Equinix interconnects carrier ethernet services

Stuart Corner
Friday, 16 April 2010 08:20

Business IT - Networking

While the ethernet market has been growing at a breakneck pace, the full potential has yet to be realised

Global data centre operator, Equinix, has launched the Equinix Carrier Ethernet Exchange, a global service that enables the exchange of data traffic between different providers of ethernet services.

According to Equinix, it is the first service of its kind to be successfully deployed globally, "enabling carriers to meet the worldwide demand for ethernet services, an expanding industry that is expected to reach $US40b by 2014."

Equinix says the service is fully compliant with Metro Ethernet Forum standards and "removes the technical boundaries associated with offering ethernet services by providing a platform for multi-provider carrier ethernet interconnection'¦[and] includes access to a rich ecosystem of potential content and technical partners, creating an online marketplace that enables carriers to seamlessly extend their global reach and depth."

The service is rolling out initially to five metro areas Los Angeles, New York, Silicon Valley, Chicago and London, and is expected to expand to 14 other metro regions over the next 12 months.

Equinix CMO, Jarrett Appleby said: 'While the ethernet market has been growing at a breakneck pace, the full potential has yet to be realised because carriers have been limited to the geographic areas where their networks are deployed. Our offering immediately removes that fundamental barrier, enabling carriers to deliver consistent, scalable ethernet services across multiple borders around the world simultaneously."

To develop the service, Equinix says it conducted more than 200 unique tests across seven different regions with 24 of the largest telecommunications companies in the world.

According to Appleby, 'It speaks volumes that our collaborative development approach netted [so] many world-class participants prior to launch, underscoring the demand for this service and the tremendous value it will deliver to the global ethernet community."

Mark Heraghty, managing director of one of the test programme participants, Virgin Media Business, added: 'Not only will [the service] enable us to better support our customers' needs, but it also means that we have the flexibility and scalability needed to add or expand our overall service offerings."