Monday Bytes: Cisco, Ciena, IQGeo, TalkTalk

Two optical upgrades, some software, and some M&A chatter:

Cisco has trialed 800Gbps on a transatlantic link. Working with the folks at Microsoft, the trial took place over the Amitié cable between Boston MA and Bordeaux, France on a span of 6,234km. They also tested 600Gbps over 12,469km by looping it back, demonstrating a 140Gbaud single carrier signal. Amitié uses Space Division Multiplexing and features 16 fiber pairs with repeater power shared across the fiber pairs.\

Ciena’s 800Gbps technology will be getting a workout in the Baltic nation of Lithuania. Telia Lithuania is upgrading its national network with Ciena’s WL5e coherent optics to support 400G, with 800Gbps being deployed between major cities. The upgrade will enable Telia to meet the demand coming from 5G, IoT, and other nextgen technologies.

IQGeo has won a contract with Precision Contracting Services. PCS will be using their network management software to support fiber networks in markets across the US. The upgrade from legacy technology will support PCS’s wide range of corporate and commercial clients’ network needs.

And the M&A rumor mill is in action over in the UK mobile space. TalkTalk is said to be in, well, talks, with both Macquarie and Virgin Media O2 about buying all or part of the company. TalkTalk has been busy splitting itself into consumer, business, and wholesale companies. Macquarie is said to be close to a deal to buy the wholesale business, while VMO2 has been mentioned in connection with buying the whole thing but is now said to be looking at the consumer division.

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Categories: Mergers and Acquisitions · SDN · Software · Telecom Equipment · Wireless