FAQ
What is the Open Access Network Forum (OANF)?
The Open Access Network Forum (OANF) brings together industry stakeholders to develop interoperable technical standards and a commercial playbook for open access networks in North America.
OANF provides a collaborative forum to align technical, operational, and commercial practices, identify gaps across the ecosystem, and produce implementation guidance that reduces integration friction, supports scalable deployment models, and accelerates open access broadband deployment across the North American market.
How does OANF support a trusted and competitive access network ecosystem?
OANF aims to lower technical and operational barriers to entry by promoting common architectural principles, interoperability expectations, and alignment with established standards. This enables new and existing network owners and operators to participate in open access deployments with greater confidence, while supporting requirements for reliability, security, and long-term sustainability.
Who should join?
Participants typically bring technical experience across fiber access networks, wholesale-to-retail models, service onboarding, interoperability, and operations, and share an interest in advancing open access network models aligned with North American standards and frameworks.
Technical engineers, network architects, and strategy leaders are encouraged to participate, along with others involved in designing, deploying, and operating open access broadband networks.
What commitment is required in terms of time and effort?
Participation is collaborative and contribution-based. Members are encouraged to:
- Attend regularly scheduled working sessions
- Contribute to the development and review of forum deliverables, such as reference architectures, guidance documents, and best practices
The level of engagement may vary by workstream.
What will I get out of this?
Participants have the opportunity to:
- Influence the North American baseline for open access interoperability
- Reduce bespoke integration and accelerate partner onboarding
- Help shape profiles and guidance that are implementable within OSS/BSS environments
- Define and align on operational demarcation, including activation, assurance, SLAs, and escalation
- Accelerate deployments through shared playbooks and reference flows
- Engage and network with operators, open access providers, ISPs, integrators, and ecosystem partners
- Contribute to the definition of shared industry KPIs
How does OANF relate to work in TM Forum, Broadband Forum, and other standards bodies?
OANF expects to build on and align with existing work from standards organizations such as TM Forum, Broadband Forum, and other relevant industry bodies. OANF’s role is to contextualize and apply these standards within open access network models, with a specific focus on North American deployment considerations.
Is OANF a U.S.-only initiative?
OANF is focused on the North American market and its regulatory, operational, and deployment realities. However, its outputs may be informative to stakeholders in other regions, and deliverables of the initiative may be adapted or referenced globally over time.
Why is ATIS hosting the OANF?
ATIS was identified by industry stakeholders as a neutral and credible home for the OANF, given its role as a leading North American Standards Development Organization and its longstanding collaboration with industry and global standards bodies. ATIS provides an established governance framework and convening platform to support OANF’s objectives.
How can I join?
Information on joining the OANF, including participation details and access to working sessions, is available through ATIS.