MEF heads to standardize guidelines for Ethernet Carriers

BANGALORE: The MEF (Metro Ethernet Forum) has now approved the next phase of the MEF Ethernet Interconnect Points (EIP) project to standardize guidelines for current and future Ethernet Carriers around the globe.

In a first for the MEF, the organization has assembled some of the largest Ethernet Operators, for the purpose of streamlining how they interconnect their Carrier Ethernet services.

“The EIP project complements a separate, newly introduced MEF initiative – the Services Interconnect Program (MEF-SI) – that will give hundreds of small wholesale Carrier Ethernet Operators the opportunity to offer standards-compliant Carrier Ethernet services quickly for their customers,” a statement said.

The EIP project will provide rapid feedback from prototyping to help the project participants agree on a common approach to interconnecting by using MEF specifications.

EIPs comprise all aspects of Ethernet interconnect – including all the requirements needed to provide a customer with an end-to–end Ethernet service spanning multiple operators. Specific aspects include: location selection, External Network-to-Network Interface (ENNI) parameters, and alignment of business processes.

With more than 50 current MEF specifications for Carrier Ethernet architectures, connectivity services, and service lifecycles – and many more in the pipeline to cover the emerging area of Lifecycle Service Orchestration (LSO) – demand for implementation guidelines for multi-carrier environments is growing rapidly.

Dan Blemings, Director of Product Marketing Management, AT&T Mobile & Business Solutions: “We are pleased to be playing a leading role in the formation of Ethernet Interconnect Points and the multi-carrier collaboration occurring on this MEF project...With this project we are creating a more expansive Ethernet footprint to better serve our customers’ rapidly growing consumption of both wireline and wireless bandwidth.”

Matthew Duckworth, Director of Ethernet Product Marketing, Verizon Global Wholesale and a co-chair of the MEF’s global marketing committee: “The MEF and its Ethernet Interconnect Points initiative is playing a critical role in creating an environment where Carrier Ethernet providers are collaborating to create a standardized industry framework for the interconnection of Ethernet services on a global basis.”

A number of MEF members – Alcatel-Lucent, Canoga Perkins, Ciena, Juniper Networks, and RAD – have provided CE 2.0 certified equipment for the rapid prototyping aspect of the project.