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Cisco Updates Carrier Ethernet Portfolio

Cisco Systems has announced enhancements to its Internet Protocol Next-Generation Network (IP NGN) architecture with new products for its Carrier Ethernet portfolio. This offers service providers flexible deployment options through the combined benefits of optical, routing, and switching products and technologies.

Specifically, Cisco introduced the Cisco ME 6500 Series Ethernet Switch and the Cisco ONS 15310 Metro Access (MA) multiservice provisioning platform (MSPP), which delivers Carrier Ethernet services over synchronous optical network, or SONET infrastructures.

The Cisco ME 6500 Series Ethernet switches are deployable in both the access and aggregation layers of a service provider network. Purpose-built for service providers and based on ground-breaking and industry-leading Cisco Catalyst 6500 technology, the Cisco ME 6500 Series are the industry’s first Carrier Ethernet switches that are optimized for both consumer “triple play” (video, voice, and data) services and business-class virtual private network (VPN) services over fiber optic networks.

To make the transformation to an IP NGN, knowledge and expertise in technology, application and business operations is required. Customers using the Cisco ME 6500 Series Ethernet Switch can take advantage of the IP NGN Expertise Center that brings together globally distributed resources, partners, labs, knowledge repositories, engineers and tools to support the complete lifecycle of Carrier Ethernet deployment.

Cisco says these services lower the total cost of ownership and increase the speed of the IP NGN transformation.