MPLS addresses today's network backbone requirements effectively by providing a standards-based solution that accomplishes the following:

• improves packet-forwarding performance in the network
  • MPLS enhances and simplifies packet forwarding through routers using Layer-2 switching paradigms.
  • MPLS is simple, which allows for easy implementation.
  • MPLS increases network performance because it enables routing by switching at wireline speeds.
• supports QoS and CoS for service differentiation
  • MPLS uses traffic-engineered path setup and helps achieve service-level guarantees.
  • MPLS incorporates provisions for constraint-based and explicit path setup.
• supports network scalability
  • MPLS can be used to avoid the N2 overlay problem associated with meshed IP–ATM networks.
• integrates IP and ATM in the network
  • MPLS provides a bridge between access IP and core ATM.
  • MPLS can reuse existing router/ATM switch hardware, effectively joining the two disparate networks.
• builds interoperable networks
  • MPLS is a standards-based solution that achieves synergy between IP and ATM networks.
  • MPLS facilitates IP–over-synchronous optical network (SONET) integration in optical switching.
  • MPLS helps build scalable VPNs with traffic-engineering capability.