MRV Demonstrates Cable MSO Interconnect Solution
August 18, 2010 – MRV Communications, Inc. announced today that it has demonstrated the ability to provision end-to-end Carrier Ethernet services across multiple systems operator (MSO) networks at this year’s CableLabs Summer Conference 2010. The demonstration used the company’s OptiSwitch 900 intelligent Carrier Ethernet access demarcation combined with service provisioning and management system.
MRV Communications, Inc. is a leading provider of optical communication and IT infrastructure management solutions to service providers and enterprises around the world.
CableLabs Summer Conference showcases the latest in content and services for key technical, business, and strategic executives in the cable industry. The conference was held Aug. 15-19 at the Keystone Resort and Conference Center in Keystone, Colorado.
The Metro Ethernet Forum (MEF) defined the external network-to-network interface (E-NNI) standard to address many issues related to the inter-operator handoff of Ethernet services, including a common method of handling operation, administration and maintenance (OAM), class-of-service (CoS), and service level agreements (SLAs) to ensure that service levels are maintained when traffic is transported across other networks.
U.S. MSOs and international cable operators are expanding beyond their consumer television offerings into fast-growth markets of business network services and mobile backhaul networking. MSOs have been maximizing their profitability by rolling out Ethernet services backed up with SLAs. These operators have been growing the share of Ethernet services in their service offerings as evidenced by a recent Light Reading Insider report that estimates that the MSO share of the U.S. Ethernet market will rise from 20 percent to 25 percent to 30 percent in the next several years (“Cable Operators & Ethernet: Serious Business,” January 2010).
Another emerging trend for long-distance networks is Carrier Ethernet interconnect services across multiple MSOs, which allows these operators to share their networks under a standard interconnect arrangement and technical solution while also avoiding complex service turn-up to verify each MSO’s Carrier Ethernet product and operational capabilities.
In addition to its E-NNI demo, MRV’s demonstration highlighted networking requirements and interface functionality at the MSO network-to-network interface (M-NNI) reference point to ensure interoperability between multiple operator metro Ethernet networks. The key elements of this demonstration were CoS mapping, standards-based Ethernet OAM and fault and alarm propagation. The demonstration highlighted industry best practices for MSO-to-MSO interconnection that extends from customer edge to Carrier Ethernet, with clear demarcation management points and end-to-end service level guarantees.
“The deployment of Ethernet Services by MSOs is maturing and gaining momentum. MRV has the innovative technology combined with a field proven solution portfolio and know-how and is well positioned to enable the delivery of commercial Ethernet services that transverse multiple MSOs networks. This further accelerates the growth of Ethernet Services in the MSOs service offerings,” said Mary Jane Gruninger, Optical Communications Systems president at MRV.
Earlier this year, MRV’s OptiSwitch 900 was selected as the Carrier Ethernet access platform for the Advanced Global Interconnect Showcase at the Ethernet Europe Show where it demonstrated end-to-end service visibility for global Ethernet interconnects spanning multiple operators’ networks across Europe.
For more information visit MRV Communications.
