SAN JOSE, Calif. -- Salira Optical Network Systems, Inc., the first vendor to offer carrier-class, IP/Ethernet optical systems for high-speed broadband access, took another step last week toward enabling carriers to more easily deploy and manage EPON systems with a unified, end-to-end, standards-based network management system. In a paper delivered to the IEEE Ethernet for the First Mile (EFM) Study Group, Salira underscored the requirements for managing Ethernet Passive Optical Network (EPON) systems and defined a standardized set of Station Management objects that are key to the development of an EPON Management Information Base (MIB). "Last week's presentation at the IEEE meeting is significant in making high-speed Ethernet broadband access a reality for businesses and consumers and an easy-to-manage solution for carriers," said Wei Gao, CTO and founder of Salira. "Our proven, patent-pending IP/Ethernet technologies, combined with our team's experience in developing and establishing access network management standards, will help drive the critical interoperability requirements for the evolution of Ethernet for widespread broadband access." Salira Optical Network Systems Inc. Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers Inc. (IEEE)