Patton Whitepaper: Building a Bigger Pipe: Inverse Multiplexing for Transparent Ethernet Bridging over Bonded T1/E1s - Sponsored Whitepaper

Building a Bigger Pipe: Inverse Multiplexing for Transparent Ethernet Bridging over Bonded T1/E1s

Copyright Copyright © 2008, Patton Electronics Company. All rights reserved.

This paper proposes a solution for extending the availability of transparent high-speed Ethernet by re-using the existing T1/E1 TDM network. By employing inverse multiplexing technology with support for jumbo Ethernet frames, service providers can use bonded T1/E1 circuits to transparently backhaul Ethernet from remote cell sites and IPDSLAMs. This paper covers the rationale, protocols and key features that an Inverse Multiplexer (Inverse Mux) must support in order to close the current capabilities gaps in carrier and provider networks.

Ethernet is finally breaking out into the Wide Area Network (WAN). In order to support Ethernet based networks, service providers are aggressively investing billions of dollars to install fiber and create Metro Area Networks (MANs).

However, since WAN Ethernet technology is still matur- ing, Ethernet interfaces are not yet ubiquitous. Even in the most developed countries, fiber MANs reach less than 12% of businesses with more than 20 employees. This data indicates there is a huge capabilities gap in provider networks all around the world.