August 31, 2022

[Press Release]

Raj Mukherjee, Leading Expert in Cloud Software Products That Drive Business Growth, Joins Calix Board of Directors

Raj Mukherjee brings more than 20 years of expertise in cloud software, top-tier talent acquisition, and small business solutions to the Calix board of directors, further positioning the company to help broadband providers simplify their businesses, excite subscribers, and grow value for their communities

SAN JOSE, CA—August 22, 2022—Calix, Inc. (NYSE: CALX) today announced that leading technology product executive Raj Mukherjee has joined its board of directors to provide guidance to the industry-leading cloud and software company. Raj brings two decades of expertise in cloud software products that drive business growth. He will provide critical insights and counsel as Calix continues transforming the broadband industry with its award-winning product portfolio. As the newest member of the Calix board of directors, Raj will provide invaluable insights gained from a flourishing career helping small businesses adopt new technologies. With the addition of Raj, Calix is well positioned to continue its mission of helping broadband service providers (BSPs) of any size simplify their businesses, excite subscribers, and grow value to benefit their communities for generations.

Raj currently serves as the executive vice president and general manager, small business and international, at Indeed. Since 2016, Raj has led his teams to help shape the human resources technology company’s popular products. In his 20 years of leadership in product development and engineering, including his six-year tenure at Indeed, Raj gained exceptional insights into how to acquire and nurture top industry talent. As Calix continues setting consecutive quarterly hiring records, Raj’s prowess will support the company’s rapid growth and award-winning work-from-anywhere company culture.

“In an industry undergoing transformation, aided by billions of dollars in government funding and increasing subscriber expectations, Calix is leading a market disruption with its finger on the pulse of what BSPs need to be successful,” said Mukherjee. “Its prestigious cloud software product portfolio combined with visionary leadership paints a bright future for the company. As a mission-driven leader, I am very excited to join the Calix board. I look forward to supporting the organization’s mission to democratize access to broadband by enabling BSPs of any size to simplify their business, excite subscribers, and grow value.”

Raj has a proven track record of building and transforming world-class products and delivering outsized business results. Before joining Indeed, Raj was a senior vice president of product at GoDaddy Corp. for four years. Prior to that, he was a product manager for Google Inc. When working on Google’s G-Suite apps, he drove critical projects such as new onboarding experiences that contributed significantly to overall revenue growth. Before Google, Raj worked at Microsoft, on Office 365 and Exchange Server, as a product manager from 2004-2011. He started his career at Williams Cos. as a systems analyst that built the first trading platform for electric power. Raj completed a Bachelor of Engineering degree at Jadavpur University and graduated with honors from Columbia Business School and Haas School of Business, UC Berkeley with an executive MBA.

“Raj’s deep experience and leadership at Indeed, GoDaddy, Google, and Microsoft make him the ideal addition to the Calix board,” said Carl Russo, Calix chief executive officer and board chairman. “His insights into attracting world-class talent and driving innovation through cloud-based solutions will be invaluable to the Calix team as we continue to transform our industry and the way that our customers create value for their communities.”

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 contains 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.

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August 31, 2022

[Blog]

What Does it Take for Accurate, Reliable WiFi Sensing?

The rapid pace at which technology advances can be compared to a boulder being pushed down a steep hill. It may start slowly at first, but as it rolls, it accelerates and gains momentum. Indeed, many people believe that technology is evolving faster in the twenty-first century than it ever has before, owing to the exponential growth of research that harnesses the many generations of brilliant minds and advancements that have come before us. WiFi and WiFi Sensing are similar. Despite the fact that commercial WiFi has only been available since the 1990s, WiFi is now being used in ways that were unimaginable just three decades ago. Our WiFi Sensing core technology, WiFi Motion, enables a slew of new home applications that are challenging smart home innovation, driving demand in new markets, and pushing the boundaries of connected devices.

In such a rapidly evolving field, it is critical to establish foundational processes, systems, and structures that ensure robust technology. A product must not only be intelligent but also dependable. WiFi Motion is no exception. That is why at Cognitive, we have always placed equal importance on AI (artificial intelligence) and QA (quality assurance) when building WiFi Motion. WiFi Sensing enables applications in some of the most intimate environments, like your home, where it is critical that services operate reliably to ensure customer comfort. We have drawn on our leadership team’s decades of QA and software testing experience to ensure that our approach to developing our WiFi Sensing technology and its various applications is as accurate and reliable as possible while working to learn alongside its users.

But How Have We Done That?
When WiFi Motion was in its early stages, QA’s role was to collaborate with development teams to provide confirmation that the technology was 1) effective and 2) making incremental progress. Our team knew from the start that WiFi Sensing, like WiFi, would be an ever-evolving technology with future applications. That is why we needed a strong QA foundation working closely with our development teams as we built from the ground up. Initial activity focused on establishing a set of WiFi Motion’s key performance indicators (KPIs) that were simple to understand and easy to measure. Because our leadership team’s expertise is firmly rooted in radio systems and chip design, we understood the significance of testing in a reliable and repeatable manner. Radiated measurements are especially vulnerable to measurement error, owing to high uncertainty factors. As a result, every effort was made to reduce testing uncertainties as much as possible. A unique challenge we faced in this area was that there were no industry agreed-upon KPIs or test methodologies available. Everything had to be developed from scratch, largely by us. Test cases and scenarios had to be developed not only to communicate performance to R&D teams but also to non-technical personnel who were unfamiliar with the fine details. To help ensure consistency, application test methodologies were developed to help guide testing in a manner such that results were repeatable regardless of deployment or environment.

There’s No Place Like Home: Variable Environments
In this vein, we have established a number of QA houses that represent realistic home environments in order to thoroughly test our technology with real people in real spaces. Our small and dedicated team focuses on putting themselves in the shoes of the end-user in order to evaluate performance and identify limitations. The industry has established well-defined KPIs such as data throughput, BER (Bit Error Rate), and RSSI (Received Signal Strength Indicator) as indicators or measurements of WiFi communication performance. Anyone, including R&D teams, network professionals, technicians, and end users, can utilize common industry tools that measure data throughput or map a network’s RSSI operating environment to evaluate different scenarios. Because there are no industry standard KPIs, methodologies, or tools for WiFi Sensing, it has fallen to us to research and develop evaluation standards for other similar sensing technologies and develop the best possible equivalent. Recognizing this as a significant industry gap, we contributed our experience as well as a preliminary set of KPIs, test methodologies, and tool descriptions for publication in a WBA (Wireless Broadband Alliance) whitepaper. Our goal was for this work to serve as preliminary guidance for other companies looking to evaluate WiFi Sensing technology, as well as to provide input to the industry on what future testing and tools will be required as WiFi’s sensing capabilities expand.

How to Find the Right Setting for a Space
Sensing sensitivity, or the amount of motion needed for our system to classify something as motion, is another challenge inherent in WiFi Sensing. Our flagship technology, WiFi Motion, currently allows users to choose different sensitivity levels based on the type of home that they live in. Users can add filters to analyze types of motion in their home (i.e., pets, fans, etc.), allowing our algorithms to filter out “background noise” to ensure human motion detection is as accurate as possible. Algorithms that help ensure accurate and reliable sensing require tuning that could be unique to the environment or user preference. We want solutions that work in all environments while avoiding any false alarms. To accomplish this, we define and implement real-world scenarios in test environments. Raw sensing data is collected, stored, and labeled as each scenario is executed. Offline analysis and processing of the stored or labeled data allow R&D teams to fine-tune algorithm performance.

Advanced Insights with Localization
WiFi Motion’s localization feature is another crucial piece of the puzzle to ensure our Sensing outputs are accurate. Through localization, our users can determine where in their home motion was detected based on proximity to a connected device. Users can gain additional insights by being able to differentiate motion down to specific rooms. For example, does the fact that senior mom is spending more time than usual in the living room watching TV imply that she isn’t getting enough exercise? Or are your children not getting enough quality sleep because they wake up in the middle of the night? Localization also assists us in guiding users on how to best set up coverage in their homes so that both WiFi and WiFi Motion work as efficiently as possible. Similarly, we are also working on tools that may optimize network coverage, map home environments, and improve smart home functionality.

Rinse & Repeat: The Benefits of Iteration
In the WiFi Sensing space, QA and testing are critical for learning, in-house development, and building out the technology. We can iterate and adjust based on test and simulation data to provide a better end-user experience. As well, QA testing of our final deliverable ensures proper integration by validating overall system level requirements beyond Sensing performance. A solid QA test plan entails creating procedures to ensure a robust platform and comprehensive standards for WiFi Sensing. Standardization efforts will improve technology in tandem with established QA testing protocols. As WiFi itself continues to improve, so will the accuracy and reliability of WiFi Sensing. That means better coverage, localization accuracy, new gateway updates that don’t break things, and smoother firmware push transitions.

Testing the parameters of WiFi Sensing will help secure the technology’s future by ensuring that product quality does not deteriorate over time. To meet expectations, we will be able to introduce new features, capabilities, backward-compatible fixes, and so on. We understand that each WiFi Sensing environment is dynamic and one-of-a-kind. A strong QA process backed up by standardization will ensure companies meet minimal performance requirements.

The Future of WiFi is WiFi Sensing
Telecommunications and cable companies are actively seeking technologies such as WiFi Sensing to increase the value of their subscription packages while also introducing new services that will grow and retain their customer base. WiFi Motion is a powerful WiFi Sensing application into which we have poured years of testing and QA experience to ensure the best end-user experience. With the proliferation of WiFi 6/7 and the standardization efforts of 802.11bf, WiFi Sensing will soon be everywhere. ISPs can enter this growing market now to provide an extraordinarily unique edge. Our current partners are not only integrating motion sensing, they are designing their products around it. Most plan to gradually offer a number of sensing-based applications (such as Home Aware and Caregiver Aware) to improve customer service and engagement. By having actively deployed technology, our partners are gaining extremely valuable data through both testing and usage that will be foundational in improving the technology itself and shaping the future of WiFi. Those jumping into the technology before standardization will have more data to leverage and will find themselves years ahead of the competition.

If you’re a service provider looking for the next big tech breakthrough to help you differentiate, the time has come to act. As we write the WiFi Sensing rulebook through our QA process, early adopters will have the most influence on shaping the WiFi Sensing marketplace.

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August 29, 2022

[Press Release]

Indio Networks Partners with Beetel Teletech Ltd. To Strengthen Its Presence in the Indian WiFi Market

The value-added partnership will bolster Indio’s effort in the wireless networking product and solutions category

Pune, Maharashtra, India:

Indio Networks Pvt. Ltd. announced its new distribution partnership with Beetel Teletech Limited. The partnership authorizes Beetel to manage the distribution and value-added reselling of Indio’s wide range of wireless networking products and solutions, built for managing community and enterprise WiFi networks.

With Beetel’s PAN India presence and extensive supply chain network, this association will strengthen Indio’s presence in the Indian WiFi market which will help Indio’s partners, integrators, and client’s easy access to Indio’s products and solutions.

Commenting on this association, Mr. Rishikesh Ghare, Founder and CEO of Indio Networks Pvt. Ltd. said, “We are excited to welcome Beetel as our value-added distributor in India and expand our product distribution range through them. With Beetel’s strong network and domain expertise, we are confident that this partnership will benefit the customers in the network solutions sphere. We are sure that Beetel will become our valued partner for the long run in India.”

Mr. Sanjeev Patil, Business Unit Head – Networks, Beetel, said, “We are enthusiastic about this partnership with Indio Networks and are ready to take their wide range of wireless networking products and solutions to our customers. Their high-performance, next-generation networking solutions for enterprises will help our customers unlock the power of Wireless, IoT, and Cloud technologies for their businesses. This value-added partnership will help both organizations address the growing demands of uninterrupted and seamless digital experiences through resilient networking solutions. We believe this relationship is an important step as we progress towards our business growth.”

About Indio Networks Pvt. Ltd.
Indio Networks delivers next-generation networking solutions that help its customers unlock the power of Wireless, IoT and Cloud technologies for their business. Indio Networks has been serving customers across the globe since 2005, with a unique blend of products and solutions which deliver the right value at the right price, simplifying connectivity for everyone.

Indio’s products are deployed in over 45 countries and serve tens of millions of users each month. Indio Networks also debuted into TIP OpenWiFi System (India’s first commercial wireless networking solution built on the Telecom Infra Project’s (TIP) OpenWiFi stack). Indio’s products and solutions are compatible with Telecom Infra Project (TIP) OpenWiFi.

Indio has been an active contributor to open-source community for many years. Indio will continue to work closely with the TIP OpenWiFi community to enhance and deploy TIP OpenWiFi in the coming years.

Discover more on https://www.indionetworks.com and follow Indio Networks on LinkedIn.

About Beetel
Founded in the year 1987, Beetel is one of the oldest and reputed brand names in the Industry, a pioneer in the landline phone category. Beetel is focused on manufacturing as well as distributing a huge range of products in the form of mobile devices, mobile accessories, IT peripherals, enterprise solutions and network solutions, as well as fixed landlines. Beetel distributes a host of iconic brands like Avaya, Poly, Samsung, Huawei, QSC, RADWIN, Ruckus, RAD, and Actelis. Beetel is known for its innovative product solutions and latest technology, which are offered to customers at the most prudent prices. In India, Beetel is spread via 10,000 retailers and 500 channel partners.

Beetel also extends Technical Services (Pre & Post Sales, Installations, Cloud, AMC etc.) helping with designing Solutions to get them ready followed by System Configurations & Programming, covering the entire spectrum of services.

Overseas, Beetel’s services are extended to over 35 countries spread across five continents in the world. The company till date has manufactured over 100 million landline phones, a household Indian brand needing no introduction, which has been serving Indian customers since 1987.

Discover more on: https://www.beetel.in and follow Beetel on LinkedIn.

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August 25, 2022

The Future of Automotive Connectivity and Communication Test Solutions

By Rex Chen

August 18, 2022

LitePoint’s Rex Chen is the author of this blog post based on his webinar discussing the evolving wireless networks within automobiles –for communication within and outside the automobile. This post focuses on the emerging C-V2X wireless communications standards and how to maintain required performance and reliability.

C-V2X and the Future of Automotive Connectivity

The car of the future will increasingly depend on multiple wireless networks – one for communication within the vehicle and one for communications between the car and the external environment. Quality connectivity is important for both of these networks, but the external network – called the cellular vehicle to external environment (C-V2X) – has several unique challenges that we will explore in this blog post.

Before I go into depth on C-V2X, let’s talk a bit about technologies involved with inside the car networks. The two most established technologies are Bluetooth and Wi-Fi which are used to enable hands-free infotainment dash controls, mobile device connectivity, Internet access and other data features. The relative newcomer to internal data networking is ultra-wideband (UWB), which is an emerging wireless standard that offers high precision location services and security. In a car key fob, for example, it provides a much more secure way to lock and unlock the car.

C-V2X

While these technologies will make the mark in automotive applications and infotainment systems, lets dive further into C-V2X for external connectivity. The X is used as a wild card to represent the communication network outside the vehicle – including other cars, roadside units, and pedestrians. C-V2X standards are part of the 3GPP standards that govern 5G networking.

The 3GPP standard has had C-V2X communications support since Release 14 (2017). This capability was basic and served as a way to communicate safety messages between vehicles. Today, customer expectations are more sophisticated and there is a need for more throughput and reliability features.

3GPP Release 16 brought with it important changes for C-V2X connectivity via enhancements made to 5g New Radio (NR) standards that are used in C-V2X applications. These enhancements made NR even more reliable and efficient. The changes also deliver better support for MIMO antennas and enhancements to Ultra Low Latency Communication (URLLC).

The standard also includes the NR-based sidelink network that offers direct communications with other vehicles without passing through the cellular basestation. This enables safety features such as collision avoidance and cooperative lane changing. Recently, in the United States, the FCC dedicated the 5.9 GHz spectrum band for intelligent sidelink-based direct link transportation systems. This spectrum has a fairly short transmission range of about 1 km, which makes it good for disseminating information like car speed, location, braking speed and other safety data.

One sidelink use case that is getting a lot of attention is “platooning,” where trucks or cars travel together connected by the network. Platooning only works with networks that offer near zero packet drops, instantaneous latency of 10 milliseconds or less and extremely high reliability.

Sidelink networks also feature an adaptable modulation and coding system (MCS) that enables the system to adapt packet length and data throughput depending on the characteristics of the vehicle and whether it is traveling at slow, medium or fast speed. This means that the system can adapt to a car’s speed; for example, if a braking event happens at 50 mph, the network will see a lot more messages as all of the cars on that road report that event. Thus, it’s important to propagate data more frequently.

ADAS

One important application that C-V2X enables is advanced driver assistance systems (ADAS). ADAS is the foundation for self-driving cars. ADAS technology is continually being refined as it passes through multiple stages and levels of technology build out before it becomes a standard feature. Today’s ADAS are built using a lot of the complementary sensing technologies – such as cameras, radar and lidar – that will be required for autonomous vehicles.

Network Quality is Essential

Lives are on the line as people drive in their C-V2X-enabled cars, which means thorough testing is essential. Car manufacturers can either build their own C-V2X functionality by integrating the required RF components, or they can use pre-engineered RF modules that include all the required ICs and antennas. Either way, testing is required.

The picture above shows that the test flow for sub 6 GHz and millimeter wave frequencies starts with the SMT board that undergoes conductor mode testing. In these tests, an antenna is connected to the board so that calibration and verification tests can run. These tests cover transmission, power, signal quality and EBM. From the receiver side, there are sensitivity tests.

After the chip level testing is complete, it is time for the module to be tested, which includes the actual antenna that will be used in the final product. This will be done using a radiated test also known as an over the air (OTA) test.

LitePoint C-V2X Test Systems

Some of LitePoint’s key products for testing C-V2X applications include the IQcell-5G, which is a sub-6Ghz signaling test system that tests call establishment, antenna performance and measures throughput.

This test system is a simple-to-use 5G signaling test solution designed for end-of-line manufacturing, software regression and functional performance testing. The flexible system can validate RF parametric measurements, end-to-end throughput, MIMO, mobility, and user experience testing across cellular and cellular-capable connectivity devices such as smartphones, CPEs, laptops, tablets, hotspots and cars.

The IQxstream-5G FR1 tester is another option that offers multi-DUT connectivity ideal for production environments. This non-signaling tester covers 5G along with 4G LTE and other legacy cellular technologies covering the low band frequency range.

C-V2X technology offers exciting possibilities for enhanced safety and fuel efficiency, but these networks need to be reliable and high performance. For more of my thoughts on this topic, watch my recent webinar titled: The Future of Automotive Connectivity and Communication Test Solutions.

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August 17, 2022

Wi-Fi 6 Test as a Service Tackles Complexity with Ease

By:Patrick Johnson

August 16, 2022 · 3 min read

Learn how TaaS for Wi-Fi devices can support organizations that may not have their own labs or expertise to execute the range of performance tests the industry now requires.

Enterprises and consumers alike have come to rely heavily on Wi-Fi. It’s a familiar cycle: users push Wi-fi to its breaking point and new iterations are ushered in to address the next wave of demand.

Most recently, Wi-Fi 6 and now Wi-Fi 6E have introduced advanced technologies to support the latest needs. These advancements are getting the job done but have introduced a range of complexities to accomplish increasingly impressive connectivity feats.

For instance, Wi-Fi 6 completely changed the radio interface. Instead of simply managing radio interface resources with one access point, Wi-Fi 6 now looks a lot more like cellular, with mesh networks comprising multiple access points and extenders to achieve fuller coverage.

In some ways, the new Wi-Fi generation is a bigger quantum shift in technology than what cellular has gone through as it migrates from 4G to 5G.

But what are the implications on testing?

Wi-Fi 6/6E advancements make device testing more complex than ever

For decades, Wi-Fi device simplicity limited the need for testing standards.

This is changing.

The latest iterations demand standards implementations to ensure interoperability and quality of service.

The Broadband Forum provides specifications for single access points or routers. The Wi-Fi Alliance is attacking performance testing standards and European groups are working on mesh test performance standards. Any gaps in standards are filled by test vendors like Spirent that create proprietary test scripts.

At the same time, the number of Wi-Fi 6/6E devices are growing. These newer devices provide more robust functionality and support increasingly stringent applications. They often reside in mesh networks.

Wi-Fi device testing needs to account for the variable conditions in which these emergent devices are expected to thrive. To accomplish this, the latest testing practices see devices isolated from outside interference in anechoic chambers that require specialized technical expertise. Testbeds are expected to create realistic conditions and enable test repeatability through programmable testing environments. These protocols must evolve as new standards are introduced.

The costs and complexities of establishing, managing, and configuring a comprehensive future-ready Wi-Fi testing lab can be daunting and expensive.

Test as a Service for comprehensive, rapid results

For Wi-Fi to remain relatively low-cost, seamless, and ubiquitous, the industry needs an easy and economical way to test all the new Wi-Fi devices coming to market.

Manufacturers want to ensure devices meet standards. Sales and marketing groups are looking for competitive benchmarking data. Service providers want to validate device updates and enterprises want to compare options.

Building and managing a Wi-Fi test lab might not be economical nor timely for those who are not prepared or don’t have access to the appropriate resources and staffing. This is especially true as the goalposts continue to move in a Wi-Fi 6/6E world. This is giving rise to managed services that alleviate much of the cost, expertise, and infrastructure burdens associated with the latest testing demands.

With Test as a Service, devices are sent to the Wi-Fi lab, standard or customized realistic tests are selected, and the tests are run. Detailed analysis of the device’s performance and any issues found are documented with comprehensive empirical data. Automated test scripts are essential for reducing costs and enabling scalability and test reproducibility.

TaaS for Wi-Fi Devices manages every aspect of device performance testing

The entire process is managed by the Test as a Service provider, which operates a comprehensive lab testbed, testing chambers, and automated test cases. They hire and train the experts and stay up to date on standards.

Test as a Service delivers myriad benefits, including:

No CapEx investment for test systems or new Wi-Fi 6E hardware
Support from experienced, Wi-Fi test experts with market leading expertise on the latest requirements
Access to industry-leading Wi-Fi testbeds and tools that emulate real world scenarios
Time saved researching, training, and keeping up to date on changing test scripts and standards
Consistent, reproducible, validated test results that are respected by industry stakeholders at large
Improved time to market based on minimal startup time and rapid analysis

If device testing is not your core competency or if you need added support, Wi-Fi Test as a Service is a faster, less expensive approach. Learn about Spirent’s Test as a Service for Wi-Fi devices.

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August 17, 2022

Calix Offers World’s Largest Portfolio of Managed Wi-Fi 6E Systems, Enabling BSPs To Deliver Complete Coverage to Homes, Businesses, and Communities

08/16/2022

With a complete portfolio of managed Wi-Fi 6E systems for the Revenue EDGE platform, broadband service providers of any size have the ultimate flexibility to easily adopt and deploy any system in mere weeks—with no back-office complexity—to deliver complete coverage and address a wide range of use cases, including farms, festivals, parks, restaurants, and more, so they can differentiate from competitors, build their brand, and grow value in their communities

SAN JOSE, CA, August 16, 2022—Calix, Inc. (NYSE: CALX) today announced the launch of the GigaPro™ u6he, expanding the world’s most comprehensive portfolio of carrier-class Wi-Fi 6E systems for the Calix Revenue EDGE™ platform. A temperature-hardened outdoor Wi-Fi 6E system, the GigaPro u6he is the latest addition to the growing family of 6E-enabled indoor and outdoor systems from Calix. These include the GigaSpire® BLAST u6e and the GigaSpire BLAST u6me. Because all Calix systems are integrated with Revenue EDGE, broadband service providers (BSPs) have unrivaled flexibility to mix and match systems, while cutting deployment time to just weeks and reducing back-office and integration complexity. With this unrivaled portfolio, BSPs of any size can be first to market with blazing-fast Wi-Fi 6E connectivity and more than twice the coverage area of traditional Wi-Fi systems. This enables BSPs to address a wide range of use cases—such as farms, restaurant patios, and backyards—and deliver speeds that support the way subscribers live, work, and play. At the same time, the GigaPro u6he sets the stage for BSPs to expand into lucrative new markets and deliver managed Wi-Fi and services to small businesses and communities. The portfolio of 6E-enabled systems also allows BSPs to secure their status as market leaders by delivering additional value-added, managed services available with the Revenue EDGE. Calix launched the newest of these services (Bark social media monitoring and Servify device protection) last week. Calix-partnered BSPs can leverage the power of the Revenue EDGE platform to win against even the biggest consumer-direct competitors while growing value for their communities for generations to come.

The expanded, carrier-class Wi-Fi 6E portfolio enables broadband service providers to:

Build brand value by being first to market with outdoor Wi-Fi 6E technology—keeping subscribers out of big box stores for the latest innovation. By leveraging the Revenue EDGE platform, BSPs can deploy the GigaPro u6he to deliver outdoor speed and range unrivaled by any consumer-direct retailer. Just as important, BSPs deliver their unmatched outdoor service on a system that they—not a consumer giant—own. The power of the platform also enables them to stand behind their service with exceptional customer support that further grows subscriber loyalty.
Grow revenue by expanding into new markets, including business and community Wi-Fi. The GigaPro u6he system creates a community Wi-Fi 6E mesh network that lets BSPs grow exceptional value by delivering what others won’t to their non-residential customers. The system enables businesses and community organizations to offer outdoor Wi-Fi 6E services that they scale up and down as needed and even create private networks for public safety departments.
Continuously excite subscribers with managed services, including parental controls, home network security, and more. Calix offers a rapidly growing ecosystem of subscriber-facing managed services in the Revenue EDGE so BSPs can delight their subscribers. Because the GigaPro u6he integrates seamlessly with Revenue EDGE, BSPs can easily mix and match systems and deploy them in mere weeks, with minimal integration complexity. Once these systems are in place, BSPs can then deliver premium value-added services to subscribers at home and on the go. Calix regularly adds new managed services for the Revenue EDGE platform so BSPs can quickly go to market and deliver differentiated value to subscribers. Last week alone, Calix launched its sixth and seventh managed services: Bark and Servify.
Simplify their business by reducing OPEX associated with lengthy, resource-draining integration efforts. In addition to delivering the world’s most extensive portfolio of Wi-Fi 6E systems, Calix practically eliminates OPEX associated with integration testing, allowing new systems to be deployed in days instead of weeks or months. The GigaPro u6he also offers the option of using Power over Ethernet (PoE) functionality, eliminating the need for expensive electrical connectivity installations.

“Wi-Fi 6E is strategic for us as it becomes more important for our customers,” said Ken Johnson, chief executive officer of WWest Communications, which serves remote communities in southwestern Washington state. “We’re currently deploying 10-gigabit capability to the home. As the Internet of Things ramps up and our subscribers upgrade to 6 GHz-compatible devices, they’re going to want the latest and greatest technology. Having access to a full portfolio of Calix Wi-Fi 6E systems in the Revenue EDGE platform is going to be key for us as we look to deploy multi-gigabit speeds supported by value-added services, and expand into new markets.”

Calix Professional Services enables BSPs to take full advantage of the growing family of GigaPro u6he and GigaSpire BLAST systems. Specifically, Calix Deployment Enablement Services enables BSPs to drive consistent, repeatable, and high-quality execution of premises and access installations. The EDGE Enablement Workshop provides hands-on technical and platform training that accelerates team readiness to deploy and support the new solutions faster and with confidence.

“With this portfolio of Wi-Fi 6E-enabled systems, even the smallest BSP becomes unstoppable against any market competitor,” said Michael Weening, president and chief operating officer of Calix. “Not only can they deliver the great experiences subscribers want and need today—blazing-fast Wi-Fi along with managed services—they also keep subscribers out of big box stores for the latest innovation. Service providers that embrace the GigaPro u6he can now deliver Wi-Fi anywhere it’s needed—subscribers can enjoy connectivity by the pool, barn, or back patio. At the same time, the BSP can grow its business by expanding into new markets. And the power of the Revenue EDGE platform means even the smallest BSPs can deploy the GigaPro u6he system without any rip-and-replace hassles, while shrinking integration time to days or weeks instead of months. By offering the world’s only portfolio of 6E systems, Calix enables BSPs to become the provider of choice throughout their communities. When BSPs partner with Calix, they get everything they need to simplify their business, excite subscribers, be the undisputed leader in their market.

Discover how the GigaPro u6he and GigaSpire BLAST systems, part of the world’s most comprehensive Wi-Fi 6E portfolio, deliver the ultimate Wi-Fi experience to subscribers at home and away.

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 create 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 contains 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.

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August 11, 2022

GoZone WiFi Founder & CEO featured in Gambling Insider

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August 9, 2022

[Press Release]

Spirent “Send Us Your Device” Service Opens Up New Routes For Wi-Fi Equipment Testing

Unique TaaS option enables Wi-Fi manufacturers to access the most sophisticated test procedures on an as-required basis

FREDERICK, MD – August 9, 2022 – Spirent Communications plc (LSE:SPT), the leading provider of test and assurance solutions for next-generation devices and networks, today announced the launch of a new “Send Us Your Device” Test as a Service (TaaS) option for Wi-Fi customers. The first of its kind from a manufacturer of advanced Wi-Fi testbeds, the service allows access to the advanced capabilities of Spirent’s OCTOBOX emulation and testing solution to organizations where the capital expenditure and considerable expertise required to own and manage such complex test setups may not be an option.The growing complexity of Wi-Fi technology is requiring developers and manufacturers to rethink their approach to performance testing for new Wi-Fi enabled devices. The progression of Wi-Fi 6 and 6E, growth of mesh multi-point access networks, and expectations around 5G and Wi-Fi convergence are creating new application and business models which require fresh approaches to testing.“Owning and managing complex test setups for rapidly evolving Wi-Fi technologies may not make business sense for some manufacturers and developers,” says Doug Roberts, general manager of Spirent’s Lifecycle Service Assurance business. “As the recognized market leader in Wi-Fi emulation and test capabilities, this new Spirent service addresses the needs of these businesses by providing instant access to advanced testing and failure analysis that will greatly reduce their time to market and increase quality of performance.”The new service is targeted at companies with Wi-Fi testing needs but little or no onsite test facilities of their own, as well as organizations like chipset developers, IoT and consumer device makers, and network equipment manufacturers that need to perform regular Wi-Fi testing but may not have the in-house expertise to create, deploy and efficiently execute the range of performance tests the industry now requires. It is anticipated that Spirent OCTOBOX owners and others with existing labs will also find the service beneficial when they experience occasional bandwidth overflow at their own testing facility.

Available to customers globally, the service is based at Spirent’s Massachusetts research facility where OCTOBOX testbeds are developed and manufactured. This allows Spirent to easily scale up and down testing services for customers based on their ever-changing needs and leverage the company’s unrivalled Wi-Fi emulation and testing expertise. The Spirent lab also provides test environments that are engineered with optimized hardware to ensure all devices are validated against the highest quality standards accepted for deployment by carriers and enterprises, such as TR-398 and RFC 2544.

“While many test facilities use software-based testbeds, these are unable to perform realistic test scenarios that model actual deployments,” said Roberts. “They often lack the ability to produce deterministic results which is essential for repeatability. By utilizing our OCTOBOX testbeds along with our automation framework, we emulate real world scenarios such as congestion, interference, distance, and movement – all of which affect the quality of the user experience.”

For more information about Spirent’s Test as a Service for Wi-Fi Devices, visit www.spirent.com/products/wi-fi-testing-services.

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August 3, 2022

5 reasons why CSPs should move service delivery to the cloud

New technologies, the digitization of services, changing consumer demands, and increased competition are disrupting the landscape for Communications Services Providers (CSPs). To remain competitive and differentiate in this evolving market, CSPs can no longer rely on existing business models or legacy hardware and software solutions. 20-50% of revenues for some CSPs now come from nontraditional services.

With the commoditization of basic connectivity services, CSPs face both challenges and opportunities. By embracing digital transformation, they can harness the power of the cloud and create new sources of revenue.

Here’s why CSPs should look to the cloud as the enabler for growth and transformation.

Respond to changing consumer behaviors. Consumers are increasingly seeking over-the-top (OTT) content that’s easily accessible via their TV screens. The abundance of streaming content has led to a massive number of subscribers “cutting the cord” altogether.

31.2 million estimated US households cut the cord in 2020 35.4% of US households are projected to be cord-cutters by 2024. At the same time, consumers are embracing smart home devices and services, as well as shifting more interactions online. 1.4 billion smart home devices are estimated to be shipped per year by 2025. For CSPs, these converging trends create an opportunity to figure out how to deploy new services that can meet consumer demands—and the cloud unlocks those opportunities. Increase competitiveness in an evolving market. The market is seeing dramatic changes. According to Gartner, “Cloud-native CSPs are emerging as aggressive challengers, and leading incumbent CSPs are expanding on efforts to virtualize their networks and adopt cloud-native capabilities.” But CSPs are no longer competing only with industry peers. Outside players—both OTT and technology companies—have been entering the market, offering services aimed at taking over the home.

Everyone from Apple to Facebook is rolling out new content and services, vying for consumer attention. These disruptors are:

Adopting innovative business models. Creating compelling offerings that divert customers away from traditional CSPs. Building out their own infrastructure, reducing their reliance on CSPs.

All these changes mean further erosion of revenue—and CSPs will need to turn to technology like cloud computing to catch up.

Develop and implement new services faster.

Percentage of businesses in 2020 accelerated digital transformation programs that reinvented how they deliver digital experiences to customers and employees. 38%. In today’s always-on world, customers expect their service providers to offer upgrades and new services faster than ever. Traditionally, however, rolling out new services has been a challenge for CSPs due to the costs and labor involved.

As consumers embrace more digital and personalized experiences, a cloud-based service architecture enables CSPs to:

Decouple the service delivery from hardware and move it to the cloud. Deploy new and future services quickly and efficiently through software updates.

Improve ability to deliver services at mass scale.

Traditional IT architecture creates barriers to reaching consumers at mass scale. Outside players such as technology giants have broken these barriers by embracing web-scale architectures. The cloud levels the playing field, enabling CSPs to do the same.

Benefits of a cloud-based service delivery platform include:

Delivery of new services at scale without expanding IT resources and hardware. Opportunities to expand not only services but also new market segments, such as small business subscribers.

The B2B market is especially promising as even the smallest businesses adopt technologies like the Internet of Things (IoT), artificial intelligence, and data analytics, creating a bigger demand for the digital infrastructure and services that CSPs can offer.

98% of businesses were using IoT by the end of 2021

Eliminate vendor dependency and lock-in.

The smart home has grown more sophisticated, requiring new technology such as mesh devices to maintain quality WiFi connectivity. But consumers have limited options for upgrades and new services because the hardware provided by specific vendors has limits.

A cloud-based services platform Removes those limitations by eliminating the vendor lock-in. Allows CSPs to deliver uniform customer experiences regardless of the hardware and firmware in the home. Many CSPs are already taking advantage of the power of the cloud to pursue new business opportunities, improve service to their customers, and create additional revenue streams. The new differentiators are technologies such as data analytics and AI. But to get there, the cloud is an essential step. CSPs that don’t take this step soon will be left behind.

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August 3, 2022

What is a Captive Portal?

What is Captive Portal?

Many people have come across captive portals and may not have even realized it. When people log into the guest WiFi in a place of business, a captive portal is what they must go through to use the WiFi network. A captive portal is a splash page on their mobile device, tablet, or laptop that displays information asking users to the web.

Most captive portals will contain a list of the terms and services, or they may ask for some simple personal details before they prompt users to agree to the terms before allowing access.

Once guests agree, the captive portal can manage users’ access and engage at critical points in the visit. Businesses use these portals to capture essential insights into customers that physically access their location versus their webpage.

In today’s highly tech-savvy world, people demand easy access to fast internet anywhere they go. Even in the age where telecommunications companies offer unlimited data, that data can only stretch so far, and sometimes, service can be a little spotty. We can all relate to being at a sports game, a festival, or a concert without a signal – it’s the worst.

When people visit a coffee shop, hotel, or event venue and want to access the internet without using their data plan, they will opt to connect to the business’s guest WiFi. In utilizing captive portals, enterprises have begun to use a way to accommodate the growing needs for accessible WiFi while collecting essential data on their guests to help with their marketing efforts.

Benefits of Using a Captive Portal

Businesses worldwide can use captive portals to support their marketing strategies and help companies make changes needed to increase customer or guest satisfaction and loyalty. Using captive portals can benefit businesses by:

Use Captive Portal to Collect essential Customer Data and Contact Data

Businesses can customize captive portals to include fields to request additional information to collect accurate and rich data to build robust customer profiles. Collect data such as name, age, location, emails, gender, etc. Making a detailed customer profile can help marketing teams create more targeted marketing strategies. 

Providing a Level of Security

Using a captive portal protects both the user and the business. The built-in security features can secure online business assets and protect users from phishing scams. The firm is also protected by freeing itself from liability for illegal online behavior.

Set Limits to Prevent Users from Hogging Bandwidth

Many public places can attract people who might sit for extended periods of time, and bog down the internet with their increased use. Setting up time limits can prevent users from staying connected for too long or set download limits to avoid large downloads to free up bandwidth – giving other users access.

Using GoZone Smart WiFi captive portals at your place of business can be a convenient way to collect insights on the customers visiting your physical locations. Captive portals can help increase engagement, brand awareness, and customer profiles, improving businesses’ ROI and increasing overall revenue. 

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GoZone WiFi Founder & CEO featured in Gambling Insider

Spirent “Send Us Your Device” Service Opens Up New Routes For Wi-Fi Equipment Testing

5 reasons why CSPs should move service delivery to the cloud

What is a Captive Portal?

Benefits of Using a Captive Portal

Use Captive Portal to Collect essential Customer Data and Contact Data

Providing a Level of Security

Set Limits to Prevent Users from Hogging Bandwidth