IP Level Convergence, a Determinant Path to Internet Development

Abstract

Among the key factors related to the success of Internet, the use of TCP/IP Protocol becomes the most relevant one as a standard for all type of services and applications. Here, the author presents how the emergence of MPLS architecture gives the opportunity to IP providers to offer new services, otherwise never reached with the current IP routing techniques. MPLS makes possible the IP traffic engineering. It also enables to maintain service classes and to support, effectively, the design of Virtual Private networks (VPNs); that is why TCP/IP seems to be the architecture able to keep on the current rate of Internet growth.