Services are one of the four pillars of our MEF 3.0 Global Services Framework. MEF defines many service standards, including those for underlay connectivity, as well as overlay services, such as SASE and SD-WAN.
Dynamic, assured, high-speed technology-agnostic service standards from MEF provide the underlying fabric for modern digital services. MEF’s SASE and SD-WAN service standard provide application-centric, policy-driven, high-performance Overlay Digital Services that leverage MEF 3.0 Underlay Connectivity Service (UCS) standards, as well as other non-service-based access technologies (e.g. broadband Internet) to enable a fully orchestrated fabric for service providers delivering new, revenue-generating digital services to the enterprise.
Together, the combination of high-speed, dynamic and assured Underlay Connectivity Service standards, like Carrier Ethernet, plus MEF 3.0 SASE and SD-WAN, provide a delivery platform for new digital services, such as Mixed Reality, IoT, and security services. These services can be fully orchestrated and automated within a single service provider, as well as between service providers, for both on-net and off-net service access. This automation delivers operational savings, agility, and an enhanced experience for enterprises consuming these modern, digital services.
The combination of MEF 3.0 service standards (both underlay connectivity services and overlay services) with MEF APIs empower enterprises to digitally transform using network-based, software-defined digital services.
Watch the video to learn about underlay and overlay services, featuring MEF 3.0 SD-WAN and how these service standards, combined with MEF APIs, truly empower the enterprise to digitally transform.
To understand how underlay and overlay service standards work to deliver automated and orchestrated digital services, Click the Tabs.
Understand how underlay and overlay service standards work to deliver automated and orchestrated digital services by browsing the 4 descriptions below.
E.g. MEF 3.0 Optical Transport, Carrier Ethernet, IP
MEF 3.0 Underlay Connectivity Service standards, such as Carrier Ethernet, provide technology-agnostic service capabilities for service providers to connect subscribers, e.g. an enterprise and its office locations. Each service provider has multiple endpoints, which may span a city, or the planet. Modern global enterprises often require multiple providers to partner together to deliver the connectivity they require.
Federating Network & Cloud Providers with MEF LSO Sonata APIs
To manage the digital velocity enterprises need, service providers need to interoperate seamlessly in an automated fashion. MEF Lifecycle Service Orchestration (LSO) APIs support this requirement. Specifically, LSO Sonata APIs, provide the business-layer automation for services based on MEF 3.0 Underlay Connectivity Service standards like Carrier Ethernet.
Example: MEF 3.0 SD-WAN
MEF’s SD-WAN service standard provides a policy-driven, application-centric approach to creating a flexible, software-defined overlay, which sits atop the various underlay connectivity services. Enterprises are clamoring for this overlay experience delivered as a managed service.
Growth Platform for New Digital Services: The New Network-as-a-Service Ecosystem
By using MEF LSO standards to automate both within and between providers at the underlay connectivity layer, which is synchronized with the SASE and SD-WAN overlay layer, service providers are empowered to deliver modern digital services to their enterprise customers e.g. Mixed Reality, IoT and security services, within a fully orchestrated Network-as-a-Service model.
MEF 3.0 Underlay Connectivity Service standards provide technology-agnostic service capabilities for service providers to connect subscribers, e.g. an enterprise and its office locations.
Explore MEF's Underlay Connectivity ServicesMEF’s Overlay Digital Service standards provide policy-driven, application-centric approaches to creating flexible, software-defined overlays, which sit atop the various underlay connectivity services.
Explore MEF’s Overlay Digital ServicesMEF’s Cybersecurity Service standards empower service and technology providers to leverage the MEF baseline for common language and definitions, removing confusion and making it easier for enterprises to compare and purchase SASE and secure SD-WAN services.
Explore MEF Cybersecurity Services
