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As intense competition continuesto erode their profitability, service providers are accelerating their transition to an IP-based next-generation network (NGN). Service providers, today, require innovative, converged infrastructures to improve delivery of current services that are also a long-lived framework for tomorrow's new, bandwidth-intensive services. Solutions that provide greater network intelligence, integration, and flexibility will not only give carriers short-term relief but also enable them to combat competitive pressures and address new market opportunities.

The IP-NGNs bring about a broad network transformation that encompasses not just the service provider's network but also its entire business. The IP-NGN can enable service providers to meet all the needs of all customer segments efficiently and economically and be the basis for delivering applications that enable sustainable profitability. The phased development of the IP-NGN involves creating an intelligent infrastructure from which application-aware services are delivered by service-aware networks.

IP-NGN Defined
The IP-NGN is a sweeping transformation of both a service provider's entire network and its business. This transformation does not end at a single point-service providers cannot simply buy an IP-NGN. Like carriers' business and service plans, the IP-NGN constantly evolves to adapt to customer demand and new technology opportunities.

The ITU has specified the fundamental characteristics of the IP-NGN as follows.

• All kinds of services over all kinds of media
• Decoupling services from networks so that a service is not defined by or limited to the type of network providing the service
• Interworking existing networks into a single network
• Open interfaces that offer flexibility to service providers
• Generalized mobility enabling end users access to services wherever they may be
• End-to-end quality of service.

Making Today's IP-NGN Vision a Profitable Reality
The IP-NGN evolution is an ongoing journey. Services and applications will be made available in an interactive manner-any time, anywhere. Here are some glimpses into what the IP-NGN is doing for us in the future.

• At home-People remotely monitor the home to verify its security, control various house systems, and watch their children; service technicians remotely diagnose and upload software fixes to the appliances.
• At work-Desktop videoconferencing is commonplace; application portability is available sitewide and worldwide, enabling users to switch from one device to another with little or no effect on their voice, data, or video sessions.
• On the delivery route-Deliveries are scheduled dynamically with real-time package tracking, real-time records of receipt of goods, and real-time capacity planning.
• At the store-Advertisements are targeted to specific customer interests and radio frequency identification devices (RFIDs) enable real-time inventory taking and expedite checkout.
• In the doctor's office-Physicians perform surgery with telerobotics and have real-time access to patient information even when the patient is in transit.
• At play-Home entertainment expands to real-time gaming across continents.

Today, these kinds of services are more than just within the realm of possibility, and some may be available within a few years or sooner. Leading service providers are envisioning these types of services, such as: France Telecom's Innovation Gallery, NTT DoCoMo's Vision 2010, and Vodafone's Future Vision.

The Triple Convergence
Convergence is at the heart of the IP-NGN, and it occurs in three fundamental ways: application convergence, service convergence, and network convergence.

• Application Convergence: Carriers can integrate new IP data, voice, and video applications over a single broadband infrastructure for increased profitability. Application convergence opens the doors to all-media services, such as videoconferencing, which is effectively a new service: being neither voice, nor video, nor data but an integration of all three. This and other value-added services can be delivered over any broadband connection. Service providers will have a range of new possibilities for revenue and portfolio differentiation.

• Service Convergence: IP-NGN makes a service available to end users across any access network. A service available in the office can be available over a wireless LAN, a broadband connection, or a cellular network. All of these access networks have the ability to transfer the service and the state of connection as the user roams, providing a seamless experience using the most efficient means possible. This kind of service agility creates a stronger relationship between the carrier and end user and can help increase customer retention.

• Network Convergence: Creating a converged network is a goal that many carriers are already pursuing by their efforts to eliminate multiple service-specific networks or to reduce multiple layers within a network. A many-services, one-network model in which a single network can support all existing and new services will dramatically reduce the total cost of ownership for service providers.

Different service providers will prioritize the layers of convergence in different ways. For example, many mobile operators focus on service convergence whereas cable operators target their efforts at application convergence so they can deliver video, data, and voice services over a single connection.

The Whole is Greater Than the Sum of the Parts
The goal of the IP-NGN architecture is to provide rich, personalized, value-added multimedia services. To do this, service providers need a service control framework that supports the key business transition that must be made-moving from a basic highway type of service structure to a more value-added, personalized tollway structure.

Application Layer
A great many devices can be used to provide a range of voice, video, and data services and be mobile. Called triple play on the move, these services span the communications and entertainment realms. Mobile phones, for example, can downloaded video clips, shoot and share photos, handle e-mails, etc., not to mention their voice-related services.

For all of its benefits, however, delivering any service to any device places greater demands on the network. No longer can services be delivered over dedicated networks. To maximize efficiency and profitability, all services need to be delivered over a common network. As a result, a network must be Resilient, integrated and adaptive.

Service Control Layer
To deliver these services to the broad range of devices over multiple access means the network must know the answers to such questions as:

• Who: Who are the users? Their devices? The services they are trying to access?

• What: What are they allowed to do? What is the policy directing the delivery of the service? What timeframe can they do it in? For example, if a customer accesses a service during peak times, should he/she be charged more?

• How: How can the network's resources be dynamically controlled? How can it monitor and charge for a service on number of users and amount of usage basis? How can the network be fully aware of the demands of the network? And how can the network interwork with other carrier networks?

• Where: Where can the user roam? Where is the user and device now? Where is the service offered and can the session be maintained across other networks?

A service exchange framework enhances broadband and mobile IP networks with an application-aware service control point that enables network operators to identify, classify, and guarantee performance and charge for the content services.

Secure Network Layer
At the very foundation of an IP-NGN is the secure network layer. IP-MPLS is being integrated throughout each section of the network. Edge and core areas are converging, with each adopting capabilities of the other and providing greater efficiencies to the provider. Customer elements, whether they be end-user devices or routers at the network gateway, are converging as well.

However, one area in the network that is not converging is access/aggregation. In fact, it is doing quite the opposite-it's expanding. More and more types of technologies are being offered in the access realm-from 3G and Wi-Fi, and Ethernet and cable, to DSL, ATM, FR, fiber, and TDM. The list continues to grow and older access means are still being kept in use.

Therefore, the network as it now has to adapt to whatever the access means, even multiple ones, in which a customer chooses to receive the services.

Another major challenge is security-it is now perceived as an absolute necessity. As a result, it needs to be integrated throughout the network, to ensure that the services are delivered without compromise.

For both of these challenges, and many more in the network layer, intelligence is once again the necessary solution by building a network with intelligence fully integrated throughout, a service provider is able to leverage a platform on which to better build its business.

Sudhir Narang, Senior VP India and SAARC, Cisco Systems