5G? IoT? Fiber Deep? 600G? We Are ready for networking at 2019!
For years we have all been talking about the emergence of 5G services, the Internet of Things (IoT) and the new high-capacity, low-latency network architectures that will be needed to support the resulting onslaught of bandwidth. Higher-speed data rates are critical to electronic evolution and revolution.
Here are some of my collection of newest trends and predictions for year 2018. have picked and mixed here quotations from many articles (linked to source) with some of my own additions to make this posting.
5G: The most newsworthy stories in wireless today are all about 5G. In 2019, we enter a cautious, early-adoption phase of this next generation of wireless technology. 2019 will be the year when we see the first commercial networks turning on and first handsets arriving in the market. Only a small number of users will get a first taste of 5G in specific geographic locations, using specific applications, none of which are ubiquitous or cost-optimized. For more details read my 5G trends for 2019 posting.
Deep fiber: Deep deployment of fiber optics into national network infrastructure might not be as glamorous as the eagerly anticipated launch of fifth-generation mobile networks (5G); however, it is just as important—maybe even more important. Wired broadband access supports as much as 90 percent of all internet traffic even though the majority of traffic ultimately terminates on a wireless device. Wireline and wireless networks are driving new architectures to support the move from 4G LTE to 5G infrastructure. In fact, 5G relies heavily on fiber infrastructure. Service providers in the access market are talking about the evolution of their plants to a Fiber Deep (FD) Architecture. FD architectures move the optical node (the optical-to-electrical conversion point) deeper into the network and closer to the subscriber. This means shorter copper, faster speed, more capacity and reduction in maintenance cost for both cable TV network and telephone line based access networks.
Ethernet: Faster Ethernet speeds are taken to use. These transitions are driven by the increasing global IP traffic. Hyper-scalers and service providers are moving from 100GbE to 400GbE Ethernet rates and beyond. In this speed development 56Gb/s And 112Gb/s SerDes Matter.
TSN: Time-Sensitive Networking (TSN) is a set of standards under development by the Time-Sensitive Networking task group of the IEEE 802.1 working group. TSN standards documents that are specified by IEEE 802.1 can be grouped into three basic key component categories that are time synchronization; scheduling and traffic shaping; selection of communication paths, path reservations and fault-tolerance. Industrial Ethernet networks embrace time-sensitive networking (TSN) technology to integrate operational technology (OT) and information technology (IT).
SDN: Software-defined networking (SDN) technology is an approach to cloud computing that facilitates network management and enables programmatically efficient network configuration in order to improve network performance and monitoring. SD-WAN applies similar technology to a wide area network (WAN). SD-WAN allows companies to build higher-performance WANs using lower-cost and commercially available Internet access, enabling businesses to partially or wholly replace more expensive private WAN connection technologies such as MPLS.
IPv6: IPv4 and IPv6 are the two Protocols Run the Internet in 2019. The long-forecasted day the internet runs out of addresses has arrived and it marks a paradigm shift in the internet’s evolution. Though IPv6 has been available globally since 2012, it has seen a slow, if increasing, adoption rate. The migration to IPv6 is inevitable but will take time during that both systems are in use. In many networks a notable amount of traffic is already IPv6.
New Internet protocols: Internet security gets a boost with TLS 1.3. Also HTTP is in process of switching to a protocol layered on top of UDP. Today’s HTTP (versions 1.0, 1.1, and 2) are all layered on top of TCP (Transmission Control Protocol) that is not very optimal in today’s applications as SSL over TCP requires subsequent round trips to establish the encrypted connection.
IoT: The IoT world is here, and the level and rate of convergence is increasing in volume and velocity. We will see the evolution of converged networks for IoT applications in mind. Network convergence (version 2.0) is here with changes and improvements made since the first converged network (Convergence 1.0). TIA TR-42 (Telecommunications Cabling Systems ANSI/TIA-568 family), BICSI (TDMM and others) and proprietary or third documents must adapt and adjust.
PoE: The IEEE 802.3bt standard, approved by the IEEE Standards Association Board on September 27, 2018, included some significant enhancements especially for LED lighting systems. This specification allows for up to 90W of delivered power for cable lengths of up to 100m through the use of all four pairs of wires.
Trade wars: It seem that there is a high tech “trade war” between USA and China. It affects specifically networking business. Big Chinese manufacturers Huawei and ZTE are have received sanctions and their products are not wanted by many countries citing their business practices and potential security nightmares. For example Japan to halt buying Huawei, ZTE equipment and Huawei has been under fire in UK, just to mention examples. It seems that the business that is lost by Huawei and ZTE could benefit Ericsson and Nokia in the 5G base station markets for short term.
Security: The internet is going to hell and its creators want your help fixing it. All agree on one thing however: Right now there is a serious battle for heart and minds, the future of the internet and global society itself. There seems to be need for a conference to address the fact that people increasingly see tech as a threat and no longer as a pure force for good. Government set to revise internal rules on procurement to protect national cybersecurity. Your DNS might be broken, and you don’t even know it. Some DNS old hacks gets thrown out of use by February 1st, 2019.
WiFi: WiFi technology gets new marketing naming. The numerical sequence includes: Wi-Fi 6 to identify devices that support 802.11ax technology, Wi-Fi 5 to identify devices that support 802.11ac technology, Wi-Fi 4 to identify devices that support 802.11n technology.
Faster mobile: Mobile networks are getting faster in many countries. Mobile networks are killing Wi-Fi for speed around the world. Average data speeds on mobile networks now outpace customer’s Wi-Fi connection, on average, in 33 countries. That’s the The State of Wifi vs Mobile Network Experience as 5G Arrives.
Energy efficiency: We need to develop more energy efficient networking technologies. Today, information and communication technologies globally consume 8% of electricity and doubles every year.
1,186 Comments
Tomi Engdahl says:
Single Pair Ethernet visions: AMPHENOL
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VwHZfcZiH3U&t=11s
Tomi Engdahl says:
Future of Industrial Ethernet is Here Now
IEC 63171-6 compliant Single Pair Ethernet Solutions – Next Generation Connectivity for Industrial IoT
https://www.amphenol-icc.com/single-pair-ethernet
Tomi Engdahl says:
ipELB
4-Port Ethernet Line Breaker with relay controlled Ethernet ports and integrated I/O module
https://www.ipcomm.de/product/ipELB/en/sheet.html?pk_campaign=GoogleAds&pk_kwd=ethernet%20isolator&pk_source=GoogleAds&pk_medium=cpc&pk_content=529131103320&pk_cid=13612521536&gclid=EAIaIQobChMIsZ-wkdih9AIVLQWiAx2IZAW7EAAYASAAEgJf3_D_BwE
ipELB is a cybersecurity system for industrial networks that can physically disconnect Ethernet connections. It features relay-controlled 10 Gigabit Ethernet ports, each of which can be turned on and off via a toggle switch on the device as well as remotely. Remote control is based on standardized communication protocols.
To enable/disable the Ethernet ports, bistable relays that maintain their state even during power outages are used. Existing connections will not be affected accordingly.
The applied SEC3ER hardware platform features a digital I/O module to control and capture digital states, and to physically disconnect up to four Ethernet port pairs. For this purpose, eight digital inputs and outputs are available, in addition to a variety of fieldbus protocols, telecontrol protocols, and established IT/cloud protocols, to monitor and control the connections of the 4-Port Ethernet Line Breaker.
For seamless switching between redundant Internet providers (ISP), the product ipELB is ideally suited. SEC3ER, which serves as a hardware platform, can physically disconnect up to 4 Ethernet ports.
To ensure operation and reliability of critical systems, companies deploy redundant systems.
This is achieved by connecting two identically configured devices (e.g. by assigning identical IP addresses) on two Ethernet ports of the 4-Port Ethernet Line Breaker SEC3ER. The passive component remains physically separated from the network. If the active component fails, its connection is cut while the connection to the passive device is set active. An automatic redundancy control of this kind can be implemented, for example, using the digital I/O interface.
In case of security incidents within the corporate network, affected segments can be isolated selectively by physically separating corresponding connections. Communication on all other lines remains unaffected.
With ipELB, network connectivity can be provided and monitored for secure remote maintenance. If momentarily not required, the maintenance connection can be physically disconnected. Thus potential attackers have no opportunity to exploit the idle port to implant malicious code.
Tomi Engdahl says:
https://www.tech-faq.com/ethernet-isolator.html
Tomi Engdahl says:
“Fiber Before The Fiber” Broadband to Use 3D-Printed Free-Space Optics to Bridge the Digital Divide
https://www.hackster.io/news/fiber-before-the-fiber-broadband-to-use-3d-printed-free-space-optics-to-bridge-the-digital-divide-420a22d51e84
A recently-funded two-year project will see 3D-printed base stations offer free-space optical broadband across the digital divide.
Tomi Engdahl says:
The world’s largest Open Database of Cell Towers
Locate devices without GPS, explore Mobile Operator coverage and more!
https://www.opencellid.org/#zoom=16&lat=37.77889&lon=-122.41942
Tomi Engdahl says:
400 GbE Running on a Speedster7t FPGA
https://www.achronix.com/node/703
400GbE is required for next-generation, high-performance networking applications. In this video, Achronix demonstrates 400GbE connectivity on a Speedster7t FPGA integrated into a VectorPath PCIe accelerator card. The demonstration shows 400GbE traffic generated within the FPGA and transmitted across the FPGA’s 2D network on chip or NoC to the Ethernet subsystem. The 400GbE traffic is then looped back and checked within the FPGA fabric to compare to the original data stream.
Tomi Engdahl says:
https://www.avnet.com/wps/portal/abacus/manufacturers/m/te-connectivity/high-speed-connectivity/?CMP=EMEA-421-TEHISPEED-TE-TPM-TW-TRADE-ENDVR-ENL-SECONDARYASSET-UK-11012021
Tomi Engdahl says:
mmWave RFIC Technology and its Ability to Deliver Gigabit Broadband Access to Non-Viable Locations
https://www.mwrf.com/techxchange/talks/video/21180763/mmwave-rfic-technology-and-its-ability-to-deliver-gigabit-broadband-access-to-nonviable-locations?utm_source=RF%20MWRF%20Today&utm_medium=email&utm_campaign=CPS211112080&o_eid=7211D2691390C9R&rdx.ident%5Bpull%5D=omeda%7C7211D2691390C9R&oly_enc_id=7211D2691390C9R
Tomi Engdahl says:
Totta vai tarua? DNA arvioi 10 yleistä nettimyyttiä
https://etn.fi/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=12856&via=n&datum=2021-11-23_15:19:49&mottagare=30929
Häiriintykkö wifi-signaali, jos reititin on sähkökaapissa? Milloin reititin pitää käynnistää uudelleen? Kodin nettiin liittyy monia uskomuksia. DNA:n radioverkkojohtaja Jarkko Laari arvioi nyt, pitävätkö ne paikkansa.
Väite 1: Nettiyhteys paranee, kun avaa verhot tai ikkunan.
Osittain totta: Jos kyseessä on langaton yhteys tai mokkula, selektiivilasien tai sälekaihtimien kaltaiset metallirakenteet saattavat vaimentaa signaalia. Tavallinen lasi tai kangasverhot eivät kuitenkaan vaikuta tällä tavalla. Kiinteään, johdon kautta toimivaan nettiyhteyteen tämä ei vaikuta.
Väite 2: Nettiyhteys pitää käynnistää säännöllisesti uudelleen, jotta yhteys pysyy hyvänä.
Osittain totta: Kun puhutaan esimerkiksi langattomista 4G- tai 5G-modeemeista, niitä ei periaatteessa tarvitse käynnistellä uudelleen. Täysin mahdotonta ei kuitenkaan ole, etteivätkö jotkut laitteet toimisi paremmin uudelleenkäynnistyksen jälkeen, mutta tällöin laite on käytännössä jollain tavalla ohjelmiston osalta viallinen.
Väite 3: Langaton WiFi-, 4G- tai 5G-modeemi ei saa olla häiriötä aiheuttavien materiaalien lähellä.
Totta: Modeemin sijoittaminen tiettyjen materiaalien, kuten metallirakenteiden, sisään tai taakse voi vaimentaa signaalia merkittävästi ja heikentää yhteyden laatua. Tyyppiesimerkki tästä on monen tekemä virhe siitä, että laittaa langattoman WiFi-modeeminsa sähkökaappiin muiden johtojen kanssa.
Väite 4: Langaton 4G- tai 5G-modeemi pitää käynnistää kaksi kertaa peräkkäin uudestaan, jotta se ottaa paremman yhteyden.
Tarua: Tämä väittämä ei yksinkertaisesti pidä paikkaansa.
Väite 5: Nettiyhteys toimii paremmin aurinkoisella säällä, eli isojen tiedostojen lataus kannattaa suorittaa aurinkoisena kesäpäivänä.
Osittain totta: Jos puhutaan langattomasta mobiiliverkon yhteydestä, ilmankosteus tai esimerkiksi kostea lumi saattaa vaikuttaa signaalin etenemiseen.
Väite 6: 4G- tai 5G-modeemi kannattaa yrittää lukita tietylle taajuusalueelle, jota naapurit eivät käytä.
Tarua: Tämä ei pidä paikkaansa. Yksittäiselle käyttäjälle ei osoiteta pysyvää ”omaa kaistaa”, vaan tukiasema jakaa kapasiteettia resurssienjakoalgoritmin perusteella.
Väite 7: Jos kotisi 4G- tai 5G-yhteys pätkii, yritä vaihtaa modeemin paikkaa.
Totta: Tämä saattaa auttaa. Tyypillisesti mobiilisignaali on vahvimmillaan sisätiloissa lähellä ikkunoita. Kuuluvuus saattaa vaihdella sisätiloissa myös sen mukaan, millä puolella rakennusta lähin mobiilitukiasema sijaitsee. Kiinteä ulkomodeemi tarjoaa aina parhaan mahdollisen kuuluvuuden
Väite 8: Langaton 4G- tai 5G-modeemi ei saa olla betoniseinän tai muun esteen takana.
Osittain totta: Signaali etenee myös seinärakenteiden läpi, mutta mitä paksumpi ja suurempi rakennemassa tai mitä enemmän metallia sisältävä materiaali mobiilitukiaseman ja reitittimen välissä on, sitä enemmän signaali vaimenee ja sitä hitaampi datayhteys on.
Väite 9: Kännykkä tai mokkula kannattaa nostaa mahdollisimman korkealle, jotta netti toimii paremmin.
Totta ja tarua: Samalla tavalla kuin edellisessä väittämässä, ulkomokkula voidaan sijoittaa korkeammalla kuin pöytäreititin, jolloin myös esimerkiksi ympäröivien rakennusten ja puuston aiheuttama vaimennus pienenee. Toisaalta rakennuksen sisällä on yleensä kuuluvuuden kannalta olennaisinta, että kiinteitä rakenteita on mokkulan ja tukiaseman välillä mahdollisimman vähän. Alakerran ikkunalauta voi siis olla parempi sijoituspaikka kuin umpinainen ullakko.
Väite 10: Kännykän akun varaustila vaikuttaa netin toimivuuteen.
Totta ja tarua: Tyypillisesti tämä ei pidä paikkaansa, mutta osalla laitevalmistajista voi olla virransäästöön liittyviä toimintoja
Tomi Engdahl says:
Technetix Talks DOCSIS 4.0 Technology
Nov. 17, 2021
DOCSIS 4.0 is the latest broadband standard.
https://www.electronicdesign.com/technologies/communications/video/21181452/technetix-talks-docsis-40-technology?utm_source=EG%20ED%20Connected%20Solutions&utm_medium=email&utm_campaign=CPS211115036&o_eid=7211D2691390C9R&rdx.ident%5Bpull%5D=omeda%7C7211D2691390C9R&oly_enc_id=7211D2691390C9R
Stephen Hardy, Editorial Director/Associate Publisher, Lightwave and Broadband Technology Report, talks with Premton Bogaj, vice president, HFC Networks, at Technetix, about the latest technology that will assist cable operators as they evolve their networks toward DOCSIS 4.0. He also provides insights into the economic implications.
Tomi Engdahl says:
A new regulation coming in the form of an amendment in the Telecommunications Act of Germany could radically change the relationship between consumers and internet service providers.
According to the draft, users will be able to test their internet speeds and, if there’s a too large deviation between their real-world results and what their ISPs promised, they will be eligible for a bill discount.
Germany to force ISPs to give discounts for slow Internet speeds
https://www.bleepingcomputer.com/news/legal/germany-to-force-isps-to-give-discounts-for-slow-internet-speeds/
A new regulation coming in the form of an amendment in the Telecommunications Act of Germany could radically change the relationship between consumers and internet service providers.
According to the draft, users will be able to test their internet speeds and, if there’s a too large deviation between their real-world results and what their ISPs promised, they will be eligible for a bill discount.
The discount amount will be comparable to the deviation between the contractually agreed Internet speeds and the actual ones.
Tomi Engdahl says:
The dangers of copper clad aluminium CCA
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MEo0_HvUqFg
An explanation on CCA and why it should not be used in a networking environment
Viewer comments:
This is what irritates me with car audio supplies here in the u.s.. even voice coils on speakers being wrapped in CCA. And them trying to push the hell out of it for the power wire.
Tomi Engdahl says:
DO NOT use Copper Clad Ethernet Cable
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=x6bkf5gyciY
Solutions2 Low-Voltage, LLC strongly advises on avoiding Copper Clad Aluminum Ethernet Cable.
Copper Clad Aluminum vs Copper: The Ultimate Test on a Fluke Versiv DSX CableAnalyzer
https://www.truecable.com/blogs/cable-academy/copper-clad-aluminum-vs-copper-fluke-test#
Tomi Engdahl says:
How To tell the difference between CCA and COPPER wire cable and FAKE ETHERNET cables
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ojFPdg7DGvk
Hi, this video shows you the inside of a FAKE Cat5e Ethernet cable and the reason it is so cheap. It compares CCA (Copper Clad Aluminium) to proper copper cat5e cable using a flame test. Hopefully after watching the video you will be more ‘clued up’ when buying cat5e and cat6 Ethernet cables. It also shows the inside of other cables to find out what they are constructed off.
Tomi Engdahl says:
https://www.uusiteknologia.fi/2021/12/10/kattavampi-kotiverkko-mesh-pohjaisilla-reitittimilla/
Tomi Engdahl says:
Solutions for Providing Internet Access to Rural Areas IEEE explores employing ICT, regulations, and standards
https://spectrum.ieee.org/providing-internet-to-rural-areas
The COVID-19 pandemic has brought home the need to provide Internet connectivity to underserved communities. Many people with affordable access have been able to work from home, learn remotely, and shop online, but that certainly hasn’t been the case for everyone. Almost half the world’s population has no Internet access, according to the World Economic Forum. And where access is available, it can be too expensive.
The IEEE Standards Association Connectivity and Telecom Practice is working on the issue, researching communities’ needs and collaborating with other organizations. The group has released a series of videotaped interviews with industry professionals, researchers, and policymakers
Tomi Engdahl says:
Langattomiin verkoihin uusia taajuuksia
https://www.uusiteknologia.fi/2021/12/17/langattomiin-verkoihin-uusia-taajuuksia/
Traficom avaa langattomille Wifi-laitteille eli laajakaistaisille WAS/RLAN-datasiirtolaitteille taajuuskaistan 5945-6425 MHz. Samalla laitteet vapaiutetaan luvanvaraisuudesta.
Radiolinkeille avataan aiempaa suuremman tiedonsiirtokapasiteetin mahdollistavia kanavia 18 GHz:n ja 23 GHz:n taajuusalueille.
23 GHz:n taajuusalueen radiolinkeille tuodaan kokonaan uusi kanavarasteri 224 MHz leveille kanaville. Uusilla kanavilla on mahdollista päästä jopa neljän Gbit/s:n tiedonsiirtonopeuksiin.
Traficom pienentää myös säätutkien häiriöriskiä kun laajakaistaisilla WAS/RLAN-datasiirtolaitteilla kielletään 5600-5650 MHz:n käyttö ilmailussa dronet mukaanlukien.
Tomi Engdahl says:
CCA is copper clad aluminium that is usually a good idea to avoid.
https://www.belden.com/blogs/cca-cable-5-reasons-to-stay-away
Tomi Engdahl says:
The World’s First Optical Oscilloscope – Game-Changing Innovation for Communication Technologies
https://scitechdaily.com/the-worlds-first-optical-oscilloscope-game-changing-innovation-for-communication-technologies/
The innovation could be a game-changer for communication technologies, such as phones and internet connections.
A team from UCF has developed the world’s first optical oscilloscope, an instrument that is able to measure the electric field of light. The device converts light oscillations into electrical signals, much like hospital monitors convert a patient’s heartbeat into electrical oscillation.
Until now, reading the electric field of light has been a challenge because of the high speeds at which light waves oscillates. The most advanced techniques, which power our phone and internet communications, can currently clock electric fields at up to gigahertz frequencies — covering the radio frequency and microwave regions of the electromagnetic spectrum. Light waves oscillate at much higher rates, allowing a higher density of information to be transmitted. However, the current tools for measuring light fields could resolve only an average signal associated with a ‘pulse’ of light, and not the peaks and valleys within the pulse. Measuring those peaks and valleys within a single pulse is important because it is in that space that information can be packed and delivered.
Tomi Engdahl says:
The World’s First “Optical Oscilloscope” Could Prove 10,000 Times Faster Than the Best DSO
Proven in the lab, the technology behind the optical oscilloscope could lead to devices with sub-femtosecond resolution.
https://www.hackster.io/news/the-world-s-first-optical-oscilloscope-could-prove-10-000-times-faster-than-the-best-dso-2491e704b94c
Tomi Engdahl says:
https://semiengineering.com/week-in-review-manufacturing-test-178/?cmid=51b37b55-b1b1-490c-aa51-659c8bf1e90e
Tower Semiconductor and Juniper Networks have jointly announced a silicon photonics foundry-ready process with integrated III-V lasers, amplifier modulators and detectors. The platform co-integrates III-V lasers, semiconductor optical amplifiers, electro-absorption modulators and photodetectors with silicon photonics devices, all monolithically on a single chip. This integrated laser process addresses optical connectivity in datacenters and telecom networks, as well as AI, LiDAR and other applications. First samples of full 400Gb/s and 800Gb/s reference designs with integrated lasers are expected to be available in the second quarter of 2022.
Tower Semiconductor and Juniper Networks Announce World’s First Open Market Silicon Photonics Platform with Monolithically Integrated III-V Lasers
Enables next-generation optical communications for telecoms and datacenters, as well as emerging applications in artificial intelligence and LiDAR for autonomous vehicles
https://towersemi.com/2021/12/21/12212021/
Tomi Engdahl says:
Rethinking Enterprise Networks
https://www.cablinginstall.com/home/video/14210885/corning-rethinking-enterprise-networks?utm_source=CIM%20Weekly&utm_medium=email&utm_campaign=CPS211227009&o_eid=7211D2691390C9R&rdx.ident%5Bpull%5D=omeda%7C7211D2691390C9R&oly_enc_id=7211D2691390C9R
The pandemic changed many things including expectations for enterprise networks. Art King Director of Enterprise Services @ Corning Optical Communications, explains how extensive wireless and cellular has successfully scaled during the last year and a half with no signs of slowing down. This is changing the overall design of new and existing enterprise network solutions.
Tomi Engdahl says:
Executive Summary: Fiber-Optic Connectivity Best Practices from 100G to 800G
Dec. 13, 2021
The growth of cloud infrastructures and cloud services is driving the need for faster networks.
https://www.cablinginstall.com/white-papers/whitepaper/14222132/commscope-executive-summary-fiberoptic-connectivity-best-practices-from-100g-to-800g?utm_source=CIM%20Weekly&utm_medium=email&utm_campaign=CPS211227009&o_eid=7211D2691390C9R&rdx.ident%5Bpull%5D=omeda%7C7211D2691390C9R&oly_enc_id=7211D2691390C9R
As data centers migrate to 100 Gb servers, IT teams are taking new approaches to switching and cabling. Multimode optical fiber is well suited for short-reach data center applications, while singlemode is ideal for longer links. Devices like QSFP-DD and OSFP modules enable network designers to fully utilize switch capacity and prepare for network speeds of 400G and above.
Tomi Engdahl says:
576-fiber microduct cable with 8.2-mm diameter
Dec. 20, 2021
Prysmian’s Sirocco Extreme product line now includes the 576-fiber cable, with 180-micron fibers, designed to be installed in a 10-mm duct.
https://www.cablinginstall.com/cable/article/14222568/576fiber-microduct-cable-with-82mm-diameter?utm_source=CIM%20Weekly&utm_medium=email&utm_campaign=CPS211227009&o_eid=7211D2691390C9R&rdx.ident%5Bpull%5D=omeda%7C7211D2691390C9R&oly_enc_id=7211D2691390C9R
Prysmian recently expanded its Sirocco Extreme line of microduct cables by adding a 576-fiber cable that has a diameter of 8.2 millimeters. That is a fiber density of 10.9 fibers per square millimeter. Prysmian said the cable is designed to fit into a 10-mm duct.
“Sirocco Extreme microduct cables utilize Prysmian’s BendBright 180-micron singlemode [ITU-T G.657.D, G.657.A2] bend-insensitive fiber fully compatible for splicing with any standard fiber, offering a truly futureproof solution that is prepared for evolved systems,” Prysmian said when announcing the new cable.
“Bend-insensitive fiber-optic cables are a crucial part of the world’s shift toward flexible and reliable connectivity,” said Ian Griffiths, director of research and development for Prysmian Group’s telecom business. “With their extreme fiber count and reduced diameter, Sirocco Extreme microduct cables make installations faster and more cost-effective. Designed for installation into microducts, they are ideally suited for blowing in high-density access, FTTx, and 5G networks.”
Available in fiber counts from 192 to 576 and conforming to international standards for optical and mechanical performance
Tomi Engdahl says:
How wireless broadband made its way into the Infrastructure Investment & Jobs Act
Dec. 17, 2021
Belden’s Steve Carroll explains what it took for mobile and fixed wireless to be included along with wired broadband.
https://www.cablinginstall.com/wireless-5g/article/14222557/how-wireless-broadband-made-its-way-into-the-infrastructure-investment-jobs-act?utm_source=CIM%20Weekly&utm_medium=email&utm_campaign=CPS211227009&o_eid=7211D2691390C9R&rdx.ident%5Bpull%5D=omeda%7C7211D2691390C9R&oly_enc_id=7211D2691390C9R
In a recent post to Belden’s Smart Buildings blog, Steve Carroll, global account director, service providers and 5G infrastructure, describes the benefits of the recently signed-into-law Infrastructure Investment & Jobs Act (IIJA). He also recalls the activism that got wireless broadband included in the act, along with wired broadband.
“During the pandemic, stories were reported about schools passing out laptops and tablets to students who couldn’t use them because they didn’t have access to reliable internet service at home,” he says. “In some cases … students drove to parking lots and other outdoor areas where they could access stable WiFi from nearby buildings and participate in virtual learning or finish homework.”
Part of Adelstein’s argument was the physical and/or financial impracticality of installing fiber in some rural locations.
“Wireless may be a less expensive way to provide the same level of connectivity—with appropriate download and upload speeds—to areas where wired broadband is difficult or too expensive to roll out,” Carroll writes, paraphrasing Adelstein’s persuasive argument.
“Of the $65 billion dedicated to wired and wireless broadband, $42.45 billion will fund projects independently approved by each state,” Carroll explains. “When projects use state funding, they must provide download speeds of 100 Mbtis/sec and upload speeds of 20 Mbits/sec. Projects that can be completed quickly will receive priority consideration so that strong impacts can be made right away.”
Tomi Engdahl says:
First Optical Oscilloscope Unveiled
Dec. 22, 2021
This innovation from the University of Central Florida could be a game-changer for communication technologies.
https://www.electronicdesign.com/technologies/test-measurement/article/21212566/first-optical-oscilloscope-unveiled?utm_source=EG%20ED%20Analog%20%26%20Power%20Source&utm_medium=email&utm_campaign=CPS211220027&o_eid=7211D2691390C9R&rdx.ident%5Bpull%5D=omeda%7C7211D2691390C9R&oly_enc_id=7211D2691390C9R
What you’ll learn:
The issues with high-speed optical signals.
A solution for real-time measurement.
Information on the team who developed it.
A team from the University of Central Florida (UCF) has developed the world’s first optical oscilloscope, an instrument that’s able to measure the electric field of light. The device converts light oscillations into electrical signals, much like hospital monitors convert a patient’s heartbeat into electrical oscillation.
Until now, reading the electric field of light has been a challenge because of the high speeds at which light waves oscillate. The most advanced techniques can currently clock electric fields at up to gigahertz frequencies, covering the radio-frequency and microwave regions of the electromagnetic spectrum.
However, the current tools for measuring light fields could resolve only an average signal associated with a “pulse” of light, and not the peaks and valleys within the pulse. Measuring those peaks and valleys within a single pulse is important because it’s in that space that more information can be packed and delivered.
“Fiber-optic communications have taken advantage of light to make things faster, but we are still functionally limited by the speed of the oscilloscope,” says Physics Associate Professor Michael Chini, who worked on the research at UCF. “Our optical oscilloscope may be able to increase that speed by a factor of about 10,000.” The team’s findings are published in the Nature Photonics journal.
The team developed the device and demonstrated its capability for real-time measurement of the electric fields of individual laser pulses in Chini’s lab at UCF. The next step for the team is to see how far they can push the speed limits of the technique.
Tomi Engdahl says:
Monica Alleven / Fierce Wireless:
US appeals court rules in favor of the FCC’s decision to designate a large swath of the 6 GHz band to unlicensed users, after AT&T challenged the FCC — The U.S. Court of Appeals for the District of Columbia Circuit ruled in favor of the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) …
FCC prevails in 6 GHz court challenge led by AT&T
https://www.fiercewireless.com/wireless/fcc-prevails-6-ghz-court-challenge-led-att
The U.S. Court of Appeals for the District of Columbia Circuit ruled in favor of the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) in its decision to designate a large swath of the 6 GHz band to unlicensed users, including Wi-Fi. AT&T had challenged the FCC’s decision, saying it posed potential interference with existing fixed microwave users.
“Petitioners have failed to provide a basis for questioning the Commission’s conclusion that the Order will protect against a significant risk of harmful interference,” the court wrote, in part, in its December 28 decision. “We therefore deny the petitions for review in all respects save one.”
The exception relates to the petition brought by licensed radio and television broadcasters using the 6 GHz band. Because the commission failed to respond to their request that it reserve a sliver of that band exclusively for mobile licensees, the court wants the FCC to provide further explanation on that point – one that backers of the FCC think they can easily address.
In 2020, the FCC voted to free up 1,200 megahertz of spectrum in the 6 GHz band for unlicensed uses. Today, FCC Chairwoman Jessica Rosenworcel issued a statement welcoming the D.C. Circuit Court’s unanimous ruling that mostly upheld that move.
“Today’s decision is an important step in clearing the way for next generation Wi-Fi access at a time when it is needed most. In this pandemic so much of modern life has migrated online. 6 GHz Wi-Fi will help us address this challenge by offering more access in more places, faster speeds, and better performance from our Wi-Fi networks. It will also help us in our mission to connect everyone, everywhere. That’s good for consumers, for broadband deployment, and for the nation’s wireless economy,” Rosenworcel said.
Tomi Engdahl says:
Ham Radio Jamming, Wireless Industry Battlegrounds, and IoT in Space IEEE Spectrum’s biggest telecom headlines of 2021
https://spectrum.ieee.org/top-telecom-posts-2021?utm_campaign=RebelMouse&socialux=facebook&share_id=6839473&utm_medium=social&utm_content=IEEE+Spectrum&utm_source=facebook
Communications bring us all together, and people are always experimenting with new ways to communicate. Despite—or perhaps because of—the global pandemic, 2021 saw plenty of new innovations for communications technologies. 5G has cemented its place in the cellular world, even as the industry looks towards 6G. Companies experimented with new kinds of satellite networks, new ways of building cell towers, and new ways of creating holograms. And even as the pandemic created a remote work world, some governments clamped down on wireless communications.
Tomi Engdahl says:
Ham Radio Jamming, Wireless Industry Battlegrounds, and IoT in Space IEEE Spectrum’s biggest telecom headlines of 2021
https://spectrum.ieee.org/top-telecom-posts-2021?utm_campaign=RebelMouse&socialux=facebook&share_id=6839473&utm_medium=social&utm_content=IEEE+Spectrum&utm_source=facebook
Communications bring us all together, and people are always experimenting with new ways to communicate. Despite—or perhaps because of—the global pandemic, 2021 saw plenty of new innovations for communications technologies. 5G has cemented its place in the cellular world, even as the industry looks towards 6G. Companies experimented with new kinds of satellite networks, new ways of building cell towers, and new ways of creating holograms. And even as the pandemic created a remote work world, some governments clamped down on wireless communications.
Tomi Engdahl says:
Ham Radio Jamming, Wireless Industry Battlegrounds, and IoT in Space IEEE Spectrum’s biggest telecom headlines of 2021
https://spectrum.ieee.org/top-telecom-posts-2021
Tomi Engdahl says:
Telia myi puolet Suomen ja Norjan mastoliiketoiminnasta kauppasumma liki miljardin https://www.tivi.fi/uutiset/tv/7731418e-060b-47d2-96cd-8d2cb4b1debb
Telia kertoo saaneensa kesällä tiedottamansa mastoliiketoiminnan myynnin valmiiksi. Kaupassa Telia myy 49 prosenttia Suomen ja Norjan mastoliiketoiminnastaan varainhoitaja Brookfieldille ja työeläkeyhtiö Alectalle. Telia sai kaupasta 767 miljoonaa euroa. Telia jää yhä enemmistöomistajaksi ja siirtyy samalla vuokralaiseksi mastoihinsa.
Liiketoiminnan kokonaisarvoksi määriteltiin kaupassa 1524 miljoonaa euroa ilman käteistä ja velkoja.
Tomi Engdahl says:
SpaceX’s Starlink internet satellites have long been viewed as a serious problem for astronomers… but apparently, they’re also putting space stations and their astronauts at risk as well.
China says its space station dodged Starlink satellites twice this year
Astronomers aren’t the only ones taking issue with SpaceX’s Starlink satellites. As CNET reports, China has filed a complaint with the United Nations over two reported near-collisions between the in-progress Tiangong space station and Starlink vehicles. According to Chinese officials, the station had to perform evasive maneuvers on July 1st and October 21st this year to minimize the chance of a collision.
China says its space station dodged Starlink satellites twice this year
https://lm.facebook.com/l.php?u=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.engadget.com%2Fchina-spacex-starlink-un-complaint-221835093.html&h=AT19gWjADpMByEktTKrNxnKAJacZzdBl5Yc1g2cwACpbcAsk01yAU-BESmVvXwkcVgVb6o-to85-GqXNvcGqH77GQ5OMCeAo4aNSmy5COqgTIDGbhPiKFN8UFzYUMIhs3A
SpaceX’s constellation might pose a safety risk.
Astronomers aren’t the only ones taking issue with SpaceX’s Starlink satellites. As CNET reports, China has filed a complaint with the United Nations over two reported near-collisions between the in-progress Tiangong space station and Starlink vehicles. According to Chinese officials, the station had to perform evasive maneuvers on July 1st and October 21st this year to minimize the chance of a collision.
Tomi Engdahl says:
Atrocious but efficient: How ranchers used barbed wire to make phone calls
https://www.texasstandard.org/stories/atrocious-but-efficient-how-ranchers-used-barbed-wire-to-make-phone-calls/
A barbed wire telephone call didn’t sound great but could quickly warn others about something such as a wildfire.
Tomi Engdahl says:
Rohde & Schwarz, Broadcom Team to Test Wi-Fi 6/6E Chipsets
Dec. 22, 2021
Rohde’s CMP180 radio communication tester has been successfully validated for Broadcom’s Wi-Fi 6E chipsets, enabling OEMs to bring next-generation 6-GHz products to market.
https://www.mwrf.com/technologies/test-measurement/article/21212614/microwaves-rf-rohde-schwarz-broadcom-team-to-test-wifi-66e-chipsets?utm_source=RF%20MWRF%20Today&utm_medium=email&utm_campaign=CPS211230009&o_eid=7211D2691390C9R&rdx.ident%5Bpull%5D=omeda%7C7211D2691390C9R&oly_enc_id=7211D2691390C9R
Tomi Engdahl says:
The world’s largest Open Database of Cell Towers
Locate devices without GPS, explore Mobile Operator coverage
https://www.opencellid.org/
Tomi Engdahl says:
Printed Circuit Board Porn? What Were The Nokia Engineers Thinking? #shorts
https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=oWPP8FMnWDM
Tomi Engdahl says:
Christopher Mims / Wall Street Journal:
Report: Alphabet, Amazon, Meta, and Microsoft laying undersea fiber-optic cables helped increase data transmission capacity by 41% in 2020 while reducing costs
Google, Amazon, Meta and Microsoft Weave a Fiber-Optic Web of Power
The four tech giants increasingly dominate the internet’s critical cable infrastructure
https://www.wsj.com/articles/google-amazon-meta-and-microsoft-weave-a-fiber-optic-web-of-power-11642222824?mod=djemalertNEWS
To say that Big Tech controls the internet might seem like an exaggeration. Increasingly, in at least one sense, it’s literally true.
The internet can seem intangible, a post-physical environment where things like viral posts, virtual goods and metaverse concerts just sort of happen. But creating that illusion requires a truly gargantuan—and quickly-growing—web of physical connections.
Fiber-optic cable, which carries 95% of the world’s international internet traffic, links up pretty much all of the world’s data centers, those vast server warehouses where the computing happens that transforms all those 1s and 0s into our experience of the internet.
Where those fiber-optic connections link up countries across the oceans, they consist almost entirely of cables running underwater—some 1.3 million kilometers (or more than 800,000 miles) of bundled glass threads that make up the actual, physical international internet. And until recently, the overwhelming majority of the undersea fiber-optic cable being installed was controlled and used by telecommunications companies and governments. Today, that’s no longer the case.
Tomi Engdahl says:
The Ethernet Standard: To IP And Beyond
https://semiengineering.com/the-ethernet-standard-to-ip-and-beyond/?cmid=d37ae274-d1bd-4bd9-9fb6-4ed063c60f61
The evolution of Ethernet from supporting home networking to enabling hyperscale and cloud data centers.
Ethernet is ubiquitous—it is the core technology that defines the Internet and serves to connect the world in ways that people could not imagine even one generation ago. HPC clusters are working on solving the most challenging problems facing humanity—and cloud computing is the service hosting many of the application workloads struggling with these questions. While alternative network infrastructure within data centers often facilitates low latency, high-speed communication, they are often limited in reach to within a single facility. Additionally, there is often a prohibitive cost to building multiple fabrics and cloud providers that occupy multiple locations need to move data and even perform inter-process communication between locations. For these needs, Ethernet SoCs supporting up to 800 GbE or even beyond play a critical role and companies who can aggregate, route, and deliver this traffic with minimal latency will thrive—presenting a way to leverage massive scale-out and long-haul high-speed communication critical to multi-site high performance computing, machine learning and data analytics.
This article explains the Ethernet standards’ evolution over the years from supporting home networking to now enabling hyperscale and cloud data center networking. The paper also highlights the need for a more comprehensive Ethernet solution beyond IP that SoC designers demand for 100G to 800G SoCs.
Tomi Engdahl says:
Google, Amazon, Meta and Microsoft Weave a Fiber-Optic Web of Power
The four tech giants increasingly dominate the internet’s critical cable infrastructure
https://www.wsj.com/articles/google-amazon-meta-and-microsoft-weave-a-fiber-optic-web-of-power-11642222824
To say that Big Tech controls the internet might seem like an exaggeration. Increasingly, in at least one sense, it’s literally true.
The internet can seem intangible, a post-physical environment where things like viral posts, virtual goods and metaverse concerts just sort of happen. But creating that illusion requires a truly gargantuan—and quickly-growing—web of physical connections.
Tomi Engdahl says:
Neljä suuryhtiötä – Microsoft, Alphabet (Google), Meta (Facebook) ja Amazon – omistavat 66 % maailman merenalaisista valokaapeleista, joita pitkin kulkee 95 % Internetin liikenteestä.
“To say that Big Tech controls the internet might seem like an exaggeration. Increasingly, in at least one sense, it’s literally true.
The internet can seem intangible, a post-physical environment where things like viral posts, virtual goods and metaverse concerts just sort of happen. But creating that illusion requires a truly gargantuan—and quickly-growing—web of physical connections.
Fiber-optic cable, which carries 95% of the world’s international internet traffic, links up pretty much all of the world’s data centers, those vast server warehouses where the computing happens that transforms all those 1s and 0s into our experience of the internet.
Where those fiber-optic connections link up countries across the oceans, they consist almost entirely of cables running underwater—some 1.3 million kilometers (or more than 800,000 miles) of bundled glass threads that make up the actual, physical international internet. And until recently, the overwhelming majority of the undersea fiber-optic cable being installed was controlled and used by telecommunications companies and governments. Today, that’s no longer the case.
In less than a decade, four tech giants— Microsoft, Google parent Alphabet, Meta (formerly Facebook ) and Amazon —have become by far the dominant users of undersea-cable capacity. Before 2012, the share of the world’s undersea fiber-optic capacity being used by those companies was less than 10%. Today, that figure is about 66%.”
https://www.wsj.com/articles/google-amazon-meta-and-microsoft-weave-a-fiber-optic-web-of-power-11642222824?reflink=desktopwebshare_facebook
Tomi Engdahl says:
Chris Stokel-Walker / MIT Technology Review:
A look at Tonga’s internet blackout following the volcano blast, which initial investigations suggest destroyed the country’s single undersea internet cable — The world is anxiously awaiting news from the island—but on top of the physical destruction, the eruption has disconnected it from the internet.
Tonga’s volcano blast cut it off from the world. Here’s what it will take to get it reconnected.
https://www.technologyreview.com/2022/01/18/1043790/tongas-volcano-internet-reconnected/
The world is anxiously awaiting news from the island—but on top of the physical destruction, the eruption has disconnected it from the internet.
Hunga Tonga–Hunga Ha‘apai, an underwater volcano off the coast of Tonga, has erupted several times in the last 13 years, but the most recent, on January 15, was likely its most destructive. The blast has had global consequences: more than 6,000 miles away, waves caused by the eruption drowned two people in Peru.
But the effect of the volcanic blast on Tongans living closer to ground zero isn’t yet known, though it’s feared that the ensuing tsunami may have killed many people and displaced many more from their homes. That’s because Tonga has been suddenly cut off from the internet, making it that much harder to coordinate aid or rescue missions. In a highly interconnected world, Tonga is now completely dark, and it’s almost impossible to get word out. Getting the country back online is vital—but it could take weeks.
Internet traffic plunged to near-nothing around 5:30 p.m. local time on January 15, according to data from web performance firm Cloudflare. That connection hasn’t yet been restored
The reason Tonga fell offline isn’t yet known for certain, but initial investigations have suggested that the undersea cable connecting its internet to the rest of the world has been destroyed by the blast.
“Tonga primarily uses a single subsea cable to connect to the internet,” says Madory. The Tonga Cable System runs 514 miles between Tonga and Fiji, bringing internet service to the two island nations. Previously, that connection has been backed up by a satellite internet connection. “I guess they’re not able to do that this time, because of some technical failure preventing them from being able to switch over,” says Madory. He believes that the wave resulting from the volcano explosion could have taken out the satellite dishes.
Jamaica-based mobile network operator Digicel, which owns a minority stake in the cable alongside the Tongan government, said in a statement: “All communication to the outside world in Tonga is affected due to damage.”
If that’s confirmed, it’s just about the worst possible news for Tonga’s connectivity. “It will be days—maybe weeks—before the cable is fixed,” says Madory.
The outage isn’t the first time that Tonga’s internet infrastructure has been plagued with problems. In January 2019, the country experienced a “near-total” internet blackout when an undersea cable was cut.
. Fixing the issue cost an estimated $200,000, and while it was being fixed, the island relied on satellite internet connections.
Those same satellite connections are likely to be the only savior for Tonga’s internet in the near term—but with unknown damage to them, the country could be in for a difficult period. “They were probably thinking: ‘Well, if the cable goes down, we have the satellites for resilience,’” says Madory. “If a volcano detonates right next to you and takes out both your cable and your satellite, there’s not much you can do.” Huge amounts of ash thrown up into the air by the eruption could also be affecting satellite connectivity, says Kaufmann.
Fixing the broken cable won’t be easy. Specialized shipping vessels tasked with fixing breakages—which occur every week somewhere around the world, albeit with less force than is likely to have resulted from the eruption—need to be sent to the site of the problem. One vessel that could help is the CS Resilience, currently off Papua New Guinea, nearly 3,000 miles away. It’s estimated that any vessel could take days or weeks to remedy the issue.
“There’s a priority over whose cable gets fixed first,” says Madory. “Countries pay a little premium to get fixed first.” Once one of these vessels arrives on scene, which itself could take days, it drops a hook to snag the cable that runs along the sea floor. The hooked cable, which when in the deep ocean can be as thin as a common garden hose, is then winched up onto the deck of the vessel, where technicians work to fix the break. “The cabling itself is not the most sturdy thing,” says Kaufmann. It’s then lowered gently back into the water. “That process hasn’t changed much in the 150 years or so that we’ve had submarine cables,” says Madory.
There are, of course, compounding factors that can complicate the process. Tonga is likely to be besieged by vessels looking to deliver aid to the country, which may mean internet cabling takes a back seat to saving lives, restoring power, and delivering vital food and water supplies.
The internet outage shows how dependent the world’s internet connectivity can be on single points of failure. “It’s one of those stories that put the lie to the idea that the internet was designed to withstand nuclear wars,” says Alan Woodward, a professor of cybersecurity at the University of Surrey in the UK. “Chewing gum holds most of it together.” Woodward suggests that rare physical events such as volcanic explosions are difficult to design for, but countries should try to maintain redundancy through multiple undersea connections, and ideally ones that follow different routes so that a localized incident won’t affect multiple lines.
Tomi Engdahl says:
Supporting 800G Ethernet Using Smart Cable Modules
Dec. 6, 2021
Astera Labs’ Sanjay Gajendra talks about IoT and high-speed interconnects like CXL and Ethernet.
https://www.mwrf.com/technologies/components/video/21182988/supporting-800g-ethernet-using-smart-cable-modules?utm_source=RF%20MWRF%20Today&utm_medium=email&utm_campaign=CPS220114092&o_eid=7211D2691390C9R&rdx.ident%5Bpull%5D=omeda%7C7211D2691390C9R&oly_enc_id=7211D2691390C9R
Timing is critical for high-speed communications from PCI Express (PCIe) to high-speed Ethernet. Astera Labs provides the chips that support these interfaces, like the latest PCIe-based CXL interface. I spoke with Sanjay Gajendra, Chief Business Office at Astera Labs, about how artificial intelligence (AI) and machine learning (ML) is pushing the limits of high-speed communication.
Tomi Engdahl says:
Investigation underway in Warren County after copper thieves leave residents without internet
https://lm.facebook.com/l.php?u=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.wapt.com%2Farticle%2Finvestigation-underway-in-warren-county-after-copper-thieves-leave-residents-without-internet%2F38835241%3Futm_campaign%3Dsnd-autopilot&h=AT0FVfSiGq2ruWZ9xxDCYzc5mdG2CgEC3c5Nq6CvsqGPBa5m6xRnllBMTruTp2Ty74rUml7tkBLQursJkNeLI3KG3Y1Bu7__a3tIz_TaXJBTnOcH9yOCuWALQTXALbYtMQ
Residents are without phone or internet services for weeks
VICKSBURG, Miss. — An investigation is underway in Warren County as copper thieves left residents without AT&T internet and phone service for weeks.
“What is happening is they are cutting cable, melting it off, and selling the copper. So, it’s the copper content that’s bad,” said Sheriff Martin Pace.
“Unfortunately, this is something that has become fairly common, especially in rural areas, where the cable is running through wooded areas or desolate roads,” said Pace.
AT&T issued a press release that stated that they are well aware of the issue and are working with law enforcement diligently, along with restoring internet to residents.
Tomi Engdahl says:
What is Spanning tree protocol (STP)? How STP works?
https://www.internetworks.in/2018/12/spanning-tree-protocol-stp.html
Spanning tree protocol (STP) is used to preventing network loops on layer 2 network switch. STP
Monitor the network to track all links and shut down the redundant links.
Redundant links between switches provides us redundancy but it’s also possibility to create loops when switches do broadcasts.
Tomi Engdahl says:
Add 10GbE to your system with an M.2 2280 module
It’s now possible to add 10GbE through an M.2 socket thanks to Innodisk EGPL-T101 M.2 2280 module based on Marvell AQtion Ethernet controller offering support for 10Gbps, 5Gbps, 2.5Gbps, 1000M, and 100M/10M LAN speeds.
https://www.cnx-software.com/2022/01/19/10-gbe-m-2-module-innodisk-egpl-t101/
Tomi Engdahl says:
How It’s Made: Optical Fiber Communications Cable
https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=fjRqGKU9cUU
Employee take you on a guided tour of the Brownwood, TX plant where our optical fiber cables are manufactured. Welcome to a behind the scenes look at How Cable is Made. Thanks for watching!
Tomi Engdahl says:
https://visualtraceroute.net/
Tomi Engdahl says:
How Optical Wireless Communications for Enterprises Can Prevent Cyberattacks
Jan. 20, 2022
This article explores an alternative technology—OWC—to secure private 5G networks.
https://www.mwrf.com/technologies/systems/article/21214638/bridgecomm-inc-how-optical-wireless-communications-for-enterprises-can-prevent-cyberattacks?utm_source=RF%20MWRF%20Today&utm_medium=email&utm_campaign=CPS220121059&o_eid=7211D2691390C9R&rdx.ident%5Bpull%5D=omeda%7C7211D2691390C9R&oly_enc_id=7211D2691390C9R
What you’ll learn:
5G spectrum and security concerns.
Turning to optical wireless communication technology as a security solution.
As 5G becomes more ubiquitous, so too will vulnerabilities. Germany-based Rohde & Schwarz, for example, installed a private 5G network at its plant in Teisnach, Germany, to test new industrial applications and uncover how it could optimize 5G for smart factories. Likewise, the Belgian Port of Zeebrugge deployed a private 5G network to track, analyze and manage connected devices, such as autonomous vehicles, augmented reality and drones, across multiple port-based applications in real-time.
5G Spectrum
When configuring a private 5G network, spectrum typical comes from three principal ranges:
Low-frequency bands under 1 GHz
Mid-frequency bands in the core 3.3 GHz to 3.8 GHz range
High-frequency mmWave bands in the 26 GHz, 28 GHz and 40 GHz range
While each spectrum brings specific advantages, they also come with inherent risks, given that they are easily hackable radio-frequency (RF) signals. As 5G becomes more ubiquitous, so too will vulnerabilities. This is primarily due to 5G’s heavy reliance on RF, as well as application programming interfaces (APIs) and other supporting service functions.
These APIs expose enterprises to API-enabled hacks like the one used to target SolarWinds. With the cleanup from this cyberattack alone potentially costing more than $100 billion in the months ahead, the stakes are extremely high for both economic stability and national security.
Inarguably, current security methods are falling short. Meanwhile, threats to our nation extend to vital areas such as utilities, food, water, oil and gas. Colonial Pipeline may be just the first of what is to come, which is why National Guard simulations are underway to prepare government agencies and industries.
Optical Wireless Communication
With the critical need to address security and satisfy latency, bandwidth, licensing and cost, companies have explored options, including optical wireless communication (OWC). For decades, NASA used a license-free wireless technology in its Laser Communications Relay Demonstration and the Orion Exploration Mission 2 Optical Communications program; the process uses low-power, eye-safe, infrared lasers in the terahertz spectrum. Ultimately, this OWC technology provides rapid data transmission via beams of light connecting from one telescope to another or point-to-point.
Many military applications have relied on OWC for decades to communicate securely over unknown and hostile terrain. Over the years, OWC has benefited from improvements in lasers, amplifiers, and detectors, along with commercial investment from more traditional defense and aerospace companies in the U.S., Japan, and Europe.
It’s true that while OWC, also known as free-space optical communication, is still relatively new in the commercial space, it offers significant benefits over RF. In addition to delivering massive volumes of data at super-fast speeds—20 to 50 Gb per user—OWC provides built-in security. Lasers are extremely directional and more precise by nature, allowing for a very low beam divergence—the chance for data interception is very low compared to traditional RF communications, which broadcasts signals to a large field.
When compared to radio photons, the individual photons of an OWC laser beam have much more energy and are so tightly focused that they require much less power than traditional RF to transmit signals, yet deliver significantly higher throughputs. The low power transmission enables OWC signals to remain “unseen” from potential threats of detection, thus increasing confidence in securing the wireless transmission.
OWC also offers data encoding in polarization, wavelength-division multiplexing (WDM), and quadrature amplitude modulation (QAM), along with other methods. In some systems, such as Multimedia over Coax Alliance (MoCA), outgoing beams are right-hand circular polarized (RHCP) while incoming beams are left-hand circular polarized (LHCP). This allows for full bidirectional transmission of data. However, adaptation to this architecture could also enable either higher data throughputs (double the data rate) or the encoding of information (i.e., security keys) into the relationship between the beams to ensure the transmission stream has not been compromised.
In particular, external environments have shown just how effective OWC is at secure data transmission, which is why Starlink uses laser crosslinks to transfer communications from one satellite to another. Now, studies are underway to discover the effectiveness of OWC systems indoors. Barriers to adoption undoubtedly include cost
Tomi Engdahl says:
Reuters:
The FCC revokes China Unicom’s authorization to operate in the US, granted ~20 years ago, citing national security; Unicom can still offer data center services — The U.S. Federal Communications Commission (FCC) on Thursday voted to revoke the authorization for China Unicom’s (0762.HK) U.S. unit to operate in the United States.
FCC revokes China Unicom’s authorization to operate in U.S.
https://www.reuters.com/business/media-telecom/us-regulator-revokes-china-unicoms-authorization-operate-us-2022-01-27/