The dark horses of connectivity

With MPLS and VPN being widely deployed, previously popular connectivity options such as VSAT and RF are facing tough competition, finds Sneha Khanna.

The past few years have seen a revolution in enterprise connectivity with new options such as VPN and MPLS coming to the fore. These are giving tough competition to the formerly popular options such as VSAT and RF (radio frequency) links.

The market is divided on connectivity options, but MPLS and VPN have carved a niche for themselves. Indian enterprises have put their basic network infrastructure in place, and they are now looking at effectively using these options. Their key concerns are higher speed, security, cost and the ability to effectively use a network. The new technologies have an edge on these fronts, but certain technologies such as leased lines still remain popular.

Way to go, MPLS

MPLS has become popular because it caters to Indian enterprises’ wishlist which includes higher speed, security, cost and being able to use their networks effectively. It allows for enhancement of the existing network along with added features.

MPLS enables enterprises and service providers to build intelligent networks that deliver a variety of advanced services over a single infrastructure. It can be integrated seamlessly over any existing infrastructure such as an IP, Frame Relay, ATM or Ethernet. Subscribers with differing access links can be aggregated on an MPLS edge without changing their current environments. This is possible since MPLS is independent of access technologies and can accommodate all protocols.

D Ayappane, the CIO of NIIT SmartServe, is a staunch believer in it. “MPLS is a technology to watch out for. It has good potential in India if QoS issues are addressed and the pricing is competitive,” he says.

The initial goal of MPLS is to bring the speed of layer 2 switching to layer 3-based switching methods by allowing routers to make forwarding decisions based on the contents of a simple label. Using an MPLS VPN, service providers can create IP tunnels throughout their network. Its ability to fulfill the ever-increasing need for security, bandwidth, last-mile connectivity, uptime, reliability and lower costs have made MPLS popular with India Inc.

VPN rising

Today’s enterprise market is interested in a private network over the Internet, and this makes VPN a perfect choice. By virtue of being a private network, it provides security, while the use of Internet infrastructure gives it a cost advantage. Current VPN connectivity options include connections via the Internet as well as over third-party leased networks.

Among VPN options, IP VPN and SSL VPN share the limelight. SSL VPN is particularly popular. “Its uptime is high and manpower requirements are low. There is hardly any dealing with government agencies, and legal formalities are few. SSL VPNs provide the highest level of security, have a 100 percent proven technology, and satellite communication is secure,” explains Pradip Parikh, ISD Manager, Network and Operations, Zandu Pharmaceuticals. “In SSL VPN, video conferencing can be done more effectively, and hardware requirements are lower. Effective messaging can also be done easily.”

SSL VPN efficiently provides remote access from a wide range of locations to network resources through Internet-enabled devices. Other advantages of SSL VPN include ease of management and low overheads since there is no need for a dedicated server.

Companies whose offices are located at remote places and want security are expected to adopt SSL VPN technology. Incidentally, the technology can be used to limit access to specific applications.

IP VPN is also popular. “It gives the advantage of any-to-any point connectivity as compared to other VPNs for which one needs to connect each and every point leading to complexity and higher cost,” notes Rahul Swarup, President, Enterprise Solutions, Sify. “For an IP VPN one needs to connect to the service provider of the city who will offer connections everywhere leading to lower costs.”

Application allotment can also be done using an IP VPN as traffic is on the same network. It also provides the facility of voice priority. Different access levels to suppliers and distributors can be handed out.

Leased lines stay on top

In spite of new technologies, leased lines remain the most popular option among enterprises. Companies whose offices are at remote locations and prefer to go in for a point-to–point connection with high uptime continue to opt for leased lines over any other technology.

The demand for leased lines stems from the fact that it is in a closed circuit providing the highest level of security compared to a VPN. “We still prefer leased lines when we want a long distance connectivity option as it suits our requirements,” says Ayappane.

Diminishing VSAT

VSAT usage seems to be on the wane, and companies are moving to other technologies. Availability of other methods of connectivity such as leased lines at lower costs and with quicker set-up time have had an adverse impact on VSAT as a popular method of connectivity.

“VSATs were popular in the early 1990s due to the non-availability of leased lines and higher costs/lead time required for getting leased lines. Today, leased lines are easily available at lower costs,” says Ayappane. But according to K Krishna, Senior Director, Marketing, HECL, “Leased lines may remain the most popular option, but in certain areas like retail, oil and banking where one has to connect 3,000 to 4,000 locations, VSATs come handy.”

Different companies have different preferences. Says Vilas Pujari, GM, IT, Tata International, “We have already upgraded from VSATs to an MPLS VPN. We may have some RF links where a terrestrial link is not a viable option. Our network will be a mix of RF, VPN and dial-up VPN.” He adds that VSAT usage is bound to shrink as last-mile connectivity options and RF links become available in remote locations.

Many believe that the rise and fall of VSAT technology will depend on a company’s bandwidth requirements. “VSAT usage is definitely decreasing in high traffic areas. However, it is still a good option where remote connectivity is required. But a lot of companies are going terrestrial as more fibre is available. VSATs are still preferred, but for smaller networks,” details Swarup.

Radio declining

RF links seem to be losing their popularity, with just a handful of players now in the market. One of the biggest drawbacks of this technology is that it cannot be used over long distances. This limits its use, and with better options available it seems to be losing its charm.

RF links are generally adopted in cases where the line of sight is clear and the distance is less than 50 kilometres. Comments Krishna, “RF is not being widely adopted and is used only by select players in the industry.”

The big picture

With a number of options available in the market, many companies feel that the selection of a particular connectivity option largely depends on a company’s requirements. The connectivity choice is dependent on reliability, reach, security, capacity and cost. “For us, uptime and cost are the most important factors while evaluating connectivity options,” says Parikh.

Pujari agrees. “We need to look at application requirements. For example, QoS and uptime would be most important for a BPO. Having identified this requirement, we would consider a single consolidated effective solution.” For example, uptime below 99 percent will be unacceptable in a global economy. “The road map of a service provider in terms of technology investments, reach and compatibility with other service providers are some of the issues one should consider,” advises Pujari.

khannasneha@networkmagazineindia.com