Imagine a WAN that enables customers to engineer IP traffic and prioritize high-bandwidth transmissions to ensure quality of service without forcing them to break the bank. Envision a technology that enables private IP and lets customers effortlessly mix VoIP with broadband.
Fiction? Far from it. The technology is called multiprotocol label switching (MPLS), and it's ready and waiting for an implementation near you.
According to a recent report published by The Yankee Group, at least 80 percent of tier-one carriers in Asia, North America and Europe have firm plans to increase levels of voice, video and data traffic over MPLS. For solution providers that specialize in WANs and WAN technologies, MPLS is the next big thing.
 |
 |
| MPLS technology separates voice and video into packets and transmits them on two plains. |
The MPLS approach aims to reduce operating costs by integrating multiple networks onto a single converged IP/MPLS core infrastructure. The technology separates voice and video into packets and transmits those packets on two plains: data and control. The data plain enables network managers to set protocols that prioritize when specific traffic moves, and the control plain affords them the opportunity to evaluate performance in realtime.
Carriers have been trendsetters so far with MPLS-enabled solutions. Nortel Networks was first, kicking off 2004 by rolling out solutions that allow service providers to offer premium services and deliver on service-level agreements penalty-free.
MCI followed suit last month, announcing similarly advanced networks and services to provide top-tier performance and capabilities to enterprise customers.
"MPLS is seen by our customers as the next generation of private networking technology and the natural migration path for them to maintain private networks but gain benefits of IP," said Mike Marcellin, director of data products management at Ashburn, Va.-based MCI.
The MPLS bug has also spread into more traditional network management niches. Juniper Networks earlier this year unveiled plans for an MPLS offering to help enterprise customers engineer network traffic to free up functions such as video-on-demand and multicasting.
Even Cisco Systems recently unveiled software designed to help service providers better manage MPLS networks built with Cisco products.
|
10 Letdowns From The Facebook IPO Filing It may make a lot of its employees millionaires, but Facebook's IPO filing was disappointing in a few areas. |
|
Seven Hot Business Apps For Mac OS X Macworld/iWorld, the new name for the Macworld expo, featured the first OS X Zone. The sold-out section of the showroom floor was dedicated to exhibitors with software and accessories for Apple's Mac desktops and laptops. |
|
The New Face Of Linux Distros In 2012 From specialized OSes for fixed functions like kiosks or security, to revamped GUIs on general operating systems, Linux desktops in 2012 are taking on a new look. |
 More
Slide Shows |
- Microsoft Details Windows-On-ARM Development Efforts
- Appcelerator Extends Mobile App Dev Reach With Cocoafish Buy
- The Daily App: Scan To PDF Free For Android
- WAN Optimization For Mobile Devices? Circadence Says It Has The Key
- IaaS Isn't Just Cloud Computing Fluff: Survey
- Cloud Users Trust Systems Integrators More Than Vendors: Survey
- The Importance of Partner Enablement in a Changing Software Industry
- The Cloud Computing Opportunity – How to Effectively Tap into the Future of IT
- Seize the Cloud! Proven Near-Term Tactics From Successful Service Providers: Hear the Inside Secrets from the fastest growing $2m+ MSPs
- Open Source and the Channel: A Perfect Pairing
