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Infinera joined major network operators in 2021 to launch the Open XR Forum, an industry group intended to advance XR Optics and define how it could work across carrier networks and multiple vendors. XR Optics is Infinera’s coherent point-to-multipoint transport approach, designed to better match hub-and-spoke traffic patterns than conventional point-to-point links.
What is XR Optics?
XR Optics is a coherent optical networking approach developed by Infinera. It uses pluggable transceivers to support point-to-multipoint transport: one optical endpoint can communicate with multiple endpoints rather than relying solely on separate point-to-point connections.
That design targets a common network pattern in which traffic flows between a hub and several locations. Infinera and the forum described the approach as a way to simplify network architecture, allocate capacity dynamically and reduce operating costs. Those are intended benefits, not proof that every deployment will achieve them.
Why did Infinera create the Open XR Forum?
Infinera joined Verizon, Lumen Technologies, Windstream and Liberty Global to launch the Open XR Forum on June 8, 2021. BT was also identified as a founding service-provider participant in EE Times’ June 15, 2021 report. The forum was created to advance coherent XR Optics among network operators, equipment vendors and component suppliers.
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The forum began with an operator-led focus. Its initial work was to establish carrier use cases and requirements, particularly for management-plane and software integration. Infinera expected systems, subsystem and component vendors to participate as the effort developed. The aim was not only to promote a technology, but also to work toward interfaces and interoperability that could support adoption across suppliers.
How XR Optics compares with point-to-point transport
The distinction is architectural: XR Optics is aimed at point-to-multipoint connections, while conventional coherent transport commonly uses point-to-point links. The implications depend on network design and implementation.
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| Comparison area | XR Optics approach | Conventional point-to-point approach |
|---|---|---|
| Traffic pattern | Designed for hub-and-spoke traffic, with a point-to-multipoint arrangement. | Uses point-to-point connections; the forum’s launch materials contrast this pattern with hub-and-spoke needs. |
| Architecture | Intended to simplify network architecture; the degree of simplification depends on the deployment. | Separate point-to-point links may be a less direct fit when traffic is predominantly hub-and-spoke. |
| Capacity allocation | Designed to support dynamic, on-demand capacity allocation. | Not stated in the cited forum materials. |
| Management and software | The forum’s initial operator work included requirements for management-plane and software integration. | Not stated in the cited forum materials. |
| Interoperability and sourcing | The forum later identified interface standardization, interoperability and multi-sourcing as goals. | Not stated in the cited forum materials. |
| Cost | Cost savings were claimed in operator studies and a reported BT trial; these were attributed claims, not independently verified results. | The BT claim used a point-to-point reference architecture for comparison; it does not establish a universal cost difference. |
Who joined, and how did the forum evolve?
A February 2022 membership announcement listed AT&T, BT, Colt, Crown Castle, Infinera, Liberty Global, Lumen Technologies, Telefónica, Verizon, Windstream and Zayo. Members said they would work on interface standardization, interoperability, multi-sourcing and new specifications. This marked an expansion beyond the initial operator-led phase toward a broader multi-vendor effort.
The organization’s name later changed from Open XR Forum to Open XR Optics Forum. The change is recorded in revision 1.1 of a technical document dated October 12, 2023.
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- What You Get: 2pcs Gigabit Multi-Mode Ethernet SFP Slot media converters; 2pcs SFP BiDi LC Dual Multi-Mode transceiver; 2pcs AC/DC Power Supply; 1 x User’s Manual. Support wide power supply voltage (100V-240V), Power Supply: 5V-1A, UL Certified.
- Fiber Optical Port: 1.25Gbps SFP port, connecting the BiDi Multi-Mode LC Dual transceivers up to 550M(2 SFP LX Transceiver included); Fiber Type: MMF, Cable Type: UTP/STP Cat.5e for 100 meters.
- RJ45 Port: 10M/100M/1000M Auto-negotiation, full Duplex or half Duplex, Auto-negotiation, Supports MDI/MDIX auto-crossover, Complies with IEEE 802.3/802.3u/802.3z/802.3ab.
- Plug & Play: Simply plug in optical port and RJ45 port, and it will work immediatelly. Status LED's for TX, FX LINK/ACT, POWER, FDX to easily monitor network status. Supports jumbo frame size 9K bytes; Supports working temperature range from 0°C to 60°C.
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Do the reported cost savings mean XR Optics is 70% cheaper?
No. The 70% figures are attributed claims with specific contexts, not independently verified benchmarks that can be applied to every network.
- Up to 70% lower total cost of ownership: the Open XR Forum’s 2021 launch announcement attributed this potential reduction to network-operator studies.
- 70% capex savings over five years: EE Times reported in 2021 that Dave Welch, Infinera founder and chief innovation officer, cited BT metro trials comparing XR Optics with a point-to-point reference architecture.
The two statements measure different things: one concerns total cost of ownership and the other capital expenditure. Neither establishes that a particular operator will save 70%; results would depend on the network, comparison baseline and deployment.
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What happened to the Open XR Forum?
The forum’s work broadened from defining operator use cases and software-management requirements to pursuing common interfaces, interoperability, multi-sourcing and specifications. By October 2023, its technical-document revision used the name Open XR Optics Forum. The available facts establish a name change and an evolution in stated priorities, but do not establish the forum’s current membership or present-day activity.
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