Equinix unveils global Ethernet exchange

Ethernet may be the business service du jour, but the challenge that every service provider faces is making the service available to its customers regardless of the location. And while service providers will continue to establish pre-standard Ethernet Network to Network Interconnection (E-NNI) arrangements with partner carriers to expand reach and out of their respective regions, Equinix thinks the better approach is to develop a Carrier Ethernet Exchange platform.

Similar to the way it has been providing interconnection and IP peering services for major carriers through building out data centers, Equinix Carrier Ethernet Exchange platform, which leverages Alcatel-Lucent's router portfolio, will give service providers a common point to expand their Ethernet footprint. Among other functions, the offering will enable service providers to interconnect and pass data between Ethernet services and the ability to translate between different carrier Ethernet offerings to ensure transparent service as well as to develop an interconnection technical specification. Equinix will deliver the new Ethernet service via its global International Business Exchange (IBX) data centers.

Equinix is tapping into what has become a lucrative segment of the Ethernet market. According to a recent Vertical Systems Group report [1], major service providers such as COLT, Orange, Verizon and AT&T continue to expand their global Ethernet reach not only in the U.S., but across Europe and Asia Pacific regions.

For more:
- see the release here [2]

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[1]Cox Business enhances its data center reach
[4]Alcatel-Lucent is living on the 100 Gbps Ethernet edge [5] [4]