Blueprint: Metro Ethernet


	Extending the Benefits of Metro Ethernet with Copper
A serious last-mile bottleneck exists that is denying the reach of Ethernet networks to a very large number of potential customers who are not served by fiber. For the vast majority of both Small and Medium Enterprises, fiber access has not kept pace with the growing bandwidth needs. In July 2004, the IEEE 802.3ah Ethernet in the First Mile standard was ratified. Here's an update on what these standards mean for the industry.

	Ethernet over SONET/SDH -- The Best of Both Worlds
SONET/SDH and Ethernet are the leading technologies in their respective markets. Both benefit from scale economies and positive market externalities. Most important, SONET/SDH and Ethernet are complementary, and combining them creates a whole that is greater than the sum of the parts. The features of Layer 2+ switches within the metro Ethernet network may be expected to evolve over several years. This article discusses the advantages of Ethernet over SONET/SDH technology for delivery of broadband services.

	Optical Ethernet Drives Convergence in Triple Play Networks
Gigabit Ethernet is now the standard interface for commercial customer LAN switches and routers, video EdgeQAMs, cable modem termination systems (CMTS), and application servers of all types. It follows that using GbE as the metropolitan area networking (MAN) technology would then lower the cost and complexity of connecting headends and distribution hubs as well as fiber-fed commercial sites. While GbE is the predominant interface on the endpoints that need to be connected, the question remains as to what platform is best suited to transport traffic between sites. SONET or Gigabit Ethernet?