Open Source, Operators Key to ONF’s New Optical Disaggregation Plan

The Open Networking Foundation (ONF) has shown yet again that it’s not afraid to use operator clout to sway the direction of vendors, nor that it’s afraid of acronyms. The latest evidence comes from its newly created Optical Disaggregated Transport Network (ODTN) project. The project looks to introduce open source for software control over optical transport networks. It follows similar projects like OpenConfig, the Telecom Infra Project (TIP), and the AT&T-led OpenROADM MultiSource Agreement (MSA). The ODTN project counts 16 founding members, including a lead from five operators: China Unicom, Comcast, NTT Communications, Telefónica, and TIM. Timon Sloane, VP of marketing and ecosystem at ONF, said that the operator support is critical in breaking the typical logjam from the supply chain, noting those operators are “enough of a buying opportunity for vendors.” “The problem was that the supply chain is not ready to deliver the products. And the supply-chain problem was that operators were all not on the same page,” Sloane explained. While robust, the operator list is missing some significant names like China Mobile, Vodafone, Orange, Verizon, and AT&T. Sloane defended the list by stating that there were enough present to form the needed influence but without overburdening the process.