The Ethernet Alliance announced the addition of three new subcommittees, with the formation of titular focus groups for 400GbE, Access Networking, and [Ethernet technology] Roadmap advancements. The consortium says the the approval and formation of the new groups parallels 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,” contends Dell's John D’Ambrosia, chairman of the Ethernet Alliance.
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The Ethernet Alliance notes that its subcommittees help to advance standards-based Ethernet technology through a variety of initiatives and activities including technology incubation, development of new standards frameworks, and conducting of market studies. They also mirror recent developments, such as the launch of an IEEE study group exploring development of a new 400Gb/s Ethernet standard.
Specifically, the three new subcommittees' activities are described as follows:
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.
The 3 new subcommittees join 8 existing committees, spanning a broad spectrum of technologies and segments, including those for 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 advancements.
See also: 'Ethernet at 40': Bob Metcalfe settles score with IBM
Ethernet Alliance chair D'Ambrosia concludes, “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.”
To learn more about any Ethernet Alliance subcommittee, visit http://www.ethernetalliance.org/subcommittees.
