Africom deploys MPLS enabled network.
Telecommunicating with Albert Chinamano.
The Public Data Network, which is being built by Africom
currently running in Harare, is Multiprotocol Label Switching
based network. This protocol (MPLS) is a versatile solution
to address the problems faced by present-day networks—speed,
scalability, quality-of-service (QoS) management, and traffic
engineering. MPLS has emerged as an elegant solution to meet
the bandwidth-management and service requirements for next-generation
Internet protocol (IP)–based backbone networks. MPLS
addresses issues related to scalability and routing (based
on QoS and service quality metrics) and can exist over existing
asynchronous transfer mode (ATM) and frame-relay networks.
Over the last few years, the Internet has evolved into a
ubiquitous information-communications-technology network and
inspired the development of a variety of new applications
in business and consumer markets. IT has propelled demand
for bandwidth requirements in the backbone of the network.
Adding to those traditional data services currently provided
over the Internet, new voice and multimedia services are being
developed and deployed. The Internet has emerged as the network
of choice for providing these converged services. However,
the demands placed on the network by these new applications
and services, in terms of speed and bandwidth, have strained
the resources of the existing Internet infrastructure. This
transformation of the network toward a packet- and cell-based
infrastructure has introduced uncertainty into what has traditionally
been a fairly deterministic network.
This MPLS based network will address addresses today's network
backbone requirements effectively by providing a standards-based
solution that accomplishes the following:
Improves packet-forwarding performance in the network. MPLS
enhances and simplifies packet forwarding through routers
using Layer-2 switching paradigms. It is also simple to use,
which allows for easy implementation.
The technology will increase network performance because
it enables routing by switching at wire line speeds. MPLS
uses traffic-engineered path setup and helps achieve service-level
guarantees. It incorporates provisions for constraint-based
and explicit path setup to integrates IP and ATM in the network;
it has a bridge between access IP and core ATM that allows
integrating the two. MPLS can reuse existing router/ATM switch
hardware, effectively joining the two disparate networks.
The network builds interoperable networks; MPLS is a standards-based
solution that achieves synergy between IP and ATM networks.
In sum, MPLS will play an important role in the routing through
switching through the next-generation network in order to
meet the service demands of the network users.
Well, this new protocol that leading telecommunication experts
claim “will take over the world” has arrived in
Zimbabwe so sooner than expected. Well, you can rest your
worried mind – IP and ATM are not on death row. In fact,
it is my belief that MPLS will breathe new life into the marriage
of IP and ATM.
Africom PVT LTD proudly brings these technology updates to
you
NB: This information is aimed to provide general insights
of issues covered. The author or Africom Private Limited shall
not be held responsible of any decisions made based on the
information.
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