Telecom
Nokia Takes New Approach to IP Routing with 7730 SXR Range
Nokia recently expanded its IP router portfolio with the new 7730 SXR (Service Interconnect Router) product family, along with new chipset technology and a SR Linux (SRL) operating system.
The company says traditional routers are optimised for simple IP transport applications, while evolving network architectures result in frequent churn in these networks to meet the needs of new protocols and services, driving up network costs.
What’s required is a fresh approach to IP routing to provide secure, adaptable connectivity in modern network operations.
During the GITEX Global event in Dubai earlier this month, Bassel Megallaa, Nokia’s IP Business Centre head for the Middle East and Africa (MEA) region, said the company wants to target the continent’s data centre sector, and capitalise on opportunities related to subsea cable infrastructure deployments to enhance broadband connectivity.
“The continent is home to the largest potential future internet user base, and every player is rushing to reach these users. Applications, whether for industrial or residential use, are evolving and becoming increasingly sensitive to delay. There is no option but to place content as close as possible to users,” said Megallaa.
He noted that the growing deployment of broadband access, including fixed, fixed-wireless access, and 5G, is pushing for enhanced capacity and intelligence in aggregation and metro networks.
There is an increasing demand for capacity and capability due to broadband investments and evolving cloud network architectures.
Additionally, the proliferation of end devices is expanding the attack surface and security threats.
Fresh network architecture
Nokia claims that the scale and capabilities of the new routers make them ideal for smaller/distributed IP edge locations.
“The call of the day is to provide secure and assured connectivity on a platform that fully leverages modern network operations and has the silicon and software flexibility to easily adapt to new requirements,” said Megallaa.
The 7730 SXR platform is built with Nokia’s SR Linux network operating system (NOS) and network services platform (NSP) automation suite, and is said to enhance service router performance, security, assurance, and sustainability at the IP edge and core.
These systems, suitable for smaller and distributed IP edge locations, address the growing capacity needs due to broadband investments and cloud network architectures, the company added.
All 7730 SXR systems run on Nokia FPcx routing silicon and support secure connectivity with features like MACsec, ANYsec, and DDoS mitigation with traffic inspection. The FPcx chipset and the SRL open network operating system allow for modular upgrades, extending upgrade cycles and reducing operating expense for customers.
Nokia explained that with eight clusters, traffic can be routed to four of these clusters while the other four are upgraded.
“There’s no need to restart the router or the line cards. This technology will significantly reduce the time required to upgrade routers in the network, a process that can take anywhere from six months to several years depending on network complexity,” said Megallaa.
The new 7730 SXR IP routers are immediately available in the MEA region.
Nigeria’s technology company, Globacom, has extended warm felicitations to Nigerians on the occasion of the 2024 Christmas celebrations.
In a goodwill message released in Lagos, Globacom urged Nigerians to embrace the spirit of love and kindness during the festive season, especially in the face of prevailing economic challenges.
The company emphasized the importance of practicing the teachings of Jesus Christ, particularly the virtues of obedience to God and loving one’s neighbor as well.
“Christ taught many virtues including obedience to God and loving one’s neighbour as oneself”, the company said, adding, “Now is the apt time to practise these teachings by sharing with the needy”.
Globacom also encouraged Nigerians to extend the conviviality of Christmas beyond the festive season by fostering love, peace, and harmony, as demonstrated by God through the birth of Jesus Christ.
Assuring its customers of uninterrupted services throughout the Yuletide period and beyond, Globacom urged them to take advantage of its innovative products and services to stay connected and share the memories of the season with loved ones.
Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) and the Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC) have ordered Deposit Money Banks and Mobile Network Operators to settle the long-standing N250bn USSD debt dispute before January 2, 2025.
The CBN and NCC also directed banks to pay the pre-Application Programming Interfaces (API) debt before July 2, 2025.
They also ordered that post-API debts be settled before December 31, 2024.
The directive was issued in a joint cirular titled, “2nd Joint Circular of the Central Bank of Nigeria and the Nigerian Communications Commission on the Resolution of the USSD Debt Issue Between Deposit Money Banks and Mobile Network Operators.”
The circular dated December 20, 2024, was signed by Oladimeji Taiwo, acting director of the Payments System Management Department, CBN, and Chizua Whyte, head of Legal and Regulatory Services, NCC.
The regulators said, “In view of the foregoing, the CBN and the NCC hereby direct DMBs and MNOs as follows: 1. That 60 per cent of all pre-API invoices must be paid as full and final settlement.
“Payment plans (lump sum or installments) must be agreed upon between a concerned DMB and MNO by January 2, 2025. Installments must be based on equal monthly payments, with full payment due by July 2, 2025.
“DMBs must pay 85 per cent of all outstanding invoices issued after the implementation of APIs (i.e., February 2022) by December 31, 2024.
“Similarly, 85 per cent of future invoices must be liquidated within one month of service.”
According to the regulators, the transition to end-user billing will be activated only for DMBs and MNOs that comply with the payment conditions cobtained in the circular.
CBN and the NCC said they would provide further guidance on public enlightenment initiatives related to the transition.
The regulators also directed MNOs to implement the “10-seconds rule” for USSD invoicing.
This implies that any session lasting less than ten seconds will not be billable.
The regulators added, “Failure to comply with the terms outlined in this directive will attract necessary sanctions, ensuring that both DMBs and MNOs uphold their obligations.”
Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC) has unveiled a draft regulatory framework aimed at addressing fraud, spam, and other challenges in the Application-to-Person messaging sector.
The telecom regulator made this announcement in a statement.
The proposed framework, which was introduced during a virtual Stakeholders’ Forum, is said to be a key step towards enhancing the sector’s integrity and ensuring a fair, transparent environment for all parties involved.
The draft framework, presented by Aminu Maida, executive vice chairman, NCC, who was represented by Chizua Whyte, NCC’s acting head of legal and regulatory services, seeks to regulate the A2P messaging space.
The A2P messaging, used for notifications such as bank alerts, promotional campaigns, and government updates, has become a vital communication tool in Nigeria.
However, the sector faces significant challenges, including consumer protection concerns, fraud, and data privacy issues, as well as an unequal distribution of value within the ecosystem.
“The international A2P messaging space in Nigeria faces gaps that have led to issues such as fraud, spam, and data privacy concerns. These challenges threaten the sustainable growth of this communication tool,” the NCC said.
The proposed framework aims to address these challenges by protecting consumers, promoting fair competition, and holding service providers accountable.
“This forum marks a pivotal step towards addressing these challenges. We are here to engage with all stakeholders—operators, aggregators, businesses, service providers, and consumers—to refine the framework and ensure it meets the needs of the entire ecosystem.”
The NCC stressed the importance of inclusivity and collaboration in creating an effective regulatory environment.
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