The Open Networking Foundation has announced its latest open source community initiative, focused on bringing disaggregated networks to the optical domain. Its new project is the ODTN (Open Disaggregated Transport Network), which aims to break the platform down into a series of white box optical components, which can then be mixed and matched to form different solutions. Specialized vendors will be able to work on a specific component, such as a transponder, without having to deliver an end-to-end solution, boosting innovation and competition. The operator-driven ONF aims to create an ecosystem in which operators can select best-of-breed elements and slot them together relatively easily, using standard interfaces, while avoiding any vendor lock-in and supporting new software-defined architectures. Each of the…