Bell Labs Chief sees Multiservice Operator Future as Partly Cloudy
1/19/2015 - It is that time of the year to get the predictions from noted industry experts about their visions of both the near and longer term future. That said it is never a bad time to get the views of Bell Labs President and Alcatel-Lucent Chief Technology Officer Marcus Weldon. In fact, unlike the triumvirate of Microsoft CEO Bill Gates, who back in 1995 co-authored the book "The Road Ahead" with Nathan Mythrvold and journalist Peter Rinearson, Weldon has chosen to outline his vision in three recent TechZine blog posts under the title, "MSO network forecast is partly cloudy." And, when Marcus talks, it is certainly worth a listen, or at least in these cases a read and a few bookmarks.

Route Reflection a Good Example of How NFV Can Help the IP Edge
1/14/2015 - A good specific example of how NFV can help a network is the case of BGP route reflection on the IP edge.

Alcatel-Lucent: Service Provider SDN Promises Agility, Efficiency
1/6/2015 - Alcatel-Lucent explains how service providers can gain full control of their networks with SDN.

Operators Must Evolve Their IP Mobile Core-and Soon
1/5/2015 - It is clear that mobile operators have a sense of urgency to evolve their packet cores to meet exploding demands.

The Value for Operators of Network-Based Malware Detection Systems
12/22/2014 - Network-based security and malware detection software can protect customers, drive network efficiency and create competitive advantage.

Professional Services Can Greatly Simplify SDH Maintenance
12/22/2014 - With the right software and professional services maintaining optical networks can be greatly simplified.

Packet long-haul microwave: the experience one year later
12/22/2014 - A year after being deployed in several live networks the 9500 MPR long-haul platform has maintained expectations.

Options for MSOs Migrating to IMS
12/15/2014 - Multiple Systems Operators (MSOs) moving from TDM to all IP-based nets look to IMS to solve challenges.

Simplifying Multi-Layer Network Optimization is No Easy Matter
12/8/2014 - Optimizing converging IP and optical networks is the future, but getting there has its challenges.

Defeating the Overwhelming Complexity Constraint
12/2/2014 - This marks the third in my four-part series on the three constraints (aka "3Cs") marketing taxonomy presented at the recently concluded Alcatel-Lucent 2014 Technology Symposium. In the first two parts of this series I examined the 3Cs from a high level in terms of its overall simplicity for explaining the challenges faced by service providers in getting from the constrained world in which they operate to one of a ubiquitously available, high-performance and secure broadband future that was both adaptable to changing market demands and capable of providing new and profitable services efficiently and effectively.

Overcoming the Limited Connectivity Constraint
11/24/2014 - One of the highlights for the recently concluded Alcatel-Lucent 2014 Technology Symposium was the presentation by the company of its new messaging taxonomy. It is centered on overcoming what Alcatel-Lucent (ALU) sees as the three constraints (aka "3Cs") that are currently major challenges for service provides in a world facing a tsunami of data traffic which is increasingly unpredictable.

New Routing Platform Provides Competitive Edge
11/24/2014 - The recent announcements from Alcatel-Lucent of the expansion of their IP Edge Routing solutions platforms, which include virtualized IP Edge Service Routers and the compact hardware-based 7750-a, already have the industry buzzing. These are seen not just as giving Alcatel-Lucent (ALU) the ability to give their service provider customers the ability to be better competitors, but also have caught the attention of industry observers who are looking anew at ALU as a threat to the major players in the routing business.

Not Just Any SDN Solution Will Maximize Value of NFV
11/24/2014 - One size does not fit all when it comes to SDN enabling NFV optimization.

Bell Labs President Marcus Weldon Outlines Network 2020 Vision
11/19/2014 - The main thrust of the vision of the network we will be using by 2020 according to Weldon is that thanks to the proliferation of mobile devices-personal and IoT related-the world will be always on and always connected as well as wireless and cloud-centric. As he explained, the network of the near future will see a proliferation of small cells to achieve high-performance networking ubiquity, and that enabling this ubiquity and leveraging the fixed-line network at the backbone for cloud-centric feature functionality is "the only answer".

Marketing Matters: Three Cs Support the Alcatel-Lucent Shift Plan
11/12/2014 - Since Michel Combes became the CEO of Alcatel-Lucent in 2013, attention has centered on his creation and implementation of The Shift Plan. This is the initiative to reposition Alcatel-Lucent from a telecommunications equipment generalist to an industrial specialist in IP networking, ultra-broadband access (mobile and fixed) and cloud technologies, at the heart of next-generation networks. The focus rightly has been on the restructuring of assets, technology and people, while the company's marketing efforts, which are also a major part of the shift, have been in the background. Alcatel-Lucent has opened a new chapter of The Shift Plan focused on innovation, transformation and growth.

Nuage Networks Extends SDN Benefits to Branch Offices
11/12/2014 - At the 2014 Alcatel-Lucent Technology Symposium a central theme is that transformational technology for data centers in the form of Software Defined Networking (SDN) and Network Functions Virtualization (NFV) are not just the promise for the future, but are realities.

Alcatel-Lucent Virtualizes Entire IP Edge Routing Portfolio in Key NFV Acceleration Move
11/12/2014 - For those of us of a certain generation we can all remember the start of the TV show, Fantasy Island. In every episode the character Tattoo, played by Herve Villechaize, would run up the island's main bell tower to ring the bell and shout, "The plane! The plane!" The announcement at the 2014 Alcatel-Lucent Technology Symposium, that the company has upped the ante in the critical Network Functions Virtualization (NFV) space with its new Virtualized Service Router (VSR), makes that declaration about the plane, the plane timely.

Cable MSOs Will Need to Take Analytics Seriously in the Connected Home
11/11/2014 - The connected home presents challenges and oportunities for cable MSOs and analytics will be needed to address both.

Three Keys to Enhanced Communications Service Provider (CSP) Field Service
11/11/2014 - Good field service is key to cutting costs and pleasing customers.

What Mobile Network Operators Need to Combat OTT Mobile Apps
11/3/2014 - Applications assurance is emerging as a prime tool to enable mobile operators to combat OTTs.

Operators Need to Prepare Their Operations Support Systems for Full NFV Integration
11/3/2014 - There is a growing sense of urgency to upgrade Operations Support Systems and NFV and SDN can be enablers.

Scaling the Internet Requires Beefed Up Service Routers
10/28/2014 - World's largest Internet Exchange company DE-CIX, shows the way to scale with addition of next generation routers.

NFV Requires a New Mindset and Processes for Network Operators
10/28/2014 - Alcatel-Lucent makes the case that the right SDN is right for accelerating NFV development and deployment.

NFV on OpenStack Requires a Little Finesse
10/22/2014 - OpenStack can make a lot of sense for network functions virtualization (NFV) with a little fine tuning.

A superior customer experience awaits you at the intersection of Big Data and IP Communications
10/21/2014 - Customer experience is being redefined by Big Data, UC and the Web as key ingrediant to business success.

IP/MPLS Can Balance Smart Grid Deployment with Legacy System Support
10/14/2014 - IP/MPLS can provide power utilities a smooth migration to an efficient converged broadband infrastructure.

How Packet Microwave Can Extend Legacy Connections
10/14/2014 - How packet boost technology can extend the life of legacy connections by increasing throughput.

Operators Can Meet Mobile Wi-Fi Security Challenges with ePDG
10/7/2014 - The Evolved Packet Data Gateway (ePDG) standard lets operators keep data secure over any Wi-Fi connection.

How smart will mobile devices become? They will do things for you without you telling them to
10/3/2014 - Immersing people in a world where the context of communication changes rapidly,IP networks can personalize anything we do.

How to Make Packet Microwave Ready for LTE-Advanced Demands
10/1/2014 - By next year, mobile devices should start debuting that feature LTE-Advanced (LTE-A) Category 6. This will push speeds to up to 300 Mb/s downlink and 100 Mb/s uplink.

Accenture & Alcatel-Lucent Form A-Team For Ultra-Broadband
9/30/2014 - The rise of video conferencing alone would signal that more bandwidth in the wider market might become necessary at some point, but video conferencing-as big a market as that alone is proving to be-is just the tip of the iceberg when it comes to demands on bandwidth. Streaming video for entertainment, online gaming, voice over Internet protocol (VoIP) and similar tools all mean one thing: customers will be using quite a bit more in bandwidth for the foreseeable future. That combination of factors is bringing together a new combination, as Accenture and Alcatel-Lucent are getting together to provide better solutions to the growing broadband crunch.

G.fast Sets Speed Record for Copper Wire Data Transmission
9/23/2014 - Bell Labs, XG-FAST, can help copper wires transmit data at speeds of 10 Gbps over a distance of 30 meters.

Internet of Things (IoT) Business Intelligence Key to Next Generation Value Creation
9/15/2014 - Explosion of actionable insights will be coming from properly managing and analyzing Internet of Things (IoT) data.

The Challenges of Delivery IP Video in a Multiscreen Environment - Part 2
9/15/2014 - Second of two-part series on challenges of delivery high-quality IP video multiscreen experiences.

Cloud-Based Session Border Controllers Cut Costs While Adding Flexibility
9/9/2014 - Cloud-based Session Border Controllers (SBCs) can help improve network agility and performance.

Four Steps for Rolling Out Rural Ultra-Broadband
9/9/2014 - Alcatel-Lucent outlines key steps for rural utilities in deploying next generation infrastucture and services.

CVP2 Standard Helps Operators Handle Multiscreen IP Video Challenges
9/9/2014 - CVP2 standard helps operators take cost and complexity out of connected home deployments.

Alcatel-Lucent's Kindsight Malware Report Reveals Spying and Personal Info Theft on the Rise
9/5/2014 - As if all of the data breaches of the past few days (JPMorgan Chase, Apple, Home Depot and Goodwill Industries just to name a few) were not enough, Alcatel-Lucent (ALU) is out with one of my favorite reports on online security. Yes, the ALU Kindsight Security Labs Malware Report - H1 2014 (click here to download), is hot off the presses, and not surprising the news is not so good for us users. In fact, this is particularly true for us when we are using our personal devices in personal rather than business mode.

Small Cells Enable Improved Customer Experience
9/3/2014 - Small cells can help mobile operators meet traffic demands and deliver an improved Quality of Experience (QoE).

Evolved Packet Data Gateway Helps Mobile Operators Integrate Wi-Fi Hotspots with Cellular Service
9/2/2014 - Evolved Packet Data Gateways (ePDGs) are enabling mobile operators to integrate Wi-Fi into their service portfolios.

Distributed NFV Helps Operators Stay Flexible
8/26/2014 - NFV provides network operators the agility they desire leveraging distributed architecture.

VoLTE has Edge for Superior Real-Time Voice finds Signals Research Group Study
8/25/2014 - As almost all analysis currently shows, the race is on globally by mobile operators to deploy 4G LTE networks for a variety of competitive and financial reasons. In fact, not the least of these, along with having a next generation infrastructure to serve as a more efficient and effective platform for a host of new multiple media services, is the attractiveness of VoLTE (Voice over LTE).

How to Support Efficient TDM in a Packet Microwave Environment
8/19/2014 - Support and interworking of legacy TDM networks remains a priority for modern packet microwave systems.

NFV Security Offers Up New Challenges
8/19/2014 - Network Functions Virtualization (NFV) offers multiple benefits when security issues are properly addressed.

Nuage Networks Virtualizes and Automates the Data Center
8/12/2014 - Nuage Networks SDN virtual services platform enables the realization of the cloud's full potential.

XG-FAST Breaks World Record for Copper Broadband Speeds
8/12/2014 - Bell Labs breaks record for speeds over copper wire over a distance of 30 meters using XG-FAST.

Microwave Backhaul Key for Mobile Operators as They Meet User Demand
8/12/2014 - Mobile operators are upgrading backhaul to meet exploding user requirements.

Operators Look to Test Packet Core Virtualization with Emerging Services Before Full Rollout
8/5/2014 - Mobile operators are currently evaluating good services candidates for deplyment over evolved packet core (vEPC).

Alcatel-Lucent and Intel Join Forces to Accelerate Network Functions Virtualization (NFV)
7/29/2014 - Alcatel-Lucent and Intel are teaming up to accelerate adoption of Network Functions Virtualization (NFV).

C-RAN Helps Deliver on Mobile Fronthaul Demands
7/29/2014 - C-RAN approach using CWDM for fronthaul emerging as important piece of end-to-end wireless broadband.