OpenLAN Enters an Era of Expectation

Born within the Telecom Infra Project (TIP), OpenLAN was created to reimagine the foundations of enterprise local area networking through open-source, disaggregated, community-driven infrastructure. It includes both OpenWiFi and OpenLAN Switching, two modular components designed to free businesses from closed systems and vendor lock-in.

After years of technical development, community contributions, and deployment learning, the OpenLAN ecosystem is maturing. Now it enters a new phase: moving from niche to norm, from early adoption to industry expectation.

And at the helm of this transition is a new Chair: Steve Martin, Shasta Cloud CEO & Co-Founder.

What Is TIP and Why Does OpenLAN Matter?

The Telecom Infra Project (TIP) began as a Meta-funded initiative to accelerate innovation in telecommunications by opening up traditionally closed systems. While much of TIP focused on large carriers and RAN infrastructure, OpenLAN was created as a sub-project aimed at the enterprise LAN space.

It tackles the biggest limitations in networking today:

• Proprietary stacks that limit choice

• Rigid supply chains

• Expensive licensing models

• Slow innovation cycles

Instead of siloed control, OpenLAN fosters an ecosystem of:

• Chipset manufacturers

• ODMs and OEMs

• Software contributors

• Distributors and integrators

• Managed Service Providers

This open approach breaks apart the monolith and makes the system more accessible, modular, and scalable, especially for the mid-market.

New Chair: Steve Martin Steps In

With OpenLAN’s technical maturity accelerating, the community recently made a pivotal move by appointing Steve Martin as Co-Chair of the TIP OpenLAN Project Group.

Steve brings more than two decades of experience in enterprise networking, having worked at early-stage companies like Airespace (later acquired by Cisco) and played key roles in building standards-based ecosystems. He is no stranger to leading major industry shifts, and he is stepping in at exactly the right moment.

Steve's appointment marks OpenLAN’s evolution from a Meta-sponsored initiative to a community-led, community-run movement.

OpenLAN’s Big Opportunity: The Mid-Market

While OpenLAN’s architecture can serve a wide range of enterprises, its true sweet spot is the mid-market. These organizations often have lean IT teams, rising networking complexity, and growing pressure to modernize without the bloated cost structures of legacy solutions.

“This is where OpenLAN can truly dominate,” Steve notes.
“The mid-market doesn’t need more complexity. They need flexibility, affordability, and support. And that’s what open systems can finally deliver.”

But the technology alone isn’t enough. The adoption curve relies on Managed Service Providers (MSPs) who act as the bridge between advanced infrastructure and real-world deployments. They are not just part of the ecosystem; they are central to it.

What Comes Next?

Steve’s vision is bold but pragmatic.

“We’re moving from ‘unknown’ to ‘challenger.’ Now we need to become the default.”

His roadmap for OpenLAN over the next 12 to 16 months includes:

• Embedding OpenLAN compliance into enterprise RFPs

• Ensuring open compatibility is a baseline, not an exception

• Empowering vendors and service providers with the tools and partnerships to deploy at scale

With growing traction and a now community-led leadership model, OpenLAN is positioned to change how the industry thinks about enterprise networking. It isn’t a scrappy alternative anymore. It is a maturing movement. And under Steve Martin’s leadership, it is gearing up to become the standard.

If you're a stakeholder in enterprise networking—MSP, vendor, operator, or OEM—this is the time to get involved.

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