One network technology that looks set to take off this year
is Multi-Protocol Label Switching (MPLS). MPLS gives network
operators extra flexibility to divert and route traffic around link
failures, congestion, and bottlenecks.
MPLS, a virtual Lan used to constrict usage within agreed limits,
allows the service provider to offer guarantees on fine-grain,
end-to-end network performance. It can deliver the quality of
service required to support real-time voice and video as well as
service level agreements that guarantee bandwidth.
Gartner analyst Eric Paulak believes the big network service for
2004 will be the mainstream adoption of MPLS as the primary wide
area network technology. "What makes this new is that most carriers
will actually start to offer end-to-end classes of service and some
real-time self-servicing capabilities through their customer
service portals," he said.
Apart from MPLS, Paulak did not expect any new types of service to
be offered during 2004. He said the network operators would simply
find new ways to repackage old services. "We do not expect much in
terms of new services in 2004, but we do expect many existing
services to take on new capabilities and go from niche to
mainstream," he said.
"Ethernet access is one of these. Even though capital expenditure
among the carriers is still low, money is being put into local
fibre networks."