Carrier ethernet - state of art and challenges ahead

Many carriers are already offering Metro Ethernet services at a fraction of the cost of TDM services. Many are also in the midst of effecting major Network transformations involving Carrier Ethernet to gear up to NGN service and transport requirements. Carrier Ethernet improves operational efficiencies and provides ability to be a launch pad for newer services. As part of the various Industry forum and Standards body initiatives, Ethernet has got increasingly "sanitized" ("Sonetized and ATMized") to acquire some of the proven carrier grade characteristics from SONET/SDH and ATM technologies. Still, Ethernet as a Carrier Transport technology has some outstanding challenges to be solved before it can be deployed as a singular technology to address all network and application service requirements