Posts by Category

Next-Gen 100G, LTE and Capacity – JDSU Goes on Camera

4/26/2013 · Posted by Bernie Tylor
0  Comments · Permalink

As the communications industry continues to hit its stride, many of the technologies that are enabling fast and reliable communications and entertainment through mobile devices continue to stay strong. And they still contribute to shaping the overall success of enjoying robust, fast and dependable mobile apps and video downloads.

Let’s take 100G, for example.  Where is that today?  In a recently posted video, Brandon Collings, CTO of the communications and commercial optical products group at JDSU, discusses the next generation of 100G, emphasizing how key it is to "make 100G much more economical to deploy, to bring costs down, and size down.”   Click here for more from Brandon.
brandon.png
Brandon Collings (left) of JDSU takes on next-gen 100G.
 
That's not all. 4G and LTE are still a driving force behind making future mobile communications speeds a reality.  But, as Per Kangru of JDSU observes, capacity explosion leads to business problems. And operators are focused on monetizing the network, managing app space and the load on network elements.   Examples include the ‘Gangnam Style’ popularity that drove immense data but virtually no money was made off of it.   Hey, how about ‘Harlem Shake’?    Click on the video below. 
  
Start Video Code

End Video Code -
 
Per Kangru, LTE business development manager in JDSU’s communications test and measurement business unit.
 
As you can see and hear, 100G and LTE are still cornerstone technologies that will play a large role in communications – industry perspective helps to shine a light on where we are now, and what challenges remain.    
​
Categories:Optical Communications, LTE, Mobility, Small Cells

 

JDSU Holds 3rd Annual Analyst Day

2/19/2013 · Posted by Noël Bilodeau
1  Comment · Permalink

JDSU held its third annual Analyst Day in San Francisco last week. The event was well attended by financial analysts, many of whom who wrote encouraging reports about what they heard from a very confident senior management team.

A Day group.jpg
 JDSU leaders took questions from the audience during Analyst Day 2013
After CEO Tom Waechter kicked off the meeting by emphasizing our strategic initiatives and summarizing the core markets that we serve, he handed it over to the segment leaders for more insight.
CCOP – New Products Are Gaining Traction
JDSU president Alan Lowe exuded confidence about opportunities for CCOP in 2013, not only because the June quarter will see improvements as telecom budgets are finalized and pent up demand is released, but also because new CCOP products are gaining traction. Highlights from Lowe’s presentation include:
-CCOP currently has its largest ROADM design pipeline in the company’s history with 18 customer engagements (compared to 6 in 2012).
-NEMs & carriers want to customize products like TrueFlex 1X20 ROADM and Super Transport Blades to add agility to their network infrastructures.
-CCOP is excited about opportunities it is seeing in the $1.9 billion datacom market that grows at a slightly faster rate (10-15%/year) than the telecom market (9-12%/year).
-JDSU gesture recognition solutions will be in a next generation gaming platform that will generate double the value to JDSU compared to its first solution. Its  gesture recognition technology will also be incorporated into consumer electronics, PCs and tablets  that have much larger shipment potential (250-300M units/year) compared to gaming consoles (10-20M units/year).
-Commercial lasers continue to be driven by lasers for both macro and micro machining. Amada is exploring new uses for macro lasers with JDSU and micro machining is driven by the need for precision and accuracy in the manufacturing of small consumer devices.
CommTest – Growth in Mobility & Software
CommTest leader David Heard emphasized how CommTest not only test and measures networks, but is an end-to-end network and service enablement partner for service providers. Highlights from Heard’s presentation include:
-Solutions for the Mobility area are currently CommTest’s largest driver with 40 percent of sales; this is expected to increase to 60 percent over the next two years as more people use mobile devices and new services like 4G LTE. JDSU is also gaining traction from the recent wireless test acquisitions of GenComm and Dyaptive.
-CommTest expects long-term improvement to its business model as it moves to more software-based solutions that provide recurring revenue from subscriptions used by service providers and NEMs.
-JDSU intelligence-gathering solutions PacketPortal & PacketInsight are seeing early stage success. PacketInsight now has 10 customers and 14 trials while PacketPortal has 14 customers and 36 trials.
-The new StrataSync solution introduced last month will also help with network visibility issues and will drive incremental demand as another subscription-based service.
-Heard indicated that the JDSU CommTest division has a #1 position in Ethernet, fiber, CaTV, xDSL, IPTV, Storage and IP/Router transmission.
-New solutions to support small cells are also on their way from JDSU.
Optical Security Products – Cash is Still King
OSP executive Luke Scrivanich discussed how the world is still a cash-driven society and the anti-counterfeiting features that JDSU provides to help protect currency.
-China and India are important regions for OSP due to the high use of paper currency and somewhat sophisticated counterfeiting attempts in these areas.
-JDSU currency pigments and threads are expected to grow beyond the 5% long-term CAGR as they are used to support cash-centric regions and as they are integrated into new banknote redesigns.
JDSU CFO – The Sails Are Up
Our new CFO Rex Jackson closed out the meeting by emphasizing how JDSU is well positioned with a strong financial model and great operating leverage.
As Rex put it “The boat’s in great shape, the sales are up, when we catch wind we’ll be in really great shape.”
One of the financial analyst firms included this quote in their report the following day but it was so good that I had to also share it in my blog post.
Rex.jpg
   JDSU CFO Rex Jackson
Categories:2013 Trends, JDSU Analyst Day, JDSU People, LTE, Mobility, Optical Communications, Quarterly Roundup, ROADMs, The Cloud, The Future, Broadband

 

Hot Stories About Network Tech

2/11/2013 · Posted by Noël Bilodeau
0  Comments · Permalink

I was doing some leisure reading on my iPad this weekend using my favorite app called Flipboard. Many interesting articles about network technology and trends came up that I wanted to share with those of you that don’t always have time to keep up with the headlines. It's amazing what can happen in a week.

Mobile devices will outnumber humans this year.

The Guardian did a recap of Cisco's new report about mobile data, indicating that there will be more internet-connected mobile devices than people before the end of the year. Mobile video already makes up more than half of data transmitted worldwide and by 2017 will make up two thirds of it. 4G connections generated 19 times the amount of data traffic than non-4G connections, even though it’s still an early market, making up only .9 percent of all mobile connections.
iPads are now 1 in 5 of all PCs shipped.

According to a recent study by Canalys, worldwide PC shipments increased 12 percent year-over-year in the last three months of 2012 to 134 million, with the iPad alone accounting for 27 million shipments.

Orange & Alcatel Lucent implemented the fastest internet connection at 400G from Paris to Lyon.
That’s four times as strong as the previous connection between those two cities. The network uses Alcatel Lucent’s latest fiber optic technology and consists of 44 wavelengths that transfer 17.6 Terabits of traffic in total. Orange is also starting to implement its first 4G network in parts of Paris.
4G LTE networks are going nautical with the US Navy.

Crews on two US ships bound for the Persian Gulf will be able to call, text and transfer data on free  Android smartphones within a radius of 20 nautical miles. Helicopter crews will also be able to shoot videos of pirates and send that footage to ships for analysis.

US_Navy.png
AT&T added four markets to its 4G LTE network.

According to CNET, this brings AT&T 4G coverage up to 141 markets and 170 million people. Verizon‘s 4G LTE network covers 476 markets and 273.5 people.

Online streaming of the US Super Bowl increased to 3.1 million unique viewers, up from 2.1 million.
While this is still a small slice of the 164.1 million people that watched the Super Bowl in late January, it presents a great opportunity for companies developing new ways to leverage the internet and your TV. If you were wondering, the Olympics are one of the biggest live viewing opportunities with 31.5 unique computer-based viewers last summer, according to NBC.
San Francisco 49er fans will get special mobile apps in the new stadium next year.
According to Fast Company Design, roughly 30 percent of all fans use personal mobile technology while attending live sports. The new 49er stadium being built in Santa Clara, CA will offer fans new apps to view multiple camera angles of replays, listen to radio feeds, check stadium traffic, order food and scout the lines at concessions and restrooms. I’m looking forward to that!
SC Stadium.png
​
Categories:2013 Trends, Broadband, LTE, Mobility, Optical Communications, ROADMs, The Future

 

JDSU Posts Strong Q2 Earnings

2/1/2013 · Posted by Noël Bilodeau
0  Comments · Permalink

It’s an upbeat week at JDSU! On Wednesday, we announced positive results for the second quarter of fiscal year 2013 with a profit of $4.1 million, or 2 cents per share, on revenues of $429.4 million. Revenue was at the top of our guidance range and operating margins exceeded expectations across all three business segments.

Here’s what our CEO Tom Waechter had to say:

“We are pleased with the progress we’ve made in aligning our product portfolio with customer spending priorities, resulting in a high percentage of revenue from new products and a positive impact on financial results. We are well-positioned for growth opportunities in 2013.”

While a multitude of media stories, analyst reports and tweets are still flowing in about our strong results, many are also indicating that improved demand in the optical industry combined with plans for increased spending from some of the largest service providers will help improve the network industry climate throughout 2013.

2013-02-01_1151.png

JDSU Highlights

There were many great highlights this quarter - here's my perspective:
Collaborative innovation is on a roll.
-New products accounted for more than half (54 percent) of network revenue for the seventh straight quarter in a row.
New optical solutions are on track to improve network performance & agility.
-JDSU’s Twin 1X20 wavelength selective switch (WSS) product will be ready for release in the spring.
-Other TrueFlex products have received excellent customer feedback and will also be ready for general availability this spring.
-Optical solutions supporting 40-100G transmission continue to grow as a result of new customer programs introduced in Q2.
Rise in mobility, the cloud, ethernet & 100G platforms are increasing need for innovative network test solutions.
-JDSU test and measurement solutions were at the high end of guidance driven by these technology trends.
-JDSU grew its mobility business by 10 percent year over year as it leveraged recent acquisition in wireless test.
-PacketPortal is now up to 11 customers and 23 completed trials.
-JDSU introduced StrataSync, a new way to manage test instruments from the cloud that gives instant access to network data generated by those instruments while also increasing the productivity of field technicians.
Central banks want to make it harder for criminals to replicate banknotes.
-Many central banks are looking at next-generation overt features to include on upcoming re-designs of banknotes. These are features that are easy for people to identify on a bill but hard for counterfeiters to replicate, like color shifting images.
-38 banks are now using our optically variable magnetic pigments (OVMP) on their currencies. That’s up from 20 banks last quarter.
-Next up, our pigment will be included on the new 5 Euro note expected in May.
Markets for lasers and gesture recognition continue to grow.
-Customers are in trials with a newer version of our Q-Series laser that is used for semiconductor processing and for other types of micro-machining that require high speeds and precision during the cutting process.
-Revenue from our high-power fiber lasers for macro machining grew from last quarter.
-We signed a fourth customer for gesture recognition, showing that growing interest in this emerging market is translating into real business opportunities.
In closing…
As always, Tom thanked JDSU employees for a great Q2 and encouraged us to stay focused on our company’s strategic initiatives. With this continued focus, he reinforced that we are well positioned for 2013 and beyond.
Categories:2013 Trends, Anti-Counterfeiting Technology, Broadband, Enterprise, Lasers, LTE, Mobility, Optical Communications, Quarterly Roundup, The Cloud

 

JDSU Introduces StrataSync

1/23/2013 · Posted by Noël Bilodeau
0  Comments · Permalink

JDSU introduced  a new solution called StrataSync today that will help change the way network providers manage the many thousands of JDSU instruments used to test networks.

In the video below, David Heard, president of Communications Test & Measurement at JDSU, talks about this important news with JDSU reporter Bernie Tylor.

For those of you that want to learn more, I've also included below a  Q&A with Stan Hawthorne who directs the group that brought us StrataSync. It's an exciting launch day at JDSU!

Start Video Code

End Video Code -

StrataSync Q&A with Stan Hawthorne

What is so groundbreaking about the new StrataSync product from JDSU?

JDSU continues to transform network management by leading the transition from hardware-focused test and measurement solutions to new cloud-enabled solutions that empower our customers with deeper visibility into network and workforce performance.

Just as our investment in PacketPortal changes the way networks are managed, we are investing in StrataSync to improve the way technicians do their job and expand the value of our customers’ investments in test equipment. 

How does StrataSync work?

StrataSync provides network operators with an agile and centralized way to manage test assets, and collect and analyze data from thousands of test instruments directly from a cloud-based platform.
 
This gives network operators increased visibility into their assets, test data and workforce activities, allowing them to drive to new levels of the operational efficiency.
 
 How does StrataSync help network technicians?
StrataSync automates many manual tasks associated with the management of the instrument configuration and collection of test results. The technician can simply synch their instrument to StrataSync and the instrument is configured based on established standards and all the test results are uploaded automatically to the centralized repository in StrataSync.  
 

StrataSync also provides technicians with easily accessible information such as educational content and test procedures to help insure that technicians are better educated and informed.

I understand that one of the big benefits of StrataSync is “improved visibility.” Can you share an example?

Yes. For example, when a network provider launches a new high-speed service, a technician out in the field can quickly upload test results directly from his instrument to the cloud-based StrataSync platform. His manager can then quickly retrieve those results from StrataSync and confirm a successful network test with the customer or audit that the technician is correctly performing the tests.

You can imagine how important it is for network operators to get all of the testing and implementation done seamlessly and get it done right the first time when launching a critical service like a new high-speed network. Millions of people around the world are relying on them for uninterrupted connectivity and high quality service.

Workforce efficiency is another big benefit of StrataSync. Can you give us an example of how this works?

With StrataSync, a network manager that oversees an entire workgroup will be able to see all of assigned instruments, software and hardware information assigned to that group as well as when their instruments were last synched. That network manager will also get instant access to all of the jobs worked on during a day and the associated test instrument results.

So the network manager has improved visibility into what is happening with his workforce during the testing process and can use that information to drive improvements in technician capabilities and enable compliance auditing of testing standards.

With StrataSync, his technicians also stay updated and supported while out in the field.

What big network trends does StrataSync support?

The complexity of networks continue to increase, making simplified network management with solutions like StrataSync even more important.

More and more people are connecting to networks through a variety of new devices around the world every day. Some industry experts expect the number of devices connecting to networks will grow to 50 billion by 2020.

This makes it even more critical for JDSU to provide new solutions that improve visibility, increase efficiency and lower costs for our customers so they can continue to provide better and faster network service.

Are there any competitive solutions out there that is like StrataSync?

StrataSync will support the broadest base of installed test units in the field - that’s hundreds of thousands of test instruments - in its very first phase when it launches in March.

It is a very unique solution and adds considerable value to the existing investment our customers have made in JDSU test solutions.

To learn more about StrataSync, go to: www.jdsu.com/go/stratasync.

Categories:Broadband, LTE, Mobility, Optical Communications, The Cloud

 

JDSU & Beijing U Help to Prepare Network Engineers of the Future

1/21/2013 · Posted by Noël Bilodeau
0  Comments · Permalink

Last week, JDSU conducted its annual visit to Beijing University of Posts and Telecommunications (BUPT) to strengthen its partnership with one of the world’s most advanced teaching and research universities for telecommunications.

During the visit, Judy Kay, vice president of Executive Operations and Corporate Strategy at JDSU, presented new cutting-edge equipment to the joint lab at BUPT, which was accepted by Professor Ji Yuefeng, dean of the BUPT Information Photonics and Optical Communications Institute.

BUPT1.png
“BUPT is pleased to work with JDSU to support next-generation networks,” said Dean Ji, of BUPT. “The contributions provided by JDSU are of great value to experimental studies and teaching at the university. Both teachers and students at BUPT have benefited from the collaboration.”

JDSU and BUPT established an optical network test lab and scholarship program in 2011. JDSU has donated a wide range of instruments for the lab that enable live network testing for all stages of optical network development for BUPT students. This new equipment, including tunable lasers, transponders, optical amplifiers, pump lasers and modules, will be used in teaching labs and research labs to conduct optical communication transmission experiments.
 
JDSU also funds an annual scholarship program for BUPT students pursuing advanced telecommunications and engineering degrees. Currently 72 students have received the scholarship for studies and research in the areas of information and communications networks.
 
“JDSU is pleased to partner with such a distinguished university to help advance learning in the telecommunications sector,” said Kay of JDSU. “We are honored to contribute to the cultivation of next-generation network talents and innovation in China.”
 
To learn more about Beijing University, please visit http://www.bupt.edu.cn/.
​

 BUPT2.png

Categories:Broadband, JDSU People, LTE, Mobility, Optical Communications, ROADMs, The Future, Asia Pacific

 

JDSU Launches 2013 Tech Trends

1/15/2013 · Posted by Noël Bilodeau
0  Comments · Permalink

Three years ago, JDSU began a branding effort called Tech Trends to help educate people about how JDSU technology supports many trends happening now and in the future.

This year’s video includes a series of vignettes that emphasize how technology is becoming a more personalized and integrated part of how we live our lives both at work and at play. 

Some of the scenarios include people using more types of mobile technology like smart phones or wearable computing solutions like sunglasses or biometric wristbands as they go about their daily activities. Many JDSU technologies and services underpin the very networks that are making these new ways of living possible. 

Another scene shows people meeting in a conference room and one participant is able to swipe his presentation directly from a tablet onto a screen with a single gesture. Won't it be great when technology transfer becomes that seamless! In another depiction, three teenagers located in different parts of the world all play an interactive and gesture-based video game of 3D soccer together. JDSU provides core optical technology for this new and exciting market.

There are many other cool scenes to watch in the video. After you  enjoy it, be sure to take the Tech Trends survey by January 18 and you will be in the running for a random prize drawing of an iPad.

Thanks to JDSU Creative Services for doing a great job on this year's video!

 
Start Video Code

End Video Code -

 

 
Categories:2013 Trends, Broadband, Lasers, LTE, Mobility, Optical Communications, ROADMs, The Cloud, The Future

 

2012 Year in Review with JDSU CEO Tom Waechter

12/18/2012 · Posted by Noël Bilodeau
0  Comments · Permalink

The end of the year is a good time to reflect on past accomplishments and think about what we want to achieve in the new year.

I was fortunate enough to get some time with our CEO Tom Waechter to find out what he thinks were the highlights for JDSU in 2012 and what the big priorities are moving into 2013.

During our discussion, Tom also covered other interesting topics like collaborative innovation, employee engagement and what it takes to be a great leader.

Enjoy and happy holidays!
 
Start Video Code

End Video Code -
 
Categories:2013 Trends, The Future, Anti-Counterfeiting Technology, Broadband, JDSU People, Lasers, Mobility, LTE, Optical Communications, ROADMs

 

Optical Trends 2013 - Deployment of 100G & Self-Aware Networks

12/10/2012 · Posted by Noël Bilodeau
0  Comments · Permalink

Contributions by Kevin Affolter & Gurpreet Mand, JDSU Optical Communications

 

Network operators today are indicating that capacity is doubling in their networks every six months. According to IDC, worldwide broadband traffic for both wireline and mobile activity could reach 116,539 petabytes per month by 2015. This continued need for bandwidth is being driven both by more people accessing  video via PCs and TVs and also by their increasing use of mobile smart devices to access information anywhere at any time. People around the world now leverage networks as a daily part of how they communicate and share information during both their work and personal lives.
To bolster and speed up network infrastructures, network operators began volume implementations of 100G optical equipment in 2012. 100G took off much more quickly than 40G as all network players bought into to the overarching need for 100G and developed a healthy supply chain with a variety of competing solutions.

 

Many experts believe 100G will play a central role in transmission much the way 10G did in the past. 100G creates a new baseline for network performance by using bandwidth in an efficient way, it aligns with 100GbE standards and the technology is expected to serve as the foundation for higher transmission line rates in the future. Implementation of 100G started as line cards much like 10G did in its day and the technology will quickly become smaller due to new developments in photonic components that drive down costs and power requirements.
100G.jpg

With 100G in full swing in 2013, many will look ahead to 400G for the future. Most agree that 400G will be implemented in two forms,super channels that have four dual-polarization QPSK (quadrature phase shift keying) modulation schemes encoded in the wavelengths and two wavelengths encoded with dual polarization at 16 QAM. Each has its benefits and drawbacks. QPSK modulation provides better performance over long distances but consumes more spectrum within the fiber while the 16QAM has a shorter reach but a more efficient use of spectrum. The 16QAM option will likely be a good fit for areas of high population density such as Europe and the East Coast of the United States where the end-to-end service distances are shorter. The QPSK option will be necessary for areas where distances between major population centers are greater, such as North America.  
Along with faster transmission rates, the development of Self-Aware Networks that provide a much more flexible way to manage wavelength traffic also made great strides in 2012.  These networks incorporate colorless, directionless, contentionless and flexible spectrum capabilities that let network operators automatically restore and rebalance optical network traffic and quickly provision new services. Optimizing the network in this way also helps them more efficiently manage equipment and operations, all of which result in lower overall costs.
Network operators now fully appreciate the value of Self-Aware networks and are committed to their implementation.  Expect to see deployments of these fully featured networks in 2013
Self aware networks.jpg​
Categories:Optical Communications, ROADMs, Broadband, 2013 Trends, The Future

 

Mobile Network Trends 2013

12/5/2012 · Posted by Noël Bilodeau
1  Comment · Permalink

Contributions by Jon Pelson & Assaji Aluwihare, JDSU Mobility Solutions
For wireless providers, smart devices have changed everything. More people are using smart devices in almost every aspect of their lives and mobile subscriptions currently outnumber fixed subscriptions by 2:1. Data use continues to climb as people use them to watch movies, get constant news and weather updates, pay bills and keep up with friends via social media.
 Network Trends 1.jpg
What is further complicating things is the signaling explosion. The average smartphone today has 40+ active applications running, flooding the network with signaling chatter. This increased signaling activity creates scalability problems when large groups of smartphone users come together in one place.
To combat this problem, wireless providers are building out their networks and upgrading to faster technologies like 4G LTE. These networks are in early phases with the US, Korea and Japan showing the most significant amount of early users, but it is clear that the rollout of 4G LTE is growing faster than any other network technology. As 4G replaces 3G technology, this will better equip people to use applications like video conferencing via mobile devices.
Another solution that wireless providers are implementing to help alleviate networks is the use of small cell nodes that are deployed locally wherever needed in cities and neighborhoods. The smaller towers serve individual buildings or areas of high congestion and can carry more data without adding more spectrum.
Network Trends 1 small cell.jpg
Wi-Fi offloading can also help alleviate wireless congestion. Many smart phones today have the ability to switch from a wireless network to a Wi-Fi hotspot whenever one becomes available. Providers have seized on this opportunity by adding hotspots throughout major cities. This not only alleviates bandwidth demands on wireless networks but creates revenue potential for providers of Wi-Fi hotspots.
Network Trends 1 Wi Fi.jpg
New network monitoring and optimization solutions will also gain more traction over the next year. One new model for network monitoring and management is a cloud-based dashboard that is fed data via inexpensive and tiny probes embedded throughout a network. Without leaving a desk, an operator can pull specific data to quickly pinpoint the exact problem a customer is having all the way down to the smallest issue, like a jittery video display, and then quickly resolve it.
Network_Trends_1_PacketPortal.png
Having dynamic monitoring solutions allows for more responsive network management and opens up a whole new world of premium services that wireless providers can offer to customers. Some of these new services could include providing guaranteed HD-quality video transmission with no down time or service level agreements for customers that use mobile devices for mission critical applications.
In 2013, wireless providers must continue investing in these types of agile approaches to avoid being overwhelmed by the mobile data explosion.
Categories:Broadband, Mobility, Optical Communications, LTE, The Future, 2013 Trends

 

Huawei Award Reflects JDSU’s Increased Focus on APAC Region

11/27/2012 · Posted by Noël Bilodeau
0  Comments · Permalink

In early November, Huawei granted JDSU the Excellent Core Partner Award for its high quality and innovative network solutions. The award is the highest level of recognition that the JDSU team could ask for but also reflects an increased  focus by JDSU on the Asia Pacific region over the past few years.

In China, JDSU works with top network companies like Huawei to build 40G and 100G networks in response to growing need for bandwidth as more people use connected devices to access video, data and voice services. JDSU also provides test services that help service providers easily deploy and manage high speed networks.

Earlier in 2012, JDSU opened a broadband network development center in Shenzhen to research advanced test and measurement and optical communications solutions. JDSU also recently transferred customer support to Shenzhen so that it can provide service closer to its local customers. The talented JDSU staff work in the Nanshan High Tech Park that is at the heart of the local telecom ecosystem.
Along with providing network solutions across China, JDSU also opened a new laser center in Fuzhou last April to provide local service and support to a large base of companies in the area that use the JDSU Q-series laser for the manufacturing of small parts that go into products like smartphones and tablets.
Dedication to the Chinese region is also reflected in high satisfaction scores from both customers and employees alike. It is also a result of efforts by the JDSU Asia Council that was created more than two years ago to increase JDSU’s presence in local Asian markets, particularly in China. The council consists mostly of JDSU executives from Asia that meet quarterly at various locations throughout the continent to cultivate closer collaboration across the company.
JDSU also has Chinese offices located in Beijing, Chengdu, Guangzhou, Shanghai, and Suzhou.
FBPhotoHuaweiTeam.png
Congratulations to the JDSU Shenzhen team for earning the highly esteemed Huawei Award!​
Categories:Broadband, Lasers, Mobility, Optical Communications, ROADMs, Asia Pacific

 

Mobile & Online Shopping Up Over the Holidays

11/16/2012 · Posted by Noël Bilodeau
0  Comments · Permalink

It looks like some of the big themes during the holiday shopping season this year are that many experts expect spending to be up over last year, consumers will flock to low-price stores like Target and Walmart, and online shopping will once again be a popular alternative to a trip to the mall.

Lady Christmas.jpg
Who doesn’t like the convenience of relaxing on the couch while watching TV, avoiding long lines and stressed out people to order gifts online with free shipping. While I love the spirit of the holidays just as much as anyone, I'm not much for the in-store retail experience during this time if I can help it.

Mobile shopping is also on the rise and is further changing the way we buy products. The National Retail Federation estimates that online and mobile shopping will be the fastest-growing segment this holiday season at $96 billion, a 12 percent increase over last year.

For those of you that still enjoy going to stores to browse products during the holidays, many of you are probably part of a phenomenon called “showrooming.” This is where you go to a retail location and look at options while also using your smartphone to comparison shop online, read reviews and look for discounts. Quite often many showroomers wait and make purchases later at a big online retailer like Amazon.
shopphoneholidays.png
Retail stores realize this and are working to accommodate mobile shoppers so that they don’t miss out on this big opportunity. This season, Target is displaying what it deems its top 20 toys at physical locations and each item has a QR code on it. You can scan the code with your smartphone and buy it on the spot, either to take away that day or to have it shipped to your home for free.
Other stores are installing tablet-based kiosks that provide helpful and personalized tips (like matching a desired shirt with the right pants in a clothing store) and information about available inventory. Many stores are looking to change the in-store environment even further and make it similar to an Apple store, where roaming staff bring you your item and process your purchase with payment-equipped smartphones.
The underlying theme is that online and mobile technology are becoming an integrated part of how we buy products as well-informed consumers. People are starting to expect Wi-Fi access at retail locations to fit their new mobile shopping patterns. About a quarter of retail stores in the US currently have Wi-Fi and that figure should jump over the next few years as stores respond to the needs of mobile shoppers.
When I am forced to go to the mall, this type of streamlined and well-informed experience will be right up my alley.

Happy holiday shopping!​

Categories:Mobility, Optical Communications, LTE, ROADMs, Broadband, The Future

 

The Promise of India

11/8/2012 · Posted by Noël Bilodeau
0  Comments · Permalink

With 1.2 billion people and a youthful population that will add 270 million people of working age to the country by 2030, India is ripe for opportunity when it comes to the use of the Internet and mobile technology.

The stats tell the story:

-Approximately 100M Indians use the Internet today, primarily via desktop computers.

-About 900M people use mobile phones but only about 3% use Web-enabled smartphones.
-India has become the third-largest user of Facebook, with users exploding from 8 million to 65 million in just a few years (the US and Brazil are ranked first and second).

Mobility has huge potential in India but there are big steps that must happen first. Wireless coverage and access needs to improve, developers need to create more mobile apps in local languages, and more affordable web-enabled phones must be made available to the population. Tech companies and network providers focused on the region understand these needs and are collaborating with local experts to address the issues.

IMG_2077.JPG
Executives spoke to reporters at a recent press event at the JDSU office in Gurgaon.

It is possible that the innovative solutions that materialize to meet India's unique requirements could in turn help other parts of the world. Take the fact that 40 percent of India’s population is illiterate. New sixth-sense technologies emerging for speech and gesture recognition and the use of video as communications tools could leapfrog other mainstream technologies to increase mobile adoption among this group - if providers figure out how to do it in an affordable way.

JDSU has offices in Bangalore, Mumbai, Gurgaon (New Delhi) and Pune to support network growth that is fueling all of these technology developments. Its primary focus in the region is to provide network testing and monitoring services that help service providers offer an optimal experience to Internet and mobile users.   

“India is an attractive market for JDSU,” said Sandeep Kapoor, Country Manager for JDSU India. “There will be a lot of opportunity as the government continues to develop the rural telecom infrastructure and its service providers continue to roll out next-generation services.”

Recent news:

 

JDSU to Set Up IT Development Center in Pune, India – Telecom Daily

Categories:Broadband, Mobility, Optical Communications, The Future, The Cloud, Asia Pacific

 

Quarterly Roundup - More Than Half of Revenue from New Products for 6th Straight Quarter

11/1/2012 · Posted by Noël Bilodeau
0  Comments · Permalink

Earlier this week, JDSU announced first quarter earnings for fiscal year 2013. While macroeconomic conditions are still challenging, more than half of revenue came from new products for the sixth straight quarter, proving that our focus on innovation continues to pay off. Here are some of the highlights.

JDSU signed a new customer for gesture recognition.

As applications become more integrated with how we function, they are also becoming simpler to use. I remember many years ago having to study a very thick instruction manual when I first started using a computer to understand how to perform basic tasks. Then the advent of Windows and other applications made things easier.   
Now consumer electronics companies and other tech players are beginning to integrate “sixth sense” applications like gesture recognition and voice assistants into their products to further dissolve the learning curve. This will widen the use of technology among the old, the young, and for those with disabilities.

While still in early stages, it’s exciting to see that we’ve landed a new customer in this promising area.

Sixth_Sense.png

Network optical solutions were popular.

One of JDSU’s big contributions to networks are optical components and systems that work deep within network infrastructures to help operators manage network traffic in a flexible way. These products are a must for highly functional networks that support unpredictable traffic patterns flowing through networks as people increasingly use connected devices and online apps to function.

Here’s how much revenue increased for three key network products compared to last quarter:

ROADMs - Up 11%
Super Transport Blades - Up 18% (within the overall ROADM product category)
Tunable XFP– Up 27%
Optical.jpg
Special lasers for micromachining saw a 5-year high in customer demand.

JDSU makes the Q Series laser that is used for micro-machining. A few examples of micro machining include the shaping of tiny holes or slots on parts that go into products like smart phones or laptops. They are also used for the scribing of wafers that could go into things like light emitting diodes (LEDs).

I recently read that in a few decades, people will use up 10 connected devices, which blew me away. Regardless of whether or not that estimate becomes a reality, I think the need for lasers that can create the tiny parts and pieces that make up these electronics won’t be going away any time soon. And of course there’s that little group called the semiconductor industry that uses lasers to shape wafers.

Q_Series.png
New network monitoring solution PacketPortal gained 6 new customers.

We all keep hearing about “the cloud” and “big data.” PacketPortal is one of those new revolutionary network monitoring systems that fits in here. Cheap and tiny probes throughout the network report back critical network data into a cloud-based system that lets a service provider easily pull the exact information needed to pinpoint and solve a problem.

It’s all about getting granularity instead of having to spend lots of time and money sifting through piles of data as your customer increasingly gets aggravated waiting on the other end of the phone for a solution to his internet problem.
NetworkMonitoring.jpg
In closing…
Even with cautious spending right now, the long term drivers for networks and other technologies that JDSU makes remain strong. Our CEO, Tom Waechter, is always great about thanking JDSU employees at the end of the earnings call for their many accomplishments and customer focus over the quarter. Innovation is a priority across the company and that begins with original ideas that come from the many smart individuals that work at JDSU. Thanks for always recognizing that, Tom!​

 

Categories:Optical Communications, ROADMs, The Cloud, The Future, Gesture Recognition, Broadband, Mobility, Quarterly Roundup

 

Social Media Aids During Hurricane Sandy

10/29/2012 · Posted by Noël Bilodeau
0  Comments · Permalink

As Hurricane Sandy hits the east coast of the United States, multitudes of people, agencies, and government  officials are using social media to send updates and information about the storm. Here are some of the applications that can help:

-Google has developed an interactive map that lets people track the path of the storm and provides data about affected areas and emergency shelter locations.

-FEMA is regularly providing updates and safety tips, advising everyone to keep their mobile devices charged.
-Facebook is hosting a Hurricane Sandy community page for updates and videos.
-On Sunday, the hashtag #Sandy was trending on Twitter as a way for people to inform loved ones of their whereabouts.
-The American Red Cross is providing an app called The Hurricane that allows users to update Twitter, Facebook, email and text contacts with an “I’m Safe” message blast.
Our thoughts and prayers are with everyone that is being affected by the storm.
 
Start Video Code

End Video Code -
 
Categories:Broadband, Mobility, Optical Communications