“MPLS can improve your network performance, allow for VOIP and video convergence and save money at the same time.”

What's All The Fuss About MPLS Anyway?

Written by: QuoteMyT1 Staff - Mar 17, 2010

A hot new trend in the Telecom business is the move toward MPLS. What exactly is MPLS and is it right for you?

MPLS is short for Multi-Protocol Label Switching. It is an initiative from the Internet Engineering Task Force that integrates Layer 2 information about Network Links into Layer 3 (IP) within an autonomous system such as an ISP. This is done in order to improve and, at the same time, simplify IP packet exchange.

In simpler terms, it provides a means to prioritize and combine data packets from different kinds of data into one stream and apply to a network. It enables one connection, a T1 for instance, to carry VOIP phone calls, video conference calls, e-mail and normal Internet browsing simultaneously. It does this without impacting voice or video performance.

A traditional network handles all data packets alike. As the network receives data packets, it forwards them on in the same sequence. The first data packet received is the first forwarded on. This works well for browsing the Internet and sending and receiving e-mails. It doesn't work well for VOIP and video.

Video and VOIP requires real-time delivery of packets. If packets are received out of sequence or if there are time gaps between packets, the video or voice will be severely degraded. It is very important that the packets are received in the correct order and in a timely manner. With normal Internet browsing or e-mail use, packets being received in the wrong order would have minimal impact.

So, how does MPLS overcome this problem? When all data packets enter an MPLS based network, they are assigned priority by the router. This prioritization information is included in the header. Real-time sensitive packets such as VOIP or video are simply assigned higher priority than other packets. All subsequent routers in the network understand the priority and make sure that these packets always arrive in the correct order and with no gaps. The result is high quality VOIP calls and video conferencing as well as minimal impact to e-mail and browsing traffic.

By combining all traffic onto one connection, the telecom dollar can go farther. The business can enjoy a high quality service and costs are kept low. The business runs more efficiently.

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