Network MPLS

Managing Multi-Service Networks With MPLS

By David Gunning

Delivering integrated voice/data services requires an intelligent access network that allows carriers to leverage the service-rich capabilities of IP. In turn, sophisticated new management capabilities are needed to tap this network intelligence and deliver guaranteed levels of service fulfillment, assurance, and billing.

The MPLS standard, which effectively embeds intelligence in the network elements, will play a key role in managing multi-service IP networks. MPLS integrates Layer 2 information about network links (bandwidth, latency, utilization) into Layer 3 (IP) in order to simplify and improve IP-packet exchange. This provides the data that network operators need to manage traffic, implement QoS, and meet SLA commitments. MPLS gives network operators a great deal of flexibility to divert and route packetized voice and data traffic around link failures, congestion, and bottlenecks.

GET YOUR PRIORITIES STRAIGHT

From a QoS standpoint, MPLS allows network operators to manage different kinds of traffic streams based on priority and service plan. For instance, MPLS allows voice calls and premium services to be classified, shaped, and assigned priority status to ensure minimal latency and packet loss. By extending MPLS to the customer premise, network operators can provision end-to-end QoS for voice and data services.

Managing integrated voice and data services also requires a new class of operations management systems. These new systems must leverage the intelligence embedded in a carriers network and integrate both network and services management capabilities. This requires a system that provides a "single-system image" of the network and remote management capabilities for the individual network elements.

An integrated network/service management system allows network operators to remotely configure equipment, provision services, create and monitor SLAs, view network performance, and meter traffic for billing purposes. By providing automated service configuration and end-to-end zero-touch provisioning, these new management systems allow network operators to rapidly deploy and activate new services without the need for on-site technical intervention.

BETTER AND FASTER PROVISIONING

This combination of network intelligence and automation enables faster service activation, more reliable service delivery, and more accurate billing. It also provides the opportunity for service providers to extend certain service provisioning capabilities to the end user. By leveraging and linking traffic and services management capabilities in a single operations system, network operators and end users will benefit from faster service deployment, advanced provisioning and billing, and new services made possible by a single network infrastructure.

David Gunning is vice president, marketing, at Integral Access

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