Next Generation Networks Overview

NGN Standards and Transition to NGN

• Next Generation Networks (NGNs) are packet-based networks designed to provide telecommunications services to users.
• NGNs utilize multiple broadband, quality-of-service (QoS)-enabled transport technologies, allowing service-related functions to be independent of the underlying transport technologies.
• NGNs enable unfettered access for users to various networks and competing service providers, empowering user choice.

Drivers and Motivation for NGN Deployment

• External drivers and internal motivations drive operator NGN deployments.
• Drivers:
  • Massive growth of data traffic
  • Flat growth of voice market
  • Massive access competition
  • Maturity of IP technology
  • Open standards and architectures
• Operators' Motivation:
  • Develop new services easier and faster
  • Enhance flexibility
  • Reduce operational expenditures
  • Replace old platforms at their end of lifecycle

NGN Drivers (Figure 3.1)

• Several groups drive NGN development:
  • Broadband Internet access (fixed and mobile)
  • Convergence of ICT markets (toward the Internet)
  • Technological convergence (toward IP-based)
  • End-to-end QoS provisioning in the Internet
  • Transition from PSTN, PLMN, and TV broadcast networks to the Internet environment

Fixed Broadband Internet Access

• High-speed connectivity for public use (at least 256 Kbit/s in one or both directions).
• Includes cable modem, DSL, fiber, and other fixed broadband technologies.
• Characterized by copper and fiber-based systems.
• Copper systems utilized twisted-pair cables.
• Evolved to Digital Subscriber Lines (DSLs) via additional equipment at user premises and network side.

Mobile Broadband Internet Access

• Wireless technology connecting mobile devices (smartphones, tablets) to broadband Internet networks.
• Established using 3G technologies (UMTS/HSPA, Mobile WiMAX 1.0) and further evolved with 4G (LTE-Advanced, Mobile WiMAX 2.0).
• Enables users to access the internet regardless of location and time.

Why is Broadband Internet Access a Driver to NGN?

• a. The Internet itself is an adopted global networking platform for various services.
• b. Broadband Internet access (with higher bit rates) provides a mechanism for delivering existing services (e.g., video on demand, video streaming) via the Internet.

Standardization Synergy of IETF, 3GPP, and IEEE

• Several other standardization organizations (like ETSI, ITU, IETF, 3GPP, and IEEE) have played important roles, both directly and indirectly.
• Regional organizations (ETSI, CJK) and global organizations (ITU, IETF, 3GPP, IEEE) are key players in NGN standardization.
• ITU leads global standardization and harmonization efforts.

IETF Role

• The Internet Engineering Task Force (IETF) defines standard Internet operating protocols (e.g., TCP/IP).
• The major IETF Protocols are related to IP (IPV4 & IPV6), transport layer protocols (e.g., TCP, UDP, SCTP), routing protocols, VPNs, application technologies, and security protocols.
• Important in NGN due to its standardization of key Internet technologies.

ETSI Role

• European Telecommunications Standards Institute (ETSI) maintains a technical committee (called TISPAN).
• ETSI has collaborated closely with 3GPP on NGN standardization, mapping specifications between organizations.
• ETSI's roles include base standard development, interoperability tests, test methods definition, & standardization requests.

3GPP Role

• The 3rd Generation Partnership Project (3GPP) has a critical role globally defining specs for 3G (UMTS) and 4G (LTE) mobile systems.
• Key contributor to NGN standardization, particularly regarding common IMS specifications (in 3GPP Release 8 finished ~2009).
• Standardizing LTE and system architectures in line with IP principle for the new access and core networks.

IEEE Role

• The Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers (IEEE) provides standards for access networks, particularly in Ethernet (IEEE 802.3) and wireless networks (IEEE 802.11, WiMAX).

All-IP Network Concept for NGN

• NGNs are fundamentally all-IP networks.
• Evolved from PSTN and PLMN on one side and the best effort Internet on the other.
• Designed to be a singular networking platform for existing and future services.

Migration of PSTN Networks to NGN

• Public Switched Telecommunication Network (PSTN) and its enhancements (ISDN) have increasingly migrated to all-IP networks.
• QoS-enabled, real-time services are driving this transition.
• Initial focus on replacing circuit-switched telephony capabilities with IP-based telephony.

Evolution of PSTN/ISDN to NGN

• Analyze different entities (transport networks, signaling networks, management, services) in PSTN/ISDN for migration.
• Functionalities are typically spread across various network elements in NGN.

Signaling Protocols for NGN

• Signaling protocols (e.g., Diameter, SIP, H.323, SIGTRAN, H.248) are essential in NGNs.
• Standardized by organizations to ensure reliable information exchange.
• These protocols enable better multimedia communications, quality-of-service, and real-time services

SIP (Session Initiation Protocol)

• Standardized Internet protocol used for signaling, establishing, maintaining, and terminating multimedia sessions.
• Replaces older mechanisms like SS7 in PSTN/PLMN, now employed for real-time services (e.g., voice, video).

H.323

• ITU standard for multimedia communication over packet networks.
• Covers call signaling and control, multimedia transport and control, and bandwidth/conference support.
• Common use in VoIP, IP-based videoconferencing.

SIGTRAN

• Extension of the SS7 protocols that provide reliable datagram services over IP, particularly important for facilitating PSTN signaling over IP networks.
• Based on the Internet Protocol and suitable for handling different kinds of multimedia applications.

H.248

• Media gateway control protocol that facilitates communication between public switched telephones and Internet-based networks.
• Used to manage media gateway control across interconnected networks (e.g., traditional PSTNs, modern packet networks, Internet).

Diameter

• Authentication, authorization, and accounting protocol.
• Designed by IETF to address issues in preceding protocols (e.g., RADIUS).
• Used in application-centric network access management.