Last time, we explored the advantages of deploying end-to-end MPLS and why it is better to push MPLS TP and not IP/MPLS into the metro.
Now, let’s look at some of the applications that can benefit from extending MPLS to the Metro using MPLS-TP.
Ethernet business services
An industry survey asked enterprise users to name the most important factor they consider when selecting a service provider. Nearly 90% of respondents said ‘service reliability.’ No surprises here. Nearly two-thirds of users said that when purchasing services they are looking for offerings that provide QoS and CoS service guarantees. Extending MPLS into the access network puts operators in a better position to address these demands and offer per-customer SLAs for latency, jitter, loss and uptime.
Mobile services
Operators who support mobile backhaul services typically have MPLS in the higher aggregation portion of their metro core network. These operators can benefit operationally from deploying MPLS-TP in the access/aggregation network and using pseudowires to ‘stitch’ access networks together. MPLS-TP supports a wide range of data services and can facilitate the migration from legacy ATM and TDM radio access networks to IP and Ethernet-based networks. Moreover, MPLS-TP’s QoS/CoS capabilities give operators the ability to prioritize voice and video traffic and to produce deterministic behavior. This makes it possible for mobile operators to build a converged network infrastructure that can cost-effectively support multiplay services.
Triple-play services
Deploying MPLS-TP in the access/aggregation network that’s used to support consumer and enterprise services including high-speed internet, video on demand and voice over IP can provide improved bandwidth utilization, protection and restoration and allow operators to guarantee the appropriate level of service for the application.
Utelco services
Power network infrastructures are increasingly complex. Utility operators have to maintain network stability and protect system elements from damage. To do so, they deploy teleprotection units – including industrial Ethernet switches – to isolate faults on high-voltage lines, transformers and reactors and take down malfunctioning parts of the system as quickly as possible. Mission-critical applications like these require strict SLAs, and MPLS-TP’s QoS and resiliency capabilities can meet the requirements while offering the ability to prioritize traffic (VoIP, video, data) traversing utility communication networks.
These are just a few examples of the applications that can be supported over an efficient, high-performance Carrier Ethernet/MPLS access network. Have you consolidated your network infrastructure yet? If so, what applications are you delivering?
Gil Epshtein
Product Marketing
ECI Telecom