Infonet Announces Availability of MPLS VPN

March 8, 2002 -- (WEB HOST INDUSTRY REVIEW) -- Infonet Services Corporation (infonet.com), a leading provider of global communications services, announced on Thursday that since January 30, 2002, all of its new Private Internet client virtual private networks have been automatically configured using Multi-Protocol Label Switching technology.

Private Internet MPLS VPN, says Infonet, is a managed IP network service designed to provide secure and reliable internetworking within an enterprise or community.

MPLS is a new protocol architecture designed to provide simpler mechanisms for packet-oriented traffic engineering, says Infonet. MPLS includes a number of features and functions, but its main purpose is to use label switching to ensure secure connectivity between client routers and allow for the construction of VPNs that support multiple service levels.

"MPLS IP VPN cost advantages are inevitable if a company can eliminate a redundant data connection," said Courtney Munroe, Vice President, Telecom and IP Services for IDC. "In addition to network efficiencies, end users can also benefit from additional IP-based services that can be facilitated by the implementation of MPLS."

The MPLS VPN platform, says Infonet overcomes several of the limitations of older IP VPNs. The advantages of the new configuration include fully managed global LAN-to-LAN communications, end-to-end service level guarantees, automatic traffic routing around link failures, private address support and a Cisco-powered network.

According to Infonet, the company’s IP VPN leadership stretches over 10 years, and includes new client wins such as Nestle, World Courier and Volkswagen/Gedas. The company says that through networking assets and innovative technology, its IP service distinguishes it from other global service providers.