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SERVICE PROVIDERS CARRIER ROUTERS: Three for One

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VoicenData Bureau
New Update

Routers can be classified into two categories–edge and core routers, based

on feature, functionality, and port density. Edge routers must be capable of

supporting multiple applications and features across a very large number of

physical and logical interfaces.

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At the same time, edge routers must be more intelligent. On the other hand,

core routers must support high-speed interfaces and must be capable of handling

large volumes of aggregated traffic that results in superior forwarding

performance.

BUYING TIPS

  • Multiple Services: The increase in competition has

    resulted in tariff reduction and decrease in margins. Service providers are

    more worried about how to utilize the existing infrastructure and keep opex

    as well as capex under check. Traditionally, service providers have been

    building new networks to provide different services to the customer as and

    when they crop up. All this results in additional investment.

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In the current telecom environment, there is aggressive

competition between service providers and they are looking at how to build a

consolidated network that can provide all the services under triple play

portfolio. Service providers can start with a few services but can deploy them

in future, once there is a demand for those services.

A router that can provide multiple services in the triple

play portfolio is definitely an advantage as it also helps in investment

protection. Services like broadband, VoIP, and mobile data are hot with

carriers. Service providers are also happy that one network will take care of

all applications.

  • Features: It is not only important that the router

    supports as many features as possible, it must also boast of those features

    that really help in building value to the services. Some features that

    should be looked at are: L3 VPNs, L2 VPNs (Ethernet over MPLS, Frame Relay

    over MPLS, ATM over MPLS, PPP over MPLS, HDLC over MPLS), VPLS, IPSec

    encryption, QoS, and customer self-provisioning etc. Vendors should also be

    clear about router’s roadmap for IPv6.

  • Stability and Performance: Service providers have

    to provide high reliability to their enterprise customers who are running

    mission critical applications. The objective of any service provider should

    be how to provide uninterrupted service and performance for different

    applications.

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As most of the products are modular in nature, even if one

component fails, the rest of the system is not affected. In addition the various

failover mechanisms helps in restarting of all protocols and applications.

The router should be able to handle unstable network

conditions such as sudden surge in bandwidth usage, route bottlenecks, etc.

Today, routers that separate the routing and forwarding functionality are in

demand as this reduces the risk of downtimes.

  • Scalability: Reduction in tariffs for both voice

    and data has resulted in increased enterprise usage, both on the voice as

    well as data front. Service providers should also check whether routers

    support increased carrier bandwidth and the number of routes that can be

    handled.

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Even on the video front, things are shaping up. All this has

put a lot of pressure on the routing vendors as forklift upgrades don’t work

and one has to go for those routers that have been tested for different

applications in the triple play environment.

Forklift upgrades do help in introducing new services, and

features but service providers should be careful that it should not happen at

the cost of the network. One has to also look whether the product can be easily

integrated with the OSS/BSS as this can save lot of hassles for service

providers.

  • Per-port Revenue: Traditionally, port density has

    been a key evaluating factor for platforms. However, with the wide variety

    of applications that are now possible on today’s networks, the importance

    of revenue per port has also emerged as a crucial criterion accompanied with

    port density. Per-port revenue is related to the range of value-added

    services that can be offered to enterprise customers.

  • Security: In order to offer reliable and stable

    network services to the customer, the network equipment should be protected

    from various kinds of intentional and accidental attacks leading to denial

    of service. The network platforms should have built in firewall capability

    as well as encryption capabilities. One has to opt for a vendor that

    provides end-to-end security.

  • Reliability: With telecom infrastructure

    improving, service providers are focusing on providing a high reliability

    network. If the network is reliable, service providers can focus on

    providing better SLAs to enterprise customers thereby providing professional

    grade services.

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So, routers that are more reliable can definitely help in

generating more revenue for service providers and also keep the enterprise

customer happy. One has to opt for a vendor that can provide end-to-end quality

of service.

  • Service and Support: An important aspect that

    should not be overlooked is the after sales support provided by the vendor.

    One has to see what kind of support infrastructure that a vendor is offering

    right from help desk to onsite



    support.

MARKET INFORMATION

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With the number of service providers increasing in all the circles and focus

shifting from voice to data, the carriers are deploying or are in the process of

deploying lot of data and IP infrastructure. Even service providers are now

focusing on value-added services.

Service providers are realizing the potential of IP/MPLS based networks to

meet customer expectations via converged networks. This has resulted in

increased expectations from router vendors to provide feature-rich, affordable

and dependable products.

There is a lot of change happening in routers. With broadband picking up,

vendors are planning to have storage as well as optical devices to be integrated

so that the packet can be handled in the best possible way. Even built-in

security helps carriers, because with the increase in application seven the

threats are increasing. In fact, they are increasing at a faster pace than ever.

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With things moving at a fast pace in terms of subscribers and services, there

is no doubt that today’s core will be tomorrow’s edge, today’s broadband

will be tomorrow’s narrowband, and high-range routers will tomorrow become

mid-range routers.

On the carrier router front, Juniper is the undisputed leader

in India. The company has done pretty well on the core router front. Cisco

occupies the number two slot and has bagged few deals on the carrier front.

Recently, Juniper Networks pioneered the concept of the ‘Infranet’,

a vision for a network architecture that enables the seamless integration of

multiple carrier networks to offer end-to-end services. 

Infranet will help in enabling a single-packet infrastructure

for all communications whether initiated by human or machine, with quality,

security and reliability from anywhere to anywhere at any time. 

Experts

panel
Anand

Mehta,
marketing

manager, D-Link India
Java

Giridhar,
country

manager (India and Saarc), Juniper Networks
Sharat

Sinha,
head, marketing-SP, Asia Pacific, Cisco Systems
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