PWE3

Pseudo-Wire Emulation Edge-to-Edge (PWE3) is a networking technique that allows service providers to carry traditional communication services—such as Ethernet, Frame Relay, ATM, or TDM across modern packet-switched networks like Internet Protocol or Multiprotocol Label Switching. It works by creating a virtual connection, called a pseudowire, between two endpoints in the network. This pseudowire encapsulates the original data frames or signals so they can travel across the packet network while preserving the behavior of the original service. To the devices at each end, the connection appears similar to a direct physical link, even though the traffic is actually being transported over a shared packet infrastructure. PWE3 is commonly used by telecommunications service providers to integrate legacy services with newer network technologies.