Most network managers who useAsychronous Transfer Mode (ATM) and Frame Relay services
plan to migrate to
IPvirtual private networks (VPNs)or
carrierEthernet serviceswithin the next two
years, a study has revealed.
A survey of 78 network managers by research firm Current
Analysis suggested the trend was being driven by the need for more
bandwidth and the convergence of voice, video and data
services.
IP VPNs are the preferred alternative for 75% of those planning
to migrate from Frame Relay services, although 61% of ATM users
plan to implement Ethernet as well.
"Given that this increased reliance on networks will rise,
enterprises are continuously evaluating
wide area network services as a means of ensuring support for
business operations," said David Hold, senior analyst for network
services at Current Analysis.
Legacy Wan services such as ATM and Frame Relay are common in
enterprises, but for many the transition to next-generation
IP/Multi-Protocol Label Switching (MPLS) and carrier Ethernet
services is imminent.
Virtual private local area network services (VPLS) can provide
Ethernet-based communication over IP/MPLS networks, but the survey
revealed that they were not widely used, and network managers did
not know much about them.
Most respondents had no plans to deploy VPLS, and 40% did not
know whether their carrier offered the service. However, of those
users that had evaluated VPLS, 48% preferred it to ATM and Frame
Relay.