Next Generation Networks: Perspectives and Potentials

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.

7.6.1 Setting up, Maintaining and Tearing Down End-to-End Connectivity.

7.6.2 Monitoring and Controlling the Performance of End-to-End Connectivity.

7.6.3 Analysing and Predicting Performance of End-to-End Connectivity.

7.6.4 Generating and Delivering Relevant Information to the Relevant People.

7.6.5 Generating Billing Information.

7.6.6 Managing Multiple Access Networks Belonging to Different Operators.

7.6.7 Managing Multiple Core Transport Networks Belonging to Different Operators.

7.6.8 Managing Changes in the Access Network.

7.6.9 Managing Changes in the Core Transport Network.

7.6.10 End-to-End Network Resource Management.

7.7 Service Control and Management.

7.7.1 GRID Technologies.

7.7.2 End-to-End QoS Management.

7.7.3 End-to-End Security Management.

7.8 Advanced Technologies for Network and Service Management.

7.8.1 Intelligent Agent Technology.

7.8.2 Artificial Intelligence Technology.

7.8.3 SON Technology.

8 NGN Standardizations.

8.1 ITU and GSI-NGN.

8.1.1 GSI-NGN Concept.

8.1.2 GSI-NGN Release 1.

8.1.3 GSI-NGN Release 2.

8.1.4 NGN Recommendations.

8.2 ETSI and TISPAN-NGN.

8.2.1 TISPAN-NGN Concept.

8.2.2 TISPAN-NGN Release 1.

8.2.3 TISPAN-NGN Release 2.

8.2.4 TISPAN-NGN Release 3.

8.3 ATIS and NGN.

8.4 CJA and NGN.

8.5 TMF and NGOSS.

8.5.1 NGOSS Concept.

8.5.2 NGOSS Components and their Functionality.

8.5.3 NGOSS Documents.

8.6 NGMN Alliance and NGMN, and 3GPP and LTE/SAE.

8.6.1 NGMN Alliance and NGMN.

8.6.2 3GPP and LTE/SAE.

9 NGNs and Corporate Responsibility.

9.1 Unsustainable Growth.

9.2 Sustainable Development and Corporate Responsibility.

9.3 The Purpose of Corporate Responsibility.

9.4 The Fundamentals and the Limits of Corporate Responsibility.

9.4.1 Principles and Values.

9.4.2 The Limits of Corporate Responsibility.

9.5 Standards and Tools of Corporate Responsibility.

9.5.1 Norms.

9.5.2 Covenants.

9.5.3 Tools.

9.6 Guiding Concepts.

9.6.1 Triple Bottom Line.

9.6.2 Levels of Effects.

9.6.3 Equity.

9.6.4 Time.

9.6.5 Efficiency.

9.6.6 Limits and Carrying Capacity.

9.7 Corporate Responsibility and NGN.

9.7.1 Balancing the Benefits and Impacts of NGN.

9.7.2 The Positive Aspects.

9.7.3 The Challenges Ahead.

9.8 Summary of Impacts.

9.9 In a Nutshell.

10 Summary.

Glossary.

Index.