Metro Ethernet Forum Launches End User Enterprise Initiative At Networld+Interop

NEWPORT BEACH, Calif.--May 17, 2004-- The Metro Ethernet Forum (MEF), the leading technical and marketing industry group focused on accelerating the adoption of Ethernet in metro networks worldwide, today announced a new initiative aimed at encouraging enterprise end users of Ethernet services to join the debate on how Ethernet services are managed, provisioned and guaranteed. As part of its mission to increase the adoption of Ethernet Services the MEF is looking for end user input to the standards process, as well as to facilitate face to face user input to the MEF's larger base of service providers.

"It's only by getting the end-user decision makers face to face with those within the service provider organizations making service roll out decisions that we can see the rapid adoption of Ethernet services as the choice for MAN and WAN services," said Gary Southwell, Vice President of the MEF who is heading the Enterprise initiative. "The end goal is to facilitate a brokerage of information between end user needs and what the service providers offer."

To accomplish this the MEF has set up a special End User Membership program. The program includes full access to all that goes on in the MEF, and a voice in the process. The membership also includes access to all pre-standard in process work, access to tutorials and training material, as well as a Users group email forum on which users can get help to their service, solution or technology questions. As a special promotion to get the Initiative moving the MEF is allowing enterprise/commercial users and those from the public sector the ability to become founding Enterprise Members. This founding status includes a free membership for the remainder of 2004.

As part of the kickoff, the MEF is hosting series of events to encourage Enterprise input, including at N+I in Las Vegas and at Enterprise Networks in London in July. The MEF has also created a new End User (Enterprise) portal on their web site (www.metroethernetforu.org). This portal provides technical details regarding Ethernet services and their benefits, explores potential real life applications for these services, and the business case for deploying them in terms of return for the end user. End users will also be able to search for service providers in their area (US, Asia and EMEA) that are delivering Ethernet services.

About the Metro Ethernet Forum

The Metro Ethernet Forum is a non-profit organization created to accelerate the adoption of Ethernet in metro networks worldwide, the Metro Ethernet Forum consists of approximately 70 member companies representing a range of leading Ethernet service providers, major incumbent local exchange carriers, top network equipment vendors and other prominent networking companies. For more information about the Forum, including a complete listing of all current MEF members, please visit the MEF web site at www.MetroEthernetForum.org.