MUNICH -- Ethernet Europe 2012 -- It's interesting what can be learned from playing video games.

International wholesaler Telia Carrier learned a lot about cloud services from its early experience hosting online gaming sites such as World of Warcraft and Call of Duty. And one of the conclusions the company reached was that delivery of cloud to the masses will require Carrier Ethernet.

In a keynote address here, Bernd Den Hollander, head of product management-transport services for TIC, which provides wholesale services in Europe and parts of Asia, said the need for cost-effective and scalable bandwidth, low latency for interactive applications and security/privacy concerns all point toward Carrier Ethernet as the backbone service for wholesaling cloud services.

Carrier Ethernet can deliver the performance and scalability of a private network with Class of Service to guarantee latency and end-to-end network control, Hollander said. His company is using Ethernet private line, Ethernet virtual private line and Ethernet LAN services to support different cloud needs.

The TeliaSonera exec agreed with others at Ethernet Europe, however, that new ways of charging will be required to meet the cloud model.

"We need to think about burst-based charging and we think we can help the cloud community define that," Hollander said.

Owning and controlling a fiber backbone network is ultimately a differentiator in the cloud services world because it enables a powerful Ethernet-based portfolio of services.

"We believe that an Ethernet provider needs to have an end-to-end Ethernet coverage, including local access and taking responsibility for CPE, and should have the possibility to open new markets very quickly," Hollander said. "Because cloud users pop up almost everywhere, you need to have a service rolled out very quickly in new markets."

— Carol Wilson, Chief Editor, Events, Light Reading