13 October ITU Telecom World, Geneva Lightwave Europe -- Riverstone Networks today announced that France Telecom R&D is starting a lab trial of its carrier-class Multiprotocol Label Switching technology at the France Telecom R&D research centre in Paris.
The trial involves extensive testing of Riverstone's Layer 2 MPLS technology, which is used to create transparent Virtual Private Network (VPN) services. France Telecom R&D will test Martini draft point-to-point tunnels and Lasserre-vkompella draft multipoint-to-multipoint tunnels, which will enable them to deliver advanced voice, video and data services to their customers.
France Telecom R&D is looking to investigate Layer 2 VPN services over Ethernet, first within the Metropolitan Area Network (MAN), and then extending across disparate regional and national networks over time.
A representative of the RTA laboratory at France Telecom R&D commented, "There is a lot of interest in VPN services in the French market, particularly in Metro Ethernet and Layer 2 MPLS services. Riverstone Networks has established a leadership position both in Metro Ethernet and in Layer 2 MPLS technology."
Following the example of the MPLS Martini technology, the Lasserre-vkompella draft, co-authored by Marc Lasserre, Riverstone's chief network architect, is emerging as one of the leading MPLS standard of the Ethernet VPN networks.
Riverstone's implementations of the Martini and Lasserre-vkompella drafts allow carriers to deliver Virtual Private Line and Virtual Private LAN Services (VPLS) to their customers with guaranteed bandwidth and quality of service.
"Our MPLS portfolio provides the tools carriers need to establish VPNs in any networking environment," said Steve Whipps, Riverstone's vice president and general manager for EMEA. "We are pleased that France Telecom R&D has given Riverstone the opportunity to present its industry-leading Ethernet VPN technology and look forward to developing a strong, long-term partnership."
Riverstone's product portfolio provides carriers greater choice in creating and delivering innovator services. The portfolio supports both Layer 2 and Layer 3 MPLS VPNs and a suite of carrier class technologies to increase the reliability of VPN services.