Next Network Generation

" Next Network" Generation; or " NGN" (literally " Network of Génération" News;) is an expression frequently employed in the industry of telecommunications, in particular since the beginning of the years 1990. There does not exist single definition. The direction varies according to the context and from the scope of application.

General standard

In a general way, a " NGN" network; is a network based on a new technology which, according to its partisans, will be adopted in a way generalized in the 5 or 10 next years, in opposition to the technology of network currently in place, considered as in process of obsolescence, and in certain cases in opposition to other concurrent new technologies.

Definition according to the ITU-T

Within ITU-T, the group of study n°13 (SG13) to the responsibility to undertake work of standardization of the networks of new generation (NGN).

Generally, the " term; NGN" in this context refers to the evolution of the fixed or mobile network of an operator of a traditional technology based on the Circuit switching to the technology based on the Packet switching.

The objective for the operator is to realize savings by having only one in the long term network which can support various services (voices & data transmissions, fixed and mobile), whereas enough often today the large operators must exploit, maintain and make evolve/move in parallel several networks based on disparate technologies (almost a network by service type).

The objective for the operator is also to be able to propose with its customers new services, more quickly than before, with a greater flexibility with respect to the network of access used fixed or mobile.

For ITU-T, a network NGN is a network which fills the following general terms:

the network is able to ensure of the telecommunication services the public (concept of titular network of operator of a license)
Its plan of transfer is exploited in mode package (ATM, IP,…)
It can use multiple technologies of transport to broad band, provided that they are able to ensure a quality of service from beginning to end.
the functions related to the services are independent of subjacent technologies related to transport. The functions are well defined and dialog between them by standardized interfaces. The goal is to improve evolutionarity of the network, which the monolithic switches of the STN do not make it possible to do today.
It allows an access nonrestricted by the users to the operators of their choice (concept of interworking and free competition) and multiple services (concept of general-purpose single network)
It can support multiple technologies of access (the last kilometer can be DSL, Fiberoptic, Câble, Wimax…)
It deals with the concept of generalized mobility (access to the services and coherence of the services whatever the place or the technology of access fixes or mobile)
It ensures the interfunctioning with networks based on old technologies (e.g. circuit switching) via open interfaces
It makes it possible the operator to satisfy his lawful obligations: emergency calls, legal safety, confidentiality, interceptions, etc

With the ETSI

ETSI is also implied in the work of standardization of networks NGN with the project TISPAN (" Telecoms-Internet converged Services and Protocols for Advanced Networks) on which intervenes 8 work groups.

Work of ETSI on TISPAN and those of ITU-T has the same objectives overall. They are coordinated via a liaison officer. ETSI carries out also important contributions to ITU-T in the phase of finalization of the specifications of ITU-T.

Other possible directions: word dominating of the moment (" Buzzword")

" NGN" network; , " Network of New generation, " Network of next génération" etc and many other similar expressions try to give an account of the innovation of a product or a technical solution. These expressions are frequent in the speech marketing of the operators and the industrialists. Besides the Anglo-Saxons indicate them under the generic term of " Buzzword ", literally a " word which sounds bien". It is about a " concept" (positive version) or of a " word creux" (less charitable version) with the mode intended to cause, when he is pronounced, a reaction of interest in the audience. Like any phenomenon of mode, a " Buzzword " can become very quickly exceeded, even old-fashioned, as soon as it is identified like tel.

See too

Internal bonds

Multi-media Buzzword
IP Subsystem
TISPAN

Bond external

Recommandations of the ITU-T groups SG13 on the NGN (available in French for the majority)]
Horned article of Jean-Michel on the subject.

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