Cisco, Intel, Nortel, TI, and others form group to propel Ethernet technology in metro networks

The consortium, called the Metro Ethernet Forum, hopes to accelerate the use of Ten Gigabit Ethernet and related technologies in the wide-area networks.

The group also has several other objectives:

Maximize the deployment of Ethernet-based metro networks.

Drive the implementation of existing and new technologies and standards that enable end-to-end Ethernet service creation and optimize the operation, administration and management of Ethernet in metro networks.

Facilitate broad interoperability of optical Ethernet services and solutions in metro networks.

Enhance worldwide awareness of optical Ethernet services, solutions and benefits for metro networks.

"As communications service providers evaluate technologies upon which to build their metro networks, they will increasingly be drawn to Ethernet's simplicity, flexibility and cost advantages," said Ron Young, chairman of the Metro Ethernet Forum, and co-founder and chief marketing officer of Yipes Communications. "The members of the Forum are committed to making optical Ethernet the simple and obvious choice for the metro," he said.

The Metro Ethernet Forum includes 3Com, Agilent, Alcatel, Avaya, BellSouth, Cisco, Corning, Extreme Networks, Foundry Networks, Hewlett Packard, Intel, Juniper, Lucent, Nortel, SBC, Texas Instruments, and others.