FREMONT, Calif. -- The membership of the Optical Internetworking Forum has ratified the group’s UNI (User-Network Interface) 2.0 Implementation Agreement (IA), enabling users to signal for enhanced transport services from an optical network service provider.

Improvements made to UNI 2.0 were gleaned from the OIF’s Worldwide Interoperability Demonstration - On-Demand Ethernet Services held last summer between 7 carriers and 8 equipment vendors. UNI 2.0 complies with the ITU-T ASON architecture, and supports all UNI 1.0 signaling with additional protocol extensions for the following new UNI 2.0 features:

For network users, these improvements deliver more responsive and flexible services plus right-sized bandwidth for their dynamic traffic needs. Carriers can simplify their networks, maintain reliability, and improve network performance and customer satisfaction.

“UNI 2.0 is at the forefront of the emerging Carrier Ethernet market,” said Stephen Shew with Nortel Networks and OIF board member. “It allows Ethernet attached clients to request and modify EPL, and EVPL services that are defined in MEF (Metro Ethernet Forum) specifications.”

Optical Internetworking Forum (OIF)