Don Clarke, a longtime top engineering executive for British telecommunications company BT (NYSE: BT), has joined CableLabs as principal architect of network technologies.
Clarke began his new role May 2, Light Reading reports, and the engineer's LinkedIn profile specifies that he'll be focused on network functions virtualization (NFV) and software-defined networking (SDN) at CableLabs, the pay TV industry technology consortium. Through LinkedIn, Clarke said he'd provide more details shortly on his role.
Clarke spent 26 years at BT in a variety of technology roles. His most recent job title was head of network evolution innovation. In 2012, he co-founded the ETSI Network Functions Virtualization Industry Specification Group (ETSI NFV ISG), as well as the Network Operator Council, which oversees the group's work.
Clarke's team was also charged with evaluating and tracking "competing broadband access technologies including DOCSIS and working with sister teams to position BT to be a successful player in the consumer video and mobility space," according to Clarke's LinkedIn page.
Clarke moves to the pay TV industry as operators think seriously about virtualization and, as Light Reading notes, telcos like Europe's Vodafone Group look to acquire cable network assets for their mobile businesses.
He'll be based in CableLabs' Louisville, Colo., headquarters.
For more:
- read this Light Reading story
- read this Multichannel News story
Related links:
CableLabs releases DOCSIS 3.1 specs
Cisco, CableLabs build IPTV Innovations Lab
CableLabs eyes NFC, RFID tags to deliver personalized programming and advertising
Marian Croak on why and how AT&T is moving to SDN, NFV and an all-IP future with Domain 2.0