Juniper, Nokia Siemens in Ethernet Pact

Sales-starved networking gearmakers Juniper (JNPR Quote) and Nokia (NOK Quote) Siemens (SI Quote) say they are joining forces in a so-called carrier Ethernet partnership.

The move would consolidate the Ethernet switching and transport business under a combined operation located in The Netherlands. No financial terms of the joint venture were disclosed.

Ethernet is the preferred communications protocol between computer networks and its affordable high-capacity technology has spread beyond business systems to phone networks.

Other players in the Ethernet switching arena are Cisco (CSCO Quote) and Ciena (CIEN Quote), among others.