The Level 3® Ethernet Service (EthS) offering is a data services solution that enables Ethernet Private Line (E-Line) and Ethernet Local Area Network (E LAN) services. An overview of each service offering follows.
E-Line (Ethernet over SONET) Service
This service provides agencies with dedicated bandwidth, similar to standard SONETS TDM-type services. Our E-Line services are built on top of our reliable and high-performance SONETS service to ensure the KPI/AQLs for EthS are met. This includes fixed latency, <100ms restoration times for protected circuits, very low BER and no packet loss or out-of-order packet delivery.
E-LAN Service
This service delivers network flexibility through the wide range of options for access, port speeds, and connectivity between locations. The service allows agencies to design and configure their networks to their specific needs. And because of the plug-and-play characteristics of Ethernet LAN technology, our offering extends this ease of use to the WAN. Ethernet is widely accepted as the global LAN standard, so the agency will generally have a high degree of familiarity with the technology.
Two outstanding features of our E-LAN offering are security and scalability. These features are described below.
Security
Level 3 Ethernet Service provides a high level of data networking security through the protocol's Layer 2 attributes. Sometimes called the “data link” layer, Layer 2 is the second layer of the Open Standards Interconnection (OSI) model for data networking. The Level 3 Ethernet Service Layer 2 technology is widely accepted as secure technology in the same way as ATM and Frame Relay services, which also reside at Layer 2.
Scalability
Level 3 Ethernet Service enables customers to scale their networks in a manner unmatched by other data transport services. A customer can interface into the Level 3 MPLS network at Gigabit Ethernet speeds and grow their network from 0-10000 Mbps with no incremental capital expenditure. In addition, the usage billing feature enables the customer to only pay for bandwidth that is used.
The scalability of network services is also measured by a provider's ability to rapidly provision and delivers service. This is very important to both the Enterprise and Service Provider market segments. For a service provider, delays in provisioning often equate to missed or delayed revenues. In the enterprise markets, delays often equate to decreased efficiency and the loss of data integrity. On-net Level 3 Ethernet Service may be installed in existing markets within 10 business days. Rapid provisioning is a competitive advantage for Level 3 across all of our services.
Alternatives
- SONETS
- IPS
- NBIP-VPNS
- CHS
- OWS
Restrictions
Requires underlying separately priced IP network.
