MPLS & Frame Relay Alliance Completes TDM/MPLS Spec

The MPLS & Frame Relay Alliance has completed an Implementation Agreement (IA) addressing the emulation of Time Division Multiplexing (TDM) circuits over MPLS using Raw Encapsulation (MFA 8.0.0). This IA will accelerate deployment of services carrying TDM circuits across MPLS cores by addressing the key aspects of the technology, including encapsulation formats, setup and teardown of connections carrying TDM circuits across MPLS networks, and OAM.



The IA, by encapsulating TDM data into MPLS packets, removes the need for the AAL1-based layer used by TDM Transport over MPLS using AAL1 (MFA 4.0.0).



The MFA expects that this approach will simplify implementations, save network bandwidth and allow flexible usage of "delay budgets." Traffic on traditional TDM circuits such as T1 and E1 can be transported in packetized form over MPLS networks. This enables service providers to offer TDM services using the same MPLS network that they use to offer other services, simplifying the process of moving to a single, converged voice and data network. http://www.mplsforum.org/