David John Law

Evolution of ethernet standards in the IEEE 802.3 working group

Ethernet is constantly evolving, adapting to the needs of the networking world, addressing the requirements of both operators and end users, while making sure that the resulting technology is cost-efficient, reliable, and operates in a plug-and-play manner. The IEEE 802.3 Working Group has been working for the last 30+ years, pushing the boundaries on the speed and capacity of wireline Ethernet links, migrating from shared medium CSMA/CD systems to switched point-to-point Ethernet and then introducing multilane technology and point-to-point emulation over shared media of passive optical networks. In this article, we look at the latest projects adding new features and capabilities to the family of wired Ethernet standards, enabling the exponential growth of the Ethernet ecosystem, driven by technical maturity, cost effectiveness, and broad market support.