Worldwide IT spending increases were pretty anemic as IT and telecom services spending were seriously curtailed last year. It seems that things are going better. Telecom services spending, which has been curtailed in the past few years, only grew by a tenth of a point in 2012, to $1.661tr, but Gartner projects spending on mobile data services to grow enough to more than compensate for declines in fixed and mobile voice revenues. Infonetics Research Report sees telecom sector growth outpacing GDP growth. Global capital expenditure (capex) by telecommunications service providers is expected to increase at a compounded rate of 1.5% over the next five years, from $207 billion in 2012 to $223.3 billion in 2017, says a new market report from Insight Research Corp.
Europe’s Telco Giants In Talks To Create Pan-European Network. Europe’s largest mobile network operators are considering pooling their resources to create pan-European network infrastructure, the FT is reporting. Mobile network operators are frustrated by a “disjointed European market” that’s making it harder for them to compete.
“Internet of Things” gets new push. Ten Companies (Including Logitech) Team Up To Create The Internet Of Things Consortium article tell that your Internet-connected devices may be getting more cooperative, thanks to group of startups and established players who have come together to create a new nonprofit group called the Internet of Things Consortium.
Machine-to-Machine (M2M) communications are more and more used. Machine-to-machine technology made great strides in 2012, and I expect an explosion of applications in 2013. Mobile M2M communication offers developers a basis for countless new applications for all manner of industries. Extreme conditions M2M communication article tells that M2M devices often need to function in extreme conditions. According to market analysts at Berg Insight, the number of communicating machines is set to rise to around 270 million by 2015. The booming M2M market is due to unlimited uses for M2M communications. The more and more areas of life and work will rely on M2M.
Car of the future is M2M-ready and has Ethernet. Ethernet has already been widely accepted by the automotive industry as the preferred interface for on-board-diagnostics (OBD). Many cars already feature also Internet connectivity. Many manufacturers taking an additional step to develop vehicle connectivity. One such example is the European Commission’s emergency eCall system, which is on target for installation in every new car by 2015. There is also aim of Vehicle-to-Vehicle communications and Internet connectivity within vehicles is to detect traffic jams promptly and prevent them from getting any worse.
M2M branches beyond one-to-one links article tells that M2M is no longer a one-to-one connection but has evolved to become a system of networks transmitting data to a growing number of personal devices. Today, sophisticated and wireless M2M data modules boast many features.
The Industrial Internet of Things article tells that one of the biggest stories in automation and control for 2013 could be the continuing emergence of what some have called the Internet of Things, or what GE is now marketing as the Industrial Internet. The big question is whether companies will see the payback on the needed investment. And there are many security issues that needs to be carefully weighted out.
Very high speed 60GHz wireless will be talked a lot in 2013. Standards sultan sanctifies 60GHz wireless LAN tech: IEEE blesses WiGig’s HDMI-over-the-air, publishes 802.11ad. WiFi and WiGig Alliances become one, work to promote 60GHz wireless. Wi-Fi, WiGig Alliances to wed, breed 60GHz progeny. WiGig Alliance’s 60GHz “USB/PCI/HDMI/DisplayPort” technology sits on top of the IEEE radio-based communications spec. WiGig’s everything-over-the-air system is expected to deliver up to 7Gbit of data per second, albeit only over a relatively short distance from the wireless access point. Fastest Wi-Fi ever is almost ready for real-world use as WiGig routers, docking stations, laptop, and tablet were shown at CES. It’s possible the next wireless router you buy will use the 60GHz frequency as well as the lower ones typically used in Wi-Fi, allowing for incredibly fast performance when you’re within the same room as the router and normal performance when you’re in a different room.
Communications on power line still gets some interest at least inside house. HomePlug and G.hn are tussling it out to emerge as the de-facto powerline standard, but HomePlug has enjoyed a lot of success as the incumbent.
Silicon photonics ushers in 100G networks article tells that a handful of companies are edging closer to silicon photonics, hoping to enable a future generation of 100 Gbit/s networks.
Now that 100G optical units are entering volume deployment, faster speeds are very clearly on the horizon. The push is on for a 400G Ethernet standard. Looking beyond 100G toward 400G standardization article tells that 400G is very clearly on the horizon. The push is now officially “on” for 400-Gigabit Ethernet standard. The industry is trying to avoid the mistakes made with 40G optics, which lacked any industry standards.
Market for free-space optical wireless systems expanding. Such systems are often positioned as an alternative to fiber-optic cables, particularly when laying such cables would be cost-prohibitive or where permitting presents an insurmountable obstacle. DARPA Begins Work On 100Gbps Wireless Tech With 120-mile Range.
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Tomi says:
T-Mobile US: Go ahead, PAY NOTHING up front for any device
Summer promotion bids adieu to down payments
http://www.theregister.co.uk/2013/07/26/tmobile_us_go_ahead_pay_nothing_up_front_for_any_device/
Fourth-ranked US wireless carrier T-Mobile has hit back at its competitors’ phone-upgrade plans with a new summer promotion that does away with down payments on all new devices.
In March, T-Mobile announced that it was eliminating traditional device subsidies in favor of a model in which customers either pay the full price of a new device up front, or else pay a down payment and then make up the rest over 24 interest-free monthly installments.
The carrier followed that up earlier this month with Jump!, a plan that allows customers to trade in their phones for new ones up to twice a year, for an additional monthly fee of $10.
Verizon and AT&T, the two largest US carriers, wasted no time countering those offers with pay-as-you-go, device-swapping plans of their own. But unlike Jump!, neither Verizon’s Edge nor AT&T’s Next requires customers to put up a down payment for a new device.
Tomi says:
Electric Imp as an Internet to RF gateway
http://hackaday.com/2013/07/25/electric-imp-as-an-internet-to-rf-gateway/
This project is a study in connecting several different families of hobby electronic hardware.
It bridges its Internet connection with the RF connections of the rest of the project.
The Imp is a peculiar (intriguing?) piece of hardware. Take a look at [Brian Benchoff's] hand’s on experience with the SD form factor hardware which is not an SD card at all. It’s an embedded system which uses light programming and a cloud-based software setup to bring wireless Internet to your projects.
Tomi says:
Android stick mutates into a home server
http://hackaday.com/2013/07/25/android-stick-mutates-into-a-home-server/
Kiss that energy hungry PC you’ve been using as a home server goodbye. [Vince Loschiavo] shows us how he squeezed a remarkable amount of functionality out of an inexpensive Android stick which manages his home’s digital empire.
He started off just wanting some network attached storage. For this he grabbed an MK802 Android Stick which you can get for a song if you find the right deal. To bend it to his will he said goodbye to the Android OS, installing Ubuntu for ARM instead.
Tomi says:
8 Technologies that should’ve ended yesterday
Unnecessary gadgets that are still hard at work
http://www.electronicproducts.com/Computer_Systems/Standalone_Mobile/8_Technologies_that_should_ve_ended_yesterday.aspx
1. The Fax Machine
Replacement: E-mail; billions of e-mails are sent out every day, so why stand around a bulky machine when you can shoot over a quick message in cyberspace?
2. The Pager
Replacement: Cell-phone alerts
3. Cable Television
Replacement – Hulu, Netflix, and other Internet streaming websites;
4. The CD
Replacement: iPods; who would’ve thought that a 4-inch box could hold up to 160 GB of music and videos.
5. The Roll of Film
Replacement: Smartphones; with a camera up to 13 megapixels, smartphones are easily accessible, thin, and fast for sharp picture taking.
6. The Portable Radio
Replacement: Smartphones; these slabs of plastic can do it all from streaming an AM/FM station, to plugging into speakers, and connecting to Twitter and government alerts for important messages.
7. The Land Line
Replacement: Cell phones; portable phones can be used for in-house and out-of-house calls.
8. The PDA
Replacement: Cell phones; with a calendar just waiting for appointments to be booked and an address book allowing the user to set pictures and ringers for that contact there is no need for a PDA.
Tomi says:
Here are the world’s fastest Internet connections
Network speeds in a global comparison, Finland reached number 14
The world’s fastest Internet connections can be found in Asia, with South Korea, Japan and Hong Kong will carry the global comparison.
Network connections in these countries the average speeds of more than 10 megabits per second (Mbit / s),
Global average speed is about three megabytes.
Finnish web access speeds are the average global comparison, 14 the fastest: an average of 7.7 Mbps speeds.
- Internet connections in Finland are quite nice fast global benchmarks, Klaus Nieminen evaluated.
Fixed subscriptions on average, slower mobile connections falling average rates,
Source: http://yle.fi/uutiset/taalta_loytyvat_maailman_nopeimmat_nettiyhteydet/6747316
Tomi says:
Why YouTube buffers: The secret deals that make—and break—online video
When ISPs and video providers fight over money, Internet users suffer.
http://arstechnica.com/information-technology/2013/07/why-youtube-buffers-the-secret-deals-that-make-and-break-online-video/
Why does online video have such problems? People may assume there are perfectly innocent causes related to their computers or to the mysterious workings of the Internet. Often, they’re correct.
But cynical types who suspect their Internet Service Providers (ISPs) intentionally degrade streaming video may be right as well. No, your ISP (probably) isn’t sniffing your traffic every time you click a YouTube or Netflix link, ready to throttle your bandwidth. But behind the scenes, in negotiations that almost never become public, the world’s biggest Internet providers and video services argue over how much one network should pay to connect to another. When these negotiations fail, users suffer. In other words, bad video performance is often caused not just by technology problems but also by business decisions made by the companies that control the Internet.
These business decisions involve “peering” agreements that Internet companies make to pass traffic from one to another and negotiations over caching services that store videos closer to people’s homes so they can load faster in your browser. When Internet providers refuse to upgrade peering connections, traffic gets congested. When ISPs refuse to use the caching services offered by the likes of Google and Netflix, video has to travel farther across the Internet to get to its final destination—your living room.
Tomi says:
Why the Internet Needs Cognitive Protocols
Networks will break down without new biologically inspired routing
http://spectrum.ieee.org/computing/networks/why-the-internet-needs-cognitive-protocols
Perhaps as early as the end of this decade, our refrigerators will e-mail us grocery lists. Our doctors will update our prescriptions using data beamed from tiny monitors attached to our bodies. And our alarm clocks will tell our curtains when to open and our coffeemakers when to start the morning brew.
By 2020, according to forecasts from Cisco Systems, the global Internet will consist of 50 billion connected tags, televisions, cars, kitchen appliances, surveillance cameras, smartphones, utility meters, and whatnot. This is the Internet of Things, and what an idyllic concept it is.
But here’s the harsh reality: Without a radical overhaul to its underpinnings, such a massive, variable network will likely create more problems than it proposes to solve. The reason? Today’s Internet just isn’t equipped to manage the kind of traffic that billions more nodes and diverse applications will surely bring.
The problem is not simply one of volume. Network operators will always be able to add capacity by transmitting data more efficiently and by rolling out more cables and cellular base stations. But this approach is increasingly costly and ultimately unscalable, because the real trouble lies with the technology at the heart of the Internet: its routing architecture.
The future Internet will need smarter routing algorithms to handle diverse data flows and prevent failures. Although there are no tried-and-true solutions yet, early designs
Tomi says:
10 competitors Cisco couldn’t kill off
http://www.infoworld.com/slideshow/112246/10-competitors-cisco-couldnt-kill-223426
Some companies actually thrived in spite of Cisco’s best efforts
Cisco CEO John Chambers loves to talk about the companies that have tried to compete with Cisco and failed. He refers to companies such as 3com, Nortel, and Synoptics — and he’s right. However, here are 10 companies that have managed to thrive in this era of Cisco dominance and have stood the test of time.
Tomi says:
Is China Wiring Africa For Surveillance?
http://yro.slashdot.org/story/13/08/02/0128233/is-china-wiring-africa-for-surveillance
“Huawei has invested billions of dollars in Africa over the last two decades, providing affordable cell phones, internet access, and telecommunications networks to the continent. Over the last few months Huawei has closed major deals in Africa to get more areas on the grid.”
Tomi says:
FBI pressures Internet providers to install surveillance software
http://news.cnet.com/8301-13578_3-57596791-38/fbi-pressures-internet-providers-to-install-surveillance-software/
CNET has learned the FBI has developed custom “port reader” software to intercept Internet metadata in real time. And, in some cases, it wants to force Internet providers to use the software.
Tomi says:
Extraneous Network Services Leave Home Routers Unsecure
http://mobile.slashdot.org/story/13/08/03/2124223/extraneous-network-services-leave-home-routers-unsecure
“Today’s home routers include a multitude of extra functionality, such as the ability to act as a file and print server. An article from CNET shows how an attacker can use vulnerabilities in these services, such as buffer overflows, directory traversal, race conditions, command injections, and bad permissions to take over the router from the local network without knowing the administrative password.”
Tomi says:
Lost phone? Google’s got an app for that, coming this month
Free location and remote wipe service for Android devices
http://www.theregister.co.uk/2013/08/03/android_device_manager/
Google has announced that it will begin offering a free device location and security service for Android phones and tablets for the first time later this month, addressing a longstanding omission in Mountain View’s mobile OS.
According to a blog post by Android product manager Benjamin Poiesz on Friday, the forthcoming Android Device Manager (ADM) will be a combination of a mobile app and online services that will help Android customers both locate lost phones and protect their data when their devices can’t be found.
If your phone is nearby – behind the couch, say, or underneath that stack of old pizza boxes – ADM can let you know by telling it to make a godawful racket. Login to ADM via your Google account, press the Ring button, and the device will holler at its maximum volume, even if you had previously silenced it.
Failing that, unless your gadget is powered off, it must be someplace else. ADM can tell you where – via integration with Google Maps
ADM gives you the option of initiating a remote wipe of all of your phone’s data.
Tomi says:
Russia’s Massive Android Malware Industry Revealed
http://securitywatch.pcmag.com/mobile-security/314386-russia-s-massive-android-malware-industry-revealed
Mobile security company Lookout released a report today at DefCon that reveals the amazing size, scope, and complexity of Android malware operations in Russia. The report found the bulk of this Russian malware wasn’t coming from lone individuals in basements, but well-oiled malware producing machines.
Lookout discovered that 10 organizations are responsible for about 60 percent of the Russian SMS malware out there. These were centered around “Malware HQs” which actually produces the malicious apps. Once downloaded, these apps make use of SMS shortcodes that bill victims via their wireless carrier. In the U.S., we often see these attached to charitable organizations like the Red Cross.
Here’s how the scam works: The Malware HQ creates malicious applications that can be configured to look like just about anything. They also register and maintain the shortcodes with wireless carriers.
Victims find the affiliates website or social media spam and download the malicious applications. Once on the victim’s Android device, the malware sends out one or more premium SMS messages—usually costing the victim between $3 and $20 USD.
Because the Malware HQ owns the shortcodes, they get the money from the victim’s carrier. They take a cut, and give the rest to the affiliates, who are apparently paid like normal employees based off their performance.
Tomi Engdahl says:
For Category 8, TIA adopting ISO/IEC’s Class II performance levels
http://www.cablinginstall.com/articles/2013/06/tia-cat8-iso-levelii.html
In a recent post to its Standards Informant website, Siemon stated that during its meeting the week of June 17, the TIA TR-42.7 Copper Cabling Subcommittee “accepted the concept of adding ISO/IEC Class II cabling performance criteria into its pending ANSI/TIA-568-C.2-1 category 8 project.”
“Class II is the name of the new ISO/IEC grade of cabling that will be constructed from fully shielded ISO/IEC category 8.2 cords, cables and connecting hardware,” Siemon explained, adding, “Both class II and category 8.2 specifications are targeted to support the 40GBase-T application over a distance of at least 30 meters and are under development by the ISO/IEC JTC 1/SC 25/WG 3 Working Group. Category 8.2 components will be an extension and superset of existing Category 7A components.”
Siemon characterized the TIA’s acceptance of the class II concept as a demonstration “that North American standards development organizations are ready to embrace fully shielded cabling systems,” saying such a move is “a strong and positive step toward global harmonization of the full suite of available IT network structured cabling solutions.”
Tomi Engdahl says:
Cat 8 cable development and test process described
http://www.cablinginstall.com/articles/2013/06/cat8-testdev.html?cmpid=EnlCIMJuly12013
The group’s test summary for Category 8 F/UTP cable revealed that the cabling uses outer shielding, but does not have individually shielded pairs. The cable is round with a diameter less than 0.300″ (<7.62mm). Smooth transmission performance up to 2000 MHz is virtually assured.
The group noted that a perceivable NEXT spike at 200/250MHz is a known and understood cabling design parameter that will be addressed in forthcoming prototype iterations.
Tomi Engdahl says:
Furthering the discussion of 40G and 100G cabling
http://www.cablinginstall.com/articles/2013/07/richard-mei-blog.html?cmpid=EnlCIMJuly82013
“The need for higher speeds of 40/100G in the data center is certainly clear, but how to implement this in a cost-effective manner is not as straightforward.”
Much of the post summarizes activities of the multiple standards bodies involved in the creation of 40/100G transmission specifications as well as those of the cabling systems to support those speeds—namely, the IEEE, ISO/IEC and TIA. Among the groups referenced in Mei’s post are the IEEE’s 802.3bj (100-Gbit/sec Backplane and Copper Cable Task Force); 802.3bm (40-Gbit/sec and 100-Gbit/sec Fiber Optic Task Force); 802.3bq (40GBase-T Task Force); and the 400-Gbit/sec Ethernet Study Group.
“The most important aspect to know is that there is a proven method for organizations to upgrade to a 40G and 100G network by utilizing a cost-effective multimode option. With extended-reach transceivers, data center managers won’t get stuck with an expensive singlemode solution. A viable option to achieve a 40GBase-T Ethernet can happen with the use of twisted-pair cabling.”
Tomi Engdahl says:
Mixed-use facility turns to cloud-based access control
http://www.cablinginstall.com/articles/2013/07/brivo-crown-point.html?cmpid=EnlCIMJuly82013
Brivo Systems LLC recently announced its cloud-based ACS WebService access-control system has been installed at a facility in Crown Point, Indiana that converted from being a courthouse to a mixed-use facility.
“For the new mixed-use complex, someone had to manually open all four doors each morning and re-lock them 6pm each evening,” Brivo further states. “After-hours access for events was needed, as a way to grant after-hours access to the businesses that maintained offices in the upper floors.”
“The building’s internal network is outsourced, so we needed a solution that wouldn’t compromise the network,”
The system manages the four main doors as well as two restroom entrances.
Tomi Engdahl says:
U.S. data center construction market report forecasts to 2016
http://www.cablinginstall.com/articles/2013/06/data-center-construction-report.html?cmpid=EnlContractorJuly112013
Analysts forecast the data center construction market in the U.S. to grow at a CAGR of 7.61 percent over the period 2012-2016. One of the key factors contributing to the market’s growth is the expansion of existing data center facilities, finds the research.
The data center construction market in the U.S. has also been witnessing the growing adoption of high-density data centers, says the study. However, the research indicates that the growing focus on data center consolidation could pose a challenge to the growth of this market.
Tomi Engdahl says:
5 reasons to say no to OM1 fiber
http://www.cablinginstall.com/articles/2013/06/5-reasons-no-om1.html?cmpid=EnlContractorJuly112013
In an article that will appear in the August issue of Cabling Installation & Maintenance magazine, OFS product manager for multimode optical fiber John Kamino will describe five reasons users should not install 62.5-micron (OM1) fiber in their networks.
OM1 fiber “comprises more than 25 percent of the multimode fiber sold in North America, and more than 30 percent of the multimode fiber sold worldwide.”
After providing a recap of multimode fiber’s evolution from OM1 to OM4, the article cites five common reasons users give for continuing to install new OM1 fiber today.
Tomi Engdahl says:
Optical-fiber cabling in utility-grade solar arrays
http://www.cablinginstall.com/articles/print/volume-21/issue-7/features/optical-fiber-cabling-in-utility-grade-solar-arrays.html?cmpid=$trackid
Utility-scale solar “farms” require a distributed control network to monitor and control the production, aggregation and flow of electrical energy from the photovoltaic arrays onto the grid. An optical-fiber network is useful for this purpose for the prime reasons of low loss/long reach as well as immunity to electrical interference, ground loops and lightning.
Tomi Engdahl says:
CommScope airs Cat 8 vs. Cat 7a concerns re: 40G
http://www.cablinginstall.com/articles/2013/07/commscope-airs-40g.html
CommScope has released a PDF white paper document entitled Category 8 Cabling Standards Update, which airs the company’s concerns surrounding the TIA TR42.7 Study Group’s decision to adopt ISO/IEC Class II cabling performance criteria into its pending ANSI/TIA-568-C.2-1 category 8 project, as recently reported in this space.
“the decision to develop Class II up to 2000 MHz is a clear indication that Category 7A cabling specified up to 1000 MHz will not be sufficient for 40 G applications.”
The white paper goes on to debate key differences between Class I and Class II cabling
Tomi Engdahl says:
Technical paper: Testing 100G transport networks
http://www.cablinginstall.com/articles/2013/07/jdsu-testing-100g.html
A recent white paper from JDSU contends that testing for 10G and 100G transport networks and services is similar, although significant differences obviously exist.
Tomi Engdahl says:
Fiber micro-trenching at Google
http://www.cablinginstall.com/articles/2013/07/fiber-microtrenching-at-google.html
video documents a good-natured “race” to deploy fiber-optic cabling via micro-trenching, as recently filmed on the Google campus.
“We want to encourage companies to think about how to deploy fiber more efficiently and faster — and with less disruption to residents,” added Google’s Kelly.
Tomi Engdahl says:
Standards and guidelines for security-cabling systems take shape
http://www.cablinginstall.com/articles/print/volume-21/issue-8/features/standards-and-guidelines-for-security-cabling-systems-take-shape.html
BICSI’s established credentialing program, along with a new standard and cooperation with security association ASIS aim to move the needle.
As surveillance and other security systems have become increasingly integrated into user organizations’ information technology (IT) platforms, they have for good reason become treated like other networked devices. That treatment includes the acknowledgement that a capable physical-layer infrastructure system is required in order for the networked devices to fulfill a user’s expectations of them.
This concept is not new to professionals with expertise in the design, installation or maintenance of structured cabling or information technology systems (ITS). Many of these professionals have broadened their expertise and their respective client bases by securing such knowledge.
The ESSDRM was the first BICSI manual that included legal aspects of being a designer in the converging electronic safety and security (ESS) and ITS industries. The manual also was the first to include discussions of convergent technologies and their impact on the ITS industry as well as security infrastructure.
In 2009 BICSI published the ESSDRM’s second edition.
In May 2013, the two organizations jointly announced they signed a memorandum of understanding (MOU). In their joint announcement, ASIS and BICSI said, “The overarching objectives of the agreement are to foster growth of the security and information technology systems industries, promote public safety and protect critical infrastructure globally.”
Tomi Engdahl says:
IEEE exploring Power over Data Lines (PoDL) Ethernet-based technology
http://www.cablinginstall.com/articles/2013/07/ieee-podl.html
The IEEE has announced the formation of a new study group to consider initiating a formal project to standardize Power over Data Lines (PoDL) technology. The IEEE 802.3 1-pair Power over Data Lines (1PPoDL) Study Group will consider a new single-pair, Ethernet-based powering standard, especially aimed at providing automotive and industrial networking applications with cost- and energy-efficient network architecture.
“PoDL will extend the benefits of Power over Ethernet (PoE) to vehicular and industrial networking environments that use single-pair Ethernet links, such as the IEEE P802.3bp Reduced Twisted Pair Gigabit Ethernet (RTPGE) standard under development,” comments Dave Dwelley, chair of the 1PPoDL study group and product line manager for mixed signal products at Linear Technology.
“This is similar to the way that PoE introduced power into structured cabling-based networks,” adds Dwelley. “Vehicles and other forms of transportation are rapidly turning into mobile data centers and will require a network infrastructure that accounts for weight and cost. PoDL technology provides these capabilities.”
Tomi Engdahl says:
Too soon for 40GBase-T? Structured cabling giant R&M warns firms against ‘premature investment’
http://www.cablinginstall.com/articles/2013/07/rm-warns-40g-investment.html
40GBASE-T data center cabling standardization [predicted] to be introduced by 2016; R&M cautions businesses against premature investment
While R&M is convinced that the advantages 40GBASE-T offers in terms of speed and data volume will outclass the entire performance of previous copper cabling in data centers, the cabling specialist has warned Middle East organizations against premature investments as long as standards are not defined and appropriate components are not fully developed.
While 10GBASE-T was defined for general applications, 40GBASE-T is intended for use directly in data centers. Jean-Pierre Labry added that the market cannot ignore 40GBASE-T. “Its economic potential is simply too significant
Many questions remain unanswered in the standardization process: Will S/FTP be the cable of choice? Which frequency range will be adopted? etc. IEEE has not yet even specified many parameters such as Transverse Conversion Loss (TCL). TCL describes the ground symmetry loss of symmetrical wire pairs. It measures sensitivity to noise coupling.
Work on the implementation of 40GBASE-T has only just begun. IEEE has set an ambitious goal of publishing the standard in 2016 because of the tremendous commercial interest involved.
Tomi Engdahl says:
Anritsu upgrades testers for universal pass/fail fiber endface analysis per IEC standards
http://www.cablinginstall.com/articles/2013/07/anritsu-iec-fiber-test.html
Anritsu has reportedly enhanced its MT9083 Access Master OTDR and MT9090A Network Master OTDR test platforms by implementing software based on the IEC61300-3-35 standard, for universal pass/fail analysis of fiber-optic connector end faces. The company says the new software provides a more streamlined testing process that is 100% repeatable, creating a simpler, more efficient, more accurate method for field technicians to determine whether optical connectors are damaged and should be repaired/replaced, or simply need to be cleaned.
Tomi Engdahl says:
Paper: Complexity of 100G pluggable optics demands vigorous testing
http://www.cablinginstall.com/articles/2013/07/100g-pluggable-testing.html?cmpid=$trackid
“Traditionally, Ethernet optics have been reliable components,” writes JDSU’s Dr. Paul Brooks in the company’s recent white paper, 100G Pluggable Optics Drive Testing in New Directions. Brooks continues, “But the increased technical complexity of 100G optics requires testing and screening them both during vendor selection and production.”
The white paper regards how,with 100G products now the reality, client interfaces based on CFP optics have been appearing on routers, switches and transport equipment. Although the technology is fast maturing, Brooks argues that “the complexity and performance of pluggable optics remains challenging, and is compounded by the relative short supply and high cost of the CFPs.”
Tomi Engdahl says:
Paving the way to mainstream 100G
http://www.cablinginstall.com/articles/2013/07/inphi-mainstream-100g.html?cmpid=$trackid
Guideposts along the road to 100 Gigabit Ethernet (GbE) technology are illuminated by an evergreen white paper from chip developer Inphi. Ratified in June 2010 by the IEEE Standards Association Standards Board, IEEE Std 802.3ba-2010 defines 100G Ethernet’s electrical, logical and physical characteristics to include options for transmitting Ethernet frames at 100 gigabits per second over multiple 10 Gbps or 25 Gbps lanes via single-mode fiber, multi-mode fiber, or copper cabling.
Tomi Engdahl says:
Technical paper: Reconsidering physical topologies with 10GBase-T
http://www.cablinginstall.com/articles/2013/06/broadcom-10gbaset-physical-topologies.html
A new technical white paper from Broadcom illustrates how 10GBase-T and twisted-pair cabling can dramatically lower the capex of interconnect in the data center. The paper highlights the ways in which data center interconnect includes both the connection between the Top-of-Rack switch (ToR) and the server, and the connection between the ToR and the spine switch.
Tomi Engdahl says:
Study: Outmoded data center infrastructure hampering virtualization, cloud adoption
http://www.cablinginstall.com/articles/2013/07/brocade-antiquated-datacenter-survey.html
A global study commissioned by Brocade (NASDAQ: BRCD) reveals that many organizations still depend on antiquated data center infrastructure, with significant negative impact on both productivity and end-user experience.
The premise of the study was that the data center network has never been placed under greater strain, as today’s organizations interact with data and applications constantly, whether for video conferencing or accessing database applications on remote devices. However, 61 percent of data center personnel confided that their corporate networks are not fit for the intended purpose, with almost half (41 percent) admitting that network downtime has caused their business financial hardship either directly — through lost revenue or breached SLAs — or from their customers’ lack of confidence.
“Many data centers that exist today are based on 20-year-old technologies, and the simple fact is that they can no longer keep up with demand,” remarks Jason Nolet, vice president, data center switching and routing at Brocade. “Virtualization and cloud models require greater network agility and performance, as well as reduced operational cost and complexity. The findings clearly show that despite apparent investment in the past few years, most organizations are still ill-equipped for current business demands.”
Tomi Engdahl says:
Alcatel-Lucent sets new single-fiber optical transmission record at transoceanic distance
http://www.cablinginstall.com/articles/2013/07/alcalu-single-fiber-distance.html
Alcatel-Lucent (NYSE: ALU) has reportedly transmitted 31 Tbps over 7200 km on a single fiber. The achievement represents a new record for single-fiber optical transmission at transoceanic distances, the company asserts.
The transmission test, carried out at Alcatel-Lucent’s Innovation City campus in Villarceaux near Paris, saw researchers from Bell Labs transmit 200 Gbps each over 155 carriers on a 50-GHz grid. The fiber link featured amplifiers every 100 km.
Tomi Engdahl says:
TIA issues call for interest as it undertakes ‘D’ revision of TIA-568 cabling standards
http://www.cablinginstall.com/articles/2013/07/tia-568d.html
The Telecommunications Industry Association’s (TIA) TR-42 Engineering Committee on Telecommunications Cabling Systems is in the initial stages of developing the fourth revision of its flagship standard, ANSI/TIA-568. The current third revision, ANSI/TIA-568-C is being revised according to ANSI-specified timelines, and work is just beginning on what will become the ANSI/TIA-568-D set of cabling standards.
Those standards will be ANSI/TIA-568.0-D Generic Telecommunications Cabling for Customer Premises, TIA-568.1-D Commercial Building Telecommunications Cabling Standard, and ANSI/TIA-568.3-D Optical Fiber Cabling Component Standard.
The TIA-568.1-D spec will specify “requirements for office-oriented telecommunications cabling within a commercial building and between commercial buildings in a campus environment,”
Valerie Maguire, The Siemon Company’s global sales engineer and vice chair of the TR-42.7 Subcommittee, added, “One of the key technological innovations today is the development of performance, testing and connections of Category 8 cabling to support the next generation of Ethernet applications on balanced twisted-pair cabling. Incorporating new technologies, like Category 8, is key to the revision process.”
Tomi Engdahl says:
Surveying the business of access control
http://www.cablinginstall.com/articles/print/volume-21/issue-7/features/surveying-the-business-of-access-control.html?cmpid=EnlContractorJuly252013
Established providers of IP surveillance equipment are turning their attention to access control, through organic growth or acquisition.
Tomi Engdahl says:
A 24-fiber interconnect solution: The right migration path to 40/100G
http://www.cablinginstall.com/articles/print/volume-20/issue-9/features/a-24-fiber-interconnect-solution-the-right-migration-path-to-40-100g.html?cmpid=$trackid
Maximum fiber use, reduced cable congestion and increased fiber density make a 24-fiber trunking and interconnect a preferred option to prepare for next-generation speeds.
Video views on YouTube climbed from 100 million per day in 2006 to well over 4 billion per day in 2012. Song downloads from iTunes increased from 5 billion in 2008 to more than 16 billion by 2012. According to Cisco’s Visual Networking Index Global Mobile Data Traffic Forecast Update 2011-2016, average smartphone use tripled in 2011 and forecasts estimate that by the end of 2012, the number of mobile-connected devices will exceed the number of people on earth. Over the next two years, our world will create, process and store more data than in the entire history of mankind.
Data centers are at the heart of the tremendous amount of business data needing to be transmitted, processed and stored. In the data center, fiber-optic links are vital for providing the bandwidth and speed needed to transmit huge amounts of data to and from a large number of sources.
Typical transmission speeds in the data center are beginning to increase beyond 10 Gbits/sec. In 2010 the Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers (IEEE) ratified the 40- and 100-Gbit Ethernet standard, and already leading switch manufacturers are offering 40-GbE blades and more than 25 percent of data centers have implemented these next-generation speeds. It is anticipated that by the end of 2013, nearly half of all data centers will follow suit. Today’s enterprise businesses are therefore seeking the most effective method to migrate from current 10-GbE data center applications to 40/100-GbE in the near future.
A 24-fiber data center fiber trunking and interconnect solution allows enterprise data center managers to effectively migrate from 10-GbE to 40/100-GbE.
In 2002, the IEEE ratified the 802.3ae standard for 10-GbE over fiber using duplex-fiber links and vertical-cavity surface-emitting laser (VCSEL) transceivers. Most 10-GbE applications use duplex LC-style connectors; in these setups, one fiber transmits and the other receives.
To run 100-GbE, two 12-fiber MPO connectors can be used—one transmitting 10-Gbits/sec on 10 fibers and the other receiving 10-Gbits/sec on 10 fibers. However, the recommended method for 100-GbE is to use a 24-fiber MPO-style connector with the 20 fibers in the middle of the connector transmitting and receiving at 10-Gbits/sec and the 2 top and bottom fibers on the left and right unused.
To keep costs down, the objective of the IEEE was to leverage existing 10-GbE VCSELs and Om3/Om4 multimode fiber. The standards therefore relaxed transceiver requirements, allowing both 40- and 100-GbE to use arrayed transceivers containing either 4 or 10 VCSELs and detectors, accordingly. This prevented the cost of 40-GbE transceivers being 4 times that of existing 10-GbE transceivers for 40-GbE, or 10 times the cost of existing 10-GbE transceivers for 100-GbE. According to the IEEE 802.3ba standard, multimode optical fiber supports both 40- and 100-GbE over link lengths up to 150 meters when using Om4 optical fiber and up to 100 meters when using Om3 optical fiber.
It is important to note that singlemode fiber can also be used for running 40- and 100-GbE to much greater distances using wavelength division multiplexing (WDM). While this is ideal for longer-reach applications like long campus backbones, metropolitan area networks and other long-haul applications, the finer tolerances of singlemode fiber components and optoelectronics used for sending and receiving over singlemode are much more expensive and are therefore not feasible for most data center applications of less than 150 meters. Copper twinax cable is also capable of supporting 40- and 100-GbE but only to distances of 7 meters.
Tomi Engdahl says:
TE unveils new Cat 6A unshielded cabling system for 10-GbE applications
http://www.cablinginstall.com/articles/2013/07/te-cat6a-redesign.html
TE Connectivity (NYSE: TEL) has introduced a new Category 6A unshielded cabling system especially designed to meet the performance and density demands of 10 Gigabit Ethernet (10 GbE) applications
TE says the new Cat 6A U/UTP system offers the first unshielded structured cable for 10 GbE transmission of up to 100M — ideal for accommodating today’s higher processing speeds and bandwidth demand.
At approximately 0.285 inches in diameter and featuring 0.235″ reduced diameter patch cords, the company says the cable is up to 32% thinner than traditional Cat 6A cables, helping to save space
Tomi Engdahl says:
Harsh-environment optical bypass relays add reliability for fiber-optic Ethernet networks
http://www.cablinginstall.com/articles/2013/06/optical-bypass-relays.html
From its Hirschmann brand, Belden has launched its OBR40 optical bypass relay. Suitable for use in harsh environments, the relays increase the availability of fiber-optic Ethernet networks by ensuring that they remain operational despite power failures at one or more switches.
The bypass relays are designed for both ring and bus topologies. When a switch fails, an internal switchover mechanism in the relay enables data communication to continue seamlessly between neighboring switches. The bypass relay connects to a switch’s fiber-optic uplink ports via two duplex inputs/outputs. The mechanism is designed to operate even when the bypass relay loses power.
The unit also supports at-will activation of the bypass function for maintenance or selective shutdown of parts of the network.
The bypass relay is available with ports that support three different fiber types (multi-mode 62.5/125 micron, multi-mode 50/125 micron, single-mode 9/125 micron). The switching threshold is adjustable via a DIL switch over a range of 1V to 32V. In addition, a switch-on delay (adjustable for intervals of up to 75s) allows the switch’s boot process to complete so that no data packets are lost or delayed when a switch comes back on line.
Tomi Engdahl says:
Starbucks likes Google’s caffeinated Wi-Fi
http://www.cablinginstall.com/blogs/2013/07/starbucks-likes-google-s-caffeinated-wi-fi.html
“Starbucks customers will soon have much faster Wi-Fi speeds , thanks to the company’s new partnership with Google,” reports CNET
“Starbucks said that Google, in conjunction with Level 3 Communications, will now be providing Wi-Fi service in Starbucks’ U.S. locations that’s up to 10 times faster than the current service powered by AT&T.”
Tomi Engdahl says:
Future of Cable Might Not Include TV
At Cablevision, Broadband Could Become Primary Offering Eventually
http://online.wsj.com/article_email/SB10001424127887323420604578647961424594702-lMyQjAxMTAzMDAwNDEwNDQyWj.html
Predicting that transmission of TV will move to the Internet eventually, Cablevision Systems Corp. CVC Chief Executive James Dolan says “there could come a day” when his company stops offering television service, making broadband its primary offering.
His comments may be the first public acknowledgment by a cable CEO of the possibility of such a shift, long speculated about by analysts. It comes amid growing tensions between cable operators and channel owners over rising programming costs, highlighted Friday night when Time Warner Cable Inc. dropped CBS from its channel lineup TWC in major markets such as New York and Los Angeles.
If cable operators drop TV service, charging only for broadband, channel owners would have to sell directly to the public or through Web outlets.
He added that the cable-TV industry is in a “bubble” with its emphasis on packages of channels that people are required to pay for, predicting it will mature “badly” as young people opt to watch online video rather than pay for traditional TV services.
If Cablevision does drop video service, “I don’t want to be saddled with an infrastructure that is as big as the one that I have now,” he said.
Tomi Engdahl says:
Why a custom-length outside-plant cable costs so much
http://www.cablinginstall.com/articles/2013/07/cost-of-cable-cuts.html
A white paper from Superior Essex details the reasons why customers may face sticker shock when they order a custom-length outside plant (OSP) cable, whether that cable is fiber-optic or multipair copper. It explains the direct as well as indirect costs that a manufacturer or distributor incurs when accommodating a custom-cut request.
The paper immediately acknowledges that the customer likely sees the price as a heavy markup. “Certainly (the logic goes) the act of unwinding a predetermined length of cable and cutting it into two pieces is a straightforward job that could not justify the additional $100+ fee often charged by distributors and manufacturers,” reads the document’s second sentence. The remainder of the paper, however, provides a look inside the technical and logistical “dominoes” that fall when such a cable cut is made.
Labor costs are just the beginning, Superior Essex points out. Reel costs and scrap costs, as well as necessary discounting of the remaining cable on the original reel, all factor into the manufacturer’s or distributor’s ability to sell the remainder of the cable and at what price.
Tomi Engdahl says:
Military-grade, 8 Port Gigabit Ethernet switch with credit card-sized platform
http://www.edn.com/electronics-products/electronic-product-reviews/other/4419240/Military-grade–8-Port-Gigabit-Ethernet-switch-with-credit-card-sized-platform
Military vehicles encounter some very harsh environments with wide temperature swings, shock and vibration and high ambient moisture. More and more developments are in the COTS (Commercial off-the-shelf) arena.
The Digital Soldier of the future will need to be fully equipped with advanced communications systems that are small, light, power-efficient and rugged to be worn on the body—Hoo-rah!
Techaya introduced the MILTECH 918 ultra-compact 10/100/1000 managed gigabit Ethernet switch. With dimensions of 3.94” x 3.5” x 1.4”, the MILTECH 918 is slightly larger than a credit card and weighs only 0.86 lbs.
Driven by rapid advancement and lower costs, Ethernet is becoming the standard for connecting the IP-based components of the autonomous vehicles, robots, and other military and harsh mobile applications.
Using less than 8W of power at 24VDC, the MILTECH 918 supports advanced networking features
Tomi Engdahl says:
Test equipment gets boost from the cloud
http://www.edn.com/electronics-blogs/test-times/4419233/Test-equipment-gets-boost-from-the-cloud
The rapid increase in the adoption of cloud-based services among enterprises, financial institutions, healthcare, and government sectors will drive the demand for test solutions among service providers and network equipment manufacturers.
According to Frost & Sullivan’s recent research, the global cloud infrastructure testing market generated revenue of $95.2 million in 2012.
In order to mitigate these challenges and ensure customer satisfaction, the cloud infrastructure must have high reliability and quality. Cloud service providers typically have individual approaches towards infrastructure testing and there are no widely accepted methods in the industry. As businesses continue to move their applications and data to the cloud, the need for service providers and Network Equipment Manufacturers (NEMs) to invest in test solutions is expected to increase rapidly. Other key factors behind the growth of this market are increasing importance for security, service assurance and adoption of IPv6.
The cloud infrastructure testing market is expected to reach revenue of $366.2 million in 2020 by growing at a CAGR of 18.3 percent from 2012 to 2020.
Cloud Security is a MUST!
Importance of SLAs in the Cloud
Enterprise Adoption of Cloud Computing
Impact of Network Downtime on Business
Tomi Engdahl says:
‘Smart homes’ are vulnerable, say hackers
http://edition.cnn.com/2013/08/02/tech/innovation/hackable-homes/index.html?hpt=te_t1
Hacking into a $6,000 Japanese “smart” toilet and taking control of the bidet is a neat trick or a mean prank, but it’s not the type of security issue most people will ever have to worry about.
But what about a hackable front-door lock, motion detector or security camera?
Manufacturers are rushing to connect everyday objects around the house to the Internet so people can do things like control them with smartphones. It’s already possible to remotely turn lights off and on or put them on a timer. Motion detectors can be connected to alarms, windows can text you when they’re opened, thermometers will know when you’re home or away and adjust the temperature accordingly. You can see a live stream of security cameras in your house from halfway around the world using mobile apps.
There’s even an oven that can be controlled with an Android app.
These devices are commercially available now and they’re making the smart home of the future a reality, but researchers warn that security for these devices isn’t being taken seriously enough by manufacturers or the people buying them.
In 2012, 1.5 million home automation products were shipped in the U.S. That number is predicted to soar to 8 million by 2017. One of the most popular wireless standards for these home automation devices is Z-Wave, and an estimated 5 million Z-Wave devices will be shipped this year in the United States.
Security researchers say that connecting anything to a network opens it up for attacks, and they’re eagerly testing smart devices to find flaws and inform manufacturers.
The most obvious threat seems to be home security devices. A smart door lock is designed be opened with a PIN code or an app. Using a smartphone, you can change the code from anywhere — great for people with heavy Airbnb traffic.
At a Black Hat session, Daniel Crowley demonstrated how a third party can hack into a front-door lock and open it from a computer. He then asked for a random four-digit number from the audience and successfully changed the lock’s code. Crowley says that smart-lock technology is still way too immature to trust.
“If someone breaks into your house and there’s no sign of forced entry, how are you going to get your insurance company back?” he said.
Without increased attention to security of connected devices, burglars of the future won’t need crowbars and ski masks.
They could monitor your home network or security cameras to see when you are out of the house, disable any motion detectors and pop open the front door with a few lines of code.
Tomi Engdahl says:
Cold temperatures remain a challenge for OSP fiber cabling deployment
http://www.cablinginstall.com/articles/2013/07/coldtemp-osp-fttp.html
An evergreen white paper from TE Connectivity/ADC examines the effects of cold temperatures on outside plant (OSP) cable assemblies for FTTP deployments.
Insertion loss (IL) failures, for instance, are cited as oftentimes a direct result of cable and cable assembly component shrinkage due to low temperatures. Exposing cable and cable assemblies to cold weather is typically the most common cause of insertion loss failures in OSP architectures, notes the document.
As temperatures approach -40 degrees, the thermoplastic components in a cable’s breakout, jacketing, and fiber fanout sections will tend to shrink more than the optical fiber.
Tomi Engdahl says:
Nokia Siemens Said to Weigh 8,500 Job Cuts as Sales Wane
http://www.bloomberg.com/news/2013-08-07/nokia-siemens-said-to-weigh-8-500-job-cuts-as-sales-wane.html
Nokia (NOK1V) Siemens Networks, the phone-equipment maker that Nokia Oyj is fully taking over, is considering reducing about 8,500 jobs to boost profitability as sales wane, three people familiar with the matter said.
A scenario being discussed at the company would bring its workforce to 42,000 by the end of 2014, a 17 percent reduction, partly through selling or shutting down plants and farming out manufacturing operations, said the people, who asked not to be identified discussing internal targets. It had about 50,500 workers at the end of June. No final decisions have been made and any plans would have to be firmed by new full owner Nokia.
Nokia Siemens raised 800 million euros in April through the sale of five- and seven-year bonds to repay existing debt.
Nokia doesn’t plan to integrate Nokia Siemens, Chief Executive Officer Stephen Elop said in July.
Tomi Engdahl says:
First California AMBER Alert Shows AT&T’s Emergency Alerts Are a Mess
http://mobile.slashdot.org/story/13/08/07/0228238/first-california-amber-alert-shows-atts-emergency-alerts-are-a-mess
“AT&T’s implementation of the FCC’s Emergency Alerts System provides minimally useful information in an untimely fashion with little geolocational relevance. ..”
” ‘Boulevard, CA AMBER Alert UPDATE: LIC/6WCU986 (CA) Blue Nissan Versa 4 door.’ The problem with this it that’s all there is! ”
” Indeed, many Californians were annoyed and confused by the alert and according to the LA Times”
Tomi Engdahl says:
The hidden cost of employee mobility infographics
http://media.idgns.com/CIO/2013/hiddencosts.jpg
Tomi Engdahl says:
George Soros, partners to invest $200m in Brazilian telco
http://www.totaltele.com/view.aspx?ID=482684
Mobile Internet start-up will operate under brand name On Telecom.
Mega-investor George Soros and some international business partners are planning to invest 500 million Brazilian real ($218 million) in a start-up telecommunications company in Brazil, providing high-speed wireless Internet access.
Tomi Engdahl says:
HTTP 2.0 Will Be a Binary Protocol
http://tech.slashdot.org/story/13/07/09/1455200/http-20-will-be-a-binary-protocol?sdsrc=popbyskid
“A working copy of the HTTP 2.0 spec has been released. Unlike previous versions of the HTTP protocol, this version will be a binary format, for better or worse. However, this protocol is also completely optional: ‘This document is an alternative to, but does not obsolete the HTTP/1.1″
Tomi Engdahl says:
Dear Hotels: Quit Being A-holes
http://www.linuxjournal.com/content/dear-hotels-quit-being-holes
Bob Frankston says connectivity will eventually become “ambient”—something we just assume, much as we assume electricity, water, sewage treatment and other infrastructural conveniences. None of those conveniences are free of cost, of course, and we pay for them one way or another. As utilities, it is normal for those paying for them to share reasonable use of them for free with others.
civilization requires that certain conveniences are available as a matter of course and are offered by those who pay for them directly as a simple grace to others.
This is not yet the case with Internet connectivity, especially in the hospitality industry.
The main problem is that we’re dealing with a new and awful norm here: metering the Internet as if it were an old-fashioned phone service.
Although not verbatim, both the hotel and the help desk on the phone told me “all the hotels work this way”. It could be that that’s true in New Zealand, although I doubt it. In the US and Europe, the expensive hotels are the ones with inconvenient connectivity deals (although I’ve seen none with data caps or metered usage). It’s the cheap hotels that offer free Internet, just like they offer free electricity, heat, air conditioning and running water.
In the wired parts of the Internet, where we connect by Ethernet through fiber, cable TV or phone lines, we tend not to sense prices for sums of data, even if there are “caps” involved.
If we follow the model set by expensive hotels and mobile phone companies, the Net will turn into a complicated “service” on the model of phone and cable systems, rather than the much simpler model of pure utilities with boundless positive economic and social externalities, such as we have with electricity, water and sewage treatment. This is a huge fork in the road of the Net’s future.