AT&T OPT-E-WAN; EPLS-MAN/WAN; GigaMAN, DecaMAN, OPT-E-MAN, CSME, Metro Ethernet Service Dedicated, Premium, Virtual
AT&T continued to expand Ethernet access availability nationally in 2009, and continues to offer global VPLS coverage via OPT-E-WAN. The carrier's broad and varied portfolio is building up mid-band coverage as yet another customer option. (12/18/2009)

Cox Communications Metro Ethernet
Cox Business is a strong contender with its metro E-Line, EVPL and E-LAN services over fiber, and more recently over hybrid fiber/coax access. But the carrier's patchwork reach and lack of long-haul services limits its enterprise opportunities. (1/28/2010)

Optimum Lightpath E-Line, V-Line, E-LAN, VPRS
Optimum Lightpath has a particularly strong Ethernet services portfolio, fed by the carrier's early market decision to place its bets on Ethernet services, and the business unit's enterprise focus in the most densely populated region of the U.S. (10/14/2009)

Qwest Metro Optical Ethernet & Ethernet Private Line
Qwest offers Metro Ethernet services in 13 in-region states and 32 national metro markets from New York to Los Angeles, with access speeds up to 10 Gbps in some locations. Yet VPLS is still only available for government customers. (5/4/2009)

Time Warner Cable Metro Ethernet Solutions
Like its cable peers, Time Warner Cable Business Class Ethernet is strongest where it has access infrastructure and sparse elsewhere. The carrier greatly enhanced its in-footprint reach by adding a lower-speed Ethernet-over-HFC access option. (10/8/2009)

tw telecom Native LAN Portfolio
tw telecom was an early mover in Ethernet and VPLS, racking up valuable service experience. The carrier has a strong domestic product line and coverage, but not global VPLS resources to match large international peers' recent expansions. (11/23/2009)

Verizon Business ELAN, EPL, EVPL, VPLS
Verizon offers one of the most complete Ethernet portfolios of any major carrier, and the addition of 10 Gbps interfaces is pushing the upper limits of performance. The company needs to catch up with AT&T by launching international VPLS. (12/2/2009)

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Report Contents

• Current Perspective Rating
• Product Strengths & Weaknesses
• Product Buying Criteria
• Product Metrics

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Ethernet Services Buying Criteria

• Availability
  • Local, national and international metro area availability and access.
• E-Line Service
  • Point-to-point Ethernet service key features.
• E-LAN Services
  • Switched Ethernet service features.
• VPLS
  • Virtual private LAN services.
• Reliability
  • Redundancy, restorability and SLAs.
• Pricing
  • Price, discounts, terms.
• Platform
  • Network platform, including MSPPs, switches, routers and protocols and management.

Ethernet Services Product Metrics

• Ethernet Services
  • Application
• In-Region Metro Services
  • Private Line (E-Line)
    
  • DIA
    
  • Switched (E-LAN)
    
  • Virtual Private LAN Service (VPLS)
    
  • Geographic Availability
    
  • Number of Ethernet Nodes
    
  • Platform
    
  • Transport Options
    
  • Customer Access Options
    
  • Topologies
• U.S. National Services
• Private Line (E-Line)
  
• DIA
  
• Switched (E-LAN)
  
• Virtual Private LAN Service (VPLS)
  
• Geographic Availability - National
  
• Geographic Availability - International
  
• Number of Ethernet Nodes
  
• Platform
  
• Transport Options
  
• Access Options
  
• Topologies
• E-Line Service Features
• Port Interface Rates
  
• UNI / E-VC Bandwidth Increments
  
• VLAN Support
  
• QoS / CoS
  
• QoS Support
  
• Service InterworkingRedundancy/Restorability
  
• Customer Management Platform
  
• Management Features
  
• Managed Service Option
• E-LAN Service Features
• Port Interface Rates
  
• UNI / E-VC Bandwidth Increments
  
• VPLS Features
  
• VLAN Support
  
• Topology
  
• Scalability
  
• QoS/CoS
  
• QoS Support
  
• Service Interworking
  
• Redundancy/Restorability
  
• Customer Management Platform
  
• Management Features
  
• Managed Service Option
• SLAs
• On-Time Provisioning
  
• Availability – Network/Port
  
• Availability – Customer Site
  
• TTR/MTTR
  
• Packet Loss/Data Delivery
  
• Latency
  
• Jitter
• In-Region Metro Area Pricing
• Access Component
  
• Distance Component – Metro
  
• Port Charge
  
• Bandwidth/ E-VC Charges
  
• DIA
  
• Flat-rate/Usage-based
  
• Term/Volume Discount
• U.S. National Pricing
• Access Pricing
  
• Distance Component – Long Haul
  
• Ethernet Port Charge
  
• Bandwidth/ VC Charges
  
• DIA
  
• Flat-rate/Usage-based
  
• Standard National Rates
  
• Term/Discount