Capture New Revenue with Existing Infrastructure

Metropolitan-area network (MAN or metro) services can help you grow revenue by adding new offerings and value-added services within your existing network infrastructure. Managed metro services can help you:

• Capture new revenue streams—Opt for either a private Ethernet over SONET/SDH circuit or shared Layer 2 Ethernet offering, to access value-added Layer 3 services.
• Maintain existing ATM and Frame Relay services—Optical and Metro Ethernet services work with existing infrastructures, so you save money because you do not have to replace all your network assets.
• Increase profitable services—In addition to basic connectivity and access services, you can deliver premium services such as IP VPN, managed IP telephony, and video support, which differentiate your services and help increase profit margins.

The Cisco Metro Solution Advantage

Cisco solutions can help you create a profitable, service-driven network with:

• Architectural flexibility supporting varied service provider and end-customer environments with optical, routing, and switching platforms and technologies
• Industry-leading metro technology, including MPLS, QoS, 10 Gigabit Ethernet, IPv6, and high availability

Market Factors Influencing Metro Services

Increasing use of the Internet and high-bandwidth applications is rapidly raising the demand for metro services. Businesses of all sizes that want a scalable way to extend their corporate LANs into a MAN or WAN are opting for metro access services using Ethernet as the primary transport technology. While some large enterprises have the resources to build and manage such networks, many want service providers to deliver and manage their connectivity solutions.

To meet your customers’ needs, you need a flexible, feature-rich network technology. A combination of switched Ethernet and optical Ethernet services is the most comprehensive solution that fulfills the cost and technical requirements of businesses today:

• Optical Ethernet services provide a highly resilient and secure solution using dedicated bandwidth.
• Switched Metro Ethernet services are cost-effective because they are implemented over a shared network.