Advances in optical networking are offering service providers the opportunity to re-engineer their core networks over the next several years. Technologies such as Dense Wave Division Multiplexing (DWDM) offer almost unlimited bandwidth and increasing re-use of fiber. The challenge for equipment vendors is to provide control plane intelligence that will enable their service provider customers to rapidly and flexibly provision and create new services. The adaptation of IP routing techniques combined with optical enhancements to Multi-Protocol Label Switching (MPLS) – often known as MPLambdaS is a key mechanism in harnessing powerful hardware capabilities with an intelligent control plane.