MPLS stands for Multi-Protocol Label Switching. Now that we know what the acronym stands for, but what does it mean?

Protocols are an important part of sending and receiving information across the internet and different protocols exist for different telephony technologies.

The term multi-protocol means this type of service uses any kind of protocol – it’s not restricted to any particular type of protocol – hence, multi-protocol.

The uniqueness of MPLS vs. a regular VPN or other IP connection is its use of labeling. Voice and data get sent in packets so when those packets are received at the MPLS network, each packet is assigned a label. That packet actually gets assigned multiple labels – but one at a time as it progresses through the MPLS network from one end to the other.

As each packet travels from one “hop” to another (think of hops as stations), it checks in and drops off any needed information for processing and gets tagged with another label to replace the previously affixed one. Then it goes to the next station and repeats the process until the end.

Although extremely simplified above, that’s the basic gist. There are benefits to using an MPLS network, but not necessarily everyone needs it, and a regular SIP trunk with a VPN would suffice.

Here are some benefits that come with MPLS, many have to do with the way it is designed as explained above.

MPLS Benefits

Faster Speed: Due to the labeling technology, the speed of performing lookups for destinations and routing is much faster than the standard IP table lookups non-MPLS routers have to perform.

QoS: This is a big one. MPLS networks achieve greater Quality of Service for their customers. Quality of Service (QoS) means exactly that – you can expect a higher standard of service such as reliability, speed, and voice quality. This is for a few reasons, one already mentioned above.

In addition, MPLS networks are able to assign priorities to the different packets based on what the labels say about that packet. Packets with greater priority, voice over data for example, are given more bandwidth allocation. A packet that which is not deemed as high priority is given less. Obviously sending documents online don’t need to be assured of the same bandwidth required for someone who is wanting to have a conversation.

Faster Restoration: MPLS networks are also able to restore interrupted connections at a faster speed than typical networks. Obviously, this is a benefit.

Security: MPLS offers greater security and are often required for companies which need enhanced privacy and security for their network needs. Some industries like the Health Care and Financial industries are examples of industries mandated by Federal law to comply to specific requirements for network security.

If you are in one of these industries and need SIP, MPLS is a good option unless the provider can offer the proper forms of encryption.

24/7 Monitoring: Another benefit of MPLS is that the network is pro-actively monitored and managed at all times ensuring the extreme reliability and security.

Where to Find MPLS Providers

You can find MPLS providers by looking directly at carriers like Level 3, however the problem with these is that they usually only deal with very large accounts, and their rates are generally higher than Service Providers like EtherSpeak.  EtherSpeak for example, can connect to an MPLS network allowing smaller business entities that larger carriers may not take on as a customer to tap into the network via EtherSpeak – and at a lesser price.

MPLS is described many ways by many people. It’s fairly easy to understand the concept but depending on what level of understanding you want to attain can make it more difficult to explain. MPLS is fairly new, starting in the late 90’s as a solution to the growing problem of internet unreliability and with the increasing number of companies demanding better connectivity and quality.

While one of our tech support guys describe MPLS as follows, “a Frame Relay but with much faster speeds and QoS control” someone else explains it as a way as a private network not passing over the internet – but through its own connectivity in the cloud. Other people just say the acronym and think that this explains it all.

In the end consider the advantages of what an MPLS network provides, and if it’s what you need or simply looking for more details like pricing, set up, etc., feel free to contact us and you’ll get a free quote and can talk with our knowledgeable staff about what kind of environment would work for your type of business.

EtherSpeak, Inc.
www.ietherspeak.com
(866) 384-3747