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International Telecommunication Union
For immediate release |
Telephone: +41 22 730 6039
Fax: +41 22 730 5939
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Ethernet Breaks Free of the Office
New Specification Extends Flexibility of the LAN to Carrier
Networks
Geneva , 8 June 2004 — ITU has approved a set
of global industry standards for Ethernet that will extend its flexibility and
simplicity to carrier networks. The standards outline a way for Ethernet — a
widely used local area network (LAN) — to link any number of endpoints in a wide
area network (WAN), or simply as a service delivery mechanism.
The news marks Ethernet’s progress from a LAN connectivity technology to a
carrier class service delivery technology. The ability to offer Ethernet
services means that carriers will be able to offer considerably improved
flexibility to customers through a much simpler and lower cost interface. It
will allow users to specify exactly how much bandwidth they want between the
10Mbit/s and 1Gbit/s range currently offered. Further, the standards provide
reduced operation complexity and improved scalability for carriers.
The work according to Peter Wery, chairman of the ITU Study Group
responsible, is driven by common sense, "Ethernet is the access interface of
choice. 95 per cent of LAN infrastructure is based on Ethernet. It’s quite
simply the most logical next step to extend its reach beyond the enterprise."
Wery adds, "This new set of Recommendations describes Ethernet in a way that
allows it to be deployed in a carrier network, over ATM, MPLS, SDH etc. It’s
important because it provides end-users, from small and medium sized enterprises
upwards, and service providers with a simple, cost-effective and yet robust and
scalable solution. This is exactly what the market needs."
The Recommendations (ITU-T G.8010/Y.1306, G.8011/Y.1307, G.8012/Y.1308,
G.8012.1/Y.1308.1, G.8021/Y.1341) allow enterprises to exist on one Ethernet
based LAN across a number of locations without the need to interface with
different technology ― Frame Relay or ATM for example — between sites. So, the
flexibility of Ethernet can be extended over the WAN — without the need for
additional customer premises equipment, or indeed any additional equipment at
the carrier end.
Note to technical editors:
ITU-T G.8021/Y.1341 — This Recommendation specifies both the functional
components and the methodology that should be used in order to specify Ethernet
transport network functionality of network elements; it does not specify
individual Ethernet transport network equipment as such.
ITU-T G.8011/Y.1307 — This document describes a framework for
network-oriented characteristics of Ethernet services.
ITU-T G.8012/Y.1308 — This Recommendation specifies the Ethernet UNI and the
Ethernet over Transport NNI. The detailed requirements are specified in a number
of ITU-T Recommendations, IEEE Standards and IETF RFC.
ITU-T G.8012.1/Y.1308.1 — This Recommendation defines the transport
architecture for carrying Ethernet characteristic information over
dedicated-bandwidth, point-to-point connections, provided by SDH, ATM, PDH,
MPLS, or OTN server layer networks. This type of service is referred to as
Ethernet Private Line (EPL) service. The Recommendation uses the modeling
methodology described in ITU-T Rec. G.805 and G.809 and uses the functional
components defined in the technology specific server layer network
Recommendations.
ITU-T G.8010/Y.1306 — This Recommendation was consented in October 2003 and
is the first in the series of Ethernet and Ethernet over Transport related
Recommendations. It describes the functional architecture of Ethernet networks
using the modeling methodology described in ITU-T Recommendation G.805 and
G.809. The Ethernet network functionality is described from a network level
viewpoint, taking into account an Ethernet network layered structure, client
characteristic information, client/server layer associations, networking
topology, and layer network functionality providing Ethernet signal
transmission, multiplexing, routing, supervision, performance assessment, and
network survivability. The functional architecture of the server layer networks
used by the Ethernet network is not within the scope of this Recommendation.
Such architectures are described in other ITU-T Recommendations or IETF RFCs. ITU-T G.8010/Y.1306 is based on the Ethernet specifications in IEEE Std.
802.1D-2003, IEEE Std. 802.1Q-2003, IEEE Std. 802.3-2002 and developments of
provider bridged networks. Furthermore the architectural aspects of provider
bridges currently being defined in IEEE P802.1ad task force are taken into
account. ITU-T G.8010/Y.1306 defines Ethernet maintenance entities, but the specific
impact on the transport functions of connection monitoring in a connectionless
layer network is not addressed. Ethernet network survivability is intended for
inclusion in a future version.
For further information:
Mr Greg Jones
ITU-T Communications Coordinator
Tel: +41 22 730 5515
Email: greg.jones@itu.int
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Mr Peter Wery
Chairman ITU-T Study Group 15
Tel: +1 613 828 5692
Email: wery@sympatico.ca
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