The MEF 3.0 Transformational Global Services Framework aims to help telcos to deliver the dynamic performance and security required as demand for increased bandwidth and more agile services grows.
MEF 3.0, the follow-up to Carrier Ethernet 2.0 (CE 20) sees the global standards body move beyond carrier Ethernet to look at automated and virtualised services by providing a suite of LSO (lifecycle service orchestration) APIs that offer an on-demand, cloud-centric service, MEF said.
MEF unveiled the framework, which includes much shorter testing time for certification of new services, at the MEF17 event in Orlando, Florida. Speaking at the launch, MEF chairman Nan Chen said: “MEF 3.0 is the… next step in our journey to transform the industry with services and networks that are easy to manage and monetise, and that deliver lasting value to its customers.
“We are unleashing the full potential of industry innovation by enabling dynamic services to be orchestrated across multiple provider networks powered by LSO, SDN and NFV.”
Nearly 150 companies currently sell CE 2.0 certified products, forming a significant proportion of the estimated $80 billion carrier Ethernet market.
MEF 3.0 is comprised of four main “pillars” that form the new concept: Standardise, orchestrated services; open LSO APIs; service and technology certifications; and expanded community collaboration.
It has been backed by a number of the world’s biggest telcos, including the likes of Verizon, Comcast, Zayo, Colt, Tata Communications, and Sparkle.
Alessandro Talotta, chairman and CEO of Sparkle, said: “MEF 3.0 is the next step to fully empower our customers with dynamic control, efficiency, and assured quality of service over end-to-end sophisticated connectivity and cloud solutions in a multi-provider global network ecosystem.”
