Cisco has rolled out a slew of enhanced products designed to let carriers deliver application and subscriber-aware video services to the Cisco 7600 Series Router portfolio. Carrier Ethernet service edge platform for converged Internet Protocol (IP) video, voice and data offerings with mobility (any-play). This includes support for the Cisco Intelligent Services Gateway (ISG) announced earlier this year on the Cisco 10000 and 7200 Series platforms, are some of the enhancements that are added. Further enhancements include the integration of Session Border Control (SBC) functionality for IP Multimedia Subsystem (IMS) and non-IMS voice applications.
Cisco Systems had also made enhancements to its Internet Protocol Next-Generation Network (IP NGN) architecture to ease deployment of a wide range of business-focused and consumer-based services.
The Cisco IP NGN architecture now incorporates standards-based Carrier Ethernet operations, administration and management (OAM) capabilities from the core to the customer premise, and it includes the Cisco 7600 Series Routers, Cisco Metro Ethernet (ME) 3400 Series Ethernet Access Switches, Cisco Catalyst 3750 Metro Series Switches, and Cisco 1841, 2800 and 3800 Integrated Services Routers. The new OAM features also include IEEE 802.1ag for service verification, IEEE 802.3ah for link layer troubleshooting, and Ethernet link management interface (E-LMI) for auto provisioning of customer premise equipment.
Cisco's IP NGN allows for the rapid provisioning of, and transition to, Ethernet-based services; the OAM enhancements help service providers manage service-level agreements (SLAs). With Cisco ServiceFlex, Ethernet-based business services and residential "triple play" services can be delivered over a single converged Ethernet infrastructure, enabling service providers to increase revenues per customer without significant increases in capital expenditures.
Cisco had also announced the availability of two new form factors for the Cisco ME 3400 Ethernet Access Switches, which play an integral part in Cisco's Carrier Ethernet product portfolio by supporting Ethernet connectivity to business-oriented multi-tenant units (MTUs) and single-tenant units (STUs) as well as residential-oriented multi-dwelling units (MDUs). Purpose-built for service provider needs, the Cisco ME 3400 Series Ethernet Access Switches are the first in the industry optimised for both residential "triple play" and business virtual private network (VPN) services markets.
"Broadband in both wireline and wireless is set to be the next big revolution in India and Bharti Airtel wants to be a key enabler of it," said T.V. Sriram, Head Technology, Bharti Airtel. "Our Carrier Ethernet network, based on Cisco's 7600 series routers, ME 6524 Series Ethernet switches and IP Solution Centre, is the first of its kind in the Asia Pacific region. This technology from Cisco will allow Bharti Airtel to backhaul ADSL and wireless broadband networks to deliver services such as high speed Internet, VoIP, IPTV and VoD for residential customers as well as MPLS VPN, Ethernet leased lines and video collaboration services for enterprise customers."
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