Alternative Metro Architecture for Delivering Next-Generation Data Services

摘要

Data services are a primary target for increasing carrier revenues. As carriers prepare to capture this opportunity, they must determine how to cost-effectively deliver the more flexible and scalable bandwidth customers are requesting. Ethernet has emerged as a key technology for delivering these next-generation services; it is easy-to-use, widely understood and offers lower cost to both carriers and end customers. With more bandwidth available in the carrier core, the next challenge is the Metropolitan Area Network (MAN), where data services have been constrained by technologies optimized for voice services. This paper describes an Ethernet-over-SDH/SONET migration scenario that enables a portfolio of metro data services, such as Internet access and Virtual Private Lines, which can be delivered. It illustrates how optimizing SONET/SDH networks for next-generation data services will prove to be more cost-effective, scalable, manageable and resilient.