Method and apparatus for processing labeled flows in a communications access network

An apparatus comprising:na layer 2 switch configured to receive a first carrier-tagged traffic flow from a service edge via a first multiprotocol label switching (MPLS) switched path, the first carrier-tagged traffic flow having a carrier tag,wherein the layer 2 switch is further configured to identify a second MPLS switched path based on a flow identifier included with the carrier tag of the first carrier-tagged traffic flow, wherein the flow identifier comprises a pseudo-wire tag or a virtual local area network (VLAN) tag,wherein the layer 2 switch is further configured to remove the flow identifier from the carrier tag of the first carrier-tagged traffic flow, and to switch the first carrier-tagged traffic flow, after assigning a new carrier tag without the flow identifier, to a building aggregation system configured to aggregate a plurality of services via the second path.

An apparatus comprising:nan interface configured to receive a first carrier-tagged traffic flow on a first multiprotocol label switching (MPLS) switched path between a service edge and a building aggregation system configured to aggregate a plurality of services, wherein the first carrier-tagged traffic flow has a carrier tag; anda processor configured to determine a first flow identifier associated with the carrier tag of the first carrier-tagged traffic flow, wherein the first flow identifier comprises a pseudo-wire tag or a virtual local area network (VLAN) tag, the processor being further configured to identify a second MPLS switched path between a layer 2 switch and one of the service edge or the building aggregation system based on the first flow identifier, the first carrier-tagged traffic flow being transmitted on the second path with the first flow identifier.