selectively adding route diversity as necessary. The self-service tool also seamlessly integrates into the iconnect customer portal turning the desired design into a quote, making the process faster and more efficient than ever before.

Windstream says that one of the most noteworthy and valuable features for customers is the capability to export available route options to KMZ files. This empowers network planners to download their route designs for operational review and business coordination. The Route Creator will be available to Windstream Wholesale customers at the end of January.

“Windstream Wholesale is dedicated to shaping the future of technology and network intelligence,” said Joe Scattareggia, president of Windstream Wholesale. “Equally important is our commitment to eliminating barriers and service obstacles for our customers. We ensure complete network visibility and expedite connections based on our customers’ needs.”

https://www.windstreamwholesale.com/network-expansion

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Lumen is first with Wi-Fi CERTIFIED 7 device

 Lumen Technologies is the first company in the industry to receive Wi-Fi 7 certifications for its custom-developed wireless solution. Lumen designed its devices for its Quantum Fiber residential and small business customers to deliver faster speeds and better coverage than Wi-Fi 6/6E.

Wi-Fi Alliance certified two Lumen Wi-Fi 7 devices:

• The W1700K is a desk or wall mount device that covers 90% of homes with higher data capacity than Wi-Fi 6/6E. It provides reliable and secure Wi-Fi 7 connectivity throughout the home or office.
• The W1701K is a fully compliant wall plug-in device that extends the Wi-Fi 7 coverage throughout larger areas of the home or business to reduce dead zones.

Lumen's solution includes MediaTek's Smart Link-Dispatch technology, an advanced QOS/QOE feature built into the Wi-Fi radio, enhancing application performance with high-bandwidth and low-latency traffic in real-world settings.

Lumen's Quantum Fiber Wi-Fi 7 solution is an FCC 6GHz Standard Power (6SD) class device. The 6SD equipment class enables higher transmit power for increased data throughput or twice the range as compared to the theoretical indoor standard (6ID). With the 6GHz channel and the higher power setting, these devices wirelessly unlock the full power of the Quantum Fiber high speed product up to 8 Gbps, helping to enable higher data rates throughout a home or business.

Both devices also support cloud-based Digital Twin technology and use the carrier grade OpenWRT standard with Wi-Fi EasyMesh  and prplMesh enabling real time orchestration and advanced device management capabilities. 

"We are proud that our Wi-Fi 7 devices are the first certified by Wi-Fi Alliance," said Maxine Moreau, Lumen president of Mass Markets. "This demonstrates our commitment to deliver the best Wi-Fi solutions to our customers as we continue to innovate for growth. Our Wi-Fi 7 devices offer faster speeds than Wi-Fi 6/6E, low latency, and amazing coverage allowing users to enjoy the next generation of Wi-Fi applications and services."

Quantum Fiber installed its first customer Wi-Fi 7 device in December. Wi-Fi 7 will be available to new Quantum Fiber customers later this month. Quantum Fiber is available to homes and small businesses in parts of 16 states.

www.quantumfiber.com/wifi7

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Intel shows its latest mobile and desktop processors

Intel introduced its 14th Gen mobile and desktop processor lineup for edge AI and compute-intensive workloads. Additionally, Intel introduced its new Intel Core mobile processor Series 1 family, led by the Intel Core 7 processor 150U, for performant mainstream thin-and-light mobile systems.

“Our Intel Core 14th Gen processor family is built to bring top-notch performance and platform features to enthusiast and mainstream PC users alike,” said Roger Chandler, Intel vice president and general manager, Enthusiast PC and Workstations​, Client Computing Group. “Enthusiasts on-the-go can now enjoy the best mobile experience available today with our HX-series processors. And mainstream desktop users can now experience the efficient performance and robust platform features available in our latest-gen 65-watt and 35-watt desktop processors.”

The new mobile processor family includes:

• Up to 5.8 GHz turbo frequency delivering up to 17% better gaming performance and up to 51% faster multitasking performance gen-over-gen2.
• Up to 24 cores (eight P-cores, 16 E-cores) and 32 threads in its i9-14900HX processors.
• 50% more E-cores in its i7-14700HX processors, bringing those to 20 cores (eight P-cores, 12 E-cores) and 28 threads.
• Support for up to 192 gigabytes (GB) of total DDR5-5600 megatransfers/second (MT/S) memory.
• Overclocking capabilities on HX series processors, including Intel® Extreme Utility (XTU) and Intel® Extreme Memory Profile (XMP) support3.
• New Intel Application Optimization (APO) support on HX series, with six new gaming titles (eight total) supported since the initial Intel Core 14th Gen desktop launch in October 2023.
• Thunderbolt 5, delivering 80 gigabits per second (Gbps) of bi-directional bandwidth, and bandwidth boost providing up to 120 Gbps, 3x the capability of today’s fastest solutions, for the best display and data experiences – in addition to Thunderbolt 4 delivering bandwidth of 40 Gbps for PC connectivity to multiple 4K monitors and accessories.
• Leading wireless features, including integrated Intel Wi-Fi 6E (Gig+) and available new discrete Intel Wi-Fi 7 (5 Gig) for multi-gigabit speeds in more locations, wired-like responsiveness and extreme reliability.
• The latest in Bluetooth connectivity with support for both Bluetooth 5.4 and Bluetooth 5.3, providing exceptional performance for multiple simultaneous Bluetooth-enabled device connections.

The latest Intel desktop processors include:

• Up to 5.8 GHz turbo frequency delivering up to 37% faster multi-thread performance and up to 7% better Microsoft Office performance gen-over-gen5.
• Up to 24 cores (eight P-cores, 16 E-cores) and 32 threads in its i9-14900 processors.
• For the i7-14700, the addition of four E-cores for a total of 20 cores (eight P-cores, 12 E-cores) and 28 threads.
• Support for up to 192 GB of total DDR5-5600/DDR4-3200 MT/S memory – providing backward compatibility with existing Intel 600- and 700-series-based motherboards.
• Continued support for in-box thermal solutions, including the Intel Laminar RH1 and RM1 coolers.
• Next-generation wireless connectivity with support for both Intel Killer Wi-Fi 7 (5 Gig) and Intel Killer Wi-Fi 6E (Gig+).
• Continued support for both PCIe Gen 5.0, Gen 4.0 and Thunderbolt 4 providing 40 Gbps bandwidth, in addition to integrated USB 3.2 connectivity support providing up to 20 Gbps transfer bandwidth.

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NVIDIA intros latest desktop GPUs for AI

At CES in Las Vegas, NVIDIA announced its latest GeForce RTX SUPER desktop GPUs for enhanced AI performance, a range of AI laptops from leading manufacturers, and new AI software tools accelerated by NVIDIA RTX. These developments are built upon NVIDIA's established role in the AI PC era, with over 100 million RTX GPUs already in use. The company is introducing improved AI tools such as NVIDIA TensorRT™ for the Stable Diffusion XL model, and more games will benefit from DLSS 3 technology. Additionally, AI Workbench, a toolkit for AI developers, is set to be released in beta, and NVIDIA TensorRT-LLM (TRT-LLM) is now supporting more optimized models for PCs.

To ensure that generative AI applications are efficient and private, NVIDIA emphasizes the importance of running AI locally on PCs. The new GeForce RTX 40 SUPER Series graphics cards, including models like the RTX 4080 SUPER, are designed for top-notch AI performance. These GPUs will power a new wave of AI laptops from major manufacturers, enhancing AI capabilities. NVIDIA also supports AI model development with tools like AI Workbench and TensorRT-LLM for Windows, facilitating the creation and optimization of AI models for PCs and workstations. This approach aims to make AI applications more accessible and effective for a wide range of users.

https://nvidianews.nvidia.com/news/generative-ai-rtx-pcs-and-workstations

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Xarxa Oberta de Catalunya deploys Infinera's XTM

Xarxa Oberta de Catalunya, also known as Xarxa Oberta or XOC, the leading network provider in Catalonia and a subsidiary of the global Cellnex Group, has deployed Infinera’s XTM packet-optical solution. This enables Xarxa Oberta to provide government networks up to 400 GbE services on its fiber optic network. Xarxa Oberta also tested Infinera’s ICE6 solution on the GX Series Compact Modular Platform, validating its ability to run optical signals up to 800G on its network to allow for scaling in the future.

As a wholesale network operator, Xarxa Oberta operates the leading optical fiber network in Catalonia, offering Ethernet services, dark fiber, and colocation services.

“Catalonia is a fast-growing region with more than 900 municipalities and almost 8 million inhabitants, requiring constant investments in our network to ensure we continually provide the most robust communications services to our customers. Infinera’s XTM solution delivers the flexible services required today, and the ability to upgrade to ICE6 will enable us to scale to meet the demands of government networks in the future,” said Joan Cervera, CEO at Xarxa Oberta.

“Infinera is pleased to partner with Xarxa Oberta to deliver cost-effective, high-speed services that meet the growing bandwidth needs of government entities in a very densely populated region,” said Nick Walden, Senior Vice President, Worldwide Sales, Infinera. “Looking ahead, the successful test validating 800G services on Xarxa Oberta’s network paves the way for an ongoing partnership that will allow Xarxa Oberta to continue to scale and expand their services to meet future demand.”

https://www.infinera.com/press-release/xarxa-oberta-de-catalunya-deploys-infinera-optical-transport-solution/

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Lumen Names Ashley Haynes-Gaspar Chief Revenue Officer

Lumen Technologies appointed Ashley Haynes-Gaspar as the Executive Vice President and Chief Revenue Officer. She previously served as Lumen'sExecutive Vice President for Customer Experience, Wholesale, and International.

In her new position, Haynes-Gaspar will oversee a team dedicated to accelerating Lumen's growth. This team will integrate Lumen's various commercial divisions to enhance business outcomes, cater to customer requirements, and achieve commercial excellence. Jay Barrows, who is the EVP of Enterprise Sales and Public Sector at Lumen, will report directly to Haynes-Gaspar. The focus will remain on being customer-centric, particularly in the areas of enterprise and public sector sales.

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Extreme Networks trims outlook citing elongated sales cycles

 Extreme Networks updated it outlook on the financial results for its second quarter ended December 31, 2023, saying that it now expects revenues to be approximately $294 to $297 million, compared to the prior outlook of $312 to $327 million. The company expects annualized subscription and support revenue to be approximately $430 million, led by 41% year over year subscription growth, accelerating from 32% growth in Q1. The company expects recurring revenue to account for 33% of total revenue. Gross margin is expected to be toward the higher end of the prior guidance range for the quarter. The company’s ending cash balance for the quarter was $221.4 million, net of share repurchases during the quarter of $25 million.

“Our revised second fiscal quarter outlook reflects industry headwinds of channel digestion and elongated sales cycles. In late Q2, we saw multiple large deals pushing out to future quarters,” stated Ed Meyercord, President and CEO at Extreme. “We remain confident in our long-term strategy and our ability to achieve double-digit long-term revenue and EPS growth supported by competitive customer wins and the growth in our opportunity funnel. In addition, we’ve made significant progress advancing our strategic initiatives to launch our managed services commercial platform and unique subscription offering to large service providers.”

https://investor.extremenetworks.com/news-releases/news-release-details/extreme-networks-provides-update-q2-outlook

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