Digital Service Standards

Defining standards for dynamic, trusted, and certified services.

Understanding MEF 3.0 Service Standards

The combination of MEF 3.0 service standards (both underlay connectivity services and overlay services) with MEF APIs empower enterprises to digitally transform using network-based, software-defined digital services.

The Story of Underlays and Overlays

Watch the video to learn about underlay and overlay services, featuring MEF 3.0 SD-WAN and how these service standards, combined with MEF APIs, truly empower the enterprise to digitally transform.


MEF Underlay & Overlay Service Standards Detailed

To understand how underlay and overlay service standards work to deliver automated and orchestrated digital services, Click the Tabs.

Understand how underlay and overlay service standards work to deliver automated and orchestrated digital services by browsing the 4 descriptions below.

  • 1. Underlay Connectivity:
  • 2. Automation Between Providers:
  • 3. SD‑WAN Overlay:
  • 4. Digital Services Platform for Growth:

1. Underlay Connectivity:

Underlay Connectivity Services

E.g. MEF 3.0 Optical Transport, Carrier Ethernet, IP

MEF 3.0 Underlay Connectivity Service standards, such as Carrier Ethernet, provide technology-agnostic service capabilities for service providers to connect subscribers, e.g. an enterprise and its office locations. Each service provider has multiple endpoints, which may span a city, or the planet. Modern global enterprises often require multiple providers to partner together to deliver the connectivity they require.

Underlay Connectivity Services

2. Automation Between Providers:

Inter-provider Service Automation

Federating Network & Cloud Providers with MEF LSO Sonata APIs

To manage the digital velocity enterprises need, service providers need to interoperate seamlessly in an automated fashion. MEF Lifecycle Service Orchestration (LSO) APIs support this requirement. Specifically, LSO Sonata APIs, provide the business-layer automation for services based on MEF 3.0 Underlay Connectivity Service standards like Carrier Ethernet.

Inter-provider Service Automation

3. SD‑WAN Overlay:

The Overlay Digital Service Layer

MEF 3.0 SD-WAN

MEF’s SD-WAN service standard provides a policy-driven, application-centric approach to creating a flexible, software-defined overlay, which sits atop the various underlay connectivity services. Enterprises are clamoring for this overlay experience delivered as a managed service.

The Overlay Digital Service Layer

4. Digital Services Platform for Growth:

Fully Orchestrated Underlay & Overlay Services

Growth Platform for New Digital Services

By using MEF LSO standards to automate both within and between providers at the underlay connectivity layer, that is synchronized with the SD-WAN overlay layer, service providers are empowered to deliver modern digital services to their enterprise customers e.g. Mixed Reality, IoT and security services.

Fully Orchestrated Underlay & Overlay Services

Explore MEF Service Standards

MEF Underlay Connectivity Services

MEF 3.0 Underlay Connectivity Service standards provide technology-agnostic service capabilities for service providers to connect subscribers, e.g. an enterprise and its office locations.

Explore MEF's Underlay Connectivity Services

MEF Overlay Digital Services

MEF’s Overlay Digital Service standard provides a policy-driven, application-centric approach to creating a flexible, software-defined overlay, which sits atop the various underlay connectivity services.

Explore MEF’s Overlay Digital Services

MEF Cybersecurity Services

MEF’s Cybersecurity Service standards empower service and technology providers to leverage the MEF baseline for common language and definitions, removing confusion and making it easier for enterprises to compare and purchase SASE and secure SD-WAN services.

Explore MEF Cybersecurity Services

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