Metro Ethernet Forum Debuts

A new group, The Metro Ethernet Forum (MEF), wants to drive the adoption of optical Ethernet as the "technology of choice" in metro networks through several marketing and technical initiatives.

The group was introduced during an early afternoon (Eastern time) news teleconference, chaired by the forum's Chairman Ron Young and President Nan Chen. Young is also the co-founder and chief marketing officer of Yipes Communications, while Chen is director of product marketing for Atrica.

Metro transport network fundamentals are changing, with a dramatic expansion in traffic and rapid growth of sites that are demanding high-speed access, Young said. Because of this, there's four areas where next-generation Ethernet solutions are being used: large enterprises, small to medium enterprises, co-location and residential, although the demand is less in the residential area, Young said.

While one of the goals of MEF is to make optical Ethernet the standard in metro networks, the forum is just that -- a forum, and not a technology standards group, Young said. The group will drive the implementation of existing technologies and new standards that can be used in metro networks, he also said.

Some of the group's "unique missions" include:

* Enabling Ethernet applications and services, rather than particular physical specifications like the 10GigE Alliance
* Addressing obstacles that may prevent Ethernet from becoming the carrier-class transport infrastructure for metro networks
* Contributing to existing standards bodies
* Uniting service providers, vendors and customers

MEF will market itself and its goals through the promotion of itself through industry venues, and the creation of a public Web site that will stand as a reference point for optical Ethernet, Chen said. Some of the specific ways MEF will spread its "light" gospel include submissions of articles to trade publications, a media tour that will hit both trade publications and business periodicals, and the publication of a marketing analysis of the Ethernet economy.

A total of 37 companies are members of the Metro Ethernet Forum. Firms include 3Com, Agilent, Avaya, Cisco Systems, Hewlett-Packard, Intel, Lucent Technologies, Nortel Networks, Terabeam, Texas Instruments and World Wide Packets. Incumbent carriers SBC Communications and BellSouth are also members.

Metro Ethernet Forum officials added that they expect their group to grow "considerably" beyond its current 37 members.

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Metro Ethernet Forum to Debut