Transport networks traditionally were built using Time Division Multiplexed (TDM) SONET/SDH devices, these becoming ineffective. Packet technology now offers the resilience and manageability of SONET/SDH through MPLS-TP. MPLS-TP Networks provide the same QoS, protection and restoration, and OAM inherent in SONET/SDH, in a way that has a familiar look and feel for network operators.

• MPLS-TP mandates running protocols such as BFD (Bidirection Forwarding Detection) over GMPLS LSPs and PWs, to provide OAM functionality
• MPLS-TP does not assume IP connectivity between devices, and explicitly rules out related features of normal MPLS, such as PHP (Penultimate Hop Popping, ECMP (Equal Cost Multipath), and LSP Merge
• MPLS-TP specifies how very fast protection and restoration will be achieved using switchover to backup paths
• MPLS-TP allows LSPs and PWs to be signaled using a control plane (using RSVP-based GMPLS signaling and Targeted LDP signaling), or to be statically configured