Telefonica I+D Completes Nortel Carrier Ethernet Technology Tests

PBB/PBT Technologies Make True Broadband Delivery Simple and Cost-Effective for Service Providers
MADRID – Telefónica I+D, the innovation arm of the Telefónica Group formed to strengthen the Group’s competitiveness through technological innovation, has successfully completed tests on the performance and reliability of Nortel* [NYSE/TSX: NT] Provider Backbone Bridges and Provider Backbone Transport carrier Ethernet solutions.


The tests, using Provider Backbone Bridges (PBB) and Provider Backbone Transport (PBT) to support video and other high-bandwidth mobile data services, were conducted at the Telefónica I+D laboratory in Madrid, Spain.

Nortel’s PBB and PBT technology is using industry-standard Ethernet to drive a radical change in the economics of carrier networks by adding carrier-grade reliability and ease of service management to the simplicity and cost-effectiveness of Ethernet. The solutions tested by Telefónica I+D are aimed at enabling service providers to address the growth of high-bandwidth video and data applications in their metro networks by making Ethernet an option for any service they wish to offer. These include next-generation services such as triple and quadruple play, wireless video and data, and Ethernet business connectivity.

“Innovation is Telefónica I+D’s reason for being,” said Enrique Algaba, vice president Telefónica I+D. “Industry consolidation and the growing demand from business and consumers for more true broadband services means we have to be adept at looking for solutions that are innovative and cost-effective. Nortel’s Ethernet-based PBT and PBB innovations have enabled us to test how service providers can use these technologies to maximize network efficiencies and deliver more true broadband services such as VoIP, video and TV.”

The tests were conducted as part of a European Information and Communication Technology (ICT) program under the EUREKA (pan European network for market-oriented and industrial Research and Development) framework, whereby Telefónica I+D evaluates different networking technologies for enhancing service offerings and reducing customer costs.

“With PBB and PBT, Ethernet can now meet the market demand for carrier applications such as the triple play of high-speed Internet access, television, and VoIP over a single broadband connection as well as wireless backhaul and Ethernet connectivity services, offering carriers a cost-effective, simple option to more complex and costly transport technology such as MPLS,” said Fernando Valdivielso Delgado, vice president Telefónica global account, Nortel. “The successful tests conducted by Telefónica I+D are another step in the continuing worldwide development and adoption of carrier-grade Ethernet to help capitalize on the era of Hyperconnectivity where everything that can be connected to the network, will be.”

The tests at Telefónica I+D included the enabling of deterministic point-to-point Ethernet transport tunnels with SONET/SDH-like management characteristics to show how Nortel’s PBB and PBT technology could be used to support wireless backhaul. The solution used for testing was based on the Nortel Metro Ethernet Routing Switch 8600 which leverages the latest Nortel carrier Ethernet innovations, including PBB and PBT. PBT is currently progressing through industry standardization within the IEEE (Institute of Electrical and Electronic Engineers) 802.1, where it is known as IEEE 802.1Qay (Provider Backbone Bridge-Traffic Engineering). Nortel’s Metro Ethernet Manager was also utilized to provide end-to-end service and PBT trunk provisioning, as well as, enhanced fault management and troubleshooting capabilities for the network.