MFA Forum Tackles Multi-Service Ethernet Interworking; Specification Unifies Heterogeneous Networks for Multiple Services.

FREMONT, Calif. -- The MFA Forum announced today it is sending to final ballot a specification for Multi-Service Interworking-Ethernet over MPLS. The specification will enable service providers to introduce new Ethernet services in a heterogeneous network of ATM, Frame Relay, HDLC and PPP using MPLS as a communication broker. In addition, the specification will allow service providers to preserve critical ATM and Frame Relay infrastructure and ease migration to MPLS networks. The Forum has also sent to final ballot, Fault Management for Multi-Service Interworking involving Ethernet over MPLS, particularly in Operations, Administration and Management (OAM) to enhance deployment.

"The goal of these specifications is to provide Ethernet connectivity among customer sites and networks with different Layer 2 technologies such as ATM and FR using MPLS as the transport mechanism," said Rao Cherukuri of Juniper Networks, and technical committee chair for the MFA Forum. "We have had significant input from our service provider members on their need to provide Ethernet services while using an existing network. MPLS offers the best way to do that and currently the MFA Forum is the only industry organization to address the need for a heterogeneous connection."

Ethernet interworking is required when two Ethernet service users interwork with each other over different Layer-2 circuits (e.g., ATM circuit at one end and Ethernet circuit at the other). The MFA Forum is working to enable ubiquitous Ethernet service across different customer sites and over different Layer-2 circuit types. It is applicable to both point-to-point Virtual Private Wire Service (VPWS) and multi-point Virtual Private LAN Service (VPLS).

"This important milestone for enterprises will help stitch isolated Ethernet networks together for seamless communications that will benefit the industry in metropolitan area networks (MAN) and wide area networks (WAN)," said Lily Lu of Cisco Systems, and marketing committee chair and board member for the MFA Forum. "As part of the evolution of Next Generation Networks, this unified network will facilitate the customer's use of new cost-effective and business-critical triple play IP applications."

About The MFA Forum

The MFA Forum is an international, industry-wide, nonprofit association of service providers, equipment vendors and enterprise users. The focus of the Forum is to advance the deployment of multi-vendor, multi-service packet-based networks, associated applications, and interworking solutions for telecommunications and networking. The Forum is driving the convergence of ATM, Frame Relay and IP/MPLS technologies in the global telecom industry through interoperability initiatives, implementation agreements, and educational and marketing resources and programs. The Forum currently has more than 60 members. For Forum membership information please contact Alexa Morris, executive director, at [phone] or via e-mail at [e-mail]. Additional information about The MFA Forum is available online at http://www.mfaforum.org.