Redback Networks Inc., a leading provider of next-generation broadband networking systems, today announced it has completed a successful round of interoperability tests, measuring the SmartEdge® family of multiservice edge routers as a new platform for Ethernet aggregation services as well as IP/MPLS edge routing.

The tests are significant for Redback because the carrier Ethernet market in total represents a new growth market up to $1.5 billion by 2008, according to two major research firms, the Yankee Group and Infonetics Research. The successful interoperability tests also demonstrate that Redback’s SmartEdge family of multiservice routers can be a powerful platform to deliver data, voice and video services over a carrier Ethernet infrastructure in a multivendor environment. In a market environment where industry consolidation is driving network consolidation, most experts believe carriers will reduce or eliminate the number of single service networks over time. Multiservice networks have emerged as the primary choice for broadband, phone and TV services.

"Interoperability is key to carrier Ethernet services," said Carsten Rossenhoevel, managing director of the internationally recognized test center EANTC. "Almost all service provider triple play and business Ethernet infrastructures are heterogeneous today."

"The emerging carrier Ethernet market is a great opportunity to accelerate triple play deployments on a worldwide basis," said Marco Wanders, chief marketing officer, Redback Networks. "In the future, carriers will use fewer networks to deliver more services over a next generation broadband infrastructure. These EANTC tests help validate that Redback is at the forefront of IP and Ethernet networking innovations, offering advanced Ethernet functionality and multivendor compatibility and helping customers differentiate themselves in an increasingly competitive IP services market."

The recent interoperability test event at the carrier Ethernet World Congress ensures that the Metro Ethernet Forum (MEF) specifications are implemented consistently worldwide for all participating vendors. Service providers will be more confident to deploy carrier Ethernet once they can trust that multiple components will actually work together in realistic environments.

Redback joined 16 other network hardware companies in the interoperability tests. The tests were conducted over eight days and were managed by the European Advanced Networking Test Center (EANTC). Redback products were tested as an Ethernet aggregation and services router and as a multiservice edge router. Among the services tested for router interoperability was IPTV. Redback is at the center of some of the largest IPTV deployments in the China, Korea and U.S. markets today.

Eleven of the top 20 DSL carriers worldwide deploy Redback's SmartEdge multiservice edge routers to deliver various broadband services to tens of millions of business and residential customers worldwide. These customers include British Telecom, Belgacom, BellSouth, China Telecom, China Netcom, Chunghwa Telecom, France Telecom and Turk Telecom, among others.