The party on the ascendancy these days is IP Networking. Once strictly in local offices, IP has made the jump to WAN networks on a state, regional and national level. In fact, nearly all new network designs have IP or Internet Protocol at their core. What accounts for this sudden rise in popularity of this technology? IP in general, and Ethernet in particular, represent the overwhelming majority in local area networking. They serve their constituencies with high reliability, low cost and near universal connectivity. It stands to reason that this success at the local network level should translate into even wider success in metropolitan areas and long haul networks. Consider that the interface is as simple as an RJ45 connector and you can see why new carriers are embracing IP core networks in their designs.
MPLS or MultiProtocol Label Switching reaches across the aisle to bring consensus to both the aging TDM (Time Division Multiplexing) networks with their tightly synchronized channel slices and the newer packet switching networks. Packet networks, under the IP banner, include Carrier Ethernet and the chairman of national and international networks, the Internet itself.
MPLS offers the benefits of private sector networking with availability to the business community at large. MPLS is a uniter, not a divider, when it comes to interconnecting your diverse locations. It offers class conscious bandwidth that gives voice, video and data the transport they need with a minimum of latency, jitter, and dropped packets. Because the cost of the MPLS cloud is spread over many users under the tight regulatory control of the network manager, the cost to connect each of your locations to the others is minimized.
Access to MPLS networks is most often provided by T1 lines with their dedicated bandwidth and high reliability proven in business applications. Each location is connected to the MPLS cloud through its own T1 access line. Interconnectivity with the cloud is provided by the MPLS network itself.
Ethernet is a competing technology to T1 lines when more bandwidth is needed in the first mile or across town in the metro area. Look to Ethernet when you need leadership at the 10, 100 and 1,000 Mbps level.
The reason that MPLS and Ethernet are running together is that they represent change for the future. Change meaning high bandwidths in more increments and lower lease prices per Mbps compared to administrations of the past, such as Frame Relay and SONET. Is this the sort of change that could benefit your business? If so, then cast your vote now for MPLS Networks and Metro & Carrier Ethernet. No need to wait till November. These services are available to serve you right away.
