MPLS-TP is designed for use as a network layer technology in transport networks. It will be a continuation of the work started by the transport network experts of the
ITU-T, specifically SG15, as
T-MPLS. Since 2008 the work is progressed in a cooperation between
ITU-T and
IETF. The required protocol extensions to MPLS being designed by the IETF based on requirements provided by service providers. It will be a connection-oriented packet-switched (CO-PS) application. It will offer a dedicated MPLS implementation by removing features that are not relevant to CO-PS applications and adding mechanisms that provide support of critical transport functionality. MPLS-TP is to be based on the same architectural principles of layered networking that are used in longstanding transport network technologies like
SDH,
SONET and
OTN. Service providers have already developed management processes and work procedures based on these principles. MPLS-TP gives service providers a reliable packet-based technology that is based upon circuit-based transport networking, and thus is expected to align with current organizational processes and large-scale work procedures similar to other packet transport technologies. MPLS-TP is a low cost L2.5 technology (if the limited profile to be specified is implemented in isolation) that provides
QoS, end-to-end
OA&M and protection switching. In February 2008 the
ITU-T and
IETF agreed to work jointly on the design of MPLS-TP. Based on this agreement IETF and ITU-T experts will jointly work out the requirements and solutions. ITU-T in turn will update the existing T-MPLS standards based on the MPLS-TP related RFCs listed below. ==ITU-T==