ransitioning towards all-IP. Some interesting facts supporting this claim are: Gigabit Ethernet Radios The three key providers of Gigabit radios namely Bridge Wave Comm., E-Band Comm., GigaBeam are expected to launch 10 Gbps products (a ten fold increase in capacity) in 2011. Nokia Siemens Networks (NSN) signed an partner agreement with Bridge Wave (2010) Alcatel-Lucent signed an partner agreement with Bridge Wave (2009) NSN and Huawie are expected to have their own products in 2011 Gigabit Ethernet Radios are getting deployed in the developed world. Clearwire is deploying such product for its WiMAX network. Telenor Group is also evaluating such products for its various operating companies. The packet based microwave radios are providing higher and higher capacities. NEC Neo HP product can provide up to 1.6 Gbps capacity at frequencies less than 40 GHz. EPON and GPON are the two key main technologies for FTTx: There are more than 15 million installed EPON ports. Verizon has installed over 800,000 lines based on GPON. ZTE claimed to roll out the prototype of the world's first 10G EPON equipment. In the metro networks we will see a migration towards Carrier Ethernet based technologies while the core will transition towards an all-optical platform: MPLS-TP is on the roadmap of all the major vendors. The standard is expected to be completed in 2010/2011. Nokia Siemens Networks and Juniper Networks have formed a joint venture "Carrier Ethernet Solutions" to develop MPLS-TP. PBB-TE is mainly supported by Nortel. Each DWDM channel will provide higher and higher bandwidth for long haul: 40G transmission in DWDM long haul networks have been demonstrated. IP over DWDM strategies will continue to be implemented. Transmission Networks Drivers/Challenges Challenge Description Potential Remedies Pure Vanilla 3G EV-DO/HSPA/HSPA+ FTTx (fiber-to-the-hub) 3G Data Speeds (WCDM/CDMA2000) Gigabit Ethernet Radios 28 Mbps 2 Mbps TDM/IP Hybrid Radios 3.5G/4G Data Speeds FTTx (fiber-to-the-NodeB/BTS) WiMAX/3G-LTE IMT/Advanced (4G) Gigabi