[Satnews] VT iDirect, Inc. (iDirect), a company of Vision Technologies Systems, Inc. (VT Systems), announces the release of Layer 2 over Satellite (L2oS), a new feature set within the iDirect Evolution® platform, allowing satellites to work more seamlessly with other telecommunications access technologies, providing transparency across the entire network. Service providers are able to use L2oS to simplify deployment of a satellite network and effectively carry IP traffic anywhere it needs to go.

As service providers experience greater demand to deliver global services, satellite connectivity allows them to reach beyond their traditional area of coverage. L2oS makes it easier to interface satellite technology with terrestrial networking and build unified communication networks. iDirect's L2oS overcomes proprietary satellite protocols, allowing the satellite connection to emulate a transparent Ethernet link with the freedom to pass any protocols and provide more flexibility in network management. Ultimately, L2oS allows satellites to look and act like all other access technologies.

With the release of L2oS in Evolution 3.3.3, iDirect now offers the option to deploy networks using layer two, layer three, or even a hybrid mode where both topologies exist within one network. Service providers are able to implement Q-in-Q tagging and take advantage of the same quality of service tools already available from iDirect.

“Just as iDirect led the adoption of IP standards to make satellites a more accessible technology, we are now offering a layer two solution to remove remaining barriers that isolate satellite networks,” said Eric Watko, Vice President Integrated Solutions and Space Systems, iDirect. “We’ve broadened standards-based support by adding L2VPN architectures commonly deployed by global telecom companies, making it easier to integrate satellites with terrestrial networking. By expanding the Evolution platform to include L2oS, our customers gain flexibility and the option to use these transparent architectures as the foundation for a range of new service offerings.”