Redback Networks, an Ericsson company and a provider of next-generation broadband services such as VoIP, IPTV (News - Alert), on-demand video, and online gaming, has successfully completed a series of interoperability tests conducted at the European Advanced Networking Test Center (EANTC).

 

EANTC is an internationally recognized test center specialized in offering objective, vendor neutral network test facilities for manufacturers, service providers and enterprise customers.

 

It demonstrated the latest advances in MPLS and Ethernet based solutions, including inter-network connectivity tests to ensure smooth traffic flow between two separate, autonomous networks. The company used various methods to conduct these tests, including Internet Protocol version 4 (IPv4) / Internet Protocol version 6 (IPv6) connectivity (6VPE).

 

Redback believes that these tests are highly important for peering networks and for operators like them to have connectivity agreements with common customers for services such as a global IP VPN.

 

“Almost all governments have mandated a smooth transition and inclusion plan to IPv6 services,” said Carsten Rossenhoevel, managing director of EANTC.

 

“In addition, service providers specifically in Europe and Asia are seeing the number of end systems continue to grow – much of the growth is attributed to next-generation mobile networks,” added Rossenhoevel.

 

Highlighting the critical importance of enhancing backbones to support IPv6 services, Rossenhoevel also mentioned that EANTC’s multi-vendor interoperability testing has the capability to take the industry to that level.

 

As IPv6 is an important feature for the expansion of address space for device inter-connectivity, Redback took EANTC’s support to test IPv4/IPv6 interconnectivity for developing its SmartEdge Multi-Service Edge Router. Consequently, Redback SE400 successfully passed all the interoperability tests, demonstrating to service providers an immediate and smooth transition path to IPv6 services.

 

“To date, IPv6 has been limited mainly to emerging technology hotspots that either lack IPv4 or other legacy networks because the migration to a new IPv6 network seemed somewhat challenging,” said Simon Williams, senior vice president of products, marketing and strategy at Redback Networks (News - Alert).

 

“But, now with IPv6 also introduced to mobile networks due to their need to connect more and more devices over fast and reliable connections, service providers are ready to start deploying IPv6-based applications and services more widely,” said Williams.

 

Redback joined 14 other network hardware companies in the interoperability tests featuring more than 75 devices.

 

With more than 500 carrier customers worldwide, Redback was recently honored by Technology Marketing Corporation’s (TMC (News - Alert)) INTERNET TELEPHONY magazine. Redback’s SM 480 Metro-Ethernet Service Transport platform was recognized as a recipient of its 2008 Product of the Year Award.