Heavy Reading has just released a new survey-based report that captures the opinions of a large number of service provider professionals regarding the MEF's Carrier Ethernet 2.0 (CE 2.0) initiative that was launched in February 2012. The new Heavy Reading Insider, "Operators Like CE 2.0, But Won't Rush to Implementation," is based on a survey that was conducted in April/May 2012 and elicited responses from more than 110 telecom professionals from 90-plus network operators that either provide or plan to provide Ethernet services.

The Insider is one of two current and upcoming Heavy Reading reports that provide different, but complementary, levels of insight on service provider attitudes toward CE 2.0. The Insider is based on feedback from a broad range of carrier professionals with various levels of expertise, while the upcoming Heavy Reading report, "Carrier Ethernet Service & Technology Trends & Issues: Europe 2012," shares the perspectives of many Ethernet Executive Council members on the CE 2.0 initiative, as well as other service and technology topics.

The Insider survey focuses on three key elements regarding CE 2.0: network operator familiarity and initial reaction to the CE 2.0 concept; operators' projected plans to adopt CE 2.0 (including seeking MEF certification for their services and requiring suppliers to have MEF certification); and the expected impact of CE 2.0 on customer adoption of Carrier Ethernet services.

Responses to the CE 2.0 survey suggest that an overwhelming majority of operators believe the CE 2.0 initiative is an important step forward for the industry, but at the individual company level the MEF has some work to do explaining the value of hopping aboard the newly announced CE 2.0 certification program. At the time of the survey, a little more than half of the respondents did not expect their employers to begin CE 2.0 services certification before 2014. For some perspective, 65-plus service providers worldwide – including nearly all of the leading players – have received CE 1.0 certification.

Apart from the survey, many senior Ethernet service provider experts have told Heavy Reading that they strongly support the MEF's continued work on the manageability and interconnection aspects of CE 2.0, while views have been more mixed about the importance of multiple classes of service at this point in time. Many carrier experts remain keenly interested in removing barriers to more rapid service delivery when using wholesale partners, and a number of them have expressed a desire to see the MEF make faster progress in developing a standard for virtual NID technology (formerly known as the hybrid NID).

— Stan "EtherMan" Hubbard, Senior Analyst, Heavy Reading Insider

Operators Like CE 2.0, but Won't Rush to Implementation, a 9-page report, is available as part of an annual subscription (12 monthly issues) to Heavy Reading Insider, priced at $1,595. This report is available for $900. To subscribe, please visit: www.heavyreading.com/insider.