IRVINE, Calif., Nov. 16 -- The Metro Ethernet Forum (MEF) announced today the ratification of three new technical specifications for carrier class Ethernet: providing an interface model between element and network management systems, an implementation agreement for circuit emulation services and test procedures for point-to-point (E-Line) and any-to-any (E-LAN) services. In the past 12 months, the industry has seen nine specifications ratified by the MEF supporting its goal to promote Ethernet for metropolitan area networking. "MEF 9 -- Test Procedure for Ethernet Services is especially significant," said Nan Chen, MEF president, "because it provides test procedures for subscribers to ensure successful integration of Ethernet services into their network infrastructure as defined by the industry's first metro Ethernet service specification, MEF 1. Metro Ethernet equipment suppliers and service providers too will welcome MEF 9's set of test procedures to ensure that their products are conformant to a commonly defined set of service capabilities." MEF 8, also announced today, defines the implementation agreement for the emulation of PDH circuits over metro Ethernet networks (MENs). MEF 8 provides requirements to implement the circuit emulation services (CES) over MENs as defined in the earlier MEF 3 technical specification. The third new specification, MEF 7, the Element Management System (EMS) -- Network Management System (NMS) Interface Information Model, addresses network management by defining a logical, protocol-neutral model to guide the development of consistent management interfaces across diverse protocols. "Building confidence in metro Ethernet as a carrier class, service delivery technology is crucial, and the MEF has made significant advances this year towards that goal," said Nortel Networks' Ralph Santitoro, co-chair of the MEF Technical Marketing Committee. "But the MEF specifications are more than just a set of published documents. MEF 6, for example, defines E-Line and E-LAN services. It was only published this past June and already it is being widely used in service providers' RFPs to metro Ethernet equipment suppliers, just as enterprises too have used it to specify their service requirements." For more information, visit: www.MetroEthernetForum.org