Telecoms

DE-CIX and Chief Telecom enter strategic partnership

DE-CIX, a leading Internet Exchange (IX) operator, and Chief Telecom, a leading data centre and IX operator in East Asia, have signed a Letter of Intent to enter into a strategic partnership. As of June 2024, Chief Telecom customers can benefit from the neutral and global DE-CIX ecosystem that offers peering, cloud, and other interconnection services. The agreement enables Chief Telecom to bring its customers to Singapore to connect to the DE-CIX ASEAN distributed interconnection platform and engage in remote peering with DE-CIX Frankfurt, the largest Internet Exchange in Europe and one of the largest in the world. Chief Telecom’s customers will benefit from DE-CIX’s enterprise services, including DE-CIX’s Microsoft Azure Peering Service (MAPS) for dedicated and secure connectivity to the Microsoft 365 cloud, cloud connectivity to the major cloud service providers, or cloud to cloud connectivity via DE-CIX Cloud Router for connectivity between clouds. Wherever networks interconnect, this reduces latency times and increases performance of content and digital applications. Chief Telecom’s customers will be able to capitalise on this to support their close economic ties to Singapore, as well as South and Southeast Asia. “This new partnership opens a doorway to the ASEAN region that will allow Chief Telecom’s networks to directly interconnect with networks in Southeast Asia,” says Mareike Jacobshagen, Head of Global Business Partner Program at DE-CIX. “Together with partners like Chief Telecom, we are driving digitalisation in many regions around the globe and shaping the infrastructure that today's digital economies and societies need to grow and prosper.” Joseph Wu, Chairman of Chief Telecom, expressed that the establishment of the strategic partnership between DE-CIX and Chief is of great significance. DE-CIX not only connects thousands of data centres in Europe, the Middle East, North America, Asia, and Africa, but also operates more than 50 Internet and Cloud Exchanges worldwide. It is one of the top commercial internet exchange operators globally. In the future, Chief Telecom and DE-CIX will leverage their combined strength to promote more comprehensive solutions in Europe and Asia. The customers and peering members of both parties, therefore, will benefit from higher-quality internet services. The distributed DE-CIX ASEAN interconnection platform interconnects markets in Southeast Asia and promotes direct data pathways, lower latency, and access to clouds across the region. The DE-CIX ASEAN ecosystem now covers seven key metro markets: Jakarta, Singapore, Kuala Lumpur, Johor Bahru, Penang, Brunei, and Manila. Customers at any of the exchanges are able to exchange Internet traffic with networks at any of the other IXs in the region, offering a seamless connection, top quality interconnection services for wholesale and enterprise requirements, and the most cost-effective way to peer across Southeast Asia. For more from DE-CIX, click here.

Epsilon Partners with Neterra to expand network presence

Epsilon Telecommunications, a global interconnectivity provider, has partnered with Neterra, a global telecommunications solutions provider, to expand its network presence in Europe and around the world. The partnership adds key European cities including Istanbul, Kyiv, Prague, Rome, Sofia, Vienna, Warsaw and Zagreb to Epsilon’s network footprint, as well as Rio de Janeiro and São Paulo in South America. Epsilon’s international customers can gain immediate access to these markets without their own physical presence, via its Network as a Service (NaaS) platform, Infiny. Local businesses in these markets can also utilise Infiny and its network solutions via these PoPs to access Epsilon’s agile, on-demand global connectivity, accelerating digital transformation across the region. “This partnership is an opportunity for us to provide more global enterprises with the network and solutions they need to further their digital transformation and gain a competitive edge in the market,” says Mark Daley, Director of Digital Strategy and Business Development at Epsilon. “We’re seeing increasing demands from customers for network reach all across Europe, particularly in Turkey. It’s great to add Istanbul to our global footprint to meet this demand, as well as a number of other high-growth markets across the continent.” Epsilon’s network ecosystem encompasses 300+ PoPs, and a total of 600+ IX, cloud, SaaS and other technology partners around the world. “It’s fantastic to work with Epsilon to expand its network and bring the best possible service to customers,” comments Neven Dilkov, CEO at Neterra. “Our robust network connects major cities across Europe, North and South America, the Middle East, Asia, and Australia. We’re looking forward to helping Epsilon to connect its customers across an even wider selection of destinations.” Epsilon’s NaaS platform, Infiny, provides a suite of on-demand connectivity services to customers across the globe, including Remote Peering, Data Centre Interconnection (DCI), Cloud Connect and Global Inbound Numbers. For more from Epsilon, click here.

CMC Networks deploys satellite connectivity for business continuity

CMC Networks, a global Tier 1 service provider, has added Low Earth Orbit (LEO), Medium Earth Orbit (MEO) and Geostationary Orbit (GEO) satellite connectivity to its portfolio of solutions. This multi-orbit approach addresses the diverse connectivity needs of remote regions and challenging environments across Africa and the Middle East, removing the limits on digital transformation. On 15 March 2024, Africa saw another connectivity incident involving a major internet outage affecting West and Central Africa, caused by a break in submarine cable systems. Four of the nine subsea cables that connect South Africa to the rest of the world were reported as damaged due to incidents on either side of the continent. During this time, South Africa’s internet infrastructure also experienced significant issues. This event underscored the vulnerabilities of submarine cables, which are critical infrastructures for internet connectivity across continents​​. CMC Networks uses multiple submarine cable systems and therefore could divert traffic and use optimal routes to bypass the outage. The company’s satellite solutions enable wide-reaching, high-performance and resilient networking, utilising constellations from world-leading providers. The distributed nature of the constellations adds redundancy and minimises downtime on customers’ networks, improving business continuity and enhancing user experiences, reducing the reliance on subsea cable infrastructure. “Our goal at CMC Networks is to accelerate digital transformation across Africa and the Middle East, no matter the location. With the addition of LEO, MEO and GEO satellite solutions, we can provide seamless connectivity across geographies and during network and power outages,” says Marisa Trisolino, CEO at CMC Networks. “The recent damage to subsea cables and the subsequent disruption to businesses across South Africa has highlighted the need for a wide variety of connectivity options and digital infrastructure that has the resiliency to ensure business continuity during unforeseen events. Our satellite solutions enable service providers and enterprises to manage risk and maximise uptime.” Its LEO satellites sit just over 1,000km above the Earth’s surface, providing ultra-low latency connectivity for a primary or backup connectivity solution, and consumer Internet use cases such as high-frequency trading, high-performance computing applications and more, with a round-trip delay (RTD) of +-80ms. The MEO satellites have an altitude of 8,000km, with 150ms low latency connectivity and a larger Earth view. This provides fibre-like broadband performance for enterprise-grade networking. The GEO satellites orbit 36,000km from Earth, maintaining a fixed position. These satellites provide reliable connectivity for less-latency-sensitive applications and services such as broadcast TV and low-speed data communication. “Recent outages show that service providers and enterprises need diverse connectivity options. Networking is mission critical and networking strategies must include multiple backup connectivity that can be delivered with a simple and seamless model,” says Geoff Dornan, CTO at CMC Networks. “Our network supports a wide range of LEO, MEO and GEO use cases across Africa and the Middle East which is a real value-add for customers looking to add additional redundancy to their networks. You can’t predict what will happen across your network, but you can be proactive and prepare to adapt.”

Altnets and ISPA's report looks at the full fibre supply chain

Altnets and the Internet Services Providers' Association (ISPA) have announced the publication of the 2024 Telecoms Procurement Research Report, which looks in depth at the current and future issues affecting the UK’s full fibre network providers. The report reviews the UK full fibre broadband sector in terms of the various challenges and opportunities that exist in the sector for internet service providers (ISPs), offering a valuable perspective on its trajectory. Altnets joined ISPA as a Procurement Partner at the start of 2023 and continues to work closely with the organisation to support the UK’s telecoms industry. Together they have provided a thorough understanding of the sector's current status and the events that have shaped its development. The report addresses the prior setbacks ISPs have encountered in the deployment of fibre infrastructure and highlights the crucial role of robust procurement strategies in influencing the success of the sector. It allows industry leaders to gain valuable insights into the intricacies behind the sector and deepen their understanding of the differing elements that influence the overall fibre landscape. The report covers a wide range of topics, including: Product manufacturing Socioeconomic factors Consumer take-up Geography Consolidation and attracting investment  Ramping up versus restraints in industry regulations Skills shortages Global competition It includes a detailed analysis of these topics, having consulted with a range of industry experts who provided their valuable insights. Each of the individuals featured throughout the report, and their respective companies, are considered to be leaders in the sector and are known for their extensive knowledge and experience in the fibre sector. One such contributor is Helen Wylde-Archibald, CEO of the southwest-based ISP Wildanet, who offers valuable comments regarding the importance of engagement with the supply chain. Helen’s mission is to combat digital inequality by providing fast and reliable fibre internet to homes and businesses in rural communities. Additionally, Kevin Moulton, the UK Sales Director for Fibrain, comments on the impact of current skills shortages on the industry, a key challenge for ISPs. “This research report, a collaborative effort between distinguished telecom experts, looks into the future of the market specifically focused on independent ISPs,” shares ISPA Chairman, Steve Leighton. “During its creation, we engaged with key sector figures including ISP CEOs, manufacturers and finance specialists. We extend our gratitude to all those who actively participated in this report by sharing their insights and contributing to creating something that will be of real value to UK industry professionals.” Paul Britnell, Co-Founder and Director of Altnets, says, “The last decade has presented unprecedented challenges to our industry, therefore, the need for a secure and sustainable supply chain has become more pronounced than ever. Its resilient response to past challenges highlights the telecom sector's adaptability, yet there is a need for continuous learning and ongoing effective engagement with supply chains.” “As society transforms more and more into a digital landscape, where fast broadband is essential for every UK resident, connectivity is paramount for societal advancement. Networks must evolve and adapt their network operations continuously, utilising new and emerging technologies to ensure optimisation, continuity, and security of their essential assets.” The conclusions of this report not only act as an evaluation tool for the current state of the UK fibre sector but also provide an insight into the future of fibre in terms of reaching the target of connecting every nationwide property by 2030. The full report can be viewed here.

NTT announces new PoP in Denver, Colorado

NTT has announced the expansion of its tier-one global IP network with a new Point-of-Presence (PoP) in Denver, Colorado, at CoreSite’s DE1 data centre facility. This expansion will enable NTT and its global IP network division to further scale its portfolio of global IP solutions to internet, cloud, hosting, CDN and IT service providers and content-oriented companies in this strategic market. The PoP will also support the growing demand for high-quality IP services from global companies and organisations that have established headquarters and operational centres in the Denver area. Additionally, the energy, transportation, media, financial services and industrial sectors, all key drivers of Denver’s vibrant economy, will benefit from more global connectivity and networking options. NTT’s clients at CoreSite’s DE1 facility, which is strategically positioned in the centre of several key national and regional network fibre plants, will be able to connect at numerous capacity levels with diversity and direct connections to multiple points in the global IP network to ensure the highest reliability and the lowest latency in internet services. “The new PoP in Denver takes our global backbone into one of North America’s largest technology and communications hubs,” says Michael Wheeler, Executive Vice President of the Global IP Network division at NTT. “Internet-centric businesses and organisations operating in the area will have direct access to our tier-one network and the high-performance IP solutions they need for their content, data, hosting, cloud and other bandwidth-intensive applications.” “As a leading hybrid IT solutions provider, CoreSite is pleased that NTT and its global IP network have chosen to expand their presence in our Denver data centre campus and join our robust carrier ecosystem where businesses ranging from enterprises to digital platforms can benefit from NTT’s direct IP access,” says Juan Font, President and CEO of CoreSite, SVP of US Tower. “Through this expansion, NTT’s extensive global footprint and diverse set of connectivity solutions will provide great value to our customers.” Click here more latest news.

Spirent Communications has announced that Indonesia’s new Telecommunication Equipment Testing Center (BBPPT) has selected it to conduct high-speed Ethernet network equipment and electromagnetic compatibility (EMC) testing. Utilising Spirent TestCenter enables labs to facilitate advanced testing features that include high scalability, automation, and real-time reporting for complex network systems. Located in Tapos, Depok, West Java, the BBPPT is being developed by Indonesia’s Communication and Information Ministry. The laboratory will be completed by the end of the year and begin operations early in 2024 to provide telecommunication equipment and device testing. The aim of the centre is to be able to protect and maintain the quality of equipment, and guarantee that tools and devices intended for use in Indonesia meet the exacting technical requirements demanded by next generation communications networks. The company’s partner on the project, Unitronic Jaya, says that Spirent was chosen by the BBPPT because it is recognised as a leader in the field of network testing, and is backed by the strong local knowledge and IP network engineering expertise of its partner. Churn Hoong, Country Manager for Spirent’s Southeast Asia region, says, “We are pleased to be working with the rapidly developing BBPPT project to help ensure high-level IP network testing services that will benefit Indonesia and neighbouring countries. Spirent TestCenter will play an important role by providing the labs with accurate and reliable test results that are essential for ensuring the quality and performance of the ICT equipment.” The Spirent TestCenter is an end-to-end test solution delivering high performance with deterministic answers. Service providers, network equipment manufacturers (NEMs) and enterprises use it to test, measure, and validate its networks and deploy services with confidence – from traditional performance testing to rigorous analysis of virtualisation, cloud computing, mobile backhaul, and high-speed Ethernet. BBPPT is the master laboratory under the MCIT in Indonesia. When completed, it will be one of the sophisticated in Asia, with six laboratories outfitted with cutting-edge equipment to provide a testing ground for next-gen communications equipment.

Neterra stopped nearly 500,000 DDoS attacks in 2022

Neterra protected its customers from 488,151 DDoS attacks in 2022. To do this, the company implemented various effective solutions that include a cloud platform, specialised hardware equipment, and a combination of the two. Of the total number of attacks, its cloud platform stopped 135,590 and its hardware stopped 352,561. DDoS attacks aim to disrupt (wholly or partially) user access to the services or equipment of a specific company - targeted as a victim. Often, for example, the victim's website becomes unavailable, loads slowly and returns errors. While the company is under attack and struggling to restore normal operations, the perpetrators take advantage of the breach to gain access to its resources. Most DDoS attacks aim to steal data, money, or intellectual property. Customers of Neterra's DDoS protection service can monitor statistics of attacks against them in real time through the unified monitoring system, as well as make periodic inquiries, for example - the number of attacks daily, monthly, and annually. They can also see what each of the attacks looked like. In addition to protection from DDoS attacks, Neterra offers complete solutions for enterprises for both cyber security, such as backup and ransomware protection, and for connectivity - dedicated internet access (DIA), data centre and managed services, IT service and resource rental.

Macquarie Telecom delivers 17 consecutive halves of growth

Macquarie Telecom Group has announced its results for the half-year, which ended 31 December 2022. Chairman, Peter James, says, “This result represents our 17 consecutive half of EBITDA growth, an outstanding achievement demonstrating the continuing momentum in our business and the capability of our people.” Key Points • 17 consecutive halves of profitable growth. • Revenue of $172.5 million, an increase of 16% on 1H FY22 ($149.3 million). • Earnings before interest, tax, depreciation, and amortisation (EBITDA) of $51.3 million, an increase of 26% on 1H FY22 ($40.5 million). • Net profit after tax of $8.5 million, an increase of 133% on 1H FY22 ($3.7 million) reflecting the increased profitability across all segments. • Capital expenditure for 1H FY23 was $33.2 million (1H FY22: $68.9 million) driven by Growth Capex of $15.0 million, Customer Related Capex of $11.6 million and Maintenance Capex of $6.6 million. Chief Executive David Tudehope, says, “We are very pleased to deliver another strong result for our shareholders. We continue to grow by staying ahead of emerging trends in the technology sector and investing in the right solutions for our customers. We pair the best technology with the best customer service and operate in markets that continue to have significant growth potential, such as digital infrastructure and cyber security.” Outlook • FY23 EBITDA is expected to be approximately $102 to $104 million which includes Macquarie Data Centres expected EBITDA of $32 to $33 million. Continuing investment in Cloud Services & Government and Macquarie Data Centres underpins this profitable growth. • ATO contract extension demonstrates the continued demand from our Federal Government Agencies for cyber security services, providing high confidence for future growth in the Government business. • Site preparation works are underway to prepare the Macquarie Park Data Centre Campus in anticipation of obtaining the DA for IC3 Super West. • Telecom operational efficiencies will continue. • Net debt to be reduced in FY23. • FY23 Total Capex is expected to be between $72 - $76million. • FY23 Depreciation is expected to be between $63 and $67 million.

Vívaro Telecom teams up with MDC Data Centers in San Diego

MDC Data Centers has announced that its new data centre in San Diego will be ready to begin operations in Q2 of 2023. This new location is announced in partnership with Vívaro Telecom, a major Mexican network leader in telecommunications, media, IT solutions, and cyber security with more than 55 years of operations. The new data centre will become the first of its kind in Southern California, and will provide redundant access to the company's fibre-crossing solutions that connect San Diego to the state of Baja California in Mexico with two independent routes, via Otay Mesa and via San Ysidro. With a model proven in different markets, MDC San Diego enters into agreements with new founding members of the site to foster more interconnections to the border and bring better connectivity between the two countries. A data centre built for its customers During an annual customer appreciation event held in Mexico, Juan Salazar, CEO of MDC Data Centers, announced the beginning of physical and technical adaptations at the company's new facility in San Diego, California. Juan expressed his gratitude for the trust shown by MDC Data Centers' customers, and emphasised his commitment to turn MDC San Diego into a neutral interconnection point at the border. Vívaro Telecom joins MDC San Diego as a founding member, highlighting the importance of the site in covering Baja California's need for interconnection and developing solutions that allow breaking the technological isolation of the state with the centre of Mexico. "At Vívaro Telecom, we believe that this new facility is a reflection of MDC Data Centers' commitment to neutrality and customer-centricity. It will expand the company's unique business advocacy to a new strategic market, creating new business opportunities for all participants in the ecosystem," says Gustavo Mario De la Garza Flores, CEO of Vívaro. San Diego is a hub for technology and innovation, but also a key element in MDC Data Centers' strategy to continue promoting its border platform. The new site will provide the infrastructure needed for its customers' growth in local and international markets.

Neterra launches a new fibre metro network in Sofia

Neterra has built and launched a new, fast and secure fibre metro network in Sofia, the capital of Bulgaria. It covers the entire capital, including all important business centres, central streets, and boulevards. Through it, the company offers internet for businesses, protection from DDoS attacks, other connectivity services and media streaming. Qualified engineers are responsible for maintenance and provide technical support 24/7. Neterra's new network has several major advantages compared to the networks of other operators. It is the only fibre network that reaches all the data centres in Sofia, enters them, and connects them. This includes both Neterra's data centres and those of other operators. Another benefit is that cables are run deeper underground and in protected conduits to prevent risks of outages. For the Sofia fibre metro network, the company uses the most modern and high-quality equipment - from cables to optical distribution frames (ODF) and connectors. As a result, the connection is of exceptional quality. In the capital of Bulgaria, Neterra maintains over 550 active business services and consciously invests in reliable components. Thanks to the large capacities set in advance, Neterra's metro network is expected to meet the needs of businesses in Sofia for years to come. At the same time, it is connected to the Bulgarian core fibre network of the company, which connects all major Bulgarian cities such as Varna, Veliko Tarnovo, Burgas, Plovdiv and Ruse.