RAD Demonstrates TDM over MPLS Capability at MPLS Forum Interoperability Event

20 April 2004: The IPmux-1 and IPmux-1000 TDM-over-IP/MPLS gateways from RAD Data Communications successfully participated in the MPLS & Frame Relay Alliance’s recent multi-vendor interoperability event. The event focused on transporting Quality of Service (QoS)-enabled VPN services over an MPLS network supporting traffic engineering.

As part of the demonstration, RAD’s IPmux products were used to assist in transferring TDM traffic, including voice and data, over an MPLS core using TDM-over-MPLS emulation. “This was a notable test,” commented Dr. Yuri Gittik, Director of Business Development at RAD Data Communications. “It was the very first demonstration of running mixed TDM traffic over an MPLS network with service differentiation, and the results proved the QoS capability of the MPLS core with traffic engineering,” he added. The interoperability event also marked the first public appearance of RAD’s IPmux-1000, a high capacity, carrier-class gateway that is a powerful central site solution for transporting legacy TDM traffic, such as leased lines and voice services, over IP/MPLS backbones.

RAD’s TDMoMPLS solutions are based on the MPLS & Frame Relay Alliance’s Implementation Agreement (IA) 4.0, “TDM Transport over MPLS using AAL1.” The IA outlines a method for carriers to offer private line TDM services such as n x 64 kbps, E1/T1 and E3/T3 while delivering new service offerings over a common MPLS network. It defines the emulation of TDM circuits over MPLS Label Switched Paths (LSPs) by using AAL1 encapsulation.

Since it first introduced the technology to the market in 1999, RAD has shipped more than 20,000 TDM over IP (TDMoIP®) ports. The company is now developing enhanced TDMoIP/MPLS capabilities for a range of access products, including dedicated multiservice Ethernet and MPLS access devices.

The MPLS & Frame Relay Alliance conducted a multi-vendor interoperability demonstration of QoS-enabled VPN services over an MPLS network at the MPLS World Congress in Paris, which was held from 11-13 February. Alliance members demonstrated the ability to offer Service Level Agreements for real-time carrier services such as voice and video over Layer 2 VPLS and Layer 3 MPLS VPNs. The Alliance is an international industry organisation that is advancing the recognition and acceptance of the MPLS and Frame Relay technologies in the global telecom industry. Additional information about the Alliance and the demonstration is available online at http://www.mplsforum.org