Carrier Ethernet

RAD Data Communications, a provider of Carrier Ethernet solutions, is gearing up to exhibit its Carrier Ethernet mobile demarcation device, the ETX-205A, at the 4G World conference and expo, opening today in Chicago.

The company has designed the ETX-205A for mobile backhaul, wholesale services and business applications. A member of the RAD’s EtherAccess portfolio, the device enables pure Ethernet backhaul and also the consolidation of 2G, 3G, and 4G/LTE (News - Alert) traffic at base stations.

It can be deployed at cell sites, hubs and mobile switching centers. Company officials said that it helps backhaul providers and also fixed-mobile carriers monitor network performance and guarantee quality of service.

The ETX-205A comes with hardware-based OAM for accurate monitoring of key performance indicators (KPIs), such as latency, jitter, and packet loss, said company officials.

In addition, the Carrier Ethernet solution features traffic management tools, including hierarchical scheduling and per-EVC shaping that prioritize traffic and correct congestion issues and also SyncE and 1588ptp timing functions.

Company officials said that the additional “bonus” features include field replaceable redundant power supplies that eliminate the need for a maintenance window, and flow mirroring that enables non-intrusive traffic analysis.Talking about the differences between basic OAM NIDs and advanced demarcation devices, Eitan Schwartz, vice president of Ethernet Access at RAD, suggested that users should insist on hardware-based OAM, robust traffic management tools and interface options so one platform can be deployed for all access types and services.

“Only with the help of features like these can carriers truly offer premium services at premium prices,” Schwartz said. RAD Data Communications (News - Alert) is a manufacturer of access and backhaul equipment for data communications and telecommunications applications. These solutions serve the data and voice access requirements of service providers, carriers, and enterprise networks, as well as utilities and transportation systems.

This year in August, the company expanded its System-on-an-SFP family with the addition of SFP-ER, a miniature Ethernet extender that delivers 100 Mbps of Ethernet up to 550m (1,804 ft) over existing copper wires (4-pair).