Donald Clarke

Donald Clarke is a telecommunications industry veteran with extensive experience in network technology and innovation.1 He is currently semi-retired and associated with the Telecom Ecosystem Group since October 2022, based in Joplin, Missouri, United States.1

Career Highlights

Telecommunications Leadership: Donald Clarke has held several high-profile positions in the telecommunications industry:

• Principal Consultant at Telecom Foresight Consulting LLC (2019-2022)
• Principal Architect of Network Technologies at CableLabs (2014-2019)
• Head of Network Evolution R&D at BT (2009-2014)
• Head of Networks Research and Venturing at BT (2007-2009)

Contributions to Network Virtualization: Clarke played a significant role in the development of Network Function Virtualization (NFV):

• Chaired the NFV inception group of leading carriers in 2012
• Co-founded the ETSI Network Function Virtualisation Industry Specification Group (ETSI NFV) in 2013
• Served as a member of the ETSI NFV leadership team and chaired the Network Operator Council

Standards and Industry Collaboration: He has been instrumental in developing industry standards and fostering collaboration:

• Co-founder and technical director of the Full Service VDSL Committee (FS-VDSL)
• Chairman of the FSAN VDSL Working Group (1996-2000)

Education and Early Career

Donald Clarke's early career includes:

• Co-founder and first president of Essex University Microprocessor Society "MicroSoc" in 19781

Throughout his career, Donald Clarke has been at the forefront of telecommunications technology, contributing significantly to the industry's evolution and standardization efforts.1