Verizon Business is implementing a Metro Ethernet solution across the Asia Pacific including Australia, Singapore, Japan and Hong Kong, to help transform and consolidate its global network.

Verizon Business is deploying the Nortel Metro Ethernet Networking solution across Europe and Asia-Pacific using the Nortel Optical Multiservice Edge 6500 as a wideband digital cross-connect to deliver transport convergence for Verizon's TDM and packet services.

These services are available in 17 European countries and four countries across Asia.

Verizon's product director of international advanced data services, Peter Konings, said the Ethernet convergent platform is being used to help consolidate and expand the organization's network to ramp up enterprise service offerings in the region.

Services enabled by the global IP network, including rapid and secure connectivity among multiple locations and improved Ethernet access, are designed to help businesses increase their productivity.

Nortel's role is to help meet enterprise expectations for bandwidth-hungry applications across Asia in a cost-efficient manner, according to Philippe Morin, president of Metro Ethernet Networks at Nortel.

"By delivering a solution that combines optical expertise with Ethernet know-how we're supporting new services to meet increased user demand," he said.

The Optical Multiservice Edge 6500 convergence platform, used as a next-generation optical convergence solution, allows service providers to offer established and emerging high-growth optical broadband services with the fastest time to revenue, and lowest total cost of implementation.

By using the same modular platform that supports unrestricted traffic management of both TDM and Ethernet traffic, a seamless end-to-end and scalable multi-service network capability is created for Verizon Business.

As the volume of Ethernet private line services grows, the platform's Layer 2 Service Switch (L2SS) capability will provide efficient head end aggregation and a scalable network solution for new definable, chargeable and economic services.

Verizon Business can also use its OME 6500 platform to leverage its extensive DWDM network and support new 10 Gigabit Ethernet services.

The OME 6500 is now standard for international wide band digital cross-connect deployment and will also support network optimisation for expanded Ethernet services.

Nortel does business in more than 150 countries around the world.