ATIS Launches Open Access Network Forum to Accelerate Scalable Open Access Fiber in North America

February 5, 2026

The Alliance for Telecommunications Industry Solutions (ATIS) has launched the Open Access Network Forum (OANF), a new industry body developing a unified implementation specification for open access fiber networks across North America.

The Forum brings together ISPs, open access infrastructure owners, and technology partners. Its mandate is to align the industry on business models, operational processes, technical architectures, and regulatory considerations — producing a common framework operators can implement without building bespoke integrations from scratch.

The goal is direct: fewer custom integrations, faster service provider onboarding, and more capital deployed toward fiber rather than integration overhead.

What Is the Open Access Network Forum?

OANF is an ATIS-led initiative developing a single Open Access Implementation Specification. The specification will cover the full operational stack — how open access networks are designed, how ISPs onboard, how wholesale-retail billing is structured, and how multi-party relationships are managed at scale.

ATIS President and CEO Susan Miller described the scope:

“OANF will help bring greater consistency to how open-access networks are designed, integrated, and operated, making it easier for service providers to launch and expand services for end users across the North American market. This initiative is another way ATIS is advancing ICT industry transformation by helping simplify service enablement in open-access environments.”

Why Standardization Matters Now

Open access has been standard operating model in Europe and parts of Asia for decades. North America is in an active catch-up phase, driven by federal funding, M&A consolidation, and growing operator interest in shared infrastructure.

That growth creates friction. Operators building shared-infrastructure partnerships are doing so against a fragmented technical and commercial landscape. Without a common framework, every integration is rebuilt from scratch.

OANF addresses this directly. A unified specification reduces the coordination cost of multi-ISP networks, shortens time-to-market for service providers, and creates conditions for healthier competition on open infrastructure.

COS Systems Appointed Vice Chair of OANF

Sajan Parikh, Chief Technology Officer at COS Systems, has been appointed Vice Chair of the Open Access Network Forum, serving alongside Chair Scott Baker of AT&T.

Parikh brings two decades of open access operational experience to the role. COS Systems has worked with open access and wholesale fiber operators across Europe and North America since the early days of shared-infrastructure deployments — long before the model gained traction in the US market.

Parikh on the appointment:

“So much of the work I’ve done builds upon two decades of advocacy that COS Systems has pioneered for Open Access Networks in Europe, North America, and beyond. With open access gaining significant traction in North America amid today’s fast-paced M&A climate, we’ve seen and lived through the various challenges network operators and ISPs face when executing on shared-infrastructure partnerships and ventures“

On what standardization unlocks:

“Less time on bespoke integrations means more resources toward deploying fiber and delivering services.”

Get Involved

OANF membership is open to ISPs, infrastructure owners, technology vendors, and others active in the open access ecosystem. Details and membership options are at oanf.atis.org.

COS Systems builds the BSS/OSS software that runs open access and wholesale fiber networks. [LINK: COS Wholesale Engine product page] Learn how operators use COS to manage multi-ISP billing, service provider onboarding, and wholesale operations at scale.

Learn more and explore membership options at:
👉 https://oanf.atis.org/

At COS Systems, we remain committed to advancing True Open Access and enabling affordable, scalable fiber networks through automation, interoperability, and collaboration. We look forward to contributing to the important work ahead through OANF.

What is the ATIS Open Access Network Forum (OANF)? The Open Access Network Forum is an ATIS-led industry initiative developing a unified Open Access Implementation Specification for North American fiber networks. It covers business models, operational processes, technical architectures, and regulatory considerations for open access and shared-infrastructure deployments.

Why did ATIS launch OANF? The North American open access market is scaling rapidly, driven by federal broadband funding and increased M&A activity. Without a common framework, operators must build bespoke integrations for every shared-infrastructure partnership. OANF exists to reduce that fragmentation and lower the cost of deploying interoperable open access networks.

Who leads the Open Access Network Forum? OANF is chaired by Scott Baker of AT&T. Sajan Parikh, Chief Technology Officer at COS Systems, serves as Vice Chair.

What is COS Systems’ role in open access fiber networks? COS Systems develops BSS/OSS software for open access network operators and wholesale fiber carriers. Its platforms manage multi-ISP operations, service provider onboarding, wholesale billing, and network operations across North America and Europe.

How does open access network standardization benefit ISPs? A common implementation specification reduces integration complexity, shortens onboarding timelines, and allows service providers to launch on new infrastructure without building custom integrations. This directs more capital toward fiber deployment rather than system integration.