Nortel passes MPLS/FR interoperability tests

21 May 2003 Boston, MA--Nortel Networks has announced its successful participation in a multivendor interoperability and scalability test organised by the MPLS/Frame Relay Alliance.

Sue Spradley, president, Wireline Networks, Nortel Networks, said, "Our MPLS solutions are optimised for fast, profitable service creation and delivery across all network architectures, enabling robust hosted VPN (Virtual Private Network) services like site-to-site, remote access and Extranet VPNs with built-in security over IP/MPLS infrastructure."

Nortel Networks was among 11 equipment vendors that successfully tested interoperability for MPLS, Frame Relay, and ATM technology and services. The interoperability test was conducted at the University of New Hampshire's InterOperability Laboratory (UNH-IOL) between 7-15 May.

"This multivendor interoperability event highlights, over a common MPLS core network, many MPLS services that have never before been publicly demonstrated operating together," said Andrew G. Malis, chairman and president of the MPLS/Frame Relay Alliance.

"There is no better way for the participating member companies and the Alliance to show that MPLS-based services are deployable and interoperable among leading equipment vendors."

As part of the MPLS/Frame Relay Alliance's interoperability test, Nortel's Passport 15000 Multiservice Switch and Shasta 5000 Broadband Service Node demonstrated interoperability and scalability of their RFC 2547bis BGP/MPLS IP-VPN solutions. Interfaces for both products included Gigabit Ethernet.

Supercomm 2003
The MPLS/Frame Relay Alliance will be conducting the first live multi-vendor interoperability demonstration of Frame Relay, ATM and Ethernet Virtual Private LAN Services (VPLS) over MPLS at SUPERCOMM 2003 in booth #10315, Hall C.

Alliance members will also demonstrate multivendor interoperability of Fast Re-Route (FRR), Layer 2 point-to-point Ethernet Services and Layer 3 RFC 2547-bis VPN operation. The Alliance is an international industry organization that is advancing the recognition and acceptance of the MPLS and Frame Relay technologies in the global telecom industry. Additional information about the Alliance and the demonstration is available online at www.mplsforum.org or www.frforum.com