Host Operator Sponsor AT&T Completes MEF CE 2.0 E-Access Certification and Sets Service Innovation Tone For GEN15 Global Networking Event

DALLAS, Nov. 17, 2015 /PRNewswire/ -- The MEF is pleased to recognize AT&T as the Host Operator Sponsor for the GEN15 global networking event taking place this 17 – 19 November at the Omni Hotel in Dallas, Texas. Communications service, technology, and other industry professionals from nearly 300 organizations around the world have lined up to attend the conference, which is focused on the future of advanced networking solutions that underpin and power the global digital economy.

"AT&T is setting the tone for GEN15 by sharing its vision for the future, illustrating the types of service innovations customers can expect in coming years, preparing its network to support advanced services, and playing a lead in helping network operators interconnect with each other to create virtually seamless high-performance Carrier Ethernet 2.0 services connectivity fabrics," said Nan Chen, President of the MEF. "The MEF appreciates AT&T's demonstrated leadership in accelerating the industry's transition from TDM to CE 2.0 and ultimately towards dynamic, cloud-centric services that are orchestrated over more automated and interconnected networks."

Keynote Speakers. AT&T opened GEN15 with keynote presentations from John Medamana, Vice President, Packet-Optical Network and AT&T Fellow and Josh Goodell, Vice President, AT&T Network On Demand.

CE 2.0 E-Access Certification. AT&T recently completed MEF CE 2.0 E-Access certification testing on its flagship AT&T Switched Ethernet Service^(SM). This means that AT&T's network now supports the industry standard Ethernet interconnection with other Ethernet operators so that customers that cover multi-carrier areas can enjoy virtually seamless network service. This is one of the first steps toward supporting standardized Ethernet interconnections between network operators. AT&T is also working on the next step – to enable its IT systems to support quote-to-cash abilities, allowing AT&T customers to take advantage of this new capability.

AT&T joins a growing number of Tier 1 service providers who are obtaining CE 2.0 services certification in order to support industry standards for interconnecting with other operators and delivering high-performance connectivity services to enterprises and other service end-users. CE 2.0 E-Access specifications make it simpler and faster for service providers to interconnect and to meet the growing demand for Ethernet services at locations that are not on a service provider's own network. Such locations are commonly referred to as 'out-of-franchise' or 'off-net' locations.

"This new capability far surpasses the current non-standardized way Ethernet operators interconnect by removing the need for custom configurations, individual network testing, and other issues that arise over how to treat tagged traffic (VLANs)," said Dan Blemings, Director of Ethernet Product Management, AT&T Mobile and Business Solutions. "It also solves the problem Ethernet operators often face when their services cannot interconnect because of what's referred to in the industry as a 'TPID Mismatch'. It is time for all operators to follow the same industry standards so we can all interconnect our networks."

Ethernet Interconnect Points (EIP) Project. As noted in a recent press release, AT&T is playing a pioneering role in the MEF's EIP project, which is being highlighted in the Wholesale Services Conference Track and in the Services Interconnect Zone at GEN15. The EIP project aims to standardize guidelines for current and future Ethernet operators around the world.  AT&T and other operators have been involved in Rapid Prototyping at the University of New Hampshire's Interoperability Lab in order to streamline Ethernet interconnections and create a common Ethernet connectivity fabric that is able to transport customer traffic seamlessly across multiple carrier networks.

Proof of Concept Showcase Demonstration. AT&T is one of 12 groups that have been selected to participate in the popular GEN15 Proof of Concept Showcase. AT&T will be demonstrating Network on Demand capabilities built on software-defined networking (SDN) and network function virtualization (NFV) technologies that allow customers to control, scale, and add new services via direct self-service access.

To learn more about AT&T's role at GEN15, see this Welcome Video.

Register here for GEN15. Attendance is free for qualified service end-user professionals from enterprises, businesses, government, defense, educational, or non-profit organizations.

About GEN15
GEN15 is the must-attend annual networking event for executives and other senior professionals involved in the combined Carrier Ethernet + Third Network services & technology ecosystem. GEN15 is bringing together a global array of 120+ Carrier Ethernet, LSO, SDN, NFV, and Cloud expert speakers from around the world to contribute to the event's program and networking opportunities. Event content and peer-to-peer networking opportunities are designed to appeal to experts from retail, wholesale, and mobile service providers; cloud service providers; mid to large businesses; government & defense organizations; network solutions vendors; the press; analyst firms; investment firms; and others.

GEN15 encompasses industry-leading keynote speakers, educational roundtables, and panels with dedicated tracks for enterprise end-users; retail, wholesale, mobile, and cloud service providers; and others. This year's event includes a special Enterprise Day and a groundbreaking LSO Hackathon. We also are expanding popular elements of last year's program, including the MEF Certified Professionals Convention, Verizon Partner Conference, the Proof of Concept Service & Technology Showcase, Global Media Hub, and MEF Excellence Awards program that recognizes outstanding service, technology, and professional leadership and innovation. See www.gen15.com for details.

About the MEF
The MEF is the driving force behind the ~$80 billion global market for Carrier Ethernet services and technologies and the defining body for LSO standards that underpin emerging Third Network services with CE 2.0, SDN, and NFV. An industry alliance consisting of nearly 220 member organizations based in 43 countries, the MEF operates through a powerful collaborative framework of service providers, network solutions suppliers, and other stakeholders to achieve CE 2.0 and LSO development and globalization objectives.

MEF's flagship work is CE 2.0, including specifications, operational frameworks, and certification programs for services, equipment, and professionals. Visit www.mef.net for more details on these programs. 

Building on fourteen years of success with Carrier Ethernet, the MEF is now focused on development of LSO with APIs to enable paradigm-shifting agile, assured, and orchestrated services over more efficient, automated networks. The MEF's vision for the transformation of network connectivity services and the networks used to deliver them is referred to as the "Third Network," which combines the on-demand agility and ubiquity of the Internet with the performance and security assurances of CE 2.0.  For information on the Third Network and LSO download the MEF's Third Network Vision & Strategy White Paper and Third Network Lifecycle Service Orchestration (LSO) Vision White Paper.

SOURCE MEF

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