MPLS-TP - The New Technology for Packet Transport Networks

The Internet Engineering Task Force (IETF) and the Telecommunication Standardization Sector of the International Telecommunication Union (ITU-T) have undertaken a joint effort to standardize a new transport profile for the Multi-Protocol Label Switching (MPLS) technology that is intended to provide the basis for the next generation packet transport network. The fundamental idea of this activity is to extend MPLS where necessary with Operations, Administration and Maintenance (OAM) tools that are widely applied in existing transport network technologies such as SONET/SDH or OTN. This paper provides a brief history of the MPLS-TP standardization activities and addresses the MPLS-TP OAM functions.