In the Next Generation Networks [NGN], multiple access networks can connect customers to a core network, which is predominantly based on IP technology. NGN promises to provide number of significant benefits and opportunities both for the service providers and the end-users by providing new innovative services and applications through a common platform.
With the efficient and cheaper IP technology forcing telecommunications networks to migrate to ‘Next Generation Networks’, triple play (voice, data and video) would become a basic service. Traffic of different services of data, television and subsequently voice would be simply enclosed in Internet protocol packets, transmitted over these networks. These networks can later support any number of additional value-added services and transmit them also as IP packets. As a matter of fact, a number of telecom operators in country are already planning to move to such networks. The deployment of NGN would face a number of challenges and obstacles related to evolution of new technologies and services, emergence of disruptive business models, network security risks and competition and level-playing field issues. Unless license conditions and regulations are properly redefined with a light touch regulatory approach, it would be virtually impossible to regulate the emerging NGN technologies smoothly.
As an early application and driver of NGN, VOIP is proliferating fast and is expected to result in significant penetration in the matured telecom markets. In India, till some time back IP telephony was permitted only in a restrictive manner i.e. PC-to-PC, IP device-to-IP device and PC-to-Phone (abroad). Now with recent guidelines, Govt. has permitted UASPs (telecom access providers) to provide phone-to-phone Internet Telephony viz. unrestricted VOIP and therefore this is likely to proliferate in India also. VOIP is likely to have a big impact on the traditional circuit switched telephony, initially on fixed lines followed by mobile, driving consumer prices and margins down, forcing far-reaching changes in industry and consequently in the regulatory and licensing regimes. Earlier convergence of access networks was dealt with as the demarcation between fixed and mobile services became less distinct and heralded a Unified Access Licensing Regime in the country. Now the convergence trend has moved to core networks also and with the increasing use of NGN in core and access networks associated licensing and regulatory issues are likely to become more complex. The Government and the Regulator need to ensure that the changeover to such regime is smooth.
Regulators in many developing nations are attempting to lay down broad principles for NGN transition well in advance of the transition actually occurring. This is unlike the legacy network where the business model, network and competition were established prior to regulation. Also, operators and regulators around the world are deliberating upon how to overcome technical challenges pertaining to interoperability and interconnection and how to encourage infrastructure investment with least possible risk in an open environment of the NGN.
We, in India, have severe legacy regulatory problem in dealing with the present definitions of services and networks. The definitions and segregation of services based on legacy networks will need modifications and reorientation of the business approach of the existing operators. The regulatory implications for such an eventuality are huge. When one gets into the details of regulatory issues it is found that for promoting such developments, issues like numbering plans will have to be tackled in addition to provision of emergency access and security concerns. It has also been commented that, Number Portability (NP) may become an essential requirement. Broadband penetration is likely to be a key issue as many converged services enabled by NGN can be delivered only through considerable access bandwidth available to the customer, which can be provided through Broadband connectivity. QoS is going to be yet another issue.
Technical Glossary
With the efficient and cheaper IP technology forcing telecommunications networks to migrate to ‘Next Generation Networks’, triple play (voice, data and video) would become a basic service. Traffic of different services of data, television and subsequently voice would be simply enclosed in Internet protocol packets, transmitted over these networks. These networks can later support any number of additional value-added services and transmit them also as IP packets. As a matter of fact, a number of telecom operators in country are already planning to move to such networks. The deployment of NGN would face a number of challenges and obstacles related to evolution of new technologies and services, emergence of disruptive business models, network security risks and competition and level-playing field issues. Unless license conditions and regulations are properly redefined with a light touch regulatory approach, it would be virtually impossible to regulate the emerging NGN technologies smoothly.
As an early application and driver of NGN, VOIP is proliferating fast and is expected to result in significant penetration in the matured telecom markets. In India, till some time back IP telephony was permitted only in a restrictive manner i.e. PC-to-PC, IP device-to-IP device and PC-to-Phone (abroad). Now with recent guidelines, Govt. has permitted UASPs (telecom access providers) to provide phone-to-phone Internet Telephony viz. unrestricted VOIP and therefore this is likely to proliferate in India also. VOIP is likely to have a big impact on the traditional circuit switched telephony, initially on fixed lines followed by mobile, driving consumer prices and margins down, forcing far-reaching changes in industry and consequently in the regulatory and licensing regimes. Earlier convergence of access networks was dealt with as the demarcation between fixed and mobile services became less distinct and heralded a Unified Access Licensing Regime in the country. Now the convergence trend has moved to core networks also and with the increasing use of NGN in core and access networks associated licensing and regulatory issues are likely to become more complex. The Government and the Regulator need to ensure that the changeover to such regime is smooth.
Regulators in many developing nations are attempting to lay down broad principles for NGN transition well in advance of the transition actually occurring. This is unlike the legacy network where the business model, network and competition were established prior to regulation. Also, operators and regulators around the world are deliberating upon how to overcome technical challenges pertaining to interoperability and interconnection and how to encourage infrastructure investment with least possible risk in an open environment of the NGN.
We, in India, have severe legacy regulatory problem in dealing with the present definitions of services and networks. The definitions and segregation of services based on legacy networks will need modifications and reorientation of the business approach of the existing operators. The regulatory implications for such an eventuality are huge. When one gets into the details of regulatory issues it is found that for promoting such developments, issues like numbering plans will have to be tackled in addition to provision of emergency access and security concerns. It has also been commented that, Number Portability (NP) may become an essential requirement. Broadband penetration is likely to be a key issue as many converged services enabled by NGN can be delivered only through considerable access bandwidth available to the customer, which can be provided through Broadband connectivity. QoS is going to be yet another issue.
Technical Glossary
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