Next Generation Networks Computing Technologies (NGNCT).
1 2 3 4 5 Shivaji P. Mirashe U. N. Chavan Dr.Shivaji B. Chavan Purushottam Kadam Dr. N.V.Kalynkar Email Id: -
[email protected] [email protected] [email protected] [email protected] [email protected]
Abstract- This paper attempts at understanding the unique Next Generation Networks Computing Technologies have a major impact on existing communications technology. NGNCT allows the convergence of multiple applications to run on the same network; consist of voice, data and video and other new media applications (NGN definition ITU). An NGNCT is a packet-based network able to provide telecommunication services and able to make use of multiple broadband, QoS-enabled transport technologies and in which service-related functions are independent from underlying transport-related technologies. It enables unfettered access for users to networks and to competing service providers and or services of their choice. It supports generalized mobility which will allow consistent and ubiquitous provision of services to users (Rec. Y.2001 “General overview of NGNCT”. A Next-Generation Network Computing Technologies (NGNCT) is the term given to describe a telecommunications packet-based network that handles multiple types of traffic (such as voice, data, and multimedia). It is the convergence of service provider networks that includes the public switched telephone network (PSTN), the data network (the Internet), and, in some instances, the wireless network as well. Next, the paper proposes a network resource control system that opens the network function to users (information providers and end users) to serve as a platform for creating new network businesses. KEYWORDS:- Benefits of NGNCT, Technological Components of NGNCT, NG NCT Security, Fraud & Risk Management & Background and Concept of Next Generation Network CT.
I. INTRODUCTION The surge in Internet traffic and mobile telecommunication traffic impacts the telecommunication network architecture based on a fixed telephone network. This paper studies a network architecture that converges and handles fixed telephone network services, mobile telecommunication services, and Internet services. It also studies a service node architecture that can realize converged routing. It then proposes a specific system for the network of the next generation.
i) Support for multiple applications (multimedia, real-time, transactional, total mobility) adaptable to the user and growing and varied capacities of access networks and terminals. * [Adapted from Moving towards the Next Generation Networks (NGNCT)] ii) Development of packet mode transport (IP flow transport in native IP, or on ATM in the short term with a progressive convergence to IP). iii) Open and standardized interfaces between each layer, and in particular for the Control and Services layers in order to allow third parties to develop and create services independent of the network. iv) A core network architecture divided into three layers: Transport, Control and Services. v) A unique and shared core network for all types of access and services. II. Background and Concept of Next Generation Network CT:Public telecommunication networks have evolved around telephone networks. Now, due to the surge in multimedia traffic over the Internet, which has evolved around computer communications, the telecommunication network faces the need for changes to the telecommunication network architecture and service node architecture. We observe the following three requirements which will impact the next generation network as below, i) High-speed and Broadband Network: The explosion of multimedia traffic requires the next generation networks to provide wide bandwidth to convey a wide variety of traffic, including voice, video, data, etc. with less latency and at a bulk rate. ii) Multiple Degrees of Service Aspects: As the exploding traffic is composed of a wide variety of services, the networks need to provide multiple degrees of services such as multipleclass of QoS, security assurance levels, ranges of mobility. The network needs to satisfy this requirement by taking advantage of efficient convergence of technologies. IP/ATM/STM converged routing technology is one of the key solutions to handle this traffic mix. Service Application (E-Commerce, etc.)
Open Point
- Separate of End-user Services and Network Services (Routing, etc.) - Simple New Function Implementation
Connection/Session Management - Offering Versatile Network Control (QoS, Security, Multicast, etc.)
Open Point
Packet based Networking
With newer technologies, the NGNCT system offers key convergent multimedia services) using a shared network characterized by several essential elements:
- Voice and Data
- Labeled Packets architectures iii) Openness of the Network: Open and interfaces (APIs) of the network provide the opportunities to Capacity with WDM end Broadband users toTransport take advantage - High ofSpeed/Large network resources to - Mobile/Optical Broadband Access
Figure 1-1. View for Next Generation Network
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create/expand their business. This can result in higher business profits to operating companies as they supply open functions via standardized interfaces. The next generation network is to satisfy the above requirements. Therefore, we believe the network concept should be as depicted in Figure 1-1. Applications are provided to end users through the network. The open point between the application servers/clients and the network is defined by APIs. The network services such as circuit connections and managed sessions can be provided by this API. Therefore, application service providers can create new businesses by taking advantage of network services. The Connection/Session management function provides connection/session services to the upper application by controlling network resources such as connections, bandwidth, etc. This layer has open interfaces with the lower packet-based networking function. COPS (Common Open Policy Service) is one of the standardized interfaces. The Packet-based networking function provides multimedia traffic networking services for voice, data, video, etc. no matter what style the connection is established in, i.e., connection-oriented (C/O) and connection-less (C/L) services. As shown in Figure 1-2, substantial progress has been made in packet processing technology from around 1995. Dramatic improvement has been made in router performance by changing from software to hardware for IP address search (hardware routing) for packet processing technology. In the area of transmission technology, a breakthrough has been made in communication performance by greatly increasing the optical transmission capacity from converged FOTS by wavelength multiplexing. The speed of progress in hardware routing technology and that in WDM technology will be eventually bound to slow down. However, the next breakthrough in technology is likely to bring a breakthrough in communication performance. Mbps
Mpps
10,000
100
WDM 1,000
FOTS 100
Hardware Routing
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Software II10Next Generation Networks (NGNCT):- 0.1 Routing III. Next Generation Networks (NGNCT):Voice, video and data convergence, market deregulation and 0.01 1980 1985 1990 1995 2000 globalisation have led to unprecedented levels of competition Figure 1-2. Breakthrough of Technologies in the communications market. Pressure is being added as more companies are embracing the efficiencies of packetswitched multi-service networks, or Next Generation Networks (NGNCT). A. What is a NGNCT:An NGNCT can be described as a network that facilitates three things: i) Independent access to applications and content.
ii) High availability, high bandwidth core & access network that supports multiple services. iii) A platform that allows rapid development and deployment of new integrated applications to the end user. NGNCTs have taken advantage of rapid advancements in technology, the marked increase in core and access bandwidth capacity, and in a revolutionary way traditional voice traffic is carried over data networks. The terms Voice Over IP (VoIP) and IP Telephony (IPT) were introduced to describe how voice signals were converter into data packets for transport on IP in NGNCTs. B. NGN Drivers:A key driver for implementing or migrating to a NGNCT is cost. It is impossible to generalise on the extent of cost savings since business specific issues such as service strategy, legacy infrastructure, operational model, and scale all play a part in this complex equation. For many businesses however the potential capital and operational cost savings of running multiple services on a single infrastructure are too good to ignore. Another important driver is service differentiation. The initial focus of many NGNCTs is to support traditional data/voice services, but today, there are service providers building complete business strategies around new converged service platforms. They are taking advantage of the benefits convergence provides them today and investing in future proven technology that they believe shall provide a platform for application growth. C. NGNCT Equipment Types:Along with traditional voice and data equipment the NGNCT architecture contains converged network equipment types such as Call Agents (e.g. Media Gateway Controller - MGC, Gatekeeper - GK, SIP Server and Softswitch - SS), Media Gateways (MG), Signalling Gateways (SG), Feature Servers, Application Servers, Media Servers and provides Management, Provisioning and Billing interfaces. D. The Softswitch:Softswitches are a software-based call control device that plays one of the most significant parts in the NGNCT. The Softswitch provides call control interworking between NGNCT protocols such as MGCP, H.248 / Megaco, SIP, H.323, and Sigtran as well as more traditional telephony protocols such as CAS, ISDN, SS7, TCAP, and INAP. The Softswitch can contain multiple call agent functions (e.g. MGC, SIP Server & GK) and in some cases a SG function. One of the many roles of a Softswitch is interfacing to the PSTN (Public Switched Telephony Network). It does this by interworking signalling systems via SGs and the voice circuits via MGs from PSTN switches. E. Intelligent Network platforms. :The choice of softswitch today is large and is influenced by factors such as target market, scale of deployment, required functionality, available budget and service strategy. F. Who are implementing NGNCTs:Traditional carriers with traditional legacy equipment and services must carefully address how they migrate to a NGN. They must decide whether to replace current operational
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infrastructures, cap investment & grow organically or implement a new parallel platform & migrate over time. Whatever the decision the scale of network infrastructure involved will lead to significant costs and protracted timescales for migration activities. i) New operators with less legacy infrastructure and greenfield networks can plan for, design and implement the NGN more readily. Their IP network can be designed to provide some level of quality, a vendor can be chosen to provide an end-toend solution and inter connects to the PSTN and Internet can be put in place. Advances Operational Support Systems can be utilised effectively to monitor, control, police and bill with less integration than with traditional operators. ii) ISPs are looking at a potential change in their business model. Converged services will allow the ISP to differentiate themselves while entering into a new telecommunications market without the capital outlay of traditional networks. Bandwidth increases brought about by DSL to the home will play a major part and so ISPs can offer more bandwidth hungry services without the constraints of slower speed access. F. Next Stage of Communications:A lack of expertise and specialised experience with this technology is preventing many organisations from independently evaluating or taking most tentative first steps into the world of converged networking and issues on quality, scalability and the potential regulation have to be analysed and addressed so we can all move to the next stage of communications. IV. Technological Components of NGNCT:A. IP-based network Next generation core networks generally cover the migration from multiple legacy core networks to IP-based networks for the provision of all services. This means that all information is transmitted via packets. Packets can take different routes to the same destination, and therefore do not require the establishment of an end-to-end dedicated path as is the case for PSTN-based communications. B. Packet-based, multi-purpose While traditionally separate networks are used to provide voice, data and video applications, each requiring separate access devices, with NGNCT different kinds of applications can be transformed into packets, labeled accordingly and delivered simultaneously over a number of different transport technologies, allowing a shift from single-purpose networks (One network, one service), to multi-purpose networks (one network, many services). Interworking between the NGNCT and existing networks such as PSTN, ISDN, cable, and mobile networks can be provided by means of media gateways. C. Separation of transport and service layer:This constitutes the key common factor between NGNCT and convergence, bringing about the radical change in relationship between network “layers” (transport infrastructure, transport services and control, content services and applications). In next generation networks service-related functions are independent from underlying transport-related technologies. The uncoupling of applications and networks allow
applications to be defined directly at the service level and provided seamlessly over different platforms, allowing for market entry by multiple service providers on a nondiscriminatory basis. The rapid growth of both wired and wireless broadband access to the Internet has put the telecommunication industry, and especially the telcos, in front of a major challenge. Popular communication services, such as voice calls and messaging, can be offered trivially by new service providers on the Internet. As a consequence, the telecommunication industry has sought for viable solutions to the growing competition, which have led to increased activity in industry forums and standards organizations. V. Issues related to Interconnection in NGNCT:i) Interoperability issues due to a wide variety of protocol variants, network topologies, and media codec. ii) End to End QoS across networks iii.) Security, both at UNI and NNI iv) Monitoring (SLAs, Lawful Intercept, etc.) v) Privacy of network topology and user information vi) Point of Interconnection. VI. Benefits of NGNCT:A. Fewer network elements:i) Lower operating cost: space requirement, power consumption, maintenance staff and service issue period are reduced. Training of staff becomes simplified. ii) Increase network reliability. iii) Improve economic of scale (supplier independent), B. Operational efficiency, flexibility and scalability. i) Customer service (subscribers and billing). ii) Operations (routing & translations, engineering & capacity planning. iii) Fewer devices. iv) Market entry and new service deployment are fast and cost effective v) Allow bundling of services and applications which will create customer “stickiness”. vi) Partnerships which will enable win-win. vii) Lower churn through high customer satisfaction levels. viii) Expand consumer share of wallet beyond communications i.e. integrating communications and entertainment. B. Benefits to the Nation:i) Simplified life style with single bill and account - Flexibility to use services without having to choose fixed line, mobile, BB or ISP suppliers ii) Single device in the future – consistent personalization. iii) Consistent services across all types of access – seamless. iv) Malaysia to be among the fast-developed countries to implement NGNCT – good for the country typically for foreign investors, which has, interconnects with local service providers. Roaming – seamless. v) Liberalization of the industry attracts foreign investment. VII. NGNCT Security, Fraud & Risk Management:-
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Fraud prevention cooperation between key players becomes inevitable. Licensee, credit card issuers, banks and merchants must cooperate with law enforcement to reduce fraud. Strategies to minimize fraud through law & regulations and tools must be developed. The industry must have a joined approach with other agencies from other countries such as AFTRA (Australasian Telecommunications Fraud and Risk Association), TUFF and FINA. Within NGNCT, security issues interrelate with architecture, QoS, network management, mobility, billing and payment. One of the most significant challenges facing the design of NGNCT security standards is the fact that the networks are no longer conceived as monolithic systems with clear interfaces. Much of the standardization work in NGNCT security has to be based on guides and principles along with APIs so that a secure network can be built from a given selection of specific NGNCT components. A. NGNCT work on security should concentrate on:• Development of compound security architecture for NGNCTs. In a further step, this NGNCT security group should devise NGNCT operational security guidelines. • Development of NGNCT specific security protocols and APIs VII. Security:Currently, IPv4 has no security features. It was the decision that in order to have the highest level or service over the Internet, any security implementation would hinder traffic to some degree and thus slow service over the network. Without security the Internet, as well as any of its users, is a potential target of attacks. VIII. Network Computing to Host Virtual Event on NextGeneration Networking Computing Technologies:Network Computing understands that whether it's deploying virtualized servers in the data center, replicating data to and from remote sites, or supporting geographically dispersed organizations, networking standards and technologies provide the foundation for IT. The changes in networking are significant from adding enhancements to Ethernet to make it reliable and lossless to competing demands for time sensitive applications like VoIP - this timely virtual event aims to address all these issues by providing informative, real-world research data and perspective. This virtual event will bring attendees up to speed on state of the art networking by discussing the technologies that drive network design and implementations today and in the future. Attendees will learn from peers, analysts, and vendors about where the technologies are today, and how they can prepare for a network overhaul. The Network Computing Next-Generation Networks Virtual Event will cover as below, i) Next Generation Networking ii) Leveraging Tactical Investments of Today for Strategic Application Delivery of Tomorrow iii) Converged Networking 2009 In The Data Center And Beyond iv) Preparing your WAN for Strategic Data Center Initiatives •v) AN Optimization: Remote Office Acceleration, Storage Replication, Disaster Recovery vi) Data Center to Cloud Initiatives vii) Integrating Virtual Servers And The Data Center Network viii) Beyond Load Balancing: Getting More with a Virtual Appliance
"Next generation networking is a great topic for our first virtual event because the network is the foundation that everything in IT rests on. Our panelists and moderators have years of experience in IT and are going to share their practical expertise candidly," said Mike Fratto, Editor, Network Computing. "Attendees will take away something new from this event that will impact their job and their company."
IX. Conclusion:Shown below are the functions and performance of the next generation network that are described in this paper. The network takes pros and discards cons of the existing networks in terms of services: 1) Telephone network and mobile communication network: guaranteed service quality, high-precision charging system, network manageability, and mobility. 2) The Internet: openness and seamlessness As NGNCT interconnects heterogeneous networks, special numbering/addressing requirements arise to ensure seamless ubiquitous experience. Detailed study needs to be done to highlight these issues and whether special numbering blocks are required. This will also ensure numbering, naming and addressing are evolved to enable efficient interconnects with other operators. Furthermore, this will allow new termination rates to cater for all new charging scenarios “on-net” and “off-net”. The focus on end-to-end QoS should continue to ensure near TDM quality speech with IP pricing. With the introduction of MPLS and Session Border Controllers (SBC), QoS can and must be extended across heterogeneous networks. Both voice and data services in NGN must provide similar expectations as the current legacy networks. In addition, all VoIP offerings must have emergency services, security and privacy policies as mandatory. Based on published documents of ITU-T, depth is lacking. Consolidation efforts appear to be too slow, however the “IP”nization of networks are fast pproaching. MTSFB shall closely monitor the progress and happenings in NGNCT standards worldwide to ensure the best is adopted for Malaysia. However, the potential threats posed by free VoIP operators i.e. Skype etc. will erode further the voice revenues of local circuit voice and VoIP operators, hence the economy. The regulatory policies devised for NGNCT need to address these threats for reactionary purposes. REFERENCES:[1] Gwww.trai.gov.in [2] ITU-T Recommendation Y.2001 (12/2004) -General overview of NGN [4] Telecom Regulatory Authority of India, Consultation Paper on Issues Pertaining to Next Generation Networks (NGN), 12 January 2006. [5] ITU, 2007, Next Generation Networks (NGN) Regulation Overview, www.itu.int/ITU. [6] Next Generation Networks by The International Engineering Consortium [7] Next Generation Networks “ Migration from Circuit to Packet – An Overview by Tekelec Packet Telephony [8] NGN 2004 Project Description ITU-T [9] ACIF NGN Project Framework Options Group: Policy and Regulatory Considerations for New and Emerging Services [10] ITU-T NGN seminar URL, dated July 9 to 10, 2004; http://www.itu.int/ITUT/worksem/ngn/program.html [11] ITU-T NGN home page; http://www.itu.int/ITU-T/ngn/ [12] Information on ITU-IETF seminar on NGN scheduled for May 1 to 2, 2005; http://www.itu.int/ITU-T/worksem/ngn/200505/ [13] Refer to Appendixes, relevant standard docs from ITU-T, IETF (RFC), etc [14) Next Generation Networks (NGN) lecture at the Signaling Protocols Course, Helsinki University of Technology by Miguel An Garcia [15] Convergence Technologies for 3G Networks IP, UMTS, EGPRS and ATM, Jeffrey Bannister, Paul Mather, Sebastian Coope, Wiley, 2004 [16] http://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/network-computing-to-host-virtualevent-on-next-generation-networking-69809257.html
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