A Next Generation Networking (NGN) is an IP based network that transports all kinds of information and services related to voice, data, and video. It is a broad term used for the technological renovations in telecommunication core and access networks that would be deployed in next 5 to 10 years. It is suitable for any category of customers including residential, corporate and wholesale in receiving a wide range of services over a single shared network. IPv6
ITU-T defines NGN as follows.
“A Next Generation Network (NGN) is a packet-based network able to provide services including Telecommunication Services and able to make use of multiple broadband, QoS-enabled transport technologies and in which service-related functions are independent from underlying transport-related technologies. It offers unrestricted access by users to different service providers. It supports generalized mobility which will allow consistent and ubiquitous provision of services to users.”
IP Multimedia Subsystem (IMS) is a global IP based service architecture offering various multimedia services. It is standardized by 3GPP (3rd Generation Partnership Project) and referred to be the heart of NGN.
A NGN converges the Service Provider networks including the Public Switched Telephone Network (PSTN), data network (the Internet), and wireless network. It offers a high quality end user experience. But the most critical challenge is in optimizing the OSS and BSS platforms, systems, and processes at various levels such as the Fixed Line incumbents, Mobile operators, Cable TV operators, Unified Access Service Providers, Internet Service Providers, Software and Hardware vendors etc.
At core network, NGN consolidates several transport networks into one core transport network based on IP and Ethernet with migrations from PSTN to VoIP, legacy services of X.25 and Frame Relay to IP VPN. At wired access network, NGN is responsible for the migration from dual legacy voice next to xDSL setup to a converged setup. At cable access network, NGN convergence involves migrating from bit-rate voice to standards like VoIP and SIP. MGN architecture as defined in ITU-T Rec. Y.2012 is given below.
Functional architecture of NGN is given below. It shows four different layers.
- Access Layer – Connects subscribers PSTN, ISDN, PLMN etc and converts information formats (circuit-to-packet, packet-to-circuit).
- Transport Layer – Offers connectivity for all components and supports transfer of information.
- Control Layer – Offers software switching to achieve real time call control, media gateway access control, resource allocation, protocol processing, routing, and authentication.
- Service Layer – Offers many value-added services such as supporting operating system, managing application, video, and media servers.
NGN offers several advantages at various levels of services.
- In Unified Messaging, it supports the transmission of voice mail, email, fax mail, and pages through common interfaces.
- In Data Connectivity, it offers many value added services such as bandwidth on demand, durable Switched Virtual Connections (SVC), call admission control etc.
- In Voice Telephony, it supports all traditional telephony services besides focusing on the most marketable voice telephony features.
- In Multimedia, it enables collaborative computing and groupware and supports interactivity among multiple parties sharing voice, video, and/or data.
- In Public Network Computing (PNC), it supports generic processing and storage capabilities, Enterprise Resource Planning (ERP), time reporting, and miscellaneous consumer applications.
- In Home Networking, it supports intelligent appliances, home security systems, energy systems, and entertainment systems.
- In Virtual Call Centers, it enables voice calls and e-mail messages through queue system, electronic access to customer, catalog, stock, and ordering information, and communication between customer and agent.
- In Information Brokering, it offers advertising and information delivery based on pre-specified criteria or personal preferences and behavior patterns.
- In Interactive Gaming, it establishes interactive gaming sessions among multiple users.
- In Virtual Private Network (VPN), it offers uniform dialing capabilities for voice VPNs and added security and network features for data VPNs.
- In Ecommerce, it enables e-transactions, verification of payment information, trading, home banking and shopping etc.
- In Distributed Virtual Reality, it builds up co-ordination among multiple diverse resources in providing real world events, people, places, experiences, etc.
NGN in Korea
Korea’s national NGN project is called the Broadband convergence Network (BcN), which fuses communication, broadcasting and internet. Korean government is pushing to complete this project by 2010 as a part of its national IT 839 Strategy.The service prospect of Korea’s NcN covers Wired-Wireless integrated VPN, MMoIP, Hi-quality VoD, DMB, Home Networking, Interactive TV, Remote Medical Service, Video Conference, MM Video Conference, HPi, Voice/Data VPN, T-book and T-paper services etc.
The first step of BcN implementation was planned to be completed by 2005. The main tasks of this step are:
- Integrating Voice and Data network based on Open Architecture
- Establishing service convergence between Wired and Wireless
- Expanding FTTC (VDSL/HFC)
- Introducing new services like FTTH, Terrestrial DMB, Satellite DMB, and IPv6 based Home Network.
The second step of BcN implementation was planned to be completed by 2007. The main tasks of this step are:
- Converging of Wired & Wireless network
- Implementing Transport layer based IPv6/MPLS
- Establishing Service Convergence between Communication & Broadcasting
- Expanding FTTH
- Introducing New Services like HPi and interactive DMB, Ubiquitous Sensor network
The third step of BcN implementation was planned to be completed by 2010. The main tasks of this step are:
Converging Services like voice network, internet, mobile network, broadcasting, high speed data network etc., over a single Transport Layer. Supporting New Service requirements such as broadband, QoS, security, mobility, and multicasting.
Some of BCN’s trial services are given below.
- Trial service from Octave Consortium of Korean Telecom (KT) covers 600 subscribers across 3 cities of Seoul, Daejeon, and Daegu with 25 different services of Telephony data and applications.
- Trial service from UbiNet Consortium of SKT, Hanaro Telecom covers 600 subscribers across 3 cities of Seoul, Busan, and Daegu with 32 different services.
- Trial service from Gwanggaeto Consortium of Dacom covers 350 subscribers in 5 areas of Seoul, Gyunggi, Bucheon, Busan, and Gwangju with 25 different services.
- Trial service from Cable BcN Consortium of Cable Providers covers 700 subscribers in 7 areas.