The MEF announced today new on–line facilities to meet the surging demand for Carrier Ethernet services. The MEF Global Service Directory (GSD) is a free on–line tool offering the very latest data on service coverage and availability across the globe - essential viewing for enterprise users and service providers planning extensive network upgrades. In addition, the MEF website has been enhanced with MEF TV -a multimedia channel delivering a host of educational and informative Carrier Ethernet news and case studies.
Interviewed at NetEvents 2008 Asia–Pacific Press Summit, Langkawi, Malaysia, MEF president Nan Chen said: "The demand for Carrier Ethernet services has taken off in the enterprise market - it grew beyond $12bn last year - and the question we are hearing now is: ´where and from whom can I obtain Carrier Ethernet services?´ GSD provides the answer - current data in an easy on–line directory. For the first time in the history of telecoms, a business user can plan a worldwide network and with a few clicks of an interactive map, see immediately if it´s currently feasible."
The Global Service Directory allows enterprise users to pinpoint which service providers are providing what Carrier Ethernet services in locations around the world. The launch phase features 16 of the MEF´s 46 service provider members covering Europe, Middle East, Asia–Pacific and the Americas - with almost a thousand locations where Carrier Ethernet connections are available. Visitors can see the types of services such as E–Line point–to–point and E–LAN multipoint and whether those services are certified to MEF standards. Other information provided includes the locations covered, contact information, and details of other business services.
Today´s GSD launch is the first phase of a project planned to grow into a significant resource for the telecoms industry - including more service providers, more specific details of the services available, more detailed location data and other related projects. As Mike Tighe, MEF Chair and Executive Director Strategy, Verizon Corp, points out: "GSD is also great for Service Providers. We can use this tool to identify partners with in order to create a seamless worldwide network for our enterprise customers."
MEF TV powered and hosted by NetEvents.tv, meets the growing demand for up–to–the–minute news on the Carrier Ethernet revolution and how enterprise users are already putting these services into action. It features an ever–expanding spectrum of real–life case studies, educational videos, news, live and recorded discussions, webinars and interviews in English, French, German, Japanese, Mandarin and Korean - with further languages and new material to be added on a regular basis. MEF TV can be accessed via the MEF web site www.metroethernetforum.org
The GSD can be accessed at www.metroethernetforum.org/gsd
About The MEF: The MEF is a global industry alliance comprising more than 140 organizations including telecommunications service providers, cable MSOs, network equipment/software manufacturers, semiconductors vendors and testing organizations. The MEF´s mission is to accelerate the worldwide adoption of Carrier–class Ethernet networks and services. The MEF develops Carrier Ethernet technical specifications and implementation agreements to promote interoperability and deployment of Carrier Ethernet worldwide.
For more information about the Forum, including a complete listing of all current MEF members, please visit the MEF web site at http://www.MetroEthernetForum.org/
