Metro Ethernet Forum (MEF)
Mid‑2026 U.S. Carrier Ethernet Market: VSG Leaderboard, Standards, Service Mix and RFPs
Executive Summary:
Vertical Systems Group’s (VSG’s) mid‑2026 U.S. Carrier Ethernet LEADERBOARD ranks providers by retail port share as of June 30, 2026. Seven network operators met the 4% threshold for Leaderboard status: AT&T; Verizon (including Frontier); Lumen; Spectrum Business; Comcast Business; Zayo (including Crown Castle); and Cox Business.
- Verizon’s acquisition of Frontier significantly expanded its fiber network, elevating its market position to #2 in the U.S. Carrier Ethernet rankings.
- Zayo advanced to the leaderboard after acquiring Crown Castle and plans to add 15,000 route miles by 2030, strengthening its long-haul network.
Six companies attained a Challenge Tier citation (in alphabetical order): Cogent, Granite, GTT, Lightpath, Segra, and Uniti. The Challenge Tier includes providers with between 1% and 4% share of the U.S. retail Ethernet market.
VSG’s methodology measures billable retail customer ports and segments the market into six service categories that map closely to MEF‑defined Carrier Ethernet service types: Ethernet DIA (Dedicated Internet Access), E‑Access to IP/MPLS VPN, Ethernet Private Line (EPL), Ethernet Virtual Private Line (EVPL), Metro LAN, and WAN VPLS.
U.S. Ethernet Market Analysis: Mid-2026:
- AT&T keeps its #1 rank on the Mid-Year 2026 U.S. Carrier Ethernet LEADERBOARD.
- Rankings change for four of the seven Ethernet LEADERBOARD providers.
- Verizon moves up from the #4 position to the #2 rank with its completed acquisition and integration of Frontier assets.
- As a result, Lumen dips from the #2 position to #3. Spectrum Business drops from #3 into the #4 position.
- Zayo moves up into the LEADERBOARD at the #6 position from the Challenge Tier due to its acquisition of Crown Castle, which was completed in May 2026.
- Cox Business falls into the #7 and final position. The acquisition of Cox by Spectrum’s parent company, Charter Communications, was completed in August 2026 and is not included in the mid-year results.
- The Challenge Tier for mid-2026 includes six companies: Cogent, Granite, GTT, Lightpath, Segra (including UPN) and Uniti (includes Windstream). Segra enters the Challenge Tier, moving up from the Market Player tier.
- DIA (Dedicated Internet Access) is the top Ethernet service in the U.S. based on both ports and revenue.
- Enterprise customers are shifting from lower speed Ethernet private lines to more robust SD-WAN and SASE services.
- Three LEADERBOARD wireline network operators have attained Mplify Carrier Ethernet certification: AT&T, Lumen and Verizon.
The Market Player tier includes all providers with port share below 1%. Companies in the Market Player tier include the following providers (in alphabetical order):ACD, AireSpring, Alaska Communications, Alta Fiber, American Telesis, Arelion, Armstrong Business Solutions, Astound Business, Bluebird Network (includes Everstream), Breezeline, Brightspeed, BT Global Services, Centracom, Conterra, Douglas Fast Net, DQE Communications, Epsilon, Exa Infrastructure, ExteNet Systems, Fatbeam, FiberLight, Fidium, First Digital, FirstLight, Flo Networks, Fusion Connect, GCI, GCX, Glo Fiber, Hunter Communications, Intelsat, Logix Fiber Networks, LS Networks, MetTel, Midco, Momentum Telecom, NTT, Orange Business, Pilot Fiber, PS Lightwave, Rightfiber (includes Great Plains and Ritter), Silver Star Telecom, Sparklight Business, Syringa, T-Fiber (includes MetroNet, Lumos, U.S. Internet), Tata Communications, TDS Telecom, TPx, US Signal, WOW!Business, Ziply Fiber (now owned by Bell Canada) and other companies selling retail Ethernet services in the U.S. market.
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Standards Context: MEF Carrier Ethernet, IEEE 802, and ITU-T:
Carrier Ethernet services are standardized by MEF (formerly the Metro Ethernet Forum), which defines service types, attributes, and performance objectives across multi‑operator domains. MEF 2.0/3.0 specifications formalize E‑Line (point‑to‑point), E‑LAN (multipoint), E‑Tree (rooted multipoint), and E‑Access (inter‑provider) services, with strict OAM, QoS, and bandwidth profile requirements.
At the physical and link layers, IEEE 802.3 Ethernet PHYs and 802.1Q VLAN tagging underpin these services, while MEF service definitions (EVCs, UNIs, ENNIs) provide the operator‑grade abstraction needed for SLAs, service multiplexing, and interconnection. In practice, “Metro Ethernet” offerings by U.S. carriers are implementations of MEF E‑Line/E‑LAN service types over diverse transport (packet optical, MPLS, IP/MPLS, or Ethernet switching fabrics), with port‑based or VLAN‑based handoffs at the customer UNI.
Metro Ethernet Service Types: What the Market Segments Map To:
Vertical’s six service segments align with canonical Carrier Ethernet service types as follows:
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Ethernet DIA (Dedicated Internet Access): Typically delivered as an E‑Line service (EPL or EVPL) to an internet gateway, with asymmetric or symmetric bandwidth profiles and strict availability targets. DIA emphasizes internet reachability rather than private L2 connectivity, but the underlying UNI/EVC constructs remain MEF‑compliant.neosnetworks+1
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E‑Access to IP/MPLS VPN: An inter‑provider or backhaul construct where a carrier Ethernet E‑Line/E‑Access link connects an enterprise edge or another operator to an IP/MPLS core. This maps to MEF E‑Access (inter‑carrier) with ENNI handoffs and is common for wholesale Ethernet backhaul and multi‑operator VPN aggregation.mplify+1
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Ethernet Private Line (EPL): A port‑based, point‑to‑point E‑Line service with one EVC per UNI and near‑transparent frame delivery. EPL is the canonical “private line” for low‑latency, high‑certainty circuits between two sites, often used for data‑center interconnect or critical backhaul.
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Ethernet Virtual Private Line (EVPL): A VLAN‑based E‑Line service that supports multiple EVCs on a single UNI via service multiplexing. EVPL enables point‑to‑point and point‑to‑multipoint topologies over shared access ports, improving port utilization and supporting multi‑service bundles (e.g., LAN + internet + VoIP) on one physical handoff.Metro LAN: A multipoint‑to‑multipoint E‑LAN service (sometimes called Ethernet Virtual Private LAN) that provides any‑to‑any Layer 2 connectivity among three or more sites. Metro LAN is the carrier analogue to VPLS and is widely used for campus interconnect, distributed enterprise LAN extension, and L2‑based application clustering.
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WAN VPLS: A wide‑area VPLS instance delivering E‑LAN semantics across broader geographies, typically over MPLS cores. While MEF 3.0 emphasizes E‑LAN service attributes, many operators still market VPLS as the transport realization of E‑LAN for multi‑site Layer 2 domains.
The most important ITU‑T recommendations for Carrier Ethernet fall into three buckets: service definitions, OAM/fault & performance management, and protection/activation testing. Together they provide the operator‑grade framework that maps MEF service types (E‑Line, E‑LAN, E‑Tree, E‑Access) to measurable SLAs and resilient transport.itu+2
Core service definitions (what the service is):
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G.8011/Y.1307 – Ethernet service framework
Defines the overall framework for Ethernet services (EVC/OVC/UNI/ENNI), service attributes, and OAM bindings. It is the ITU‑T umbrella that aligns with MEF service types and underpins EPL, EVPL, E‑LAN, E‑Tree, and E‑Access definitions. -
G.8011.1/Y.1307.1 – Ethernet Private Line (EPL)
Specifies EPL service attributes and parameters (port‑based, single EVC per UNI, bandwidth profiles, transfer characteristics). This is the canonical “private line” for point‑to‑point, low‑latency circuits.itu+1 -
G.8011.2/Y.1307.2 – Ethernet Virtual Private Line (EVPL)
Specifies EVPL service attributes (VLAN‑based, service multiplexing on a UNI, CIR/EIR/CBS/EBS). EVPL enables multiple services over one physical handoff while preserving SLA granularity. -
G.8011.3/Y.1307.3 – Ethernet LAN (E‑LAN)
Defines multipoint‑to‑multipoint E‑LAN service attributes (any‑to‑any L2 connectivity among ≥3 UNIs), the carrier analogue to VPLS and widely used for Metro LAN.scribd+1 -
G.8011.4/Y.1307.4 – Ethernet Virtual Private Rooted Multipoint (E‑Tree / EVPRM)
Defines rooted multipoint (E‑Tree) service attributes for hub‑and‑spoke topologies (e.g., video distribution, wholesale access). -
G.8011.5/Y.1307.5 – Ethernet Access (E‑Access)
Specifies inter‑provider Ethernet access service attributes (ENNI‑based) used for wholesale backhaul and multi‑operator service chaining
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Market Implications for Network Architects:
The 2026 VSG leaderboard reflects consolidation and asset integration (e.g., Verizon’s move to #2 following Frontier integration), with cable MSOs and fiber specialists maintaining strong positions in metro and regional segments. For architects specifying Carrier Ethernet, the practical choice among EPL, EVPL, E‑LAN, and VPLS hinges on three factors: topology (P2P vs. multipoint), service multiplexing needs at the UNI, and the degree of L2 transparency versus managed L3 VPN requirements.
When drafting RFPs or architecture documents, reference:
- G.8011.x service types alongside MEF E‑Line/E‑LAN/E‑Tree/E‑Access to ensure interoperable, SLA‑backed procurement.
- MEF 2.0/3.0 service types (E‑Line/E‑LAN/E‑Access) and require conformance to MEF service attributes (bandwidth profiles, frame delay/jitter/loss, OAM).
That ensures that “Metro Ethernet” procurement aligns with deployable, interoperable, SLA‑backed services rather than vendor‑specific marketing terms.
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References:
https://verticalsystems.com/2026/09/02/mid-2026-us-carrier-ethernet-leaderboard/
https://verticalsystems.com/methodology/
https://neosnetworks.com/resources/blog/epl-vs-evpl/
https://www.itbroker.com/resources/glossary/metro-ethernet-transport
Carrier Ethernet Market Assessment and MEF 3.0 Certification
AT&T Tops VSG 2022 Global Provider Carrier Managed SD-WAN Leaderboard
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AT&T tops VSG’s U.S. Carrier Managed SD-WAN Leaderboard for 4th year
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MEF New Standards for SD-WAN Services; SASE Work Program; Dec 2022 UPDATE!
The Metro Ethernet Forum (MEF) [1.] has published new SD-WAN standards that add critical enhancements, including new service capabilities for underlay connectivity, important application performance metrics, and security zones for service providers deploying SD-WAN managed services.
Note 1. The MEF is an industry forum empowering enterprises to transform digitally with standard services and APIs for network, cloud, and technology providers. While initially focused on Carrier Ethernet, the MEF scope has broadened to encompass overlay services like SD-WAN. The ITU-T does not have an active SD-WAN standardization program so the industry must look to the MEF for service definitions and standards for that subject.
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The new MEF standards include:
- MEF 70.1 updates MEF 70, the industry’s first global SD-WAN standard, to include new service attributes for underlay connectivity services, new measurable performance metrics that provide visibility into an application’s performance within the provider network and across multiple service providers, and the infrastructure to support application-based security defined in MEF 88 (see below).
- MEF 88, MEF’s first security standard, enhances an SD-WAN service to add security functions. These include defining threats, malware protections, security policy terminology and attributes, and describing what actions a policy should take in response to certain threats.
- MEF 95 provides a unified policy framework for MEF’s SD-WAN (MEF 70.1), Network Slicing (MEF 84), and SASE (MEF W117) and Zero Trust (MEF W118) standards coming in 2022.
“We’re seeing a healthy uptick in SD-WAN deployments driven by work from anywhere, as more users are connecting to the cloud and cloud-based applications. We estimate the global SD-WAN service market will grow from $2.85B in 2020 to $14.5B in 2025 (CAGR of 38%),” said Roopa Honnachari, vice president of research & global program leader – network & edge services, Frost & Sullivan.
“MEF’s work in standardizing and certifying SD-WAN managed services is helping to drive that adoption, and we believe certified services and professionals will continue to play an important role in moving the market forward.”
“MEF develops standards and certifications to provide clarity and assurance and remove complexity for SD-WAN managed services.
The new standards define the service behavior and associated policy language needed to deliver high-performance, secure SD-WAN managed services,” said Pascal Menezes, CTO, MEF.
Source: MEF
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“These standards, and the forthcoming SASE and Zero Trust standards, benefit both customers and providers—customers know what to expect when purchasing SD-WAN managed services from a provider, and providers have the tools needed to deliver secure SD-WAN services that drive customer satisfaction,” Pascal added.
Both service providers and vendors can attain certification for MEF’s SD-WAN standards in the MEF 3.0 SD-WAN certification program which validates compliance with MEF standards for delivering managed SD-WAN services and the underlying technology. The objective is to eliminate market confusion, and enable faster SD-WAN market adoption.
In 2022, secure SD-WAN requirements will be added to the MEF 3.0 certification program. Currently, 17 companies have achieved MEF 3.0 SD-WAN certification. In addition, the MEF-SDCP Professional Certification training and certification provides an opportunity for the engineers, architects, product managers, and others deploying SD-WAN solutions to demonstrate their expertise in MEF 3.0 service standards.
- Worldwide, there are over 700 MEF-SDCP professionals employed by more than 120 companies.
- Over 60 service providers have either the Carrier Ethernet or SD-WAN certification within the MEF 3.0 framework, and a handful have both.
- AT&T, Verizon, Comcast Business and Windstream are among the service providers with MEF 3.0 SD-WAN Certification. Those companies also rank within the top five of Vertical Systems Group’s 2020 US Carrier Managed SD-WAN Leaderboard.
MEF SASE Work:
MEF will also be releasing SASE (MEF W117) and Zero Trust (MEF W118) standards in 2022. MEF started developing its secure access service edge (SASE) framework last fall to clarify the service attributes and definitions for SASE.
The SD WAN market has already become bogged down by different SASE definitions, which has led to confusion among enterprise customers and frustration for service providers.
MEF defines SASE as a “service connecting users (machine or human) with their applications in the cloud while providing connectivity performance and security assurance determined by policies set by the Subscriber.” The networking and security functions within a SASE service include routing, VPN, path selection, traffic shaping, firewall, threat prevention and more.
Yet finding one vendor that meets all those requirements, and delivers a SASE service that is simple to deploy, is proving challenging for service providers that want to provide SASE as a managed service to enterprise customers.
“The ideal is one vendor, right? That’s the ideal, we all agree with it. But at least for enterprise customers, we’d haven’t found a single vendor solution that meets their needs yet from a SASE perspective,” said Verizon’s Vincent Lee.
MEF Media Contact: Melissa Power [email protected]
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References:
MEF Introduces New Standards for High-Performance, Secure SD-WAN Services
https://www.mef.net/service-standards/overlay-services/sase/
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December 2022 UPDATE:
MEF SD-WAN and SASE Standards:
In August 2019, the MEF published the industry’s first global standard defining an SD-WAN service and its service attributes. SD-WAN Service Attributes and Services (MEF 70). The MEF SD-WAN standard describes requirements for an application-aware, over-the-top WAN connectivity service that uses policies to determine how application flows are directed over multiple underlay networks irrespective of the underlay technologies or service providers who deliver them. However, it does not address interoperability because it does not specify either a UNI or NNI protocol stack.
MEF 70 defines:
- Service attributes that describe the externally visible behavior of an SD-WAN service as experienced by the subscriber.
- Rules associated with how traffic is handled.
- Key technical concepts and definitions like an SD-WAN UNI, the SD-WAN Edge, SD-WAN Tunnel Virtual Connections, SD-WAN Virtual Connection End Points, and Underlay Connectivity Services.
SD-WAN standardization offers numerous benefits that will help accelerate SD-WAN market growth while improving overall customer experience with hybrid networking solutions. Key benefits include:
- Enabling a wide range of ecosystem stakeholders to use the same terminology when buying, selling, assessing, deploying, and delivering SD-WAN services.
- Making it easier to interface policy with intelligent underlay connectivity services to provide a better end-to-end application experience with guaranteed service resiliency.
- Facilitating inclusion of SD-WAN services in standardized LSO architectures, thereby advancing efforts to orchestrate MEF 3.0 SD-WAN services across automated networks.
- Paving the way for creation and implementation of certified MEF 3.0 SD-WAN services, which will give users confidence that a service meets a fundamental set of requirements.
In December 2022, MEF published two Secure Access Service Edge (SASE) standards defining 1.] SASE service attributes, common definitions & a framework and 2.] a Zero Trust framework that together allow organizations to implement dynamic policy-based actions to secure network resources for faster decision making and implementation for enterprises. MEF’s SASE standard defines common terminology and service attributes which is critically important when buying, selling, and delivering SASE services. It also makes it easier to interface policy with security functions for cloud-based cybersecurity from anywhere. MEF’s Zero Trust framework defines service attributes to enable service providers to implement and deliver a broad range of services that comply with Zero Trust principles.
- SASE Service Attributes and Service Framework Standard: specifies service attributes to be agreed upon between a service provider and a subscriber for SASE services, including security functions, policies, and connectivity services. The standard defines the behaviors of the SASE service that are externally visible to the subscriber irrespective of the implementation of the service. A SASE service based upon the framework defined in the standard enables secure access and secure connectivity of users, devices, or applications to resources for the subscriber. MEF’s SASE standard (MEF 117) includes SASE service attributes and a SASE service framework.
- Zero Trust Framework for MEF Services: The new Zero Trust Framework for MEF Services (MEF 118) defines a framework and requirements of identity, authentication, policy management, and access control processes that are continuously and properly constituted, protected, and free from vulnerabilities when implemented and deployed. This framework also defines service attributes, which are agreed between a subscriber and service provider, to enable service providers to implement and deliver a broad range of services that comply with Zero Trust principles.
