AI-Enabled WAN Connectivity API Workgroup: Transforming Enterprise Bandwidth Procurement
Enterprise networking is at a tipping point. While cloud, compute, and security infrastructure have embraced automation, WAN procurement remains manual, opaque, and slow—out of step with AI-driven, real-time enterprise demands. This session introduces ONUG’s AI-Enabled WAN Connectivity API initiative: a collaborative, enterprise-driven effort to build an open API framework for automating WAN services procurement. Led by Citi’s Eric Powers and supported by industry leaders across banking, pharma, cloud, and telecom, the project is transforming how enterprises source network services—from months-long RFPs to real-time service discovery and provisioning.
You’ll hear an overview of the working group’s progress and roadmap. Most importantly, we’ll debut the Minimum Viable Product (MVP)—a live demonstration of the API’s core functionality, illustrating dynamic service discovery, latency/jitter-based comparisons, and multi-provider route selection all via a “Google Flights”-style model.
- What You’ll Gain
A first-hand look at the MVP of the WAN Connectivity API - Insight into how the API enables real-time, data-driven WAN procurement
- A clear understanding of the API architecture, use cases, and upcoming Buyer’s Guide
- Practical examples of how the API reduces time-to-deployment and boosts agility
- Opportunities to shape and adopt this enterprise-backed industry standard
Who Should Attend
- Enterprise network architects and infrastructure leaders seeking to modernize WAN procurement
- Cloud and telecom providers interested in integrating with the API
- CIOs and procurement professionals driving digital transformation
- SD-WAN, NaaS, and interconnection platform vendors
- Systems integrators and solution architects building dynamic, AI-ready networks
Eric is a seasoned systems architect and Technology Fellow at Citi with over 28 years of experience, specializing in eTrading infrastructure. His passion for pushing technological boundaries fuels his work, where he continuously explores innovative ways to revolutionize eTrading systems. As Director of High Performance Architectures Infrastructure (HPAi), he is instrumental in driving technological advancements at Citi.
Beginning his career as a C developer for the Department of Defense, Eric progressed to aerospace R&D roles, earning top honors in Electrical Engineering. His career spans pivotal roles in networking startups and FinTech, most notably at Morgan Stanley, where he led global network instrumentation and TimeSync, and advised on strategic technology investments. Eric was honored with the title of STAC Fellow for his industry-leading contributions to Time Synchronization.
At Deutsche Bank, as a Distinguished Engineer, he architected comprehensive best in class eTrading infrastructure solutions driving down latency and improving PnL, and at a proprietary trading firm, he further honed his skills in driving technological innovation.
Eric serves on advisory boards for leading companies such as HPE, Dell, Lenovo, Equinix, AMD, Intel, Keysight, and Exegy, where he provides thought leadership, helps drive innovation and ensures alignment with Citi’s strategic objectives. He has worked extensively with companies to develop next-generation products and frequently participates in technical speaking panels at industry conferences. He is also on the A-Team Group Trading Technology Advisory Board. Renowned for his vision and expertise in low-latency technology, Eric remains committed to transforming Citi’s eTrading infrastructure into a powerful competitive advantage.
Nick Lippis is an authority on corporate computer networking. He has designed some for the largest computer networks in the world. He has advised many Global 2000 firms on network strategy, architecture, equipment, services and implementation including Hughes Aerospace, Barclays Bank, Kaiser Permanente, Eastman Kodak Company, Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation (FDIC), Liberty Mutual, Schering-Plough, Sprint, WorldCom, Cisco Systems, Nortel Networks and a wide range of other equipment suppliers and service providers.
Mr. Lippis is uniquely positioned to comment, analyze and observe computer networking industry trends and developments.
Tony Farinacci recently retired from JPMorgan Chase after 22 years of service in executive leadership roles including CTO – Global Network Services, End-User Services, CISO – Global Technology Infrastructure, and Distinguished Architect – Cybersecurity Architecture. His first 13 years were providing global oversight of JPMorgan Chase’s Voice & Data Network, and Perimeter Security with the last 9 years in Cybersecurity focused on Infrastructure and Cloud Security, Threat Modeling, Risk Assessment, Policy as Code, and Zero Trust.
Previous to JPMorgan Chase, Tony spent 9 years at KeyCorp in various executive leadership roles including oversight of Voice & Data Networks, Enterprise Architecture, Distributed Computing, and the Enterprise Command Center.
Tony started his career at General Electric where he spent 7 years in various technical leadership roles including Senior Architect & Systems Programmer (Mainframe, UNIX, VAX, LAN), Telecommunications and Networking.
Tony earned his Bachelor of Electrical Engineering degree at Cleveland State University. He currently resides in Boca Raton, Florida with his wife.
