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CES 2020: Explorers in the era of 5G

This year at CES 2020, the placards, posters, headlines and lowlines all, somehow, kept coming back to some reference for 5G. Phones were given 5G signal bars. Exhibitors were hyping their products as 5G-ready. But for all the pomp and circumstance around this number/letter combo, few among the 200,000-strong tsunami of attendees could say exactly how 5G was working for them right now. For starters, what, exactly, is 5G? The term stands for fifth-generation cellular wireless and refers to standards set at the end of 2017. And from there it is a bit like wandering down the rabbit hole.

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Social WiFi (R)

Social WiFi is a modern analytics and marketing tool that allows owners of various establishments to identify and interact with their guests, for example by using real-time promotional campaigns, mailing, conducting surveys via star rating system and gathering feedback. Social WiFi allows hotels and restaurants to identify the client, analyze his experiences and improve the establishment so that it is visited more often, hence providing more profit.

OTHER ARTICLES
Wireless, 5G

Singtel delivers a model for future 5G and edge connectivity

Article | May 18, 2023

Asia stands out as home to a handful of telcos busy building an international business out of selling their internally developed IT platforms. Leading the way are Jio in India, Japan’s Rakuten and Singapore operator Singtel. Having built their own businesses, they are now selling their platforms to support new 5G business models for enterprises and other operators. In the case of Singtel, this means its 5G multi-access edge computing (MEC) services, based on Paragon, its orchestration platform for enterprise services. Manoj Prasanna Kumar, Head of Enterprise Platforms at Singtel, who is responsible for the Paragon platform, discusses in this article the company’s enterprise service ambitions, how it’s partnering with global enterprise software vendors and the obstacles it still sees to 5G B2B service uptake. Paragon, which falls under the telco’s DigitalInfraCo arm, aims to give enterprises “a single pane of glass that provides an end-to-end view and control of the network, the edge and the application ecosystem,” says Manoj. “It opens up the edge to the enterprise world, allowing them to deploy either their own applications or applications from Singtel's ecosystem.” Launched last year, Paragon also lets telcos orchestrate end-to-end 5G enterprise networking services in combination with applications from software and cloud computing partners. Paragon’s application partners include Amazon Web Services, Intel, Microsoft and SAP, and the platform is available to every 5G enterprise user within the Singtel Group. Singtel’s bet is that a growing number of enterprises will need a tightly intertwined combination of 5G connectivity and cloud computing on the edge to run specific vertical applications. “Our strategy is to become a super aggregator of MEC,” says Manoj. “We focus on high throughput, low latency use cases, such as video analytics or streaming, mixed reality and virtual reality which pump data into the back-end applications and where the decision-making cannot afford even a few milliseconds of extra latency.” In addition to Paragon, Singtel Group’s investments in 5G infrastructure and service delivery include a national 5G standalone (SA) network, covering more than 95% of Singapore, and international investment in data centers to support cloud computing on the network edge. Today, there are signs that its investments in 5G enterprise services are starting to bear fruit. In the second half of the 2022/23 financial year, which ended on 31 March, Singtel reported that higher demand for technology solutions and 5G services contributed to ICT revenue growth of 11%, with ICT revenues contributing 23% of Singtel Group’s overall enterprise revenue. Singtel scored a notable win for the Enterprise 5G offering powered by Paragon platform last year when Silicon manufacturer Micron said it would deploy it and Singtel’s 5G campus network infrastructure to support its smart manufacturing operations. Micron is using Singtel’s solution to help manage and analyze its manufacturing processes for enhanced efficiency. Likewise, Singtel recently announced Hyundai as another customer for their Enterprise 5G offering powered by the Paragon platform to deliver digital twin for their electric vehicle manufacturing plant in Singapore for advanced manufacturing operations. Nonetheless, Manoj recognizes that challenges remain when it comes to growing the 5G enterprise business. “5G and edge in Singapore have had quite a good start. But I would say we've got a long way to go,” he says. Convincing customers One of the biggest obstacles is generating customer demand. After all, just because enterprises are able to set 5G connectivity parameters on demand or use MEC for 5G applications at the click of a button doesn’t mean they see a reason to do so. “Many customers don't have a lot of awareness of how edge computing can really transform their business and how a few milliseconds of latency can actually save money for them, make them more efficient, and reduce errors and so on,” says Manoj. This reality has shaped Singtel’s sales process. “We spend quite a lot of time in raising awareness amongst customers,” he explains. “We never start with what 5G can do. Instead, we focus on understanding their challenges, their current processes, what gaps there are, and…start with applications that can help solve their problems.” Another challenge is a lack of 5G-native devices. “This puts us in a very tough spot because when we go and connect devices to wi-fi hotspots, and then use 5G as backhaul, customers often ask ‘isn't this similar to wi fi? Why do I need 5G?’” He adds: “It will be a bit of a roadblock…for all telcos until the 5G-native device ecosystem matures.” There is also a need for software applications that can perform optimally on 5G and the edge, and switch between network slices with different payloads. “There is a little bit of hand holding required when we bring in an ISV to qualify their application so that it can benefit from all the capabilities of 5G and the edge,” says Manoj. And then there are the engineering challenges associated with orchestration. Paragon sets out to automate much of the orchestration and management capabilities that make it possible to request quality of service on demand for specific applications and use cases. But here again, success is dependent on close partnerships with third parties. “Strategic partnerships with Ericsson on the network side and with Intel, Microsoft and AWS help us boost the infrastructure and the application side to stitch together the network and the infrastructure capabilities,” explains Manoj. Choosing your vertical Singtel is currently targeting three strategic verticals: manufacturing, public safety and urban planning. Its choice reflects the opportunities in both Singapore and the domestic markets of members of the Singtel Group. “In Singapore, we are lucky because both enterprises and the government are very, very future-looking and invest quite a lot in adopting new technology,” says Manoj. In particular, “public sector customers are more motivated to explore something new because they carry the digital footprint of the country,” he says. And because governments operate public safety and urban planning systems at a national level, the promises are on enough scale to spur third parties to invest in developing devices and software applications. Typical public safety use cases include video analytics, surveillance systems and robotics applications; urban planning covers systems such as traffic management. Some of the enterprise applications Singtel sees gaining traction include immersive B2B2C content, such as delivering real-time analytics to gamers via a 360-degree video feed or mixed reality applications to train factory workers on how to troubleshoot to use complex equipment. “If they need an augmented overlay of information through the camera feeds then they need 5G and edge because a lag will make users nauseous,” explains Manoj. Other promising use cases include autonomous drones and robots. Singtel has drawn on standard APIs, including TM Forum’s Open APIs, CAMARA APIs to build Paragon. Manoj encourages both technology standardization and collaboration with hyperscalers and software vendors to grow the enterprise market. “Telcos should be embracing tech players as partners, seeing them as catalysts of more pull through on their services,” says Manoj. “When you partner with them, you expose your services on the hyperscale infrastructure, you naturally work with developers, which allows telcos to expand the services market.”

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Enterprise Mobility

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

Article | June 15, 2023

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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Network Infrastructure, Network Management

Ericsson researchers top 4.3Gbps downlink on 5G millimeter wave

Article | July 10, 2023

With a technical specification comprising 8 component carriers (8CC) aggregating 800MHz of millimeter wave spectrum, Ericsson engineers achieved delivery rates of 4.3Gbps – the fastest 5G speed to date. Ericsson Radio System Street Macro 6701 delivered data with downlink speeds of 4.3Gbps over-the-air to an industry partner test device during interoperability testing. The commercial solution, including network and terminal support, will be available to 5G consumers during 2020.

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Intelligence Brief: How is 5G changing network ownership?

Article | February 12, 2020

5G necessitates a different network strategy. Unlike previous generations, 5G deployment is not only about adding more sites and increasing backhaul capacity. In fact, it is more about rethinking the whole network architecture to make it agile. The high capacity requirements of 5G will necessitate the use of small cells in cities and areas of high footfall (such as airports) to complement national macro networks. Private networks (for example to sell into enterprise customers) and the concept of a neutral host (such as for sports stadiums) are further examples of diversification.

Read More
Wireless, 5G

5G Small Cells: The Future of Wireless Networks

Article | May 18, 2023

Asia stands out as home to a handful of telcos busy building an international business out of selling their internally developed IT platforms. Leading the way are Jio in India, Japan’s Rakuten and Singapore operator Singtel. Having built their own businesses, they are now selling their platforms to support new 5G business models for enterprises and other operators. In the case of Singtel, this means its 5G multi-access edge computing (MEC) services, based on Paragon, its orchestration platform for enterprise services. Manoj Prasanna Kumar, Head of Enterprise Platforms at Singtel, who is responsible for the Paragon platform, discusses in this article the company’s enterprise service ambitions, how it’s partnering with global enterprise software vendors and the obstacles it still sees to 5G B2B service uptake. Paragon, which falls under the telco’s DigitalInfraCo arm, aims to give enterprises “a single pane of glass that provides an end-to-end view and control of the network, the edge and the application ecosystem,” says Manoj. “It opens up the edge to the enterprise world, allowing them to deploy either their own applications or applications from Singtel's ecosystem.” Launched last year, Paragon also lets telcos orchestrate end-to-end 5G enterprise networking services in combination with applications from software and cloud computing partners. Paragon’s application partners include Amazon Web Services, Intel, Microsoft and SAP, and the platform is available to every 5G enterprise user within the Singtel Group. Singtel’s bet is that a growing number of enterprises will need a tightly intertwined combination of 5G connectivity and cloud computing on the edge to run specific vertical applications. “Our strategy is to become a super aggregator of MEC,” says Manoj. “We focus on high throughput, low latency use cases, such as video analytics or streaming, mixed reality and virtual reality which pump data into the back-end applications and where the decision-making cannot afford even a few milliseconds of extra latency.” In addition to Paragon, Singtel Group’s investments in 5G infrastructure and service delivery include a national 5G standalone (SA) network, covering more than 95% of Singapore, and international investment in data centers to support cloud computing on the network edge. Today, there are signs that its investments in 5G enterprise services are starting to bear fruit. In the second half of the 2022/23 financial year, which ended on 31 March, Singtel reported that higher demand for technology solutions and 5G services contributed to ICT revenue growth of 11%, with ICT revenues contributing 23% of Singtel Group’s overall enterprise revenue. Singtel scored a notable win for the Enterprise 5G offering powered by Paragon platform last year when Silicon manufacturer Micron said it would deploy it and Singtel’s 5G campus network infrastructure to support its smart manufacturing operations. Micron is using Singtel’s solution to help manage and analyze its manufacturing processes for enhanced efficiency. Likewise, Singtel recently announced Hyundai as another customer for their Enterprise 5G offering powered by the Paragon platform to deliver digital twin for their electric vehicle manufacturing plant in Singapore for advanced manufacturing operations. Nonetheless, Manoj recognizes that challenges remain when it comes to growing the 5G enterprise business. “5G and edge in Singapore have had quite a good start. But I would say we've got a long way to go,” he says. Convincing customers One of the biggest obstacles is generating customer demand. After all, just because enterprises are able to set 5G connectivity parameters on demand or use MEC for 5G applications at the click of a button doesn’t mean they see a reason to do so. “Many customers don't have a lot of awareness of how edge computing can really transform their business and how a few milliseconds of latency can actually save money for them, make them more efficient, and reduce errors and so on,” says Manoj. This reality has shaped Singtel’s sales process. “We spend quite a lot of time in raising awareness amongst customers,” he explains. “We never start with what 5G can do. Instead, we focus on understanding their challenges, their current processes, what gaps there are, and…start with applications that can help solve their problems.” Another challenge is a lack of 5G-native devices. “This puts us in a very tough spot because when we go and connect devices to wi-fi hotspots, and then use 5G as backhaul, customers often ask ‘isn't this similar to wi fi? Why do I need 5G?’” He adds: “It will be a bit of a roadblock…for all telcos until the 5G-native device ecosystem matures.” There is also a need for software applications that can perform optimally on 5G and the edge, and switch between network slices with different payloads. “There is a little bit of hand holding required when we bring in an ISV to qualify their application so that it can benefit from all the capabilities of 5G and the edge,” says Manoj. And then there are the engineering challenges associated with orchestration. Paragon sets out to automate much of the orchestration and management capabilities that make it possible to request quality of service on demand for specific applications and use cases. But here again, success is dependent on close partnerships with third parties. “Strategic partnerships with Ericsson on the network side and with Intel, Microsoft and AWS help us boost the infrastructure and the application side to stitch together the network and the infrastructure capabilities,” explains Manoj. Choosing your vertical Singtel is currently targeting three strategic verticals: manufacturing, public safety and urban planning. Its choice reflects the opportunities in both Singapore and the domestic markets of members of the Singtel Group. “In Singapore, we are lucky because both enterprises and the government are very, very future-looking and invest quite a lot in adopting new technology,” says Manoj. In particular, “public sector customers are more motivated to explore something new because they carry the digital footprint of the country,” he says. And because governments operate public safety and urban planning systems at a national level, the promises are on enough scale to spur third parties to invest in developing devices and software applications. Typical public safety use cases include video analytics, surveillance systems and robotics applications; urban planning covers systems such as traffic management. Some of the enterprise applications Singtel sees gaining traction include immersive B2B2C content, such as delivering real-time analytics to gamers via a 360-degree video feed or mixed reality applications to train factory workers on how to troubleshoot to use complex equipment. “If they need an augmented overlay of information through the camera feeds then they need 5G and edge because a lag will make users nauseous,” explains Manoj. Other promising use cases include autonomous drones and robots. Singtel has drawn on standard APIs, including TM Forum’s Open APIs, CAMARA APIs to build Paragon. Manoj encourages both technology standardization and collaboration with hyperscalers and software vendors to grow the enterprise market. “Telcos should be embracing tech players as partners, seeing them as catalysts of more pull through on their services,” says Manoj. “When you partner with them, you expose your services on the hyperscale infrastructure, you naturally work with developers, which allows telcos to expand the services market.”

Read More
Enterprise Mobility

Upcoming 7 Conferences to Attend in Network Monitoring

Article | June 15, 2023

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.”

Read More
Network Infrastructure, Network Management

Top 10 Network Monitoring and Management Certifications

Article | July 10, 2023

With a technical specification comprising 8 component carriers (8CC) aggregating 800MHz of millimeter wave spectrum, Ericsson engineers achieved delivery rates of 4.3Gbps – the fastest 5G speed to date. Ericsson Radio System Street Macro 6701 delivered data with downlink speeds of 4.3Gbps over-the-air to an industry partner test device during interoperability testing. The commercial solution, including network and terminal support, will be available to 5G consumers during 2020.

Read More

Intelligence Brief: How is 5G changing network ownership?

Article | February 12, 2020

5G necessitates a different network strategy. Unlike previous generations, 5G deployment is not only about adding more sites and increasing backhaul capacity. In fact, it is more about rethinking the whole network architecture to make it agile. The high capacity requirements of 5G will necessitate the use of small cells in cities and areas of high footfall (such as airports) to complement national macro networks. Private networks (for example to sell into enterprise customers) and the concept of a neutral host (such as for sports stadiums) are further examples of diversification.

Read More
MORE ARTICLES

Spotlight

Social WiFi (R)

Social WiFi is a modern analytics and marketing tool that allows owners of various establishments to identify and interact with their guests, for example by using real-time promotional campaigns, mailing, conducting surveys via star rating system and gathering feedback. Social WiFi allows hotels and restaurants to identify the client, analyze his experiences and improve the establishment so that it is visited more often, hence providing more profit.

Related News

Network Infrastructure

NTT DATA and IP Infusion Partner to Accelerate Network Disaggregation

Business Wire | October 17, 2023

IP Infusion, a leading provider of open network software and solutions for wireline and mobile network operators, today announced a strategic partnership with NTT DATA, a global digital business and IT services leader. NTT DATA and IP Infusion are collaborating for go-to-market open networking solutions to bring enhanced disaggregation, scalability, and choices to network operators. NTT DATA (part of NTT Group) is a global innovator of IT and business services headquartered in Tokyo that offers consulting, industry solutions, business process services, IT modernization and managed services. NTT DATA will offer IP Infusion Cell Site Routers, Routed Optical Networking, Aggregation Router and Data Center software products, including bundled solutions, on a broad portfolio of white box hardware. This collaboration for expanding broad connectivity was initiated by the Telecom Infra Project (TIP), including TIP solutions for Disaggregated Cell Site Gateways (DCSG) or Cell Site Routers and Cassini for Routed Optical Networking projects. Both NTT DATA and IP Infusion are members of TIP, which is driving development and deployment of open, disaggregated, and standards-based technology solutions to advance global connectivity. “We are deeply committed to accelerating network disaggregation throughout our global ecosystem of customers and partners,” said Teodoro López Palacios, Partner, Telecom Sector at NTT DATA Europe & LATAM. “IP Infusion is a proven leader in open networking, providing award-winning and field-tested solutions that reduce total cost of ownership while expanding services. We are excited to help propel innovation, greater access, and better network outcomes to more users.” “The systems integrator role is important for the TIP community, and the IP Infusion and NTT DATA alliance is a big step forward for bringing disaggregated solutions to a diverse range of use cases,” said Kristian Toivo, Executive Director of Telecom Infra Project. “NTT DATA and IP Infusion have long demonstrated deep expertise in open network solutions and this collaboration will help create a stronger, more flexible supply chain, supporting high-quality connectivity.” We are pleased to partner with NTT DATA to drive further market penetration for open networking, said Atsushi Ogata, President and CEO of IP Infusion. It’s great to be working with NTT DATA, a trusted global innovator for business IT solutions, which clearly understands the powerful potential of network disaggregation. We are proud to be furthering TIP’s ideals for expanding open networks and paving the way for a connected future. Along with this partnership with NTT DATA, IP Infusion continues to receive acclaim for its products and services. This spring, leading independent global provider of technology industry insights GigaOm designated IP Infusion as Leader and Outperformer for the third consecutive year in all three of its 2023 Network Operating System Radar Reports. The IP Infusion software platform was identified as the most complete of the more than 20 NOS vendors GigaOm analysts evaluated, outperforming incumbent providers including Cisco and Juniper. In addition, TIP recognized IP Infusion’s Disaggregated Cell Site Gateway (DCSG) solution with the TIP Validated Solution Gold Badge in 2022. IP Infusion’s software was recognized for satisfying the stringent requirements set by the TIP Open Optical Packet Transport Project (OOPT) group for the DCSG. About IP Infusion IP Infusion manufactures open network software and solutions for carriers, service providers and data centers. With hundreds of customers and thousands of deployments, IP Infusion is a market leader in Network Operating Systems. Our flagship software platform OcNOS® allows network operators to disaggregate their networks, streamline operations, and reduce Total Cost of Ownership (TCO). Network OEMs may also disaggregate network devices to expedite time to market, offer comprehensive services, and achieve carrier grade robustness. IP Infusion is headquartered in Santa Clara, Calif., and is a wholly owned and independently operated subsidiary of ACCESS CO., LTD. Additional information can be found at http://www.IPInfusion.com. IP Infusion and OcNOS are trademarks or registered trademarks of IP Infusion. ACCESS is a registered trademark or trademark of ACCESS CO., LTD. in the United States, Japan and/or other countries. Northforge Innovations is a registered trademark of Northforge Innovations, Inc. All other trademarks, service marks, registered trademarks, or registered service marks mentioned are the property of their respective owners.

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Network Infrastructure

Arrcus Unveils Groundbreaking ACE-AI Networking Solution at MWC Las Vegas

Business Wire | October 03, 2023

Arrcus, the hyperscale networking software company and a leader in core, edge, and multi-cloud routing and switching infrastructure, is proud to introduce its trailblazing networking solution, Arrcus Connected Edge for AI (ACE-AI), designed to revolutionize the networking industry for AI/ML workloads. In the heart of today's digitally driven world, a monumental transformation is underway. Generative Artificial Intelligence (GenAI) has emerged as a powerful force, reshaping entire industries and redefining our digital landscape. At the epicenter of this transformative wave is the exponential growth of datacenter network traffic, driven by GenAI applications. AI/ML workloads will be increasingly distributed – at the Edge, in colos, telco PoPs/datacenters and public clouds. This growth underscores the urgent need for networks to evolve to become distributed, open, lossless and predictable to cater to this revolutionary paradigm shift. "AI networking bandwidth is going to grow over 100% Y/Y in the second half of 2023 and throughout 2024 based on the remarkable growth in vendor revenue associated with AI/ML, and this class of networking bandwidth growth is nearly three times that of traditional data center networking,” said Alan Weckel, Founder and Technology Analyst at 650 Group. “We see AI/ML as a major catalyst for the growth of Data Center switching over the next five years and is likely to be distributed in nature. Arrcus' adaptable ACE-AI platform effectively addresses these demands with its open and flexible network fabric, designed to unify the distributed AI/ML workloads wherever they may reside.” Arrcus' innovative ACE-AI networking solution based on ArcOS delivers a modern, unified network fabric for optimizing GPU and other distributed compute resources with maximum performance for AI/ML workloads. Ethernet as the underlying technology is well suited to address the needs with its inherent benefits for scalability, reliability, flexibility and low latency and ACE-AI builds on Ethernet to seamlessly weave together the entire network infrastructure, spanning from the edge to core to multi-cloud, encompassing switching and routing. Communication Service Providers (CSP), Enterprises and Datacenter operators can now harness the potential of 5G and GenAI by pooling compute resources wherever they may reside across the network to drive business outcomes. “AL/ML workloads, Large Language Models (LLM) and compute-intensive applications like GenAI need to be delivered in a distributed fashion, to enable pooling of scarce, expensive compute resources as well as ensure low latency at the point of consumption,” said Shekar Ayyar, Chairman and CEO, Arrcus. “With Arrcus ACE-AI, Enterprises, CSPs and Hyperscalers now have the ability to transition from the legacy, single vendor networks, to a more modern, scalable, and software-defined network with lower TCO in support of their AI expansion plans.” For next-generation datacenters, ACE-AI enables traditional CLOS and Virtualized Distributed Routing (VDR) architectures, with massive scale and performance to provide lossless, predictable connectivity for GPU clusters with high resiliency, availability and visibility. Features like Priority Flow Control (PFC), intelligent congestion detection and buffering at ingress points to prevent packet drops, ensure lower Job Completion Times (JCT) and tail latency. In the always-on world of GenAI, network high availability is crucial and is supported with features like Hitless Upgrade, reducing software maintenance upgrade times to under 20ms. “High-performing, reliable and low-latency networks that are energy efficient are fundamental to bring the AI/ML disruption to reality. Ethernet with its standards-based approach is perfectly suited to deliver this critical connectivity to the distributed AI paradigm,” said Ram Velaga, senior vice president and general manager, Core Switching Group, Broadcom Inc. “We share Arrcus’ vision and are excited to collaborate with them to create a network fabric that is open, programmatic and first rate performance.” To leverage 5G to deliver GenAI applications at the edge, ACE-AI also benefits from innovations like SRv6 Mobile User Plane (MUP) to enable the automated delivery of network slicing simply, efficiently and cost effectively. Network visibility is paramount for GenAI workloads, and ArcIQ is a modern network visibility and analytics platform that provides networking professionals with real-time, deep views of the networks and devices with actionable insights for proactive incident management and faster troubleshooting. Open networks serve as the cornerstone of adaptability and rapid innovation, and Arrcus supports a wide range of energy conserving merchant silicon and hardware options from multiple ODMs, ranging in speeds from 1G to 400G, across shallow and deep buffer switches, granting customers unprecedented choices. "The AI revolution is underway and demanding a comprehensive reevaluation of network infrastructure development to effectively address requirements of Distributed AI," said Heimdall Siao, President of Edgecore Networks. "We are enthusiastic about our collaboration with Arrcus to build the next-generation infrastructure combining Edgecore's Open Networking platform with Arrcus versatile ACE AI solution." “To adequately address high performance, low latency needs of applications like GenAI, combined with 5G transport it is critical to transition from legacy networking to an open, disaggregated stack that leverages hardware platforms built on the latest merchant silicon combined with scalable, programmable networking stack,” said Vincent Ho, CEO of UfiSpace. “UfiSpace and Arrcus deliver a highly innovative solution to address the 5G and AI revolution.” As GenAI reshapes industries, Arrcus delivers networks to match this dynamism by providing open, lossless, predictable, and distributed networks to lay the foundation for datacenters to flourish in this transformative era. About Arrcus Arrcus was founded to enhance business efficiency through superior network connectivity. The Arrcus Connected Edge (ACE) platform offers best-in-class networking with the most flexible consumption model at the lowest total cost of ownership. The Arrcus team consists of world-class technologists who have an unparalleled record in shipping industry-leading networking products, complemented by industry thought leaders, operating executives, strategic partners and top-tier VCs. The company is headquartered in San Jose, California with offices in Bangalore, India, and Tokyo, Japan. For more information, go to www.arrcus.com or follow @arrcusinc.

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Network Management

SOLiD and ASOCS Unveil Joint O-RAN Solution for Private 5G Networks

GlobeNewswire | September 26, 2023

SOLiD, the leader in cellular in-building mobile coverage, and ASOCS, a leading provider of private 5G network software, today announced a partnership to deliver a complete O-RAN-compliant solution for private 5G and Industrial IoT (IIoT) networks. The joint solution enables rapid deployment of scalable private 5G campus networks with intelligent real-time positioning using the Citizens Broadband Radio Service (CBRS) spectrum. The new private 5G network solution comprises the SOLiD CBRS O-RAN Radio Unit (O-RU), the ASOCS CYRUS® virtual O-RAN Distributed Unit (O-DU) and Centralized Unit (O-CU), and ASOCS Hermes NGP real-time positioning software. The CBRS-compliant solution, certified by the OnGo Alliance, empowers a range of mission-critical Industry 4.0 use cases, such as manufacturing automation, predictive maintenance, real-time asset tracking, and occupational health and safety. The SOLiD CBRS O-RU complies with O-RAN ALLIANCE fronthaul specifications, supporting 4G LTE and 5G New Radio (NR) in standalone (SA) or non-standalone (NSA) architecture. The O-RU is compatible with various virtual or physical baseband products via an eCPRI interface. To improve private 5G network service agility, scalability, and efficiency, the SOLiD Fronthaul Multiplexer (MUX) technology eliminates the need for dedicated bandwidth for each RU, enabling more economical use of the CBRS spectrum. “With the power of AI, the ASOCS software-as-a-service solution enables a cloud-based private 5G network with real-time indoor/ outdoor positioning intelligence to connect data-driven Industry 4.0 edge applications with high accuracy and low latency,” said Niv Zimmerman, vice president of solutions, ASOCS. “Together with SOLiD, we offer a unique, comprehensive solution for deploying private 5G and IIoT networks in a scalable model.” “SOLiD is at the forefront of innovating connectivity with Open RAN architecture, changing how mobile network operators, system integrators, and manufacturers build tomorrow’s networks,” said Yong Hoon Kang, Ph.D., chief technology officer, SOLiD Americas. “The powerful combination of the SOLiD CBRS O-RAN Radio Unit and ASOCS software unleashes 5G to enable fast, turnkey deployment of robust and secure private in-building networks that transform the business environment.” “With low latency, fast data speeds, high reliability, and solid security, the true promise of 5G over CBRS is to enable Industry 4.0 applications for greater productivity and profitability,” said Alan Ewing, executive director, OnGo Alliance. “The SOLiD and ASOCS collaboration is an outstanding example from two of our members of how 5G NR and CBRS come together to deliver exceptional performance.” SOLiD and ASOCS have completed multiple interoperability tests proving the performance of their Open RAN technologies. To learn more, visit SOLiD and ASOCS in meeting room #1178 at MWC Las Vegas, September 26-28. About SOLiD SOLiD enables indoor and outdoor cellular at many of the world’s best-known and most challenging venues — from the busiest airports and subways to Fortune 500 corporate buildings, hospitals, hotels, universities, sports venues, government, industrial, and logistics facilities. SOLiD continuously innovates to deliver best-in-class connectivity solutions that scale to every need. For more information, visit www.solid.com/us. About ASOCS ASOCS provides a fully virtualized private 5G network solution, along with 5G real-time positioning services for enterprises that require mission-critical, data-driven applications. ASOCS products are delivered on a scalable software-as-a-service (SaaS) model, enabling companies to easily implement private 5G networks and benefit from high network reliability, enhanced security, and low latency. For more information, visit www.asocscloud.com.

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Network Infrastructure

NTT DATA and IP Infusion Partner to Accelerate Network Disaggregation

Business Wire | October 17, 2023

IP Infusion, a leading provider of open network software and solutions for wireline and mobile network operators, today announced a strategic partnership with NTT DATA, a global digital business and IT services leader. NTT DATA and IP Infusion are collaborating for go-to-market open networking solutions to bring enhanced disaggregation, scalability, and choices to network operators. NTT DATA (part of NTT Group) is a global innovator of IT and business services headquartered in Tokyo that offers consulting, industry solutions, business process services, IT modernization and managed services. NTT DATA will offer IP Infusion Cell Site Routers, Routed Optical Networking, Aggregation Router and Data Center software products, including bundled solutions, on a broad portfolio of white box hardware. This collaboration for expanding broad connectivity was initiated by the Telecom Infra Project (TIP), including TIP solutions for Disaggregated Cell Site Gateways (DCSG) or Cell Site Routers and Cassini for Routed Optical Networking projects. Both NTT DATA and IP Infusion are members of TIP, which is driving development and deployment of open, disaggregated, and standards-based technology solutions to advance global connectivity. “We are deeply committed to accelerating network disaggregation throughout our global ecosystem of customers and partners,” said Teodoro López Palacios, Partner, Telecom Sector at NTT DATA Europe & LATAM. “IP Infusion is a proven leader in open networking, providing award-winning and field-tested solutions that reduce total cost of ownership while expanding services. We are excited to help propel innovation, greater access, and better network outcomes to more users.” “The systems integrator role is important for the TIP community, and the IP Infusion and NTT DATA alliance is a big step forward for bringing disaggregated solutions to a diverse range of use cases,” said Kristian Toivo, Executive Director of Telecom Infra Project. “NTT DATA and IP Infusion have long demonstrated deep expertise in open network solutions and this collaboration will help create a stronger, more flexible supply chain, supporting high-quality connectivity.” We are pleased to partner with NTT DATA to drive further market penetration for open networking, said Atsushi Ogata, President and CEO of IP Infusion. It’s great to be working with NTT DATA, a trusted global innovator for business IT solutions, which clearly understands the powerful potential of network disaggregation. We are proud to be furthering TIP’s ideals for expanding open networks and paving the way for a connected future. Along with this partnership with NTT DATA, IP Infusion continues to receive acclaim for its products and services. This spring, leading independent global provider of technology industry insights GigaOm designated IP Infusion as Leader and Outperformer for the third consecutive year in all three of its 2023 Network Operating System Radar Reports. The IP Infusion software platform was identified as the most complete of the more than 20 NOS vendors GigaOm analysts evaluated, outperforming incumbent providers including Cisco and Juniper. In addition, TIP recognized IP Infusion’s Disaggregated Cell Site Gateway (DCSG) solution with the TIP Validated Solution Gold Badge in 2022. IP Infusion’s software was recognized for satisfying the stringent requirements set by the TIP Open Optical Packet Transport Project (OOPT) group for the DCSG. About IP Infusion IP Infusion manufactures open network software and solutions for carriers, service providers and data centers. With hundreds of customers and thousands of deployments, IP Infusion is a market leader in Network Operating Systems. Our flagship software platform OcNOS® allows network operators to disaggregate their networks, streamline operations, and reduce Total Cost of Ownership (TCO). Network OEMs may also disaggregate network devices to expedite time to market, offer comprehensive services, and achieve carrier grade robustness. IP Infusion is headquartered in Santa Clara, Calif., and is a wholly owned and independently operated subsidiary of ACCESS CO., LTD. Additional information can be found at http://www.IPInfusion.com. IP Infusion and OcNOS are trademarks or registered trademarks of IP Infusion. ACCESS is a registered trademark or trademark of ACCESS CO., LTD. in the United States, Japan and/or other countries. Northforge Innovations is a registered trademark of Northforge Innovations, Inc. All other trademarks, service marks, registered trademarks, or registered service marks mentioned are the property of their respective owners.

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Network Infrastructure

Arrcus Unveils Groundbreaking ACE-AI Networking Solution at MWC Las Vegas

Business Wire | October 03, 2023

Arrcus, the hyperscale networking software company and a leader in core, edge, and multi-cloud routing and switching infrastructure, is proud to introduce its trailblazing networking solution, Arrcus Connected Edge for AI (ACE-AI), designed to revolutionize the networking industry for AI/ML workloads. In the heart of today's digitally driven world, a monumental transformation is underway. Generative Artificial Intelligence (GenAI) has emerged as a powerful force, reshaping entire industries and redefining our digital landscape. At the epicenter of this transformative wave is the exponential growth of datacenter network traffic, driven by GenAI applications. AI/ML workloads will be increasingly distributed – at the Edge, in colos, telco PoPs/datacenters and public clouds. This growth underscores the urgent need for networks to evolve to become distributed, open, lossless and predictable to cater to this revolutionary paradigm shift. "AI networking bandwidth is going to grow over 100% Y/Y in the second half of 2023 and throughout 2024 based on the remarkable growth in vendor revenue associated with AI/ML, and this class of networking bandwidth growth is nearly three times that of traditional data center networking,” said Alan Weckel, Founder and Technology Analyst at 650 Group. “We see AI/ML as a major catalyst for the growth of Data Center switching over the next five years and is likely to be distributed in nature. Arrcus' adaptable ACE-AI platform effectively addresses these demands with its open and flexible network fabric, designed to unify the distributed AI/ML workloads wherever they may reside.” Arrcus' innovative ACE-AI networking solution based on ArcOS delivers a modern, unified network fabric for optimizing GPU and other distributed compute resources with maximum performance for AI/ML workloads. Ethernet as the underlying technology is well suited to address the needs with its inherent benefits for scalability, reliability, flexibility and low latency and ACE-AI builds on Ethernet to seamlessly weave together the entire network infrastructure, spanning from the edge to core to multi-cloud, encompassing switching and routing. Communication Service Providers (CSP), Enterprises and Datacenter operators can now harness the potential of 5G and GenAI by pooling compute resources wherever they may reside across the network to drive business outcomes. “AL/ML workloads, Large Language Models (LLM) and compute-intensive applications like GenAI need to be delivered in a distributed fashion, to enable pooling of scarce, expensive compute resources as well as ensure low latency at the point of consumption,” said Shekar Ayyar, Chairman and CEO, Arrcus. “With Arrcus ACE-AI, Enterprises, CSPs and Hyperscalers now have the ability to transition from the legacy, single vendor networks, to a more modern, scalable, and software-defined network with lower TCO in support of their AI expansion plans.” For next-generation datacenters, ACE-AI enables traditional CLOS and Virtualized Distributed Routing (VDR) architectures, with massive scale and performance to provide lossless, predictable connectivity for GPU clusters with high resiliency, availability and visibility. Features like Priority Flow Control (PFC), intelligent congestion detection and buffering at ingress points to prevent packet drops, ensure lower Job Completion Times (JCT) and tail latency. In the always-on world of GenAI, network high availability is crucial and is supported with features like Hitless Upgrade, reducing software maintenance upgrade times to under 20ms. “High-performing, reliable and low-latency networks that are energy efficient are fundamental to bring the AI/ML disruption to reality. Ethernet with its standards-based approach is perfectly suited to deliver this critical connectivity to the distributed AI paradigm,” said Ram Velaga, senior vice president and general manager, Core Switching Group, Broadcom Inc. “We share Arrcus’ vision and are excited to collaborate with them to create a network fabric that is open, programmatic and first rate performance.” To leverage 5G to deliver GenAI applications at the edge, ACE-AI also benefits from innovations like SRv6 Mobile User Plane (MUP) to enable the automated delivery of network slicing simply, efficiently and cost effectively. Network visibility is paramount for GenAI workloads, and ArcIQ is a modern network visibility and analytics platform that provides networking professionals with real-time, deep views of the networks and devices with actionable insights for proactive incident management and faster troubleshooting. Open networks serve as the cornerstone of adaptability and rapid innovation, and Arrcus supports a wide range of energy conserving merchant silicon and hardware options from multiple ODMs, ranging in speeds from 1G to 400G, across shallow and deep buffer switches, granting customers unprecedented choices. "The AI revolution is underway and demanding a comprehensive reevaluation of network infrastructure development to effectively address requirements of Distributed AI," said Heimdall Siao, President of Edgecore Networks. "We are enthusiastic about our collaboration with Arrcus to build the next-generation infrastructure combining Edgecore's Open Networking platform with Arrcus versatile ACE AI solution." “To adequately address high performance, low latency needs of applications like GenAI, combined with 5G transport it is critical to transition from legacy networking to an open, disaggregated stack that leverages hardware platforms built on the latest merchant silicon combined with scalable, programmable networking stack,” said Vincent Ho, CEO of UfiSpace. “UfiSpace and Arrcus deliver a highly innovative solution to address the 5G and AI revolution.” As GenAI reshapes industries, Arrcus delivers networks to match this dynamism by providing open, lossless, predictable, and distributed networks to lay the foundation for datacenters to flourish in this transformative era. About Arrcus Arrcus was founded to enhance business efficiency through superior network connectivity. The Arrcus Connected Edge (ACE) platform offers best-in-class networking with the most flexible consumption model at the lowest total cost of ownership. The Arrcus team consists of world-class technologists who have an unparalleled record in shipping industry-leading networking products, complemented by industry thought leaders, operating executives, strategic partners and top-tier VCs. The company is headquartered in San Jose, California with offices in Bangalore, India, and Tokyo, Japan. For more information, go to www.arrcus.com or follow @arrcusinc.

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Network Management

SOLiD and ASOCS Unveil Joint O-RAN Solution for Private 5G Networks

GlobeNewswire | September 26, 2023

SOLiD, the leader in cellular in-building mobile coverage, and ASOCS, a leading provider of private 5G network software, today announced a partnership to deliver a complete O-RAN-compliant solution for private 5G and Industrial IoT (IIoT) networks. The joint solution enables rapid deployment of scalable private 5G campus networks with intelligent real-time positioning using the Citizens Broadband Radio Service (CBRS) spectrum. The new private 5G network solution comprises the SOLiD CBRS O-RAN Radio Unit (O-RU), the ASOCS CYRUS® virtual O-RAN Distributed Unit (O-DU) and Centralized Unit (O-CU), and ASOCS Hermes NGP real-time positioning software. The CBRS-compliant solution, certified by the OnGo Alliance, empowers a range of mission-critical Industry 4.0 use cases, such as manufacturing automation, predictive maintenance, real-time asset tracking, and occupational health and safety. The SOLiD CBRS O-RU complies with O-RAN ALLIANCE fronthaul specifications, supporting 4G LTE and 5G New Radio (NR) in standalone (SA) or non-standalone (NSA) architecture. The O-RU is compatible with various virtual or physical baseband products via an eCPRI interface. To improve private 5G network service agility, scalability, and efficiency, the SOLiD Fronthaul Multiplexer (MUX) technology eliminates the need for dedicated bandwidth for each RU, enabling more economical use of the CBRS spectrum. “With the power of AI, the ASOCS software-as-a-service solution enables a cloud-based private 5G network with real-time indoor/ outdoor positioning intelligence to connect data-driven Industry 4.0 edge applications with high accuracy and low latency,” said Niv Zimmerman, vice president of solutions, ASOCS. “Together with SOLiD, we offer a unique, comprehensive solution for deploying private 5G and IIoT networks in a scalable model.” “SOLiD is at the forefront of innovating connectivity with Open RAN architecture, changing how mobile network operators, system integrators, and manufacturers build tomorrow’s networks,” said Yong Hoon Kang, Ph.D., chief technology officer, SOLiD Americas. “The powerful combination of the SOLiD CBRS O-RAN Radio Unit and ASOCS software unleashes 5G to enable fast, turnkey deployment of robust and secure private in-building networks that transform the business environment.” “With low latency, fast data speeds, high reliability, and solid security, the true promise of 5G over CBRS is to enable Industry 4.0 applications for greater productivity and profitability,” said Alan Ewing, executive director, OnGo Alliance. “The SOLiD and ASOCS collaboration is an outstanding example from two of our members of how 5G NR and CBRS come together to deliver exceptional performance.” SOLiD and ASOCS have completed multiple interoperability tests proving the performance of their Open RAN technologies. To learn more, visit SOLiD and ASOCS in meeting room #1178 at MWC Las Vegas, September 26-28. About SOLiD SOLiD enables indoor and outdoor cellular at many of the world’s best-known and most challenging venues — from the busiest airports and subways to Fortune 500 corporate buildings, hospitals, hotels, universities, sports venues, government, industrial, and logistics facilities. SOLiD continuously innovates to deliver best-in-class connectivity solutions that scale to every need. For more information, visit www.solid.com/us. About ASOCS ASOCS provides a fully virtualized private 5G network solution, along with 5G real-time positioning services for enterprises that require mission-critical, data-driven applications. ASOCS products are delivered on a scalable software-as-a-service (SaaS) model, enabling companies to easily implement private 5G networks and benefit from high network reliability, enhanced security, and low latency. For more information, visit www.asocscloud.com.

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