A method, device, and system for providing multipoint network services
over a ring topology network. According to the disclosed method
point-to-point connections and point-to-multipoint connections are
established between network elements (NEs) providing the same network
services. These connections eliminate the need for replicating packets at
a source NE and, as a result, the bandwidth utilization is significantly
improved. In one embodiment of this invention the multipoint network
services provided by the present invention is a virtual private LAN
service (VPLS).