OFC/NFOEC to Hold Exposition of Optical Communications Companies and Dynamic Business Programming

As an international event for both the science and business of optical communications, Optical Fiber Communication Conference and Exposition/National Fiber Optic Engineers Conference (OFC/NFOEC) 2012 announced that this year’s event will host the entire scope of optical communications, providing technical and business programming, exhibits and other activities for all audiences from systems and components manufacturers to service providers, carriers and enterprise.

With more than 11,000 attendees expected, along with 500 exhibiting companies (40 percent based outside the U.S.) and nearly 800 presentations, the group said OFC/NFOEC 2012 is an event for all those with an interest in telecommunications, optical networks, datacom and more.

According to a release, the event features:

-Companies in the exhibit hall-from network and test equipment vendors to sub-system and component manufacturers, plus software, fiber cable and specialty fiber manufacturers.

-Technical program, featuring both the OFC and NFOEC programs, will comprise hundreds of sessions, including workshops, tutorials, short courses and paper presentations

Exposition floor programming highlights, as described by the group, include:

-500+ exhibitors, featuring the latest optical communications technologies. Participating companies include: Ciena, Cisco, Ericsson, Finisar, Google Fiber, Huawei, Infinera, JDSU, Juniper Networks, Nokia Siemens, Opnext and many others

-Service Provider Summit – Wednesday, March 7 This program features topics of interest to CTOs, network architects, network designers and technologists within the service provider and carrier sector. The program includes panel discussions, a keynote presentation, exhibit time and networking time. Stu Elby, vice president, of Network Architecture and Technology and chief technologist of Verizon Digital Media Services will deliver the keynote presentation, “Cloud Computing as a Service.” Panel topics include “Towards Layer 1-2-3-Convergence” and “Role of the Network in the Age of Social Media” and feature leaders from a global slate of service providers and end users, including BT, Comcast, Google, NTT, Microsoft, Telstra, Verizon and more.

-Market Watch – Tuesday, March 6 – Thursday, March 8 This three-day series of panel sessions engages the applications and business communities in the field of optical communications. Presentations and panel discussions feature esteemed guest speakers from industry, research and the investment communities, including Alcatel-Lucent, Ciena, Morgan Keegan, NTT, Verizon and others. Topics covered this year include the state of the industry, passive optical networks, mobile broadband, advanced integrated photonics and 100G.

-NEW THIS YEAR – Lighting Up the Data Center Panel Session – Tuesday, March 6 (Expo Theater II) – As bandwidth demand increases in data centers, there is a growing deployment of optical interconnects. The panel will discuss when the decision to move to optics is being made, where the optical links are being deployed, what type of optics is being used, and why this trend is occurring. Panelists will represent end users, such as Google and Facebook, as well as technology providers.

-Mission (Im)Possible: Monetizing Telecommunication Networks – Thursday, March 8 (Expo Theater II) – A series of three panels exploring the emerging challenges with network monetization. Representatives from Juniper, IDC, Verizon and other top companies will discuss Cost Control, Service Creation/Revenue Generation, and Go-To-Market strategies.

-Workshop on Photonic Start-ups: 10 Years After the Bubble – Wednesday, March 7 (Expo Theater II) – This workshop will address the question of how to start a successful company in today’s business environment by featuring a number of seasoned entrepreneurs who will share their story with a focus on lessons learned and practical do’s and don’ts. Panelists include experts from Infinera, Oclaro, OE Solutions, and others.

-Ethernet Alliance Program – Wednesday, March 7 (Expo Theater II) – The Ethernet Alliance will present two panel discussions – “Next-Gen 100G Optical Ethernet” and “From Gigabit to Terabit Ethernet” moderated by professionals from Brocade and Dell.

-Optical Internetworking Forum (OIF) Program – Tuesday, March 6 & Wednesday, March 7 (Expo Theater II) – The OIF will host two panels presentations – “Interconnect Challenges” and “Enabling Dynamic Optical Networks” featuring presenters from companies such as Alcatel-Lucent, Ericsson, Fujitsu, Nokia Siemens and others.

-FTTx Resource Center – Tuesday, March 6 – Thursday, March 8 (Demo Areas) -The FTTx center showcases the latest technologies and products from OFC/NFOEC exhibitors. See a live FTTx system and chat with subject matter professionals about components, standards, systems, next generation concepts, and more. For designers and planners the new “Certified Fiber to the Home Professional” (CFHP) course curriculum and manuals will be featured including next generation content on 10 Gb/s XG-PON, 10GEPON, RFoG, and WDM-PON. The center is coordinated by the Light Brigade.

-POF Symposium – Wednesday, March 7 and Thursday, March 8 (Expo Theater III) – The Plastic Optical Fiber Trade Organization (POFTO) holds its annual POF Symposium covering recent developments in POF technology, applications, technical standards, and new markets. Speakers review opportunities for POF in areas such as Gigabit POF, high-temperature POF, aerospace applications, home networking, IPTV, consumer devices, smart grid, and solar energy, among others.