Fiber Connect 2024: NTIA's Alan Davidson Affirms Commitment to Fiber

Fiber Connect 2024 - Alan Davidson, Assistant Secretary for Communications and Information and Administrator of the National Telecommunications and Information Administration (NTIA), took the stage at Fiber Connect 2024 in a highly anticipated fireside chat. Davidson reassured the audience of fiber advocates that NTIA remains firmly committed to fiber broadband as the backbone of America's internet infrastructure, dispelling any rumors to the contrary.

Davidson highlighted the historic bipartisan infrastructure law, which has finally provided the resources to address the digital divide, a problem that has persisted for over two decades. He emphasized that NTIA's mission is to connect every American with reliable, affordable high-speed internet, with fiber being the preferred technology due to its future-proof capabilities. While acknowledging the challenges in reaching certain areas, he affirmed that alternative technologies would be considered only when fiber deployment is not feasible.

The Assistant Secretary also announced that NTIA would soon release a guidelines document for the use of alternative technologies, which will be open for public comment. He encouraged stakeholders to participate in this process to ensure a robust and effective framework. Davidson expressed confidence in the bipartisan support for NTIA's programs, noting that the digital equity grants and state plans are crucial steps in achieving digital equity and closing the connectivity gap.

Addressing the critical issue of workforce development, Davidson acknowledged the industry's need for a significant increase in fiber optic technicians. He highlighted the efforts of various states and organizations in workforce training and urged industry stakeholders to continue engaging in these initiatives. Davidson concluded by calling on the Fiber Broadband Association and its members to support NTIA's mission through active participation in state processes, workforce development, and ensuring affordability and accessibility for all Americans.

Key Points:

Commitment to Fiber: NTIA remains dedicated to fiber broadband as the primary technology for high-speed internet infrastructure.

Bipartisan Infrastructure Law: Emphasizes the historic opportunity to close the digital divide with substantial federal funding.

Guidelines for Alternative Technologies: Upcoming document open for public comment to outline the use of alternative technologies in specific cases.

Digital Equity Grants: Nearly a billion dollars in funding to support digital equity initiatives and ensure access for all communities.

Workforce Development: Calls for increased training and support to meet the growing demand for fiber optic technicians.

Fireside Chat Hosted by Marissa Mitrovich, Vice President of Public Policy for the Fiber Broadband Association (FBA). 

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Fiber Connect 2024: Verizon's Eric Lia Advocates for Expanded Fiber Broadband

At the Fiber Connect 2024 conference in Nashville, Eric J. Lia, Senior Vice President of Engineering at Verizon, underscored the transformative power of broadband for rural America. Lia emphasized that broadband access is not merely about faster internet speeds but about leveling the playing field and unlocking growth potential in education, healthcare, economic prosperity, and community development. He highlighted the significant disparities in broadband access, pointing out that 8.8 million households remain unserved or underserved, with 50% of households and school-aged children lacking reliable internet. To bridge this digital divide, Verizon has committed over $3 billion from 2020 through 2025 to expand internet access, particularly focusing on rural areas, schools, libraries, and small businesses.

Lia also addressed the challenges and solutions in expanding fiber broadband. He urged for regulatory flexibility to avoid burdensome restrictions and redundant costs, which can hinder progress. Lia emphasized the importance of leveraging existing infrastructure and upskilling the workforce to meet the growing demand for fiber deployments. Innovations in fiber technology, such as smaller, more efficient cables and hubs, are crucial for reducing costs and accelerating installations. He called on all stakeholders to collaborate and innovate, stressing that every decision should aim to expedite the deployment of fiber broadband to enhance the quality of life for residents in underserved areas.

Key Points:

• Broadband access is essential for education, healthcare, economic prosperity, and community growth.
• 8.8 million households remain unserved or underserved; 50% of households and school-aged children lack reliable internet.
• Verizon is investing over $3 billion from 2020-2025 to expand broadband access, particularly in rural areas.
• Regulatory flexibility and leveraging existing infrastructure are crucial for efficient fiber deployments.
• Innovations in fiber technology are needed to reduce costs and speed up installations.
• Collaboration and innovation among stakeholders are essential to accelerate broadband deployment.

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FBA: Gigabit Fiber Can Add $326B to US GDP

The Fiber Broadband Association (FBA) published a new study by RVA LLC Market Research & Consulting, emphasizing the substantial financial benefits for users subscribing to gigabit+ broadband services. The study reveals that by adopting fiber broadband services offering gigabit speeds or higher, U.S. productivity could receive a significant boost, potentially adding $326 billion to the nation's Gross Domestic Product (GDP). This increase in productivity translates to considerable financial gains for gigabit+ subscribers, making it a valuable investment for both individuals and the economy.

John George, FBA Technology Committee Chair and OFS Senior Director of Solutions Engineering and Fusion Splicers, underscores the critical role of fiber broadband in economic growth. He emphasizes that the consistent improvement of broadband speeds is essential to meet the increasing demand for bandwidth. Fiber broadband, known for its reliability, longevity, and sustainability, offers the best value for broadband infrastructure. 

The study further indicates that upgrading work-from-home subscribers from 100/20 Mbps to gigabit fiber could contribute an impressive 1.2% or $326 billion to GDP, highlighting the transformative potential of fiber broadband on the economy.

Key Points:

• Economic Impact: Gigabit+ broadband could add $326 billion to U.S. GDP.
• Productivity Boost: Higher broadband speeds enhance productivity and financial gains for subscribers.
• Reliability and Performance: Fiber broadband offers unmatched reliability, low latency, and high uptime.
• Future-Ready: Fiber broadband supports the growing demand for higher bandwidth and technological advancements.
• Government Priority: Encourages governments to prioritize fiber broadband for economic and community benefits.

https://fiberbroadband.org/resources/gigabit-fiber-can-add-326b-to-us-gdp/

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Nokia has introduced Broadband Easy Connect, a subscription-based service designed to help operators streamline, simplify, and accelerate the fiber connection process for homes. 

As global fiber deployments rise, operators face challenges in cost-effectively connecting subscribers, with over 30% of home connections failing to meet plan due to manual procedures, inaccurate data, and tight schedules. This service aims to address these issues by providing operators, subcontractors, and retailers access to a cloud-based platform that automates the fiber connection process from initial request to service activation, significantly reducing costs and connection times.

Key Points:

• Service Offering: Broadband Easy Connect is a subscription-based service to streamline home fiber connections.
• Automation: The cloud-based platform automates scheduling, dispatching engineers, and verifying field operations.
• Productivity Tools: Includes tools like ONT Easy Start and Optical Link Certifier for automated service activation and testing.
• AI Integration: Uses AI computer vision models to validate port assignments and ensure proper installation of components.
• Nokia’s Experience: Builds on Nokia’s experience connecting over 300 million homes globally, ensuring efficiency and consistency.

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STL expands optical portfolio for US access market

STL  announced a significant expansion of its Optical Connectivity portfolio in the US market. This move aims to enhance fiber connectivity at the premise level with scalable, easy-to-install solutions designed to accelerate deployment and streamline operations for service providers. Among the key products in this portfolio are:

OptoBlaze, Multiport Service Terminal, and OptoBolt Pre-Connectorized Drop Cables: These solutions, already deployed by US providers such as Lumos Networks and Archtop Fiber, enhance network modularity, reduce installation time, and lower connection costs.

OptoPull: A pullable, field-installed pre-connectorized drop cable designed for efficient and quick deployment.

OptoPod: A flexible multiport service terminal offering a pre-connectorized, plug-and-play solution ideal for fast and easy network connections in space-constrained environments.

OptoPed: A high-performance distribution system featuring optical pedestals that are designed and tested to withstand the harshest environmental conditions.

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Keysight validates first 5G NR 1024-QAM demodulation

Keysight Technologies has validated the industry's first 5G NR FR1 1024-QAM demodulation test cases, based on the 3GPP TS 38.521-4 test specification. These test cases, validated at the Conformance Agreement Group (CAG) #79 meeting of the Global Certification Forum (GCF) in July, are designed for use with Keysight's 5G network emulation conformance test platform (TP168). This milestone enables users to ensure their devices fully comply with 5G standards before market launch.

Key Points:

• Validation Achievement: First 5G NR FR1 1024-QAM demodulation test cases validated.
• Technology: Supports enhanced Mobile Broadband (eMBB) with higher data rates, increased bandwidth, improved reliability, and lower latency.
• Test Platform: 1024-QAM support added to the E7515B UXM 5G Test platform, available as a software upgrade.
• Release 16 Enhancements: Validated WI-528 Release 16 NR Demodulation Performance Enhancements, now open for certification.
• Industry Support: Supported by multiple operators, ensuring rigorous compliance and performance checks.

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NTIA Approves Massachusetts, New Mexico, and Virginia for BEAD program

 The National Telecommunications and Information Administration (NTIA) has given the green light to Massachusetts, New Mexico, and Virginia’s Initial Proposals for the Broadband Equity, Access, and Deployment (BEAD) program. This approval marks a significant milestone in the Biden-Harris Administration’s “Internet for All” initiative, enabling these states to access funding and begin their efforts to bridge the digital divide. The BEAD program, a $42.45 billion state grant initiative under President Biden’s Bipartisan Infrastructure Law, aims to provide all Americans with affordable, reliable, high-speed Internet. Massachusetts has been allocated over $147 million, New Mexico over $675 million, and Virginia over $1.4 billion to enhance their Internet infrastructure.

Commerce Secretary Gina Raimondo praised the states for their commitment to ensuring high-speed Internet access for all residents, highlighting the critical role this connectivity plays in education, job training, and economic development. Assistant Secretary of Commerce for Communications and Information Alan Davidson echoed these sentiments, commending the states for their robust proposals. The funds will not only be used for deployment but also for Internet adoption, training, and workforce development once the primary goals are met. States are required to submit a Final Proposal one year after the Initial Proposal approval, detailing their subgrantee selection process and plans for universal coverage.

• Massachusetts allocated over $147 million
• New Mexico allocated over $675 million
• Virginia allocated over $1.4 billion
• BEAD program is part of the $42.45 billion Bipartisan Infrastructure Law
• Funds to be used for high-speed Internet deployment, adoption, training, and workforce development
• States must submit Final Proposal detailing subgrantee selection and universal coverage plans one year after Initial Proposal approval

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Lambda launches NVIDIA HGX H100 + InfiniBand Clusters

Lambda, which operates a GPU cloud powered by NVIDIA GPUs, has launched a new service, Lambda 1-Click Clusters. This service provides AI engineers and researchers with short-term access to multi-node GPU clusters in the cloud for large-scale AI model training. It marks the first time such access to NVIDIA H100 Tensor Core GPUs on 2 to 64 nodes has been made available on demand through a self-serve cloud service, without the need for expensive long-term contracts. “It has been our best experience in training runs, and as a team they have been super responsive and supportive across the board,” said Mahmoud Felfel, co-founder of PlayHT.

Lambda 1-Click Clusters are designed to meet the specific needs of today’s AI teams, who may not require continuous access to top-end GPUs. These teams can now quickly spin up a short-term cluster with hundreds of GPUs for a few weeks to run experiments, pause without wasting idle GPU time, and prepare for the next iteration. This flexibility ensures that AI innovation is not hampered by financial or contractual limitations. Robert Brooks, founding team member and VP of Revenue at Lambda, highlighted the significance of this launch: “Lambda has solved a complex compute challenge only a few very large companies have: partitioning a large, high-performant AI deployment to make smaller GPU clusters.”

•   Service Name: Lambda 1-Click Clusters

•   Target Users: AI engineers and researchers

•   Hardware: NVIDIA H100 Tensor Core GPUs, NVIDIA Quantum-2 InfiniBand networking

•   Cluster Size: 2 to 64 nodes, 16 to 512 GPUs

•   Minimum Reservation: Two weeks

•   Self-Serve Model: On-demand access without long-term contracts

•   Recent Developments: $500 million GPU-backed facility, $320 million Series C funding round

•   User Feedback: Praised for ease of setup, stable infrastructure, and responsive support

Lambda secures $500M for its GPU cloud

Thursday, April 04, 2024    

Lambda, which offers a cloud GPU service powered by NVIDIA, secured a special purpose financing vehicle of up to $500 million to fund the expansion of its on-demand cloud offering.The special asset-based loan is secured by the GPUs and supported by their cash flow generation. The financing was led by Macquarie Group  with participation from Industrial Development Funding, and follows Lambda’s $320 million Series C funding round in February...

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BT Expands FTTP Footprint to 15 Million Premises Amid Strong Q2

 BT Group has released its Q2 2024 financial results, showcasing significant progress in its strategic priorities and continued transformation efforts. The company achieved a record full-fibre (FTTP) build, passing over 1 million premises in the quarter at an average build rate of 78,000 per week. This expansion brings BT's FTTP footprint to 15 million, including 4.2 million rural premises, with an additional 6 million where initial build is underway. BT’s FTTP customer base surpassed 5 million during the quarter, driven by strong demand with orders up 29% year-on-year and a take-up rate of 34%. Openreach, BT’s infrastructure division, saw broadband ARPU grow by 6% year-on-year due to price rises and increased FTTP volumes, despite broadband line losses of 196,000.

Consumer broadband ARPU increased by 1% year-on-year to £42.4, while Consumer postpaid mobile ARPU rose 0.5% to £19.8. The consumer base showed resilience in a competitive market, with the broadband base down 28,000 (a 0.3% decline) and the postpaid mobile base down 15,000 (a 0.1% decline). The retail FTTP base grew by 36% year-on-year to 2.7 million, with 2.6 million in the consumer segment and 0.1 million in business. 

Additionally, BT’s 5G base reached 11.3 million, up 22% year-on-year. 

The company's Business segment faced challenges from legacy managed contract declines and reduced low-margin sales, but cost transformation efforts provided some offset. BT Group's Net Promoter Score (NPS) improved to 25.1, up 0.3 points year-on-year, reflecting enhanced customer experience.

Key Metrics:

• FTTP Build: Over 1 million premises passed in the quarter, average build rate of 78,000 per week
• FTTP Footprint: 15 million premises, including 4.2 million rural premises
• FTTP Customer Base: Surpassed 5 million, with orders up 29% year-on-year and a take-up rate of 34%
• Openreach Broadband ARPU: Grew by 6% year-on-year
• Openreach Broadband Line Losses: 196,000, with higher competitor losses and weaker broadband market
• Consumer Broadband ARPU: Up 1% year-on-year to £42.4
• Consumer Postpaid Mobile ARPU: Increased 0.5% year-on-year to £19.8
• Consumer Broadband Base: Down 28,000 quarter-on-quarter (0.3% decline)
• Consumer Postpaid Mobile Base: Down 15,000 quarter-on-quarter (0.1% decline)
• Retail FTTP Base: Grew 36% year-on-year to 2.7 million (Consumer: 2.6 million, Business: 0.1 million)
• 5G Base: 11.3 million, up 22% year-on-year
• BT Group NPS: 25.1, up 0.3 points year-on-year
• Adjusted Revenue: £5.1 billion, down 2% from Q1 FY24
• Adjusted EBITDA: £2.1 billion, up 1%
• Reported Revenue: £5.0 billion, down 2%
• Reported Profit Before Tax: £520 million, down 3%
• Sustainability Recognition: Named one of the "World’s Most Sustainable Companies 2024" by TIME Magazine and Statista

BT accelerates FTTP build

Thursday, May 16, 2024    

BT reported full year revenues of £20.8bn, up 1%; adjusted revenue £20.8bn, up 2% on a pro forma basis due to price increases and fibre-enabled product sales in Openreach, increased service revenue in Consumer with annual contractual price rises being aided by higher roaming and increased FTTP connections, partly offset by legacy product declines and a one-off revenue adjustment in Business. Reported profit before tax amounted to £1.2bn, down 31%...

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Verizon Accelerates C-Band Expansion, Now ~60% of Planned Sites

During Verizon’s Q2 earnings conference call, key technology trends were highlighted, particularly focusing on the C-band spectrum and fiber deployments. Verizon’s CEO Hans Vestberg and CFO Tony Skiadas provided insights into the company’s strategic initiatives and advancements in these areas, which are crucial for the company’s growth and technological leadership.

C-Band Expansion

Verizon emphasized the ongoing expansion of its C-band spectrum, which is now deployed on nearly 60% of its planned sites. This rollout is critical for enhancing network performance and supporting the increasing demand for mobile and fixed wireless access. The C-band spectrum has already shown significant improvements in churn rates and gross additions, particularly in suburban and rural areas. This expansion is expected to continue, with a focus on increasing network capacity and improving customer experience.

Fiber Deployments

Verizon continues to invest heavily in its fiber infrastructure, particularly with its Fios product, which is recognized as the leading fiber solution in the market. The company’s strategy involves leveraging its extensive fiber network to support its mobile-edge compute capabilities, enabling real-time AI applications that require ultra-low latency and high bandwidth. This investment in fiber not only supports current broadband needs but also positions Verizon as a key player in the emerging AI economy.

Key Points:

•   C-Band Deployment: Nearly 60% of planned sites deployed, improving network performance and customer experience.

•   Fiber Infrastructure: Continued investment in Fios and fiber network to support mobile-edge computing and AI applications.

•   Fixed Wireless Access (FWA): Strong growth with 378,000 net additions in Q2, contributing to a run rate of over $2 billion in revenue.

•   Broadband Growth: 391,000 total broadband net additions in Q2, driven by fixed wireless access and Fios.

•   AI Integration: Verizon’s network is positioned to support AI applications with its mobile-edge compute capabilities and extensive fiber footprint.

•   Private Networks: Increasing adoption of private networks, setting the stage for future growth in AI and enterprise solutions.

•   Operational Efficiency: Leveraging AI for operational improvements, including customer care and network management.

•   Financial Performance: Strong free cash flow generation, enabling continued investment in technology and debt reduction.

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Digital Realty posts mixed Q2 amid steady data center demand

Digital Realty reported its financial results for the second quarter of 2024, showcasing a steady demand for data center capacity but reflecting some mixed financial metrics. The company posted revenues of $1.4 billion, a 2% increase from the previous quarter but a 1% decrease compared to the same period last year. Despite these revenue trends, Digital Realty managed to maintain a solid position within the competitive data center market, driven by continued investments in infrastructure and strategic partnerships.

Net income for Q2 2024 was reported at $75 million, with net income available to common stockholders at $70 million, or $0.20 per diluted share. This marks a significant decline from the $0.82 per diluted share in the previous quarter and $0.34 per diluted share in the same quarter last year. This drop in earnings per share highlights the challenges Digital Realty faces in managing its cost structure and optimizing its profitability amid fluctuating market conditions.

On a more positive note, Digital Realty reported an Adjusted EBITDA of $727 million for the second quarter, reflecting a 2% increase from the previous quarter and a 4% year-over-year increase. This growth in EBITDA underscores the company's ability to effectively manage its operations and generate consistent cash flow, even as it navigates a complex and evolving market landscape. The company also reported Funds From Operations (FFO) of $511 million, or $1.57 per share, an improvement from $1.41 per share in the prior quarter and $1.52 per share in the same period last year.

Looking forward, Digital Realty remains cautiously optimistic. The company continues to see robust demand for data center space, evidenced by its leasing activity and strategic investments. However, the competitive environment and economic uncertainties necessitate a focused approach to maintaining financial health and operational efficiency. Digital Realty's leadership has reaffirmed its commitment to capitalizing on growth opportunities while managing risks effectively.

Key Metrics and Accomplishments in Q2 2024:

• Revenue: $1.4 billion (2% increase from previous quarter, 1% decrease year-over-year)
• Net Income: $75 million
• Net Income Available to Common Stockholders: $70 million, or $0.20 per diluted share
• Adjusted EBITDA: $727 million (2% increase from previous quarter, 4% increase year-over-year)
• Funds From Operations (FFO): $511 million, or $1.57 per share
• Core FFO per Share: $1.65
• Constant-Currency Core FFO per Share: $1.66 for Q2, $3.33 for the first half of 2024
• Annualized GAAP Rental Revenue from New Leases: $164 million
• Annualized GAAP Rental Revenue from Renewals: $215 million
• Debt Outstanding: $16.3 billion

Outlook:

• Revenue Guidance for 2024: $5.55 - $5.65 billion
• Adjusted EBITDA Guidance for 2024: $2.80 - $2.90 billion
• Core FFO per Share Guidance for 2024: $6.60 - $6.75
• Constant-Currency Core FFO per Share Guidance for 2024: $6.60 - $6.75
• Leasing Activity: Expected strong demand for data center space to continue
• Capital Expenditure: Focus on strategic investments and infrastructure expansion

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Sparkle Partners with Unitirreno for New Subsea Cable Landing in Genoa

 Sparkle has partnered with Unitirreno, a collaboration between Unidata and industry experts, to land its new subsea cable system at Sparkle’s Genoa Landing Platform. The Unitirreno Submarine Cable System will traverse the Tyrrhenian Sea from Genoa to Mazara del Vallo in Sicily, with future branches to Olbia, Rome, and other locations. This open cable system architecture boasts a capacity of 480 Tbps and spans approximately 1,030 km, with service expected by Q2 2025. Utilizing Sparkle's Genoa Landing Platform, Unitirreno will connect to the Genoa Digital Hub, facilitating interconnection with European terrestrial networks and Internet Exchange Points while minimizing environmental impact and administrative overhead.

• Partnership: Sparkle and Unitirreno
• Cable System: Unitirreno Submarine Cable System
• Route: Genoa to Mazara del Vallo, with branches to Olbia and Rome
• Capacity: 480 Tbps
• Length: Approximately 1,030 km
• Completion: Expected by Q2 2025
• Infrastructure: Genoa Landing Platform and Genoa Digital Hub
• Environmental Impact: Minimal, with reduced setup costs and complexities
• Strategic Advantage: Alternative to Marseille, connecting Asia, the Middle East, Africa, and European hubs

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Marvell ships 51.2 Tbps Ethernet switch for AI Data Centers

 Marvell Technology announced the production and customer deployment of its flagship 51.2 Tbps programmable Teralynx 10 Ethernet switch chip for cloud data centers. The Teralynx 10 is engineered to support training, inference, general-purpose computing, and other workloads, driving the scale of accelerated infrastructure in the rapidly growing AI sector.

Marvell said its Teralynx 10 is designed with a clean-sheet switch architecture, delivering high bandwidth, ultra-low latency, low power consumption, high radix, and zero-latency-loss programmability. This unified platform can be deployed across various network points without sacrificing functionality or performance. The switching silicon could be used in top-of-rack (ToR), leaf, spine, AI clusters, and network edge applications. Marvell’s Teralynx 10 also supports the industry’s transition to open networking, offering a robust solution that ensures a broad ecosystem of switch manufacturers and enhances silicon diversity and supply chain stability for cloud network operators.

Marvell also announced that its Teralynx 10 is available within the Linux Foundation’s SONiC (Software for Open Networking in the Cloud) network operating system. Teralynx 10-based switches can be used to power open-network environments, enabling cloud data center operators to tailor their systems, accelerate development, and diversify silicon vendors. 

Key Specifications:

• Capacity: 51.2 terabit-per-second Ethernet throughput with large buffers. Integrates Marvell’s proven, robust 112G LR SerDes, supporting up to 64 ports of 800GbE or 128 ports of 400GbE.
• Latency: As low as 500 nanoseconds, with sub-600 nanoseconds latency across all packet sizes with cut-through & store-and-forward modes
• Radix: 512 switching radix, reducing the number of switch tiers in large clusters. OEM & ODM switches can provide high port count 100G, 200G, 400G and
  800G connectivity using 50G/100G PAM4 with support for 25/50/100/
  200/400 and 800 GbE connectivity
• Power Consumption: 1 watt per 100 gigabits-per-second of bandwidth.
• Programmability: Fully programmable architecture with no impact on packet processing capacity or latency. 
• Traffic Management: Advanced QoS/traffic management feature set including DCB and RoCE. Highly scalable/flexible layer 2 and 3 tables for IPv4, IPv6 and hybrid networks. Tunneling protocols including IP-in-IP, GRE, MPLS, VXLAN and Geneve.
• Advanced Teralynx Flashlight telemetry & analytics: A ground-up telemetry architecture that delivers extensive real-time visibility and actionable granular network analytics to troubleshoot and resolve network issues quickly
• Ecosystem: Supported by major OEMs, ODMs, and ISVs to facilitate adoption and optimization.

Marvell notes that its cloud-optimized Teralynx 10 and Nova networking platform ensures interoperability between switch and optics, thereby reducing the burden of validation and interoperability testing for customers and accelerating the deployment of these next-generation technologies. 

The introduction of the Teralynx 10 comes at a pivotal time as the demand for high-bandwidth connectivity in AI data centers surges. This switch device supports the shift from proprietary network operating systems (NOS) to open network platforms such as the Linux Foundation’s SONiC and SAI, facilitating faster deployment and optimization across multiple manufacturers. According to 650 Group, shipments of 51.2 Tbps switches are projected to rise dramatically from 77,000 units in 2024 to 1.8 million by 2028, reflecting a 120% compound annual growth rate (CAGR). This significant growth underscores the switch’s critical role in the next generation of data center infrastructure.

Industry partners cited in the announcement include Celestica, Wistron Neweb, Keysight, MultiLane, and Teledyne LeCroy Xena.

“AI deployments require a switch solution which is simultaneously high bandwidth, low power, low latency, and future proofed for evolving requirements. Marvell has delivered the most complete AI Ethernet switch solution available to the industry today, and we are pleased to deliver a production-ready solution for customers' expanding 51.2 Tbps deployments,” said Nick Kucharewski, senior vice president and GM, Network Switching Business Unit, at Marvell.  “SONiC has emerged as the clear solution to enable open switch platform interoperability as well as silicon vendor diversity for the world’s largest cloud hyperscalers.” 

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Linux Foundation Launches LF Broadband

 The Linux Foundation has announced the formation of LF Broadband, an open and collaborative initiative aimed at driving innovation in open source broadband access. LF Broadband will support a range of projects transforming broadband networks and the Passive Optical Network (PON) industry, including the SEBA reference design for building open broadband networks and the VOLTHA open source project for virtualizing multi-vendor PON systems. These projects were previously hosted by the Open Networking Foundation and have now transitioned to the Linux Foundation.

LF Broadband's open source broadband projects will be based on multi-vendor solutions already in production at Türk Telekom and Deutsche Telekom. The idea is to leverage multi-protocol, centralized network management and SDN control plane supporting existing and new OLTs and ONUs.

Initial projects under LF Broadband include VOLTHA and SEBA. 

• VOLTHA provides common control and management for PON networks (OLTs and ONUs), supporting both open-hardware and traditional chassis-based OLTs with various adapters. With a highly scalable microservice architecture, VOLTHA stacks have been tested for tens of thousands of ONUs. It has been deployed in production environments by Deutsche Telekom and Türk Telekom, while multiple other operators have VOLTHA-based solutions in various stages of lab and field trials. The recently released VOLTHA v.2.12 offers robustness, device management enhancements, and support for additional subscriber profiles, driven by operator requirements. This version includes support for voice service profiles, improved error handling and recovery, enhanced management interfaces for logging, alarms, and attributes from OLTs, better observability infrastructure for OLT metrics, and stabilized test infrastructure.
• SEBA (SDN-Enabled Broadband Access) is a reference design intended to support broadband access with minimal prescription of technology choices, accommodating the network and feature needs of multiple operators with a common architecture. Supporting both residential access and wireless backhaul, SEBA serves as the foundational architecture for VOLTHA. SEBA is deployed in production by Türk Telekom.

The LF Broadband Directed Fund has been established as an independent fund under the Linux Foundation, dedicated to supporting broadband-related open source projects. These projects are already in deployment with major telecom operators such as Deutsche Telekom and Türk Telekom. LF Broadband was created from the Open Networking Foundation (ONF), which merged with the Linux Foundation in late 2023. The merger split former ONF projects into three directed funds: LF Broadband, Aether, and P4. Supported by leading telecom, networking, and broadband providers, LF Broadband projects feature open source code, open interfaces, and future-proof designs based on cloud-native architecture. Initial members include Adtran, Deutsche Telekom, Digital Platforms, Excelacom, Iowa State University, Netsia, Radisys, Türk Telekom, Universidad de Burgos, and ZTE.

Arpit Joshipura has been appointed as the Executive Director of LF Broadband. Joshipura, who also serves as the General Manager of Networking and Orchestration at the Linux Foundation, oversees other subfoundations such as LF Networking and LF Edge, bringing extensive experience and leadership to the newly formed initiative. Ahmet Fethi Ayhan of Türk Telekom and Manuel Paul of Deutsche Telekom have been elected as co-chairs of the LF Broadband Governing Board. Other governing board members are Bora Eliacik of Netsia and Robert Soukup of Radisys. 

“Deutsche Telekom is leveraging the VOLTHA framework as a key building block of our Access 4.0 network transformation program. As we continue our journey towards disaggregated and radically automated networks, we are pleased to serve and contribute to this community-led work in collaboration with peer industry & standards organizations, most importantly the Broadband Forum, under the Linux Foundation umbrella.” - Manuel Paul, Squad Lead Network Convergence, Deutsche Telekom.

"Türk Telekom has been a trailblazer in advocating for open-source technologies VOLTHA and SEBA, which enable the virtualization of access networks. Pioneering efforts in standardization, reference design leadership, and product development, Türk Telekom has elevated these technologies beyond mere trials, establishing the world’s first and largest live open-source-based (SEBA based) access network. Continuing to lead globally with an executive-level role at LF Broadband, Türk Telekom promises stronger progress through LF collaboration, aiding more operators in recognizing the true potential of these technologies. We take pride in being part of this community." - Ahmet Fethi Ayhan, Network Director, Türk Telekom

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AT&T Eyes Fiber Reach Expansion via Capital-light Partnerships

 AT&T is benefitting from a growing convergence between its fiber and wireless services, according commentary during the company’s Q2 2024 earnings call with CEO John Stankey.

In the second quarter, AT&T added 239,000 new fiber subscribers, marking the fourth consecutive quarter of positive broadband net gains. This growth is part of a broader strategy to enhance connectivity across the United States, with nearly 28 million consumer and business locations now passed by AT&T’s fiber network. The company remains on track to exceed 30 million fiber locations by the end of 2025. Stankey emphasized that the returns on fiber investments have been better than expected, leading AT&T to consider expanding its fiber footprint beyond initial targets by an additional 10 to 15 million locations.

Nearly 40% of AT&T Fiber households also use AT&T wireless services, demonstrating the appeal of bundled offerings. This synergy is not only driving customer acquisition but also improving customer satisfaction and reducing churn. Stankey noted that the ability to sell fiber services to mobile customers and leverage mobile distribution channels has been a key factor in AT&T’s strong performance. The company is also exploring capital-light arrangements with other providers of commercial open access fiber networks to further expand its reach.

• Fiber Subscriber Growth: 239,000 new AT&T Fiber subscribers in Q2.
• Broadband Expansion: Nearly 28 million locations passed, aiming for 30 million+ by 2025.
• Investment Returns: Better than expected, considering expansion by 10-15 million additional locations.
• Convergence Strategy: 40% of AT&T Fiber households also use AT&T wireless services.
• Sales Synergy: Strong performance from selling fiber to mobile customers and leveraging mobile distribution channels.
• Capital-light Expansion: Exploring partnerships with other commercial open access fiber network providers.

A transcript of the call is posted on the AT&T Investor Relations page.

In December 2022, AT&T and BlackRock Alternatives announced a joint venture to deliver fiber access outside of AT&T’s traditional 21-state wireline service footprint. 
The newly formed joint venture — Gigapower — launched in May 2023 with plans to deliver fiber connectivity in select metro areas throughout the country using a commercial wholesale open access platform. AT&T,  which will be the first tenant on Gigapower, said the new JV will greatly expand the number of customers and communities with access its AT&T Fiber internet service. AT&T is already the nation’s largest fiber internet provider in the U.S. and has previously announced plans to pass 30 million-plus consumer and business locations in its traditional service areas by the end of 2025. Gigapower will enable AT&T to expand its fiber service reach beyond its traditional service areas. In addition to Las Vegas, Gigapower now expects to expand beyond its previously announced fiber deployment in Mesa, to the Chandler and Gilbert areas of Arizona. Gigapower also plans to build fiber in parts of Northeastern Pennsylvania (including Wilkes-Barre and Scranton) as well as parts of Alabama and Florida that are outside AT&T’s current service areas.

This week, T-Mobile and KKR announced a joint venture partnership to acquire Metronet, enhancing T-Mobile’s digital transformation and expanding its network capacity. As part of the deal, the joint venture will also acquire Oak Hill Capital’s existing stake in Metronet, with Oak Hill and Metronet founder John Cinelli retaining minority positions. T-Mobile is expected to invest approximately $4.9 billion for a 50% equity stake in the JV and 100% of Metronet’s residential fiber operations, with the transaction slated to close in 2025.

The renewed interest in fiber broadband expansion across the U.S. comes as NTIA seeks to accelerate the $42 billion BEAD initiative.

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Dell'Oro: Optical Transport Equipment Market to Grow at 2 Percent CAGR

Due to customers pausing purchases as they digest excess inventory, the Optical Transport market is forecasted to grow 2 percent on average for the next five years due to a decline in 2024, according to a new report from Dell'Oro Group.

“2024 is turning out to be a tough year for the Optical Transport equipment market because of inventory digestion,” said Jimmy Yu, Vice President at Dell’Oro Group. “But looking past this year, when the market gets through this inventory cycle, inflation moderates, and economies strengthen, we see good amounts of growth for the Optical Transport equipment market. We track four customer groups—communication service providers, cable companies, internet content providers, and others—and project all four to grow after 2024, especially content providers, to reach new revenue highs by 2028,” added Yu.

Additional highlights from the Optical Transport 5-Year July 2024 Forecast Report:

• Demand for data center interconnect (DCI) is forecast to increase each year for the next five years with nearly all of the growth from long haul deployments. Metro demand will be lower due to the increased use of routers and ethernet switches for coherent transport (IPoDWDM).
• Internet content providers (ICP) are predicted to purchase nearly 50 percent more WDM systems directly from systems manufacturers in the next five years.
• DWDM channel widths are projected to steadily increase from the standard 50 GHz. By 2028, more than 80 percent of wavelength shipments will need a channel width greater than 50 GHz.

https://www.delloro.com/news/optical-transport-equipment-market-to-grow-at-2-percent-cagr-for-next-five-years/

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AST SpaceMobile readies its first 5 commercial "Bluebird" satellites

 AST SpaceMobile has completed its first five commercial satellites, known as Bluebirds. Each satellite is equipped with communications arrays measuring 693 square feet (64.4 square meters) and is set for shipment to Cape Canaveral in early August, with a launch window scheduled for September. These satellites are designed to provide U.S. nationwide non-continuous service, leveraging over 5,600 cells in premium low-band spectrum and offering a 10-fold increase in processing bandwidth.

The Bluebird satellites have undergone extensive testing to ensure their readiness for space operations. Final preparations are underway for their shipment to Cape Canaveral, and continuous monitoring and testing will proceed until they are integrated with the launch vehicle. The launch is planned within a 7-day window in September, with the exact date to be confirmed closer to the launch. This deployment marks a significant milestone in AST SpaceMobile’s mission to enhance global connectivity and bridge the digital divide.

• Satellite Specifications: Bluebird satellites with 693 square feet (64.4 square meters) communications arrays.
• Launch Plans: Shipment to Cape Canaveral in early August; 7-day launch window in September.
• Service Capability: U.S. nationwide non-continuous service with over 5,600 cells in low-band spectrum.
• Testing and Preparations: Rigorous testing completed; final testing continues until launch integration.
• Strategic Investments: Additional investments from AT&T, Verizon, Google, and Vodafone in 2024.
• Government Contract: New contract awarded by the United States Government through a prime contractor.
• Global Partnerships: Agreements with over 45 mobile network operators, including Vodafone, AT&T, Verizon, and more, covering 2.8 billion subscribers.
• Current Investors: AT&T, Verizon, Vodafone, Google, Rakuten, American Tower, and Bell Canada.

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Juniper posts Q2 sales, merger with HPE expected to close end of year

Juniper Networks reported a decline in net revenues to $1,189.6 million, down 17% year-over-year, but up 4% sequentially. The GAAP operating margin fell to 3.8% from 9.9% in the same quarter last year, yet improved from (1.2)% in the previous quarter. Non-GAAP operating margin also decreased to 10.9% from 16.9% year-over-year but saw a slight increase from 10.6% sequentially. GAAP net income increased by 40% year-over-year to $34.1 million, translating to $0.10 per diluted share, while non-GAAP net income dropped 46% year-over-year to $101.6 million, or $0.31 per diluted share, though it rose 5% sequentially.

Juniper experienced stronger-than-expected demand, particularly from cloud customers investing in AI initiatives and robust enterprise demand, driven by its Mist-led Campus & Branch business and Enterprise data center offerings. This performance was in line with expectations and reflects the company’s optimistic outlook for long-term financial prospects.

• Net Revenues: $1,189.6 million, down 17% YoY, up 4% sequentially.

• GAAP Operating Margin: 3.8%, down from 9.9% YoY, up from (1.2)% sequentially.

• Non-GAAP Operating Margin: 10.9%, down from 16.9% YoY, up from 10.6% sequentially.

• GAAP Net Income: $34.1 million, up 40% YoY.

• Non-GAAP Net Income: $101.6 million, down 46% YoY, up 5% sequentially.

• Total Cash and Investments: $1,430.3 million as of June 30, 2024.

• Net Cash Flows Used by Operations: $8.9 million in Q2 2024.

• Days Sales Outstanding: 66 days in Q2 2024.

• Capital Expenditures: $23.4 million.

• Declared Dividend: $0.22 per share, payable on September 23, 2024.

“We experienced better than expected demand during the June quarter, with orders growing double-digits sequentially and year-over-year,” said Juniper’s CEO, Rami Rahim. “We saw particularly robust orders from our cloud customers, many of which have digested prior purchases and are investing to support AI initiatives. We also experienced better than expected enterprise demand due to continued momentum in our Mist-led Campus & Branch business and strong demand for our Enterprise data center offerings.”

“Our Q2 financial results were largely in-line with our expectations at the beginning of the quarter,” said Juniper’s CFO, Ken Miller. “Our teams continue to execute well and we remain optimistic regarding our long-term financial prospects.”

https://investor.juniper.net/investor-relations/press-releases/press-release-details/2024/Juniper-Networks-Reports-Preliminary-Second-Quarter-2024-Financial-Results/default.aspx

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Chandrasekaran to head Intel Foundry Manufacturing

Intel appointed Dr. Naga Chandrasekaran as chief global operations officer, executive vice president and general manager of Intel Foundry Manufacturing and Supply Chain organization, replacing Keyvan Esfarjani, who has decided to retire from Intel after nearly 30 years of dedicated service.

Chandrasekaran joins Intel from Micron, where he served as senior vice president for Technology Development. He will be a member of Intel’s executive leadership team and report to CEO Pat Gelsinger. Most recently, Naga led Micron’s global technology development and engineering efforts related to the scaling of current memory technologies, advanced packaging technology and emerging technology solutions. Previously, he served as Micron’s senior vice president of Process R&D and Operations.

Chandrasekaran earned a bachelor’s degree in mechanical engineering from the University of Madras; both a master’s and a doctorate degree in mechanical engineering from Oklahoma State University; a master’s degree in information and data science from the University of California, Berkeley; and dual executive MBAs from the University of California, Los Angeles (UCLA-Anderson School of Management) and the National University of Singapore.

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NETSCOUT's Q2 sees sharp drop in sales, workforce reduction

NETSCOUT SYSTEMS reported a significant drop in sales for the second quarter of fiscal year 2025. The company recorded total revenue of $174.6 million, down from $211.1 million year-over-year. Product revenue fell to $61.2 million from $94.7 million, while service revenue slightly decreased to $113.4 million from $116.5 million. The company also recently initiated a major restructuring effort, including a voluntary separation program (VSP) expected to reduce its workforce by 6.5%, or approximately 150 employees.

NETSCOUT’s GAAP operating margin plummeted to negative 265.4%, primarily due to a non-cash goodwill impairment charge of $427 million and a restructuring charge of $16.6 million. This resulted in a GAAP net loss of $443.4 million, or $6.20 per share, compared to a net loss of $4.2 million, or $(0.06) per share, in the same period last year. The company remains focused on enhancing its cybersecurity offerings and managing costs prudently. Despite the challenges, NETSCOUT extended a multi-year enterprise license agreement with a leading North American Tier-1 service provider during the quarter.

Key Financial Highlights:

• Total Revenue: $174.6 million, down from $211.1 million YoY

• Product Revenue: $61.2 million, down from $94.7 million YoY

• Service Revenue: $113.4 million, down from $116.5 million YoY

• GAAP Operating Margin: Negative 265.4% due to goodwill impairment and restructuring charges

• GAAP Net Loss: $443.4 million, or $6.20 per share, compared to $4.2 million, or $(0.06) per share YoY

• Non-GAAP Net Income: $20.6 million, or $0.28 per share, compared to $22.7 million, or $0.31 per share YoY

• Cash and Investments: $407.2 million as of June 30, 2024

• Restructuring Charges: $16.6 million in Q2, with an additional $3 million to $5 million expected in Q3

• Layoffs: Approximately 150 employees, representing 6.5% of the workforce, expected to save $25 million to $27 million annually

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