The current economic downturn is driving most CIOs to achieve a delicate balance between increasing bandwidth needs and rationalizing IT spends. These requirements are forcing CIOs to ask the following questions:

• How do I deploy networks in less than 6 weeks?

• How do I achieve a cost savings of 30 % by migrating to IP-based networks?

• How can OPEX based models help optimize my expenditure?

• What are the applications that can be deployed on converged networks?

Tata Communications and Cisco presents a Frost & Sullivan Executive MindXchange on Managed MPLS, to demonstrate the value-added offerings that MPLS can offer as a network solution. MPLS draws its essence from several options that can be bundled along with connectivity. Apart from the inherent cost advantage, Managed MPLS enables offerings such as VoIP, unified communication and messaging consolidation of data centers. The summit also aims at creating awareness towards these offerings.

IP-based networks offer a unique opportunity by enabling voice and data convergence on the same network. This reduces the overheads involved in employing separate PRI (TDM-based network) lines for voice. According to Frost Sullivan, the savings on cost can be as high as 48 percent on inter-branch calls. This is a typical example of what voice over a MPLS network could offer.

The CIO is faced with challenges such as IT infrastructure maintenance, achieving improved IT efficiency, technology obsolescence etc. Managed MPLS helps mitigate connectivity challenges by transferring the onus of converting and maintaining all networks on a single technology to the service provider. Managed MPLS also helps CIOs maintain IT applications and manage technology change if any. In addition, managed networks create a single point of accountability for managing the end-to-end service.

In spite of the numerous benefits that Managed MPLS offers, it faces some perception challenges. Converged networks offer an environment for certain security threats like hackers, external agents ‘eavesdropping’ on company private information, threats through Internet exposure etc. This event also aims to dispel these concerns by showcasing the inherent security aspects that mitigate these risks.

Managed MPLS, is therefore a gateway to myriad benefits such as quicker deployment of networks and enterprise-wide applications, cost efficient IT systems and better IT management.

Attend the MPLS Summit to know more and have your questions answered.