Disclosed is a carrier network fulfilling a distributed virtual routing function, said carrier network comprising one or more components, each of the components comprising at least two nodes communicating with one another by means of an artery, a node comprising a an access function. At least one component of said network comprises the following elements: several bridge ELANs, each bridge ELAN being connected to a virtual network VLAN, at least one transit ELAN, all access functions of the same component being adjacent through said transit ELAN, and at the level of an access function: router LEC means adapted to connect the access function to at least one bridge ELAN associated with a VLAN means for the identification of the VLANs serviced by the access function, means (transit LEC) to connect the transit ELAN to the access function.