The Rise & Fall of MPLS
Multiprotocol Label Switching (MPLS) once revolutionised private wide-area network (WAN) connections, offering faster, more reliable packet routing through a label-based mechanism. It was designed to address the inefficiencies of traditional internet protocols and provide enterprises with scalable, protocol-independent networking solutions.
However, despite its historical significance, MPLS has become an outdated legacy system that struggles to meet the demands of today’s dynamic, cloud-driven, and cost-sensitive networking landscape. Here's why MPLS is losing its relevance and why modern alternatives like SD-WAN are emerging as the preferred solution.
The Downside of MPLS
1. High Costs
MPLS networks are prohibitively expensive to deploy and maintain. Monthly costs for MPLS can range between $300 and $600 per Mbps, far exceeding the $1.50 to $15 per Mbps for broadband connectivity. This premium pricing includes the specialised hardware, such as label switch routers, and the high costs of outsourcing configuration and management to service providers.
For businesses aiming to reduce operational costs while maintaining performance, MPLS is no longer a feasible option.
2. Manual Deployment Complexity
Setting up MPLS is a resource-intensive process. Its manual configuration is complex and time-consuming, often taking months to deploy across geographically dispersed offices. Scaling MPLS networks or making adjustments involves similar levels of manual intervention, creating inefficiencies that are incompatible with modern business agility.
3. Limited Cloud Compatibility
MPLS’s hub-and-spoke architecture is fundamentally incompatible with cloud-native architectures. As enterprises transition to SaaS applications and decentralised workflows, MPLS’s rigidity hinders performance and flexibility. It was designed for static, point-to-point connections and lacks the adaptability required for cloud environments.
4. Inflexibility and Scalability Challenges
MPLS’s dedicated, static connections are its Achilles' heel. These connections make it difficult to adapt to changing network requirements or optimise routes dynamically. Expanding bandwidth under MPLS can be both costly and time-intensive, stifling growth and responsiveness.
5. Security Limitations
While MPLS operates on private infrastructure, making it less vulnerable to certain types of attacks, its security is not inherently robust. Misconfigured labels can allow malicious actors to bypass security measures, and the manual nature of MPLS often results in inconsistent security implementations across networks.
Enter SD-WAN | The Modern Alternative
The dominance of cloud computing and decentralised workforces has led to the emergence of Software-Defined Wide Area Networking (SD-WAN). SD-WAN leverages software-defined principles to provide a more agile, cost-effective, and scalable networking solution, leaving MPLS far behind.
An excellent example of a SD-WAN solution is the one from Fusion, the Chuck Norris of SD-WAN!
Key Advantages of SD-WAN:
Cost-Effectiveness SD-WAN enables organisations to replace expensive MPLS circuits with more affordable broadband connections without compromising performance. Additionally, SD-WAN’s centralised management reduces the need for specialised hardware and manual configuration.
Cloud Compatibility SD-WAN fully supports cloud architectures, seamlessly integrating with SaaS applications and enabling direct-to-cloud connections. This eliminates the need for backhauling traffic through centralised MPLS links, reducing latency and improving application performance.
Dynamic Traffic Management With application-level visibility, SD-WAN optimises traffic routing based on real-time factors like latency, jitter, and packet loss. Policies can prioritise critical applications, ensuring consistent quality of service (QoS).
Simplified Deployment Unlike MPLS, SD-WAN is easy to deploy across multiple sites. Its software-driven nature allows for quick provisioning and scaling, enabling businesses to adapt rapidly to changing network demands.
Enhanced Security SD-WAN includes robust, built-in security features like encryption, firewall protection, and intrusion prevention. These features can be centrally managed, ensuring uniform security across all network branches.
The Hybrid Approach | MPLS Meets SD-WAN
For businesses that still rely on MPLS for specific use cases, hybrid SD-WAN provides a bridge between legacy and modern networks. By combining MPLS with broadband, 4G/5G, or other connections, hybrid SD-WAN delivers:
Cost savings by reducing MPLS dependency.
Improved performance through dynamic path selection.
Enhanced flexibility and scalability for future growth.
Why MPLS is No Longer Relevant
While MPLS once addressed critical networking challenges, its limitations in cost, scalability, cloud compatibility, and deployment make it ill-suited for the modern enterprise. Businesses today demand networks that are agile, scalable, and cloud-ready, which is precisely where SD-WAN excels.
With SD-WAN, organisations can achieve lower costs, better performance, and a seamless transition to cloud-first architectures. The time has come for businesses to leave MPLS behind and embrace the future of networking with SD-WAN.
Ronald Bartels ensures that Internet inhabiting things are connected reliably online at Nepean Networks - the leading specialized SD-WAN Last Mile provider in South Africa. Learn more about the best SD-WAN in the world: 👉Contact Nepean✈️
