Global communications networks are changing dramatically. High-speed mobile access and cloud services are driving massive bandwidth demand from users. Virtualization is changing the network, with application servers and many of the network functions themselves hosted in large data centers. Hyperscale data center operators and service providers are installing 100 Gbit/s (100G) connections across their networks, […]

The industry is moving to cloud-based services with virtual functions implemented on servers in data centers. These virtualized solutions require significantly higher bandwidth between servers and between applications running on the servers and users. Switches are the key link, providing low latency packet forwarding, network virtualization and overlay capabilities to maximize performance in virtualized network […]

Multicore processors are at the heart of the revolution in the world’s communications infrastructure, enabling virtualized network functions (VNFs) and the shift to cloud-based services. Industry developments including software-defined networking (SDN) and network functions virtualization (NFV) rely on server platforms with multicore processors that scale from small and medium-size business premises equipment, through the network […]

In the rush to virtualized network applications using software-defined networking (SDN) and network functions virtualization (NFV) the importance of multicore processors and packet processing is often missed. Multicore processors are used in many networking systems including routers, switches, network appliances and server-based platforms used to support virtual network functions (VNFs). Multicore processors, including integrated multicore […]

Global data traffic continues to grow at more than 20 percent compound annual growth rate (CAGR), and this is fueling demand for 400G connections. The growth in global data traffic is largely driven by businesses and individuals accessing cloud services through mobile devices and fixed-line connections. Hyperscale data centers operated by a wide range of […]

Social media, mobile data and cloud computing are all driving demand for greater network bandwidth, new services and more cost-effective data centers for both enterprise and telecom applications. To meet these demands, service providers are shifting from conventional networking and data center solutions to a new generation of solutions based on virtualized services and applications […]

Commercial off-the-shelf (COTS) platforms and white box switches are at the core of the New IP that service providers will be using to deliver next-generation cloud and mobile services. The COTS ecosystem is responding to service provider demands with a comprehensive range of open solutions that implement software-defined networking (SDN), network functions virtualization (NFV) and […]

Demand for mobile data continues to grow, and Long Term Evolution (LTE) technology is enabling carriers to meet that demand. LTE is the world’s fastest-growing mobile networking technology, with more than 400 commercial LTE networks launched since 2010, when deployment really started. There are now 677 operators investing in LTE in 181 countries, and more […]

Field programmable gate arrays (FPGAs) and application-specific integrated circuits (ASICs) are widely used in networking and telecom systems. Both FPGAs and ASICs allow system designers to use silicon devices that implement their own designs rather than using merchant silicon that may not match their particular requirements. Most FPGAs are configured in the target system when […]