Optical Internetworking Forum (OIF) Worldwide Interoperability Tests and Demonstrations 2012

Abstract:
Today’s transport networks are comprised of multiple domains, technology layers, and control and management solutions. This complex, heterogeneous environment presents an additional challenge to carriers that need to respond to exponential overall traffic growth while average revenue per costumer (ARPU) largely stagnates. Interoperable control plane technology as defined and tested by the OIF (www.oiforum.com) enables end-to-end, flexible and dynamic carrier- grade broadband services. The OIF interoperability event 2012 has addressed specific control and data plane mechanisms that enhance services, improve operations, and optimize network efficiency. OIF control plane Implementation Agreements (IA) are currently deployed in numerous live networks around the globe. OIF members, some of the world’s largest telecommunications carriers, leading optical networking equipment vendors, test equipment and software stack vendors, have performed comprehensive two-months interoperability tests of data and control plane technology on Ethernet over OTN services that enable end-to-end, on-demand provisioned carriergrade broadband services. Carrier sites were linked via virtual connections, forming a global test network topology. The OIF’s 2012 Worldwide Interoperability Demonstration has begun with local intra-lab testing at each of the participating carrier sites, then evolved into regional testing and finished with world wide test scenarios. This enabled tests of many vendor implementations and allowed carriers to access network resources beyond the boundaries of their local lab networks. The OIF interoperability event culminated in public demonstrations at OFC/NFOEC 2012 [1], March 6-8, 2012, www.ofcnfoec.org. This paper gives an overview of the OIF interoperability event 2012. It covers interconnection details, test scenarios and results, and highlights the commitment and participation of European and German vendors and carriers.