Taken from the Equinix website, a screenshot of the European section of the company's interactive network map.
(WEB HOST INDUSTRY REVIEW) — Data center operator Equinix (www.equinix.com) announced this week, along with communication hardware firm Alcatel-Lucent (www.alcatel-lucent.com), that it has launched a program to develop enhanced solutions for exchanging data traffic between carriers providing Ethernet services, known as the Equinix Carrier Ethernet Exchange platform.
Equinix announced the project at the ITU Telecom World 2009 conference in Geneva, Switzerland, also the location of the new 48,400 square-foot data center the company announced plans to build yesterday.
The announcement, which says the exchange platform will be the first of its kind in the industry, also says the solution will be built using service router technology from Alcatel-Lucent.
Equinix says Ethernet services have typically been limited to the geographic areas within the reach of a carrier’s own network, limiting the opportunity in spite of significant customer demand for Ethernet services. The complexities of establishing separate interconnection agreements with other carriers has been a key stumbling block, says Equinix.
The Carrier Ethernet Exchange platform, says Equinix, will develop a platform for carrier Ethernet interconnection that meets the standards of the Metro Ethernet Forum, and will be delivered at Equinix International Business Exchange data centers globally. The company will evaluate a range of technologies for delivering the service, including Ethernet Network to Network Interconnection.
Equnix has been facilitating network interconnection among carriers for more than 10 years via its Internet Core Exchange service, and IP and content peering via its Equinix Exchange service.
“Just as Equinix pioneered new solutions for IP and content peering, we are now looking into ways that we can apply our interconnection expertise to the challenges faced by carriers seeking to expand their Ethernet service offerings,” says Jarrett Appleby, chief marketing officer for Equinix, quoted in the press release. “Our work with Alcatel-Lucent pairs the leader in colocation and network interconnection services with the top provider of carrier Ethernet interconnection technology to develop solutions aimed at addressing this critical market need.”
According to the announcement, the key objectives of the project include a solution for translating between different carrier Ethernet offerings; the development of a technical specification for interconnection; and the development of a marketplace to enable carriers to exchange Ethernet services.
Quoted in the announcement, Tier 1 Research vice president and research director Dan Golding says there is a strong need for a solution that can automate the process of interconnecting Ethernet networks for carriers with complimentary footrprints.
