Sprint sets deadline to switch off legacy nets - Is there reason to panic?

NETWORK WORLD NEWSLETTER: TIM GREENE ON VPNS
06/30/05
Today's focus: Sprint sets deadline to switch off legacy nets -
Is there reason to panic?

Dear networking.world@gmail.com,

In this issue:

* Sprint plans to shut down its legacy nets: What does this mean
  for users?
* Links related to VPNs
* Featured reader resource
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Today's focus: Sprint sets deadline to switch off legacy nets -
Is there reason to panic?

By Tim Greene

Sprint is accelerating the adoption of IP VPN services by
declaring it will shut down its frame relay and ATM services in
four years.

Doing so will force its customers to either make the transition
to Layer 2 and Layer 3 IP services or go elsewhere. But
customers are likely to come up against similar pushes by other
carriers that want to move to IP, even if they have yet to set a
concrete deadline, as Sprint has.

The trend has been for service providers to add IP connections
to existing frame relay and ATM networks they provide for their
customers. This integration gives customers the option to expand
their WANs without ripping out their current networks to adopt
IP all at once. Customers get experience with IP and service
providers can keep customers on their frame relay networks until
their IP networks are fully ready.

Meanwhile, customers reap the benefit of lower IP prices that
are designed to lure frame relay users.

There is no reason to panic here. So far Sprint is the only
major carrier to issue a deadline, and it is giving so much lead
time that most businesses will be able to figure out what they
want to do before it's time to renew their service contracts.

Customers who are satisfied with frame relay and reluctant to
switch to IP will likely be able to hang onto their service for
awhile given how pervasive frame relay is and given that frame
relay can be used as an access technology to an IP MPLS backbone
network. What looks like frame relay to the customer could in
fact be carried over the provider's IP backbone, an arrangement
that should be agreeable to both frame-relay diehards and
service providers eager to simplify their networks.

Businesses with frame relay and ATM WANs should explore IP VPN
services as an alternative for two reasons. It seems that the
transition is inevitable, so they should familiarize themselves
with it. And two, with service providers encouraging customers
to adopt IP, customers should be on the lookout for bargains,
which is one of the most effective enticements service providers
have to steer customers in the direction they want them to go.

RELATED EDITORIAL LINKS

Carriers push users to move off legacy nets
Network World, 06/20/05
http://www.networkworld.com/nlvpn2947
_______________________________________________________________
To contact: Tim Greene

Tim Greene is a senior editor at Network World, covering virtual
private networking gear, remote access, core switching and local
phone companies. You can reach him at <mailto:tgreene@nww.com>.
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This newsletter is sponsored by Breach Security Inc.
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decrypt SSL.

SSL traffic passes through your network without examination.
Potential security breaches go undetected. BreachViewSSL
non-intrusively decrypts SSL traffic to deliver clear text to
the IDS for inspection. Eliminate this blind spot to avoid
being the victim of a hack. For a free evaluation copy visit
http://www.fattail.com/redir/redirect.asp?CID=107469
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ARCHIVE LINKS

Breaking VPN news from Network World, updated daily:
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Archive of the VPN newsletter:
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