The Metro Optical Forum makes its debut at the National Communications Forum (NCF) 2001, featuring an entire Forum dedicated to helping service providers evaluate key strategies and technology solutions for the metro optical market. At a time when capacity in the optical core promises to deliver new levels of space and service, the metro and edge networks hold the key to a new level of broadband connectivity for end users. Furthermore, as Gigabit Ethernet ventures forth from the LAN into the public network, new services and business models for carriers are coming to light.

• What are the economics of bringing fiber deep within the loop?
• Which markets make the most sense for passive optical networks and other innovative solutions?
• What is the likely market trajectory for the metro segment, and how can service providers capitalize on this?

These issues and more will be discussed in depth within the Metro Optical Forum at NCF-InfoVision 2001.

A Focus on Optical

The Metro Optical Forum is one of five technology tracks presented during NCF-InfoVision 2001. This site provides a snap shot of the optical sessions and TecForums, enabling you to customize your educational experience to meet your level of interest. Tailor your education using the information provided within these pages (full session descriptions are located on pages 3–4), or craft your own curriculum by intermixing sessions among all five Forums. Visit us on-line at http://www.iec.org for full conference details.