PDF of this tutorialIt is readily apparent that Ethernet, the technology that prevails within both the enterprise and major content hosting centers, will play a vital role in next-generation packet service delivery. Solutions that offer the simplicity of Ethernet as a high-speed service interface—a simple "plug in the wall"—that can be software-tuned to deliver scalable, guaranteed rate access to multiple network services will give providers the important cost and service delivery advantages they need to compete in this new service world.
Because the installed SONET/SDH infrastructure cannot, and will not, be replaced overnight, it must instead be leveraged. The crux for carriers is to enable the migration from today's environment, which is complex, slow, and costly to provision, to one that offers high-speed packet services that are rapidly deployed, easily provisioned, and reliable. The ideal solution will bring forward current revenue streams (e.g., TDM voice and private line traffic) and will simply plug into the existing network infrastructures. It is a matter of generating new service revenues, managing cost by leveraging current assets, and positioning for future growth.
