The ongoing transformation in the access network has been driven by the ever-pervasive growth of IP and Ethernet technologies into the last mile and the last yard. The biggest driving factor for this "network simplification" has been the innovative use of Ethernet technology to carry almost every service that is required by the end user. After the decisive victory that Ethernet achieved over ATM, when Ethernet-based DSLAM became the de facto method of providing broadband services of DSL technology, there is another battle brewing today — the battle between GPON and EPON. While the heavy-duty GPON technology provides support for ATM and TDM in addition to Ethernet (IP), EPON is a much simpler standard. Will GPON go the ATM way due to the complexity of the technology, and will EPON (Ethernet) be able to do what it did with DSLAMs? How realistic and manageable is the option of providing direct Ethernet to home (active Ethernet to home)? All major subscriber Interfaces at a typical home or SOHO/SME can be provided over EPONs-POTS, ISDN, and E1s (using PWE3). Does the deployment of EPON with these options achieve the reality of having an all Ethernet-based first mile?

This panel mainly plans to talk about the comparative economics in deploying GPON, EPON, and active Ethernet in the last mile.

Shashi Bhandari Director Marketing CPE Products UTStarcom Inc.

Mr. Bhandari has been with UTStarcom for the past nine years and brings about 18 years of experience in telecommunications and networking technology. Mr. Bhandari previously worked at Ericsson for its Jelly Filled Telecom Cables. There, he filled positions in design, testing, and QA and was in charge of the introduction of digital loop carriers in India at Tata Telecom with the introduction of SLC-240 from Lucent (formerly AT&T). Mr. Bhandari also introduced Lucent's Partner ACS (key telephone system) in India. He has a B.S. in electronics and communications engineering and has undergone marketing and management training at the Harvard Business School.

Marcelo N. Frasson Director of Network Planning Brasil Telecom

Mr. Frasson is responsible for defining Brasil Telecom network evolution path, as well as for defining the technology models to suit the marketing, operational, regulatory, and strategic needs. Since 2006, he is also responsible for information technology infrastructure planning. During his 18 years of experience, he has worked in every technical area of a telecom operator, including project, implementation, operation, maintenance, budget control, target management, process pattern, and network planning.

Hitoshi Nagano Area Vice President of Sales - Brasil and Southern Cone UTStarcom

Jose Morgado Ramos General Manager, Network Operations Pluricanal

Mr. Ramos started his career in 1996 at Philips Broadband Networks, where he worked in the integration of a complete broadband ISP solution for MSOs. In January 1998, he moved on to TV Cabo, held by Portugal Telecom, where he participated in the development of Netcabo, the country's first — and nowadays biggest — broadband ISP. Mr. Ramos has worked for other companies within the sphere of Portugal Telecom SGPS and was recently part of the procurement body of PT SGPS, managing tenders for its national and international (Vivo, Méditelecom) participating companies. In December 2006, he was invited to become general manager of Metalgest's MSO Pluricanal Leiria, where he as been leading the migration to digital TV and the deployment of one of the first FTTH commercial networks in Portugal.

Eduardo Jose Ribeiro Director of Optical Networks Business NEC do Brasil S.A.

Mr. Ribeiro is currently in charge of optical business within NEC do Brasil, focused on core and access optical solutions, including PON. He joined NEC in 1994 working on transmission systems, primarily SDH. Later on, he held assignments in NEC Japan focusing on DWDM/OADM technologies in the Global Technical Center. Mr. Ribeiro also managed the systems engineering department in NEC do Brasil S.A. for optical products for three years. He moved to a more commercial role and was handling the Telemar account from 2003-2006 before assuming charge of the optical business area.