Creative Thinking for Unique Access Solutions
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Dear Colleague, The State of Ethernet
in the Access Part II: In Part I of this article
we discussed solutions for delivering broadband Ethernet traffic
over legacy networks. Here we discuss the issues involved in establishing
an Ethernet access network.
It's easy to understand why Ethernet-based services make for such a compelling business case. Ethernet switching equipment is less expensive than legacy edge devices. Ethernet configuration, provisioning and service delivery are easily automated. This means service providers don't have to roll out trucks to add new services. Since Ethernet is also incrementally scalable, bandwidth requirements can be changed through software, in some cases by the customers themselves using the Internet. There are currently two major drawbacks to the adoption of Ethernet-based service access. The first involves interoperability and standardization issues, particularly in regard to QoS and SLAs; the second obstacle derives from the ubiquitous presence of legacy networks - carriers want to leverage their existing infrastructure and are still evaluating their Ethernet access network strategies. Supported by combined vendor and service provider efforts, organizations such as the IETF, IEEE, ITU, MEF and EFMA are working to make Ethernet access carrier-class with strict Quality of Service parameters and protocol structures reminiscent of familiar TDM, ATM and Frame Relay networks. Particular attention is being paid to issues such as pseudo-wire over packet switched networks, Ethernet service definitions and resiliency. As for interoperability issues, these are expected to eventually resolve themselves by market forces as the migration to standardized Ethernet-based access induces vendors to work together to offer compatible solutions.
Some of these devices are Multiservice Network Termination Units (MSNTUs) and support pseudo-wire emulation as per newly promulgated standards, facilitating the deployment of leased line services over the Ethernet access network. The introduction of E-NTUs and MSNTUs also make it technically possible and economically feasible to create an Ethernet-based access network over existing SDH/SONET and ATM backbone networks. Emerging next-generation SDH/SONET standards, such as GFR, VCAT and LCAS, as well as existing ATM mapping mechanisms, enable these legacy platforms to efficiently handle Ethernet traffic handed off from the E-NTU or MSNTU located at the customer premises. There are several advantages to creating this kind of Ethernet access network. The incumbent carrier can begin to offer Ethernet-based access services before finalizing its Ethernet transport strategy. Not only does this engender a new revenue stream, it also enables the operator to cut its teeth on Ethernet as a carrier class before making major investments in Ethernet backbone equipment. RAD Granted U.S. Patent for TDM over IP Technology
RAD Demonstrates TDM over
MPLS Capability at MPLS Forum Interoperability Event NBC TV Deploys Temporary Voice and Data Network for Live Broadcasts from Vatican
RAD's Vmux Slashes Voice Transmission Costs in Russia's Tele2 Networks 85% savings on E1 leased lines allows the Russian
mobile operator to offer the lowest prices to subscribers. Full
story Generate New Revenue Streams by Rolling out Transparent LAN Services (TLS) Test Your Brain Power
Due to a summer recess, RAD at a Glance will resume with the September/October issue. Enjoy your vacation! Sincerely, |
Even
before the various committees approve and ratify a comprehensive
suite of new protocols and standards, vendors such as RAD are enabling
service providers to implement an Ethernet-based access local loop
through the development of 
We
are pleased to announce that the United States Patent and Trademark
Office has granted RAD a patent for TDM over IP (TDMoIP®) technology,
ensuring RAD's control on all TDMoIP-driven products in the market.
This intellectual property confirms RAD's leadership role in setting
the latest technological standards for the telecommunications industry.
RAD's
high capacity, carrier-class TDMoIP gateways successfully participated
in the MPLS & Frame Relay Alliance's recent multi-vendor interoperability
event. The event focused on transporting Quality of Service (QoS)-enabled
VPN services over an MPLS network supporting traffic engineering.
As part of the demonstration, RAD's IPmux products were used to
assist in transferring TDM traffic, including voice and data, over
an MPLS core using TDM-over-MPLS emulation. It was the very first
demonstration of running mixed TDM traffic over an MPLS network
with service differentiation, and the results proved the QoS capability
of the MPLS core with traffic engineering. 
NBC
News recently employed RAD communications equipment to carry voice
and data traffic for the live broadcast of the 25th Anniversary
Celebration of Pope John Paul II as head of the Roman Catholic Church.
"The flexibility we've gained from using RAD's solutions has been
extremely good for us, especially in this type of overseas broadcast
and news environment which calls for rapid deployment of communications
networks. We were looking for a quick, reliable solution and we
found that in RAD," states Leonard Venezia, Technical Manager, NBC
Network Field Operations. 
The
low cost ACE-52 multiservice network termination unit allows service
providers to take advantage of their existing ATM infrastructure
for providing transparent LAN services, as well as integrated voice
and data services, over the ATM network. Services are enhanced by
ATM's high capacity, reliability and Quality of Service (QoS) capabilities.
RAD
invites you to test your mind's powers of concentration, analysis
and logic by solving our brainteasers, offered in three levels of
difficulty, Easy, Intermediate and Challenging. If you solve the
Challenging puzzle, you are eligible to win a prize.