Cox Communications has joined fellow incumbent MSOs Comcast and Time Warner Cable in receiving Carrier Ethernet 2.0 certification from the Metro Ethernet Forum (MEF).
Among its features, CE 2.0 provides a way for carriers to interconnect and to set up a wide range of class-of-service definitions that can be applied to service level agreements with commercial customers, and expands the number of services that can be delivered via Carrier Ethernet.
Other U.S. providers that have achieved 2.0 certified status include tw telecom, Alaska Communications, RCN Business, AT&T, and Fibertech Networks, among others.
"Cox Business strives to deliver a higher level of service to our customers, while providing them with flexible and efficient communications options to meet their ever-growing business needs," said Steve Rowley, senior vice president at Cox Business, in a statement. "This latest MEF certification demonstrates that we remain committed to delivering Ethernet services that exceed basic requirements and provide businesses with the multiple location connectivity they need to reduce costs and increase productivity."
"MEF CE 2.0 certification differentiates providers offering advanced CE 2.0 products and provides proper recognition to those, like Cox Business, who are delivering on their promise to meet advanced networking needs," added Nan Chen, president of the MEF.
Cable operators have been rising in the Carrier Ethernet ranks. According to Vertical Systems’ most recent U.S. leaderboard, AT&T was the top carrier, followed by Verizon Communications, tw telecom, CenturyLink, Time Warner Cable, Cox, XO, Comcast and Level 3 Communications.
Bright House, Charter Communications and Lightpath, the enterprise business arm of Cablevision Systems, were in Vertical Systems’ “challenge tier,” which represents providers with between 1% and 4% share of the U.S. retail Ethernet market.
