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Thanks to the new Intelligent System Monitoring capabilities of the E3-2 Intelligent PON Node that automatically sense temperature thresholds and respond, the Calix Intelligent Access EDGE is the Ideal solution for delivering an Always On network to remote subscribers even under the harshest conditions

SAN JOSE, CA – May 18, 2021 – Calix, Inc. (NYSE: CALX) today introduced the Intelligent System Monitoring capability, a major enhancement to the AXOS® E3-2 Intelligent PON Node that protects broadband service providers’ (BSPs) network investments by streamlining system troubleshooting and dramatically reducing truck rolls to remote areas. The E3-2 node is often deployed in the most remote areas with extremely harsh external conditions. In these locations, the E3-2 node enables BSPs to reduce deployment costs by up to 50 percent compared to traditional cabinet installs while accelerating construction and service activation. With the new capabilities, The E3-2 node can intelligently sense dangerous increases to the internal temperature of the system and automatically take corrective action dramatically reducing operating costs. As this new capability is incorporated into the management model, operational workflows and Always On operating model that is common to all systems in the Intelligent Access EDGE portfolio, the E3-2 node is a fantastic addition to existing networks.

 

The AXOS E3-2 Intelligent PON Node with Intelligent System Monitoring will deliver significant value by:

 

  • Eliminating Truck Rolls: With Intelligent System Monitoring, the system monitors for high temperature situations and automatically enters a low-power mode to avoid hardware damage and prolonged network outages. The system automatically returns to normal operation when it has cooled to acceptable operating temperatures. This eliminates the need for a technician to travel to a remote site to fix the issue.
  • Reducing Network Downtime: With the E3-2 self-monitoring BSPs can be assured that systems are not overheated to the point of permanent damage and services are restored to subscribers in minutes rather than hours or—in some cases—days.

“Calix has given us a simple platform to deliver next-generation network services to remote locations that would otherwise be extremely difficult—if not impossible—to reach,” said Robbie Farmer, CTO for North Carolina-based SkyLine Telephone Membership Corporation. “The deployment flexibility of the E3-2 system and the versatility of the AXOS platform, extend our reach by delivering an adaptable solution we can attach to existing infrastructure and use to turn subscriber services up rapidly. This product update also gives us the confidence that we are investing in a system that is reliable and will perform under adverse conditions and eliminate the need to roll a truck for system repairs or replacements in our remote serving areas.”

 

The E3-2 Intelligent PON Node dramatically simplifies network deployment and is ideally suited to connect rural areas quickly. With an infusion of capital from the recent RDOF auctions, and additional funding on the way, BSPs can leverage the AXOS E3-2 to capitalize on opportunities that help bridge the digital divide and deliver broadband to the unserved and underserved without the need for costly cabinet installations and right-of-way challenges. The E3-2 node’s modular form factor makes it a truly cost-effective option that can be deployed anywhere—mounted in a pedestal, on a pole or strand mounted. It enables BSPs to simplify network architectures and operations while delivering the versatility to run and support everyPON technology including a rapid migration from GPON to XGS-PON.

 

“Remote areas present unique challenges but are common for rural service providers who often need to overcome difficult physical locations and harsh environmental conditions,” said Michel Langlois, chief development officer, Intelligent Access EDGE products for Calix. “The E3-2 Intelligent PON Node enables them to address these challenges with a modular, upgradeable, and hardened form factor that can be mounted in various ways to ensure that even their most remote locations will have access to outstanding, reliable fiber broadband service and experience. The Calix Intelligent System Monitoring in this AXOS cadence release is just the latest capability in our never-ending pursuit to simplify network operations by ensuring service issues can be resolved in minutes, rather than hours or days.”

 

Visit us online for more information on the E3-2 Intelligent PON Node and other AXOS 10G solutions. Learn more on our webinar, “10G Fiber Networks For The Future: Top Considerations From The Experts.”

 

About Calix

Calix, Inc. (NYSE: CALX) – Calix cloud and software platforms enable service providers of all types and sizes to innovate and transform. Our customers utilize the real-time data and insights from Calix platforms to simplify their businesses and deliver experiences that excite their subscribers. The resulting growth in subscriber acquisition, loyalty, and revenue creates more value for their businesses and communities. This is the Calix mission; to enable broadband service providers of all sizes to simplify, excite, and grow.

This press release may contain forward-looking statements that are based upon management’s current expectations and are inherently uncertain. Forward-looking statements are based upon information available to us as of the date of this release, and we assume no obligation to revise or update any such forward-looking statement to reflect any event or circumstance after the date of this release, except as required by law. Actual results and the timing of events could differ materially from current expectations based on risks and uncertainties affecting Calix’s business. The reader is cautioned not to rely on the forward-looking statements contained in this press release. Additional information on potential factors that could affect Calix’s results and other risks and uncertainties are detailed in its quarterly reports on Form 10-Q and Annual Report on Form 10-K filed with the SEC and available at www.sec.gov.

While many businesses are still struggling to open because of the COVID-19 pandemic, others are now at the stage where they are starting to look at new ways to save money, improve their digital marketing efforts, and get the company back on its feet.

Many find that a straightforward way to get a head start is to consolidate the various software that powers their business. By choosing one software suite that performs all the tasks of separate services, you can lower costs and make it easier to manage.

Cloud Services and SaaS Platforms Can Overlap

Today’s modern businesses utilize Software as a Service (SaaS) or cloud service platforms to help market and operate effectively. For example, many businesses deployed new systems to automate their digital marketing and customer interactions during the pandemic. While these systems are valuable, some overlap in features that increase costs to the business and decrease the likelihood of being used most efficiently to realize the ROI.

For example, a venue can implement GoZone WiFi’s Marketing4WiFi platform to provide a captive portal on their guest WiFi network. This captive portal element is a potent addition to the business since it automatically builds a list of customers who visit the venue. The business then takes that list and imports it into a secondary marketing system. However, since the Marketing4WiFi platform already has automated marketing and CRM features, the added cost of the secondary e-marketing system and the time involved to manage both systems are wasteful.

Consolidating Cloud Platforms and Services

Many businesses tend to accumulate multiple SaaS contracts over time. Consolidating those services can often lead to better workload management and lower costs for the business.

From our previous example, GoZone WiFi has customers that use its system to collect guest data, e-mail addresses, mobile numbers, and more. One might take that data, export it, and link it to a third-party system that sends out emails.

Businesses partaking in such practices are making three distinct mistakes:

    1. First, increasing the complexity of managing their third-party systems.
    2. Paying more for numerous subscriptions, they don’t need.
  1. Increasing the likelihood of information mishaps.

These problems are easily solved by consolidating cloud platforms and services.

Every business that utilizes a cloud platform or SaaS contract should evaluate all the offerings those companies provide and then compare them against the needs of the business. Performing an audit will often reveal that the platforms can provide more for the business than originally planned. This will allow the company to avoid overlapping services to save money, making it easier for workers to manage the subscriptions and learn to integrate the platforms to gain the most effect.

As COVID lock-downs happened, brick-and-mortar businesses quickly realized that building and maintaining a list of their customers was critical. Post-COVID, businesses have changed how they communicate with their customers and the way customers interact with businesses.

Contact a GoZone partner or us today to find out how our platforms can help your business.

With the comprehensive integration between Calix Marketing Cloud and industry-leading email marketing platform Mailchimp, Calix launches the first of many integrations with major “MarTech” platforms to help marketers automate the creation and execution of targeted campaigns that eliminate churn and grow revenue

SAN JOSE, CA – May 13, 2021 – Calix, Inc. (NYSE: CALX) today launched the seamless integration of leading email marketing platform Mailchimp with Calix Marketing Cloud. This is the first step in a journey to enable broadband service providers (BSPs) to adopt a simple model for planning and executing fully integrated omnichannel marketing campaigns. These campaigns will be targeted with insights from rich behavioral data and executed through automation to create timely and relevant touchpoints that attract new subscribers as well as increase loyalty among existing subscribers. Broadband service provider marketers can now access audience segments from Calix Marketing Cloud—which is purpose-built to help BSPs leverage subscriber data to grow revenue and build brand loyalty—directly in Mailchimp, eliminating the need for cumbersome, manual spreadsheet exports. These marketers can then execute automated and highly targeted campaigns against these audiences. Calix Marketing Cloud will also include a new dashboard that provides real-time visibility into campaign performance metrics, including open rates, click-throughs, unsubscribes, and bounce rates. As a result, marketers can easily understand the impact of each analytics-driven campaign and tie marketing campaign investments to revenue. This latest enhancement to the Revenue EDGE solution marks the first in a series of planned integrations, including a major Facebook integration scheduled for next quarter.

The journey to radically simplify processes for marketers begins with the comprehensive integration between Mailchimp and Calix Marketing Cloud, and will extend to other marketing and social media platforms so that BSPs can:

  • Automate marketing to deliver timely, relevant experiences: Combining data from Calix Marketing Cloud and Mailchimp enables marketers to automate and deploy tailored campaigns to enriched audience segments based on specific events and behaviors. For example, BSP marketers can identify subscribers exceeding their usage limits and send them automatically to Mailchimp for email activation while simultaneously delivering a Mobile Notification upgrade offer in the stunningly new and brandable CommandIQ® mobile app.    
  • Adopt an omnichannel approach to reaching subscribers: In addition to unlocking the power of email automation, this integration will enable marketers to add more channels within the Mailchimp platform, such as social, digital ads, and landing pages, that can be activated to craft the perfect subscriber journey. Future releases with direct integrations to social channels such as Facebook will further amplify these capabilities.
  • Maximize return on investment (ROI): With more direct and focused social channel integrations on the horizon, marketers can continue to uncover actionable insights that increase campaign take rates and grow their business through acquisition, cross-sell, up-sell, and reduce churn. 
  • Elevate marketing campaigns with actionable insights: A new campaign performance dashboard in Calix Marketing Cloud provides end-to-end, real-time visibility into key performance metrics such as open rates, click-throughs, unsubscribes, and bounce rates, as well as performance reporting for in-app mobile notifications, giving marketers the data and agility to optimize their marketing campaigns efficiently.

In a survey Calix conducted that included both customers and non-customers, Mailchimp ranked as the most popular email marketing software among respondents. As a leader in this space, Mailchimp provides a one-stop-shop for managing email, direct mail, website, and social campaigns.

“We use Mailchimp extensively for our email marketing, and this integration with Calix Marketing Cloud is a welcome enhancement that will simplify our ability to manage email lists and audience segments from one platform,” said Chris Armstrong, director, sales and marketing for CityWest, a BSP located in British Columbia. “As marketing becomes inherently more social and our subscribers increasingly more connected, we continue to look for new and innovative ways to deliver premium services. We are eager to build on our successes to date with Calix by integrating even more of our social channels with Calix Marketing Cloud in the near future.”

Calix Marketing Cloud is the only marketing platform purpose-built for the BSP marketer, using contextual, behavioral data alongside built-in intelligence and machine learning to simplify processes and generate hyper-focused segments and audiences. As a result, marketers can create relevant, targeted, event-triggered communications that excite subscribers. For example, Wisconsin-based service provider Norvado is leveraging Calix Marketing Cloud to better understand subscriber usage patterns to personalize offers—contributing to a 99 percent uptake of its premium Wi-Fi service. Meanwhile, Nemont Telephone Cooperative in Montana tapped the advanced behavioral analytics of Calix Marketing Cloud to create a highly targeted campaign aimed at upgrading members to an optimal service tier, resulting in a year-over-year revenue increase of 65 percent.

“Today’s announcement marks the first of many integrations with marketing technologies that bring sophistication to broadband businesses of all sizes,” said Matt Collins, chief marketing officer at Calix. “Calix is committed to arming service providers with the tools they need to succeed against the consumer giants. By integrating Mailchimp data directly into Calix Marketing Cloud, marketers can enjoy all the benefits of intelligent automation while extending their marketing capabilities in an efficient, cost-effective manner. There has never been a more exciting time to be a marketer in the broadband industry—with deeper insights, marketers can uncover timely, relevant opportunities and craft campaigns across key channels designed to excite their subscribers and grow their value for generations to come. Our goal is to help our customers make their marketing so good it feels like a service. This launch is another big step in that direction.”

To help customers accelerate adoption and time to ROI, Calix has enhanced features of the Premier Customer Success Services offerings. These include best practices and guidance to help marketers take their campaigns to the next level and maximize subscriber engagement. Complementing these features are comprehensive updates to the Education Services curriculum for Revenue EDGE, which is a core pillar of the Success for All program available to all Calix customers.

Calix is the only organization that provides customers with EDGE Enablement resources that are ready-to-use, fully built marketing campaign assets, including email templates that will enable marketers using Mailchimp—arming them with new services, courses, and market activations. Marketers also benefit from direct-to-subscriber guided self-help, a new feature of EDGE Suites that enhances the subscriber experience and helps build trust and brand loyalty.

To learn more, view a replay of our recent webinar, “How to Offer the Premium Services That Subscribers Want.”

 

About Calix
Calix, Inc. (NYSE: CALX) – Calix cloud and software platforms enable service providers of all types and sizes to innovate and transform. Our customers utilize the real-time data and insights from Calix platforms to simplify their businesses and deliver experiences that excite their subscribers. The resulting growth in subscriber acquisition, loyalty, and revenue creates more value for their businesses and communities. This is the Calix mission; to enable broadband service providers of all sizes to simplify, excite, and grow.

This press release may contain forward-looking statements that are based upon management’s current expectations and are inherently uncertain. Forward-looking statements are based upon information available to us as of the date of this release, and we assume no obligation to revise or update any such forward-looking statement to reflect any event or circumstance after the date of this release, except as required by law. Actual results and the timing of events could differ materially from current expectations based on risks and uncertainties affecting Calix’s business. The reader is cautioned not to rely on the forward-looking statements contained in this press release. Additional information on potential factors that could affect Calix’s results and other risks and uncertainties are detailed in its quarterly reports on Form 10-Q and Annual Report on Form 10-K filed with the SEC and available at www.sec.gov.

Updates to Calix Support Cloud provide support teams with complete visibility into the CommandIQ mobile app and ExperienceIQ to eliminate inbound calls and truck rolls by providing direct access to subscriber application preferences and settings

SAN JOSE, CA – May 12, 2021 – Calix, Inc. (NYSE: CALX) today announced product and service enhancements to Calix Support Cloud and the CommandIQ® mobile app that significantly upgrade management capabilities for broadband service provider (BSP) support teams. Customer service representatives (CSRs) now have unprecedented visibility into subscribers’ network and device prioritization settings in My Priorities within ExperienceIQ, an EDGE Suites application available within CommandIQ. Thanks to the tight integration of CommandIQ and Calix Support Cloud, CSRs can also help subscribers utilize the new SSID pool management capabilities that enable them to establish multiple, simultaneous networks in their homes. These capabilities allow support teams to better understand how subscribers are using self-service features in CommandIQ to navigate and customize their connected homes. When combined with the analytics and automation built into Calix Support Cloud, these new capabilities help CSRs quickly identify and address subscriber needs. The end result is fewer inbound calls and truck rolls.

By combining Calix Support Cloud with the newly launched GigaSpire® BLAST u6x, BSPs now have the ultimate combination to drive operational simplicity and efficiency. Armed with Calix Support Cloud and the world’s first universal, carrier-class premises system, it is easier than ever for BSPs to achieve results such as 74 percent first call resolution rates and 26 percent reduction in truck rolls. The latest enhancements in Calix Support Cloud and CommandIQ bring better visibility and insights into:

  • Home Network Settings: CSRs now have direct visibility into subscriber settings in My Priorities in ExperienceIQ. This feature of CommandIQ enables CSRs to easily work with subscribers to view or change their device or application prioritization settings.
  • SSID Pool Management: CSRs can help subscribers optimize their home network experience by guiding them in setting up SSIDs for work-from-home or custom wireless networks that are isolated from their primary and guest networks.
  • Wi-Fi Performance: A new Wi-Fi performance dashboard simplifies the process for CSRs to identify and resolve common issues such as signal strength, interference, and channel utilization to reduce inbound calls.

Customer support teams can now access all subscriber insights and view subscriber data in aggregate via the comprehensive dashboard in Calix Support Cloud, enabling them to automate processes and introduce other operational efficiencies to ensure their teams are running at maximum efficiency. To ensure that BSPs leverage all of these capabilities, Calix has enhanced the Premier Customer Success Services offering. The Calix Success team can help customers perform comprehensive analysis of domains such as help desk and ticketing systems operations. As customer success managers help customers uncover and address opportunities for improvement, they will help reduce trouble reports, simplify workflows, and improve first call resolution.

“Visibility is critical to helping our subscribers manage their home networks remotely—a capability that is paramount given the cost and time required to roll trucks across our large service area,” said Ron Wilson, director, network operations center for Oklahoma-based Dobson Fiber. “A single truck roll across some parts of our coverage area can easily take half a day and cost us upwards of $200. Not only has Calix Support Cloud delivered insights that have cut our truck rolls by 60 percent, but the solution has also come with the Customer Success Services team, which was instrumental in achieving that reduction and helping us build the foundation of an unmatched subscriber experience. Calix consistently improves its products, and we look forward to unleashing these new insights of this latest Calix Support Cloud release to make our team run even more efficiently.”

The BSP support function is critical to creating and maintaining loyal subscribers. These Calix Support Cloud enhancements enable CSRs to anticipate support issues and address them proactively before they cause network outages.

“The 21.2 quarterly product release cycle includes numerous enhancements for customer support teams, and they all focus on maximizing the efficiency with which teams help subscribers stay connected,” said Martha Galley, senior vice president, customer engagement and services for Calix. “The new device-level visibility into subscriber networks enables support personnel to anticipate subscriber needs before they even surface and proactively address them, reducing or dramatically shortening support calls—if not outright eliminating them in some cases. With a single pane of glass view, support team leaders can analyze network data and build workflows that are tailored to address the specific needs of their subscribers, while enabling them to self-manage their home networks as much as possible. This makes the CSR-subscriber relationship much more of a partnership than the help desk dynamic that is typical. Keeping subscribers off the phones enables CSRs to focus on proactively elevating the subscriber experience. Not only does a more efficient support team translate to happier subscribers, but it also delivers operational efficiency improvements and exceptional business value for service providers.”

Learn more about Calix solutions and services for customer support teams, and view our recent webinar, “The Data Driven Approach To Transforming Your Customer Support.”

 

About Calix
Calix, Inc. (NYSE: CALX) – Calix cloud and software platforms enable service providers of all types and sizes to innovate and transform. Our customers utilize the real-time data and insights from Calix platforms to simplify their businesses and deliver experiences that excite their subscribers. The resulting growth in subscriber acquisition, loyalty, and revenue creates more value for their businesses and communities. This is the Calix mission; to enable broadband service providers of all sizes to simplify, excite, and grow.

This press release may contain forward-looking statements that are based upon management’s current expectations and are inherently uncertain. Forward-looking statements are based upon information available to us as of the date of this release, and we assume no obligation to revise or update any such forward-looking statement to reflect any event or circumstance after the date of this release, except as required by law. Actual results and the timing of events could differ materially from current expectations based on risks and uncertainties affecting Calix’s business. The reader is cautioned not to rely on the forward-looking statements contained in this press release. Additional information on potential factors that could affect Calix’s results and other risks and uncertainties are detailed in its quarterly reports on Form 10-Q and Annual Report on Form 10-K filed with the SEC and available at www.sec.gov.

As demand for broadband services explodes, Calix extends the Experience Innovation Platform with the announcement of its roadmap for the GigaSpire BLAST systems, addressing a stunning array of use cases to help broadband service providers rapidly grow their value for subscribers

SAN JOSE, CA – May 11, 2021 – Calix, Inc. (NYSE: CALX) followed the launch of the latest addition to the GigaSpire BLAST systems family, the GigaSpire® BLAST u6x, by unveiling the systems portfolio roadmap for the GigaSpire BLAST. The roadmap outlines the planned evolution of the GigaSpire BLAST portfolio to help broadband service providers (BSPs) plan their service evolution and growth. These future systems will enable BSPs to excite subscribers with even more performance by leveraging new technologies such as Wi-Fi 6E, easily extend their services to new locations via temperature-hardened systems and Power over Ethernet for systems, and operate with complete flexibility and simplicity with a GigaSpire BLAST u4x system that utilizes the swappable WAN SFP connections introduced with the GigaSpire BLAST u6x.

 

Thanks to the power of the Experience Innovation Platform, these new systems will enable BSPs of any size to grow their value by tapping into exploding subscriber demand across an ever-expanding set of use cases. As a foundational component of the Revenue EDGE solution (which includes Calix Support Cloud, Calix Marketing Cloud, the CommandIQ® mobile app, and Revenue EDGE Suites) the new GigaSpire BLAST systems enable BSPs to establish a “digital storefront” that will generate new revenue streams for years. This expanding portfolio will include:

 

  • Wi-Fi 6E Systems: Calix is committed to helping BSPs adopt the latest, cutting-edge technologies. Calix will launch our first Wi-Fi 6E GigaSpire to deliver 6 GHz capabilities that also will work seamlessly with any existing GigaSpire BLAST system. This new system will extend the industry leading power of the GigaSpire family and enable easy adoption of the latest consumer devices. With the first Wi-Fi 6E devices hitting the market later this year, BSPs who adopt the Revenue EDGE will be even more prepared to support exciting, high-bandwidth applications such as augmented and virtual reality.
  • Hardened Systems: Many BSPs are looking to expand their deployment use cases for their managed Wi-Fi services into challenging environments such as outdoor patios or barns. With hardened GigaSpire systems, BSPs will now have a simple way to extend the full Revenue EDGE solution wherever subscribers need them, even under the harshest environmental conditions.
  • Power-Over-Ethernet Systems: By incorporating Power over Ethernet (PoE) functionality into future models, Calix will enable BSPs to deliver Ultimate Wi-Fi experiences to both main street and hard to reach locations from local patios to shop floors for any residential or small business application.
  • Universally Flexible Systems: The GigaSpire BLAST u6x system introduces a revolutionary new deployment model for BSPs. By leveraging universal WAN connectivity in the form of an easily swappable SFP that can support everything from 1G to 10G ethernet or 1G to 10G PON services, the GigaSpire BLAST u6x provides unrivaled simplicity, flexibility, and upgradability for BSPs. This revolutionary value proposition will also be delivered in the popular GigaSpire BLAST u4 form factor. By delivering more options for BSPs who are adopting this new operating model, Calix will ensure that every service provider can find systems that fit their business.

The Experience Innovation Platform enables a BSP to adopt and deploy new systems and services with unprecedented speed and efficiency. While it used to take months for a BSP to integrate and prepare new systems for deployment, GigaSpire BLAST systems can be incorporated into a BSPs operating model in just days or weeks. With the accelerating investment in broadband, driven by U.S. federal and state-level funding as well as private investment—speed to market and flexibility are more important than ever. Calix is investing to ensure that the family of GigaSpire systems is the most complete and easiest to adopt on the market. More importantly, Calix demonstrated with its latest systems launch and announcements that it is committed to helping customers stay on the cutting edge.

 

“We partner closely with BSPs to provide innovative, winning options that deliver the most flexibility and value so they can excite a wide range of residential and business subscribers in dynamic environments while easily and cost-effectively addressing their unique needs,” said Shane Eleniak, senior vice president, Revenue EDGE products for Calix. “The GigaSpire BLAST portfolio offers the broadest range of systems in the market to enable service providers to achieve these goals and more. We invest in innovation that helps them build a winning business model—one that grows their brand and only their brand and helps them build deep, lasting relationships with subscribers for generations. We were the first technology provider in the market with Wi-Fi 6 systems designed exclusively for service providers. We will continue to be the first to innovate in new areas such as Wi-Fi 6E. The GigaSpire BLAST roadmap outlines the evolution of our commitment to our customers. It will help broadband service providers of any type and size to be first in their market with the systems that meet their subscribers’ needs.”

 

To learn more, download the white paper, “Expanding Wi-Fi into the 6 GHz Spectrum,” and register for the May 26 webinar, “New Innovations Set to Drive Optimal Wi-Fi Performance.

About Calix

Calix, Inc. (NYSE: CALX) – Calix cloud and software platforms enable service providers of all types and sizes to innovate and transform. Our customers utilize the real-time data and insights from Calix platforms to simplify their businesses and deliver experiences that excite their subscribers. The resulting growth in subscriber acquisition, loyalty, and revenue creates more value for their businesses and communities. This is the Calix mission; to enable broadband service providers of all sizes to simplify, excite, and grow.

This press release may contain forward-looking statements that are based upon management’s current expectations and are inherently uncertain. Forward-looking statements are based upon information available to us as of the date of this release, and we assume no obligation to revise or update any such forward-looking statement to reflect any event or circumstance after the date of this release, except as required by law. Actual results and the timing of events could differ materially from current expectations based on risks and uncertainties affecting Calix’s business. The reader is cautioned not to rely on the forward-looking statements contained in this press release. Additional information on potential factors that could affect Calix’s results and other risks and uncertainties are detailed in its quarterly reports on Form 10-Q and Annual Report on Form 10-K filed with the SEC and available at www.sec.gov.

 

Press Inquiries:
Dale Legaspi

408-474-0056

dale.legaspi@calix.com

 

Investor Inquiries:

Tom Dinges

408-474-0080

tom.dinges@calix.com

Austin, TX – May 11, 2021 – Wi-Fi Alliance® provides trusted security to billions of Wi-Fi® devices, and regularly updates Wi-Fi CERTIFIED™ requirements to address wireless security and privacy challenges as the threat landscape evolves.

Security researchers identified vulnerabilities in the frame aggregation functionality of some Wi-Fi devices. There is no evidence of the vulnerabilities being used against Wi-Fi users maliciously, and these issues are mitigated through routine device updates that enable detection of suspect transmissions or improve adherence to recommended security implementation practices. Wi-Fi Alliance has taken immediate steps to ensure users can remain confident in the strong security protections provided by Wi-Fi.

  • Wi-Fi CERTIFIED now includes additional testing within our global certification lab network to encourage greater adoption of recommended practices
  • Wi-Fi Alliance is broadly communicating implementation guidance to device vendors and the broader ecosystem community
  • Many Wi-Fi Alliance members affected by the issue have already started deploying updates to user devices

As always, Wi-Fi users should ensure they have installed the latest recommended updates from device manufacturers.

As with any technology, robust security research that pre-emptively identifies potential vulnerabilities is critical to maintaining strong protections. Wi-Fi Alliance thanks Mathy Vanhoef (New York University Abu Dhabi) for discovering and responsibly reporting this issue, allowing industry to proactively prepare updates. Wi-Fi Alliance also thanks the Industry Consortium for Advancement of Security on the Internet (ICASI) for their strong partnership and collaboration.

For more information, please refer to statement from ICASIhttps://www.icasi.org/aggregation-fragmentation-attacks-against-wifi/

Relevant Identifiers:

 

  • ICASI case ID: USIRP02-2020
  • CVE-2020-24586
  • CVE-2020-24587
  • CVE-2020-24588
  • CVE-2020-26139
  • CVE-2020-26140
  • CVE-2020-26141
  • CVE-2020-26142
  • CVE-2020-26143
  • CVE-2020-26144
  • CVE-2020-26145
  • CVE-2020-26146
  • CVE-2020-26147

Relevant research:

Guidance for implementations:

 

About Wi-Fi Alliance®  |  www.wi-fi.org
Wi-Fi Alliance® is the worldwide network of companies that brings you Wi-Fi®. Members of our collaboration forum come together from across the Wi-Fi ecosystem with the shared vision to connect everyone and everything, everywhere, while providing the best possible user experience. Since 2000, Wi-Fi Alliance has completed more than 65,000 Wi-Fi certifications. The Wi-Fi CERTIFIED™ seal of approval designates products with proven interoperability, backward compatibility, and the highest industry-standard security protections in place. Today, Wi-Fi carries more than half of the internet’s traffic in an ever-expanding variety of applications. Wi-Fi Alliance continues to drive the adoption and evolution of Wi-Fi, which billions of people rely on every day.

Follow Wi-Fi Alliance:
wi-fi.org/beacon
facebook.com/wificertified
twitter.com/wifialliance
linkedin.com/company/wi-fi-alliance

May 10, 2021 by Ken Kerpez

Working from home has risen vastly over the past year, and this trend looks to be here to stay. While a user may ignore occasional blips in their “for fun” internet, working from home requires a new level of network performance. Ensuring Wi-Fi® Quality of Service (QoS) is arguably the most important component of such performance, and Wi-Fi CERTIFIED QoS Management™ is now able to provide the reliability that working from home requires.

The importance of Wi-Fi QoS Management™ when working from home

Wi-Fi is becoming one of the most important approaches for connecting devices to the internet. Consumers are demanding that operators provide a high quality Wi-Fi experience when it comes to Wi-Fi connectivity across all devices. In particular, work-from-home, or telework, has emerged as a vitally important application supported by Wi-Fi. There is a growing need for operators to manage and ensure mission critical telework traffic over Wi-Fi, and residential connections should be managed to ensure connectivity and performance that enables productive employees. Wi-Fi CERTIFIED QoS Management has now emerged to ensure telework traffic is prioritized, resulting in an improved work-from-home experience for employees.

The technology driving Wi-Fi QoS Management

Wi-Fi CERTIFIED Wi-Fi Multimedia™ (WMM®) provides the over-the-air mechanisms to support traffic prioritization, including prioritization of work from home traffic. While WMM can prioritize telework applications to ensure their service quality, it did not provide the capabilities to link the Wi-Fi layer with the IP or application layers for residential Wi-Fi.

Wi-Fi CERTIFIED QoS Management simplifies the prioritization and management of latency-sensitive traffic in Wi-Fi networks by enabling IP data flows to be classified and mapped to one of four QoS access categories defined by WMM. This helps ensure that traffic for real-time applications and services is inserted into queues with higher priority, resulting in a better experience for end-users.

Wi-Fi QoS Management supports Differentiated Service Code Point (DSCP) mapping, which is a marking in the IP packet headers for managing network priority and QoS across the network. Wi-Fi QoS Management can classify traffic and map flows into DSCP code points, whereby work-related flows are identified and assigned to high priorities. Wi-Fi QoS Management then enables configuration mapping of the IP-layer DSCP markings to WMM categories, allowing for prioritization and ensuring QoS on Wi-Fi. The essential component of priority across the Wi-Fi link is enabled by Wi-Fi QoS Management. In addition, Wi-Fi QoS Management can similarly support Mirrored Stream Classification Service (MSCS) to ensure QoS of work applications on client devices across the Wi-Fi link.

Solutions available to harness benefits of Wi-Fi QoS Management

Solutions such as ASSIA Equipe are coming to market to harness the benefits of Wi-Fi QoS Management for employees working from home. This Wi-Fi management platform runs on Wi-Fi gateways and Wi-Fi extenders in conjunction with a cloud-based management system and a smartphone application that the employee interacts with. Equipe collects and analyzes many Wi-Fi performance-related parameters to determine and optimize “Workput”—an AI model that learns the true impact of an individual’s connectivity for telework. Ensuring work from home prioritization for Telework QoS is crucial to high Workput.

The use of Wi-Fi QoS Management by such solutions enables operators to take a great step forward by prioritizing critical workflows to support telework as a service. For instance, Equipe can use Wi-Fi QoS Management to assign high priority and support end-to-end QoS of Workput flows across the network, particularly across the crucial Wi-Fi link. It is Wi-Fi QoS Management’s ability to support prioritization of these flows that makes it so critical to telework, enabling employees to enjoy a high quality work from home experience.

In many households, Wi-Fi is shared between time-sensitive, performance-oriented work flows and more casual traffic. Wi-Fi QoS management enables mission-critical applications to meet their delay and quality requirements, ensuring the now-pervasive needs of telework can now be fully supported.

 

The statements and opinions by each Wi-Fi Alliance member and those providing comments are theirs alone, and do not reflect the opinions or views of Wi-Fi Alliance or any other member. Wi-Fi Alliance is not responsible for the accuracy of any of the information provided by any member in posting to or commenting on this blog. Concerns should be directed to info@wi-fi.org.

With the release of the fourth Wi-Fi 6 system from Calix, service providers now have a fully modular, upgradeable Revenue EDGE System with a 10-year plus lifespan that will simplify systems integration and deployment, significantly reducing CAPEX and OPEX, while establishing a “digital storefront” in subscribers’ homes

SAN JOSE, CA – May 11, 2021 – Calix, Inc. (NYSE: CALX) today launched the new GigaSpire® BLAST u6x, giving broadband service providers (BSPs) the only Wi-Fi 6 system capable of delivering up to 10 Gbps Internet services while providing the ultimate flexibility to seamlessly and cost-effectively upgrade subscribers’ access technology today and in the future. Now shipping, the GigaSpire BLAST u6x is the fourth system in the GigaSpire BLAST family, and is the world’s first Wi-Fi 6 system with options for five different WAN SFP connections to accommodate a wide range of deployment scenarios: 1 and 10 Gigabit Ethernet and GPON—with Active Ethernet and XGS-PON capabilities scheduled for later this year—covering future subscriber network deployment scenarios for upwards of a decade. The fully modular design and integration with the real-time analytics insights of Calix Support Cloud helps BSPs dramatically simplify the deployment process, shorten installation time, and minimize inventory issues—significantly reducing both CAPEX and OPEX.

 

Powered by the Experience Innovation Platform, the GigaSpire BLAST u6x is fully interoperable with the end-to-end Revenue EDGE solution, including the CommandIQ® mobile app and value-added services in EDGE Suites. By deploying the GigaSpire Blast u6x, a service provider establishes a “digital storefront” in subscribers’ homes from which it can easily generate new revenue streams through exciting new services such as home network security while delivering ultimate Wi-Fi performance.

 

As the latest addition to the GigaSpire BLAST family, the GigaSpire BLAST u6x supports multiple access technologies, allowing BSPs to future-proof their subscribers’ networks and protect their investment. The GigaSpire BLAST u6x offers BSPs unique ways to grow their business and excite their subscribers, including:

 

  • Complete flexibility: The swappable optical modules enable BSPs to seamlessly upgrade subscribers’ access technology without having to replace the entire Wi-Fi system (eliminating the need to recreate or re-establish the SSID and other settings), dramatically simplifying the installation process and delivering up to a previously unreachable 10-year lifespan, ensuring the longevity of the system. Furthermore, the lifecycle of every GigaSpire system is future-proofed by enabling new technologies, such as Wi-Fi 6E, through the addition of a low-cost mesh satellite—eliminating the need for BSPs to perform “rip-and-replace” upgrades in the future.
  • Operational simplicity: Because the carrier-class GigaSpire BLAST u6x runs on the Experience Innovation Platform, BSPs that have already deployed other GigaSpire BLAST systems do not need to worry about integrating a new system into their network. This significantly reduces time to market—from months or years to days.
  • Revenue-generating, loyalty-building applications: Like the three other GigaSpire BLAST systems, which are also powered by the Experience Innovation Platform, the GigaSpire BLAST u6x provides a BSP-branded storefront in the subscriber’s home. These services, which are all part of the Revenue EDGE, allow subscribers to benefit from value-added services such as enhanced parental controls, home network security, device protection plans, and the world’s most advanced smart home connected cameras through the Calix partnership with Arlo technologies—all ensuring that the BSP’s brand grows stronger each day.
  • Leading security: The latest integrated hardware security with WPA3 protocols, along with software that is regularly updated and the world’s only deployment of carrier-class physically unclonable functions (PUF), delivers a safe and secure subscriber experience.

GigabitNow, based in the state of Washington, has been a Calix customer for four years, deploying managed Wi-Fi in California, Oregon, Washington, and soon, in Massachusetts. The company has since upgraded to GigaSpire BLAST systems to develop community fiber networks and invested in the rest of the Revenue EDGE solution to excite subscribers with an unmatched experience.

 

“For GigabitNow, the GigaSpire BLAST system has been an excellent choice for our network deployment strategy due to its built-in management features, exceptional coverage, and powerful software platform,” said Dan Sivils, chief operating officer for GigabitNow. “We’re thrilled by the launch of the GigaSpire BLAST u6x, which will allow for easy upgrades to 10G services and fewer systems to install at the subscriber’s location, reducing installation costs—it’s a win for our subscribers and us.”

 

Many Calix customers are choosing to exclusively deploy GigaSpire BLAST systems to their subscribers to put their brand front and center in the home, eliminate the support headaches associated with systems purchased at big-box stores, and increase customer satisfaction—in some cases achieving Net Promoter Scores far above the industry average. As a digital storefront in the subscriber’s home, GigaSpire BLAST systems enable BSPs to craft exceptional subscriber experiences with premium service offerings that drive revenue growth. Like the rest of the GigaSpire BLAST family, the GigaSpire BLAST u6x is tightly integrated with all elements of the Revenue EDGE solution, including Calix Support Cloud, Calix Marketing Cloud, the brandable CommandIQ mobile app, and all Revenue EDGE Suites.

 

“Today’s introduction of the GigaSpire BLAST u6x system sets the standard for the industry—with support for multiple access technologies up to 10 Gbps, the GigaSpire BLAST u6x offers unmatched performance, flexibility and a 10-year lifespan that helps customers protect their investments,” said Shane Eleniak, senior vice president, Revenue EDGE products for Calix. “Nearly all our customers are either expanding, upgrading, or building new fiber networks, and we expect this trend to continue for years. They would like to make these important investments without having to worry about the cost and complexity of replacing the entire Wi-Fi system every time they adopt a new technology.

 

“With the u6x, service providers can start off using GPON technology or Ethernet behind an old DSL system, then seamlessly upgrade to XGS PON when they’re ready,” continued Eleniak. “Or they can offer an industry-leading 10 Gbps service with Calix Intelligent Access Edge right out of the gate, leapfrogging the services offered by competitors. No matter the approach, the GigaSpire BLAST u6x enables BSPs to deploy quickly, without extensive integration cost, and allows them to save on CAPEX and OPEX. With the GigaSpire BLAST u6x, we’re demonstrating the value a BSP of anysize can get by partnering with Calix to create a state-of-the-art, simplified broadband business that excites subscribers, establishes their brand as the market leader, and grows the value of their business for their stakeholders.”

 

The GigaSpire BLAST u6x is available in two form factors: the classic gray tower, available now, and the next-generation white tower, which will ship in the coming months. Learn more about the new GigaSpire BLAST u6x—visit the GigaSpire BLAST u6 product page and watch the new GigaSpire BLAST u6x video.

 

About Calix

Calix, Inc. (NYSE: CALX) – Calix cloud and software platforms enable service providers of all types and sizes to innovate and transform. Our customers utilize the real-time data and insights from Calix platforms to simplify their businesses and deliver experiences that excite their subscribers. The resulting growth in subscriber acquisition, loyalty, and revenue creates more value for their businesses and communities. This is the Calix mission; to enable broadband service providers of all sizes to simplify, excite, and grow.

This press release may contain forward-looking statements that are based upon management’s current expectations and are inherently uncertain. Forward-looking statements are based upon information available to us as of the date of this release, and we assume no obligation to revise or update any such forward-looking statement to reflect any event or circumstance after the date of this release, except as required by law. Actual results and the timing of events could differ materially from current expectations based on risks and uncertainties affecting Calix’s business. The reader is cautioned not to rely on the forward-looking statements contained in this press release. Additional information on potential factors that could affect Calix’s results and other risks and uncertainties are detailed in its quarterly reports on Form 10-Q and Annual Report on Form 10-K filed with the SEC and available at www.sec.gov.

Press Inquiries:
Dale Legaspi

408-474-0056

dale.legaspi@calix.com

 

Investor Inquiries:

Tom Dinges

408-474-0080

tom.dinges@calix.com

May 04, 2021 by Michael Muller

This content was originally published on LANCOMWIRE: The LANCOM Systems Tech Blog.

Urban spaces are sprouting up like mushrooms, growing beyond their boundaries and presenting completely new challenges in terms of mobility and infrastructure. Mobility as we know it today, with overcrowded streets and poor air quality, is a model that has had its day.

Climate goals aside, urban transport networks are barely keeping pace with the enormous numbers of commuters who move around each day. If we consider Latin America, with the high altitudes of Bolivia’s capital La Paz or the Mexican metropolises, the models being implemented may well inspire urban future-proof mobility concepts for other cities in the long term: Modern cable car systems that traverse many different city plateaus. From the high altitude regions of the Alps, for example, we are familiar with gondolas and cable car systems that are networked with the latest technology. But what requirements does the network have to meet in urban areas?

Up high in Latin America

© Doppelmayr Seilbahnen GmbH

Mi Teleférico, which translates from Spanish as “my cable car,” has connected the Bolivian cities of La Paz and El Alto since 2014. In this case, the Austrian cable car manufacturer Doppelmayr/Garaventa has built the world’s largest urban cable car network. Consisting of ten lines in total, the cable car network offers daily commuters a faster way to reach their destinations. Some sections of the system negotiate up to 666 meters of difference in altitude. It wouldn’t work without the latest technology: For the security-related applications and additional service offerings for passengers, a stable Wi-Fi® network is essential. The requirements of a Wi-Fi for urban cable cars like those in La Paz are extremely tough. On the one hand, the network has to control safety-related applications, such as the intercom system in the gondolas, security cameras and lighting control, as well as the monitoring of the pylons and battery systems. On the other hand, passengers in the gondola expect Wi-Fi with a strong and stable signal. With travel times of up to half an hour, a seamless Wi-Fi network offers even more convenience.

Networks at the cutting edge

The implementation of a network over a total distance of 30 kilometers required the setup of a communication system consisting of Wi-Fi access points and directional radio antennas. In La Paz, each cable car pylon and each individual gondola is equipped with a dual-radio outdoor Wi-Fi access point. The altitudes involved demand special hardware for the networks. Thanks to their IP66 protective housing, outdoor access points work reliably in temperatures ranging from -33° to +70° Celsius and withstand the weather with its snow, dust and the cold of the Andes. The APs are equipped with directional antennas to specifically focus the Wi-Fi signal along the path taken by the gondolas. Each gondola is also fitted with an AP that receives the signal and forwards it to the Mobility Communications System (MCS)—in this case a central system designed by LOOP21. The central communication system replaces, among other things, the radio technology required for the alarm and safety system. To ensure seamless wireless connectivity for the communication system, it is particularly important that the directional radio antennas of the OAPs are aligned precisely.

Requirements in airy heights

The demands on a network in urban areas are great: it has to handle long distances, extreme differences in altitude, and different sources of interference from radio networks. And the wireless network is just as scalable as the cable car network itself. New sections of a route can be quickly and easily provided with Wi-Fi and integrated into the overall network.

As a model for the mobility of the future, urban cable cars like those in Latin America are a role model for metropolitan regions that are reaching their limits of their infrastructure. Thanks to modern network technology that combines passenger convenience with important security requirements, future viability is guaranteed.

All pictures were provided by Doppelymayr Seilbahnen GmbH.

The statements and opinions by each Wi-Fi Alliance member and those providing comments are theirs alone, and do not reflect the opinions or views of Wi-Fi Alliance or any other member. Wi-Fi Alliance is not responsible for the accuracy of any of the information provided by any member in posting to or commenting on this blog. Concerns should be directed to info@wi-fi.org.

 

Wireless technology has been around for more than a century, so why does it feel like wireless devices have only become popular in the last few years? Well… one of the main reasons for that is the need to license frequency bands.

Wireless devices communicate with each other and the environment using electromagnetic waves. Whenever two different devices use the same frequency, much like with Wi-Fi, the information each device captures might interfere with the other. In the past, it was common to “rent” or license a frequency to ensure that you are the only one using it and avoid interference. A perfect example is radio stations. Radio studios license a specific frequency to operate within a particular region. If you turn on the radio to your favourite station while being in a different region, it will most likely not be playing that station.

Licensing frequency bands, although sometimes necessary, can become a significant step back for innovation. It drastically limits the number of technologies that can operate under a specific frequency since there is no point in creating a product you will not be allowed to use or sell.

Fortunately, countries have been increasing the number of unlicensed band ranges. For example, several countries have now opened the use of the 6 GHz band. The proliferation of unlicensed bands has allowed many new technologies to emerge, including personal wireless health monitoring devices.

Wireless health monitoring devices

Some wireless health monitoring devices use a millimetre-wave sensor that generally operates between 24 GHz and 77 GHz and can detect micromovements. They can work as following:

  1. The sensor sends out a wave,
  2. The wave bounces off a surface,
  3. The wave comes back to the sensor,
  4. The system then calculates the millimetric position of that surface.

If the next wave the sensor sends out comes back differently, the system can calculate all subtle position changes. Using sophisticated AI algorithms, these devices are tailored to capture living beings’ micromovements and convert that data into three crucial features:

  1. Movement
  2. Breathing rate
  3. Heart rate

It is essential to understand that wireless health monitoring devices do not fully replace wearable devices such as smartwatches or fitness trackers. It is the solution that fills the gaps with current monitoring systems. Let’s go over some of their pros and cons.

Benefits

  • No wearables – Users do not have to wear any device to have their health measured. In comparison, wearable devices require users to wear them even during sleep.
  • Zero maintenance – Wireless health monitoring devices do not need to be recharged, unlike wearable devices that require the user to charge it weekly or even daily. Once the device is set up, the user can leave it running non-stop.
  • Non-intrusive – People do not like being spied on, and rightfully so. These devices do not have any cameras, allowing the user to feel at ease at all times.
  • One sensor, multiple people – Each person can be uniquely identified based on their micro-movements. The wireless device can identify the people within its range and measure their biodata accordingly.

Limitations

  • Static – The sensor is not mobile. Users cannot carry it around like wearable devices.
  • Range Although its range can be seen as a benefit since it has a much more extensive range than wearable devices, current iterations of wireless health monitoring devices have a range of 3 meters, which can sometimes not cover an entire room.
  • Setup – The device may require a longer calibration time before use. The setup is not a significant limitation, but it is essential to go over its aspects.

Potential Use Cases

Sleep Monitoring

Wireless tech is the best solution for sleep monitoring. It can sense the necessary information to measure sleep quality (movement, breathing, heart rate), and it does not provide any discomfort to the user since it is contactless.

Telehealth

Due to the COVID-19 pandemic, up to 40% of American citizens avoid visiting a medical care center for non-COVID-related concerns [1]. This has led to a drastic increase in telehealth appointments. In Canada, 60% of medical visits became virtual in 2020 [2].

Wireless health monitoring devices add another component to online appointments by providing doctors with their patient’s biodata (with the proper. A great use case is a doctor checking their patients’ breathing data throughout the night and quickly spotting any irregularity, such as sleep apnea, affecting 26% of adults in the US [3].

We hope you all enjoyed this article, thanks for reading! Mercku Blogs covers the latest in wireless technology – subscribe to our newsletter to make sure you don’t miss our newest releases! Want to learn more about RF Sensing? Visit our RF Sensing blog post here.

For more information about Mercku’s Connectivity Suite, our hardware, and how you can partner with Mercku, please reach out to the team at connect@mercku.com

Sources:

[1] https://www.cdc.gov/mmwr/volumes/69/wr/mm6936a4.htm

[2] http://www.healthcareimc.com/main/virtual-care-is-the-future-of-health-care-delivery-in-canada/

[3] https://aasm.org/rising-prevalence-of-sleep-apnea-in-u-s-threatens-public-health/