The Metro Ethernet Forum (MEF) announced this week at OFC/NFOEC 2005 that it will expand its scope to promote standards-based Ethernet in the first mile (EFM) technologies and encouraged the utilization and implementation of EFM based on the IEEE standard. The MEF, which promotes the adoption of carrier Ethernet services and technologies, said it will assume the activities that until now were handled by the Ethernet in the First Mile Alliance (EFMA).
   Companies actively participating in the IEEE 802.3ah Ethernet in the First Mile project formed the EFMA in 2001 to promote the new set of standards for Ethernet in public access networks over both optical and copper media.
   The MEF said newly standardized Ethernet in the First Mile technologies and products are important to the successful deployment of the Ethernet in both access and metro networks, and adding Ethernet in the first mile to its mission is a natural fit, given its role of promoting Ethernet services and infrastructure technologies. Many EFMA members, including Extreme Networks, Cisco Systems and Hatteras Networks, are already MEF members, and EFMA member companies such as Ericsson Communications will join the MEF to continue their market development of Ethernet in the First Mile as an integral part of the MEF.
   Peter Linder, EFMA board member and technical director of Wireline Business Unit Systems, Ericsson AB, said, "The job of promoting Ethernet in the public network and developing the market for Ethernet access technologies has only just begun. Ongoing promotion of this work is best accomplished by the MEF, given its much broader scope of activities. With the additional members and new expertise in infrastructure for Ethernet in the First Mile, the MEF will now be better suited to accomplish its mission of accelerating the adoption of carrier Ethernet services and technologies worldwide."
   The MEF said it its technical and marketing committees are devoted to the development of technical specifications and market development of Ethernet in public networks, and that these committees provide the best possible forum for continuing the work begun by the EFMA over the past three years.
   Most EFMA member companies are also stakeholders in the carrier Ethernet market, and combining the two industry groups will enable the MEF to become more closely associated with the IEEE 802.3 Ethernet Task Force, it said. It said the EFMA's Web site content will be transferred to the MEF's site, at: www.MetroEthernetForum.org