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MetroCONNECT - Ethernet Access Solutions

Metrodata now offers a comprehensive range of solutions for Ethernet Network Access and Service Extension, both for NGN and SDH/PDH Carrier Infrastructure.

Leveraging our historical LAN Extension and Managed Fibre Media Converter technologies, the MetroCONNECT Family now represents a comprehensive family of products for Ethernet Access and Edge Delivery, all featuring a common Operating System and rich Management capabilities.

Today, the MetroCONNECT line comprises the following elements;

  • MC12000 Managed Service Delivery Platform
  • WCM-SERIAL and LHM Ethernet to Serial Access products typically for use with Radio and Satellite communications and Serial-interfaced link encryption devices.

Members of the MetroCONNECT family are being deployed both by Telecoms Service Providers and Public Sector or Corporate Enterprise customers. As an example, the growth in market demand for Layer-2 Ethernet Services requires that Service Providers have an increasing need to offer end-to-end 'Performance Assurance' for their services. Customers require proof, both on initial provisioning and during ongoing operation, that the Service provider is meeting their contracted Service Level Agreement (SLA), not just for the Ethernet 'pipe' itself, but in many cases for individual 'Virtual Circuits' carrying different services within the Ethernet data stream.

FCM9004 Advanced Ethernet Demarcation Device Such performance assurance requires highly capable Access Demarcation Devices able not just to monitor in-service traffic, but to transmit complex test data streams and precisely measure parameters including throughput, latency, jitter and packet loss on a per virtual circuit basis, at full customer line rate of typically up to 100Mbps or 1Gbps.

The new FCM9004 Ethernet Demarcation Device from Metrodata does just that. Incorporating our custom packet processing hardware, 'MetroSAM' (Service Assurance Module), the FCM9004 offers Ethernet Service Providers advanced performance assurance reporting for end-to-end networks which may, in the case of Network Aggregators, comprise Core and Tail circuit elements from a number of disparate Infrastructure Carriers.

In contrast, members of the MetroCONNECT WCM range see applications amongst Corporate users, who may require simple and cost-effective point-to-point LAN Extension across existing single or multiple 'bonded' traditional Leased Line (PDH) Services.

WCM1100 In this case, the WCM1X00 series offers the option of a simple 'plug-and-play' approach, but with the benefit of the potential to support more complex configurations such as multi-VLAN prioritised traffic profiles or Point-to-Multipoint network topologies, allowing the customer an evolutionary path to more sophisticated deployments as their requirements develop.

WCM1400 Overall, the MetroCONNECT family represents a comprehensive range of products for Ethernet Access, Ethernet Extension and Service Provision, each with consistent Operation, Management and Flexibility. For more details, click on the links above or contact This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it , Sales & Marketing Manager or the team on +44 (0)1784 744700.

Next Generation Ethernet Demarcation

Metrodata is pleased to announce the forthcoming release of our next generation of Ethernet Demarcation Devices (EDD), often alternatively known as an Ethernet Network Interface Devices (NID).

Today, Metrodata's FCM8000 and FCM9000 products are deployed by Ethernet Service Providers as cost-effective Customer Premise Equipment. These products provide switched media conversion and act as managed demarcation points for Ethernet Services up to 1Gbps. Both devices support management via both SNMP/Telnet and Ethernet Carrier OAM, including both 802.3ah (EFM) and 802.1ag Connectivity Fault Management (CFM) protocols.

Due for release in Q1 2012, our new FCM9004 product offers a sophisticated but cost-effective solution for Carrier Ethernet service demarcation with flexible interface options. The FCM9004 adds some key capabilities to enable Service Providers, both during provisioning and subsequently in-service, to monitor performance and verify compliance with customer Service Level Assurance commitments on a per traffic flow basis.

FCM9004 Advanced Ethernet Demarcation Device

Incorporating our new 'MetroSAM' hardware architecture, Service Level Assurance is provided via Y.1731 performance monitoring and advanced test traffic generation, loop-back and verification functions, at line rate for services up to 1Gbps.

As members of the MetroCONNECT Ethernet Service Delivery family, each of our FCM-series Demarcation products support Metrodata’s ‘zero-touch’ installation process, minimising both on-site installation time and the Engineering skills required.

For over 20 years, Metrodata has specialised in Access Networking solutions for Telecoms Service Operators. Today, many tens of thousands of our CPE access devices are installed with operators worldwide. for SDH/PDH and Ethernet services. Our proven expertise, product quality and responsiveness have been appreciated by customers since 1989.

For further information on our Ethernet Demarcation range, or to download the datasheet for our FCM9004 product, click here. Alternatively, contact us directly via This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it for product availability.

TDM over IP / Ethernet

Metrodata is pleased to announce the forthcoming release of a range of solutions for legacy service delivery and extension across Ethernet and/or IP backbone networks (TDM over IP). The PacketLINK family provides single and multi-port connectivity solutions for n x 64Kbps Serial and E1/T1 or E3/DS3 services across Ethernet/IP networks, including either simple point-to-point links or more complex WAN infrastructures.

The PacketLINK range uses pseudowire TDM circuit extension to ensure effective clock recovery & synchronisation across the IP/Ethernet network backbone.

PacketLINK products may be used by Telecoms Service Providers to provision TDM services over Layer 2 or Layer 3 networks, or by Enterprise customers to extend E1 or Serial connections between devices across an Ethernet or IP backbone.

Across the range, in parallel with TDM service delivery, Ethernet 'LAN-side' connections may be broken out from an IP WAN service, with prioritisation to ensure uninterrupted traffic flow to the TDM connection(s), in order to maintain effective end-to-end clock synchronisation.

Telecoms Service Providers might, for example, use this to provision connections for both Data services (via Ethernet) and ISDN-30 services for non-SIP PBX Voice Trunks (via E1), both over a single IP service connection.

Our initial TDM over IP / Ethernet product line-up is summarised below:

  • PacketLINK PL1100: Single-port E1 or T1 extension or service delivery over Ethernet/IP
  • PacketLINK PL1100S: Single-port n x 64Kbps (up to 4Mbps) Serial extension over Ethernet/IP
  • PacketLINK PL1400F: 2 or 4-port n x 64Kbps Serial or E1/T1 (or a combination of Serial and E1/T1) extension over Ethernet/IP
  • PacketLINK PL3100: Single-port E3 or DS3 extension or service delivery over Ethernet/IP

For further information, click here or contact us directly via ' This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it ' for technical details and product availability.

Passive CWDM Multiplexers

Metrodata is pleased to announce a new range of Passive CWDM Optical Multiplexers under the 'MetroWAVE' brand. 5-port and 9-port mux/de-mux units are available, both of which have the added benefit of providing support for a 'traditional', non-CWDM wavelength optical input and a monitor port enabling in-service diagnostics.  Our MetroWAVE multiplexers are small, lightweight and unpowered devices, providing high reliability and comprehensive features at an extremely cost-effective price.

The company offers a range of 155Mbps and 1.25Gbps CWDM-wavelength SFP Transceivers for use with the multiplexers and a precision hand-held Optical Powermeter which serves as an excellent installation and diagnostic tool for all CWDM applications.

The full range at launch includes:

MetroWAVE 5: 5 channel CWDM multiplexer with expansion port and monitor port

MetroWAVE 4A: 4-channelCWDM multiplexer with expansion port (add on to MetroWAVE-5 to make MetroWAVE-9)

MetroWAVE 9: 9 channel CWDM multiplexer with monitor port

MetroWAVE Powermeter: 18-channel CWDM Optical Powermeter

MetroWAVE Rack: Mounts 3 off MetroWAVE CWDM multiplexers into 1U of a 19 inch rack

MetroWAVE SFP: Range of 155Mbps and 1.25Gbps CWDM SFP Transceivers, for up to 80km transmission across single-mode fibre (additional and enhanced specification devices available on request)


Used in combination with Metrodata's well established range of Fibre interface converters, the MetroWAVE devices enable uniquely flexible network designs for customers having restricted availability to fibre and needing to achieve 'bandwidth multiplication' or to run multiple different services across single fibre links. Supporting simultaneous transmission of Serial, TDM (incl. SDH/PDH), IP/Ethernet, Fibre-channel (SAN), CCTV and other services, highly resilient point-to-point and ring topologies are possible.

For full details, see Passive CWDM Multiplexers

Ethernet Service Delivery

Metrodata is pleased to announce the availability of the MetroConnect range of solutions for LAN Extension and Ethernet Service Delivery.

Until today, Metrodata has offered a range of products for Ethernet LAN Extension over PDH/SDH WAN links in the form of single E1, E3/DS3 and STM1/OC3 connections. These products offer robust connectivity with minimal configuration for ease of deployment and the range has proved popular with both Enterprise and Service Provider customers.

For the MetroConnect family continues to support both basic LAN Extension, with full backwards compatibility with the existing products, but now offers a much greater range of connectivity options, advanced management and the flexibility of 3rd party compatibility to enable their use in 'Ethernet Service Delivery' applications by Telecoms Service Providers.

Specifically, products are available for Ethernet extension applications via:

  • Single T1 or E1 WAN links (both framed and un-framed)
  • Multiple T1 or E1 WAN links, through 'bonding' of up to 4 or 8 WAN circuits
  • Single E3 or DS3 WAN links (both framed and un-framed)
  • Dual 'bonded' E3 or DS3 WAN links
  • STM-1 / OC-3 WAN links (offering full 155Mbps bandwidth)
  • Serial connections, including X.21, V.35, EIA-530, HSSI and LVDS, often used to interface with Radio or Satellite Modem equipment.

For maximum flexibility of Ethernet connectivity, the range will feature both Copper (RJ45) and SFP fibre (SFP) ports, supporting 10/100 or Gigabit speeds. Ethernet 'Jumbo' Frames will also be supported across the range.

The new family supports both Cisco-compatible HDLC and GFP, enabling these devices to be deployed in 'single-ended' application, i.e. potentially as CPE equipment connected back to a Carrier 'aggregation' platform. In this way, these devices are suitable not just for Corporate point-to-point' Ethernet Extension applications, but also for Ethernet Service Delivery/Demarcation applications for Carrier Networks.

To further support Carrier deployment, the range supports the following features:

  • IEEE 802.1q VLANs
  • IEEE 802.1p priority queuing for QoS
  • IEEE 802.3ah 'link OAM', now a significant requirement for Carrier Ethernet Service Delivery.

Each product in the range is available both as a stand-alone device with AC or -48V DC Power Supply variants or alternatively in module format for use within the high-availability MetroConnect Ethernet Service Delivery Platform.

For full details of both the MetroConnect MC12000 platform and our new Managed LAN Extension / Service Delivery products, refer to the 'Ethernet Service Delivery' under the Product section of this Web Site.

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