Metro Ethernet Forum to Debut

A group composed of service providers, incumbent local exchange carriers, network equipment vendors and other networking companies have created a strategic alliance that aims to accelerate the deployment of optical Ethernet in metro networks.

The new "Metro Ethernet Forum" is slated to debut Tuesday, June 12, during a press conference call.

According to a recent article in eWeek from ZDWire, charter members include Nortel Networks Corp., Cisco Systems Inc., BellSouth and SBC Corp. A total of 10 Gigabit Ethernet standards are slated for completion by the end of the year, with formal ratification in March of 2002, eWeek also reported.

OpticallyNetworked will provide coverage of the event on Tuesday.