Month: April 2023
4 U.S. Mobile Operators offer C-band FCC proposal to address aircraft interference
Four major U.S. mobile operators have agreed to a series of undertakings designed to address concerns over airline safety and to allow them to use their C-band spectrum to its full extent.
“These voluntary commitments will support full-power deployments across C-Band, and are crafted to minimize the operational impact on our C-Band operations,” says the letter to the FCC, signed by senior executives at AT&T, Verizon, T-Mobile US and UScellular.
“As C-Band licensees, we will abide by the attached voluntary commitments. These voluntary commitments will support full-power deployments across C-Band, and are crafted to minimize the operational impact on our C-Band operations. In agreeing to these commitments, we reserve any and all rights and privileges conferred by our lawfully held spectrum licenses issued by the FCC.”
US mobile operators have been at odds with the airline industry for some time, the latter having strongly objected to the rollout of C-band spectrum for 5G services, fearing interference with the altimeters used by aircraft.
As the operators note in their letter, the FCC adopted licensing and technical rules to ensure the safe coexistence between C-band spectrum – that’s 3.7 GHz-3.98 GHz – and radio altimeters at 4.2 GHz-4.4 GHz; as the telcos put it, “more than 220 megahertz away.” The mobile industry has always insisted that the rules in place were sufficient, but nonetheless made several short-term moves to appease the Federal Aviation Administration.
At the end of 2021 AT&T and Verizon grudgingly offered to reduce power at 5G sites, particularly near airports and heliports, for six months, then later committed to deferring 5G rollout near airports altogether. Last summer the pair agreed to delay 5G rollout using C-band spectrum around US airports for another year to give the airlines time to upgrade their altimeters.
This latest missive to the FCC essentially reinforces that glide path into the full usage of C-band spectrum.
Reuters shared a comment from Verizon that these latest commitments will allow it to fully use its C-band frequencies for 5G “by the previously agreed to deadline of July 1.”
“Despite the sufficiency of the FCC rules, subsequent collaborative engagement across affected industries and with the FCC and Federal Aviation Administration has resulted in the development of the attached voluntary commitments relevant to this coexistence,” the mobile operators said.
Officials from the FCC did not immediately comment, according to Reuters. The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) told the publication that it continues to “work closely to ensure a safe co-existence in the US 5G C-band environment.”
A representative from Airlines for America, a trade group representing US airlines including American, Delta and United, offered this statement on the new proposal: “We appreciate the collaboration among stakeholders, including the federal government and will continue to work our common goal of ensuring the aviation system remains the safest mode of transportation in the world. While our industry strongly supports 5G deployment, safety is—and always will be—the top priority of US airlines. A4A member carriers are working diligently to ensure fleets are equipped with compliant radio altimeters, but global supply chains continue to lag behind current demand and any government deadline must consider this reality.”
Arguably the most important thing now is that the operators can get the most out of the C-band spectrum they paid so much for just over two years ago. Lest we forget, the final tally came in at $81 billion, with an additional $15 billion on top in clearing costs – to shift the satellite players away from the band, that is. Verizon was famously the biggest spender by some margin, accounting for $53 billion at the auction itself.
Little wonder then that the operators are so keen to declare ‘case closed’ on the interference issue and to crack on with using that spectrum properly.
References:
https://www.fcc.gov/ecfs/document/1033142661477/1
https://telecoms.com/521048/us-telcos-solve-c-band-airline-interference-issue/
FAA NPRM: Aviation Industry Altimeter Upgrades to Thwart C-Band Interference
FAA order to avoid interfering with 5G C-Band services; RootMetrics touts coverage vs performance advantages for 5G
AT&T, Verizon Propose C Band Power Limits to Address FAA 5G Air Safety concerns
IEEE/SCU SoE May 1st Virtual Panel Session: Open Source vs Proprietary Software Running on Disaggregated Hardware
Complete Event Description at:
https://scv.chapters.comsoc.org/event/open-source-vs-proprietary-software-running-on-disaggregated-hardware/
The video recording is now publicly available:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RWS39lyvCPI
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Backgrounder – Open Networking vs. Open Source Network Software
Open Networking was promised to be a new paradigm for the telecom, cloud and enterprise networking industries when it was introduced in 2011 by the Open Networking Foundation (ONF). This “new epoch” in networking was based on Software Defined Networking (SDN), which dictated a strict separation of the Control and Data planes with OpenFlow as the API/protocol between them. A SDN controller running on a compute server was responsible for hierarchical routing within a given physical network domain, with “packet forwarding engines” replacing hop by hop IP routers in the wide area network. Virtual networks via an overlay model were not permitted and were referred to as “SDN Washing” by Guru Parulkar, who ran the Open Networking Summit’s for many years.
Today, the term Open Networking encompasses three important vectors:
A) Beyond the disaggregation of hardware and software, it also includes: Open Source Software, Open API, Open Interoperability, Open Governance and Open collaboration across global organizations that focus on standards, specification and Open Source software.
B) Beyond the original Data/Control plane definition, today Open Networking covers entire software stack (Data plane, control plane, management, orchestration and applications).
C) Beyond just the Data Center use case, it currently covers all networking markets (Service Provider, Enterprise and Cloud) and also includes all aspects of architecture (from Core to Edge to Access – residential and enterprise).
Open Source Networking Software refers to any network related program whose source code is made available for use or modification by users or other developers. Unlike proprietary software, open source software is computer software that is developed as a public, open collaboration and made freely available to the public. There are several organizations that develop open source networking software, such as the Linux Foundation, ONF, OCP, and TIP.
Currently, it seems the most important open networking and open source network software projects are being developed in the Linux Foundation (LF) Networking activity. Now in its fifth year as an umbrella organization, LF Networking software and projects provide the foundations for network infrastructure and services across service providers, cloud providers, enterprises, vendors, and system integrators that enable rapid interoperability, deployment and adoption.
Event Description:
In this virtual panel session, our distinguished panelists will discuss the current state and future directions of open networking and open source network software. Most importantly, we will compare open source vs. proprietary software running on disaggregated hardware (white box compute servers and/or bare metal switches).
With so many consortiums producing so much open source code, the open source networking community is considered by many to be a trailblazer in terms of creating new features, architectures and functions. Others disagree, maintaining that only the large cloud service providers/hyperscalers (Amazon, Microsoft, Google, Facebook) are using open source software, but it’s their own versions (e.g. Microsoft SONIC which they contributed to the OCP).
We will compare and contrast open source vs proprietary networking software running on disaggregated hardware and debate whether open networking has lived up to its potential.
Panelists:
- Roy Chua, AvidThink
- Arpit Joshipura, LF Networking
- Run Almog, DriveNets
Moderator: Alan J Weissberger, IEEE Techblog, SCU SoE
Host: Prof. Ahmed Amer, SCU SoE
Co-Sponsor: Ashutosh Dutta, IEEE Future Networks
Co-Sponsor: IEEE Communications Society-SCV
Agenda:
- Opening remarks by Moderator and IEEE Future Networks – 8 to 10 minutes
- Panelist’s Position Presentations – 55 minutes
- Pre-determined issues/questions for the 3 panelists to discuss and debate -30 minutes
- Issues/questions that arise from the presentations/discussion-from Moderator & Host -8 to 10 minutes
- Audience Q &A via ZOOM Chat box or Question box (TBD) -15 minutes
- Wrap-up and Thanks (Moderator) – 2 minutes
Panelist Position Statements:
1. Roy will examine the open networking landscape, tracing its roots back to the emergence of Software Defined Networking (SDN) in 2011. He will offer some historical context while discussing the main achievements and challenges faced by open networking over the years, as well as the factors that contributed to these outcomes. Also covered will be the development of open networking and open-source networking, touching on essential topics such as white box switching, disaggregation, OpenFlow, P4, and the related Network Function Virtualization (NFV) movement.
Roy will also provide insight into the ongoing importance of open networking and open-source networking in a dynamic market shaped by 5G, distributed clouds and edge computing, private wireless, fiber build-outs, satellite launches, and subsea-cable installations. Finally, Roy will explore how open networking aims to address the rising demand for greater bandwidth, improved control, and strengthened security across various environments, including data centers, transport networks, mobile networks, campuses, branches, and homes.
2. Arpit will cover the state of open source networking software, specifications, and related standards. He will describe how far we have come in the last few years exemplified by a few success stories. While the emphasis will be on the Linux Foundation projects, relevant networking activity from other open source consortiums (e.g. ONS, OCP, TIP, and O-RAN) will also be noted. Key challenges for 2023 will be identified, including all the markets of telecom, cloud computing, and enterprise networking.
3. Run will provide an overview of Israel based DriveNets “network cloud” software and cover the path DriveNets took before deciding on a Distributed Disaggregated Chassis (DDC) architecture for its proprietary software. He will describe the reasoning behind the major turns DriveNets took during this long and winding road. It will be a real life example with an emphasis on what didn’t work as well as what did.
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References:
https://lfnetworking.org/
https://lfnetworking.org/how-
https://lfnetworking.org/
https://lfnetworking.org/open-
Telekom Malaysia Berhad launches fiber optic network hub
Telekom Malaysia Berhad (TM) [1.] announced the completion of its new fiber optic network hub or point of presence (PoP) project phase one installations, across northern region, Sabah and Sarawak.
Note 1. Telekom Malaysia Berhad (TM) is a Malaysian telecommunications company founded in 1984. Beginning as the national telecommunications company for fixed line, radio, and television broadcasting services, it has evolved to become the country’s largest provider of broadband services, data, fixed line, pay television, and network services.
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The launch ceremony, which was officiated by YB Fahmi Fadzil, Minister of Communications and Digital, took place at SMK Padang Terap, Kuala Nerang, Kedah. Also present were Dato’ Haji Pkharuddin Bin Haji Ghazali, Director-General of Education and Dato’ Sri Haji Mohammad Bin Mentek, Secretary-General, Ministry of Communications and Digital.
PoP is the location where different devices connect to each other and to the internet. In simple terms, PoP brings fiber optics closer to users. By setting up PoP locations near schools, people in rural and remote areas can get better and faster internet services in their homes, instead of relying on mobile internet. This will improve internet access and connectivity for more people in the community.
During the ceremony, YB Fahmi highlighted the significant benefits and opportunities that the new PoPs would bring. The new PoPs represent a major step forward in the Government’s efforts to narrow the digital gap and promote digital inclusion across Malaysia.
A total of 4,370 PoPs had been planned under the 12th Malaysia Plan (12MP) where 4,323 PoPs will be installed near rural schools and 47 PoPs near industrial area.
Phase one of the project, involves 677 sites. The remaining will be implemented under phase two over the span of three years, 2022-2025. A total of 233 PoP circuits were installed under phase 1, with 100% completion achieved by TM, ahead of other industry players.
“We are thrilled to see the progress and achievements of this project, which will bring significant benefits and opportunities to the community, including improved internet quality, economic development and the development of new infrastructures,” said Shazurawati Abdul Karim, Executive Vice President of TM One.
The PoP will create a more balanced and inclusive regional development, boosting the growth of new technologies like 5G and future generations of communication technologies. Through this initiative, users in TM’s PoP area have now reached over 9,000 and are increasing. A total of 58 of its users are schools that have subscribed to Unifi services. The widespread internet accessibility will not only help to develop the rural economy but more importantly allow learning materials to be downloaded, to improve the quality of education in schools, equipping the future generations with a wealth of knowledge.
“As the nation’s telecommunications leader, and enabler of Digital Malaysia, TM is committed to support the nation’s development agenda through the benefits brought by hyperconnectivity and digital solutions, which will accelerate digital adoption and new economic growth,” added Shazurawati.
“The presence of PoP can attract technology companies, start-ups and other businesses that require a high-speed internet connection to operate. This can create more job opportunities, increase innovation, and stimulate economic growth in local communities,” Shazurawati concluded.
The collaboration between TM and the Government demonstrates the shared commitment to deliver digital inclusivity throughout Malaysia. For phase two of PoP project, TM has been awarded with 174 sites in the central region. This phase is expected to further boost digital connectivity and economic development for Malaysia.
The extensive internet access that PoP provides will not only enhance the rural economy but also enable the download of educational materials, elevating the quality of education in schools and equipping the younger generation with a vast range of knowledge.
References:
https://www.tm.com.my/news/TM%E2%80%99S%20NEW%20FIBRE%20OPTIC%20NETWORK%20HUB
Telekom Malaysia Completes Fibre Optic Network Hub Across Sabah and Sarawak
Comcast Business expands SD-WAN portfolio for SMBs and single location customers
Comcast Business is expanding its SD-WAN portfolio to give more options to SMB customers. The MSO/ cableco on Friday announced two new solutions geared toward standalone business locations. Comcast says the new solutions cater to partners who need to connect to cloud and Software-as-a-Service (SaaS) applications.
The SD-WAN solutions enable small and medium businesses, with either a single location or multiple standalone locations, to help securely connect and manage their network, applications, and users. These businesses rely on SaaS applications and cloud services to operate, making secure networking a critical requirement. Comcast Business’ full range of global secure networking solutions provide connectivity, security, application optimization and control, as well as threat monitoring and response for single and multi-site customers.
In today’s digital economy, companies of all sizes need to provide their users fast, reliable, and secure connectivity to applications everywhere. This includes delivering high-quality, consistent, and predictable quality of experience for critical applications residing in the Cloud or SaaS and accessed via the public Internet. With the addition of these tailored SD-WAN solutions, Comcast Business can bring the benefits of secure networking to standalone and multi-site businesses around the world.
“Comcast Business’ global SD-WAN solutions are a central component of our secure network solutions strategy,” said Shena Seneca Tharnish, Vice President, Cybersecurity Products, Comcast Business. “With the addition of capabilities that support standalone sites, we are more prepared than ever to partner with businesses of all sizes to tailor solutions that meet their unique needs. At Comcast Business, we’re committed to preparing every business for what’s next.”
The enhancements to Comcast Business’ SD-WAN solutions enable secure networking and application optimization for single or multi-site businesses who need to connect to the Cloud or SaaS applications but may not require site-to-site networking. These solutions provide businesses with resiliency and visibility, as well as intelligent application prioritization and traffic steering, with advanced managed service. Key features include:
- Diverse connectivity, intelligent traffic steering, and direct connections to Cloud services enhance application performance and resiliency
- Advanced security capabilities to help protect against cyberthreats
- 24×7 Security Operations Center (SOC)
- Low-touch deployment capabilities provide easy installation
- Highly competitive pricing
These solutions are ideal for companies that lack IT budgets or a corporate network but need to support single locations with cloud connectivity using public Internet services.
Comcast Business was recognized as a leader by market research firm Frost & Sullivan in its 2022 Managed SD-WAN Services in North America report [1.]. At the time, Comcast was touted as the second-largest provider of SD-WAN connections in North America. Frost & Sullivan noted that the provider is “especially successful among enterprise customers with 250 or more sites.” The market research firm also gave a nod to Comcast’s strategic acquisition of SD-WAN leader Masergy and “the resultant portfolio enhancements and expanded partner ecosystem for SD-WAN and cloud solutions it has enabled.”
Note 1. Frost & Sullivan assessed 12 leading network and managed service providers in the North American market, analyzing their SD-WAN portfolios based on factors including partnerships with SD-WAN equipment vendors, breadth of underlay network technologies, self-service customer portals, and ability to offer value-added virtualized network functions (e.g., firewalls and routers) and other security solutions such as SASE.
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Previously, Aryaka announced enhanced SD-WAN and SASE products specifically designed to meet the needs of SMEs with a new entry pricing of under $150 per site. Aryaka Chief Product Officer Renuka Nadkarni told SDxCentral that ease of management is another key concern for many small businesses, which is why so many prefer managed services. Dell’Oro Group predicted the untapped networking and security SMB market will grow significantly this year on the backs of providers who can offer managed services.
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About Comcast Business:
Comcast Business offers a suite of Connectivity, Communications, Networking, Cybersecurity, Wireless, and Managed Solutions to help organizations of different sizes prepare for what’s next. Powered by the nation’s largest Gig-speed broadband network, and backed by 24/7 customer support, Comcast Business is the nation’s largest cable provider to small and mid-size businesses and one of the leading service providers to the Enterprise market. Comcast Business has been consistently recognized by industry analysts and associations as a leader and innovator, and one of the fastest growing providers of Ethernet services.
References:
To learn more about Comcast Business SD-WAN solutions: https://business.comcast.com/enterprise/products-services/sd-wan-solutions/sd-wan
https://www.sdxcentral.com/articles/news/comcast-tailors-sd-wan-portfolio-to-smbs/2023/03/
https://store.frost.com/frost-radartm-managed-sd-wan-services-in-north-america-2022.html
Gartner: changes in WAN requirements, SD-WAN/SASE assumptions and magic quadrant for network services
Arista’s WAN Routing System targets routing use cases such as SD-WANs
Have we come full circle – from SD-WAN to SASE to SSE? MEF’s SD-WAN and SASE standards
Enterprises Deploy SD-WAN but Integrated Security (SASE) Needed
Google Fiber offers 8 Gig symmetric service in Mesa, AZ; Chandler, AZ next in line
Google Fiber is using its service launch in the Westwood neighborhood of Mesa, Arizona, market to also serve as the initial launch point for its new symmetrical 8 Gbit/s broadband service. Residential customers in Mesa can sign up for Google Fiber’s 8 Gig service for $150 per month. 8 Gig offers symmetrical uploads and downloads of up to 8 Gbps with a wired connection, along with a Wi-Fi 6 router (which allows for up to 800 mbps over Wi-Fi) and up to two mesh extenders.
The 8-Gig tier, now Google Fiber’s fastest, sells for $150 per month and comes with a Wi-Fi 6 router and two Wi-Fi mesh extenders. There are three other symmetrical broadband service tiers:
- 1-Gig: $70 per month
- 2-Gig: $100 per month
- 5-Gig: $125 per month
Google Fiber’s debut in the Westwood neighborhood of Mesa arrives about eight months after the city council there approved the buildout. Mesa, the first city in Arizona to get service from Google Fiber, is also being served by primary incumbent providers Cox Communications and Lumen.
Amid the revamp of its network expansion strategy, Google Fiber expects to start construction later this year in Chandler, Arizona, Ashley Church, GM for Google Fiber’s west region, said in a blog post.
As announced last fall, Google Fiber is also in the process of launching new 5-Gig and 8-Gig tiers in additional markets in 2023. Its new 5-Gig service is already available in several Google Fiber markets, including Kansas City, West Des Moines, Iowa, and all the cities it provides service to in Utah.
Google Fiber will start construction later this year in Chandler, AZ. As new segments are completed, we’ll offer service in those neighborhoods. Residents who want to keep up on the construction process or service availability in their area can sign up here. Google Fiber has also conducted lab tests in Kansas City that produced downstream speeds of 20.2 Gbps.
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Here’s an updated snapshot of where Google Fiber currently provides or plans to provide via FTTP or fixed-wireless Webpass services:
Table 1:
| Market | FTTP or Webpass |
| Atlanta, Georgia | FTTP |
| Austin, Texas | FTTP |
| Chandler, Arizona | FTTP |
| Charlotte, North Carolina | FTTP |
| Chicago, Illinois | Webpass |
| Council Bluffs, Iowa | FTTP |
| Denver, Colorado | Webpass |
| Des Moines, Iowa | FTTP |
| Huntersville, North Carolina | FTTP |
| Huntsville, Alabama | FTTP |
| Idaho | FTTP* |
| Kansas City, Kansas and Missouri | FTTP |
| Lakewood, Colorado | FTTP |
| Miami, Florida | Webpass |
| Nevada | FTTP* |
| Nashville, Tennessee | FTTP |
| Oakland, California | Webpass |
| Omaha, Nebraska | FTTP |
| Orange County, California | FTTP |
| Provo, Utah | FTTP |
| Salt Lake City, Utah | FTTP |
| San Antonio, Texas | FTTP |
| San Diego, California | Webpass |
| San Francisco, California | Webpass |
| Seattle, Washington | Webpass |
| *Google Fiber FTTP deployments coming to cities yet to be announced. (Source: Google Fiber and Light Reading research) |
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References:
https://fiber.googleblog.com/2023/03/mesa-here-we-come-and-superfast-too.html