The Carrier Ethernet Network (CEN) is the result of adapting Ethernet—traditionally a Local Area Network—to the wide area, and then applying it to providing carrier-based services (Ethernet Services).

 

Note that some earlier MEF specifications refer to CEN as MEN (Metro Ethernet Network) The name was changed by the MEF since Carrier Ethernet Networks can span any geography from metro through to intercontinental and are not limited to just metro areas.

 

The Carrier Ethernet model created by the MEF consists of:

  1. Stakeholders that create the CEN business relationships (Subscribers, Service Providers, Operators)
  2. External interfaces (UNI, ENNI)
  3. Logical Ethernet Connections between the connections (Ethernet Virtual Connections and Operator Virtual Connections)
  4. Carrier Ethernet Services built on the Ethernet Connections (E-Line, E-LAN, E-Tree, Access services)