Plenary Session

Come back beginning in June for information on the  2014 Conference, meanwhile enjoy a retrospective look at the 2013 Conference.

The 2013 Plenary and Awards Session took place Tuesday, March 19 from 8 - 11 a.m. in the Marriott Anaheim, Platinum Ballroom.

• Caio Bonilha, President and CEO, Telebras, Brazil
• Nick McKeown, Professor of Electrical Engineering and Computer Science, Stanford University, USA
• Brian Protiva, CEO, ADVA Optical Networking, Germany

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OFC/NFOEC 2013 Plenary Presentations

Caio Bonilha

Presentation: Telebras National Backbone: Deployment ChallengesPresident and CEO, Telebras, Brazil

Abstract: The aim of this presentation is to share the challenges faced by the Telebras team in the deployment of Brazil’s 20,000 miles of national broadband backbone. Different issues related to engineering, legal, regulatory and relations with partners and suppliers will be discussed. Bonilha will show that the Telebras network is one of the pillars of the PNBL (Brazil’s National Broadband Plan), which aims to significantly expand broadband density and support local telecom technology deployment, as well as act as a neutral network. The presentation will also cover the impact of IP capacity wholesale prices after one year of initial deployment and the growth of independent ISP market share.

Biography: Caio Bonilha Rodrigues is the president and CEO of Telebras, Brazil’s federally-owned telecommunications service provider, and has more than 30 years of experience in telecommunications, wireless, data networks, network management, Internet and IT networking.

Prior to being appointed CEO in 2011, Bonilha held positions at Telebras as commercial and marketing director. Bonilha served as an advisor to and one of the architects of the PNBL—Brazil’s National Broadband Program, which is being carried out by Telebras. Prior to joining Telebras, Bonilha was the founder and general manager of Brampton Telecom, a full-service telecommunications design and consulting firm specializing in optical backbones, mobile networks, broadband networks, Internet and CATV. Before that, Bonilha founded the engineering services company CelPlan. He has worked in a variety of other positions in the telecommunications field, including sales and marketing manager at Alcatel, regional director of Construtel, and engineering positions at CMW, Elebra, Telebras R&D, and CRT, where began his professional career.

Caio received his B.S. in electrical engineering from the UFRGS in 1978 and his Telecom Specialist from Unicamp in 1985. Since then, Bonilha has consulted on a variety of projects including the International Telegraph and Telephone Consultative Committee and the World Bank/ECLAC (Economic Commission for Latin America and the Caribbean). While working with a variety of countries, including Brazil, Argentina, Chile, Bolivia, Spain, Kenya, and Angola, Bonilha has shaped these projects with his expertise in optical technology, international leadership, and strategic business sense.

Read OPN Article: Broadband Boss--Caio Bonilha draws from decades of experience in the global telecom industry.

Nick McKeown

Professor of Electrical Engineering and Computer Science, Stanford University, USA

Presentation: Software-Defined Transport Networks

Biography: Nick McKeown has been a professor of electrical engineering and computer science at Stanford University since 1995. He grew up in the UK and received his B.Eng. from Leeds University in 1986. He moved to the U.S. in 1989 to do an M.S. and Ph.D. in electrical engineering and computer science at the University of California, Berkeley. His research group works on new Internet architectures, software-defined networks and how to make routers faster. He co-founded several companies based on technology started at Stanford. He is a member of the National Academy of Engineering and recently received the Association for Computing Machinery Sigcomm "Lifetime Achievement" Award.

Read OPN Article: Conversations-Network Architect Nick McKeown is Building the Internet of Tomorrow.

Brian Protiva

CEO, ADVA Optical Networking, Germany

Presentation: Capitalizing on Network Transformation in the Age of Programmable, Multi-Layer Infrastructures

Abstract: Global demand for bandwidth continues to grow at a staggering pace while optical communications technology supports an ever increasing range of applications. This bandwidth growth and these new applications present inroads into new market verticals and sources of revenues, yet few systems or component providers in our industry are managing to demonstrate profitable growth. This presentation will highlight both key opportunities and challenges that arise when building multi-layer programmable infrastructures as solutions for carriers, ISPs and enterprise users, including next generation backhaul for LTE and LTE advanced networks.

Biography: Brian Protiva co-founded ADVA Optical Networking in 1994 and, as one of two managing directors, he focused on creating ADVA Optical Networking's marketing, sales and growth strategy. In 2001, Protiva was appointed CEO and set in motion the strategies that fuel the company's success today. Under his leadership, ADVA Optical Networking advanced to become the global market leader in Ethernet access devices and one of the top players in metro Wavelength Division Multiplexing (WDM) worldwide. To date, ADVA Optical Networking's innovative Optical+Ethernet solutions have been deployed at more than 10,000 enterprises and more than 250 carriers around the world. Revenues reached EUR 311 million in 2011, while employment climbed to 1,304 employees at year-end 2011. Prior to ADVA Optical Networking, Protiva was managing director at AMS Technologies (now the EGORA Group), which he joined in 1987 and where he focused on co-managing its subsidiaries. Protiva holds a bachelor of science in electrical engineering from Stanford University.

Read OPN Article: Conversations-Network Transformer- Brian Protiva sees change on the horizon for optical networking technologies.