Tata Communications first to use PBB technology globally
Cisco powered platform will enable Tata Communications’ global Ethernet
Core to provide more services and scalability worldwide
Mumbai, India – 16 November 2010 – Tata Communications today launches its next-generation Ethernet network in 24 nodes around the world, marking the industry’s first use of 802.1ah Provider Backbone Bridging (PBB) on a global scale.
Recognised as leader in the Ethernet market, Tata Communications’ global network upgrade will provide industry-leading network services for both service providers and enterprises, enabling higher speed, enhanced security and improved troubleshooting capabilities.
Tata Communications’ new Ethernet network core carries only Ethernet traffic, unlike competing operators who are building converged MPLS and VPLS-based networks to carry a mixture of private, public IP traffic and Ethernet services. As a result, Tata Communications can provide a wide range of unique Ethernet services with native Ethernet Operations Administration and Maintenance (OAM) management throughout. The next-generation Ethernet core also allows Tata Communications to continue to provide its Ethernet customers with the ability to select specific routes through its network (for diversity, latency or cost reasons), a feature which is not supported by competitors’ VPLS networks.
Tata Communications’ new Ethernet network will allow customers to enjoy additional services and benefits. In the coming months, Tata Communications will be launching an enhanced multipoint service, burstability with usage-based billing and will further develop its Dedicated Ethernet Service to scale from 1,000 – 10,000 Meg in 500 Meg increments. The company can also now ensure higher network quality as a result of being able to monitor each and every customer and class of service, independently.
“We are experiencing a phenomenal increase in demand for Ethernet services and our investment in Cisco’s advanced technology could not be more timely. Tata Communications’ move towards the PBB technology will strengthen its existing position as a global leader in Ethernet. This technology enables us to provide a cutting-edge and differentiated service portfolio to the global market-place, ensuring unparalleled capacity, product innovation and service quality excellence in the Ethernet space,” said Vinod Kumar, President and Chief Operating Officer, Tata Communications.
Ethernet Nodal diversity, now available on Tata Communications’ Core layer, automatically switches protected traffic to an alternate node located at a separate address in case of catastrophic failure. Competing solutions using Ethernet over SDH only offer protection over the whole route rather than segment-by-segment. Customers will enjoy enhanced network uptime in addition to being able to specify dual-local loops and a protected customer hand-off.
“The Ethernet market is one of telecom’s bright spots. Ovum projects the global Ethernet market will grow at a 14% CAGR to $USD 40 billion, by 2015. Multipoint services, the fastest growing sub-segment, are projected to grow at a 32% CAGR to 2015. Tata Communications, building on its unique and diverse global footprint, with its selection of the PBB technology, has ensured that its customers will have access to a bandwidth efficient, scalable, carrier grade network, now and well into the future,” said Ian Redpath, Principal Analyst, Ovum
PBB multipoint-based technology delivers increased security and better efficiency for multipoint services through its handling of Media Access Control (MAC) addresses. Unlike other technologies, PBB does not use customer’s MAC addresses for frame forwarding, but rather uses its own B-MAC address within the Tata Communications network. This feature will prevent Distributed Denial of Service (DDoS) attacks from affecting customers.
Tata Communications’ next-generation carrier Ethernet core can handle 16.7 million customer service instances, compared to just 4,094 from many competitors. Couple this with 3.2 terabits of switching capacity per node and superior MAC address handling; the organisation is uniquely placed to manage rapid and large-scale Ethernet service growth. Tata Communications is laying the foundations to future proof its network to ensure that it can effectively respond to the growing and changing needs of the Ethernet market over the next decade.
“We are delighted that Tata Communications has chosen the Cisco ASR 9000 Series as the foundation of its Next Generation Ethernet Network business. In partnership with Cisco, Tata Communications will deliver a service-enabled Ethernet Next-Generation Network that will help further its leadership in the high bandwidth services market,” said Surya Panditi, Vice President and General Manager, Service Provider Routing Technology group, Cisco
Tata Communications’ widest WAN Ethernet portfolio gives its customers the flexibility to choose the most appropriate solution and size for their network needs and change instantly as their needs evolve, without additional costs or service interruptions.
“Not only does the PBB technology allow us to achieve significant network benefits on our extensive global Ethernet network but we are now also able to provide our customers with service options that support their growth for the next decade,” concluded Kumar.
Tata Communications’ Ethernet Services and Network
Tata Communications’ Global Ethernet Services span more than 50 locations in North America, Asia, Europe, Africa and the Middle East, as well as more than 120 cities across India and four cities in China. Further expansion is planned in the coming months to include additional locations in Africa, Europe and the Middle East.
Tata Communications was the first Ethernet provider to be MEF 9 and 14 certified across its entire global network. The portfolio provides both point-to-point and multipoint WAN Ethernet solutions seamlessly and securely across over 35 countries. The portfolio features a wide choice of configurations and protection options, bandwidth from 2 Mbps to 10 Gbps, up to six classes of service with interclass bursting as well as unique usage-based options. It provides a high quality, scalable and cost-effective Ethernet solution on a truly global scale.
http://www.tatacommunications.com/vpn/ethernet.asp
Past Press Releases for reference:
Tata Communications’ Global Priority Ethernet Services are now MEF 9 and MEF 14 Certified
Tata Communications Extends WAN Ethernet Service to China
Tata Communications Launches Global 10 Gigabit Ethernet Service
Etisalat & Tata Communications introduce advanced communication services in UAE
Qtel and Tata Communications Collaborate to Offer Global Connectivity Services
Additional reading:
What is VLAN: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Virtual_LAN
What is MAC: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/MAC_address
About Tata Communications
Tata Communications is the leading global provider of a new world of communications. With a leadership position in emerging markets, Tata Communications leverages its advanced solutions capabilities and domain expertise across its global and pan-India network to deliver managed solutions to multi-national enterprises, service providers and Indian consumers.
The Tata Global Network includes one of the most advanced and largest submarine cable networks, a Tier-1 IP network, with connectivity to more than 200 countries across 400 PoPs, and nearly 1 million square feet of data center and collocation space worldwide.
Tata Communications’ depth and breadth of reach in emerging markets includes leadership in Indian enterprise data services, leadership in global international voice, and strategic investments in operators in South Africa (Neotel), Sri Lanka (Tata Communications Lanka Limited) and Nepal (United Telecom Limited).
Tata Communications Limited is listed on the Bombay Stock Exchange and the National Stock Exchange of India and its ADRs are listed on the New York Stock Exchange. (NYSE: TCL)
www.tatacommunications.com
Forward-looking and cautionary statements
Certain words and statements in this release concerning Tata Communications and its prospects, and other statements, including those relating to Tata Communications’ expected financial position, business strategy, the future development of Tata Communications’ operations, and the general economy in India, are forward-looking statements. Such statements involve known and unknown risks, uncertainties and other factors, including financial, regulatory and environmental, as well as those relating to industry growth and trend projections, which may cause actual results, performance or achievements of Tata Communications, or industry results, to differ materially from those expressed or implied by such forward-looking statements. The important factors that could cause actual results, performance or achievements to differ materially from such forward-looking statements include, among others, failure to increase the volume of traffic on Tata Communications’ network; failure to develop new products and services that meet customer demands and generate acceptable margins; failure to successfully complete commercial testing of new technology and information systems to support new products and services, including voice transmission services; failure to stabilize or reduce the rate of price compression on certain of the company’s communications services; failure to integrate strategic acquisitions and changes in government policies or regulations of India and, in particular, changes relating to the administration of Tata Communications’ industry; and, in general, the economic, business and credit conditions in India. Additional factors that could cause actual results, performance or achievements to differ materially from such forward-looking statements, many of which are not in Tata Communications’ control, include, but are not limited to, those risk factors discussed in Tata Communications’ various filings with the United States Securities and Exchange Commission. These filings are available at www.sec.gov. Tata Communications is under no obligation to, and expressly disclaims any obligation to, updates or alters its forward-looking statements.
| Media Contacts: Tata Communications Janice Goveas +919223394575 janice.goveas@tatacommunications.com |
Danny Lim Hill & Knowlton Singapore +65 6390 3360 danny.lim@hillandknowlton.com.sg |
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