HR Names Ethernet Awards Finalists

It's been a breakout year for Ethernet, with telecom operators large and small investing in the transition to Layer 2 Ethernet and Layer 3 IP VPN services delivered over a converged network infrastructure. Heavy Reading research shows Ethernet has been the fastest growing part of carrier data services portfolios.

That makes for stiff competition as Heavy Reading unveils the finalists for its 2007 Ethernet Service Provider of the Year Awards for North America. The winners will be announced at Light Reading's Ethernet Expo in New York City on Wednesday, October 17.

Awards are given for three categories: 1) Market leadership; 2) Product portfolio; and 3) Innovation. In an interesting twist, each of last year's winners has been named a finalist in its respective category this year. (See HR Presents Ethernet Provider Awards.)

Here are the finalists:

Market Leadership
This award goes to the service provider that has best demonstrated carrier Ethernet services leadership based on a broad set of factors including strategy and plans, revenue momentum, efforts to increase Ethernet service availability, and leadership within industry standards bodies.

This award went to Verizon Enterprise Solutions last year for, among other things, its work in the MEF . This year's finalists are:

Product Portfolio
This award is given to the service provider that offers the strongest Ethernet services connectivity and applications portfolio based on markets served, service reach, service performance, and other factors. Last year, AT&T Inc. (NYSE: T) took home the honors.

Innovation
This award is given to the service provider that has demonstrated the greatest sales, marketing, and product innovations. Yipes took the prize last year.

Lest you think we're ignoring the good work at carriers like Belgacom SA (Euronext: BELG), BT Group plc (NYSE: BT; London: BTA), and Colt Technology Services Group Ltd , be aware that a corresponding set of awards was handed out at Ethernet Expo Europe in May. (See Trio Lands Ethernet Carrier Awards .)

Again, the North American winners will be revealed on the final day of Light Reading's Ethernet Expo in New York City next week.

— Raymond McConville, Reporter, Light Reading

Interested in learning more on this topic? Then come to Ethernet Expo 2007, a conference and exhibition that will explore major carrier Ethernet networking and service trends. To be staged in New York City, October 15-17, admission is free for attendees meeting our prequalification criteria. For more information, or to register, click here.