Over the past year, a new category of Ethernet-based platforms has emerged for service provider transport networks called packet optical transport system (POTS). Many service providers worldwide already understand the compelling economics of POTSs and have moved to early lab trial and field deployment.

Analysts generally agree that POTSs include the following:

• Connection-oriented Ethernet (e.g., PBB-TE), Layer 2 tunnel switching
• Layer 1 optical transport/switching (e.g., OTN, GFP)
• Multi-degree WDM: ROADM and/or reconfigurable OEO wavelength switching
• Holistic tunnel resource management of all layers

Some predict that POTS will be a multibillion-dollar market in five years, with annual growth of approximately 100 percent.

This session will provide insights on the following:

• The POTS market worldwide and its drivers
• An update on key technologies and features of POTSs
• The progress of service provider POTS technology evaluations and deployments
• Insights into migrating to this new technology in NGNs

Ken Davison Vice President, Marketing and Business Development Meriton Networks

Mr. Davison has more than 25 years of experience in the telecom industry. For the last 15 years, he has held numerous senior management roles in marketing, sales, product management, and business development, with responsibility for corporate worldwide activities. Prior to joining Meriton Networks, Mr. Davison held senior positions at Siemens AG (Unisphere Networks); Newbridge Networks (vice president, Europe and corporate vice president, marketing), and several telecom start-ups, including DragonWave and Critical Telecom.

Lorenza Brescia Principal Analyst and Senior Partner Telecom Strategy

Ms. Brescia provides research and consulting to vendors and operators, is the prime contact regarding converged transport solutions and Ethernet services, and contributes to competitive analysis of systems and vendors. She has 12 years of experience in telecom, working in market strategy, product marketing, and research and development. Most recently, Ms. Brescia was director of Corporate Strategy at Alcatel-Lucent. She has strong expertise in Ethernet services and vertical markets, and on profiling the technical and economic issues and requirements of the different vertical sectors.

Nick Cadwgan Director, Product Line Management Gridpoint Systems

With over 15 years of experience in the international telecommunications industry, Mr. Cadwgan brings a proven combination of product management, network architecture and business management expertise to his global position at Gridpoint Systems. Prior to joining Gridpoint he has held numerous senior management technical, product management and business development roles with responsibility for corporate worldwide activities in multinational companies such as Nortel and Newbridge Networks and early stage companies including Meriton Networks, Tatara Systems and Critical Telecom.

Mervyn Kelly Director, Metro Ethernet Product Management Nortel

Mr. Kelly is responsible for Metro Ethernet Product Management for Nortel, Europe Middle East and Africa (EMEA), including all the various technologies to deliver Ethernet services and Ethernet transport. He has worked at Nortel since 1987 in a number of roles, most recently as director of carrier Ethernet business development in EMEA. Mr. Kelly graduated from University of Ulster with a Bachelor of Science Honors degree in microelectronic engineering.