OAN was created to move forward recommendations on optical access interfaces and systems made in the Optical Access Networks Assessment and Work Plan, recently completed by the ATIS Optical Access Networks Focus Group. The report provides a comprehensive analysis of G-PON-based optical access systems and specifications. It offers an assessment of the processes as well as standards and specifications that need to be defined and/or refined to enable successful deployment of G-PON technology in North America.

“The formation of this new subcommittee fills a critical link and provides the opportunity for service providers and vendors to have important input into both domestic and international standards in the area of G-PON,” said Rick Townsend, Distinguished Member of Technical Staff, Alcatel-Lucent, and Chairman of the NIPP.

OAN’s work will focus on physical and transmission convergence layer functionality, and also will include higher layer functionality such as equipment management, traffic management, and system-level issues related to optical access networking equipment. The subcommittee will develop and maintain standards and technical reports for systems and associated interfaces for transmission services providing optical access to telecommunications networks. It will make recommendations on related subjects for publication and collaboration with other U.S. and international standards bodies.

“The formation of OAN will allow the industry’s leading service providers and manufacturers to undertake critical G-PON standards and specifications work,” says Susan Miller, president and CEO of ATIS. “We invite all stakeholder companies to participate in our effort in making true system-level interoperability for G-PON a reality.”

The chair of the new NIPP-OAN subcommittee is Richard Goodson, Senior Staff Scientist, Adtran. Dr. Frank Effenberger, Director, FTTX, Huawei Technologies, is vice chair. For information on having your organization be part of the forefront work of the new subcommittee contact Veronica Lancaster, ATIS manager of standards development, at vlancaster@atis.org or via telephone at (202) 434-8826.

About the ATIS NIPP Committee

The Network Interface, Power, and Protection Committee (NIPP) develops and recommends standards and technical reports. The standards and technical reports are related to power systems, electrical and physical protection for the exchange and interexchange carrier networks, and interfaces associated with user access to telecommunications networks. The NIPP’s scope includes, but is not limited to, work on developing standards and technical reports covering the following areas: network interfaces, power, electrical protection and physical protection.

About ATIS

ATIS is a leading standards development and technical planning organization committed to rapidly developing and promoting technical and operations standards for the communications and related information technologies industry worldwide using a pragmatic, flexible and open approach. Participants from more than 300 communications companies are active in ATIS’ 22 industry committees, Incubator Solutions Programs, and other activities. www.atis.org