Hybrid networking: evolution toward combined IP and dynamic circuit services [Guest Editorial]

There is a wide consensus among service providers, operators, equipment vendors, and academics that the next decade will see highly evolving Internet and network transport architectures. Both circuit and packet switching technologies will be used in hybrid networks that will offer both IP packet and dynamic circuit services. A variety of switching technologies, such as multiprotocol label switching (MPLS), carrier Ethernet based switching, and wavelength-division multiplexed (WDM) optical switching, will be used to offer dynamic (virtual) circuit services, while IP routers will continue to be used for IP packet services. Integrated systems that offer both IP-layer forwarding and MPLS switching, or other combinations, will be used in these hybrid networks.