Back

Metro Ethernet Forum (MEF)

The Metro Ethernet Forum (MEF) is a significant global industry alliance that plays a crucial role in the development, adoption, and certification of Carrier Ethernet and other network services. With over 220 member organizations, including telecommunications service providers, cable MSOs, network equipment and software manufacturers, semiconductor vendors, and testing organizations, MEF’s influence spans across the telecommunications industry[2].

MEF has developed over 70 standards covering a range of services including MEF 3.0 orchestrated SD-WAN, IP, Carrier Ethernet, and Optical Transport services[3]. These standards are aimed at facilitating the delivery and certification of assured digital services, orchestrated across a global ecosystem of automated networks. The standards are publicly available for voluntary adoption, benefiting the entire industry by promoting interoperability, scalability, and security in network services.

MEF 3.0, in particular, represents a significant evolution in MEF’s standards, focusing on accelerating the industry’s transformation to dynamic, automated, and interconnected services across a global federation of automated networks[8]. This set of standards is crucial for enabling service providers and technology suppliers to adopt global industry best practices, drive innovation, and empower enterprise digital transformation[6].

The Metro Ethernet Forum (MEF) has developed a wide range of technical standards that cover various network services, including Carrier Ethernet, SD-WAN, IP, and Optical Transport services. Some notable examples of MEF standards include:

MEF 70: Defines a set of functional requirements for SD-WAN services, which are testable and form the basis for the MEF SD-WAN Certification Program[5].
MEF 3.0: Represents a significant evolution in MEF’s standards, focusing on accelerating the industry’s transformation to dynamic, automated, and interconnected services across a global federation of automated networks. It includes standards for orchestrated SD-WAN, IP, Carrier Ethernet, and Optical Transport services[2][6].
MEF 117: The first SASE (Secure Access Service Edge) standard, which defines what a SASE standard is, key terminology related to SASE, and SASE service attributes[4].
MEF 118: A zero-trust framework standard that creates clear definitions for what zero-trust frameworks are, requirements, and service attributes[4].
MEF 15: Defines network and service management requirements and frameworks for OAM (Operations, Administration, and Maintenance) in Carrier Ethernet networks[3].
MEF 17: Specifies requirements for inter-provider service management and interconnection in Carrier Ethernet networks[3].
MEF 20: Defines the requirements for Ethernet services over optical transport networks[3].

These standards are developed to promote interoperability, scalability, and security in network services, benefiting service providers, technology suppliers, and enterprises worldwide[2].

Citations:

[1] https://en.wiktionary.org/wiki/MEF

[2] https://opennetworking.org/about-onf/liaisons/mef/

[3] https://wiki.mef.net/display/CESG/MEF+Standards

[4] https://www.acronymfinder.com/MEF.html

[5] https://mobileecosystemforum.com

[6] https://www.mef.net/learn/mef-technical-standards-sdks/

[7] https://www.mef.net

[8] https://blog.consoleconnect.com/what-is-mef-3.0-and-why-it-matters

[9] https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/MEF

[10] https://www.pipenetworks.com/pipeethernet-mef.php

[11] https://www.iimef.marines.mil/About/What-is-II-MEF/