Interoperability: It will be worthwhile if we discuss few general vital issues which the networks of private operators as well as those owned by Government departments and various other agencies should cater for.
For example, current standalone fixed and mobile networks are built on mature architecture and with strong traffic management, configuration capabilities, service platforms and well-defined points of interconnection between the networks of different operators. A key requirement is that the same high quality network services should exist when building integrated networking platforms for voice, data, and multimedia services.

A future multimedia network must be organized to support heavy traffic flows, a wide variety of service mixes, and different traffic patterns. The network must adapt quickly and intelligently to constantly changing traffic conditions. Reliable security features and firewalls must be in place to cater for inter-working between many operators who will be competing in the market as a result of deregulation.

Backward Compatibility: It is clearly evident that Indian operators/service providers need to design systems which can cope with future technology changes and shifts in applications and demands. Transmission management systems have, therefore, to be designed to manage legacy SDH/SONET line systems as well as today’s networking technologies such as SDH/SONET, IP/ATM, WDM/DWDM and optical networking.

All network management solutions should ensure that upgrading and evolution do not interrupt transmission or management services. Thus, new network features can be introduced simply by upgrading the existing network or adding new network elements without losing previous functions and services. This protects network investment and allows the existing infrastructure to be upgraded by introducing the latest technological advancements. Also a set of open interfaces should facilitate not only the integration of vendor-specific network management systems into legacy structures, but also the integration of legacy systems into vendor-specific network management systems. These range from an alarm-exporting interface to an external alarm collector, up to a bi-directional interface for the exchange of data sets and QoS data between one operator and other network management systems. All interfaces have to be flexible and customizable. In addition, a customer network management application interface towards the different layers should be designed to offer a customer oriented network management application for virtual private networks.

Scalability: Keeping in view the futuristic trends, telecom operators are investing heavily in fibre optic backbone networks, which can transport multimedia information at high speeds. However, the local networks bringing these services to the end-user have lagged far behind. They create bottlenecks, which would be familiar to anyone who has waited for an Internet page to download. The main reason is, of course, the high cost of replacement or upgrading the local access infrastructure, which represents most of the local network investment. It is both financially and physically impossible to replace the installed local loop by high-speed fibre within a very short time frame. Some strategy has to be worked out both by private operators and DoT in order to cater to the growing demand of new services.

Technologies such as xDSL and cable modems provide attractive solutions that use the existing copper telephone networks and cable networks. However, such technologies cannot be made available technically or at a sufficiently low cost in a number of situations (for example, in low-density areas, where existing networks are of sub standard quality). Many users will, thus, continue to suffer from traffic jams. As a result, operators are losing considerable revenue, which they might expect to earn from offering broadband services to their subscribers. One of the ways to overcome local loop limitations might be the satellite access system by providing high-speed access to the world’s fibre optic backbone networks. In addition, there is a need to look into main technology and commercial challenges for the deployment of UMTS satellite component seamlessly integrated with the terrestrial cellular component.

Choosing the Vendor

In this whole process, good vendor support and relationship are very important. Operators who can trust vendors will emerge as early gainers. Advantage should be taken of the possibility of vendor finance. Trust among different cellular operators can also come in handy in terms of gaining cost benefits and even dictate their terms to vendors provided they share with each other the following:

• Vendor-specific technical strengths/weakness

• Prices of products. Any discounts, warranty and other commercial terms and conditions.

• Operations support and services issues

• Any long-term strategy followed by a vendor in terms of rollout of products, features, applications, etc.

In addition to the cellular operator’s deployments, the media and content industries need to be more forthcoming in their willingness to partner with operators in the creation and delivery of compelling applications. All this must take place in a fashion that provides a smooth upgrade path for users whilst protecting the significant investment in today’s Second Generation networks.

VP Singh is vice president, engineering & operations
Birla AT&T Communications Ltd