Prayson Pate
Chief Technology Officer, Ensemble - A Division of ADVA Optical Networking
January 2016 - Present
I am ADVA’s chief technology officer for Ensemble and an evangelist for network functions virtualization (NFV). I speak at industry events and writes posts and articles to inform, educate and entertain, mostly about network virtualization with plenty of innovation for good measure. I also publish "The Real CTOs of NFV" series, reporting on the experiences of my peers who are innovating in the carrier-class service industry.
Some Recent ADVA Awards:
- September 13, 2018: ADVA selected as finalist for Network Transformation Awards - Judges recognize pioneering cloud encryption solution and Prayson Pate’s contribution to driving NFV success
- September 2017: Ensemble named to short list for Layer123 Network Transformation Awards for Best Marketing Campaign
- September 22, 2017: Ensemble Connector Wins 2017 Telecoms World Award
- May 16, 2017: Ensemble SmartWAN Wins Light Reading Award for Most Innovative NFV Product Strategy
- November 8, 2016: ADVA Ensemble Wins MEF Excellence Award for Ensemble Connector
- May 25, 2016: ADVA and DartPoints win GTB Award
- May 23, 2016: ADVA Optical Networking Wins Light Reading’s Company of the Year (Public) Award
- May 11, 2016: ADVA Ensemble Connector Wins NFV Innovation of the Year Award at 5G World MENA
- May 9, 2016: ADVA wins Pipeline Innovation award for Network Technology
Chief Technology OfficeR and Co-Founder
I am charged with helping Overture anticipate and lead through major industry transitions and market shifts while conveying Overture’s message to its customers and the larger industry. Most recently, I guided Overture’s own transition from a telecom hardware powerhouse to an innovation leader in orchestration solutions for software-defined carrier-class networks. I am an evangelist for network functions virtualization (NFV), helping communication service providers (CSPs) and mobile operators create virtual environments optimized for agility and profit. I speak often at industry events, post to my blog praysons-prate.blogspot.com and share NFV information, ideas and guidance through bylined articles published by industry media. I participate regularly in standards bodies such as the MEF and IETF, and was chosen to be the co-editor of the pseudowire emulation edge-to-edge (PWE3) requirements and architecture documents (RFCs 3916 and 3985).
Some Overture Awards:
- Nov 16, 2015: Overture wins MEF Excellence Award - Third Network Technology of the Year – CE 2.0
- Jun 2, 2015: Overture wins Runner-up in Pipeline Innovation Awards
- May 14, 2015: Overture and Masergy Win Global Telecoms Business 2015 Innovation Award
- Mar 3, 2015: Overture Ensemble Service Intelligence wins NIA Award for Network Intelligence
- Aug 6, 2014: Overture Ensemble OSA™ Receives 2014 NFV Pioneer Award
- Feb 19, 2014: Overture 6500 Receives Internet Telephony 2014 Product of the Year Award
- Oct 22, 2013: Overture Ensemble OSA™ Receives 2013 Excellence in SDN Award
- Sep 18, 2013: Overture Honored as Stevie® Award Winner in 2013 American Business Awards
- Jan 30, 2013: Overture First to Receive MEF Carrier Ethernet 2.0
- Nov 16, 2012: Fast 50: #1 Overture Networks
- Jun 20, 2012: Overture's Ethernet Smart Demarcation Solution Recognized for Innovation
- Oct 18, 2011: TBJ Unveils Fast 50 Award Winners
- May 24, 2011: Overture's ISG 6000 Receives 2011 NGN Leadership Award from TMC's NGN Magazine
Engineer / Manager / Director - Larscom - RTP, NC
December 1992 – August 2000
Responsible for development of software for telecom products deployed at tier 1 service providers. Also involved in development of MFR standards at the Frame Relay Forum.
Member of Scientific Staff - BNR (Nortel) - RTP, NC
June 1988 – December 1992
Developed hardware and embedded software for Nortel telecommunications peripherals.
Intern / Development Engineer - Siecor FiberLAN / FiberLAN, Inc. - RTP, NC
June 1983 – August 1986
Developed fiber optic Ethernet and Token Ring products.