Metro Ethernet

Ethernet in the Metro

Ethernet technology has so far been widely accepted in enterprise deployments, and millions of Ethernet ports have already been deployed. The simplicity of this technology enables you to scale the Ethernet interface to high bandwidth while remaining cost effective. The cost of a 100-Mbps interface for enterprise workgroup L2 LAN switches will be less than $50 in the next few years.

These costs and performance metrics and Ethernet's ease of use are motivating carrier networks to use Ethernet as an access technology. In this new model, the customer is given an Ethernet interface rather than a TDM interface.

The following is a summary of the value proposition that an Ethernet access line offers relative to TDM private lines: ...