Amid Coronavirus Concerns, Major Industry Players Withdraw from OFC 2020

Posted  by GoPhotonics

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While the organizers of the OFC 2020 Conference & Exhibition recently confirmed that the event, will take place as scheduled; yet concerns over the ongoing global spread of the coronavirus (Covid-19), have led to a series of significant withdrawals from the event. Following the recent news that Infinera would not be exhibiting, there has been a series of similar announcements from many of the optical communications industry’s biggest names, including Cienna and Lumentum.

Companies Announcing Official Cancellation:

CORNING INCORPORATED

Corning has announced that it will not be attending, as a precautionary measure for employees and customers. Confirming the news, Dr. Bernhard Deutsch, the VP and GM of Corning Optical Fiber and Cable said that the safety and health of Corning’s customers, employees and their families is of utmost importance to us. And while the company appreciates the steps being taken by OFC organizers for the safety of conference attendees, however given the continuing spread of the virus in multiple locations around the world, Corning believes that withdrawing from this year’s conference is the best course of action.

On the plus side, Corning’s sponsorship of awards and grants connected with the conference will remain in place. These include the John Tyndall Award, the Corning Women in Optical Communications Travel Grant, and the Corning Outstanding Student Paper Competition.

OFS OPTICS

Leading optical fiber and components manufacturer, OFS Optics, has also cancelled its plans to exhibit and present. According to Pierre Marty, Senior VP, Fiber & Cable North America, at OFS, with the continued spread and growing concern of COVID-19 and the prioritization of health and safety not only in its manufacturing environment, but in the travel and exposure potentially impacting the company’s employees, customers and stakeholders, OFS Optics decided to cancel its participation.

ACACIA COMMUNICATIONS

Acacia Communications, a provider of high-speed coherent optical interconnect products will not be attending the event, either. According to the company President and CEO, Raj Shanmugaraj, the company is disappointed it cannot participate as it was looking forward to showcasing the latest 400ZR, OpenZR+ and 400G Open ROADM product portfolio. However, the highest priority currently, is the health and safety of the company’s employees and business partners.

NOKIA

Mobile communications and networking giant, Nokia, has also taken the decision to withdraw its exhibition participation from OFC 2020. The company’s primary focus, according to a press release, has been to safeguard the health and well-being of its employees and others while also recognizing responsibility to the industry and customers. Nokia’s statement added that they want to express their thanks to OFC Management, which has worked tirelessly to address the challenges resulting from the novel coronavirus, and have Nokia’s full support as they move forward.

VIAVI SOLUTIONS

Another big industry name to withdraw from the event includes, Viavi Solutions. The leading optical test and measurement systems developer, in a release has stated that due to ongoing health and safety concerns for its employees, customers, and partners, the company decided to withdraw participation from this year’s OFC. Viavi is also offering an alternative communications route to interested parties. The company will be contacting customers and other stakeholders that intend to meet at the show to arrange alternative means to showcase its expanding portfolio.

APPLIED OPTOELECTRONICS

Fiber‑optic networking expert, Applied Optoelectronics (AOI) also announced its withdrawal from the event. According to the company statement, out of abundance of caution for coronavirus, AOI decided not to participate as previously planned. tTeh company although will still host the previously-scheduled OFC investor session via webcast on March 10.

Other confirmed withdrawals (till March 4) include Huawei, Intel, Inphi, EXFO, and Neophotonics.

Organizer Confirms ‘OFC 2020 Will Continue’

Despite the withdrawals, OFC organizer, the OSA (The Optical Society), has firmly stated that the show will go on. According to OSA, more than 8,000 registrants and nearly 500 exhibitors and sponsors are ready to experience OFC 2020, which is scheduled to take place, as planned from 8 – 12 March, in San Diego.

OSA stated that it respects the decision of those exhibitors who decided to cancel their participation due to the Coronavirus (COVID-19). OFC Management understands that many attendees from China, Iran, Italy, Japan and South Korea, and speakers who are prohibited from traveling due to their institutional/corporate policies, will be unable to participate in-person. According to Ryan Strowger, head of OFC Management, they will continue to support the thousands of registrants and hundreds of companies still committed to attending the conference and exhibition in-person, and we thank them for their continued engagement.

OFC is offering all presenters the option to pre-record their presentations or submit their poster PDF for presentation in advance of the conference. Selected sessions will also have live speaker participation via video-conferencing. With these news steps in place, hundreds of speakers can still deliver their groundbreaking content, whether in-person or via recording. For the benefit of all technical registrants, the OFC Program Chairs will have all of the speaker-authorized content from the technical sessions recorded.

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