IP

The standard for delivery of managed IP services.

IP Services

Why standardize IP services? Automation. Once an IP service needs to go off-net, you enter the complex and time-consuming world of bilateral agreements between service providers. With standard terminology and attributes, the conversation not only becomes easier but one can introduce standard APIs and dramatically accelerate the responsiveness to the subscriber.

See MEF’s Technical Standards & Educational Materials for IP

The MEF IP Services and API Portfolio

The MEF IP Services and API Portfolio is a comprehensive suite of services designed to empower service providers to seamlessly offer NaaS services and capitalize on the rapidly growing Internet Access services market.

MEF IP Services Portfolio advantages:

  • IP service standards, including the new Carrier Ethernet over Broadband standard.
  • Standardized IP schemas, including new IP services product payload, service schemas, and developer guides.
  • Open standard LSO business APIs and LSO operational APIs.
  • The MEF LSO API Onboarding & Interop Test (OIT) Service and LSO API Certification program.
  • LSO Community.

Defining a Standard IP Service

An IP Service is formed of an IP Virtual Connection (IPVC) that links together IPVC End Points at External Interfaces (EIs). EIs are what MEF calls the boundary between what is the responsibility of the service provider and what isn’t. The interface itself may connect to the end user of the network service, such as an enterprise customer, or it could be another service provider (e.g. access provider). In the case of a Subscriber IP Service, which means it’s a service for an end user, or a retail service, the IPVC End Points are specifically at User Network Interfaces (UNIs). MEF has defined Internet Access Services as its first services’ definition, and is currently working on Private IP VPN Services, to be followed by Operator Services.

IP Service Diagram

Connecting subscriber locations using a MEF 3.0 IP service.

IP Service Diagram
IPVC End PointIPVCSubscriber

IPVC End Point

An end point of an IP virtual connection.

IPVC

An IP service is formed using an IP virtual connection; a group of end points linked together.

Subscriber

An end user connection to the IP service. E.g. an enterprise’s branch office.

Learn More about IP:

Educational Materials:

MEF 3.0 Workshop – MEF 3.0 IP Services — 2019 Nov

Product Portfolio: IP

In May 2019, MEF published its IP Service Attributes (MEF 61.1) standard that is a foundational step for defining standardized MEF 3.0 IP services that can be orchestrated across multiple service providers.

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Technical Standards & SDKs:

MEF 151 Cross-Connection Service Attributes — 2024 Apr

Product Portfolio: IP

Service Providers often deliver services to locations where cross-connections between the Service Provider and Subscriber, or between two Operators, are managed by a third party such as a data center provider or multi-tenant building owner.

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MEF 138 Security Functions for IP Services — 2024 Jul

Amends: MEF 88

Product Portfolio: Cybersecurity, IP

This Standard specifies the requirements needed to add Security Functions to an IP Service.

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MEF 61.1.1 Amendment to MEF 61.1: UNI Access Link Trunks, IP Addresses, and Mean Time to Repair Performance Metric — 2022 Jul

Amends: MEF 61.1

Product Portfolio: IP

MEF 69.1 Subscriber IP Service Definitions — 2022 Feb

Product Portfolio: IP

This standard defines Internet Protocol (IP) Services by imposing constraints on certain MEF 61.1 Service Attributes and parameters.

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MEF 61.1 IP Service Attributes — 2019 May

Amends: MEF 61

Amendments: MEF 61.1.1

Product Portfolio: IP

This document specifies the Service Attributes that need to be agreed between a Service Provider and a Subscriber for IP Services, including IP VPNs, cloud access and Internet access. It further specifies the Service Attributes that need to be agreed between a Service Provider and an Operator when part of an end-to-end IP Service needs to be implemented by a partner Operator.

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I want to investigate further. See all IP resources:

What Can I Achieve with MEF 3.0 Managed IP Services?

Most managed IP services provided today use non-standard methods and are typically vendor and OS version specific. These bespoke methods become challenging when services need to be delivered across multiple platforms operated by two or more service providers. The result is a proliferation of manual processes or partner-specific, bilateral agreements, automation and API development. Ultimately the subscriber, that is, the enterprise suffers and growth is inhibited. MEF 3.0 IP is your standard for success.

MEF 3.0 Managed IP advantages:

  • Inter-provider service automation.
  • Accelerated interconnection process.
  • IP Service OAM.
  • End-to-end service visibility both on- and off-net.
  • Enhanced user experience.

Be In the Standard

Engage in the Development of MEF 3.0 IP Services

Create new markets by introducing, guiding, and influencing standards. Actively participating in MEF work gives you the opportunity to lead initiatives that influence the industry. Our current IP projects are available in the MEF 3.0 IP Service Hub on the MEF Members’ Wiki.


All employees of active MEF-member companies are authorized to access MEF Members’ Wiki. Don’t have a login? Register. Not a member? Join MEF. Not sure? Contact Us.

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