* Infonetics Research shows strong uptake of carrier Ethernet
Infonetics Research released a study this week saying that service providers reported a 90% to 100% increase in Ethernet traffic in 2006 and in 2007.
Service providers also saw a 70% to 80% increase in IP/MPLS traffic.
Carriers are simplifying their networks to use fewer technologies and are reducing costs. Infonetics predicts they will move to an all-packet optical transport layer – one that the research firm says will be “a fused Ethernet-WDM packet transport with circuit-like capabilities via Ethernet transport tunnels, also known as COE, or connection oriented Ethernet.”
The service layer above that transport will be simplified to IP/MPLS/Ethernet, Infonetics says. Carriers will reduce their dependence on SONET and SDH at the transport layer, and on ATM at the service layer, while using more Ethernet in both layers.
Infonetics says that the COE transport tunnel technologies T-MPLS and PBT “are seeing strong adoption given their early stage of development,” another indication that Ethernet is coming in to replace other technologies.
Carrier-grade Ethernet switches and IP routers should continue to sell well as a result. Infonetics says that bandwidth usage continues to rise as broadband access becomes even more widely available. Throw in IPTV, metro Ethernet and voice, and you have the makings of continued strong growth for at least three to five years.
Interestingly, the firm also found that inter-provider QoS will be hot this year, as 72% of the providers surveyed will use it in 2008.
