FREMONT, Calif.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--The Optical Internetworking Forum will tackle diverse transport technologies of carrier networks including OTN, PBB-TE, T-MPLS/MPLS-TP and SONET/SDH as well as multi-domain service restoration in its 4^th worldwide interoperability demo. Seven of the world’s largest telecommunications carriers have begun a comprehensive three-month test of interoperable data and control plane technology, which enables end-to-end dynamically provisioned carrier-grade broadband services. The interoperability demo is hosted by telecom carriers; China Telecom, Deutsche Telekom, France Telecom Group, KDDI R&D Labs, NTT, Telecom Italia and Verizon.

With carrier sites linked via virtual connections, forming a global test network topology, the demo will highlight the OIF’s control plane mechanisms, the User Network Interface (UNI) 2.0 and the complementary External Network-to-Network Interface (E-NNI) 2.0 signaling implementation agreements (IAs). The E-NNI 2.0, approved by OIF members this month, enables carriers to deliver services over legacy or emerging network technologies and is the service activation interface that allows these diverse network domains to interwork.

“The OIF’s timing for this interoperability test is very good,” said Sterling Perrin, Senior Analyst, Heavy Reading. “Recent Heavy Reading operator surveys show that multi-layer control plane interoperability is critically important to operators around the world. The new E-NNI implementation agreement and multilayer interoperability are key to enabling end-to-end Ethernet services requests and auto provisioning.”

Ethernet Virtual Private Line (EVPL) services, which take advantage of native Ethernet multiplexing to improve sharing of transport resources, will take center stage during this test. Most Carriers’ Ethernet-over-Transport services are currently delivered as Ethernet Private Line (EPL), but EVPL is growing since it provides more efficient transport and simplifies network operations. Control plane for EVPL is a significant technical step in providing more than simple bandwidth pipe - the control plane now understands how individual customer flows are mapped within the Ethernet signal, and controls the transport resources to meet these service needs. Control plane-based service restoration is being tested so that service can be restored after a data plane failure. Restoration is a key step toward mesh network topologies, which can provide high availability without 100% resource redundancy.

“This test marks an important step forward in the ongoing development of global telecommunications internetworking,” said Hans-Martin Foisel, Deutsche Telekom, and OIF president and Carrier Working Group chair. “The elements of the test are a direct response to the needs of the carriers who drive the direction of and capital investment in worldwide optical networks.”

Control Plane Technology at Work

Today’s transport networks are comprised of multiple administrative domains, technology layers, and control and management solutions. This complex, heterogeneous environment presents a challenge to carriers needing to respond to overall traffic growth, exploding demand for dynamic broadband data and video services, traditional and non-traditional competition, and globalization. Interoperable control plane technology, defined and tested by the OIF, enables end-to-end, dynamically provisioned carrier-grade broadband services. The 2009 event, “Worldwide Interoperability Demonstration 2009-Enabling Broadband On-Demand Services”, will address specific control and data plane mechanisms that enhance services, improve operations, and optimize network efficiency. OIF control plane IA’s are currently deployed in live networks and are being tested in field trials by global carriers and National Research and Educational Networks (NRENs).

About the OIF

Launched in April of 1998, the OIF unites representative from data and optical networking disciplines, including the world's leading carriers, component manufacturers and system vendors. The OIF promotes the development and deployment of interoperable networking solutions and services through the creation of Implementation Agreements for optical, interconnect, network processing and component technologies, and optical networking systems. The OIF actively supports and extends the work of standards bodies with the goal of promoting worldwide compatibility of optical internetworking products. Information on the OIF can be found at http://www.oiforum.com.