Meta brings gifts of Terragraph, Maveric and expertise gold
Open source advocate the Linux Foundation has launched a new project that aims to show how vendors can expedite the progress of “emerging network and connectivity applications” arising from its members. The LF Connectivity group has been formed in collaboration with Meta with the objective to “create a robust and sustainable open ecosystem” that will encourage more comms service providers to use open-source tools and technologies. The endgame is to boost the end-to-end performance and quality of experience (QoE) needs of emerging applications, said Linux Foundation.
Meta (AKA Facebook) has recently scaled back its non-core activities as it slashed jobs, reports Telecom TV, so it is now contributing a range of technologies, previously developed with industry partners, into the LF Connectivity project. One of the more immediately useful systems is Terragraph, an mmWave wireless technology that “helps internet service providers deliver gigabit speed last-mile access to subscriber homes, enterprises, and multi-dwelling buildings easily and cost-effectively”.
In addition, systems integrators might use Open M-Plane, an Open RAN-compliant software component of Meta’s Evenstar hardware design for the configuration and management of radio access networks. There is also a system building foundation, Maveric, on which the development and evaluation of cellular network algorithms can be ‘optimised’ before they are let loose on networks. “By sharing these technologies, we hope to further improve global connectivity by enabling other companies to participate and contribute to those projects,” said Meta engineering director Shah Rahman.
If and when 5G becomes pervasive bandwidth and latency requirements will be higher than ever, said Linux Foundation’s general manager of networking, edge and IoT, Arpit Joshipura. The ‘NextG’ looming on the horizon will involve even more applications using augmented reality and immersive experiences that need to traverse networks. “We are pleased to bring new open source tools to more organisations across the globe and welcome LF Connectivity to our growing number of networking projects working to improve digital transformation,” said Joshipura. Supporters include AMD, Cambium Networks, Capgemini, Edgecore Networks, Siklu Communications, University of Delhi, VIAVI, and Virginia Tech. There is more information to be revealed on Introducing LF Connectivity relating to an event on May 25.
Gilles Garcia, senior director of AMD’s Communications Group said he was anxious anticipating the Evenstar M-plane being used in 5G O-RAN radios. Atul Bhatnagar, president and CEO, Cambium Networks, explained why: “The multi-gigabit speeds and short range of 60 GHz millimeter wave technology are valuable, but distributed networking is the driver that will evolve the capabilities of last mile connectivity.”