Jeff Hannah Joins Light Reading's Initiative to Help Shape "The New IP"

NEW YORK, Sept. 4, 2015 /PRNewswire/ -- Light Reading (www.lightreading.com), the market-leading online community for the global communications sector, has further strengthened its focus on launching the New IP Agency (NIA) with the hire of experienced and respected non-profit organizer, Jeff Hannah, who has joined NIA as Director of the New IP Agency.

Denver, Colo.-based Hannah, whose previous positions include multiple project management, conference development and technology and standards roles within the communications industry, will be responsible for the operational launch of the NIA, including growing the NIA's service provider and equipment vendor membership, soliciting individuals for the NIA's Board of Directors and organizing test programs for Network Functions Virtualization infrastructure (NVFi) and Virtual Network Functions (VNF) interoperability amongst the NIA's membership. 

Announced at Light Reading's Big Telecom Event back in June, the NIA will serve as a not-for-profit independent initiative providing information, education, analysis, community services and testing to support and accelerate the development of a global economy based on open, advanced, virtualized IP networks. In partnership with the European Advanced Networking Test Center (EANTC), the world's leading independent test lab, the NIA will coordinate and host various interoperability test programs, demonstrating the opportunities of The New IP network. 

Hannah is stoked (he does live in Colorado after all) to be part of such an important industry effort at such a critical juncture in the industry. The possibilities of a completely interoperable and open IP network powered by virtualized network functions is vast, and will have an impact on every major industry sector as the communications networks of today become the communications conduit for all things large and small – from the immense computing power of the cloud to the intelligence gleaned from embedded sensors across consumer and industrial devices. "The idea that networks today can be built around proprietary boxes is just not feasible anymore for service providers. With so many devices occupying the network, the ability to quickly configure and bring online new network functions is critical to service providers' abilities to reduce capital expenses as well as improve the operational management of networks," stated Hannah.

"The NIA occupies a unique position, providing education and facilitating communication with the overall goal of accelerating the successful deployment of virtualized IP networks," says Steve Saunders, founder of Light Reading and one of the industry leaders backing the NIA. "Unlike other not-for-profit organizations focused on virtualization, the NIA does not create standards, which means it can work in harmony with organizations like OPNFV, ETSI and ATIS that are creating specifications, acting as their enthusiastic and powerful ally," he adds.

For the remainder of 2015, Light Reading will continue to underwrite the "pre-phase" expense of launching the NIA, recognizing the important role that the NIA offers the communications industry. At the beginning of 2016, the NIA will become a completely self-funded not-for-profit supported by the Agency's membership. For more information about the New IP Agency and how to join, please contact Jeff Hannah at [email protected]. 

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About Light Reading
Light Reading (www.lightreading.com) combines its research-led online communities and targeted events portfolio to help those in the global communications industry make informed decisions. Lightreading.com is the ultimate source for telecom analysis for more than 350,000 subscribers each month, leading the media sector in terms of traffic, content and reputation. Light Reading produces targeted communications events and focused one-day conferences each year for cable, mobile and wireline executives across five continents.

About the New IP Agency
The New IP Agency (NIA) (http://img.lightreading.com/downloads/thenewip/New-IP-Agency-proprietary-confidential.pdf?p_redirone=yes&piddl_promo=) is a not-for-profit independent initiative providing information, education, analysis, community services and testing to support and accelerate the development of a global economy based on open, advanced, virtualized IP networks.

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SOURCE Light Reading

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