ADVERTORIAL
MPLS has a reputation for being slow, clunky, outdated and only for the MNC market that can afford the exorbitant prices. But, says Tom O’Hagan, Managing Director of one of the leading UK network operators, Virtual1, that’s just down to bad press. At Virtual1, we believe that MPLS is fast, flexible and able to answer the needs of a wide range of businesses, from SMEs upwards. And we thought we would take the opportunity to debunk some of the most common myths we hear about MPLS and explain just why MPLS should be the network technology of choice for Partners and their customers!
Myth: VPLS offers faster speeds than MPLS.
Truth: This has to be the misconception we hear the most – that VPLS can offer greater network capacity and faster speeds. Now not only is this not true, it’s actually impossible. This is because VPLS networks run over an MPLS backbone, and it is this backbone which dictates the capacity.
Myth: You can’t have Internet Breakout on an MPLS circuit.
Truth: There has been a surprising amount of confusion around this – not helped I think by the fact that some carriers, for various reasons, cannot offer this on their own network. There is the perception that MPLS is one private network in one place, and that the Internet is another private network in another place, and that they are completely separate, never the twain shall meet, so to speak. In fact, the Internet should be considered as
another VPN located within the provider’s network, whilst Internet Breakout is no more complicated than connecting a customer site to two separate VPNS. Internet Breakout on an MPLS circuit is therefore a very easy thing to deliver and a common part of many of the networks we deliver at Virtual1.
Myth:
Amends to an MPLS network cannot be made quickly.
Truth: I have to agree that this used to be a real concern for Service Providers and end customers looking to manage their MPLS networks. There is no getting away from the fact that with VPLS, simple network changes such as adding new services and new VLANs can be done in house by the customer, whereas with MPLS the same changes need to be made by the carrier. This has been a big selling point for customers choosing between an MPLS and a VPLS network.
However, the introduction of QinQ has changed the situation. Where previously changes to the network
24 COMMS DEALER AUGUST 2012
were laborious, taking days to implement, now most carriers are providing QinQ on their access circuit, meaning even complex configurations can be completed in hours. So, whilst customers will still need to involve their Service Provider in any changes made, there is no reason why changes cannot be turned round within 24 hours.
At Virtual1, all of our access circuits incorporate QinQ, to ensure changes to networks can be dealt with swiftly and effectively.
Myth:
Once you have MPLS, you are stuck with it.
Truth: Again, simply not the case. At Virtual1, we have no issue with changing
customers from an MPLS network over to a VPLS network mid contract and without penalty. In terms of impact, clearly there is some network downtime as there needs to be a reasonable amount of reconfiguration but that is it – in terms of capabilities and speed, it’s unlikely end users would notice the difference.
Myth:
VPLS is quicker to install than MPLS.
Truth: MPLS has a reputation for long lead times but installation times are actually down to the speed at which the access circuits can be installed; lead time will be decided by the capacity which a customer needs for their network. With most businesses looking for high capacity services,
Ethernet with its standard lead time of 90 days is a good ballpark figure, but it does mean that, with EFM now taking an average of 45 days to install, customers could have an MPLS network up and running within that time frame.
Myth:
MPLS is a lot more expensive than an internet circuit.
Truth: Ironically, when it comes to costs to the Service Provider, it’s the reverse that is true. When you connect to the internet, you pay the internet transit provider a fee to carry that traffic. However, with MPLS, because it is a private network, you don’t have the third party charge to cover.
So why the difference
At Virtual1, we have no issue with changing customers from an MPLS network over to a VPLS network mid contract and without penalty
www.comms-dealer.com
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