Networking

Huawei Launches 5G-AA Solutions for the Mobile AI Era

At the Global Mobile Broadband Forum 2024 (MBBF 2024), Cao Ming, Vice President of Huawei and President of Huawei's Wireless Solution, launched 5G-AA solutions. During his presentation, Cao said, "Mobile AI is changing our lives. The arising new connections and services pose increasingly higher requirements on networks. Huawei's 5G-AA 10 solutions build multidimensional ultimate network capabilities through the full-series Advanced Radio, enable full-domain site digitalisation through Ambient Site, and achieve L4 network autonomy through the Agent-based digital engineers team. With such excellent performance, these solutions will help operators meet the ever-diversifying demand for services in the Mobile AI era." Huawei's 5G-AA solutions will deepen the convergence of 5.5G and AI through 'Networks for AI' and 'AI for Networks'. 'Networks for AI' will enable networks to possess the sufficient capabilities that are required to address differentiated service requirements and improve both network performance and user experiences. 'AI for Networks' will equip networks with L4 autonomy through digital sites and RAN Agents. Operators can use these solutions in a wide range of scenarios to sustain their leading positions. 1. Sub-1 GHz Massive MIMO builds a ubiquitous foundation layer for Mobile AI. Sub-1 GHz Massive MIMO provides an innovative solution to many technical challenges to meet the general deployment requirements of site engineering, bringing Massive MIMO to low bands. While providing extensive coverage, low-band Massive MIMO improves downlink, uplink, and low-latency experiences. It supports full access from all RATs, full IoT connectivity, and full real-time service guarantee.2. Unique sub-6 GHz all-band integration in one box enables simplified single-antenna Massive MIMO deployment. Blade AAU X is the industry's first product that uses a single antenna to support Massive MIMO deployment across all sub-6 GHz bands. Unlike other Massive MIMO modules, this product can be deployed on a single pole, and requires 50% less site space and 70% lower OPEX. It supports GHz-level bandwidth with one pole, maximising spectral efficiency.3. The industry's first unique U6GHz AAU ensures continuous 10 Gbps. The U6GHz AAU integrates more than 1,500 antenna elements and uses leading MU-MIMO algorithms. With the collaboration of such leading hardware and software, it supports a capacity of up to 100 Gbps and speeds of up to 10 Gbps. It enables coverage to be aligned with C-band to ensure uninterrupted Gbps experiences indoors.4. LampSite introduces Passive IoT (P-IoT) for the first time to upgrade digital intelligence indoors. LampSite X supports both indoor 10 Gbps and P-IoT access. It can be deployed in half the time and allows asset stocktaking to be done daily, instead of monthly, compared with other solutions.5. The industry's lightest AAU enables simplified mid-band deployment with a huge bandwidth. EasyAAU is the industry's lightest AAU product, weighing half of an 8T RRU model. This enables it to be deployed on walls in urban areas and poles in rural areas to quickly provide 5G coverage. The delivery time is 40% shorter and the capacity can also be doubled.6. The industry's first microwave-antenna integration overcomes antenna installation challenges. Integrated antenna and microwave (IAM) houses antennas and E-band microwave units in one box, which reduces single-box weight by 30% and the space needed for installation by 50%. The antenna also supports all-beam auto-seeking, which helps reduce maintenance costs.7. The industry's first full-duplex microwave upgrades transmission capacity. The industry's first full-duplex microwave, MAGICSwave, uses super-isolated antennas and interference cancellation algorithms to double spectral efficiency. It has a capacity of up to 50 Gbps, allowing operators to navigate the huge demand for data transmission in the Mobile AI era.8. The industry's first one-box rural network solution helps narrow down the connection gap in rural areas. RuralCOW represents an upgrade from RuralStar and RuralLink. By integrating fronthaul units and radio units into one box, it can be deployed without needing backhaul, BBU, and main power supplies. This significantly reduces the site costs of multi-RAT deployments in remote areas and suburbs.9. Agent-based digital engineers team enables higher-level network autonomy. Based on the intelligent RAN Agent, the Agent-based digital engineers team has been incubated, which includes four digital experts that perform unattended maintenance, real-time network optimisation, 24/7 energy saving, and accurate service provisioning evaluation.10. Unique full-domain digital sites enable visualized site-level sensing and control. Ambient Site links a site's main equipment with its antennas, power supplies, and transmission devices, helping realise full site digitalisation. This enables networks to improve energy saving and user experiences."Mobile AI is on the horizon. We will continue to work with all industry partners and innovate to promote the integration of 5.5G and AI," concluded Cao. The 15th Global Mobile Broadband Forum, with a tagline of '5.5G Leads Mobile AI Era', took place from 30-31 October in Istanbul, Turkey. It was hosted by Huawei with support from its industry partners, GSMA and GTI.Together with operators, vertical industry leaders, and ecosystem partners, Huawei shared the industry's latest advancements and explored new opportunities. Industry stakeholders discussed how to achieve 5.5G business success in the Mobile AI era, and how to leverage the success of 5G to attain even greater achievements with 5.5G. For more from Huawei, click here.

New production line to offer advanced connectivity

Growing demand for 5G connectivity within the UK can now be addressed through Low Loss Corrugated (LISCA) cable assemblies, thanks to the launch of a new production line by Huber+Suhner and CL Electrical Controls. The development of the production line in Bristol reflects an expansion to the partnership originally agreed in 2020 and ensures mobile operators have greater accessibility to LISCA cable assemblies for projects across the country. “We are pleased to launch our brand-new production line for the UK market,” says Reto Germann, Senior Vice President Sales Communication for the Communication Segment, Huber+Suhner. “This investment demonstrates both companies’ commitment to supporting a rapidly growing telecommunication sector. With this development, CL Electrical Controls can provide operators with advanced network solutions to enhance networks countrywide. The LISCA cables assemblies, renowned for their exceptional RF performance, durability in harsh conditions, and full electrical testing up to 3.8 GHz, will now be produced in the UK by CL Electrical Controls. This development is set to streamline the supply chain for UK mobile operators, ensuring faster delivery and installation, alongside enhanced network infrastructure upgrades, to meet the growing demand for 5G connectivity. The solutions are designed to perform under the most challenging environmental conditions while ensuring long-term reliability. These assemblies are crucial components for future-proofing mobile networks as they adapt to the demands of 5G and beyond. With the new production line, operators will have greater opportunity to obtain and use LISCA cable assemblies within their projects. “We are pleased to further strengthen our partnership with Huber+Suhner with this launch,” says Steve Thompson Director, Production and Operations, CL Electrical Controls. “The ongoing expansion of 5G in the UK demands means operators are now crying out for reliable, locally produced solutions. This new production line ensures that the country's increasing network requirements can be addressed efficiently.” For more from Huber+Suhner, click here.

Winners of Broadband Excellence Awards announced

The best of the best in the broadband sector have been recognised at the first ever Broadband Excellence Awards. Each of the eight winners were found to have demonstrated excellence in their respective fields, and they are all playing a key part in driving the broadband industry forward. The awards are a part of the World Broadband Association’s (WBBA) annual awards programme, and are designed to honour industry achievements and innovation without compromise to commercial interests, ensuring the awards remain the gold standard of recognition in the broadband industry. WBBA Director General, Martin Creamer, says, “These awards celebrate exceptional achievements in broadband innovation, application, and infrastructure development. We congratulate all the winners for their contributions to advancing the future of broadband on a global scale.” The award winners were: • Outstanding Contribution to Network Excellence – China Unicom (Gigabit Optical Network of China Unicom)• Excellence in Broadband Application – China Telecom (Technology Innovative and Practice of 'Super Computing Express' for Computing Power and Network Coordination• Network Innovation Excellence towards Realisation of Future Networks and Services – STC (High Quality & Best Experience End-to-End 400/ 800GE Network)• Product and Solution Excellence – Nokia (Nokia Corteca, an End-to-End Software Solution for Best-In-Class In-Home Wi-Fi Connectivity)• Gigacity Excellence (Advanced City) – Guangxi and Shanghai (Guangxi Zhaung Autonomous Region Nanning Gigabit City Project and Shanghai – Building 'Smart Cloud Shanghai', a New Generation 10-Gigabit Cloud Broadband Urban Network)• Gigacity Excellence (Developing City) – Algiers and Bahrain (Algeria – Idoom Fibre Gigacity Excellence and Bahrain – BNET Broadband Excellence) The award ceremony took place during the WBBA's annual flagship event – Broad Development Congress : Monetising Next-Generation Broadband: How AI Will Influence Future Network Development. More details of the criteria for each award category can be found on the WBBA's award website. For more from WBBA, click here.

Chief Telecom and RETN to enhance DDoS protection

Chief Telecom, a major telecommunications provider in Taiwan offering high-performance data centre services, network solutions, and cloud services, has partnered with RETN, a global network services provider, to leverage RETN’s newly launched DDoS mitigation platform. The solution integrates RETN’s advanced DDoS mitigation technology with Chief Telecom’s strong IP Transit services customer portfolio, offering Chief Telecom’s customers protection against evolving cyber threats while maintaining high-quality, resilient internet connectivity. RETN’s platform provides automated threat detection and mitigation, leveraging machine learning to detect malicious traffic before it reaches the network, ensuring uninterrupted service even during large-scale cyberattacks. In addition, the new platform benefits from RETN’s extensive global network, which connects Europe and Asia, making Taiwan a crucial point in this intercontinental link. The partnership ensures that Chief Telecom can offer businesses in Taiwan robust security features, including volumetric attack protection, application layer defence, and protocol attack mitigation, all supported by a 24/7 Security Operations Centre (SOC) and real-time alerts. Tim Chiang, Vice President of Chief Telecom, says, “By partnering with RETN, we are empowering our customers in Taiwan with world-class DDoS protection and resilient network connectivity. This collaboration ensures that businesses can operate without fear of downtime, even in the face of the most sophisticated cyber threats.” Chief Telecom's Taipei Internet Exchange (TPIX) is one of the largest in Asia, connecting businesses and internet service providers (ISPs) across the region. Chief Telecom plays a key role in ensuring Taiwan’s status as a digital hub, delivering robust connectivity and innovative services to businesses in Taiwan and beyond. As Taiwan grows into a global technology hub with one of the highest internet penetration rates in Asia, businesses face an increasing threat of cyber attacks, especially Distributed Denial of Service (DDoS) attacks. Taiwan’s position as a key gateway for Asia-Pacific internet traffic also increases its exposure to cyber security risks. Chief Telecom thus sought a solution that could provide customers with enhanced DDoS protection, ensuring uninterrupted and secure network services, which are critical for Taiwan’s data-driven economy and high-tech industries. For more from Chief Telecom, click here.

Tata unveils AI infrastructure with NVIDIA accelerated computing

Tata Communications today announced a transformative upgrade to its AI cloud infrastructure in India, powered by NVIDIA Hopper GPUs. The company says that the strategic collaboration marks a significant milestone in the country’s AI journey, and that it positions Tata Communications as a key player in enabling AI applications across a wide spectrum of industries - including manufacturing, healthcare, retail, and banking and financial services - and equipping them with the computing power needed to handle complex AI workloads. As part of the initiative, Tata Communications will integrate cutting-edge NVIDIA software solutions such as NVIDIA NIM microservices, and the NVIDIA Omniverse and NVIDIA Isaac platforms, into its AI Cloud offerings. These technologies will provide businesses with an extensive suite of tools and services designed for AI-driven simulation, automation and more. At the end of this year, Tata Communications will begin the first phase of its large-scale deployment of Hopper GPUs, establishing itself as one of the largest NVIDIA Hopper GPU cloud-based supercomputers in India. The second phase, planned for 2025, will further expand the infrastructure with Blackwell GPUs. Tata Communications is poised to disrupt the AI landscape with an AI studio, a ground-breaking, all-in-one platform designed to transform how businesses use AI, by offering tools like AI Workbench, Model Garden, Responsible AI and serverless functions. Furthermore, its advanced tools will simplify distributed data management, allowing businesses to efficiently collect and curate data across various enterprise systems and move it to the AI Cloud using Tata Communications' IZO Multi Cloud Connect platform. This approach will ensure cost-effectiveness and scalability for enterprises, while maintaining their existing data structures. Complementing this is Tata Communications' CloudLyte Edge Computing platform, which enables low-latency inferencing, allowing businesses to deploy models at the edge for real-time responses. Together, these innovations empower enterprises to fully harness the power of AI. “AI is expanding the boundaries of innovation and revolutionising business in ways we could never have imagined,” says AS Lakshminarayanan, MD & CEO, Tata Communications. “Therefore, every entity must prioritise AI integration to stay competitive. We are delighted to partner with NVIDIA to build a unique and transformative Cloud Fabric that will empower a generation of Indian innovators and entrepreneurs, fostering a vibrant AI ecosystem and propelling the nation towards a future fuelled by AI.” Providing enterprises with a powerful infrastructure capable of handling complex AI workloads will help drive AI adoption across India. Combining NVIDIA’s AI platform with TATA Communications’ global network, will create a national supercomputing framework, driving innovation and helping elevate India’s role in the global AI player ranks. “Tata Communications’ AI cloud infrastructure, integrating NVIDIA accelerated computing, will support businesses of all sizes - from AI startups to large enterprises - helping drive AI transformation across various sectors of the Indian economy and creating a powerful ecosystem for AI innovation,” adds Jay Puri, Executive Vice President of Worldwide Field Operations at NVIDIA. Tata Communications customers will also gain access to the NVIDIA AI Enterprise software platform on its accelerated infrastructure, which is designed to let users build, customise and run generative and agentic AI applications in production. This includes NVIDIA NIM Agent Blueprints, which provide customisable reference architectures for use cases like digital human technologies or AI virtual assistants for customer service, multimodal PDF extraction workflows for enterprise data retrieval and container security workflows for cyber security. Enterprises can also create their own AI models using the NVIDIA NeMo end-to-end platform for developing custom generative AI, and run efficient AI inference through NVIDIA’s NIM microservices - both part of the NVIDIA AI Enterprise - offering unparalleled flexibility and performance for AI workloads. By integrating NVIDIA technologies, Tata Communications will continue to demonstrate its commitment to building next-generation AI infrastructure and services, positioning the company to lead India’s AI transformation and make AI more accessible across industries. For more from Tata Communications, click here.

CtrlS Datacenters partners with ConnectiviTree

CtrlS Datacenters, Asia’s largest Rated-4 data centre company, has signed a strategic co-operation agreement with ConnectiviTree, a European telecom innovator, to transform India’s digital connectivity landscape. The partnership will enhance digital infrastructure, offering seamless, scalable, and secure data solutions for customers in India and across the globe. Under this agreement, CtrlS Datacenters and ConnectiviTree will leverage their combined strengths in telecom networks, cloud computing, and data centre management to deliver high-performance data services. CtrlS Datacenters will provide its data centre infrastructure, while ConnectiviTree brings its expertise in Connectivity-as-a-Service, a new offering that simplifies and automates network management for multinational enterprises. Key benefits of ConnectiviTree’s solutions include: • Neutral Long-Haul Connectivity Provider: The first to offer neutral, long-distance connectivity services across Europe through CTree RootNet, ConnectiviTree has a global presence via the ConnectiviTree Global Alliance.• High-Capacity Network: Its infrastructure can handle data transport services with capacities up to 200 terabits between major cities, ensuring robust, high-speed connections.• Extensive Reach: Connecting over 250 Points of Presence (PoPs) in Europe and globally, offering broad geographic coverage.• CTree Plaza Platform: A user-friendly, self-service platform that allows businesses to manage their network services on demand, with automated, zero-touch operations.• High Availability and Security: With low-latency, wire-speed encryption, and redundant routing, ConnectiviTree’s network ensures both reliability and security for data transport. Sridhar Pinnapureddy, Founder & CEO, CtrlS Datacenters, states, “The collaboration between CtrlS Datacenters and ConnectiviTree will provide cutting-edge cloud and data management solutions, enabling organisations to effectively manage and safeguard their data. It will boost the digital infrastructure in the region and benefit the customers by bringing the agility the cloud and applications offer today to the network so it becomes more application-like, offering instant, flexible, and seamless availability.” Eugen Gebhard, CCO and Co-Founder of ConnectiviTree, adds, “Signing this agreement is a great milestone for both companies. By combining our expertise in connectivity with CtrlS Datacenters' world-class infrastructure, we are confident that we can accelerate digital transformation for our customers and deliver best-in-class solutions that will redefine the future of data management.” Gaurav Babbar, VP Edge, Hyperscalers and Networks, CtrlS Datacenters, remarks, “Our collaboration with ConnectiviTree integrates its advanced, fibre-based data transport network with our robust data centre infrastructure, offering unparalleled value to our customers. This partnership enables us to provide Network, Capacity, and Spectrum as a Service (NaaS, CaaS, SaaS), addressing the growing demand for global data transport from large enterprise customers.” Through this partnership, enterprises will gain access to high-speed, reliable, and secure data services, enabling them to scale operations and accelerate digital growth with confidence. For more from CtrlS Datacenters, click here.

CommScope announces shielded platform for copper networks

Network connectivity specialist, CommScope, has announced the introduction of its Systimax GigaSHIELD X10D end-to-end Cat 6A shielded platform for supporting the next generation of high-speed copper networks. “Certain application fields are rapidly evolving to demand high-performance shielded networks that can be quickly and accurately installed,” explains Luc Adriaenssens, VP Enterprise, CommScope. “To address customers' unique applications, the GigaSHIELD platform was developed to provide more choices for optimised electrical performance, establishing a new standard for operational efficiency, sustainability, and support across the entire network lifecycle. Our end-to-end Cat 6A shielded platform delivers the flexibility and peace of mind our customers have come to expect from CommScope.” As the latest addition to the SYSTIMAX 2.0 portfolio, the platform offers F/UTP, F/FTP and S/FTP cables and patch cords with optimal EMI and RFI rejection. Installation and monitoring solutions particularly suited for light industrial and high-security environments can benefit from this technology. Highlights of the GigaSHIELD X10D Cat 6A Shielded Platform include: • One platform supporting all indoor and outdoor Cat 6A shielded applications, far exceeding ISO/IEC and TIA/EIA industry standards for channel performance.• F/UTP, F/FTP and S/FTP technology delivers optimal EMI and RFI protection.• Eco-friendly design reduces single-use plastics; leverages a modular architecture to reduce the number of network components as well as resources needed to produce, distribute, and support them; and carries an extended lifecycle to delay the need for upgrades and reduce the network’s carbon footprint.• Full integration with port monitoring (Systimax VisiPORT) and AIM (Systimax imVision) solutions to monitor, troubleshoot, and optimise network performance and resources in real time.• New MGS600S jack offers compatibility with CommScope’s Jack Termination Tool (JTT) to ensure rapid, reliable installation.• Systimax InstaPATCH pre-terminated assemblies improve install times up to 80% compared to field-terminated solutions.• Full range of support options, including CommScope’s comprehensive 25-year product and application warranty and Systimax Assurance programme, which includes design assistance and more. For more from CommScope, click here.

London Internet Exchange achieves standard recertification

The London Internet Exchange (LINX) has achieved recertification for the ISO/IEC 27001:2022 standard, upholding the highest operational and security standards. ISO/IEC 27001:2022, known as ISO 27001, is an internationally recognised standard that outlines the requirements for establishing, implementing, maintaining, and continually improving an information security management system (ISMS). LINX had its first audit back in September 2021 after observing a shift in traditional customer or member base to increasingly more enquiries from networks within the enterprise and financial sector, where accreditations like this are vital. The decision for LINX to transition to the 2022 version demonstrates the desire to uphold the highest of operational and security standards across the organisation. Commenting on this achievement, LINX CTO, Richard Petrie, says, "We are delighted to achieve recertification for ISO 27001, which underscores our ongoing commitment to information security. This achievement reflects our dedication to not only our engineering excellence, but also protecting the interests of our members and stakeholders by upholding the highest standards of data security." LINX underwent a rigorous audit process conducted by the British Standards Institution (BSI), an accredited certification body, to validate its compliance with ISO 27001:2022 standards across all operational areas. The recertification confirms LINX's capability to manage and mitigate information security risks effectively, ensuring the resilience and reliability of its services in an increasingly interconnected digital landscape. The cost of not having an effective Information Security Management System can be high – both financially and reputationally. The standard is a critical component in any organisation’s risk management strategy, and it has become an essential part of many organisations’ IT governance, risk and compliance (GRC) programmes. For more from LINX, click here.

Nokia and Lenovo to offer data centre solutions for AI era

Nokia today announced a strategic partnership with Lenovo to create comprehensive data centre networking and automation solutions that support the massive and highly precise compute, storage and transit needs for Artificial Intelligence, Machine Learning (AI/ML) and other compute-intensive workloads. These solutions will be jointly marketed to enterprises, telcos, and digital infrastructure and cloud providers. The partners will leverage the Lenovo ThinkSystem AI-ready portfolio of high-performance servers and storage with the Nokia Data Centre network solution - which spans data centre fabric, IP routing, and DDoS security portfolios, along with the recently announced data centre network automation platform, Event-Driven Automation (EDA). The combined solutions will help meet the demanding processing and network performance requirements of modern workloads. As AI models are trained, data centres for inferencing will be needed where AI clusters are networked both within and between the data centres at the edge, which requires high-speed, reliable and secure interconnectivity. The integration of these portfolios with a validated blueprint architecture enables seamless automation of AI/ML and compute-intensive workloads with enhanced observability, programmability, and extensibility, which are crucial for adapting to dynamic environments. Both Nokia and Lenovo portfolios have built-in security solutions that detect and thwart security threats in real-time, which is essential to combat the scale and frequency of cyberattacks. As well, both companies focus on energy-efficient designs that reduce power consumption and operational costs while promoting sustainability – a key data centre concern. Charles Ferland, Vice President Edge and Communications Service Providers at Lenovo, says, “Lenovo has a longstanding commitment to deliver the most reliable and sustainable AI infrastructure. Our partnership with Nokia to bundle AI solutions is a natural alignment. Together, we provide a robust platform that meets the needs of telecommunications and enterprise sectors, enabling them to deploy AI clouds and manage their data efficiently. “With Nokia’s automated data fabric and Lenovo’s leading automated compute and storage solutions with industry-leading Neptune liquid cooling technology, enterprises can confidently deploy cutting-edge sustainable infrastructure. This collaboration not only generates cost savings but also opens new revenue streams for providers through innovative AI and data consumption models. Vach Kompella, Senior Vice President and General Manager of IP Networks business at Nokia, adds, “Our partnership with Lenovo exemplifies Nokia’s commitment to innovation and excellence in data centre solutions. By combining Nokia's Data Centre Fabric and Event Driven Automation with Lenovo's ThinkSystem AI portfolio, we deliver a high performance, scalable data centre networking solution designed to efficiently manage and automate AI/ML workloads, with a strong emphasis on security and energy efficiency. “This collaboration not only enhances the performance and reliability of data centre operations, but also underscores our dedication to providing innovative solutions that meet the evolving needs of our customers. Together, we are setting new standards in the industry and driving forward the future of data centre technology.” For more from Nokia, click here.

Colt builds new fibre optic network in the US

Colt Technology Services, the digital infrastructure company, is building a powerful, low latency fibre optic network in the United States connecting subsea cable landing stations to East Coast data centres. The build supports demand from businesses looking to drive growth by boosting connectivity between North America and Europe, one of the most popular trade routes and busiest global routes in the world for data traffic. The new backhaul infrastructure deepens Colt’s presence in North America and is part of its strategic investment in its secure, high-capacity Transatlantic subsea cable network. Colt has five subsea cables connecting Europe and the US, and owns the two cable landing stations in the US where these cables reach the shore. The digital infrastructure build from the cable landing stations to the East Coast third party data centres gives Colt’s customers vast capacity, greater value, a better customer experience and peace-of-mind as they can now choose Colt for the end-to-end Transatlantic network. Phase one of the build is now complete with the service fully operational, connecting Long Island, New York – where three subsea cables land – with data centre hubs in Hudson Street and 8th Avenue, New York. Routes will be ready for service between now and mid-2025. Annette Murphy, Chief Commercial Officer, Colt Technology Services, says, “Our customers are looking to overseas markets to boost their growth potential, and the Transatlantic route unlocks exciting new opportunities for them. Building our own digital infrastructure in the US to connect our incredible subsea network to some East Coast data centres helps these businesses meet their growth targets and prepare for the future, supported by a partner they know genuinely cares.” Colt’s subsea cable systems between EMEA and US consist of five Transatlantic and four intra-Europe subsea cables and 12 cable landing stations, following its acquisition of Lumen EMEA. The company co-owns AS3356, the most peered network in the world, and is the largest pureplay B2B digital infrastructure company in Europe. For more from Colt, click here.