Net News Today — November 11, 2026

The pace of technological advancement is relentless, and today's news reflects the far-reaching implications of this progress. In the world of networking, Cisco is responding to the ongoing trend of server consolidation by pushing top-of-rack switching to 100G, a move that promises to increase efficiency and performance. Meanwhile, the US military is grappling with the challenges of launching new technologies, as a supply crunch threatens to hinder its plans. On the consumer side, Google Fi is expanding its 5G capabilities, adding support for a second 5G network, although details are scarce.

As AI and automation continue to transform industries, Google's Gemini 4 Carbon model is now available, offering users a powerful new tool for a range of applications. However, not all companies are faring as well - Fireworks AI has suffered a significant setback, with a widening customer data exposure that has left the company reeling. In a separate development, the UK's plans to switch off its 2G network are set to have a major impact on the country's smart meter infrastructure, with an estimated 12-13 million devices needing to be replaced at a cost of billions. Despite these challenges, the overall trajectory of technological progress remains firmly upward, with innovations in AI, 5G, and networking set to drive growth and transformation in the years to come.

Today's signal:
• Ye olde server consolidation has made Cisco push top-of-rack switching to 100G (theregister.com)
• The US military seems to be getting nervous about the launch supply crunch (arstechnica.com)
• Google Fi adds support for a second 5G network, won't say which one (arstechnica.com)
• Gemini 4 Carbon is now available (deepmind.google)
• Fireworks AI gets burned twice as customer data exposure widens (theregister.com)
• Smart meters to cost the UK billions: 2G switch-off means replacing 12-13 million (theregister.com)