BEAVERTON, Ore.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--The Ethernet Alliance, a global consortium dedicated to the continued success and advancement of Ethernet technologies, today unveiled three new subcommittees: 400GbE, Access Networking, and Roadmap. Complementing the organization’s lineup of highly targeted and focused subcommittees, the approval and formation of the new groups parallel the rapidly accelerating changes taking place within the global Ethernet ecosystem.
“We’ve reached an inflection point in Ethernet’s timeline; there’s a cascade of exciting developments – the race to 400GbE, for example – that are advancing this seminal technology farther and faster than at any other time in its 40-year history,” said John D’Ambrosia, chairman, Ethernet Alliance, and chief Ethernet evangelist, Dell. “It’s moments like this when we have a wave of emerging technologies and projects that the need for organizations with the capacity for industry consensus building, such as the Ethernet Alliance, is never clearer. All of the dynamic energy we’re currently seeing in the Ethernet ecosystem is being reflected internally; as the Ethernet Alliance continues to grow and expand globally, we’re perfectly positioned to coalesce these new innovations and momentum into concrete successes.”
Ethernet Alliance subcommittees help advance standards-based Ethernet through a variety of initiatives and activities like technology incubation, development of new standards frameworks, and conducting of market studies. The three new subcommittees join eight existing committees spanning a broad spectrum of technologies and segments, including BASE-T, Carrier Ethernet, Ethernet in the Data Center, Energy Efficient Ethernet (EEE), 40G and 100G Ethernet, Next Generation Enterprise Cabling, Power Over Ethernet (PoE), and Higher Speed Modular IO. They also mirror recent developments, such as the launch of an IEEE study group exploring development of a new 400Gb/s Ethernet standard. The three new Ethernet Alliance subcommittees are:
- 400GbE – Chartered to support the definition and development of the next speed of Ethernet, the subcommittee will support 400GbE through consensus building around standardization requirements and efforts, as well as promoting greater awareness and understanding of 400GbE technologies both internally and externally.
- Access Networking – The subcommittee will be focused on helping foster new developments in Extended EPON and EPoC, providing a forum for gaining consensus on the future of EPON, and supporting current and future IEEE 802® wireline access networking projects.
- Roadmap – Acting as a platform for building consensus on the past, present, and future of Ethernet, the subcommittee will be dedicated to gathering and sharing data relative to observed deployment models and applications. It will also deliver actionable roadmaps for both future projects and related enabling technologies.
In addition, the Ethernet Alliance is hosting the IEEE 802.1/802.3 May Interim Meeting. The weeklong gathering will bring together key stakeholders to address efforts underway within the IEEE 802.1 and 802.3 Working Groups, which continue to lay the foundation for Ethernet’s continued expansion and evolution. The IEEE 802.3 400 Gb/s Ethernet Study Group and the 4-Pair Power over Ethernet (PoE) Study Group, both launched in April 2013, are holding their inaugural meetings at this time, as well. The IEEE 802.1/802.3 May Interim Meeting is May 14 – 17, 2013 at the Fairmont Empress, Victoria, British Columbia, Canada.
To learn more about any Ethernet Alliance subcommittee, please visit http://www.ethernetalliance.org/subcommittees. For more information about the Ethernet Alliance, please visit http://www.ethernetalliance.org, follow @EthernetAllianc on Twitter, visit its Facebook page, or join the EA LinkedIn group.
About the Ethernet Alliance
The Ethernet Alliance is a global consortium that includes system and component vendors, industry experts and university and government professionals who are committed to the continued success and expansion of Ethernet technology. The Ethernet Alliance takes Ethernet standards to market by supporting activities that span from incubation of new Ethernet technologies to interoperability demonstrations and education.
For more information about the Ethernet Alliance, please visit www.ethernetalliance.org; follow @EthernetAllianc on Twitter; visit the Ethernet Alliance Facebook page; or join the Ethernet Alliance LinkedIn group. Individuals who would like to receive updates on Ethernet Alliance news, activities and events may sign up for the organization’s newsletter at www.ethernetalliance.org/newsletter.
