Next Generation Networks (NGN) provide ubiquitous connectivity with
pervasive accessibility to service, application, content and
information. NGN will bring tremendous advantages to
companies and individuals, in terms of access to information,
education and knowledge, efficiency, dematerialisation and new user
experiences.

Next Generation Networks: Perspectives and Potentials
explores the potentials of NGN and provides an outlook of future
services for the end users and opportunities for the traditional
network operators and new players. It creates a framework to aid
the understanding of NGN, exploring the strategic development and
practical deployment of NGN. This book provides a complete and
comprehensive picture of the future directions, substantial
benefits, issues, applications and services for NGN.

* Offers an in-depth exploration of NGN covering both basic and
advanced concepts

* Examines critical issues with the implementation of NGN

* Covers NGN technology, architecture, transport, services, and
evolution and standardization.

* Written by industry experts focusing on the business
opportunities of NGN with chapters on NGN standardization,
development and corporate responsibility

Next Generation Networks is ideal for network
operators, equipment vendors, researchers, Telecoms regulators and
engineers working in next generation networking. It will also be of
interest to graduate students on electrical engineering and
computer science programmes with a focus on networks.

Jingming Li Salina works and owns her own consultancy company LiSalina Telecom Consulting. She obtained her doctorate from the Swiss Federal Institute of Technology, Zurich. She has worked as a Senior Research Engineer at Swisscom R&D department and as a Strategy & Planning Manger in the Mobile Technical Operation Department at Swisscom. Her research interests include WLAN, WiMAX, wireless access networks such as GSM, UMTS, and technical solutions for mobile operators.

Pascal Li Salina works as a Corporate Responsibility Manager at Swisscom AG.

Next Generation Networks: Perspectives and Potentials explores the potentials of NGN and provides an outlook of future services for the end users and opportunities for the traditional network operators and new players. It creates a framework to aid the understanding of NGN, exploring the strategic development and practical deployment of NGN. This book provides a complete and comprehensive picture of the future directions, substantial benefits, issues, applications and services for NGN.

• Offers an in-depth exploration of NGN covering both basic and advanced concepts

• Examines critical issues with the implementation of NGN

• Covers NGN technology, architecture, transport, services, and evolution and standardization.

• Written by industry experts focusing on the business opportunities of NGN with chapters on NGN standardization, development and corporate responsibility

Next Generation Networks is ideal for network operators, equipment vendors, researchers, Telecoms regulators and engineers working in next generation networking. It will also be of interest to graduate students on electrical engineering and computer science programmes with a focus on networks.

List of Tables.

List of Illustrations.

Preface.

Acknowledgements.

1 Introduction.

1.1 Challenge 1: To Become More Than an ISP.

1.2 Challenge 2: To Apply a Model of Operation Driven by Customer Needs.

1.2.1 The Technology-driven Operation Model.

1.2.2 The Operation Model Driven by Customer Needs.

1.3 NGN - The Holy Grail for a Telecom Operator?

1.4 NGN Aims at Improving Life Quality and Bringing New Life Experience.

1.5 The Network Evolution Towards NGN.

1.6 The Telecom Environment and Corporate Responsibility.

1.7 The Organization of the Book.

2 NGN Vision, Scenarios and Advances.

2.1 NGN Networks: Perspectives and Potentials.

2.2 Some Possible Scenarios.

2.2.1 Virtual Space Flight.

2.2.2 Virtual International Congress.

2.2.3 Virtual Global Exhibition.

2.2.4 Virtual Classroom, e-Education and Experimental Laboratory.

2.2.5 Virtual Corporate Environment.

2.2.6 Virtual Home.

2.2.7 Virtual Hospital.

2.2.8 Virtual Store.

2.2.9 Global and Local Information Centres.

2.2.10 Home Networks.

2.2.11 Automatic Traffic and Car Driving (Machine-to-machine Communication).

2.2.12 NGN Advances.

3 NGN Requirements on Technology and Management.

3.1 NGN Requirements on Technology.

3.1.1 Communication using the Five Human Senses and Surroundings.

3.1.2 Real-time Communication across Language Barriers.

3.1.3 Virtual Living Environments.

3.1.4 User Identification using Biometrics.

3.1.5 Human-like Service Activation.

3.1.6 On-demand End-to-End Connectivity.

3.1.7 Easy and Standardized Service Creation.

3.1.8 Flexible Terminal Equipment.

3.2 NGN Requirements on Management.

3.2.1 Customer Management.

3.2.2 Third-party Service Provider Management.

3.2.3 Service and Service Delivery Management.

3.2.4 Network and Network Performance Management.

3.2.5 Network Security Management.

3.2.6 Device Management.

3.2.7 Information Management.

4 NGN Functional Architecture.

4.1 The ITU NGN Functional Architecture.

4.2 The Proposed NGN Functional Architecture.

4.2.1 Transport Stratum.

4.2.2 Service Stratum.

4.2.3 Service/Application/Content/Information Layer.

4.2.4 Customer Terminal Equipment Functions.

4.2.5 Other Networks.

5 NGN Operator, Provider, Customer and CTE.

5.1 NGN Network Operator.

5.2 NGN Service Provider.

5.3 NGN Customer and CTE.

5.3.1 Individual Customers and CTEs.

5.3.2 Home Customers and CTEs.

5.3.3 Vehicle Customers and CTE.

5.3.4 Corporate Customers and CTE.

5.3.5 Third-party Provider Customers and CTE.

6 Network and Service Evolution towards NGN.

6.1 Major Evolution Steps for the Networks and Services of Today.

6.1.1 Service Convergence and Access Network Development (Step 1).

6.1.2 IP-based Service Conversion and Managed IP Network Development (Step 2).

6.1.3 Network Integration and Service Extension (Step 3).

6.2 Fixed Network Evolution.

6.3 Mobile Network Evolution.

6.4 Cable Network Evolution.

6.5 Internet Evolution.

6.6 IP Network Problems Critical to be Solved.

7 NGN Key Development Areas.

7.1 Terminal Area.

7.1.1 User Terminal.

7.1.2 Machine Terminal.

7.1.3 Sensor Terminal.

7.1.4 Wireless Thin Client.

7.1.5 RFID Technology.

7.1.6 NFC Technology.

7.2 Access Network Area.

7.2.1 Ubiquitous Connectivity.

7.2.2 Co-existence Mechanisms for Multiple Radio Access Networks.

7.3 Backhaul Network Area.

7.4 Core Transport Network Area.

7.5 Service Creation Area.

7.5.1 OSA/Parlay Technologies.

7.5.2 Parlay X Technology.

7.5.3 Web 2.0.

7.6 Network Control and Management Area.