IP Infusion has successfully completed Phase-2 of the IP Over DWDM (IPoDWDM) Proof of Concept conducted under the Telecom Infra Project (TIP) Open Optical and Packet Transport (OOPT) project group. This work was carried out under the guidance of the MANTRA (Metaverse Ready Architectures for Open Transport) subgroup and executed in IP Infusion’s lab environment.
What the PoC Demonstrated
The IPoDWDM architecture tested in this PoC connects two distinct open technologies: IP routers and Optical Line Systems (OLS). By integrating these layers, operators can eliminate the traditional transponder hardware that sits between the IP and optical domains — reducing both capital cost and operational complexity.
Phase-2 of the PoC validated:
- Disaggregated coherent optics — OcNOS-controlled ZR+ pluggable transceivers connected directly to open OLS hardware without proprietary transponders
- IP/optical co-management — optical parameters (frequency, power, modulation) managed via OcNOS CLI alongside IP routing configurations
- Open APIs for optical control — YANG-based NETCONF interfaces for optical interface management, enabling vendor-neutral automation
- Performance validation — end-to-end BER, OSNR, and Q-factor measurements confirming production-ready optical performance
The TIP OOPT MANTRA Context
TIP (Telecom Infra Project) is a global initiative bringing together operators, vendors, and research institutions to accelerate open and disaggregated network infrastructure. The OOPT (Open Optical and Packet Transport) group specifically focuses on eliminating proprietary lock-in in the optical transport layer. MANTRA is the subgroup focused on architectures for next-generation transport that can support emerging bandwidth-intensive applications.
IP Infusion’s participation in this PoC positions OcNOS as a validated platform for operators building open optical transport infrastructure in alignment with TIP’s operator-driven requirements.
Significance for Service Providers
This PoC validation matters for service providers evaluating open optical transport for several reasons:
- Independent validation — TIP PoC results are reviewed by a community of operators and vendors, providing credibility beyond vendor-alone claims
- Multi-vendor interoperability — the PoC tested OcNOS against open OLS hardware from multiple vendors, demonstrating practical interoperability
- Production deployment path — PoC completion establishes a clear architecture that operators can replicate in their own networks using OcNOS 7.0
IP Infusion Product Team