Since it began in the 1970s, Ethernet has evolved to meet the increased demand for high-speed LANs. When optical fiber media was introduced, Ethernet adapted to take advantage of the superior bandwidth and low error rate that fiber offers. Now the same protocol that transported data at 3 Mbps in 1973 can carry data at 10 Gbps.
The success of Ethernet is due to the following factors:
•Simplicity and ease of maintenance
•Ability to incorporate new technologies
•Reliability
•Low cost of installation and upgrade