CAMBRIDGE, Mass. -- UBM TechWeb's Light Reading (www.lightreading.com), the largest research-led media company serving the global communications marketplace, in collaboration with Heavy Reading (www.heavyreading.com), its prestigious market research division, will host its sixth Ethernet event in Europe on April 12 and 13 at the Marriot Grosvenor Square in London. Ethernet Europe, chaired by Ethernet expert and Heavy Reading Senior Analyst Stan “EtherMan” Hubbard, will focus on the hot topic of Carrier Ethernet network technologies and services in Europe, the Middle East and Africa (EMEA) with innovative panel sessions and keynotes that will include real-world case studies, debates, and questions and answers.

“A record number of service provider speakers will be participating in this year’s event and spotlighting their latest innovations and key developments the energetic Carrier Ethernet market,” said Hubbard. “The operators will be joined by leading providers of infrastructure technology that is reshaping the way carriers do business and helping them deliver flexible, scalable, high-performance services for enterprise, wholesale and residential customers.

The keynotes and sessions at this year’s event will focus on three major topics: (1) innovative Carrier Ethernet business services solutions for enterprise users; (2) Carrier Ethernet wholesale services and interconnection developments and trends; and (3) next-generation Carrier Ethernet, MPLS, and packet-optical technologies and OAM solutions used to support high-performance business, wholesale, residential, and mobile backhaul services and applications.

The agenda will feature keynote presentations from Jeff Schwartz, Global Ethernet WAN Product Management, Verizon Business, who will focus on the changing business requirements of Global Enterprises and the need to create a solutions-oriented approach, and Rob Thomas, Director of Product Solutions, BT, who will discuss BT’s deployment of 10,000 sites of next-generation 3G transport as well as the design and trial of next-generation Ethernet and IP solutions to support U.K. mobile operators deploying HSPA+ and LTE.

Light Reading has partnered with EANTC and sponsors MRV Communications, Omnitron Systems and RAD Data Communications to create the fourth installment of the global interoperability test and showcase. These companies will be working with AboveNet, Level 3 Communications, Teragate and Tinet to complete the test. The test results will focus on: multipoint-to-multipoint services (E-LAN) in addition to point-to-point E-line services; class of service mapping between providers according to MEF 23 and MEF 26; bandwidth profile attribute verification; cross-European Ethernet connectivity; streamlined provisioning via Ethernet exchange point as well as interconnections via direct peering between providers; performance reporting.

In addition to the panel sessions and keynotes, Ethernet Europe will also feature a sponsor showcase during the lunch and cocktail reception. Sponsors include Platinum Sponsors Ceragon Networks and Overture Networks; Gold Sponsors Actelis, ADVA, Metaswitch Networks, MRV Communications, Omnitron Systems, Positron Access, RAD Data Communications and Transmode; and Showcase Sponsors QualiSystems and Transition Networks. For more information, or to register for Ethernet Europe 2011, please visit: www.etherneteurope.com. Registration for press and analysts is free.

United Business Media Ltd. (UBM) (London: UBM.L)