Mark Tinka
With nearly a quarter-century of immersion in the Internet engineering sector, my journey has led to co-founding TransmissionCo, where we specialize in high-capacity DWDM optical transmission services. At the helm as Managing Director, I channel my expertise in DWDM and IP/MPLS networking, network design, and engineering to empower and interconnect communities across Africa.
My tenure as Head of Engineering at SEACOM honed my ability to lead complex network infrastructure projects and foster innovation. TransmissionCo benefits from this rich background, positioning us as a key player in expanding Africa's digital landscape. Our mission resonates with my personal commitment to quality, sustainability, and the advancement of regional connectivity.
Session
IP over DWDM (IPoDWDM) is not a new idea. Its first major wave of adoption emerged around 2009, promising to simplify network architectures by integrating optical transport directly into IP routers. However, the technology struggled to gain traction. Large, expensive line cards, high power consumption, fixed optical interfaces, proprietary vendor implementations, and operational boundaries between IP and optical teams ultimately limited its commercial and operational appeal.
More than fifteen years later, the conditions have fundamentally changed. The emergence of high-performance coherent pluggable optics has transformed the economics and practicality of IPoDWDM. Compact, interoperable 400G and emerging 100G and 800G coherent modules now allow routers to connect directly across DWDM infrastructure without traditional transponder layers, reducing equipment, power, space, and operational complexity.
This presentation explores why IPoDWDM failed the first time, why the technology is increasingly viable in 2026, and what has changed across the optical ecosystem. It also examines how open line systems, optical disaggregation, standardized interfaces, and software-driven control frameworks are enabling operators to rethink the relationship between IP and optical networks. Rather than simply revisiting an old architecture, modern IPoDWDM creates opportunities for simpler, more flexible and economically efficient network designs.