OIF resets board of directors, launches network operator survey on coherent optics

Nov. 21, 2019
The OIF Network Operators Working Group has revealed plans to conduct a survey of global operators regarding next-generation coherent optics application requirements, features, and timing.

OIF has announced the results elections for its board of directors as well as officers. The group, which drives consensus about requirements and solutions, including the creation of Implementation Agreements (see "An OIF Overview"), also announced an upcoming survey of network operators that will help drive future activities.

The elections saw no changes in the board of directors, based on the announced results:

  • Nathan Tracy, TE Connectivity, continues to serve on the board and was reappointed as president
  • Tad Hofmeister, Google, was re-elected (two-year term) and reappointed as vice president
  • Martin Bouda, Fujitsu, continues to serve on the board and was re-appointed as secretary/treasurer
  • Ian Betty, Ciena, was re-elected to the board (two-year term)
  • Mike Li, Intel, was re-elected to the board (one-year term)
  • Cathy Liu, Broadcom Inc., was re-elected to the board (one-year term)
  • Gary Nicholl, Cisco, continues to serve on the board.

The officer roster changed slightly:

  • Ed Frlan, Semtech, was elected as Technical Committee chair
  • Klaus-Holger Otto, Nokia, was elected as Technical Committee vice chair
  • Lyndon Ong, Ciena, was re-elected as Market Awareness & Education Committee co-chair, networking
  • Richard Ward, Intel, was appointed by the board as Market Awareness & Education Committee co-chair, PLL (filling the vacant position)
  • Dave Brown, Nokia, continues to serve as director of communications.

In addition, Junjie Li, China Telecom, was re-elected as chair of the Network Operator Working Group. “As a member-driven organization, the strength and support of our leadership is critical,” said Tracy. “Congratulations to all the new and returning members serving on the board of directors and in other leadership positions. Your work to further OIF’s mission and drive interoperability solutions is vital to our industry’s ecosystem.”

Network Operator Survey

The OIF Network Operators Working Group has revealed plans to conduct a survey of global operators regarding next-generation coherent optics application requirements, features, and timing. The survey will seek input on technology challenges for future architectures beyond 2020 to help guide the direction and creation of work projects to meet the operators’ needs. The working group expects to have the results of the survey, now underway, compiled in time for a member-only workshop planned for February 10, 2020, just ahead of the 1Q 2020 Technical Committee meeting (February 11-13) in New Orleans.

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About the Author

Stephen Hardy | Editorial Director and Associate Publisher, Lightwave

Stephen Hardy is editorial director and associate publisher of Lightwave and Broadband Technology Report, part of the Lighting & Technology Group at Endeavor Business Media. Stephen is responsible for establishing and executing editorial strategy across the both brands’ websites, email newsletters, events, and other information products. He has covered the fiber-optics space for more than 20 years, and communications and technology for more than 35 years. During his tenure, Lightwave has received awards from Folio: and the American Society of Business Press Editors (ASBPE) for editorial excellence. Prior to joining Lightwave in 1997, Stephen worked for Telecommunications magazine and the Journal of Electronic Defense.

Stephen has moderated panels at numerous events, including the Optica Executive Forum, ECOC, and SCTE Cable-Tec Expo. He also is program director for the Lightwave Innovation Reviews and the Diamond Technology Reviews.

He has written numerous articles in all aspects of optical communications and fiber-optic networks, including fiber to the home (FTTH), PON, optical components, DWDM, fiber cables, packet optical transport, optical transceivers, lasers, fiber optic testing, and more.

You can connect with Stephen on LinkedIn as well as Twitter.

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