Here are some of my collection of newest trends and predictions for year 2018. I have not invented those ideas what will happen next year completely myself. I have gone through many articles that have given predictions for year 2018. Then I have picked and mixed here the best part from those articles (sources listed on the end of posting) with some of my own additions to make this posting.This article contains very many quotations from those source articles.
Big Data, mobility and the Internet of Things (IoT) are generating an enormous amount of data, and data center operators must find ways to support higher and higher speeds. Recent data center trends predict bandwidth requirements will continue growing 25 percent to 35 percent per year. Many older data centers were designed to support 1-gigabit or 10-gigabit pathways between servers, routers and switches. Today’s Ethernet roadmap extends from 25- and 40-gigabit up through 100-gigabit, and 400-gigabit and even 1-terabit Ethernet loom within a few years. The biggest sales are forecasted for 25G and 100G ports for next few years. Ethernet switch market has now 100 Gbit/s products in the volumes at the moment, and both 200G and 400G Ethernet versions will be taken to use in 2018.
Broadcom dominates the Ethernet switch chip market today with a 73 to 94 percent share, depending on how market watchers slice the sector valued at nearly a billion dollars. Its closest rival, Cisco Systems, takes most of the rest with systems using its own ASICs. Juniper, Hewlett Packard Enterprise and Huawei also make Ethernet switch ASICs for their systems. With seven merchant chips in the pipeline and four in-house ASICs in the works, we will see a record number of unique platforms ship in 2018. Wheeler of the Linley Group expects the competition will drive Ethernet switch costs from about $60/port today to about $36/port by 2020.
Data center giants “are driving their own code and programmable capabilities as close to the server as possible.” The dozen largest data center operators — including the likes of Facebook and Google — build their own switch systems or specify systems built by ODMs. They can drive sales of millions of chips a year but demand maximum bandwidth at minimum cost and power consumption. The Tomahawk-3 is geared for the next-generation of their top-of-rack and aggregation switches, delivering up to 128 100GE or 32 400GE ports, the first merchant chip to support 400GE rates.
China will start making more optical components: Several Western component and subsystems vendors have cited reduced demand from Chinese systems houses such as Huawei and ZTE for revenue declines in 2017. One reason for the slowdown is the fact that these systems houses have begun looking for more local optical technology sources. In addition to doing more development work in-house (particularly in the case of Huawei), the two Chinese systems vendors have begun to work more closely with Chinese companies such as Accelink, Hisense, and HiSilicon as well as Japanese vendors. This can mean that Western firms (particularly in the U.S.) may not see their Chinese orders return to previous levels.
Higher power power over Ethernet: 802.3bt – IEEE Draft Standard for Ethernet Amendment: Physical Layer and Management Parameters for DTE Power via MDI over 4-Pair amendment to IEEE Std 802.3-2015 increases the maximum PD power available by utilizing all four pairs in the specified structured wiring plant. This represents a substantial increase to the capabilities of Ethernet with standardized power – allow delivery of up to 90 watts of power via existing Ethernet cabling. The Ethernet Alliance has announced details of its next plugfest: Dedicated to pre-standard testing of Power over Ethernet (PoE) technologies against Draft 3.2 of the IEEE P802.3bt standard, the event will be held in February 2018. The specification’s ratification is expected in September of 2018.
802.11ax hasn’t been signed off yet, but promises to send WiFi towards 10 Gb/s thanks to its use of both multi-user multiple-input and multiple-output (MU-MIMO) and the new Orthogonal frequency-division multiple access (OFDMA). 802.11ax is good at combining lots of different links so that users get more connections, more often, and end up with more bandwidth. Marvell claims it’ll have the first chipsets for new 10G WiFi ready for products in H2 2018. Marvell said the chipsets will ship some time in early 2018 and will appear in products in the second half of the year. Widespread 802.11ax adoption in devices probably won’t happen until 2019.
5G something in it for everyone. 5G is big. 5G New Radio (NR) wireless technology will ultimately impact everyone in the electronics and telecommunications industries. Most estimates say 2020 is when we will ultimately see some real 5G deployments on a scale. In the meantime, companies are firming up their plans for whatever 5G products and services they will offer. Though test and measurement solutions will be key in the commercialization cycle. 5G is set to disrupt test processes. If 5G takes off, the technology will propel the development of new chips in both the infrastructure and the handset. Data centers require specialty semiconductors from power management to high-speed optical fiber front-ends. 5G systems will drive more complexity in RF front-ends .
Networks will become more and more virtual, especially on 5G. 5G networks will build on LTE network architecture with the introduction of cloud RANs (C-RANs) and virtualized RANs. Network function virtualization (NFV) and software-defined networking (SDN) tools and architectures could enable operators to reduce network costs and simplify deployment. For more details read System architecture milestone of 5G Phase 1 is achieved article.
Automotive Ethernet: Automotive Ethernet will replace the Media Oriented Systems Transport (MOST) bus found on many vehicles today and also compete with systems like Maxim’s Gigabit Multimedia Serial Link (GMSL). The standards include IEEE 802.3bw 100BASE-T1 and IEEE P802.3bp 1000BASE-T1 that adopt the 100-Mb/s and 1-Gb/s Ethernet protocols to run over over a single twisted pair up to 15 meters. Chips, PHYs and switches are now readily available for automotive Ethernet. Automotive switches will support time-sensitive networking (TSN) features like audio video bridging (AVB) ingress policy, rate limiting andalso features 802.1Qav/Qbv queue-shaping support. We will need a Security Blanket for Automotive Ethernet.
Car-to-car communication: The industry and government have defined several versions of vehicular communications. These are vehicle-to-vehicle (V2V), vehicle-to-infrastructure (V2I), and vehicle-to-everything (V2X). V2V is the direct communications between vehicles within range of one another. V2V link-up is automatic and cars exchange status information messages Basic Safety Message (BSM) 10 times per second (contains data such as GPS location, speed, direction, brake status, and related conditions). There are competing technologies to make this all work. IEEE802.11p ahead of LTE-V2V for safety critical applications. 5G will offer increased capacity and decreased latency for some critical applications such as vehicle-to-vehicle (V2V) or vehicle-to-infrastructure (V2I) communications for advanced driver assistance systems (ADAS) and self-driving vehicles. The big question is whether 5G will disrupt the landscape or fall short of its promises.
TSN (time sensitive networking) will be talked on many application. Success in the IIoT requires that information- and operational-technology networks work in tandem—time-sensitive networking can make it happen. A converged industrial network will address several challenges that currently exist in today’s disparate network architecture, and it is believed that needed convergence is provided by time-sensitive networking (TSN). TSN is a set of IEEE 802 sub-standards that, when implemented, enable deterministic communication over Ethernet networks while keeping the benefits of communication in best effort manner, on that same network. TSN introduces different traffic classes that share the same link. Proper implementation of TSN requires a solution that can provide a low latency and deterministic response at TSN end points and TSN bridges – it is usually implemented with combining a processor and a FPGA or using advanced Ethernet switch chip.
Gartner analyst says on-premises data centers will soon be ‘useless’: Govekar said that as soon as 2019, at least a third of the largest software vendors will have transitioned their products from cloud-first to cloud-only. For this reason Gartner analyst predicts doom for on-premises data centers. If this happens , there will be a lot of work for network operators and cloud service companies to be able to build the infrastructure that can handle all this without problems. I expect that not all on-premises data centers are doomed. There are applications where moving everything to central could does not make sense – for example many IoT applications are moving some of the processing from cloud to edge devices for various reasons (lower latency, reduce needed bandwidth, work also when communications does not work etc..). There is also place for some on-premises data centers on some application (may them be depending on need anything from embedded server to room full of equipment racks). When designing for the IoT, security needs to be addressed from the Cloud down to each and every edge device. Protecting data is both a hardware and a software requirement, as more data is being stored and analyzed in edge devices and gateways.
Network neutrality talks will continue in 2018. Federal Communications Commission (FCC) on December 14, 2017 overturned the Title II-based Open Internet Order the previous Democratic-controlled FCC regime put in place in 2015. So what happens next? In the immediate term, nothing. The Restoring Internet Freedom Order won’t go into effect until sometime in the first half of 2018.
IPv6 usage seems to be finally accelerating in 2018. IPv6 has been a “future” since 1998, and an important future since 2007. IPv6 deployments have been increasing and chances are you have already used IPv6 – but haven’t realized it yet. IPv6 deployment is increasing around the world, with over 9 million domain names and 23% of all networks advertising IPv6 connectivity. Network admins will have many concerns about migrating to IPv6 in 2018. China plans to put the Internet Protocol version 6 (IPv6)-based network into large-scale use, to boost the development of the Internet industry. China aims to have 200 million active users of IPv6 by the end of 2018. IPv6 use is increasing, but that does not mean that IPv4 is no way dying. It seems that both of those technologies will co-exist in Internet for a long time.
Sources:
Chinese systems houses engaging with alternative component, subsystem sources: LightCounting
System architecture milestone of 5G Phase 1 is achieved
Five technology trends for 2018
NI Trend Watch 2018 explores trends driving the future faster
ADAS Needs V2X to Meet ITS Goals
Taking Automotive Ethernet for a Test Drive
A Security Blanket for Automotive Ethernet
TSN: Converging Networks for a Better Industrial IoT
Gartner analyst says on-premises data centers will soon be ‘useless’
Gartner analyst predicts doom for on-premises data centers
M2M within the IoT – Pushing Security from the Cloud Down to Every Last Endpoint
Net Neutrality Overturned: Now What?
B’com Shifts Switch to 12.8 Tbits/s
Planning starts now for high-speed data center migration
China to speed up IPv6-based Internet development
Top 5 Concerns of Network Admins About Migrating to IPv6 in 2018
1,081 Comments
Tomi Engdahl says:
Solar-Powered “Pseudo-Satellite” Aircraft Logs First Flight of 26 Days
https://www.powerelectronics.com/automotive/solar-powered-pseudo-satellite-aircraft-logs-first-flight-26-days?NL=ED-003&Issue=ED-003_20190110_ED-003_170&sfvc4enews=42&cl=article_2_b&utm_rid=CPG05000002750211&utm_campaign=22596&utm_medium=email&elq2=532e46bae5ac4ff7823646754665c18f
Powered by “silicon anode” lithium-ion batteries, the Zephyr S HAPS is claimed to have set a world record for longest UAV flight without refueling.
Zephyr is designed to offer capabilities that fill a gap and complement the roles filled by satellites, UAVs, and manned aircraft by providing long-term local satellite-like services. Applications include maritime surveillance and services, border patrol missions, communications, forest fire detection and monitoring, or navigation, often summarized as ISR (Intelligence, Surveillance & Reconnaissance).
The Zephyr, with the persistence of a satellite and the flexibility of a UAV, flies in the stratosphere at an average altitude of 21 km/70,000 feet. The ultra-lightweight weighs just 75 kg/165 pounds and has a wingspan of 25 meters/82 feet (Fig. 2). Payload is approximately 2.5 kg (5.5 lb.). The only civil aircraft to operate at this altitude was the supersonic Concorde, and the military U2 and SR-71 Blackbird reconnaissance aircraft. The powerplant consists of two custom permanent-magnet synchronous motors rated at 0.60 hp (0.45 kW) each.
Tomi Engdahl says:
WLAN market lifts on Wave 2, 802.11ax shipments, NBASE-T: Analyst
https://www.cablinginstall.com/articles/pt/2018/12/wlan-market-rises-on-wave-2-first-802-11ax-shipments-nbase-t-analyst.html?cmpid=enl_cim_cim_data_center_newsletter_2019-01-07&pwhid=6b9badc08db25d04d04ee00b499089ffc280910702f8ef99951bdbdad3175f54dcae8b7ad9fa2c1f5697ffa19d05535df56b8dc1e6f75b7b6f6f8c7461ce0b24&eid=289644432&bid=2338224
According to a recently published report from Dell’Oro Group, an analyst of the telecommunications, networks, and data center IT industries, the wireless LAN (WLAN) market accelerated in the second half 2018, boosted by higher-end products. WLAN prices rose with a mixed shift to Wave 2, 802.11ax and NBASE-T, the analyst reports.
“The WLAN market outperformed in 3Q18, as price erosion slowed. Users opted for feature-rich products, such as Wave 2 access points and premises managed Controllers,”
Additional highlights from Dell’Oro’s 3Q18 Wireless LAN Quarterly Report include the following points:
Arris Ruckus, Cisco, HPE, and Ubiquiti gained share vs. the year-ago period.
For the second sequential quarter North America led other regions.
Project delays weigh on China—but not for long.
11ac Wave 2 access points jumped over 10 points from the year-ago period.
Tomi Engdahl says:
A prediction for cabling standards in 2019
https://www.cablinginstall.com/articles/2018/12/cabling-standards-2019-prediction-belden-franc.html?cmpid=enl_cim_cim_data_center_newsletter_2019-01-07&pwhid=6b9badc08db25d04d04ee00b499089ffc280910702f8ef99951bdbdad3175f54dcae8b7ad9fa2c1f5697ffa19d05535df56b8dc1e6f75b7b6f6f8c7461ce0b24&eid=289644432&bid=2338224
Tomi Engdahl says:
The top 10 ICT structured cabling industry stories of 2018
https://www.cablinginstall.com/articles/2019/01/top-10-ict-structured-cabling-industry-stories-of-2018.html?cmpid=enl_cim_cim_data_center_newsletter_2019-01-07&pwhid=6b9badc08db25d04d04ee00b499089ffc280910702f8ef99951bdbdad3175f54dcae8b7ad9fa2c1f5697ffa19d05535df56b8dc1e6f75b7b6f6f8c7461ce0b24&eid=289644432&bid=2338224
Tomi Engdahl says:
In 2017, the CEO of AT&T told America that his company would use its $20B tax windfall to invest in America and create American jobs. The company is planning to fire 7,000 people instead.
AT&T Plans to Fire 7,000 People Despite Tax Breaks, Net Neutrality Repeal
https://www.extremetech.com/internet/283522-att-plans-to-fire-7000-people-despite-tax-breaks-net-neutrality-repeal
Thus far, the corporations Ajit Pai and the Republican Party bent over backward to help haven’t exactly been returning the favor. GM plans to close plants and fire 14,000 people. Verizon has no plan to boost 5G investment, despite Pai’s claim that repealing net neutrality would lead to additional corporate network spending. Now AT&T is reportedly preparing to fire 7,000 people, despite having previously promised that tax breaks and freedom from burdensome regulation would actually create jobs.
AT&T has earned record profits for itself by shuttering call centers and offshoring workers, with an estimated 16,500 jobs lost since 2011. The Communication Workers of America estimate AT&T eliminated 10,800 positions in the last year alone.
And this isn’t unique to AT&T — Verizon also claimed plans to boost its own investment levels before deciding not to.
Put simply, I’m tired of being lied to. The tax cuts and net neutrality repeal were advertised, justified, and declared necessary because of the necessary and critical impact they would have on overall investment and infrastructure. None of it happened. No one is punished for it.
Tomi Engdahl says:
Jonathan Amos / BBC:
UK engineers have finished building Quantum, the first fully software-defined communications satellite that can be reprogrammed in orbit, launching this year — UK engineers have completed the build of the novel Quantum satellite. — The telecommunications platform will be the first fully software-defined spacecraft.
Quantum: Handover for fully flexible satellite
https://www.bbc.com/news/science-environment-46825269
UK engineers have completed the build of the novel Quantum satellite.
The telecommunications platform will be the first fully software-defined spacecraft.
Traditionally, large satellites are configured on the ground for specific tasks that cannot be changed after launch, even if market demands evolve.
Quantum’s coverage, bandwidth, power and frequency can all be altered in orbit.
The big Paris-based telecoms operator Eutelsat has procured the 3.5-tonne spacecraft in a R&D partnership with the European Space Agency (Esa), with manufacturer Airbus acting as the prime contractor.
Tomi Engdahl says:
Security
Poland may consider Huawei ban amid ‘spy’ arrests – reports
Chinese hardware biz faces more push-back in Western nations
https://www.theregister.co.uk/2019/01/14/poland_huawei_ban_mooted/
Tomi Engdahl says:
https://www.uusiteknologia.fi/2019/01/15/nokia-vahentaa-suomessa-ei-tukiasematehtaalta/
Tomi Engdahl says:
Have you set the standard for fiber cleaning and inspection?
https://www.cablinginstall.com/articles/print/volume-26/issue-12/features/technology/have-you-set-the-standard-for-fiber-cleaning-and-inspection.html?cmpid=enl_cim_cim_data_center_newsletter_2019-01-14&pwhid=6b9badc08db25d04d04ee00b499089ffc280910702f8ef99951bdbdad3175f54dcae8b7ad9fa2c1f5697ffa19d05535df56b8dc1e6f75b7b6f6f8c7461ce0b24&eid=289644432&bid=2343148
Benefits to using the IEC 61300-3-35 standard for fiber-endface measurement and inspection.
In this feature, which continues the series examining the importance of inspection and cleaning processes, we will discuss IEC 61300-3-35—what it is and why you should implement it.
We have previously established that contamination, scratches and defects on a fiber-optic connector can be detrimental to a network’s performance. If dirty and damaged optical connectors are not dealt with in the correct way, signal will be affected. For this reason, the International Electrotechnical Commission (IEC) created standard 61300-3-35.
IEC 61300-3-35 is an international standard that focuses on fiber-optic interconnection devices and passive components. It is a set of requirements for fiber-optic connector endface quality. It includes precise cleanliness grading criteria to measure pass or fail certification for the inspection of a fiber endface before connection. The standard is a common reference tool to help answer the question, “How clean is clean enough?”
IEC 61300-3-35 explained
IEC 61300-3-35 uses certification criteria based on a series of concentric circles with the center being the core of the fiber. The standard uses four domains, ranging from A at the core zone through to D, the contact/ferrule zone on the outer edge. Each area denotes the acceptance of contaminant whether they are permanent defects like scratches and pits or removable “dirt” such as dust or fingerprint contamination. There is a set requirement for connector endface quality in each zone, which focuses on a specific size and number of defects.
Measurement and inspection using the IEC 61300-3-35 standard is mission critical to a fiber’s performance. Just one-micron length of contaminant can be the difference between having an endface that meets or fails the recommended specification. Even the most experienced operator cannot visually determine if a scratch is 5µm or 6µm in length.
Inspect Before You Connect
It is extremely important to inspect each endface after cleaning and before mating to ensure any contamination is removed. If it is not removed, it will cause cross-contamination of the two-ferrule endfaces disrupting the optical signal path. If “debris” remains in the contact zone and is not cleaned, it can result in scratches and pits on both connector endfaces.
Using inspection tools with automated analysis
When inspecting for IEC 61300-3-35 it is important to use tools that have automated pass/fail analysis to eliminate subjective guesswork. Having this capability enables users of any skill level to evaluate endface quality with a process that is objective, reliable and repeatable. These results are a valuable documentation, certifying and recording cleanliness and quality of the fiber, and therefore helping to improve product and network performance and yields.
IEC 61300-3-35 should be a standard operating procedure that is adopted by all. Improperly cleaned fiber endfaces impose operational and financial burdens on fiber networks.
Tomi Engdahl says:
https://www.ofcconference.org/en-us/home/?utm_source=Cabling%20an%20Installation%20enewsletter&utm_campaign=OFC_CH_19_Trades
Tomi Engdahl says:
Blue Jeans Cable asks: Is your Cat 6 cable a dog?
https://www.cablinginstall.com/articles/pt/2019/01/blue-jeans-cable-asks-is-your-cat-6-cable-a-dog.html?cmpid=enl_cim_cim_data_center_newsletter_2019-01-14&pwhid=6b9badc08db25d04d04ee00b499089ffc280910702f8ef99951bdbdad3175f54dcae8b7ad9fa2c1f5697ffa19d05535df56b8dc1e6f75b7b6f6f8c7461ce0b24&eid=289644432&bid=2343148
Category 6 cables — and to a lesser extent, Category 6a cables — are widely available from a variety of vendors, including variety stores, office supply stores, consumer electronics stores, and online shops. While a great many people are content to run wireless networks in their homes, the fact is that if you need truly high data speeds and a secure network, nothing beats a wired connection. But is that cable in the store, or in the online shop, really Cat 6?
It’s a vexing problem, if you’ve got a cable in a bag and you’d like to know how well it conforms to Category 6 specifications. None of the tools you’re likely to own, such as a volt-ohmmeter, will shed any light on the subject.
Okay–So, How Do We Measure Compliance?
Category 5e, 6 and 6a patch cords are governed by specification; the usual spec cited is the TIA spec, TIA-568.C.2, part 6.9, though there is also an ISO spec which is somewhat more stringent. By contrast to the standards that apply to such things as “horizontal” installed cabling and the like, the specification for patch cords is fairly simple. First, it requires that patch cords be built out of cable and connectors which comply with the relevant cable and connector specifications. Second, it requires that the cable meet or exceed performance standards for two things: Near-End Crosstalk, or NEXT, and Return Loss.
So, the difference between Cat 5e, Cat 6, and Cat 6a cable is not so much in the basic design as it is in the tolerances. As the bitrate, and correspondingly the frequency, of the signal increases, smaller and smaller discontinuities and inconsistencies in the cable become relevant. Cat 5e is required to meet certain specs for signals up to 100 MHz (one “Hertz” is one complete wave, e.g., a sine wave, per second, and a “Megahertz” is one million of those per second). Cat 6 is required to meet tighter specifications, and to meet those specs to 250 MHz. Cat 6a must meet the same specifications as Cat 6, but must also meet similar specification limits all the way out to 500 MHz. So, while the basic cable architecture doesn’t change between Categories, the demand for consistency and quality in manufacturing does; for example, a sloppy connectorization that’s “just good enough” for a Cat 5e cable will almost certainly cause the cable to fail at Cat 6.
The fact that it’s hard to tell the difference between Cat 5e, Cat 6 and Cat 6a by looking at them opens the door, unfortunately, to some deceptive practices in the industry.
these Ethernet specs are operated purely on the honor system. If a manufacturer wants to sell “Cat 6″ cable, all he has to do is change the jacket lettering on his Cat 5e cable to read “Cat 6.” Beyond that, it’s pure caveat emptor — it’s the buyer’s job to figure out whether he’s being scammed.
The idea that somebody would just change the jacket lettering on his Cat 5e cable and call it “Cat 6″ might seem just a bit too brazen, even for a sharp operator. If you have just a bit of faith in humanity, you’d think that nobody would label a cable “Category 6″ on the jacket and sell it in a major national store chain without ascertaining that the cable actually met Category 6 specifications–but if you thought that, you’d be wrong. A few years ago, Fluke corporation, who make various Ethernet test devices, announced that in its survey of the market approximately 80% of the patch cords sold as “Cat 6″ did not meet the specification
The Ugly Truth
When we began work to develop our own Cat 6 and Cat 6a cables, we knew we would need to test every assembly; while Cat 5e cables are easy to assemble without a lot of cause for worry over compliance, Cat 6 and Cat 6a are another matter. Defects in assembly that one barely notices when putting the connector on — things like just a bit too much split of the members of a pair, or too-abrupt bends in conductors as they route into the connectors — can cause failure. Near-End Crosstalk and Return Loss are both sensitive to termination quality,
The Fluke is a lovely piece of gear. We’d tell you that everyone who ever uses network cable should have one, if the unit with its various patch cord adapters didn’t cost over $12,000.
http://www.bluejeanscable.com/networkcablereports.htm
Fluke’s claim that 80% of so-called Cat 6 patch cords were noncompliant seemed surprising, and we wondered whether things had gotten any better — surely they had? — since then. With the DTX on the desktop, this became a fairly easy question to answer, and we decided to go shopping.
Well, That Wasn’t Very Good, Was It?
No, it wasn’t. A few observations are in order.
To start with, of course, the near-unanimity of the results is pretty surprising. Out of twenty cables tested, four met spec, and of those, two did it by a hair. This 80% failure rate is, as it happens, exactly what Fluke reported a few years back, and our sample certainly shows no improvement over that time.
Perhaps the most surprising aspect of the results is that, out of the sixteen cables which failed their stated spec, all but five also failed Cat 5e testing. Cat 5e is not a difficult standard to pass; using conventional, non-bonded, twisted-pair Cat 5e of good quality (e.g., Belden 1583A) and ordinary RJ-45 connectors, not only is it easy to build compliant Cat 5e assemblies, but it’s common to see them pass the specification by several dB both on NEXT and RL. Contrast that with some of the shockingly bad test results–e.g., the 50-foot major-brand cable from the hardware store, which failed the 5e spec’s return loss requirements by a whopping 8 dB. Plainly, many of these vendors are using very, very poor cable stock. Anybody with an extruder and a wire-twisting machine can make paired data cables; making them meet spec, however, is another matter entirely.
Note that of all of the brick-and-mortar store cable purchases we made, the grand total score is zero passes, eight fails with only two of the purportedly “Cat 6″ cables even passing Cat 5e.
The online vendors didn’t do all that much better
Tomi Engdahl says:
SpaceX Confident About Its Starlink Constellation for Satellite Internet; Others, Not So Much
https://spectrum.ieee.org/aerospace/satellites/spacex-confident-about-its-starlink-constellation-for-satellite-internet-others-not-so-much
Tomi Engdahl says:
ALL ABOUT HAM SATELLITES
https://hackaday.com/2019/01/07/all-about-ham-satellites/
Tomi Engdahl says:
US bills would ban exports to Chinese telecoms that violate sanctions
Huawei and ZTE are singled out as potential targets.
https://www.engadget.com/2019/01/16/us-bills-ban-exports-to-chinese-telecoms/
American politicians want to crack down further on Chinese telecoms like Huawei and ZTE. Members of both the House of Representatives and the Senate have introduced bills that would order the President to impose export bans on Chinese telecoms found to violate US export and sanctions laws. Companies like Huawei and ZTE are a “growing threat to American national security,” according to co-sponsor Rep. Mike Gallagher, and they should face the same punishment that ZTE faced before its reprieves.
The politicians aren’t shy about the reasons behind the move. This is partly in response to the arrest of Huawei CFO Meng Wanzhou in Canada over US allegations she helped her company violate US trade sanctions against Iran. This would potentially force the President to ban Huawei’s US-based equipment exports, limiting its ability to do business around the world. It wouldn’t be as severe a blow as it was for ZTE, since Huawei designs its own mobile processors, but it could have a noticeable effect.
Tomi Engdahl says:
Shutdown could delay challenge of FCC’s net neutrality rollback
https://techcrunch.com/2019/01/16/shutdown-could-delay-challenge-of-fccs-net-neutrality-rollback/?utm_source=tcfbpage&sr_share=facebook
Tomi Engdahl says:
APOLAN brings passive optical LAN advocacy, education to BICSI 2019 Winter show
https://www.cablinginstall.com/articles/pt/2019/01/apolan-brings-passive-optical-lan-advocacy-education-to-bicsi-2019-winter-show.html?cmpid=enl_cim_cim_data_center_newsletter_2019-01-21&pwhid=6b9badc08db25d04d04ee00b499089ffc280910702f8ef99951bdbdad3175f54dcae8b7ad9fa2c1f5697ffa19d05535df56b8dc1e6f75b7b6f6f8c7461ce0b24&eid=289644432&bid=2348650
From its BICSI Winter Conference 2019 booth #534, the Association for Passive Optical LAN (APOLAN), the non-profit organization driving both education and adoption for passive optical LANs (POL), will showcase POL’s growth and opportunities at the BICSI 2019 Winter Conference & Exhibition taking place at the Gaylord Palms Resort & Convention Center in Orlando on January 20-24.
http://apolanglobal.org/
Tomi Engdahl says:
Insertion loss: Are you positive it’s negative?
https://www.cablinginstall.com/articles/2019/01/mark-mullins-fluke-networks-insertion-loss-blog.html?cmpid=enl_cim_cim_data_center_newsletter_2019-01-21&pwhid=6b9badc08db25d04d04ee00b499089ffc280910702f8ef99951bdbdad3175f54dcae8b7ad9fa2c1f5697ffa19d05535df56b8dc1e6f75b7b6f6f8c7461ce0b24&eid=289644432&bid=2348650
Insertion loss, or the loss of signal that happens along the length of a fiber-optic link, is expressed in dBs and should always be a positive number. But it can be negative (which isn’t a good thing).
Return loss, which measures the amount of light reflected back toward the source, is also expressed in dBs and is always a positive number. A high return loss is a good thing and usually results in low insertion loss.
Reflectance, which also measures reflection and is expressed in dB, is a negative number. High reflectance is not a good thing.
The most commonly measured performance parameter on a fiber-optic link is insertion loss.
Insertion loss is expressed in decibels, or dBs, and should be a positive number as it indicates how much signal was lost by comparing input power to output power.
The lower the number, the better the insertion loss performance – an insertion loss of 0.2dB is better than 0.4dB.
There are however moments when insertion loss can appear as a negative value. But wouldn’t a negative value indicate a gain in signal, and how can this be possible? A negative insertion loss indicates a problem, one of which is often improper reference setting.
Negative loss, or gainers, can also occur due to differences in connected fibers. If the two fibers have different backscatter coefficients (a fancy term for information about the relative backscatter level of the fiber), more light can be backscattered after a connection rather than before the connection. If you’re only measuring in one direction, this can cause your OTDR to show a loss value that is less than it actually is, which could show up as a negative value.
But wherever there’s a gainer, there’s a loser. While transmitting in one direction may cause the gainer, when the measurement is taken in the other direction where less light is backscattered after the connection, the measured loss is greater than the actual loss.
The other commonly measured performance parameter on a fiber optic connection is return loss. It is a measurement of the amount of light injected from the source compared to the amount of light reflected back toward the source. Expressed as a positive number in dBs, the higher the number, the better the return loss performance – a return loss of 60dB is better than 30dB
And then we have reflectance, which measures the amount of back reflection created by a reflective event (i.e., connector) compared to the amount of light injected—essentially the inverse of return loss. It too is expressed in dBs but is a negative number. The lower the number (remember we’re talking negative here), the better the reflectance – reflectance of -60dB is better than -30dB. OTDR’s typically use a negative value for connection reflectance.
Tomi Engdahl says:
Indoor/outdoor cable is not cookie-cutter
https://www.cablinginstall.com/articles/print/volume-27/issue-1/features/installation/indoor-outdoor-cable-is-not-cookie-cutter.html?cmpid=enl_cim_cim_data_center_newsletter_2019-01-21&pwhid=6b9badc08db25d04d04ee00b499089ffc280910702f8ef99951bdbdad3175f54dcae8b7ad9fa2c1f5697ffa19d05535df56b8dc1e6f75b7b6f6f8c7461ce0b24&eid=289644432&bid=2348650
Standardized by the Insulated Cable Engineers Association, indoor/outdoor cable takes several shapes and forms, and serves many applications.
A standard produced by the Insulated Cable Engineers Association (ICEA) defines specifications for cable that can be used both indoors and outdoors. Published in 2016, ANSI/ICEA S-100-685-2016 is titled “Standard for Thermoplastic Insulated and Jacketed Telecommunications Station Wire For Indoor/Outdoor Use.” The standard defines its own purpose as “to establish generic technical requirements that may be referenced by individual telecommunications wire specifications covering thermoplastic insulated and jacketed station wire products for indoor/outdoor application.”
several manufacturers of cables that can be used in both indoor and outdoor environments have produced documents and other resources intended to help users specify these products
Discussing indoor/outdoor optical-fiber cable, Superior Essex says these cables “also have at minimum an NEC Fire Resistance Rating. Like indoor/outdoor UTP cables, they also utilize materials that provide better temperature properties and UV protection. Some also include additional protection against water ingress. Designs are available in loose-tube and tight-buffered construction and are suitable for all fiber types.
These installations generally require tight collaboration among the full value chain—manufacturer, distributor, consultant, installer, and end-user—involved in a project.
Tomi Engdahl says:
Canadian network says Huawei is “reliable” partner
https://www.itproportal.com/news/canadian-network-says-huawei-is-reliable-partner/
Telus says Huawei offers “comprehensive security measures”.
The US-Huawei debate has taken another turn after a Canadian telecommunications company labelled the Chinese tech giant as a “reliable” partner.
Tomi Engdahl says:
Yritysmaailma toivoo viranomaisilta ohjeistusta kiinalaislaitteiden vakoilu-uhkista – Supo ei kommentoi riskejä
https://www.kauppalehti.fi/uutiset/yritysmaailma-toivoo-viranomaisilta-ohjeistusta-kiinalaislaitteiden-vakoilu-uhkista-supo-ei-kommentoi-riskeja/ba8c2399-c5ad-40f0-b0f0-fa954c3b7e2d
Monet maat ovat rajoittaneet kiinalaisen Huawein verkkolaitteiden käyttöä.
Tomi Engdahl says:
”En koskaan oleta, että verkko on puhdas tai vapaa salakuuntelijoista” – Myös EU ja USA harrastavat vakoilua
https://www.kauppalehti.fi/uutiset/en-koskaan-oleta-etta-verkko-on-puhdas-tai-vapaa-salakuuntelijoista-myos-eu-ja-usa-harrastavat-vakoilua/fba7bce7-a294-4ab2-916b-f3846553ed1d
On epäilty, että myös eurooppalaiset tietoliikennevalmistajat ovat syyllistyneet vakoiluun, F-Securen kyberturvallisuudesta vastaava johtaja Erka Koivunen kertoo.
Suomalaiset operaattorit: Huawein vakoilu-uhkaa ei havaittu – ”Seuraamme aktiivisesti tilannetta”
https://www.kauppalehti.fi/uutiset/suomalaiset-operaattorit-huawein-vakoilu-uhkaa-ei-havaittu-seuraamme-aktiivisesti-tilannetta/71911e7c-b42a-4259-9ec3-7cfe2b996568
Operaattorit Suomessa eivät ole havainneet uhkia kiinalaisissa verkkolaitteissa. Ne varautuvat riskeihin sillä, etteivät verkot ole yhden valmistajan laitteiden varassa.
Tomi Engdahl says:
https://www.uusiteknologia.fi/2019/01/21/laajakaistainen-viranomaisverkko-sai-sinetin/
Tomi Engdahl says:
http://www.etn.fi/index.php/13-news/8963-ensimmainen-optinen-linkki-piirin-sisalla
Tomi Engdahl says:
Huawei-kauhu leviää: nyt pelätään jo sähköverkon puolesta
https://www.tivi.fi/Kaikki_uutiset/huawei-kauhu-leviaa-nyt-pelataan-jo-sahkoverkon-puolesta-6755631
Tomi Engdahl says:
Epäilys Huawein 5g-tekniikkaa kohtaan leviää: Saksakin pohtii kieltoa
https://www.tivi.fi/Kaikki_uutiset/epailys-huawein-5g-tekniikkaa-kohtaan-leviaa-saksakin-pohtii-kieltoa-6755540
Tomi Engdahl says:
U.S. Lawmakers Propose Ban on Chip Sales to Huawei, ZTE
https://www.eetimes.com/document.asp?doc_id=1334216
A bipartisan group of U.S. lawmakers has introduced legislation which would ban the export of U.S. chips and other components to Chinese telecommunications companies Huawei and ZTE for violating U.S. export control laws.
The Telecommunications Denial Order Enforcement Act
Tomi Engdahl says:
MAP-E testing helps IPv6 carry IPv4 traffic
https://www.edn.com/design/test-and-measurement/4461465/MAP-E-testing-helps-IPv6-carry-IPv4-traffic?utm_source=Aspencore&utm_medium=EDN&utm_campaign=social
Internet service providers (ISPs) are running out of public IPv4 addresses and want to move away from IPv4 in their internal network. Mapping of Address and Port with Encapsulation (MAP-E), an IPv6 transition mechanism for transporting IPv4 packets across an IPv6 network using IP encapsulation, lets ISPs provide IPv4 services without deploying a full dual-stack network. MAP-E saves money on network upgrades and speeds the migration to IPv6. MAP-E also helps relieve the issue of IPv4 address exhaustion by letting multiple CPE’s share the same public IPv4 address through a form of Carrier-Grade NAT (CGN).
Tomi Engdahl says:
Enterprise Network Switches for the Home: Ramble feat HP Procurve 5406ZL
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_AVfRpxc9Ak
I “needed” more 10GbE ports at home, so I went and bought a used Procurve 5406ZL on eBay and wanted to share my thoughts on it. This includes power consumption, noise, and a look at the chassis and modules. If you have a spare half hour to spend on this sorta thing, then this video is for you (maybe)!
Tomi Engdahl says:
How to give robo callers a taste of their own medicine
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=g-tRnbxI8A4
Robo calls rank number one when it comes to consumer headaches but what if you could do more than just block the calls? What if you could get even?
Comments:
We answer the phone but say nothing, no hello, nothing. That ties them up for a minute or so. I think I’m going to start playing with them though. Just be very careful to not say, yes or ok.
Tomi Engdahl says:
http://www.etn.fi/index.php/13-news/8985-superpositioilla-voidaan-siirtaa-kvanttidataa
Tomi Engdahl says:
Why Does Your Internet Connection Randomly Stop Working?
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WXbidC6q5-Y
Ever wonder why your Wi-Fi suddenly cuts out without warning?
Tomi Engdahl says:
U.S. announces set of indictments against Huawei ahead of trade talks with China
https://www.marketwatch.com/story/us-announces-set-of-indictments-against-huawei-ahead-of-trade-talks-with-china-2019-01-28
Federal prosecutors accuse Chinese telecom of violating U.S. sanctions on Iran and of stealing trade secrets
Tomi Engdahl says:
US announces criminal charges against Huawei, seeks to extradite its CFO
https://techcrunch.com/2019/01/28/huawei-us-meng-wanzhou-doj/?sr_share=facebook&utm_source=tcfbpage
Tomi Engdahl says:
IC Circulator: Breaking through to high speed full duplex communication
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tIlj4RPbt8o
Columbia Engineers Develop the First On-Chip RF Circulator that Doubles WiFi Speeds with a Single Antenna
Tomi Engdahl says:
http://www.etn.fi/index.php/13-news/9018-maailman-nopein-laajakaista-ylsi-1-6-terabittiin
Tomi Engdahl says:
Things are going from bad to worse for Huawei Technologies. The U.S. government is trying to convince its allies in Asia and Europe from using Huawei equipment in their networks, especially in the new infrastructure for 5G cellular communications. Vodafone Group, the world’s second largest mobile operator (behind China Mobile), said it would “pause” purchases of Huawei products while governments debate whether to ban systems from the world’s largest supplier of telecommunications equipment. Such discussions may also include prohibitions against ZTE products. The U.S. Department of Justice this week brought separate indictments against Huawei and its chief financial officer, Meng Wanzhou.
Source: https://semiengineering.com/week-in-review-iot-security-auto-30/
More:
In 5G Race With China, U.S. Pushes Allies to Fight Huawei
https://www.nytimes.com/2019/01/26/us/politics/huawei-china-us-5g-technology.html
Vodafone holds off deploying Huawei in core network due to security row
https://finance.yahoo.com/news/vodafone-pauses-huawei-deployment-core-105418095.html
Tomi Engdahl says:
Jon Brodkin / Ars Technica:
US court overturns FCC’s attempt to deny tribal residents broadband subsidies, says FCC failed to provide evidence and ignored harm of limiting broadband access
Ajit Pai loses in court—judges overturn gutting of tribal broadband program
https://arstechnica.com/tech-policy/2019/02/ajit-pai-loses-in-court-judges-overturn-gutting-of-tribal-broadband-program/
Court: FCC failed to provide evidence and ignored harm to broadband access.
A federal appeals court has overturned Ajit Pai’s attempt to take broadband subsidies away from tribal residents.
The Pai-led Federal Communications Commission voted 3-2 in November 2017 to make it much harder for tribal residents to obtain a $25-per-month Lifeline subsidy that reduces the cost of Internet or phone service.
Tomi Engdahl says:
https://www.uusiteknologia.fi/2019/02/05/valosignaali-saa-lisavoimaa-nanokoon-vahvistimesta/
Tomi Engdahl says:
http://www.etn.fi/index.php/13-news/9039-suomalaistutkijat-siirtavat-valon-piirin-sisalle
Tomi Engdahl says:
Designing Networking Chips
https://semiengineering.com/designing-networking-chips/
How massive data traffic is affecting the verification cycle.
Susheel Tadikonda, vice president of networking and storage at Synopsys, talks about what’s changed in the way networking chips are being designed to deal with a massive increase in data. One of those shifts involves software-defined networking, where the greatest complexity resides in the software. That also has a big impact on the entire design flow, from pre-silicon to post-silicon.
Tomi Engdahl says:
DesignCon 2019: PAM4 makes everything harder
https://www.edn.com/electronics-blogs/rowe-s-and-columns/4461560/DesignCon-2019–PAM4-makes-everything-harder
This year’s DesignCon “closed eye” panel focused on some of the problems that SerDes designers are fighting with this year. Speed increases always bring new problems, and 112 Gbit/s PAM4 links are the latest iteration. Once again, engineers from the signal-integrity industry highlighted their latest problems and discoveries, with representatives from test and measurement explaining what’s needed to measure the problems.
“In 2002, we couldn’t measure jitter, so we came up with random jitter (RJ), deterministic jitter (DJ), periodic jitter (PJ), sinusoidal jitter (SJ), duty-cycle distortion (DCD),” said Stephens. At that time, if you measured jitter on different test equipment, you’d get different answers. That’s no longer the case.
Then came PAM4 with its four levels and three eyes. Now, the problems have shifted to noise because of PAM4′s greater noise sensitivity caused by the smaller eyes. Today, we’re grappling with calculations of channel-operating margin (COM), effective return loss (ERL), signal-to-noise and distortion ratio (SNDR), and dispersion eye closure penalty quaternary (TDECQ) measurements. “As we embrace these figures,” said Stephens, “can they give us diagnostic information? Yes.”
Broadcom’s Cathy Liu brought us up to date on die to die, chip to chip, and chip-to-optical-electrical module. “NRZ is for shorter reach, PAM4 used in longer reach. PAM4 may become dominant from die to die up to backplane and through copper cables.” Liu noted that we will need different forms of equalization depending on application.
According to Liu, no continuous time linear equalization (CTLE) needed for shorter reaches and need lower power. Depends on channel loss and reflections. Might need DFE or FFE. At 112G, SerDes core might not cover multiple applications, especially for shorter reaches. Problems will be power and die size.
“How long is ‘long’ for 112G,” asked Liu, “which has a Nyquist rate of 28 GHz?” She asserted that insertion loss of 28 dB to 30 dB loss is not long reach anymore, at least not for backplane or copper cable given a rule of thumb loss of 0.1 dB/in./GHz. A 10-in. trace has 28 dB of loss at 28 GHz. Plus, you you can easily get 3 dB to 5 dB insertion loss. “Remember that you have two packages (Tx and Rx). I don’t think 28 dB loss is good enough.”
“FEC (forward error correction) is no longer optional,” she continued. “IEEE 802.3bs and 802.3cd KP4 require FEC, which can relax designs by providing 10E-6, 10E-5, or even 10E-4 bit-error ration (BER). At 112 Gbis/s, what kind of FEC will be needed as we double the baud rate? Can we relax designs to 10E-3? But we have latency caused by FEC. Some apps may not tolerate the latency.”
Tomi Engdahl says:
UK may block Huawei from major state projects
EU procurement laws may be replaced with UK-only rules.
https://www.itproportal.com/news/uk-may-block-huawei-from-major-state-projects/
The UK is reportedly gearing up to pass new laws which would block Huawei from ‘sensitive UK technology projects’.
This is according to a recent report by The Sun, which claims senior Cabinet ministers and Britain’s most senior civil servant Mark Sedwill are looking to replace EU procurement laws with UK ones, which would be more mindful when it comes to matters of national security.
Huawei has been at the spotlight for quite some time now, as the US accused it of helping the Chinese government spy on the west. Allegedly, Huawei’s 5G gear may include backdoors which would allow the Chinese to spy on communications, wherever Huawei’s infrastructure was installed.
Tomi Engdahl says:
New UK laws will block China’s Huawei from sensitive state projects: The Sun
https://www.reuters.com/article/us-huawei-tech-europe-britain/new-uk-laws-will-block-chinas-huawei-from-sensitive-state-projects-the-sun-idUSKCN1PX2GL
New laws on foreign investment in the UK will block Chinese firm Huawei from sensitive UK tech projects, The Sun newspaper reported on Friday.
Many are concerned that allowing Huawei an inside track on the rollout of the 5G mobile network in the UK would let China spy on private lives and hack UK companies, The Sun said.
Tomi Engdahl says:
New Offensive USB Cable Allows Remote Attacks over WiFi
https://www.bleepingcomputer.com/news/security/new-offensive-usb-cable-allows-remote-attacks-over-wifi/
Like a scene from a James Bond or Mission Impossible movie, a new offensive USB cable plugged into a computer could allow attackers to execute commands over WiFi as if they were using the computer’s keyboard.
When plugged into a Linux, Mac, or Windows computer, this cable is detected by the operating system as a HID or human interface device. As HID devices are considered input devices by an operating system, they can be used to input commands as if they are being typed on a keyboard.
Created by security researcher Mike Grover, who goes by the alias _MG_, the cable includes an integrated WiFi PCB that was created by the researcher. This WiFi chip allows an attacker to connect to the cable remotely to execute command on the computer or manipulate the mouse cursor.
In a video demonstration by Grover, you can see how the researcher simply plugs a cable into the a PC and is able to connect to it remotely to issue commands through an app on his mobile phone.
Tomi Engdahl says:
Cisco CEO Chuck Robbins tells us how he led the $200 billion company to growth when everybody expected it to get crushed in the cloud wars (CSCO)
https://markets.financialcontent.com/pennwell.cabling/news/read/37612527/cisco_ceo_chuck_robbins_tells_us_how_he_led_the_%24200_billion_company_to_growth_when_everybody_expected_it_to_get_crushed_in_the_cloud_wars
When John Chambers announced his retirement as CEO of Cisco, he hand-picked Chuck Robbins to be his successor.
At the time, Cisco was still a Silicon Valley powerhouse, but doubts were beginning to swirl. Companies were moving to Amazon’s cloud, or Microsoft’s, or Google’s, in a trend that’s only accelerated in the years since. And the more they relied on the cloud for their computing infrastructure, the less they were spending on their data centers — and data center networking hardware, like the kind that Cisco is best known for.
Going on four years later, and Wall Street is definitely taking notice of Robbins’ progress: Cisco shares are up almost 60% from the day Robbins took the reins at the company, and were up some 13% in 2018 alone. The company has a market cap of about $200 billion at the time of writing.
Tomi Engdahl says:
R&M market outlook: Networks installed now set course for decades to come
https://www.cablinginstall.com/articles/2019/02/rdm-market-outlook-networks-installed-now-set-course-for-decasdes-to-come.html?cmpid=enl_cim_cim_data_center_newsletter_2019-02-11&pwhid=6b9badc08db25d04d04ee00b499089ffc280910702f8ef99951bdbdad3175f54dcae8b7ad9fa2c1f5697ffa19d05535df56b8dc1e6f75b7b6f6f8c7461ce0b24&eid=289644432&bid=2364274
In its market outlook for 2019, Reichle & De-Massari (R&M) portrays this particular time in the industry as a decisive moment. The globally active developer and provider of cabling systems for high-quality network infrastructures therefore recommends being more precise than ever with forward planning for networks, whether for public broadband deployments, private data networks or data centers.
R&M says it splits the market into areas for public networks, data centers and local area networks (LAN). “Those planning and building networks today are now setting the course for several decades,” contends R&M’s chief marketing officer, Andreas Rüsseler. “Infrastructures for fiber-to-the-home, mobile communications, the cloud, smart business, smart factories, smart buildings, smart cities and a wide range of digital applications require a capacity for data traffic that will continue to develop dynamically for decades to come.”
Tomi Engdahl says:
AFL intros plenum-rated indoor/outdoor loose tube cable
https://www.cablinginstall.com/articles/2019/02/afl-intros-plenum-rated-indoor-outdoor-loose-tube-cable.html?cmpid=enl_cim_cim_data_center_newsletter_2019-02-11&pwhid=6b9badc08db25d04d04ee00b499089ffc280910702f8ef99951bdbdad3175f54dcae8b7ad9fa2c1f5697ffa19d05535df56b8dc1e6f75b7b6f6f8c7461ce0b24&eid=289644432&bid=2364274
AFL has introduced its LQ-Series I/O Plenum Loose Tube Cable, developed to provide a lower cost inter-building cabling solution for campus-based networks. Because the LQ cable is tested and qualified to meet the leading industry cable standards for outside plant (OSP) and inside plant (ISP) plenum-rated fiber-optic cables, it can be used as a single-cable solution for OSP and ISP cable installations.
LQ-Series — Plenum-rated Indoor/Outdoor Loose Tube
https://www.aflglobal.com/Products/Fiber-Optic-Cable/Structured-Cabling/Indoor-Outdoor/LQ-Series-Plenum-rated-Indoor-Outdoor-Loose-Tube.aspx?mkt_tok=eyJpIjoiWXpBeU1HWmhORFkzTkdaayIsInQiOiJ0b1l0Rk9DRjFCQkxSY1QzTW9hdTVsdE5ldHFvMVo3eHpmeVV3cDRyZU5DREhmY0h0SkZybklZQ01mZ1ZFRVRiMUY0SUJqMEt4ckdzYWZCZVdoKzBlY1ZtRlRkMzhCekpXekNaa3N3RVFMWXhFQzB1bWJGMTJncVFMdVk0VVlYYyJ9
Tomi Engdahl says:
Network Computing thinks AI-driven wireless will be key to digital workplace
https://www.cablinginstall.com/articles/pt/2019/01/network-computing-thinks-ai-driven-wireless-will-be-key-to-digital-workplace.html?cmpid=enl_cim_cim_data_center_newsletter_2019-02-11&pwhid=6b9badc08db25d04d04ee00b499089ffc280910702f8ef99951bdbdad3175f54dcae8b7ad9fa2c1f5697ffa19d05535df56b8dc1e6f75b7b6f6f8c7461ce0b24&eid=289644432&bid=2364274
“Our company decided its old wireless infrastructure−best captured by the image of administrators starting at screens and waiting for systems to fail before reactively fixing them−was no longer up to the task of a growing digital enterprise. With new AI-powered, cloud-based technology
, we have eliminated manual processes in favor of automated ones that detect anomalies, troubleshoot problems, and make Wi-Fi more measurable and predictable.
Tomi Engdahl says:
Dieter Bohn / The Verge:
Amazon’s acquisition of eero is met with concerns over data privacy and disappointment that eero will integrate with the tech giant’s own ecosystem — Consternation, concern, and exhaustion — Amazon sure does love surprises. The original Echo came as a bolt out of the blue …
Why Amazon buying Eero feels so disappointing
Consternation, concern, and exhaustion
https://www.theverge.com/2019/2/12/18221441/amazon-buying-eero-disappointing
Amazon sure does love surprises. The original Echo came as a bolt out of the blue and even after the business was well established, the company just last September saw fit to unveil literally dozens of new Alexa products and features to an unsuspecting world. Last night’s announcement that Amazon intends to acquire the Eero mesh routing company was another surprise, but the out-of-nowhere nature of it shouldn’t have surprised anybody. That’s how Amazon does things.
Amazon’s stated reason for buying Eero is about what you’d expect: “We have a shared vision that the smart home experience can get even easier, and we’re committed to continue innovating on behalf of customers,” wrote SVP Dave Limp in the press release. Wi-Fi is crappy in most homes and crappy Wi-Fi means crappy performance for smart home gadgets. Amazon needs smart home gadgets to work well.
Tomi Engdahl says:
Amazon Press Center:
Amazon announces it’s acquiring mesh WiFi company eero to make it easier for customers to set up and connect their smart home devices
Amazon to Acquire eero to Help Customers Better Connect Smart Home Devices
https://press.aboutamazon.com/news-releases/news-release-details/amazon-acquire-eero-help-customers-better-connect-smart-home
Amazon (NASDAQ:AMZN) and eero today announced that they have entered into a definitive merger agreement under which Amazon will acquire eero. eero’s home mesh WiFi systems set up in minutes and blanket every room of a customer’s home in high-performing, reliable WiFi. eero is already delighting Amazon customers with its products and services, as indicated by eero’s 4.6-star product rating on Amazon.com.