RAD Releases Network Termination Unit for the Ethernet-Based Managed Local Loop

RAD Data Communications has announced the release of a new customer-located, service-oriented Ethernet Network Termination Unit (E-NTU) that provides a clear demarcation point between user and operator networks, permitting end-to-end control of Fast Ethernet services in the fiber Local Loop. Owned and operated by the service provider, the ETX-102 Ethernet Network Termination Unit allows the operator to separate each user’s traffic and offer services such as inter-office LAN connectivity, Internet access and secure virtual private networks (VPNs). This approach extends the service provider’s reach over fiber, facilitating management of differentiated services up to the customer premises while ensuring service level agreement (SLA) enforcement.

 

“Ethernet in the Local Loop reduces carrier expenses, since Ethernet ports are far less expensive than other access alternatives,” explains Robert Bell, Product Line Manager at RAD Data Communications. “RAD’s cost-effective, remotely-managed ETX-102 is an ideal solution for Ethernet in the Local Loop because it provides access regardless of the backbone technology,” Bell adds. “The savings that result can then be passed on by the carrier to consumers.”

The ETX-102 features a single 100BaseFx network port that uses SFP (Small Form-Factor Pluggable) hot-swappable optical transceivers with several 1310 nm fiber interface options available or a 10/100BaseT network port. To serve different customer-defined priorities, it offers up to four 10/100BaseT ports that operate in half or full duplex and support auto-negotiation and flow control.

 

The ETX-102 carries Fast Ethernet between the customer premises and the network edge. It maintains Ethernet as the access technology not only for packet-switched networks such as Ethernet and IP/MPLS, but also for legacy backbones such as SDH/SONET, where the edge device has an Ethernet tributary access port. The ETX-102 allows for managed service with a scalable, granular solution, supporting Ethernet access rates up to 100 Mbps. This enables the service provider to offer Ethernet service at incremental access rates.

 

“Being carrier-owned, E-NTUs are service-oriented,” Bell concludes, “providing capabilities that help the service provider to have better control on the service end-to-end while being price sensitive.” ETX-102 is compact 1U-high, half-19 inch wide unit. It is complimented by RAD’s ETX-202 with Gigabit Ethernet interfaces, for carrying Ethernet traffic at 1000 Mbps rates.

The ETX product is designed to serve users’ growing need for various Ethernet-based services. Service differentiation is enabled at the customer premises by providing per service rate limitation and traffic prioritization. VLAN stacking (QinQ) allows mapping the user’s traffic, including the user’s VLAN, to the carrier’s service VLAN, thus providing transparency and scalability. It allows easy provisioning and control of service speed by applying rate limitation to the user’s traffic at the customer premises.