Page 63 - SAMENA Trends - September 2021

TECHNOLOGY UPDATES SAMENA TRENDS

TECHNOLOGY NEWS

EU, US Join Hands on Chip Supplies, Big Tech

The European Union (EU) and US reaffirmed a commitment to during the meeting, which was co-chaired by high-ranking
build partnerships aimed at rebalancing global semiconductor officials including European Commission EVP Margrethe Vestager.
supply chains and collaborate to lead development in the In an inaugural statement, the TTC explained the US and EU
segment, while also pledging to work together to regulate the would work to enhance security of supplies and their respective
big tech sector. In the first meeting of the recently-formed EU- capacity to design and produce semiconductors, “especially,
US Trade and Technology Council (TTC), numerous objectives but not limited to, those with cutting-edge capabilities”. The
to coordinate approaches on key technology issues were up partnership would be balanced and of equal interest to both sides,
for discussion. Semiconductors were identified as a top priority while they further underlined the importance of working together
to identify gaps in the value chain and strengthening domestic
markets. Addressing a current chip shortage, the group detailed
an initial focus on short-term supply chain issues, with longer
term goals to be defined at a future meeting. TTC also agreed
joint development of AI platforms, and cooperation on screening
investments and export controls covering sensitive technologies.
The group added it planned to engage with tech giants to improve
data practices. “We are committed to transatlantic cooperation
regarding platform policies that focus on disinformation, product
safety, counterfeit products, and other harmful content.” While
TTC did not specifically mention the threat posed by China, the
message was clear. “We stand together to protect our businesses,
consumers and workers from unfair trade practices, in particular
those posed by non-market economies that are undermining the
world trading system.”

Vodafone, Nokia, Cisco, and Others Conduct First Multi-Vendor Test of New

Broadband Standard

Vodafone, Nokia, Cisco, Benu Networks, greater flexibility and choice of control cloud. “As a leading BNG vendor, Nokia is
and Casa Systems have successfully and user planes from different vendors pleased to demonstrate support for a wide
conducted the first multi-vendor test of leveraging the TR-459 standard.” Just as range of BNG deployment models including
a new broadband standard. The vendors Open RAN is helping the mobile ecosystem Broadband Forum’s disaggregated BNG
tested a new open architecture for the to avoid vendor lock-in, disaggregated architecture,” commented Vach Kompella,
Broadband Network Gateway (BNG). BNGs BNGs will help to do the same for fixed VP and GM of Nokia’s IP Networks Business
are critical for connecting multiple users broadband. “We are already driving a more Division. “Nokia envisions a significant
to the internet but have historically been diverse and open mobile ecosystem with evolution in BNG architecture with the
locked to a single supplier. Disaggregated Open RAN, and now we are targeting fixed introduction of CUPS in fixed, wireless and
BNGs based on the global TR-459 standard broadband,” explained Johan Wibergh, 5G fixed wireless applications which will
from the Broadband Forum will enable Chief Technology Officer for Vodafone. “As allow rapid feature introduction, optimal
the component to work using separate an industry, and with government support, user plane placement and selection, as
software and hardware from multiple we owe it to people with no or slow internet well as improved operations.” Vodafone
vendors. “Cisco is committed to driving access to quicken the rollout of new says the use of disaggregated BNGs will
solutions to expand broadband penetration capabilities on fast, fixed broadband.” The enable it to upgrade, scale, and deploy
worldwide,” said Andy Schutz, Product multi-vendor test successfully separated new features and add more capacity
Management Senior Director for Cisco. core gateway control functions – including separately, increasing agility when making
“We believe the work being done in the authenticating a user and increasing enhancements across its broadband
Broadband Forum is fundamental to these bandwidth to support streaming services network.
efforts, especially in the area of creating – and enabled them to be managed in the

63 SEPTEMBER 2021