Rick Talbot

Rick Talbot, principal analyst for the Intelligent Optical Networking and 5G RAN xHaul practices, combines expertise in network access, transport (particularly optical networking) and switching technologies, including Software-Defined Networking (SDN), and a deep understanding of the telecommunications industry competitive landscape, business (and regulatory) issues and economic trends to provide a comprehensive view of the industry. He gained this broad experience in over 40 years of technical marketing and sales engineering roles at network systems vendors as well as network architecture design roles at service providers.

Over the past decade, Rick has been Principal Analyst of Transport and Routing Infrastructure at Current Analysis, where he defined packet-optical networking platform categories and published qualitative comparisons of leading platforms as they evolved. He was also Director of Network Strategy at ZTE USA, where he served as SDN, IoT, and Fronthaul/Midhaul/Backhaul subject matter expert for the sales team. Prior to these roles, Rick held product marketing, product management and strategic planning positions at PacketLight Networks, Ciena and Alcatel Network Systems. He held sales engineering, network planning and engineering positions at Broadwing Communications, WilTel, National Datacom and Southwestern Bell Telephone Company. He was also a policy analyst for the Public Utility Commission of Texas. Rick holds an MBA degree from Southern Methodist University and a Bachelor of Engineering science degree from Trinity University. He is a registered professional engineer in the State of Texas and a senior member of the Institute of Electrical & Electronics Engineers (IEEE).