OpenROADM is a community of network operators and equipment vendors that defines and promotes carrier-focused open API models and optical specifications. This initiative aims to create the specifications for an open optical networking ecosystem that provides network operators with greater flexibility, choice, and control over their optical networks while promoting interoperability, deployment choice, and reducing vendor lock-in.
The OpenROADM networking approach is based on a disaggregated architecture that separates network functions and equipment into smaller, interoperable components. By doing so, network operators can avoid vendor lock-in and choose the best components from multiple vendors for their deployment architecture and performance needs, without being locked into a single vendor’s solution. This open management, disaggregation, and interoperation initiative enables carriers to build the open network of their choice.