Metro Ethernet Forum (News - Alert) just released the latest Carrier Ethernet specification. The new Carrier Ethernet 2 (CES (News - Alert) 2) specification aims to standardize the use of Ethernet for global multicarrier services, according to Joab Jackson, IDG News Service.

Ethernet, which was initially used only for creating LANs, has evolved to serve Metro Area Networks and higher traffic backhaul communications. Thanks to the capacity improvements, Ethernet has grown as replacements to high-capacity networking technologies such as Synchronous Optical Networking (SONET), according to Jackson.

The Carrier Ethernet 2 effort brings to the table new certifications, definitions and specifications that will allow for standardized multi-class of service, interconnection, and manageability features for carrier Ethernet, according to MEF (News - Alert) officials as told to TMCnet.

With Carrier Ethernet 2, Metro Ethernet Forum will give carriers the ability to interconnect to provide worldwide service. Carrier Ethernet 2 includes additional set of rules that provide guidance for setting up multiple Class-of-Service (Multi-CoS) definitions.

The new specification also benefits enterprises as it defines more efficient bandwidth utilization and predictable carrier Ethernet performance. Meanwhile small and medium businesses will benefit from hosted applications integrated via interconnectivity over single connections; whereas service providers will benefit from more affordable mobile backhaul, more predicable quality of service, and simplified wholesale relationships among carrier

Further, carriers can establish more nuanced Service Level Agreements (SLAs), the IDG report said. Additionally CES 2 provides a richer set of management metrics, and gives an opportunity for multiple service providers to exchange Ethernet traffic in a uniform fashion.

MEF is an industry alliance dedicated to accelerate the adoption of carrier Ethernet networks and services. Consisting of more than 150 leading service providers, local exchange carriers, network equipment vendors and other networking firms dedicated to Metro Ethernet, the forum aims to create technical specifications and implementation agreements to promote the deployment of carrier Ethernet around the globe.