Amazon Unveils Sidewalk Wireless Network for IoT

September 26, 2019 | 153 views

Amazon is developing a wireless protocol that will fill the gap between short-range options like Wi-Fi, Bluetooth, and Zigbee and the longer-distance cellular networks – such as the emerging but complex 5G technology – and fuel the development of a wave of new Internet of Things (IoT) devices. The giant online retailer announced the Amazon Sidewalk wireless networking effort this week at its annual Amazon Devices event in Seattle, the latest move by the company to put its stamp on the burgeoning IoT space. Along with Sidewalk, Amazon also rolled out new Echo speakers and a version of its Alexa virtual assistant technology with multilingual capabilities.

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5G Small Cells: The Future of Wireless Networks

Article | May 18, 2023

5G small cells form the backbone of the modern wireless networks. Learn more about this technology is revolutionizing 5G deployment and enabling various use cases across industries in this article. Contents 1 Introduction to 5G Small Cells for Modern Businesses 2 5G Small Cells: Overview 2.1 Characteristics of 5G Small Cells 2.2 How Small Cells Fit into 5G Architecture 3 Benefits of 5G Small Cells for Businesses 3.1 Improved Coverage and Capacity 3.2 Enhanced Network Performance 3.3 Lower Latency 3.4 Cost-effectiveness 4 Use Cases for 5G Small Cells 4.1 Urban Areas 4.2 Rural Areas 4.3 Indoor Environments 5 Conclusion 1 Introduction to 5G Small Cells for Modern Businesses Small cells are low-power radio access nodes that operate in licensed and unlicensed spectrum bands and are typically deployed in areas with high demand for wireless connectivity. They are a vital component of the 5G wireless network architecture and are designed to complement traditional cell towers, providing improved coverage, network capacity, and faster data speeds. Small cells come in several types, including femtocells, picocells, and microcells, and can be deployed according to the use case. 2 5G Small Cells: Overview 2.1 Characteristics of 5G Small Cells 5G small cells are characterized by small form factors and are designed to be compact and discreet for deployment in various settings, such as urban areas, rural areas, indoor environments, and public spaces. In addition, they consume less power than traditional cell towers, making them more energy-efficient. They also operate on high-frequency bands, which enables them to provide faster data speeds and lower latency than traditional cell towers, which makes small cells essential for 5G. The 5G small cell architecture can be deployed in dense networks, providing better coverage and capacity in areas where traditional cell towers may not be able to reach. Also, a 5G small cell antenna can be configured to provide seamless handoffs between cells, ensuring users have a consistent and uninterrupted wireless experience. These characteristics make them ideal for specific 5G use cases, which will be explored further in the article. 2.2 How Small Cells Fit into 5G Architecture Small cells and 5G evolution are closely linked, and this technology is an ideal solution for future wireless networks. They offer greater capacity, coverage, and flexibility than traditional cell towers, allowing them to meet the demands of an increasingly connected world. By operating on high-frequency bands and being deployed in dense networks, small cells in 5G can provide faster data speeds, lower latency, and better coverage than previous generations of wireless networks. Additionally, their small form factor and flexible deployment options allow for use cases like private 5G networks that revolutionize industries. 3 Benefits of 5G Small Cells for Businesses 5G networks will support a massive increase in connected devices, including smartphones, IoT sensors, and other devices. Small cells are critical for achieving the full potential of 5G networks and the exciting new applications and services they will enable. 3.1 Improved Coverage and Capacity 5G small cells offer improved coverage over traditional cell towers in certain situations, particularly in urban areas. Buildings and other obstacles interfere with wireless signals, so the connection quality decreases in areas with such infrastructure. By deploying small cells closer to users, the network can provide better coverage and capacity in these areas. Small cells can also be deployed indoors, providing better coverage and capacity in buildings and other enclosed spaces. This is important due to poor wireless range, signal interference from walls, and other obstacles. By deploying small cells indoors, the network can provide better coverage and capacity in these areas, improving the overall wireless experience for users. 3.2 Enhanced Network Performance The deployment of small cells enables network densification, which allows several devices to connect to the network simultaneously. This can help reduce network congestion and improve overall network performance, particularly in urban areas. They can also be configured to provide seamless handoffs between cells, ensuring that users have a consistent and uninterrupted wireless experience. This is important because users often move between different areas with different coverage levels and capacities, providing a streamlined experience. 3.3 Lower Latency Small cells are designed to operate on high-frequency bands, which enables them to provide faster data speeds and lower latency than prior generations of wireless networks. This is especially important for applications that require real-time communication, such as virtual reality, autonomous vehicles, and remote surgery. By providing faster data speeds and lower latency, small cells can help enhance these applications' performance, providing a better overall user experience. 3.4 Cost-effectiveness Small cells offer a cost-effective alternative to traditional cell towers, particularly in urban areas with high land and real estate costs. By mounting 5G small cell antennas on existing infrastructure, such as lampposts and buildings, deployment costs can be lowered. Additionally, small cells can be deployed in a modular fashion, allowing for targeted and cost-effective expansion based on the required coverage and capacity. This approach avoids large-scale and expensive deployments of new infrastructure. Moreover, small cells can be powered by low-cost, low-power sources like solar panels or batteries, reducing ongoing operational costs. Furthermore, small cells consume less power than traditional cell towers, resulting in lower energy costs. 4 Use Cases for 5G Small Cells 4.1 Urban Areas As discussed previously, small cell radio antennas in 5G can improve networks in dense urban environments, alleviating network congestion and improving data speeds. In addition, by deploying small cells in areas with high user demand, network operators can provide targeted coverage and capacity improvements to specific areas, ensuring that users have fast and reliable connectivity. 4.2 Rural Areas Small cells can be used to extend coverage to underserved or unserved areas by traditional cell towers. They can fill in coverage gaps, providing reliable connectivity to users in rural areas that may not have access to high-quality wireless services. This will enable use cases such as remote workforces in rural areas, smart agriculture, and distance education and training. 4.3 Indoor Environments Traditional cell towers may not be able to provide reliable connectivity indoors due to physical barriers such as thick walls and ceilings. Small cells can provide targeted coverage and capacity to specific areas, such as conference rooms or shopping malls, where users require high-quality wireless connectivity. In addition to improving range, small cells can help alleviate network congestion and improve data speeds in high-traffic indoor environments. 5 Final Thoughts Small cells are a crucial element in developing and implementing 5G technology. By leveraging a small form factor and high-frequency band usage, small cells facilitate the deployment of 5G networks in a more cost-effective and targeted manner than traditional cell towers. They support a wide range of use cases by providing reliable and high-quality wireless connectivity to a growing number of devices. They will continue to be a critical technology for businesses and organizations seeking to leverage the benefits of 5G technology.

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MOBILE INFRASTRUCTURE, MOBILE OS, NETWORK INFRASTRUCTURE

5G Trends That Will Shape the Future of Technology

Article | April 11, 2023

5G trends are shaping the future of various technologies, from the Internet of Things to Virtual Reality. Learn more about the top trends in 5G to stay ahead of the competition in this sector. Contents 1 The Value of 5G for Businesses 2 5G Trends to Watch in 2023 2.1 Shift to Standalone 5G 2.2 Edge Computing for IoT 2.3 Adoption of Private 5G Networks 2.4 General Availability of 5G 2.5 Partnerships for Rapid Deployments 3 Conclusion 1 The Value of 5G for Businesses The fifth-generation network technology, or 5G, promises to revolutionize the way businesses communicate and operate. It offers lower latency, faster data transfer speeds, more robust security, and new and enhanced experiences. These capabilities enable 5G to support high-quality video conferencing, real-time collaboration, immersive virtual experiences, and more. By investing in 5G, businesses can stay competitive and meet the evolving needs of their employees and customers. With the growing adoption and use cases of this technology, keeping up with the technology trends in 5G is essential for staying ahead in today's business landscape. 2 5G Trends to Watch in 2023 2.1 Shift to Standalone 5G The rapid deployment of 5G across the world has been made possible due to the existence of an already-established 4G infrastructure. This has allowed operators to concentrate on developing the radio access network components while relying on 4G networks as a failsafe. This approach has enabled operators to deploy 5G networks at a faster pace, thereby allowing the benefits of this technology trend to reach a wider audience. The integration of a 5G core and radio forms the backbone of 5G infrastructure, enabling the 5G stand-alone network to achieve its full potential. Wireless providers have been actively promoting the key features of 5G, such as ultra-low latency and complete network slicing, which are exclusively available through the stand-alone version of this advanced technology. By utilizing this emerging technology, businesses can unlock an entirely new level of performance, allowing them to deliver innovative and immersive services to their end-users. Stand-alone 5G is also a necessity for certain unique use cases, and many 5G trends in 2023 will rely on its capabilities. It is essential for businesses to understand the benefits of this advanced technology and adopt it to remain competitive in the ever-evolving digital landscape. 2.2 Edge Computing for IoT The convergence of 5G technology and IoT is transforming how businesses operate across industry verticals. This 5G trend enables edge computing for the IoT by providing low-latency and high-bandwidth connectivity. With 5G, data can be transmitted and processed at the edge of the network, closer to the source of the data, rather than being sent to a central data center for processing. While extensive IoT fleets can operate on a 4G network, a 5G network will improve upon those capabilities with massive multiple-input, multiple output capabilities, enabling an increased number of devices to connect with the cell tower. This is especially useful in IIoT, where a large number of IoT devices are present within a small area, which requires this level of connectivity. The low latency and high bandwidth offered by 5G infrastructure also support innovative IoT solutions, such as integrating artificial intelligence, by enabling real-time processing of data and faster response times. Edge computing allows IoT devices to perform complex processing tasks and make decisions locally, rather than relying on a centralized cloud server. Businesses that operate in industries that require real-time processing will especially benefit from the digital transformation through 5G. 2.3 Adoption of Private 5G Networks Private wireless networks are suitable for many industrial applications, and the market for private 5G networks is set to expand rapidly. Private 5G networks offer greater cybersecurity, control, and reliability, making them ideal for mission-critical applications that require high levels of security and privacy. This is one of the key 5G trends because it is applicable to industries such as manufacturing, healthcare, and finance, where IoT devices collect and share sensitive data that requires greater cybersecurity. Businesses can also utilize private 5G networks to benefit from higher bandwidth, lower latency, and greater flexibility compared to public networks. Private 5G networks can be customized and tailored to meet the specific requirements of each application, making them ideal for specialized functions. As more enterprises look to benefit from network-intensive technologies such as artificial intelligence, virtual reality, and big data, the demand for private wireless networks will continue to rise. Network operators are also more willing to offer private 5G networks because they represent a new revenue stream and a growth opportunity while also allowing them to provide a more personalized service to their customers. 2.4 General Availability of 5G The 5G trends have moved towards access to 5G across the world, with 5G now available in 95 countries and reaching to more than 1.2 billion people. 5G networks are becoming more widespread in 2023, and as a result, many 5G trends and technologies are expected to emerge. Furthermore, 5G has become standard across all premium devices and many mid-range ones, making it an attractive option for consumers. For businesses, this means a whole new world of possibilities. 5G networks offer faster speeds, higher bandwidth, and lower latency, enabling businesses to offer more innovative products and services. With the increased availability of 5G, businesses can develop and deploy emerging technologies like artificial intelligence and machine learning, augmented reality, and virtual reality. Remote work and related use cases will also rise in popularity as 5G becomes more common. However, the distribution of 5G networks differs by region. 5G trends indicate that urban populations will likely be the first beneficiaries of public 5G rollouts and will benefit the most from 5G capabilities such as network densification and massive MIMO. With the deployment of 5G small cells for connectivity, 5G networks will support new use cases and faster, more reliable connectivity for the general public, especially in urban areas. 2.5 Partnerships for Rapid Deployments By connecting disjointed B2B and B2C networks with ecosystems, service providers can become service enablers, working with businesses, consumers, and even competitors to create unique 5G offerings. Digital transformation is possible through new approaches to partnerships, through which service providers manage commoditization pressures and a hyper-competitive market. Partnerships also provide businesses with access to industry skill sets that are in high demand, such as cloud, cybersecurity, and automation. By partnering with players who are already experts, cellular network providers offer specialized solutions to their customers that they may not have been able to provide otherwise. Hosted labs also help to speed ecosystem validation of use cases and new technology, ensuring that solutions are effective and efficient. Furthermore, partnerships enable service providers to create products with global scale, as demonstrated by SAP, IBM, ServiceNow, and Deutsche Telekom, which have collaborated to create global connectivity offerings ranging from 5G to software-defined networks. In the race to increase revenue and control costs in the 5G industry, collaborating with industry experts and integrating solutions will become one of the key 5G technology trends. Through collaboration, service providers can offer unique solutions to their customers, access necessary industry skill sets, and create products with global scale. These partnerships are necessary for businesses to remain competitive in an ever-changing market. 3 Conclusion The ongoing rollout of 5G networks is set to transform businesses across all industries, bringing faster speeds, lower latency, and the ability to connect more devices than ever before. As technology continues to evolve, businesses need to stay up-to-date with the future trends in 5G in order to take advantage of its full potential. The growing demand for low latency and massive connectivity due to new use cases such as edge computing and the IoT is driving the growth of 5G networks. These trends will enable businesses to create new products and services, increase efficiency and productivity, and ultimately transform the way they operate. As 5G networks continue to mature, businesses that invest in this technology will have a competitive advantage over those that do not. They will be able to deliver faster, more reliable services to customers, streamline operations, and reduce costs. With the right approach, organizations can capitalize on the latest trends in 5G and unlock new opportunities for growth and innovation in the years to come.

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DATA CENTER NETWORKING

SA and NSA: The Difference Between 5G Architectures

Article | August 10, 2022

Choosing the right 5G architecture is crucial for enhancing operations while keeping scalability and budget in mind. Learn whether SA or NSA is more suitable for your business needs with this article. 1. Introduction to 5G Network Architectures 2. What is 5G SA? 2.1 Characteristics of SA Architecture 2.2 Benefits of SA Architecture 3. What is 5G NSA? 3.1 Characteristics of NSA Architecture 3.2 Benefits of NSA Architecture 4. Factors to Consider When Choosing Between SA and NSA 4.1 Cost Implications of Each Architecture 4.2 Future Implications of Each Architecture 5. Conclusion 1. Introduction to 5G Network Architectures Widespread implementation of 5G is transforming how businesses across verticals operate, providing enhanced speed, low latency, and massive connectivity. The advancements in 5G system architecture enable new use cases, from autonomous vehicles to smart cities. There are currently two types of 5G network architecture, namely 5G standalone (5G SA) and 5G non-standalone (5G NSA). These two architectures differ in how they connect to the existing 4G infrastructure, the type of equipment required, and the level of network independence. Therefore, understanding the difference between SA and NSA is crucial for companies and organizations implementing 5G architecture. 2. What is 5G SA? 5G SA architecture is an entirely new technology that uses 5G core network architecture, independent of the current 4G LTE network. It has various use cases, such as combining 5G with AI and edge use cases. 2.1 Characteristics of SA Architecture Independent Network: All components of the architecture, including the 5G core architecture, radio access network, and user equipment, are not reliant on any 4G technology. High Performance: 5G SA architecture is optimized for high performance and low latency, enabling fast data transfer rates and near-instantaneous response times. Distributed Architecture: This allows efficient resource allocation and dynamic management of network resources. End-to-End Encryption: It provides end-to-end encryption, which ensures that data is secure and protected from unauthorized access. Higher Cost: 5G SA architecture is more expensive to implement than NSA architecture due to the need for a fully independent 5G network infrastructure. 2.2 Benefits of SA Architecture Low Latency: Applications of 5G that require real-time processing are only possible with SA architecture. Customization: As SA does not depend on existing network architecture, it can be tailored to company requirements. It also enables network slicing for 5G enterprise private network use cases. Security: End-to-end encryptions ensure a more secure network, and 5G network slicing keeps various access levels separate. Scalability: 5G architecture is designed to be highly scalable and handle large volumes of data and devices. Future-proofing: SA architecture will be able to support upcoming 5G features and capabilities by design. 3. What is 5G NSA? 5G NSA provides a transition into 'true' 5G architecture by incorporating 4G network infrastructure for deployment. 3.1 Characteristics of NSA Architecture Non-Independent Network: 5G NSA architecture is designed to leverage the existing 4G infrastructure to deliver 5G services. Transition to SA: NSA offers lower latencies and faster speeds than 4G LTE without deploying 5G architecture. Integrated Deployment: 5G NSA can be deployed quickly since it integrates existing infrastructure. Limited Scalability: As it relies on the existing 4G infrastructure, NSA is limited in scaling. Low Scalability: There is a lower limit on how many devices can join the network and the data volume that can be processed on NSA. 3.2 Benefits of NSA Architecture Faster Deployment: 5G NSA architecture can be deployed more rapidly than SA architecture. Easier Integration: 4G integration with existing networks is easier since it uses architecture. Cost-effective: 5G NSA architecture is generally less expensive to implement as it doesn't require a complete overhaul of the existing infrastructure to a 5G core architecture. Improvement Over 4G: While not providing the speed and low latency of 'true' 5G, NSA offers significant improvements over 4G networks. 4. Factors to Consider When Choosing Between SA and NSA 4.1 Cost Implications of Each Architecture SA architecture requires a complete overhaul of the existing infrastructure, which can result in higher infrastructure and deployment costs. However, SA architecture can be more cost-effective in the long run due to its future-proof design and ability to provide greater scalability and customization. On the other hand, NSA architecture leverages the existing 4G infrastructure, resulting in lower infrastructure and deployment costs. However, upgrading and maintaining an existing 4G network to support 5G technology can be complex and may result in higher operational costs in the long run. 4.2 Future Implications of Each Architecture SA architecture is designed to be future-proof and scalable, supporting upcoming 5G features and capabilities. This can give organizations greater flexibility and agility to respond to changing business needs and emerging technologies. On the other hand, NSA architecture may be less future-proof and require additional investments in infrastructure and resources to support new 5G features and capabilities. 5. Conclusion While NSA architecture may offer lower upfront costs and a faster deployment timeline, SA architecture may be more future-proof and scalable in the long run. Choosing the appropriate 5G architecture is a critical determinant for organizations aiming to utilize 5G technology in building a connected industry of the future. Organizations must evaluate their requirements and consider each architecture's short and long-term costs and operational implications before making a decision.

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Ericsson’s 5G platform adds unique core and business communication capabilities

Article | February 13, 2020

To leverage the full benefits of 5G and cloud native investments, orchestration and automation are now a critical matter of business. Ericsson’s 5G platform is now being strengthened with new solutions that enable smarter business. David Bjore, Head of R&D and Portfolio, Business Area Digital Services, Ericsson, says: “Through our core networks, service providers can get to market faster and can capitalize on new services, through leading consumer and enterprise communication and monetization solutions, enabling them to stay ahead in the race for 5G business, today and tomorrow.”

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Spotlight

Kedington

The Kedington Group is the largest IT network infrastructure solutions company in Ireland, providing active and passive IT network solutions, structured cabling and data centre engineering services to organisations of all sizes in the public and private sector...

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NETWORK MANAGEMENT,NETWORK SECURITY

Tufin Enables Enterprises to Unify Network Visibility and Control Across On-Premise and Cloud Environments with Launch of R23-1

Tufin | May 29, 2023

Tufin®, the leader in network and cloud security policy automation, today announced the R23-1 release of its Tufin orchestration platform. The latest release extends security teams’ visibility and control into the cloud, enabling enterprises to better bridge the gaps between network and cloud security. With R23-1, Tufin customers can confidently accelerate application delivery and rapidly respond to network access requests, all while optimizing security. Tufin R23-1 automates security policy changes and provides real-time visibility into the impact of those changes, from on-premise to cloud. This helps organizations accelerate application delivery while reducing the risk of misconfiguration errors, helping to maintain security and compliance. Key highlights of the R23-1 release include: Best-in-class network access automation and security policy management for Microsoft Azure (including Azure Firewall), resulting in better network visibility. The introduction of Cisco Meraki allows centralized visibility into Firewall policies, connectivity troubleshooting, and compliance monitoring. Network topology support for AWS Gateway Load Balancers, enabling change automation for firewalls running on AWS. Device grouping within the Interactive topology map, making it easy for teams to identify network segments and the connections between them. “Many large enterprises face a disconnect between network security and cloud operations teams, causing a bottleneck in deploying applications to production safely. By providing unified visibility and processes across on-premise and cloud networks, Tufin empowers network security teams to operate at cloud-equivalent speeds,” said Ruth Gomel Kafri, VP of Products at Tufin. “Tufin R23-1 gives teams the ability to automate changes, establish guardrails and reduce the overall attack surface, while maintaining the flexibility and agility that developers need to be successful.” New features in R23-1 include: Enhanced Support for AWS Gateway Load Balancers Tufin now supports interactive network topology modeling for AWS Gateway Load Balancers. This enables advanced path analysis, network connectivity troubleshooting and change automation for firewalls running on AWS, resulting in better network visibility across hybrid networks and faster deployment of cloud changes. Viewing and Managing Cisco Meraki Firewall Policies Tufin customers now have a faster and easier way to view, search and optimize Cisco Meraki firewall device rules. Security teams can now visualize and manage all Cisco Meraki Firewall Policies from a central console. This accelerates connectivity troubleshooting and compliance monitoring by providing holistic, cross-platform management. Topology Support for Azure Virtual WAN and Azure Shared Express Routes Tufin users can now import Azure Virtual Hubs from Azure subscriptions and view these and Azure Express Routes in Tufin’s interactive topology map. This provides full topology modeling of the Azure environment, which gives better network visibility and change automation for firewalls running on and connecting to Azure (shared across multiple Azure subscriptions). Viewing and Managing Azure ASGs Tufin delivers a faster and easier way to view, search and optimize Azure Application Security Groups (ASGs) that are part of Network Security Group (NSG) rules. Security teams can now troubleshoot ASG application connectivity and gain broader visibility and control across hybrid environments. Incorporate Azure Firewalls into Change Automation Tufin now supports Azure Firewalls as part of the change automation process. Tufin will verify whether access exists already when a change is requested, saving significant time and avoiding lengthy redos. Once a change request is moved forward, Tufin’s automatic target selection mechanism eliminates the need to manually search for relevant firewalls to implement the request. Proactive risk assessment ensures that compliance regulations and internal security procedures are enforced. Once the change has been performed (outside of Tufin), it can be verified to ensure the request is implemented, helping to achieve better change SLAs. Implement Changes to Panorama Tufin provides the option to commit changes to Panorama devices made by the Tufin user, without committing changes made by other Panorama users. This allows more granular auditing of the change process. Automation Support for CheckPoint FQDN Tufin now supports full network change automation, both on-prem and in the cloud, for CheckPoint FQDN objects, providing a more comprehensive and accurate view of the network where FQDN is set up on devices. Automatically designing and verifying access requests containing FQDNs makes the change process both safer and faster. Interactive Topology Map Device Grouping Tufin offers users the flexibility to either group the topology by customer defined domains or as freeform customized groups (devices), such as different data centers, or public or private clouds. This provides better network visualization and allows Tufin users to easily identify network segments and the connections between them. Network administrators and security teams gain structured visibility into their network infrastructure to identify potential misconfigurations or vulnerabilities - and troubleshoot network connectivity issues. About Tufin Tufin is the leader in network security policy management and continuous compliance automation. The platform centralizes, automates and orchestrates network and cloud access for many of the largest organizations in the world. Over 2,900 enterprises have trusted Tufin to implement accurate network changes in minutes instead of days, accelerate secure application deployments, and virtually eliminate manual tasks. A vendor-agnostic solution designed to integrate network and cloud security processes, Tufin is the answer to balancing security and business agility. Find out more at www.tufin.com.

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NETWORK SECURITY,WIRELESS,5G

Cal Poly, Federated Wireless and T-Mobile Unveil Public-Private Network Interoperability and Supercharged Wireless Network Experiences on Campus

GlobeNewswire | May 26, 2023

Federated Wireless, Inc., a shared spectrum and private wireless leader, and California Polytechnic State University in San Luis Obispo (Cal Poly), today announced the expansion of Cal Poly’s private wireless network along with a new neutral host capability enabling the private wireless network to support T-Mobile customers. Cal Poly’s converged 4G and 5G private wireless technology operating in the Citizens Broadband Radio Service (CBRS) band, combined with the neutral host capability and T-Mobile service will not only improve connectivity and safety for the campus community, but also unlock new opportunities for academic innovation with global impact in critical industries such as construction, agriculture, and energy. The first deployments of this CBRS neutral host solution at Cal Poly will be outdoors in remote hiking areas as well as inside the new William and Linda Frost Center for Research and Innovation. Much like three colleges – the College of Science and Mathematics, the College of Agriculture, Food and Environmental Sciences, and the College of Liberal Arts – coming together in the Frost Center to collaborate in a shared space, the revolutionary private wireless network is a convergence of technologies working together to support cutting-edge wireless capabilities and research projects. The solution is implemented with Federated Wireless’ Neutral Host 2.0™, which uses a communication hub that leverages AWS Snowball Edge and AWS Snowcone services to support a multi-use private wireless network. The multi-use network simultaneously supports private connectivity services provided by the university and connectivity for T-Mobile subscribers. The public-private converged network enables a wide range of advanced wireless use cases, including: Enhanced Connectivity and Safety Across Campus – T-Mobile service can be accessed using the 4G neutral host over CBRS to enhance the coverage experience in places where it’s hard for cell signal to reach, including indoor areas like the Frost building and outdoor areas on remote hiking trails, ensuring students have mobile connectivity and can make a 911 call if they encounter danger. Unmetered Broadband Streaming – For unmetered use of data-intensive applications, students can easily self-provision their mobile devices with an embedded subscriber identity module (eSIM) to securely stream class videos and other content on a mobile device over the private wireless network. 5G Innovation – With high-speed, ultra-low-latency 5G connectivity on Cal Poly’s private wireless network, advanced research can be supported for innovative next generation use cases such as 3D image capture and augmented reality to manage the progress of site construction projects. “At T-Mobile, we want to make sure all our customers – both business and consumer — have the best experience possible,” said Mark McDiarmid, SVP, Technology Innovation and Industry Partnerships at T-Mobile. “To help Cal Poly enhance coverage, we were able to use neutral host capability from our partner Federated Wireless to quickly layer T-Mobile service onto Cal Poly’s existing private wireless network, providing our subscribers with an optimal, game-changing network experience on campus.” Unlike legacy neutral host technologies such as Distributed Antenna Systems (DAS) that require differing configurations for each Mobile Network Operator (MNO), Federated Wireless Neutral Host 2.0™ uses an open, shared solution approach. It offers a private wireless network built using components from an open ecosystem of software and equipment providers to take advantage of CBRS shared spectrum and achieve a radio network that can be shared by multiple public MNOs. “Many buildings, such as those that are built with metal or concrete, or LEED-certified, leverage building materials that can block cell signal inside the building. Signal can also be blocked by geographical landscapes, which impacts coverage and creates dead zones,” said Sameer Vuyyuru, Director and Head of Worldwide Telecommunications Business Development at AWS. “Federated Wireless Neutral Host 2.0 solution runs along with the private network on AWS edge compute, while their CBRS Spectrum Access System runs on AWS, providing an innovative, versatile, scalable, and low-capex approach for building owners, campuses, and facilities to work with wireless providers to enhance coverage.” The resulting solution provides a cost-effective, multi-purpose, 4G and 5G network with neutral host capability, offering institutions and enterprises a scalable blueprint for addressing multiple complex business challenges with one integrated public-private network. “This CBRS converged private wireless network with neutral host capability demonstrates the wireless network of the future, and the power that a shared spectrum and open ecosystem model brings to higher education and private enterprise,” said Iyad Tarazi, CEO of Federated Wireless. “It is an important milestone in public and private network interoperability.” “The wireless communications world is on the edge of exciting and beneficial advancements, and the innovative capabilities around private 5G, Wi-Fi 6E, and commercial 4G/5G are expansive,” said Bill Britton, Cal Poly’s vice president for IT services and CIO. “Through our partnership with experts in the 5G space, the Cal Poly 5G Innovation Lab will answer questions about reducing wireless access points, providing wireless coverage in hard-to-reach areas, keeping secure transactions on a private network, designing and operating digital twins, and improving remote search and rescue as just a few of the examples to be explored.” The new interoperability and private 5G capabilities will be commemorated with a ribbon-cutting of the Cal Poly 5G Innovation Lab on May 25, 2023, at the Justin and J. Lohr Center for Wine and Viticulture at Cal Poly. About Federated Wireless Founded in 2012, Federated Wireless is a leading innovator of private wireless and shared spectrum services. The company’s partner ecosystem includes more than 100 solution and edge partners, all dedicated to collaboration in advance development and deployment of shared spectrum services and private wireless. Federated Wireless’ customer base includes organizations spanning agriculture, education, energy, events, government, healthcare, manufacturing and logistics, real estate, retail, and telecommunications industries. Transformative use cases range from Industry 4.0, smart agriculture, campus automation, smart cities, autonomous robotics and telehealth to network densification and mobile offload. About Cal Poly Cal Poly is a nationally ranked public university in San Luis Obispo, California, known for its Learn by Doing philosophy. Each year about 22,000 top-tier students at Cal Poly put knowledge into action, taking their learning outside the classroom as they prepare for careers in areas such as engineering, agriculture, science, business, humanities and the built environment. Cal Poly’s hands-on approach, small class sizes and close student-faculty mentorships result in graduates Ready Day One to impact their communities, California and the world. Visit: www.calpoly.edu.

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NETWORK INFRASTRUCTURE,UNIFIED COMMUNICATIONS

MATRIXX Software and Blue Planet to Offer Dynamic Monetization and Intelligent Automation at Scale

Businesswire | May 25, 2023

MATRIXX Software, a global leader in 5G monetization solutions, is working with Blue Planet, a division of Ciena , to offer intelligent automation solutions. Together, the two companies are providing an integrated solution that enables Communications Service Providers (CSPs) to dynamically orchestrate and charge for complex networks, mobile edge computing and cloud environments at scale. The Blue Planet-MATRIXX combined offering provides intelligent orchestration of multi-access edge computing (MEC), network and cloud resources to configure connectivity for advanced consumer and enterprise services like mobile gaming and commercial construction equipment. It also supports multi-party charging and revenue sharing across business-to-business-to-everything (B2B2X) value chains. CSPs and their partners can leverage the full potential of these advanced resources, resulting in enhanced, innovative customer experiences enabled by the configurability of 5G and edge networks. “Emerging business models between telcos and enterprises require greater flexibility and transparency. The combined MATRIXX and Blue Planet solution offers dynamic orchestration and charging at scale, delivering critical capabilities for 5G standalone networks and cloud computing,” said Marc Price, CTO of MATRIXX Software. “We share a commitment to help CSPs deliver new revenue streams as they deliver increasingly complex digital experiences to customers.” The two companies demonstrated the solution at key industry events, including Mobile World Congress (in conjunction with Microsoft), a TM Forum catalyst proof of concept at Digital Transformation World titled “Supercharged Edge-Aware Marketplaces” and AWS re:Invent 2022’s Industries Interactive pavilion. “Unifying Blue Planet’s intelligent automation and orchestration capabilities with MATRIXX’s real-time monetization offers dynamic 5G experiences that leverage CSPs’ network and edge applications for optimized outcomes,” added Kailem Anderson, Vice President for Portfolio and Engineering at Blue Planet. “In today’s rapidly evolving environment, our combined solution gives CSPs the necessary flexibility and scalability to provide smooth, real-time experiences that customers have come to expect.” About MATRIXX Software MATRIXX Software delivers a modern converged charging and commerce solution proven at scale. Its cloud native Digital Commerce Platform provides network-grade, mission critical software that unlocks new network monetization opportunities. With its no-code configuration capabilities, MATRIXX empowers service providers with the agility necessary to easily develop, deploy and monetize new products and services. MATRIXX is the platform of choice powering many of the world’s leading communications companies, IoT players and emerging network infrastructure providers. MATRIXX makes it possible to harness commercial innovation and on-demand customer experience to better compete and drive new revenue and growth opportunities across markets and verticals. About Blue Planet Blue Planet provides proven software solutions that accelerate digital transformation through intelligent automation. With more than 200 deployments worldwide, our modular, vendor-agnostic product portfolio enables real-time visibility and control to manage changing network operating environments. Backed by a global team of delivery specialists and an ecosystem of partners, Blue Planet is a division of Ciena that combines expertise across IT, network, and business operations to enable the agility necessary for creating differentiated end-customer experiences. www.blueplanet.com.

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NETWORK MANAGEMENT,NETWORK SECURITY

Tufin Enables Enterprises to Unify Network Visibility and Control Across On-Premise and Cloud Environments with Launch of R23-1

Tufin | May 29, 2023

Tufin®, the leader in network and cloud security policy automation, today announced the R23-1 release of its Tufin orchestration platform. The latest release extends security teams’ visibility and control into the cloud, enabling enterprises to better bridge the gaps between network and cloud security. With R23-1, Tufin customers can confidently accelerate application delivery and rapidly respond to network access requests, all while optimizing security. Tufin R23-1 automates security policy changes and provides real-time visibility into the impact of those changes, from on-premise to cloud. This helps organizations accelerate application delivery while reducing the risk of misconfiguration errors, helping to maintain security and compliance. Key highlights of the R23-1 release include: Best-in-class network access automation and security policy management for Microsoft Azure (including Azure Firewall), resulting in better network visibility. The introduction of Cisco Meraki allows centralized visibility into Firewall policies, connectivity troubleshooting, and compliance monitoring. Network topology support for AWS Gateway Load Balancers, enabling change automation for firewalls running on AWS. Device grouping within the Interactive topology map, making it easy for teams to identify network segments and the connections between them. “Many large enterprises face a disconnect between network security and cloud operations teams, causing a bottleneck in deploying applications to production safely. By providing unified visibility and processes across on-premise and cloud networks, Tufin empowers network security teams to operate at cloud-equivalent speeds,” said Ruth Gomel Kafri, VP of Products at Tufin. “Tufin R23-1 gives teams the ability to automate changes, establish guardrails and reduce the overall attack surface, while maintaining the flexibility and agility that developers need to be successful.” New features in R23-1 include: Enhanced Support for AWS Gateway Load Balancers Tufin now supports interactive network topology modeling for AWS Gateway Load Balancers. This enables advanced path analysis, network connectivity troubleshooting and change automation for firewalls running on AWS, resulting in better network visibility across hybrid networks and faster deployment of cloud changes. Viewing and Managing Cisco Meraki Firewall Policies Tufin customers now have a faster and easier way to view, search and optimize Cisco Meraki firewall device rules. Security teams can now visualize and manage all Cisco Meraki Firewall Policies from a central console. This accelerates connectivity troubleshooting and compliance monitoring by providing holistic, cross-platform management. Topology Support for Azure Virtual WAN and Azure Shared Express Routes Tufin users can now import Azure Virtual Hubs from Azure subscriptions and view these and Azure Express Routes in Tufin’s interactive topology map. This provides full topology modeling of the Azure environment, which gives better network visibility and change automation for firewalls running on and connecting to Azure (shared across multiple Azure subscriptions). Viewing and Managing Azure ASGs Tufin delivers a faster and easier way to view, search and optimize Azure Application Security Groups (ASGs) that are part of Network Security Group (NSG) rules. Security teams can now troubleshoot ASG application connectivity and gain broader visibility and control across hybrid environments. Incorporate Azure Firewalls into Change Automation Tufin now supports Azure Firewalls as part of the change automation process. Tufin will verify whether access exists already when a change is requested, saving significant time and avoiding lengthy redos. Once a change request is moved forward, Tufin’s automatic target selection mechanism eliminates the need to manually search for relevant firewalls to implement the request. Proactive risk assessment ensures that compliance regulations and internal security procedures are enforced. Once the change has been performed (outside of Tufin), it can be verified to ensure the request is implemented, helping to achieve better change SLAs. Implement Changes to Panorama Tufin provides the option to commit changes to Panorama devices made by the Tufin user, without committing changes made by other Panorama users. This allows more granular auditing of the change process. Automation Support for CheckPoint FQDN Tufin now supports full network change automation, both on-prem and in the cloud, for CheckPoint FQDN objects, providing a more comprehensive and accurate view of the network where FQDN is set up on devices. Automatically designing and verifying access requests containing FQDNs makes the change process both safer and faster. Interactive Topology Map Device Grouping Tufin offers users the flexibility to either group the topology by customer defined domains or as freeform customized groups (devices), such as different data centers, or public or private clouds. This provides better network visualization and allows Tufin users to easily identify network segments and the connections between them. Network administrators and security teams gain structured visibility into their network infrastructure to identify potential misconfigurations or vulnerabilities - and troubleshoot network connectivity issues. About Tufin Tufin is the leader in network security policy management and continuous compliance automation. The platform centralizes, automates and orchestrates network and cloud access for many of the largest organizations in the world. Over 2,900 enterprises have trusted Tufin to implement accurate network changes in minutes instead of days, accelerate secure application deployments, and virtually eliminate manual tasks. A vendor-agnostic solution designed to integrate network and cloud security processes, Tufin is the answer to balancing security and business agility. Find out more at www.tufin.com.

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NETWORK SECURITY,WIRELESS,5G

Cal Poly, Federated Wireless and T-Mobile Unveil Public-Private Network Interoperability and Supercharged Wireless Network Experiences on Campus

GlobeNewswire | May 26, 2023

Federated Wireless, Inc., a shared spectrum and private wireless leader, and California Polytechnic State University in San Luis Obispo (Cal Poly), today announced the expansion of Cal Poly’s private wireless network along with a new neutral host capability enabling the private wireless network to support T-Mobile customers. Cal Poly’s converged 4G and 5G private wireless technology operating in the Citizens Broadband Radio Service (CBRS) band, combined with the neutral host capability and T-Mobile service will not only improve connectivity and safety for the campus community, but also unlock new opportunities for academic innovation with global impact in critical industries such as construction, agriculture, and energy. The first deployments of this CBRS neutral host solution at Cal Poly will be outdoors in remote hiking areas as well as inside the new William and Linda Frost Center for Research and Innovation. Much like three colleges – the College of Science and Mathematics, the College of Agriculture, Food and Environmental Sciences, and the College of Liberal Arts – coming together in the Frost Center to collaborate in a shared space, the revolutionary private wireless network is a convergence of technologies working together to support cutting-edge wireless capabilities and research projects. The solution is implemented with Federated Wireless’ Neutral Host 2.0™, which uses a communication hub that leverages AWS Snowball Edge and AWS Snowcone services to support a multi-use private wireless network. The multi-use network simultaneously supports private connectivity services provided by the university and connectivity for T-Mobile subscribers. The public-private converged network enables a wide range of advanced wireless use cases, including: Enhanced Connectivity and Safety Across Campus – T-Mobile service can be accessed using the 4G neutral host over CBRS to enhance the coverage experience in places where it’s hard for cell signal to reach, including indoor areas like the Frost building and outdoor areas on remote hiking trails, ensuring students have mobile connectivity and can make a 911 call if they encounter danger. Unmetered Broadband Streaming – For unmetered use of data-intensive applications, students can easily self-provision their mobile devices with an embedded subscriber identity module (eSIM) to securely stream class videos and other content on a mobile device over the private wireless network. 5G Innovation – With high-speed, ultra-low-latency 5G connectivity on Cal Poly’s private wireless network, advanced research can be supported for innovative next generation use cases such as 3D image capture and augmented reality to manage the progress of site construction projects. “At T-Mobile, we want to make sure all our customers – both business and consumer — have the best experience possible,” said Mark McDiarmid, SVP, Technology Innovation and Industry Partnerships at T-Mobile. “To help Cal Poly enhance coverage, we were able to use neutral host capability from our partner Federated Wireless to quickly layer T-Mobile service onto Cal Poly’s existing private wireless network, providing our subscribers with an optimal, game-changing network experience on campus.” Unlike legacy neutral host technologies such as Distributed Antenna Systems (DAS) that require differing configurations for each Mobile Network Operator (MNO), Federated Wireless Neutral Host 2.0™ uses an open, shared solution approach. It offers a private wireless network built using components from an open ecosystem of software and equipment providers to take advantage of CBRS shared spectrum and achieve a radio network that can be shared by multiple public MNOs. “Many buildings, such as those that are built with metal or concrete, or LEED-certified, leverage building materials that can block cell signal inside the building. Signal can also be blocked by geographical landscapes, which impacts coverage and creates dead zones,” said Sameer Vuyyuru, Director and Head of Worldwide Telecommunications Business Development at AWS. “Federated Wireless Neutral Host 2.0 solution runs along with the private network on AWS edge compute, while their CBRS Spectrum Access System runs on AWS, providing an innovative, versatile, scalable, and low-capex approach for building owners, campuses, and facilities to work with wireless providers to enhance coverage.” The resulting solution provides a cost-effective, multi-purpose, 4G and 5G network with neutral host capability, offering institutions and enterprises a scalable blueprint for addressing multiple complex business challenges with one integrated public-private network. “This CBRS converged private wireless network with neutral host capability demonstrates the wireless network of the future, and the power that a shared spectrum and open ecosystem model brings to higher education and private enterprise,” said Iyad Tarazi, CEO of Federated Wireless. “It is an important milestone in public and private network interoperability.” “The wireless communications world is on the edge of exciting and beneficial advancements, and the innovative capabilities around private 5G, Wi-Fi 6E, and commercial 4G/5G are expansive,” said Bill Britton, Cal Poly’s vice president for IT services and CIO. “Through our partnership with experts in the 5G space, the Cal Poly 5G Innovation Lab will answer questions about reducing wireless access points, providing wireless coverage in hard-to-reach areas, keeping secure transactions on a private network, designing and operating digital twins, and improving remote search and rescue as just a few of the examples to be explored.” The new interoperability and private 5G capabilities will be commemorated with a ribbon-cutting of the Cal Poly 5G Innovation Lab on May 25, 2023, at the Justin and J. Lohr Center for Wine and Viticulture at Cal Poly. About Federated Wireless Founded in 2012, Federated Wireless is a leading innovator of private wireless and shared spectrum services. The company’s partner ecosystem includes more than 100 solution and edge partners, all dedicated to collaboration in advance development and deployment of shared spectrum services and private wireless. Federated Wireless’ customer base includes organizations spanning agriculture, education, energy, events, government, healthcare, manufacturing and logistics, real estate, retail, and telecommunications industries. Transformative use cases range from Industry 4.0, smart agriculture, campus automation, smart cities, autonomous robotics and telehealth to network densification and mobile offload. About Cal Poly Cal Poly is a nationally ranked public university in San Luis Obispo, California, known for its Learn by Doing philosophy. Each year about 22,000 top-tier students at Cal Poly put knowledge into action, taking their learning outside the classroom as they prepare for careers in areas such as engineering, agriculture, science, business, humanities and the built environment. Cal Poly’s hands-on approach, small class sizes and close student-faculty mentorships result in graduates Ready Day One to impact their communities, California and the world. Visit: www.calpoly.edu.

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NETWORK INFRASTRUCTURE,UNIFIED COMMUNICATIONS

MATRIXX Software and Blue Planet to Offer Dynamic Monetization and Intelligent Automation at Scale

Businesswire | May 25, 2023

MATRIXX Software, a global leader in 5G monetization solutions, is working with Blue Planet, a division of Ciena , to offer intelligent automation solutions. Together, the two companies are providing an integrated solution that enables Communications Service Providers (CSPs) to dynamically orchestrate and charge for complex networks, mobile edge computing and cloud environments at scale. The Blue Planet-MATRIXX combined offering provides intelligent orchestration of multi-access edge computing (MEC), network and cloud resources to configure connectivity for advanced consumer and enterprise services like mobile gaming and commercial construction equipment. It also supports multi-party charging and revenue sharing across business-to-business-to-everything (B2B2X) value chains. CSPs and their partners can leverage the full potential of these advanced resources, resulting in enhanced, innovative customer experiences enabled by the configurability of 5G and edge networks. “Emerging business models between telcos and enterprises require greater flexibility and transparency. The combined MATRIXX and Blue Planet solution offers dynamic orchestration and charging at scale, delivering critical capabilities for 5G standalone networks and cloud computing,” said Marc Price, CTO of MATRIXX Software. “We share a commitment to help CSPs deliver new revenue streams as they deliver increasingly complex digital experiences to customers.” The two companies demonstrated the solution at key industry events, including Mobile World Congress (in conjunction with Microsoft), a TM Forum catalyst proof of concept at Digital Transformation World titled “Supercharged Edge-Aware Marketplaces” and AWS re:Invent 2022’s Industries Interactive pavilion. “Unifying Blue Planet’s intelligent automation and orchestration capabilities with MATRIXX’s real-time monetization offers dynamic 5G experiences that leverage CSPs’ network and edge applications for optimized outcomes,” added Kailem Anderson, Vice President for Portfolio and Engineering at Blue Planet. “In today’s rapidly evolving environment, our combined solution gives CSPs the necessary flexibility and scalability to provide smooth, real-time experiences that customers have come to expect.” About MATRIXX Software MATRIXX Software delivers a modern converged charging and commerce solution proven at scale. Its cloud native Digital Commerce Platform provides network-grade, mission critical software that unlocks new network monetization opportunities. With its no-code configuration capabilities, MATRIXX empowers service providers with the agility necessary to easily develop, deploy and monetize new products and services. MATRIXX is the platform of choice powering many of the world’s leading communications companies, IoT players and emerging network infrastructure providers. MATRIXX makes it possible to harness commercial innovation and on-demand customer experience to better compete and drive new revenue and growth opportunities across markets and verticals. About Blue Planet Blue Planet provides proven software solutions that accelerate digital transformation through intelligent automation. With more than 200 deployments worldwide, our modular, vendor-agnostic product portfolio enables real-time visibility and control to manage changing network operating environments. Backed by a global team of delivery specialists and an ecosystem of partners, Blue Planet is a division of Ciena that combines expertise across IT, network, and business operations to enable the agility necessary for creating differentiated end-customer experiences. www.blueplanet.com.

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