Mobile and Wireless News

Ericsson introduced AIR 3246 for Massive Multiple Input Multiple Output (Massive MIMO), designed to complement Ericsson’s global 5G radio offering. AIR 3246 supports both 4G/LTE and 5G NR (New Radio) technologies and is Ericsson’s first 5G NR radio for frequency division duplex (FDD). This launch will enable operators — especially those in metropolitan areas — to bring 5G to subscribers using today’s mid-band spectrum and boost capacity in their LTE networks. The platform includes three previously launched time division duplex (TDD) radios capable of supporting 5G and Massive MIMO, as well as core, transport, digital support and security elements. The company has the most complete 5G portfolio in the industry, serving the needs of the first movers in 5G. 

Kerlink announced its expansion into India with the creation of a subsidiary that will coordinate the company’s partnership with Tata Communications and the emerging IoT ecosystem to deploy the world’s largest LoRaWAN^TM network.The rollout, which will bring a cost-and-energy-efficient IoT network to more than 400 million people in nearly 2,000 cities and communities across India, will include more than 10,000 Kerlink Wirnet^TM iBTS Compact stations. The subsidiary, Kerlink IoT Solutions India Private Ltd., is based in Chennai, India.

Openwave Mobility announced that it has deployed an NFV-based mobile data traffic management solution for Zain Saudi Arabia (Zain KSA). The virtualized solution enables Zain KSA to manage and monetize encrypted data including streaming videos for an enhanced QoE. Encrypted data from OTTs is “darkening” mobile networks. This is preventing operators from being able to gain insight on network traffic to manage QoE. In some parts of the world, over 60 percent of data is encrypted and this could reach 80% before the end of 2017. The solution accommodates the sharp rise in HTTPS and QUIC traffic, and eases congestion for an improved QoE.

AI/Robotics and
Digital Transformation News

Globetouch and CloudMinds Technology announced a partnership to provide connectivity for robots and other artificial intelligence (AI) initiatives. Together, the companies will develop cloud-based applications and platforms designed to control robots with rapid motions to further the development of autonomous driving, factory robots, shipping port sorting robots and other AI initiatives.

Microsoft welcomed more than 25,000 business customers to its annual IT event, Microsoft Ignite in Orlando, FL, where the company showcased how it is infusing cloud, AI and mixed reality across it products to help customers visualize and create the future of business. Microsoft also shared how quantum computers could help solve some of our planet's biggest challenges. News spanned Microsoft's commercial businesses — Office 365, Windows 10, Microsoft Azure, Dynamics 365 and Microsoft AI — with a focus on how the company is empowering people and organizations to succeed in a rapidly evolving workplace, and enabling customers to harness data, AI, hybrid and cloud technologies to evolve business process and innovate for the future.

Standards News

ETSI will host an NFV Plugtest for further multi-party interoperability testing. The event will be held at its location in Sophia Antipolis, France, January 15-19. Representatives from vendors and several open source communities will evaluate the level of interoperability of their implementations and confirm that they adhere to the NFV specifications defined by ETSI (including ETSI Open Source MANO, OPNFV, OpenStack and Open Baton.

DevOps News

Espial announced the introduction of its fifth-generation RDK-based STB client solution. The Espial G4 STB Client is designed to enable DevOps and harness ongoing RDK innovations. The RDK-based STB streamlines and automates development in an attempt to improve time to market, accelerate feature velocity, and support the richest video service capabilities on the market, including OTT apps. This approach allows operators to seamlessly incorporate the Espial G4 STB Client into their DevOps model to accelerate service velocity with continuous integration.