By Vinay
Rathore, Director of Service Provider
Marketing, Ciena Corp.
As telecommunications infrastructure
continues to evolve, advanced business
and residential IP services are changing
the way voice, data and video applications
are delivered and used. From our telephone
lines at the office to the video-on-demand
service at home, these offerings have
two things in common: the underlying
use of IP, and ubiquitous connectivity
via Ethernet.
New services such as IPTV and VoIP
demonstrate how even traditional services,
such as TV and telephone, are being
delivered over the IP-based infrastructure.
The introduction of Ethernet has also
helped fuel the growth of IP-based applications.
From its plug-and-play simplicity for
home users to its high bandwidth of
up to 10 Gigabits per second (Gbps),
it is no wonder that Ethernet is appreciated
on many levels.
Concerns about whether Ethernet is
reliable enough and/or high-grade enough
for telco environments continue to be
addressed by vendors and standards bodies
alike. The Metro Ethernet Forum has
introduced its own Carrier Ethernet
certification program to help ensure
compliance with minimum standards, and
many vendors have enabled Ethernet interfaces
on traditional carrier-class SONET/SDH
and WDM equipment.
IP applications over Ethernet present
the most compelling value proposition
by enabling new services, significant
cost efficiencies and worldwide ubiquity.
However, with the large installed base
of existing transport networks built
largely on SONET/SDH, carriers continue
to ask for flexible solutions that allow
them to maximize investment protection
while guaranteeing future readiness.
Flexible solutions such as programmable
network elements play a critical role
in creating on-demand capabilities that
allow carriers to install the services
they need when they need them.
While some greenfield network operators
may be willing to build an all-Ethernet
network, many have tried and failed
to convince incumbent operators to do
the same. Indeed, adding support for
Ethernet over legacy infrastructure
to protect existing investments is critical
for operational as well as
financial reasons for most network operators.
They have made large investments in
existing infrastructure and are not
ready to simply throw it away and start
over.
New standards, new technology and innovative
products are offering more flexibility,
including the use of programmable network
elements, which will play a critical
role with on-demand capabilities that
allow carriers to install the services
they need when they need them.
Pipeline Publishing, Volume 2, Issue 7
