It’s always interesting (and dangerous) to lay out some predictions for the future of technology, so here are a few visions:
The exponential growth of broadband data is driving wireless (and wired) communications systems to more effectively use existing bandwidth. Mobile data traffic continues to grow, driven both by increased smartphone subscriptions and a continued increase in average data volume per subscription, fueled primarily by more viewing of video content. Ericsson forecasts mobile video traffic to grow by around 50% annually through 2022, to account for nearly 75% of all mobile data traffic. Social networking is the second biggest data traffic type. To make effective use of the wireless channel, system operators are moving toward massive-MIMO, multi-antenna systems that transmit multiple wide-bandwidth data streams—geometrically adding to system complexity and power consumption. Total mobile data traffic is expected to grow at 45% CAGR to 2020.
5G cellular technology is still in development, and is far from ready in 2017. As international groups set 2020 deadline to agree on frequencies and standards for the new equipment, anything before that is pre-standard. Expect to see many 5G announcements that might not be what 5G will actually be when standard is ready. The boldest statement is that Nokia & KT plan 2017 launch of world’s first mobile 5G network in South Korea in 2017: commercial trial system to operate in the 28GHz band. Wireless spectrum above 5 GHz will generate solutions for a massive increase in bandwidth and also for a latency of less than 1 ms.
CableLabs is working toward standardization of an AP Coordination protocol to improve In-Home WiFi as one access point (AP) for WiFi often is not enough to allow for reliable connection and ubiquitous speed to multiple devices throughout a large home. The hope is that something will be seen mid-2017. A mesh AP network is a self-healing, self-forming, self-optimizing network of mesh access points (MAPs).
There will be more and more Gigabit Internet connections in 2017. Gigabit Internet is Accelerating on All Fronts. Until recently, FTTH has been the dominant technology for gigabit. Some of the common options available now include fiber-to-the-home (FTTH), DOCSIS 3.0 and 3.1 over cable’s HFC plant, G.Fast over telco DSL networks, 5G cellular, and fiber-to-the-building coupled with point-to-point wireless. AT&T recently launched its AT&T Fiber gigabit service. Cable’s DOCSIS 3.0 and 3.1 are cheaper and less disruptive than FTTH in that they do not require a rip-and-replace of the existing outside plant. DOCSIS 3.1, which has just begun to be deployed at scale, is designed to deliver up to 10 Gbps downstream Internet speeds over existing HFC networks (most deployments to date have featured 1 Gbps speeds). G.Fast is just beginning to come online with a few deployments (typically 500 meters or less distance at MDU). 5G cellular technology is still in development, and standards for it do not yet exist. Another promising wireless technology for delivering gigabit speeds is point-to-point millimeter wave, which uses spectrum between 30 GHz and 300 GHz.
There are also some trials for 10 Gbit/s: For example Altice USA (Euronext:ATC) announced plans to build a fiber-to-the-home (FTTH) network capable of delivering broadband speeds of up to 10 Gbps across its U.S. footprint. The five-year deployment plan is scheduled to begin in 2017.
Interest to use TV white space increases in 2017 in USA. The major factors driving the growth of the market include providing low-cost broadband to remote and non-line-of-sight regions. Rural Internet access market is expected to grow at a significant rate between 2016 and 2022. According to MarketsandMarkets, the global TV white space market was valued at $1.2 million in 2015 and is expected to reach approximately $53.1 million by 2022, at a CAGR of 74.30% during the forecast period.
The rapid growth of the internet and cloud computing has resulted in bandwidth requirements for data center network. This is in turn expected to increase the demand for optical interconnects in the next-generation data center networks.
Open Ethernet networking platforms will make a noticeable impact in 2017. The availability of full featured, high performance and cost effective open switching platforms combined with open network operating systems such as Cumulus Networks, Microsoft SoNIC, and OpenSwitch will finally see significant volume uptake in 2017.
Network becomes more and more software controlled in 2017.NFV and SDN Will Mature as Automated Networks will become Production systems. Over the next five years, nearly 60 percent of hyperscale facilities are expected to deploy SDN and/or NFV solutions. IoT will force SDN adoption into Campus Networks.
SDN implementations are increasingly taking a platform approach with plug and play support for any VNF, topology, and analytics that are instrumented and automated. Some companies are discovering the security benefits of SDN – virtual segmentation and automation. The importance of specific SDN protocols (OpenFlow, OVSDB, NetConf, etc.) will diminish as many universes of SDN/NFV will solidify into standard models. More vendors are opening up their SDN platforms to third-party VNFs. In Linux based systems eBPF and XDP are delivering flexibility, scale, security, and performance for a broad set of functions beyond networking without bypassing the kernel.
For year 2016 it was predicted that gigabit ethernet sales start to decline as the needle moving away from 1 Gigabit Ethernet towards faster standards (2.5 or 5.0 or 10Gbps; Nbase-T is basically underclocked 10Gbase-T running at 2.5 or 5.0Gbps instead of 10Gbps). I have not yet seen the result from this prediction, but that does not stop from making new ones. So I expect that 10GbE sales will peak in 2017 and start a steady decline after 2017 as it is starts being pushed aside by 25, 50, and 100GbE in data center applications. 25Gbit/s Ethernet is available now from all of the major server vendors. 25 can start to become the new 10 as it offers 2.5x the throughput and only a modest price premium over 10Gbit/s.
100G and 400G Ethernet will still have some implementation challenges in 2017. Data-center customers are demanding a steep downward trajectory in the cost of 100G pluggable transceivers, but existing 100G module multi-source agreements (MSAs) such as PSM4 and CWDM4 have limited capacity for cost reduction due to the cost of the fiber (PSM4) and the large number of components (both PSM4 and CWDM4). It seems that dual-lambda PAM4 and existing 100G Ethernet (100GE) solutions such as PSM4 and CWDM4 will not be able to achieve the overall cost reductions demanded by data-center customers. At OFC 2016, AppliedMicro showcased the world’s first 100G PAM4 single-wavelength solution for 100G and 400G Ethernet. We might be able to see see 400GE in the second half of 2017 or the early part of 2018.
As the shift to the cloud is accelerating in 2017, the traffic routed through cloud-based data centers is expected to quadruple in the next four years according to the results of the sixth annual Global Cloud Index published by Cisco. Public cloud is growing faster than private cloud. An estimated 68 percent of cloud workloads will be deployed in public cloud data centers by 2020, up from 49 percent in 2015. According to Cisco, hyperscale data centers will account for 47 percent of global server fleet and support 53 percent of all data center traffic by 2020.
The modular data center market has experienced a high growth and adoption rate in the last few years, and is anticipated to experience more of this trend in years to come. Those data centers are typically built using standard 20 ft. container module or standard 40 ft. container module. Modular data center market is anticipated to grow at a CAGR of 24.1% during period 2016 – 2025, to account for US$ 22.41 billion in 2025. Also in 2017 the first cracks will start to appear in Intel’s vaunted CPU dominance.
The future of network neutrality is unsure in 2017 as the Senate failed to reconfirm Democratic pro-net neutrality FCC Commissioner Jessica Rosenworcel, portending new Trump era leadership and agenda Net neutrality faces extinction under Trump. Also one of Trump’s advisers on FCC, Mark Jamison, argued last month that the agency should only regulate radio spectrum licenses, scale back all other functions. When Chairman Tom Wheeler, the current head of the FCC, steps down, Republicans will hold a majority.
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Tomi Engdahl says:
3 requirements for data center multi-cloud connectivity
http://www.cablinginstall.com/articles/pt/2017/11/3-requirements-for-data-center-multi-cloud-connectivity.html?cmpid=enl_cim_cim_data_center_newsletter_2017-11-28
But from now on, any SLA with a data center provider will also need to account for:
1.) A next-generation server connectivity fabric that facilitates the software-defined networking (SDN) necessary for new orchestrators to provision redundant and failover resources quickly.
2.) Direct Level 2 connectivity with cloud service providers, perhaps by way of a content delivery network (CDN), or a cloud exchange where multiple providers may be accessed through a single hub.
3.) Support for smaller, scalable deployments that no longer have to be over-provisioned for replicating entire servers to handle occasional traffic spikes, or entire data warehouses when data lakes have resilience built-in.
Tomi Engdahl says:
Mouser – Small cell radio reference design offers low power consumption (Analog Devices ADRV-DPD1 AD9375)
https://www.electropages.com/2017/11/mouser-small-cell-radio-reference-design-offers-power-consumption/?utm_campaign=2017-11-28-Electropages&utm_source=newsletter&utm_medium=email&utm_term=article&utm_content=Mouser+-+Small+cell+radio+reference+design+offers+low+power+consumption
Analog Devices ADRV-DPD1 AD9375 Small Cell Radio Reference Design, available now from Mouser
The reference design is driven by a single 12V supply and uses less than 10W. Available in a small form factor, the design supports indoor small cells with 2×2 20MHz LTE and 250mW output-power-per-antenna. The design comes with an evaluation kit that connects to the baseband subsystem.
ADRV-DPD1
http://www.analog.com/en/design-center/evaluation-hardware-and-software/evaluation-boards-kits/adrv-dpd1.html
Product Details
The reference design includes all components necessary for the small cell radio, from the SERDES interface right up to the antenna. The design is suitable for indoor small cells with 2×2, LTE20 250mW output power per antenna. All radio components are on board, including the AD9375 with DPD, high efficiency PAs, LNAs, Filters and a power solution. The power consumption is <10W and it comes in a very small form factor, sitting comfortably in your hand. A Single 12V supply is all that is required to power the board. Plus, it comes with an evaluation kit that connects to a baseband sub-system directly.
Tomi Engdahl says:
Fibre Channel’s need for speed with OM3 and OM4 optical connectivity
http://www.cablinginstall.com/articles/print/volume-25/issue-11/features/data-center/fibre-channel-s-need-for-speed-with-om3-and-om4-optical-connectivity.html?cmpid=enl_cim_cim_data_center_newsletter_2017-11-28
As transmission rates increase, the capabilities of OM3 and OM4 fiber-optic systems help ensure a smooth migration.
Fibre Channel transport with laser-optimized 50/125-µm OM3/OM4 multimode fiber connectivity is the primary method to reliably link servers to external data storage devices in enterprise data centers. The ongoing evolution of high-performance servers and storage technologies drives the need for increased Fibre Channel data rates
Typical enterprise data centers are deploying servers today with integrated multi-core processors that range from 4 to 12 cores. Each core normally has 2 GHz of processing capability that translates into 8-24 GHz of total capability. In addition, servers are now using Peripheral Component Interconnect Express-3 (PCIe3 8G/lane) bus speeds, and PCIe4 16G/lane is fast approaching to complement the increased number of processor cores. The increased server processing necessitates higher Ethernet network data rate input/output (I/O) as well as increased Fibre Channel data rates (16 Gbit/sec Fibre Channel/32 Gbit/sec Fibre Channel) into the server host bust adapters (HBA) to access and deliver external data for the server applications. The future server trend is for an increased number of processor cores such that Ethernet 50G/100G (NIC) and 64-Gbit Fibre Channel (HBA) interconnects will be required.
Using 32G Fibre Channel (32G FC), Brocade has demonstrated a 71-percent reduction in response time to access 8G flash storage, compared to using 8G FC. By adopting flash, data centers achieve resource efficiencies that allow them to host more IT services and store more data well into the future.
Multimode fiber connectivity distances
Ethernet and Fibre Channel transmission standards develop guidance based on specific criteria that includes technical and commercial feasibility. A primary objective is to deliver economical solutions that meet distance objectives representative of deployed multimode fiber connectivity channel lengths. Corning has tracked and modeled multimode and singlemode fiber connectivity data center channel lengths for an extended period of time. Trends have shown that as Ethernet data rates have increased from 10 to 40 to 100G, and Fibre Channel data rates have increased from 8 to 16 to 32G, the 100-meter channel distance represents approximately 95 percent of deployed OM3 and 90 percent of deployed OM4 channel lengths. In other words, for the vast majority of data center users, a 100-meter channel distance is more than sufficient to meet their needs.
Fibre Channel—OM3 and OM4 connectivity
Fibre Channel transport is essentially tip-to-tip optical connectivity. OM3/OM4 multimode fiber connectivity continues as the leading optical media used in the data center for short-reach distances up to 100-150 meters. 16 GFC and 32 GFC networks using multimode optical fiber trunks are now being deployed. OM3/OM4 multimode fiber enables the utilization of vertical-cavity surface-emitting lasers (VCSELs) to provide synergistic and low-price optical connectivity and electronic solutions.
To date, Fibre Channel has only used small form-factor pluggable (SFP+) transceivers with a duplex LC connector interface with the storage area network (SAN) electronics (server HBA, director switch, and storage). Factory-terminated MTP connectorized trunks are commonly deployed from a central patching area in the main distribution area (MDA) to each area with servers, storage, and SAN directors. In the central patching area, MTP/LC modules are used to breakout the MTP connectors on the trunks into LC duplex ports. LC duplex jumpers are then used to provide the port-to-port connectivity required between any two devices, such as the server to SAN director or storage to SAN director.
At the server cabinets and storage devices, MTP/LC modules are used to breakout the MTP connector of the trunk into duplex ports for interconnection to the server and storage HBAs using LC duplex jumpers.
The Fibre Channel FC-PI6 Standard includes a 128 GFC data rate that uses a QSFP transceiver with an 8- or 12-fiber MTP interface. The 128 GFC data rate uses parallel optics transmission technology.
Tomi Engdahl says:
Recent milestones enabled by advanced coherent technologies include:
A new subsea spectral efficiency record — as much as 50% more capacity than previously expected or demonstrated
Industry-leading 27.6 Tb/s fiber capacity for metro-to-regional data center interconnect
Eliminating lightning-related service impacts on aerial fiber systems
Demonstrations of 100 gigabaud transmission and advanced modulation techniques, showing the way to 1 terabit per second wavelengths
Tomi Engdahl says:
The twisted future of optical signal modulation
https://www.edn.com/electronics-blogs/measure-of-things/4459089/The-twisted-future-of-optical-signal-modulation
By transmitting “twisted light” between buildings separated by a mile in Erlangen, Germany, research engineers and physicists have demonstrated a new optical modulation technique. You’re familiar with wavelength division multiplexing (WDM) where different wavelengths (i.e., colors) of light are superposed into a beam with each wavelength carrying a different signal. The new technique could be called OAMDM for “orbital angular momentum division multiplexing.” Instead of combining beams of different colors, beams are superposed that are in different states of “orbital angular momentum.”
The orbital angular momentum of light is also described by the quantum number l, but it’s easier to think of it in terms of polarization.
Your sunglasses transmit light with vertical polarization and absorb light with horizontal polarization. We usually think of polarization where the electric field vector of the wave is either horizontal or vertical, so-called planar polarizations. At the photon level, individual photons have circular polarizations: the electric field vector rotates perpendicular to the direction of motion, either clockwise or counter clockwise. These two states of polarization correspond to the two possible states of the photon’s spin, +1 or -1 (zero is not allowed because photons are massless; a spin zero photon implies that it must exist in a rest state, but because its going the speed of light in every reference frame photons can never be at rest). Orbital angular momentum in light extends the idea of polarization into beams of light whose Poynting vectors (which describe the direction of energy flow) rotate about the direction of motion.
“Twisted light” is marketing jargon for beams of light in different states of optical orbital angular momentum.
Tomi Engdahl says:
AT&T Launches Fixed Wireless in Rural Georgia
http://www.broadbandtechreport.com/articles/2017/11/at-t-launches-fixed-wireless-in-rural-georgia.html?cmpid=enl_btr_weekly_2017-11-30
AT&T (NYSE:T) Fixed Wireless Internet service is now available in rural and underserved locations in parts of 44 counties in Georgia. The Internet service, introduced in May, is designed to deliver at least 10 Mbps downstream from a wireless tower to a fixed antenna on customers’ homes or businesses. The service includes a 160 GB monthly data allowance and requires installation of an AT&T outdoor antenna and indoor residential gateway.
“In today’s economy, access to high-speed Internet is an integral part of both our infrastructure foundation and our job growth,” said Georgia Governor Nathan Deal.
AT&T has extended Fixed Wireless Internet as part of its FCC Connect America Fund commitment to help rural and underserved areas. As a part of the rollout, the telco plans to reach more than 400,000 locations nationwide by the end of 2017, and more than 1.1 million locations nationwide by 2020.
Tomi Engdahl says:
ClimaCell Forecasts the Weather by Dissecting Wireless Signals
http://www.mwrf.com/software/climacell-forecasts-weather-dissecting-wireless-signals?NL=MWRF-001&Issue=MWRF-001_20171130_MWRF-001_445&sfvc4enews=42&cl=article_2_b&utm_rid=CPG05000002750211&utm_campaign=14317&utm_medium=email&elq2=765725f3500d4fd0b5f34b9fd670bb59
ClimaCell is making unusual use of the wireless networks that connect smartphones and other gadgets. The start-up analyzes disturbances in wireless signals that could indicate rain, humidity, or other weather conditions, and it provides forecasts to businesses like airlines, shipping companies, and utilities.
ClimaCell partners with wireless companies that share massive amounts of data about the behavior of wireless signals as they travel over the air to and from base stations. Taking advantage of the sensitivity of these signals to interference, the company claims that it can predict the weather in an area as small as an individual city block.
ClimaCell lets customers either access its weather maps over the cloud or use a programming interface to integrate its software. The company already licenses software to airlines, which can use ClimaCell’s forecasts to plan flight routes or instruct pilots not to taxi if inclement weather will prevent them from taking off.
ClimaCell Bags $15M to Predict Weather from Wireless Network Signals
https://www.xconomy.com/boston/2017/11/27/climacell-bags-15m-to-predict-weather-from-wireless-network-signals/
Tomi Engdahl says:
Ryan Knutson / Wall Street Journal:
Verizon says it plans to start offering home broadband over its 5G wireless network in late 2018, starting in Sacramento, CA; pricing and other details TBD
Verizon to Sell Wireless Home Broadband, Challenging Cable
Customers will likely have to place a box in their windows to convert signals
https://www.wsj.com/articles/verizon-to-sell-home-broadband-over-wireless-network-1512037801
Verizon Communications Inc. plans to start selling home broadband service over its wireless network in late 2018, a move to challenge the cable industry’s grip on Americans’ internet access.
Tomi Engdahl says:
Russia Wants To Launch Backup DNS System By August 1, 2018
https://tech.slashdot.org/story/17/11/30/2325233/russia-wants-to-launch-backup-dns-system-by-august-1-2018?utm_source=feedburner&utm_medium=feed&utm_campaign=Feed%3A+Slashdot%2Fslashdot%2Fto+%28%28Title%29Slashdot+%28rdf%29%29
The Russian government plans to build its own “independent internet infrastructure” that will be used by BRICS member states — Brazil, Russia, India, China, and South Africa. The plan was part of the topic list at the October meeting of the Russian Security Council, and President Vladimir Putin approved the initiative with a completion deadline of August 1, 2018, according to Russian news agency RT. The Russian Security Council has today formally asked the country’s government to start the building of a backup global DNS system that Russia and fellow BRICS member states could use.
Russia Wants to Launch Backup DNS System by August 1, 2018
https://www.bleepingcomputer.com/news/government/russia-wants-to-launch-backup-dns-system-by-august-1-2018/
Russia to build its own DNS system backup
The Russian Security Council has today formally asked the country’s government to start the building of a backup global DNS system that Russia and fellow BRICS member states could use.
The Russian Security Council cited the “increased capabilities of western nations to conduct offensive operations in the informational space.”
Russia and fellow BRICS nations would like the option to flip a switch and move Internet traffic from today’s main DNS system to their own private backup.
Tomi Engdahl says:
Verizon will launch 5G home internet access in 2018
Only in a handful of areas, though.
https://www.engadget.com/2017/11/29/verizon-will-launch-5g-home-internet-access-in-2018/
Verizon’s 5G wireless will soon become a practical reality… if not quite the way you might expect. Big Red has announced that it’s launching residential 5G broadband (that is, fixed-in-place wireless) in three to five markets starting in the second half of 2018. Most details aren’t nailed down at this point, but the rollout will begin in Sacramento, California.
It’s no shock as to why Verizon is showing its cards so early. The carrier is in fierce competition with fellow incumbent AT&T, which has also been trialing 5G and hopes to deploy it nationwide by the end of 2018. Verizon wants you to know it’s keeping pace and will have a real, publicly available 5G service ready to go within a matter of months.
Tomi Engdahl says:
Home> Community > Blogs > Measure of Things
The twisted future of optical signal modulation
https://www.edn.com/electronics-blogs/measure-of-things/4459089/The-twisted-future-of-optical-signal-modulation
Tomi Engdahl says:
The Week In Review: Manufacturing
https://semiengineering.com/the-week-in-review-manufacturing-183/
GlobalFoundries has demonstrated a next-generation 112Gbps SerDes capability. GF’s High Speed SerDes (HSS) solution is designed for 112G to 56G, 30G and 16G SerDes IPs. They enable connectivity for cloud computing, hyperscale data centers and networking applications. The 112G SerDes is designed in GF’s 14nm ASIC technology, and is capable of supporting several multi-level signaling schemes while targeting 25dB+ insertion loss interconnects.
GLOBALFOUNDRIES Demonstrates Industry-Leading 112G Technology for Next-Generation Connectivity Solutions
https://www.globalfoundries.com/news-events/press-releases/globalfoundries-demonstrates-industry-leading-112g-technology-for-next-generation-connectivity-solutions
High bandwidth, low power SerDes IP portfolio enables ‘connected intelligence’ in data centers and networking applications
Santa Clara, Calif., November 15, 2017 – GLOBALFOUNDRIES today announced it has demonstrated the next generation of 112Gbps SerDes capability. GF’s High Speed SerDes (HSS) solutions include best-in-class architecture for 112G to 56G, 30G and 16G SerDes IPs to enable connectivity for cloud computing, hyperscale data center, and networking applications.
“GF’s demonstration of 112Gbps SerDes architecture establishes the capability of running extremely high, next-generation interconnect technology that can deliver long-reach capabilities to data center and enterprise applications,” said Mike Cadigan, senior vice president of global sales and business development at GF. “As a result, our customers will soon have access to design best-in-class ASIC solutions to meet the explosive bandwidth growth in data center and networking applications as the industry transitions to a new era of connected intelligence.”
Customers are presently designing advanced ASIC solutions in the 14LPP and 7LP process technologies using the 56Gbps and other FX-14 SerDes cores.
Tomi Engdahl says:
NetScout introduces LinkRunner G2, an Android-based PoE, copper, fiber Ethernet network tester
http://www.cablinginstall.com/articles/2017/110/netscout-linkrunner-g2.html?cmpid=enl_cim_cim_data_center_newsletter_2017-12-04
NetScout today announced the availability of LinkRunner G2, which it describes as “the world’s first Android-based smart network tester.”
LinkRunner G2 conducts twisted-pair testing of 10/100/1000Base-T and fiber-optic testing of 100/1000Base-X, as well as conducting the patented TruePower PoE test, which supports 51-watt UPOE under load on all four pairs at the powered device. It operates on an Android-based OS for Ethernet connected app use, is WiFi and Bluetooth-ready, and automatically uploads test results to the Link-Live Cloud Service. Other tests the LinkRunner G2 conducts include
Tomi Engdahl says:
High installation cost of DAS plus lack of infrastructure could restrain market: Analyst
http://www.cablinginstall.com/articles/pt/2017/11/high-installation-cost-of-das-plus-lack-of-infrastructure-could-restrain-market-analyst.html?cmpid=enl_cim_cim_data_center_newsletter_2017-12-04
North America is expected to dominate the global Distributed Antenna Market with the largest market share due to growing demand from smartphones users and rising use of IoT technology in the region. Countries like U.S. Canada and Mexico are expected to be a major contributor of DAS market by the end of 2022.
“The high installation cost of distributed antenna system and lack of infrastructure are some factors that act as a restraints for the growth of the DAS market,”
North America Region Is Expected to Dominate Distributed Antenna Market Globally Through 2022
Global Distributed Antenna Market Research Report- Forecast 2022- Research Report By MRFR with Market Analysis, Scope, Stake, Progress, Trends for Forecast
http://www.sbwire.com/press-releases/north-america-region-is-expected-to-dominate-distributed-antenna-market-globally-through-2022-897445.htm
Tomi Engdahl says:
The link between software-defined networking and passive optical LANs
http://www.cablinginstall.com/articles/print/volume-25/issue-11/features/installation/the-link-between-software-defined-networking-and-passive-optical-lans.html?cmpid=enl_cim_cim_data_center_newsletter_2017-12-04
The evolution of service providers’ networks may foreshadow developments in enterprise LAN environments.
Passive optical local area networks (passive optical LANs) are a prime and current example of a technology developed for fiber-to-the-home/fiber-to-the-X networks making its way into the enterprise. For several years organizations and groups—particularly including the Association for Passive Optical LAN (APOLAN)—have emphasized that passive optical LANs incorporate proven technologies that have served FTTx networks for years.
In a white paper titled “Smarter Networks with Passive Optical LANs,” which is available for download from the APOLAN’s website, experts from IBM begin by stating, “In the 1980s and 1990s, optical communications revolutionized long-haul transmission. Today, the long distance and underwater communications are the backbone of every major provider consisting of optical fiber. The technology has shown to be vastly superior to copper in terms of bandwidth, range, consumed power, longevity and reliability. Recent advances in the manufacturing and commercialization of passive optical components are now extending these capabilities to the edge and campus networks.
“Buildings that have been traditionally wired with Cat 5/6 copper are facing fantastic opportunity from the emergence of passive optical LAN technology.”
VOLTHA, ONF, CORD and more
On October 5, AT&T Labs’ associate vice president for technical design and architecture, Eddy Barker, revealed in a blog post that AT&T released the Virtual Optical Line Termination Hardware Abstraction (VOLTHA) into the Open Networking Foundation. “This is the first major open-source software release that provides the ‘brain’ for XGS-PON technology,” Barker said. “It also delivers on our commitment to move toward open source software and SDN/NFV [network function virtualization] frameworks.”
Barker further explained that XGS-PON is a passive optical network that promises “broadband connectivity up to 10 Gbits/sec. XGS-PON is a fixed wavelength symmetrical 10-Gbit/sec passive optical network technology. It can coexist with the current-generation GPON [Gigabit Passive Optical Network] technology and provide 4x faster downstream bandwidth. It’s as cost-effective as GPON.”
The Open Networking Foundation describes itself as “a non-profit operator-led consortium driving transformation of network infrastructure and carrier business models … The ONF serves as the umbrella for a number of projects building solutions by leveraging network disaggregation, white box economics, open source software and software defined standards to revolutionize the carrier industry.”
One of the ONF’s projects is CORD—Central Office Rearchitected as a Datacenter.
“The CORD platform leverages SDN, NFV and cloud technologies to build agile data centers for the network edge.,” ONF continued. “Integrating multiple open source projects, CORD delivers a cloud-native, open, programmable, agile platform for network operators to create innovative services.”
CORD is packaged into three solutions for different market-use cases, ONF explained. M-CORD supports 5G mobile edge services with disaggregated and virtualized radio, and an open source mobile core. R-CORD supports residential subscribers over wireline access technologies like GPON, G.fast, 10GPON and DOCSIS. E-CORD supports enterprise services such as virtual private networks and application optimization (software-defined WAN) over metro and wide area networks.
The VOLTHA 1.0 release is a notable milestone for the CORD project. AT&T’s Barker stated that major software releases like it “are necessary to fulfill our vision of a software-defined network, which employs NFV. We expect to have 55 percent of our networks virtualized by the end of 2017. We aim to have 75 percent of our traffic on our software-defined network by 2020, and we’re pushing hard to beat that goal.
Tomi Engdahl says:
Here are some Wi-Fi standards and speeds you might not yet recognize
http://www.cablinginstall.com/articles/pt/2017/11/here-are-some-wi-fi-standards-and-speeds-you-might-not-yet-have-recognized.html?cmpid=enl_cim_cim_data_center_newsletter_2017-12-04
802.11aj — “Also known as China Millimeter Wave, this defines modifications to the 802.11ad physical later and MAC layer to enable operation in the China 59-64GHz frequency band. The goal is to maintain backward compatibility with 802.11ad (60GHz)
802.11ak — The goal of this standard is to help 802.11 media provide internal connections as transit links within 802.1q bridged networks
802.11ax — “Known as High Efficiency WLAN, 802.11ax aims to improve the performance in WLAN deployments in dense scenarios, such as sports stadiums and airports, while still operating in the 2.4GHz and 5GHz spectrum.
802.11ay — “Also known as Next Generation 60GHz, the goal of this standard is to support a maximum throughput of at least 20Gbps within the 60GHz frequency (802.11ad currently achieves up to 7Gbps)
802.11az — “Called Next Generation Positioning (NGP), a study group was formed in January 2015 to address the needs of a “Station to identify its absolute and relative position to another station or stations it’s either associated or unassociated with.”
802.11ba — “Otherwise known as “Wake-Up Radio” (WUR), this isn’t a crazy morning zoo crew thing, but rather a new technology aimed at extending the battery life of devices and sensors within an Internet of Things network.
Tomi Engdahl says:
Introducing Open/R — a new modular routing platform
https://code.facebook.com/posts/1142111519143652/introducing-open-r-a-new-modular-routing-platform/
We introduced Open/R, a custom-built, extensible distributed network application platform.
Open/R was originally designed as a shortest-path routing system to power Terragraph, our multi-node wireless network that delivers high-speed internet connectivity in dense urban areas via short-hop transmission between small nodes.
Open/R’s modular and extensible design allows for additional applications on top of the basic routing function, and we have successfully adapted the platform for use with other parts of our networking infrastructure.
Open/R makes it possible to prototype and deploy new network applications much more quickly than with the industry’s standard development process. Being able to iterate quickly is central to our ability to improve the speed, efficiency, and quality of internet connectivity around the world.
We will continue to iterate on Open/R and determine the best approach for contributing the software to the open source community and to the Telecom Infra Project (TIP).
Tomi Engdahl says:
Data Centre Arrow Networks
Who needs 5G? Qualcomm, Ericsson and Verizon hit 1Gbps with LTE gear
Trio squeezes a bit more life out of current-gen broadband standard
https://www.theregister.co.uk/2017/08/21/qualcomm_ericsson_verizon_hit_1gbps_with_lte_gear/
A group of researchers working for Verizon, Ericsson and Qualcomm say they have hit a record 1.07Gbps download rate with LTE hardware.
The three companies say that, in a controlled Ericsson lab, the Qualcomm Snapdragon X20 chipset was able to use Verizon spectrum to access 12 simultaneous LTE streams and pull data at a gigabit rate through licensed commercial bands.
The test also used multi-antenna 4X MIMO hardware for both the cell tower and the device itself, meaning you would need latest-gen hardware for not only your device but the carrier’s tower as well.
Tomi Engdahl says:
FCC Chair Ajit Pai Falsely Claims Killing Net Neutrality Will Help Sick and Disabled People
Ajit Pai and telecom lobbyists keep repeating the lie that net neutrality is holding back telemedicine.
https://motherboard.vice.com/en_us/article/kzg8yy/ajit-pai-net-neutrality-speech
For the duration of the fight over net neutrality, there have been a constant stream of falsehoods pushed by AT&T, Verizon, and Comcast to justify their frontal assault on the popular rules. One popular bogeyman has been that net neutrality rules devastated telecom sector investment, a claim consistently disproven by publicly-accessible SEC filings, earnings reports, independent analysis, and statements to investors from more than a half-dozen industry executives.
And yet, time and time again, the idea that net neutrality hurt sector investment is repeated by telecom industry lobbyists, policy vessels, and loyal lawmakers, then printed and re-printed by countless media outlets as undeniable fact.
Tomi Engdahl says:
Prysmian Group acquiring General Cable for $3 billion
http://www.cablinginstall.com/articles/2017/120/prysmian-acquiring-general-cable-3-billion.html?cmpid=enl_cim_cim_data_center_newsletter_2017-12-05
Prysmian Group and General Cable Corporation jointly announced on December 4 they entered into a definitive agreement under which Prysmian will acquire General Cable for $30 per share in cash. The transaction values General Cable at $3 billion, including debt and other liabilities. The $30-per-share price represents an 81-percent premium over General’s $16.55-per-share closing price on July 14, 2017, which was the last day of trading before General Cable announced it was reviewing strategic alternatives.
In early October, media outlets reported that General Cable had received acquisition bids from Prysmian, Nexans, and NKT.
Tomi Engdahl says:
2017 Cabling Innovators Awards presented to record number of recipients
http://www.cablinginstall.com/articles/print/volume-25/issue-11/features/cabling-innovators/2017-cabling-innovators-awards-presented-to-record-number-of-recipients.html?cmpid=enl_cim_cim_data_center_newsletter_2017-12-05
Tomi Engdahl says:
EU Cable Industry Hits €23.5 Billion
http://www.broadbandtechreport.com/articles/2017/12/eu-cable-industry-hits-23-5-billion.html?cmpid=enl_btr_weekly_2017-12-05
According to IHS Markit (NASDAQ:INFO) and Cable Europe, the European cable industry continued to show steady growth in 2016, increasing 4% from the prior year, to €23.5 billion.
Among the findings:
The number of unique cable homes in the EU continued to climb steadily, reaching 65.1 million – or 30.5% of total TV households – at the end of 2016.
Reflecting trends in consumer behavior, Internet revenue continues to rise, now comprising 34% of western European cable operator revenue.
Germany remained the largest EU market, with more than three times more unique cable homes than the next biggest markets – Romania, the UK and Poland – each of which had just over 5 million unique subscribers, compared to Germany’s 18.6 million.
Tomi Engdahl says:
Japan Internet Exchange uses Coriant Groove for metro interconnect
http://www.lightwaveonline.com/articles/2017/12/japan-internet-exchange-uses-coriant-groove-for-metro-interconnect.html?cmpid=enl_lightwave_lightwave_datacom_2017-12-05
Japan Internet Exchange Co., Ltd. has used the Coriant Groove G30 Network Disaggregation Platform to upgrade metro interconnect in Tokyo and Osaka, says the systems house. The internet exchange, the largest in Japan by customer numbers according to Coriant, will use the new optical transport systems to offer 10G, 40G, and 100G interconnect services to its domestic, regional, and international customers via programmable 200G coherent optical transmission capabilities.
Coriant Groove G30 1RU data center interconnect platform offers 3.2 Tbps
http://www.lightwaveonline.com/articles/2015/12/coriant-groove-g30-1ru-data-center-interconnect-platform-offers-3-2-tbps.html
Optical transport systems vendor Coriant has entered the data center interconnect space with the Coriant Groove G30 DCI Platform. The 1RU system offers an aggregate capacity of 3.2 Tbps, split equally between the line side and the client side. It features industry-low power consumption, Coriant sources insist, as well as flexible-rate operation that will support line-side channel rates as high as 200 Gbps.
The Groove G30′s power consumption of 0.4 5W per gigabit of duplex traffic is as much as a 70% improvement over competing offerings, Coriant asserts.
Tomi Engdahl says:
Ekinops introduces two flexible rate line modules to reduce optical transport costs
http://www.lightwaveonline.com/articles/2017/12/ekinops-introduces-two-flexible-rate-line-modules-to-reduce-optical-transport-costs.html?cmpid=enl_lightwave_lightwave_datacom_2017-12-05
Ekinops says it will offer two new flexible rate line modules that reduce optical transport costs, and enhance network flexibility and efficiency. Spanish wholesale operator Aire Networks is one of the first customers to deploy this new technology.
The PM 200FRS02 and PM 200FRS02-SF modules are the most recent networking systems from Ekinops, and will enable service providers to minimize capital and operational costs, and maximize the business case for deploying new capacity, the company asserts. With the ability to fit up to 1.2 Tbps of capacity in two rack units, the new modules can offer operational savings. According to Ekinops, the modules’ small form factor also diminishes space requirements, while using less than half the power per gigabit of offerings currently on the market.
Aire Networks, Spain’s fourth largest wholesale operator, is using the Ekinops modules in its 27,000 km fiber-optic network that covers 90% of the nation.
The PM 200FRS02 and PM 200FRS02-SF modules both utilize dual QSFP28 client ports with software-selectable line side modulation that can be provisioned as either DP-QPSK or 16QAM, creating 100G or 200G transport links.
Ekinops is also adding to the modules’ flexibility by introducing the PM 100G-AGG companion card for multiplexing up to ten 10G multiprotocol client services into a G.709 standard OTU4 that connects to one client port on the PM 200FRS02 or PM 200FRS02-SF. This modular approach enables the service provider to combine both 10G and 100G clients on one 200G link for improved resource utilization and bandwidth efficiency, and allows 10G services to be carried efficiently over 100G or 200G links, the company says.
Tomi Engdahl says:
Surveying the New Optical Form Factors for 400 Gigabit Ethernet
http://www.lightwaveonline.com/articles/2017/12/surveying-the-new-optical-form-factors-for-400-gigabit-ethernet.html?cmpid=enl_lightwave_lightwave_datacom_2017-12-05
Targeted for massive aggregation of data across an array of applications, 400 Gigabit Ethernet (400GbE) is on schedule for standardization this year within the IEEE 802.3bs™ Ethernet Working Group. Development of new and faster electrical and optical signaling technologies is simultaneously underway across the ever-expanding Ethernet ecosystem.
Of course, different aspects of the Ethernet ecosystem have different needs in 400GbE I/O form factors. For some, the primary need is density — the goal is to fit as many ports as absolutely possible into a faceplate of 1 rack unit (1RU). For others, the quality of the signal integrity of the given form factor’s electrical connector might be of greater concern. And how critical is backwards compatibility among the list of priorities? What are the technical and cost implications of offering backwards compatibility? Does the form factor provide sufficient packaging volume? What are the reach requirements?
Plus, as we go to higher data rates, we dissipate more power. With the move to 400-Gbps processing, more components, dissipating more power, are being packed more tightly together within the module and 1RU rack space, making it more challenging to cool the equipment.
Each end user, equipment designer, and integrator will have different must-haves and points of emphasis among these and other factors in choosing modules to enable 400GbE networking. Consequently, today’s different 400GbE module form factors — CFP8, OSFP, QSFP-DD, and COBO — offer different tradeoffs to flexibly satisfy various needs and environments across the exploding Ethernet ecosystem.
CFP8
Use of a 16x25G electrical interface provides first-to-market advantage for the CFP8. If 50-Gbps electrical signaling or optical assemblies are not available from the industry in a timely fashion, a 400GbE CFP8 can be achieved using available 25-Gbps components. But this comes at the price of a larger module to house the 16 lanes of electrical and optical elements.
That said, because of this relatively large physical size, CFP8′s thermal management is good, in that more space means more surface area for heat to spread and air to flow so that thermal loads can be spread around. The tradeoff is that CFP8 — the biggest 400GbE interconnect form factor of them all — offers the lowest port density of the four form factors being considered in this article. The electrical connector used for CFP8 has a single row of contacts on top and bottom in the conventional style.
OSFP
While the OSFP form factor does not provide backwards compatibility to existing form factors, it is designed for maximum thermal and electrical performance.
The “O” is for “octal” — it is being designed to use eight electrical lanes to deliver 400GbE — and “SFP” is for “small form factor pluggable.”
QSFP-DD
Backwards compatibility is the primary appeal of the QSFP-DD form factor.
The QSFP form factor is today’s industry workhorse for delivering 40 and 100GbE. The “Q” is for “quad” — a nod to the four-channel electrical interface, with each lane running at 25 Gbps for 100GbE. QSFP-DD adapts the same basic concept as its predecessor, but doubles the electrical contact density, via eight differential pairs capable of 50 Gbps each, to achieve 400GbE, while allowing existing QSFP modules to be plugged into the same cage.
COBO
Embedded optical modules are a key differentiation for COBO, potentially addressing thermal management challenges.
The COBO form factor is named for the Consortium for On-Board Optics, an organization that is defining an interchangeable and interoperable optical module that is installed internally to line-card equipment in a controlled environment by technicians (as opposed to the pluggable modules described above for the other three approaches). The goals are to facilitate higher module port density, improved thermal management, and better power efficiency. This is achieved by mounting the modules around the switch silicon and only putting optical connectors on the faceplate for improved equipment airflow. The COBO form factor holds potential key benefits for the new cloud market model but changes the established equipment-build paradigm.
Conclusion
The IEEE P802.3bs standards-development project will define 400GbE transmission for aggregation and high-bandwidth interconnect in key application areas such as cloud-scale data centers, internet exchanges, co-location services, wireless infrastructure, service provider and operator networks, and video-distribution infrastructure. Indeed, with a new era of Ethernet innovation underway, an unprecedented range of standardization efforts is simultaneously underway within the IEEE 802.3 working groups.
As evidenced by creation of four 400GbE form factors — CFP8, OSFP, QSFP-DD, and COBO — equipment manufacturers, system and component vendors, test and measurement providers, and other Ethernet stakeholders are working swiftly to deliver the varied, pay-as-you-grow options that the world will need to satisfy diverse requirements for standardized interface technology.
Tomi Engdahl says:
Consortium for On-Board Optics targets specs for higher data center faceplate density
http://www.lightwaveonline.com/articles/2015/03/consortium-for-on-board-optics-targets-specs-for-higher-data-center-faceplate-density.html
Joining Microsoft as founding members of COBO are Arista Networks (NYSE: ANET), Broadcom Corp. (NASDAQ:BRCM), Cisco (NASDAQ: CSCO), Coriant, Dell, Finisar Corp. (NASDAQ: FNSR), Inphi Corp. (NYSE: IPHI), Intel Corp. (NASDAQ: INTC), JDSU (NASDAQ: JDSU), Juniper Networks (NYSE: JNPR), Luxtera Inc., Mellanox Technologies (NASDAQ: MLNX), Oclaro (NASDAQ: OCLR), RANOVUS, Source Photonics, and TE Connectivity (NYSE: TEL).
The group will collaborate on specifications for electrical interfaces, management interfaces, thermal requirements, and pinouts for onboard optical devices that will be interchangeable and interoperable. Cox said the group will reference existing standards and specifications where possible.
COBO is courting additional members. Information is available at http://cobo.azurewebsites.net/
Moving Optics Inside
The Consortium for On-Board Optics (COBO) is a member-driven standards-setting organization developing specifications for interchangeable and interoperable optical modules that can be mounted onto printed circuit boards.
Tomi Engdahl says:
How to terminate for Cat6a: Expert takes
http://www.cablinginstall.com/articles/2017/110/cat6a-takes-blog.html?cmpid=enl_cim_cim_data_center_newsletter_2017-12-05
We would be remiss not to share this pair of evergreen, chapter-and-verse Category 6a termination tutorials from two of the cabling installation industry’s authoritative experts, Platinum Tools and Panduit.
Tomi Engdahl says:
Countries Around the World Tackled Net Neutrality in Different Ways
https://spectrum.ieee.org/tech-talk/telecom/internet/countries-around-the-world-tackled-net-neutrality-in-different-ways
In the United States, debate is raging over how the Internet should be classified and regulated. The argument centers around net neutrality—whether or not all the data passing through a network should be considered equal. But net neutrality is only a part of how the Internet is regulated. Different countries have all tackled regulation in their own way, developing some vastly different systems
Tomi Engdahl says:
Cecilia Kang / New York Times:
Profile of non-profit Fight for the Future, which helped to kill SOPA, pass net neutrality rules, and now leads a fight against FCC’s plan to repeal those rules
Inside the Opposition to a Net Neutrality Repeal
https://www.nytimes.com/2017/12/07/technology/net-neutrality-protests-opposition.html
Hundreds of protests were staged across the country on Thursday in the latest uproar over a repeal of rules ensuring an open internet. The drumbeat of action can in good part be traced back to a yellow Victorian house in this leafy New England city.
The home is the nerve center for Fight for the Future, a scrappy 10-person nonprofit that has helped lead the opposition to the change — even if its effort to protect so-called net neutrality has the longest of odds.
Tomi Engdahl says:
Surveying the New Optical Form Factors for 400 Gigabit Ethernet
http://www.lightwaveonline.com/articles/2017/12/surveying-the-new-optical-form-factors-for-400-gigabit-ethernet.html?cmpid=enl_lightwave_lightwave_friday_5_2017-12-08
Targeted for massive aggregation of data across an array of applications, 400 Gigabit Ethernet (400GbE) is on schedule for standardization this year within the IEEE 802.3bs™ Ethernet Working Group. Development of new and faster electrical and optical signaling technologies is simultaneously underway across the ever-expanding Ethernet ecosystem.
Of course, different aspects of the Ethernet ecosystem have different needs in 400GbE I/O form factors. For some, the primary need is density — the goal is to fit as many ports as absolutely possible into a faceplate of 1 rack unit (1RU). For others, the quality of the signal integrity of the given form factor’s electrical connector might be of greater concern. And how critical is backwards compatibility among the list of priorities? What are the technical and cost implications of offering backwards compatibility? Does the form factor provide sufficient packaging volume? What are the reach requirements?
Tomi Engdahl says:
Tellabs provides passive optical LAN to Dayton hotel
http://www.lightwaveonline.com/articles/2017/12/tellabs-provides-passive-optical-lan-to-dayton-hotel.html?cmpid=enl_lightwave_lightwave_enabling_technologies_2017-12-08
Tellabs says it has partnered with UberData Networks, a full-service network system integration company, to provide a passive optical LAN (POL) for the SpringHill Suites by Marriott in Dayton, OH (Beavercreek).
According to the POL technology provider, Marriott International is a supporter of fiber-to-the-room network designs based on GPON technology.
The small form-factor optical LAN system (OLAN) has the capacity to supply more than 500 ports of Gigabit Ethernet connectivity over single-mode fiber (SMF) cabling using a passive optical distribution network architecture. This optical LAN was designed to converge the hotel’s voice, smart IPTV, high-speed Internet, Wi-Fi, and security over a single fiber-based infrastructure.
Tomi Engdahl says:
PacketLight Networks PL-2000AD Advanced 200G ADM in 1RU
http://www.lightwaveonline.com/articles/2017-innovation-reviews/packetlight-networks-pl-2000ad-advanced-200g-adm-in-1ru.html
The PL-2000AD is designed to meet the market demands for low power consumption, rack space savings, fast deployment, and reduction of the overall solution capex and opex for enterprise, metro, and long-haul networks.
PL-2000AD offers high transport capacity of up to 200G in a modular and cost-effective way for rolling out multiple services.
Tomi Engdahl says:
Viavi unveils NITRO for real-time multi-application test and measurement
http://www.lightwaveonline.com/articles/2017/12/viavi-unveils-nitro-for-real-time-multi-application-test-and-measurement.html?cmpid=enl_lightwave_lightwave_enabling_technologies_2017-12-08
Viavi Solutions (NASDAQ: VIAV) has introduced the Network Integrated Test, Real-time analytics and Optimization (NITRO) technology platform, which it attests is the first intelligence platform to automatically provide real-time test and measurement data from network instruments straight to software-based planning, provisioning, assurance, and optimization applications.
Providing gigabit internet through FTTH, DOCSIS 3.1, and Gfast, and mobile networks towards 5G is required as communications networks worldwide attempt to meet consumer demand for services that are always on, accessible, and connected across all devices and touchpoints. The industry is advancing these networks through deployment of hybrid IT, ultra-dense, scalable, cloud-enabled networks that are virtualized and policy-based automated, to offer the necessary intelligence, low latency, and high bandwidth for implementing these services.
Based on the customer demands of Tier 1 service providers, enterprises, and network equipment manufacturers, Viavi developed NITRO to connect real-time testing and activation data from network instruments with software-based planning, provisioning, assurance, and optimization probes and applications. The NITRO platform also meets separate business teams’ needs, and progresses the automated end-to-end service delivery evolution, in one common platform, says Viavi.
According to Viavi, NITRO will be the foundation for the following four application sets:
· NITRO vNet — virtual service activation and performance
· NITRO Enterprise — enterprise and cloud network performance
· NITRO Mobile — mobile intelligence, assurance, and optimization
· NITRO TechFlow — automated technician workflow
Tomi Engdahl says:
Demand for FTTx, wireless optics declines from 2016: LightCounting
http://www.lightwaveonline.com/articles/2017/12/demand-for-fttx-wireless-optics-declines-from-2016-lightcounting.html?cmpid=enl_lightwave_lightwave_enabling_technologies_2017-12-08
LightCounting says demand for optics has declined from the last year, with worldwide fiber to the x (FTTx) and wireless markets consuming approximately 100 million optical devices in 2017, worth about $1.3 billion in revenue to components makers. The market research firm points out that this 22% decline is related to a lapse in Chinese fiber to the home (FTTH) deployments in China and completion of LTE upgrades in several countries.
LightCounting says this market is expected to recover in 2018, and steadily increase over the next five years (see the figure above). To meet the government target of installing 200 million new ONU ports from 2016 and into 2018, the market research firm anticipates Chinese service providers to progress FTTH deployments in 2018. Sales of optics for 5G wireless infrastructure and 10G-PON will lead the market growth from 2019 to 2022.
In the FTTx segment, GPON currently has the largest shipment volume per year, but with considerable deployments being completed, a decline over the forecast period is likely, says LightCounting. In China,10G-PON has already succeeded GPON for current and future optical line terminal (OLT) deployments.
Changes in the forecast and forecast spreadsheet include the addition of 25G WDM and 50G WDM transceivers to the mobile fronthaul forecast, based on a growing understanding of 5G fronthaul requirements and WDM transport’s role in resolving these. A 50-Gbps category has also been added to the mobile backhaul forecast to demonstrate new information on China Mobile’s 5G transport network architecture.
Tomi Engdahl says:
Global FTTH market to see 14.4% CAGR through 2027: Future Market Insights
http://www.lightwaveonline.com/articles/2017/11/global-ftth-market-to-see-14-4-cagr-through-2027-future-market-research.html
In its new research publication, “Fibre to the Home Market: Global Industry Analysis (2012-2016) and Opportunity Assessment (2017-2027),” Future Market Insights (FMI) forecasts the global fiber to the home (FTTH) market’s value will grow from $9.5 billion in 2017 to more than $37 billion by the end of 2027, a 14.4% compound annual growth rate (CAGR).
FMI expects the following factors to influence the FTTH market growth worldwide in the coming years:
· Increase of smart homes and gadgets.
· Increased awareness of the benefits fiber optics offers, and a rise in adoption of fiber connections as environmentally friendly options, as fiber connections produce less of a carbon footprint.
· Government initiatives in various regions.
· Growing demand for entertainment sources for residential applications, and for FTTH in schools, hospitals, government buildings, and libraries.
· Increase in demand for high-speed internet, and increase in internet users.
· A growth in demand for improved internet infrastructure and the high immunity of fiber cabling.
· Development of teleworking, and construction growth in emerging economies.
· Increasing telecom sector investments.
FMI says the primary obstacles that the FTTH market faces are high initial installation cost, susceptibility to physical damage, and threat to FTTH pricing from substitutes and strict regulations.
By download speed, the 100 Mbps to 1 Gbps segment is forecast to dominate the global market with a high valuation of $11.667 billion by the end of 2027.
The 50 to 100 Mbps segment is the second largest region, and is expected to grow at the highest rate to reach to an 8.8% CAGR throughout the forecast period.
By region, the Asia Pacific excluding Japan (APEJ) region is expected to grow at the highest rate, registering an 18.4% CAGR. This region is forecast to dominate the market in coming years, reaching a value exceeding $10 billion by the end of the forecast period.
By use cases, the internet TV segment is expected to grow at a 14.2% CAGR, hitting a market value higher than $7 billion by the end of 2027. In terms of value, the voice over IP (VoIP) segment is anticipated to be the second largest.
Tomi Engdahl says:
3M agrees to sell Communication Markets Division to Corning
http://www.lightwaveonline.com/articles/2017/12/3m-agrees-to-sell-communication-markets-division-to-corning.html?cmpid=enl_lightwave_lightwave_service_providers_2017-12-11
3M says it has signed agreements relevant to selling “substantially all” of its Communication Markets Division to Corning Inc., for $900 million. 3M expects the sale to be finished in 2018, subject to customary closing conditions, regulatory approvals, consultation or information requirements with relevant works councils, and other adjustments.
Composed of fiber optics and copper passive connectivity services for the telecommunications industry, including 3M’s xDSL, FTTx, and structured cabling services, and telecommunications system integration services in some countries, this business has annual global sales of around $400 million, says 3M.
3M plans for approximately 500 of its 90,000 employees to transition to Corning upon the transaction’s completion.
Corning announced plans in April to supply fiber-optic cable and associated hardware to support Verizon’s wireless broadband networks
Tomi Engdahl says:
SIRO and Huawei test XGS-PON technology
http://www.lightwaveonline.com/articles/2017/12/siro-and-huawei-test-xgs-pon-technology.html?cmpid=enl_lightwave_lightwave_service_providers_2017-12-11
SIRO and Huawei have successfully tested XGS-PON technology on SIRO’s 100% fiber-optic network, providing speeds of up to 10 Gbps. According to SIRO, which is a joint venture between Vodafone and Irish utility ESB, this test demonstrates the power of what it attests is Ireland’s first 100% fiber-optic broadband network. SIRO attributes the trial’s success to its ongoing partnership with Huawei.
As XGS-PON is on the roadmap for SIRO services to future proof Ireland’s broadband requirements, Huawei’s technology plays an important role in SIRO’s plans to provide Ireland with an enhanced level of ultra-broadband speeds, SIRO says. Trials of the XGS-PON technology will continue, and SIRO expects that the technology will address the needs of hi-tech multinationals, banks, and other businesses with high data demands.
SIRO leverages the existing ESB network to create fiber to the building (FTTB) networks across Ireland. SIRO has an open-access model open to all Irish telecoms retailers
Tomi Engdahl says:
Net Neutrality: ‘Father Of Internet’ Joins Tech Leaders in Condemning Repeal Plan
https://tech.slashdot.org/story/17/12/11/1841252/net-neutrality-father-of-internet-joins-tech-leaders-in-condemning-repeal-plan
More than 20 internet pioneers and leaders including the “father of the internet”, Vint Cerf; the inventor of the world wide web, Tim Berners-Lee; and the Apple co-founder Steve Wozniak have urged the FCC to cancel its vote to repeal net neutrality, describing the plan as “based on a flawed and factually inaccurate” understanding of how the internet works
Net neutrality: ‘father of internet’ joins tech leaders in condemning repeal plan
https://www.theguardian.com/technology/2017/dec/11/net-neutrality-vint-cerf-tim-berners-lee-fcc-letter
Vint Cerf, Tim Berners-Lee and other industry luminaries tell US lawmakers proposal to end safeguards is based on misunderstanding of internet
Tomi Engdahl says:
Vint Cerf, Steve Wozniak, and other tech luminaries call net neutrality vote an ‘imminent threat’
https://www.theverge.com/2017/12/11/16754040/steve-wozniak-vint-cerf-internet-pioneer-net-neutrality-letter-senate
Tomi Engdahl says:
Survey results: 3 questions about virtualizing the network edge
https://www.enea.com/resources/blog/survey-results-3-questions-about-virtualizing-the-network-edge/
Question 1: How important is it that an NFVI solution for the network edge provides flexibility for the operator to deploy VNFs agnostically and with equal ease at the customer premise or in the cloud?
More than half of the respondents (57%) deemed it absolutely necessary and 39% answered that this flexibility is nice to have, but not necessary. This confirms that flexibility is a key attribute that operators are looking for, especially for the transparent deployment of VNFs between customer premises and cloud. Not surprising, since this is key for service agility and cost optimization.
Question 2: Where will container-based services play the most important role?
Everyone agrees that containers will play a significant role, which is to be expected given the clear advantage of the technology in terms resource consumption, fast instantiation and OS independence.
Container-based services are seen as being equally important at uCPE and telco data centers (42%), but probably for different reasons. Using containers in uCPEs translates into lower cost per hardware unit, while data centers benefit from increased flexibility and overall cost-efficiencies spread over a large volume of racks.
A lower percentage of respondents (15%) thought that containers showed the greatest benefits at the aggregation / PoP level.
Question 3: When do you think service chaining will be widely available for commercial use?
There has been a lot interest in service chaining over the past couple of years, based on the technology’s ability to automatically optimize service sequence and service mix. Although there have already been some initial deployments, the webinar audience expects a gradual ramp up of SFC during 2018 and a move to wider use in 2019.
Tomi Engdahl says:
The Rise of Open Service Delivery Platforms at the Network Edge
https://www.enea.com/resources/blog/the-rise-of-open-service-delivery-platforms-at-the-network-edge/
Why is the network edge of such interest when it comes to service enablement and delivery?
The edge has always been of special interest, and this is true in both residential broadband, mobile wireless, and enterprise/business wireline. The reason is that policies, quality assurance, internet access, mobility, user authentication, value added services, and VPNs are all enforced here. What we are experiencing now is an inflection point where the infrastructure and the services it delivers are being virtualized and enhanced at a rapid pace.
You mean the shift from purpose-built appliances to general purpose processors and cloud-native designs?
Exactly! The industry is undergoing quite a revolution as general purpose processing and common software infrastructures provide significantly superior economics on a sustained deployment basis. What previously could only be done in a closed OS and software environment can now be done on a shared processor infrastructure and a common software underpinning. Furthermore, service delivery has become much more rapid and agile by using cloud-native designs which can run containers and virtual machines in parallel.
What will separate the winners from losers at the edge?
It is absolutely vital to have domain and use case expertise, but to be truly successful in the market you will need to adopt a new and expanded blend of talent and expertise. The new ecosystems that are forming are more diverse than before and the role of open source communities is stronger across a wider range of infrastructure categories (i.e management and orchestration platforms). You will need to be skilled at participating in open source communities and in blending open source technologies with specialized enhancements to provide whole, deployable solutions.
Life at the Edge Made Easy with Enea and Cavium
https://www.enea.com/globalassets/downloads/nfvi-platforms/enea-nfv-access/solution-brief-life-at-the-edge-made-easy-with-enea-and-cavium
Service providers are turning to virtualization to overcome integration, management and service
quality challenges in their networks, and to achieve price and performance optimizations in a high
-
ly competitive marketplace. SDN and NFV bring a promise of new and smarter functionality that
service providers are eager to embrace, but the creation of virtualized environments is complex,
requiring infrastructure and software to be workload-optimized and to meet high industry requirements in terms of deployment and performance.
Tomi Engdahl says:
Optimizing NFV Cost, Performance & Power with the Arm Ecosystem
https://www.enea.com/resources/blog/optimizing-nfv-cost-performance-power-with-the-arm-ecosystem/
The industry equips operators and service providers with new technologies to support their transformational journey to NFV and the cloud. Workload diversity and unique requirements drive hardware and software innovation, and the ecosystem is collaborating in open source projects such as OPNFV, ODP, and OpenFastPath to accelerate development and adoption. The realization of the NFV vision, in parallel with the race to 5G network deployments, puts strict requirements on performance/watt, density, and scalability.
Arm brings NFV to a new price and power point
In this landscape, Arm and its ecosystem brings NFV to a new price and power point, and Arm has collaborated with Enea on several initiatives to facilitate transformation and innovation. Enea developed the first Arm based NFVI software platform, and made both DPDK and ODP available to ISVs such that they can take advantage of Arm-based servers and other value-added services.
Enea also hosts the first Arm-based OPNFV Pharos Lab, for the benefit of the community. This allows them to verify their applications, optimize and confirm that operators will be able to achieve the performance they require using a cost-effective, energy-efficient, cloud-based architecture. Closely coupled hardware acceleration for IPsec and vSwitching will enable more cost and power efficient solutions.
The Arm Infrastructure Developer Community (AIDC) and WorksonArm initiatives showcase the range of powerful solutions available in the Arm ecosystem. The most effective way of fostering innovation in the NFV space is to create strong communities where collaboration is encouraged and required.
The “NFV Pico Pod”, developed by Arm, Enea, Marvell, and PicoCluster, is a good example of how the ecosystem comes together, addressing new segments of the NFV market. The PicoPod is a complete 5-server OPNFV configuration running on small four core A72 SoCs with only 16G of memory on the board, yet capable of demonstrating key functionality of OPNFV as High Availability and multi-architecture support.
Tomi Engdahl says:
Fully secured data transmission through quantum channels
Today’s most advanced quantum-based communication systems are based on the distribution of quantum keys. In them, the quantum function is confined to the key, while the data transfer is done by classical communication technology. The latest one, however, is the direct fiber (QSDC) implemented by optical fibers.
The QSDC protocol based on the first theoretical overshoot was proposed in 2000 by Professor Long Tsinghua University in China. Now Professor Zhang’s group at Tsinghua University and Professor Sheng Nanjing University conducted the first QSDC experiment based on fiber-optic technologies where two 500-meter optical fibers are used as quantum channels.
Quantum Secure Direct Communication (QSDC) is a branch of quantum communications that realizes secure data transfer without the need for encryption and decryption. Today’s most advanced quantum-based communication systems are based on the distribution of quantum keys. In them, the quantum function is confined to the creation and transmission of the encryption key, while the data transfer is still performed by the classical communication technology.
In addition to quantum-secured key distribution, the use of quantum mechanics in quantum communication has been studied by methods of quantum equation and quantization.
The most widely used topic is represented by Quantum Safe Direct Message (QSDC). The QSDC protocol based on the first theoretical overshoot was proposed in 2000 by Professor Long Tsinghua University in China.
Now Professor Zhang’s group at Tsinghua University and Professor Sheng Nanjing University conducted the first QSDC experiment based on fiber-optic technologies where two 500-meter optical fibers are used as quantum channels.
The researchers analyzed the theoretical performance of the QSDC system that they tried and showed that such a QSDC could work up to several tens of kilometers on a fiber link.
Sources:
https://www.uusiteknologia.fi/2017/12/08/kvanttisiirtoa-ilman-erillista-salausta/
http://www.etn.fi/index.php/13-news/7280-taysin-suojattua-tiedonsiirtoa-kvanttikanavien-avulla
Tomi Engdahl says:
Introducing the World’s first Smart Network Connectivity Tester
https://event.webcasts.com/starthere.jsp?ei=1172986&tp_key=0df3435eb5&sti=ws
Digital transformation has led to an exponential growth of IP-connected devices, including wireless access points, intelligent sensors, digital lighting, access controls, etc., many of which also rely on the enterprise network for power. This is putting pressure on the access network infrastructure, requiring major updates including new, high-powered Power over Ethernet (PoE) across many industry segments. With limited resources and tight budgets, teams need tools that can help them improve both productivity and collaboration through faster installation, configuration and troubleshooting of connected devices as well as documentation that can be used for cross-functional team collaboration.
For organizations challenged by the rapid growth of network-connected devices, NETSCOUT’s LinkRunner G2 allows users to now execute their entire workflow on a single device. This next-generation test tool enables installers and IT professionals to accelerate deployments and speed problem identification, improving the efficiency and effectiveness of these teams and the overall project at hand. It offers wired Ethernet capabilities for both copper and fiber, Wi-Fi and Bluetooth support, and the ability to use vendor-specific Android-based apps. The unique Android OS expands the functionality of the tester such that users can receive a trouble ticket, review documentation, test loaded PoE and network services, automatically document the results, and configure and triage connected devices.
Tomi Engdahl says:
Europe and China propelling wireless LAN market demand: Dell’Oro Group
http://www.cablinginstall.com/articles/pt/2017/12/europe-and-china-propelling-wireless-lan-market-demand-dell-oro-group.html?cmpid=enl_cim_cim_data_center_newsletter_2017-12-11
According to a recently published report from Dell’Oro Group, a market research firm focusing on the telecommunications, networks, and data center IT industries, sales in Europe and China propelled the wireless LAN market during 3Q17, with Cisco and Ubiquiti gaining share in Europe, while H3C gained share in China. “The wireless LAN market came in stronger than we predicted in Europe, largely from the education vertical refreshing and expanding the network,” comments Trent Dell’Oro, business analyst at Dell’Oro Group. He adds, “Europe is certainly a growth engine of the wireless LAN market, and the competitive landscape is heating up, as the Chinese vendors turn their attention to that region. Whereas in China, much of the growth is coming from the construction of wireless cities throughout the country. The wireless city construction boom began in early 2017 — all provinces and major cities in China are actively investing in public WiFi infrastructure.”
following wireless standards: 802.11ax, 802.11ac Wave 1 vs. Wave 2, 802.11n, and historic IEEE 802.11 standards
“shipments of access points with NBASE-T are reported because wireless LAN with NBASE-T will trigger one of the most significant upgrades in the enterprise campus Ethernet network since circa 2000.”
Sales in Europe and China Propel Wireless LAN Market During 3Q17, According to Dell’Oro Group
https://www.benzinga.com/pressreleases/17/12/g10878130/sales-in-europe-and-china-propel-wireless-lan-market-during-3q17-accor
Tomi Engdahl says:
3 keys to making any small business wireless network more secure
http://www.cablinginstall.com/articles/pt/2017/12/3-keys-to-making-any-small-business-wireless-network-more-secure.html?cmpid=enl_cim_cim_data_center_newsletter_2017-12-11
So here’s what you can do:
Use encryption — Possibly the most important measure you can take to protect your network is to use encryption [...]
Use a firewall — Hardware firewalls provide the first line of defence against attacks coming from outside of the network, and most routers have firewalls built into them, which check data coming into and going out and block any suspicious activity [...]
Use secure router settings — Change the router’s access name and password. It is all too easy to set up any equipment with its default settings, especially as the default admin name and password are often printed on the router itself to allow quick access and setup [...]
How to make a wireless network more secure
http://www.techradar.com/news/how-to-make-a-wireless-network-more-secure
When setting up a wireless network for your small business, it can be all too tempting to leave any security functions switched off. It may seem at the time that getting work done is much more important than worrying about a threat that probably won’t ever materialise.
Encrypting a network involves creating a password or passphrase that is difficult to guess. But note here that, while there are different forms of encryption available to wireless networks, not all of them are secure.
WPA and WPA2
Developed to overcome the weaknesses in WEP, WPA and WPA2 (Wi-Fi Protected Access) are the encryption modes now most widely used in wireless networks.
They use both passwords and passphrases to secure networks.
Use a firewall
Hardware firewalls provide the first line of defence against attacks coming from outside of the network, and most routers have firewalls built into them, which check data coming into and going out and block any suspicious activity. The devices are usually set with reasonable defaults that ensure they do a decent job.
Router settings
Change the router’s access name and password
Change the default network ID
Stop your router broadcasting its network ID
Enable MAC authentication for your users
Create a separate wireless network for your customers.
Tomi Engdahl says:
MAX22500E
100Mbps Half-Duplex RS-485/RS-422 Transceivers for Long Cables
https://www.maximintegrated.com/en/products/interface/transceivers/MAX22500E.html?utm_source=UBM_DScom&utm_medium=newsletter&utm_content=MAX22500E&utm_campaign=FY18_Q2_2017_DEC_INH-FactAuto_AMER_Ind-Fact-Auto_EN
Industry’s fastest RS-485 transceivers with pre-emphasis improve robust communications with longer cables
The MAX22500E/MAX22501E half-duplex ESD-protected RS-485/RS-422 transceivers are optimized for high-speed (up to 100Mbps) communication over long cables. These transceivers feature integrated hot-swap protectionand a fail-safe receiver, ensuring a logic-high on the receiver output when input signals are shorted or open for longer than 10μs (typ).
The MAX22500E features integrated reemphasis circuitry that extends the distance and increases the data rate of reliable communication by reducing inter-symbol interference(ISI) caused by long cables. The MAX22500E features a flexible logic interface down to 1.6V.
The MAX22501E operates without preemphasis and is powered from a 3V to 5.5V supply.
Applications/Uses
Backplane Busses
Encoder Interfaces
Field Bus Networks
Industrial Control Systems
Motion Control
Tomi Engdahl says:
Colt improves latency between Tokyo and London financial centers
http://www.lightwaveonline.com/articles/2017/12/colt-improves-latency-between-tokyo-and-london-financial-centers.html?cmpid=enl_lightwave_lightwave_datacom_2017-12-12
Colt says it has improved the latency on its routes between Tokyo and London financial centers to less than 159 milliseconds as part of its continued investment in the Colt IQ Network, addressing the specific requirements of financial firms and enterprises.
Reducing latency will advance trading strategies that rely on low latency infrastructure to support investment banks, high-frequency trading (HFT) firms, FX related applications, and other financial organizations, the fiber-optic network service provider says. This network optimization provides enterprises a consolidated services approach through which they will have a single supplier for all their network requirements.
Colt has already invested €200 million this year in upgrading capacity throughout its Colt IQ Network worldwide.
In November, Colt announced plans to upgrade its transatlantic, transpacific, and Asian submarine cable capacity to 100 Gbps to extend availability of its Colt IQ Network to multinational companies
According to Colt, the network optimizations this year position the company to continue performing as a top-tier low latency route provider, specifically in Asia, between trading venues such as the Hong Kong Stock Exchange (HKEX), the Singapore Exchange (SGX), the Australian Securities Exchange (ASX), and the Japan Exchange Group (JPX/CC2).
Tomi Engdahl says:
Acacia Communications coherent CFP2-DCO transceiver reaches general availability
http://www.lightwaveonline.com/articles/2017/12/acacia-communications-coherent-cfp2-dco-transceiver-reaches-general-availability.html?cmpid=enl_lightwave_lightwave_datacom_2017-12-12
Acacia Communications (NASDAQ:ACIA) has officially launched the battle between the CFP2-DCO and CFP2-ACO optical transceivers for coherent pluggable interface domination. The company has announced that its digital coherent optics (DCO) optical module, which will support both 100- and 200-Gbps operation is now generally available.
The CFP2-DCO differs from the CFP2-ACO (for “Analog Coherent Optics”) in that the transceiver contains the coherent DSP ASIC or ASSP within the module. The CFP2-ACO relies on a DSP hosted on the line card (see “OIF approves CFP2-ACO Implementation Agreement”).
The CFP2-ACO therefore was easier to design, develop, and manufacture. Several optical transceiver vendors, particularly those without in-house DSP ASIC expertise, have added the CFP2-ACO to their portfolios, and the optical modules are readily available.
However, line cards designed for CFP2-ACOs must have a DSP device pre-installed for each port whether all ports will be used initially or not. Therefore, total line card cost using CFP2-ACOs versus -DCOs might narrow considerably.
The CFP2-DCO promises simpler line card designs, which means the next round of optical transport system designs and upgrades will provide the main battleground between the two optical transceiver options. (Such designs also could include whitebox optical transport systems.) While Acacia Communications is the only transceiver vendor to offer a CFP2-DCO, the fact that the OIF is creating an Implementation Agreement for such a device signals the interest the industry has in the CFP2-DCO.
The tricky part is cramming the DSP functionality into the small size of the CFP2. Acacia Communications used its 16-nm CMOS Meru DSP ASIC paired with silicon photonic IC expertise to create its module. As is the case with most of its CFP2-ACO competition, the Acacia Communications optical transceiver uses QPSK modulation for 100-Gbps operation and either 8QAM or 16QAM for 200 Gbps. It also supplies internal Layer 1 encryption.
Tomi Engdahl says:
New York Times:
As net neutrality protests take center stage on Reddit, Kickstarter, and others, tech giants including Google, Facebook, Microsoft, Netflix keep a low profile — Protests to preserve net neutrality, or rules that ensure equal access to the internet, migrated online on Tuesday …
Net Neutrality Protests Move Online, Yet Big Tech Is Quiet
https://www.nytimes.com/2017/12/12/technology/net-neutrality-fcc-tech.html