Next Generation Networks: the service offering standpoint

Next Generation Networks (NGN, [1]) was the buzzword last year. Different people imagine different things when they think of NGN. How can this concept be defined? NGN is the application of Internet, IP and IT solutions to Telecom Services, including (but not only) the integration and sometimes the substitution of circuit switching with packet switching either for trunking or for access. Surprisingly, usually people think of a mere porting of Telecom protocols over an IP network (read H.323 protocol). Why should we reuse existing telecom solutions over an IP transport? The usual answer is to reduce cost of ownership. Is that really true? Is that a reason enough? Indeed, the introduction of NGN opens a huge opportunity for incumbent telecom operators: enabling the renewal in the service offering (meaning cash!) In this perspective, NGNs should enable the provisioning of new classes of services: any-to-any ubiquitous communication services including unified messaging customer-centered and highly personalized services mixed voice/data services e-call services (web initiated call set-up) integrated voice and data VPN advanced network call center audio video conferencing A common feature for all these service classes is seamless service access (users can use their own services, no matter where they are, which terminal they are using, which access network they are attached to). In this paper, we will present the objectives and results of the Eurescom Project P1109 [1]. The overall goal is to support this view, in evaluating solutions for NGNs from a service-offering standpoint and understanding the wider effects of introducing NGNs in terms of the inter-operability and functionality of NGN products. Basically, the project aims at answering the following questions: Why NGNs? Are NGNs programmable? Do NGNs solve the problems of IN? Which NGN solutions? Are NGN interoperable? Are NGNs cost effective? Are NGNs service developed? Is Application Server just a new SCP? In particular, by selecting a significant pool of products approaching the market in the area of Media Gateway/Media Gateway Controllers, Call Agents, SoftSwitches, Application Servers, and Application Creation Environments, the project has developed service scenarios through lab trials on top of the selected products. Based on this evaluation the project will also study and define migration scenarios from existing network infrastructure towards establishing NGNs and services. The involvement of selected vendors as Technology Partners has been a key issue to evaluate NGN products by means of prototyping new services. Some interoperability tests have been carried out, in particular to understand how different Network Elements and applications interconnect with each other including with legacy systems and services. In particular, this paper focuses on service programmability of NGN solutions, i.e. to verify the attitude of NGN Service Platforms to provide innovative services over heterogeneous networks in developer friendly way. Section 2 describes the overall reference architecture, sections 3 defines the key technologies, which can be used for service development. Section 4 describes a service example (advanced VPN), which has been implemented to investigate the identified technologies.