The Critical Lowdown

In the evolving landscape of telecommunications, the shift towards open networking represents a significant pivot from traditional, proprietary systems. This transition is not merely a change in technology but a transformation in how networks are conceptualized, designed, and managed. Open networking, with its emphasis on flexibility, cost efficiency, and innovation, is reshaping the infrastructure of the internet, making it more accessible and adaptable to the needs of today's digital world.

In the last episode, we delved into the transformative impact that 400G ZR+ technology is having on data center networking. The evolution from traditional network architecture to the integration of advanced 400G ZR+ optics eliminates layers of complexity and the need for separate transponder layers. This shift, enabled by technological advancements in digital signal processors and the standardization of optical specifications, promises enhanced data transmission distances, efficiency and interoperability across different vendors' equipment.
In Part 2, we'll explore the software side of implementing 400G technology in data centers and the reassurance a tried-and-tested solution brings. Victor Khen from IP Infusion shares insights into the role of network operating systems in managing and tuning 400G transceivers, emphasizing the importance of a common management interface for seamless interoperability. Our industry experts descibe the comprehensive testing and qualification processes these high-performance components have undergone to build an interoperable plug-and-play 400G ZR+ solution, as well as the anticipated advancements in network management through AI and machine learning.

• Nanda Ravindran is VP of Product Management at Edgecore Networks.
• Victor Khen is Marketing Manager for Partners with IP Infusion
• Gert Sarlet is Director of Product Management at Coherent.

As data centers continue to be the backbone of our increasingly digital world, the demand for faster, more efficient interconnectivity is paramount. The advent of 400G ZR+ technology is a testament to the open networking industry's relentless pursuit of these needs. 400G ZR+ is setting new standards for data center interconnects, offering unprecedented bandwidth and performance that meet the insatiable demand for data intensive applications.

To kick off season 3 of The Critical Lowdown, and to coincide with the launch of our 400G product bundle, we have brought together the industry experts in 400G for a two part series.

• Nanda Ravindran is VP of Product Management at Edgecore Networks.
• Victor Khen is Marketing Manager for Partners with IP Infusion
• Gert Sarlet is Director of Product Management at Coherent.

In Part 2 of our two part series on the challenges of network security in IT and OT environments, Chris Bihary, CEO of Garland Technology along John Lynch, Director of Sales for EMEA for EPS Global, speak about the concept of a Zero Trust Framework, as well as the strategies for securing the entire network.

As the world becomes more connected, the importance of robust and efficient networking systems is becoming increasingly apparent. Whether it's for business, education, healthcare or entertainment, reliable networks are the backbone of our digital lives. In a world where everything is becoming interconnected, the role of networking professionals is more crucial than ever.

We sat down with two of our valued partners at the 2023 WISPAPLOOZA Trade Show in Las Vegas, Craig Schaefer from IP Infusion, and Tom Mitchell from netElastic.

Cyber Attacks on critical infrastructure have been on the rise for the last decade, accelerated in recent years by the covid-19 pandemic and the war in Ukraine. In 2021, approximately 90 percent of manufacturing organizations had their production or energy supply hit by some form of cyberattack.

It's no longer enough to have a moat around your servers — the proverbial castle approach. The barbarians, as cyber criminals are often depicted, are not just at the gates; they're already inside the castle, seeking a moment of distraction to launch their assault. Amid this backdrop, one of the biggest challenges is this: how to safeguard the giant technologies at these interfaces from relentless cyber threats?

In part 1 of this 2 part series, our Director of Sales for EMEA, John Lynch, sat down with Chris Bihary, CEO and CO-FOUNDER of Garland Technology, an industry leader of IT and OT network solutions for enterprise, critical infrastructures, and government agencies worldwide.

June 20th is World Wifi Day. World WiFi Day 2023 celebrates innovations and new projects that help bridge the digital divide worldwide. The goal is to improve consumer access in broadband-deprived areas in both developed and developing countries. One such innovation is OpenWiFi, a groundbreaking initiative from the Telecom Infra Project. It's more than just a technology; it's a movement that aims to democratize internet access, particularly in areas lacking broadband connectivity, in both developed and developing countries.
New latency-sensitive applications like Augmented Reality and Virtual Reality (AR/VR) are driving demand for fast, reliable connectivity. The combination of high-density WiFi 6, WiFi 6E, and Wi-Fi 7 offers service providers a powerful toolkit to deliver ubiquitous, always-on connectivity. OpenWiFi plays a pivotal role in this ecosystem.
In this bonus episode of The Critical Lowdown, we delve into what OpenWiFi is, or more importantly is not, and its potential to revolutionize connectivity. So, sit back, relax, and join us as we look at how OpenWiFi is contributing to the mission of World Wi-Fi Day and the potential of this new technology.

“Organizations should have started implementing security measures yesterday, given that new product introductions often take 9 months or more to produce in volume”.

In Part 2 of The Building Blocks for IOT Security, our panel of experts emphasizes the importance of making IoT security more accessible and consumable for engineers and designers, as well as the need for collaboration among industry players to tackle security challenges for connected devices.

This episode covers the increasing number of cybersecurity regulations worldwide, the need for a proactive approach, and the key role organizations like EPS Global, NXP, IAR, and Future Electronics are playing in providing practical and accessible security solutions for volume production of connected devices.

"If it's not safe, it's not smart". Listen Now.

For the past decade, manufacturers have been rushing to fulfill the promise of the Internet of Things. The deployment of 5G, which enabled smartphones and smartwatches, has led the way for smart fridges, smart vacuums, smart pacemakers, smart security, and a whole host of connected consumer products.

By the end of 2022, there were an estimated 7 billion IoT devices in the world, each one packed with software. This exponential growth has presented opportunities to malign actors to exploit potential weaknesses for criminal gains. According to Microsoft's 2022 Digital Defense Report, IoT devices are the key entry point for many attacks. In December 2022, the CEO of Zurich Insurance, Mario Greco, said that cyberattacks could pose a larger threat to insurers than systemic issues like pandemics and climate change, and as a result, could become uninsurable.

2022 is seen by many experts as the inflection point for IoT security, and governments have begun to protect individuals, businesses, and key infrastructure. Last year on The Critical Lowdown, we predicted that 2023 would be the year of IoT security, and so it has proved. In the UK, the PSTI Act has passed into law, the EU Cyber Resilience Act is progressing in Brussels, and the US IoT Cybersecurity Improvement Act of 2020 has been bolstered by new cybersecurity measures in the 2022 Appropriations Bill. The legislation is tightening, and the consequences are getting even more significant.

To navigate this complex security ecosystem, we have assembled a panel of the industry's foremost experts to discuss the legislation, threats, technology, distribution, and solutions.

In 2016 Microsoft developed Software for Open Networking in the Cloud – better known by its acronym SONiC, for its Azure cloud data centers.
In 2022, Microsoft ceded oversight of the project to the Linux Foundation, who will continue to work with the Open Compute Project for continued ecosystem and developer growth. Despite its increased profile since 2017, SONiC’s growth has mostly been focused among large hyperscalers and enterprises that have the resources to build their own automation and management tools – and according to Forbes has been the preserve of “Hardcore Networking Geeks”.
So what is SONiC? What makes it unique? And how can businesses make the most of it to cut costs and improve efficiency?

The market for programmable devices is huge and continues to grow, driven by the relentless march of technological progress: new applications, better performance and more features. This market is expected to be worth an estimated $15.2 billion by the end of this year, compared to $7.9 billion in 2017. New products are being developed for IoT devices including smart home applications, industrial automation, or Industry 5.0, autonomous vehicles, and generally higher performance embedded systems which require specialized devices. These devices need to be programmed in order to perform the tasks demanded of them, and secured if they are Internet-Connected.

Now, seemingly more than ever, there is a trend towards subcontracting the programming of these devices, propelled by market forces ranging from a volatile chip supply, a constrained labor market, the rising cost of capital investment and difficulty in raising debt.

With these prevailing mega trends at play why is outsourcing your IC Programming a competitive and sustainable option to ensure your projects are rolled out on time and on budget?

The need for high speed broadband connections in rural areas is firmly in the spotlight. The shift to online services and working from home has accelerated an already unprecedented demand. Governments are responding in kind - with $42.5bn being pledged in the US alone through its Broadband Equity, Access, and Deployment Program. The need for rapid deployments means electrical coops - who have existing infrastructure in these areas - are turning their hand to broadband deployment. Why?

The electricity customer base is not growing meaning the revenue model has plateaued, but Co-Ops are looking to return value to their members still. Becoming an ISP offers a massive new revenue share, it provides new revenue streams for Internet, Private Circuits, and Co-Location.

Major vendors like Juniper have dominated the market for Electric Co-Ops but inflated licencing costs and a lack of sureity on where the costs are going to go in the future has prompted a need for supply chain diversification.

For Electrical Co-Ops there are complex problems to solve in every vertical of networking: Enterprise, OT for Electric Grid, and Service Provider for ISP.

IPv6 strategies are few and far between - forcing CAPEX spend on large blocks of IPv4.

All of which makes Electrical Co-Ops the perfect candidate for disaggregated or open networking. It can help to reduce CAPEX and Operational expenses immediately and for the future, making projections more attractive, and the technology is there to enable multitenancy to use the network for the 3 different models. Open Networking hardware is more readily available so a new network can be deployed quicker, and the support available from open networking vendors is responsive and dependable.

Today we look at how can Electrical Co-Ops make the transition to becoming Service Providers with ease through Open Networking.

The semiconductor industry is changing rapidly. The past few years have been marked by a global chip shortage, global supply chain crisis, and a ever changing security threat landscape. 2023 is set to be the year of security, with ever tightening legislation in the US, UK and EU placing more demands on manufacturers. What does 2023 hold in store for the semiconductor industry?

In this episode of the Critical Lowdown we spoke to Malcom Kitchen, Field Applications Engineer with EPS Global, fresh from his visit as part of the EPS team to Embedded World 2023. In this podcast, Malcolm tells us what the emerging trends are for the market, some cool ideas he saw at the show, and what the new security legislation means going forward,

Total global mobile data traffic – excluding traffic generated by fixed wireless access – reached around 67Exabytes per month by the end of 2021. This is projected to quadruple to reach 282 exabytes per month in 2027. Demand for data shows no signs of slowing and network operators are challenged every day with the need to deliver massive scale and new services—all at lower costs. 
One solution, which is proving successful, is a switch to open disaggregated networking. So why are service providers and telcos making the switch?
This is episode 16 of The Critical Lowdown. 
Recently our Senior Systems Engineer, and podcast regular, Barry McGinley sat down with IP Infusion,  a leading provider of network solutions for telecom and data communications operators. IP Infusion deliver open, standards-based solutions that span from the edge of the network, through the transport layer to multi-cloud environments. With over 20 years experience, they are a proven leader in delivering validated, carrier-grade solutions, with hundreds of customers and thousands of deployments.

In the last quarter of this year there was a 98% increase in malware targeting IoT devices. The threat landscape is rapidly changing, from an increase in state-backed cyber attacks, as well as financially motivated attacks on businesses – security has never been so critical. Reflecting this sharp increase, governments in the UK, US and EU are solidifying security legislation and minimum security standards.

So how can businesses protect their microcontrollers from malign actors and do it simply? Answering questions like what is the real cost of IoT security? Can it be implemented in projects that are already in-flight and what are the repercussions if IoT security is not implemented? This is episode 15 of the Critical Lowdown.

More and more enterprises are turning to Open Networking as the new way forward. From shorter lead times to more flexibility in network deployments, the possibilities are endless. But in essence what is Open Networking? What are the benefits and indeed drawbacks of this approach?

Over the past 12 episodes we have brought you insights and testimonials from the world of Open Networking, but today we’ll be answering the most frequently asked questions as well as questions submitted by you, the listener.

We are joined by EPS Global Senior Systems Engineer for EMEA, Barry McGinley; and Mark Downey who is our Head of Sales for Northern Europe.

In Part 2 we enter a quick fire round with Barry and Mark, where we cover such topics as DCI, GPON and of all places, Slough. 

More and more enterprises are turning to Open Networking as the new way forward. From shorter lead times to more flexibility in network deployments, the possibilities are endless. But in essence what is Open Networking? What are the benefits and indeed drawbacks of this approach? Over the past 12 episodes we have brought you insights and testimonials from the world of Open Networking, but today we’ll be answering the most frequently asked questions as well as questions submitted by you the listener. 

We are joined by two of our team of experts, Barry McGinley, Senior Systems Engineer for EMEA, and Mark Downey, Head of Sales for Northern Europe to discuss the beginnings of open networking, to where it is today, and where its heading. If you have any questions please get in touch with us today. 

If it wasn’t clear before, the last number of years have crystallized the fact that internet access is an absolute necessity in the contemporary world. With people working from home, streaming services instead of using traditional media platforms, and vital services such as education, banking and telemedicine being administered online – many are calling for Internet access to be classed alongside power and water as a household utility. Those who do not have Internet are isolated and their access to equal opportunities is at risk.

Despite the explosion in demand, governments and service providers are struggling to keep up as global supply chains continue to feel the squeeze and budgetary constraints prevail.

So how can service providers navigate around the supply chain crunch, cut lead times and costs for deployment?

Open, disaggregated Networking may be the answer.

EPS Global Head of Sales for North America, Alan Fagan sat down with Jeff Hummel and Nate Gerencser from MetaLINK, as well as Jeff Schuele from IP Architechs to discuss our collaboration and success in slashing lead times and delivering for MetaLINKs expansion. 

Internet Service Providers face several significant challenges in supporting their subscribers with demand for bandwidth growing and the number of IoT devices surging. Additionally as users demand richer services such as 4K video, digital game downloads, and buffer-free conference calls, more strain is being placed on the existing wireless infrastructure found in your average household.

In Europe alone the number of smart light bulbs in households grew by 233% in 2021, while in the US the number of smart devices rose to 21 per household that same year.

Yet as the “new normal” begins to take shape, accelerated by the global pandemic and changes in how we work and consume entertainment, one thing is for certain, the need for speedy, reliable broadband is here to stay. Research shows 49% of households have changed providers over concerns about quality of experience.

So what now for Service Providers, who want fewer truck-rolls, loyal subscribers and reduced churn? How can they transform into 'experience' providers, deliver new revenue-generating services and gain unprecedented end-to-end visibility into their networks?

Microcontrollers run our lives. They power industrial and consumer products from factories to fridges, coffee machines, our phones and our cars. These tiny devices work together in symphony to perform the tasks that keep us moving. With demand for these devices already high and growing year on year, manufacturers are under pressure to make sure their devices are on time, on budget and secure. Can outsourcing device programming simplify the manufacturing process, and can it help manufacturers maintain speed and quality on their assembly lines?

Dependemos en gran medida de la electrónica para alimentar los productos que utilizamos a diario, desde nuestros teléfonos, televisores, ordenadores portátiles, electrodomésticos y, sobre todo, nuestros coches. La rápida evolución de la conectividad en la industria del automóvil ha provocado un cambio fundamental en la forma de construir y comprar vehículos.

Donde antes había acero y pistones, ahora tenemos fibra de carbono y chips electrónicos conectados al IoT (internet de las cosas).  Esperamos que nuestro coche se sincronice perfectamente con nuestro teléfono y nos dé indicaciones para llegar a nuestros destinos.

La fuente inteligente que está detrás de todo esto son los dispositivos electrónicos o chips que se colocan en tablillas de circuitos en las líneas de montaje superficial de todo el mundo en la fabricación de estos productos que todos conocemos y amamos.  La mayoría de nosotros sabe poco sobre lo que ocurre detrás de bastidores.

¿Cómo se encintan  los productos electrónicos para su montaje eficiente en nuestros dispositivos más codiciados?

Ciara McCarthy habla con Carlos Rodríguez, de EPS Programming, para descubrir cómo esta técnica de empaque  puede ahorrarle tiempo y dinero en su línea de montaje.

The Internet of Things is one of the world’s fastest evolving technologies. There is 22 billion devices in circulation around the globe, with that number set to increase by 15 billion in the next 3 years. However, as the number of these connected devices surge so do the attack surfaces for potential bad actors.

Over the next two episodes of The Critical Lowdown we are going to ask, “With increased connectivity in consumer, medical, industrial, and critical infrastructure domains, just how do we guarantee trust and privacy in a hyper-connected world of devices, and how can manufacturers ensure the Internet of Things does not become the Internet of Trouble.

CEO of EPS Global, Colin Lynch sat down with Haydn Povey, founder and CEO of Secure Thingz and the Chief Strategy Officer at IAR Systems, to discuss the topic of IOT security. Haydn has just returned from the World Economic Forum in Davos, Switzerland, where he has been acting in an advisory role on the key requirements for security of connected devices, and on the future minimum standards.

The Internet of Things is one of the world’s fastest evolving technologies. There is 22 billion devices in circulation around the globe, with that number set to increase by 15 billion in the next 3 years. However, as the number of these connected devices surge so do the attack surfaces for potential bad actors.

Over the next two episodes of The Critical Lowdown we are going to ask, “With increased connectivity in consumer, medical, industrial, and critical infrastructure domains, just how do we guarantee trust and privacy in a hyper-connected world of devices, and how can manufacturers ensure the Internet of Things does not become the Internet of Trouble.

CEO of EPS Global, Colin Lynch sat down with Haydn Povey, founder and CEO of Secure Thingz and the Chief Strategy Officer at IAR Systems, to discuss the topic of IOT security. Haydn has just returned from the World Economic Forum in Davos, Switzerland, where he has been acting in an advisory role on the key requirements for security of connected devices, and on the future minimum standards.

We rely heavily on electronics to power the products we use on a daily basis from our phones, TVs, laptops, home appliances, and especially our cars. The rapid evolution of connectivity in the automotive industry has led to a fundamental shift in the way we build and buy vehicles.

Where once there was steel and pistons, we now have carbon fiber and electronic chips connected to the IoT. We expect that our car will sync seamlessly with our phone, and give us directions to our destinations.

The intelligent source behind all of this is electronic devices or chips that are placed onto circuit boards on assembly lines across the globe in the manufacture of these products we all know and love. Most of us know little about what goes on behind the scenes.

How do electronics get packaged for efficient assembly into our most coveted devices?

Ciara McCarthy talks to Carlos Rodriguez from EPS Programming to find out how this packaging technique can save you time and money on your assembly line.

5G is the new global wireless standard enabling a new kind of network that is designed to connect virtually everyone and everything together including machines, objects, and devices. As of February 2022, 209 commercial networks launched 5G coverage, with as many as 429 operators in 137 countries investing in 5G, including trials, acquisition of licences, planning, network deployments and launches.
While most of the industry focuses on 5G new radio, or 5G NR, the transport network has a critical role to play in 5G by providing the fronthaul, midhaul, and backhaul infrastructure – collectively known as “crosshaul (or x-haul)”.
5G crosshaul is radically different from the common 4G mobile backhaul. New requirements include lower latency, higher data rates, hard isolation of network slices, and dynamic connectivity for on-demand services encompassing multiple physical and virtual components at the RAN. The present infrastructure is not fit for purpose and Edgecore Networks is leading the way in this network transformation.
Our Senior Systems Engineer, Barry McGinley, sat down with Edgecore Network's VP of Product Management, Nanda Ravindran, to discuss why service providers should consider 5G backhaul/x-haul network deployments, and what role is there for open networking.

Access to high speed networks has long been a priority for governments and enterprises alike. The UK Government has set ambitious targets to have gigabit-capable broadband coverage to 85% of the UK by 2025. In the US, $60 billion has been pledged to help bring broadband to rural regions and to “rip and replace” unsecure equipment. In Germany, the federal government has committed €12 Billion for fiber projects through its Grey Spots funding programme.
So with the intent clear from governments around the world, how can service providers harness open networking to speed up deployments and cut costs?

The ambitious target of 85% gigabit coverage in the UK has drawn a lot of entrants to the market. One of the companies in the UK that are helping the UK government to achieve their ambitious goal is Netomnia, who along with their ISP partner, YouFibre, has seen a lot of investment recently, raising over £400m in the last year.
Our head of Sales in Northern Europe and Africa, Mark Downey, sat down with Netomnia’s Director of Networks, Feka Samakuva as part of a discussion with the Internet Service Providers Association in the UK to discuss their success in partnering with EPS Global, and how it all went from a plan drawn on a napkin to 1 million premises connected to 10gig networks.

Demand for cloud services is growing and with that is the need for more infrastructure to support this growth in traffic. For every blog post, photo and tweet there is a physical manifestation somewhere in the world. These manifestations are data centers. The carbon footprint of data centers and their energy usage has come into sharp focus, as climate targets loom, and the climate crisis intensifies. How can open networking meet this challenge and bridge this gap? 

Senior Systems Engineer for EPS Global, Barry McGinley, is joined by Open Compute Project board member John Laban to talk about how the switch to open networking can reduce emissions and energy usage in data centers. 

The modern world runs on microchips. They drive our cars, run our smart homes, and allow us to communicate at lightning speed. 2020 to 2021 has seen a two-sided squeeze on the global chip market as the Covid-19 Global Pandemic accelerated already unprecedented demand and supply was restricted by extreme weather events, trade wars, and a global slowdown. How can service providers maintain access to supply chains while not compromising on security and quality on their networks?

Head of Sales in North America for EPS, Alan Fagan, is joined by Pica8 CMO Kelly LeBlanc to talk about the alternatives to legacy network equipment and how service providers can make the shift in the midst of a supply chain crisis. 

The Critical Lowdown is a technology podcast from the team at EPS Global. Each episode will give you access to industry experts, and step beyond the anecdotes to see how new technologies, chip shortages, and an ever-changing security landscape affects you and the projects you're rolling out. Over the course of this series, we are going to bring you interviews, explainers, and valuable insights on topics ranging from traditional and open networking, to electronics manufacturing and IoT security.