The IEEE 802.17 Resilient Packet Ring Working Group (RPRWG) is defining a Resilient Packet Ring Access Protocol for use in Local, Metropolitan and Wide Area Networks for transfer of data packets at rates scalable to many gigabits per second. The new standard will use existing Physical Layer specifications and will develop new PHYs where appropriate. In Metropolitan and Wide Area Networks, fiber optic rings are widely deployed. These rings are currently using protocols that are neither optimized nor scalable to the demands of packet networks, including speed of deployment, bandwidth allocation and throughput, resiliency to faults, and reduced equipment and operational costs.

The Resilient Packet Ring Alliance was established to promote standards based Resilient Packet Ring technology and to encourage the utilization and implementation of Resilient Packet Ring as a key networking technology for connectivity of various computing, data and telecommunications devices. Its mission is to nurture and help develop a broad market by promoting the proliferation of Resilient Packet Ring into the networking market broadly defined including LANs, MANs, and WANs. It is also committed to promoting multi-vendor interoperability.

The mission of the Optical Internetworking Forum (OIF) is to foster the development and deployment of interoperable products and services for data switching and routing using optical networking technologies. The OIF will encourage co-operation among telecom industry participants including equipment manufacturers, telecom service providers and end users; promote global development of optical internetworking products; promote nationwide and worldwide compatibility and interoperability; encourage input to appropriate national and international standards bodies; and identify, select, and augment as appropriate and publish optical internetworking specifications drawn from national and international standards.

Being the only industry group uniting representatives from the data and optical networks, OIF's purpose is to accelerate the deployment of interoperable, cost-effective and robust optical internetworks and their associated technologies. Optical internetworks are data networks composed of routers and data switches interconnected by optical networking elements.

FSA is the voice of the global fabless business model. Industry leaders incorporated FSA in 1994 on the premise that the fabless business model would be a viable, long-term business model. Today, the viability of outsourcing as a sustainable business model for the industry has been proven, and FSA is focused on the perpetuation of this business model throughout the worldwide semiconductor industry.

The goal of the XFP MSA Group is to create a specification for a module, cage hardware, and IC interfaces for a 10 Gbit hot pluggable module converting serial electrical signals to external serial optical or electrical signals. The technology is intended to be flexible enough to support OC192/STM-64, 10 G Fibre Channel, G.709, and 10 G Ethernet, usually with the same module. The module design and the volume of production are expected to enable very low cost 10 G solutions.

The XFP group brings together leading networking, system, optical module, semiconductor and connector companies from both the telecommunications and datacommunications markets. Founding member companies include Broadcom Corporation, Brocade, Emulex Corporation, Finisar, JDS Uniphase, Maxim Integrated Products, ONI Systems, ICS (a Sumitomo Electric company), Tyco Electronics and Velio.

The XFP "10 Gigabit Small Form Factor Pluggable" group is developing a Multi-Source Agreement for a next generation optical transceiver. Specifications of this MSA will include a module, cage hardware, and IC interfaces for a 10 Gbit hot pluggable module converting serial electrical signals to external serial optical or electrical signals. The technology is intended to be flexible enough to support OC192/STM-64, 10 G Fibre Channel, G.709, and 10 G Ethernet, usually with the same module. The module design and the volume of production are expected to enable very low cost 10 Gb/s solutions.