A number of regulators, especially in Europe and the Far East, are evaluating the impact of NGN transition for their sector and for the wider economy. Of these, Ofcom (UK) is by far the most advanced in its thinking followed to some extent by the regulators in Singapore (IDA) and Netherlands. Some other regulators are in the process of concluding their consultations on the subject and are pushing industry led initiatives to regulate the transition to NGNs.
Sunday, November 20, 2011
Current stage of NGN deployment in India :
NGN deployment in India is still in its infancy. While there has been some migration to NGN technologies in the core network by incumbents, the access network is particularly poor and will take many years to be 100% transitioned to NGN.
The transition to NGN access is critically dependent on a number of variables including success of alternate access technologies (Cable TV, Power Line Communication (PLC) and WiMax being the most important), Unbundling (LLU) and market success of triple play services (video, IP voice and data).
In India, take up of broadband services has been low (Broadband penetration of 0.08%) largely due to low PC penetration, insufficient coverage and limitation of suitable access network availability. Further, the knowledge about NGN is not yet wide spread nor are the networks in position to supply these services. Possible applications in rural areas and the business case for rural areas have not yet been studied in any depth.
In summary, NGN deployment is progressing at the core stage and it is likely to take longer for adoption within the access network. The pace of migration will depend critically on plans of the major operators.
The transition to NGN access is critically dependent on a number of variables including success of alternate access technologies (Cable TV, Power Line Communication (PLC) and WiMax being the most important), Unbundling (LLU) and market success of triple play services (video, IP voice and data).
In India, take up of broadband services has been low (Broadband penetration of 0.08%) largely due to low PC penetration, insufficient coverage and limitation of suitable access network availability. Further, the knowledge about NGN is not yet wide spread nor are the networks in position to supply these services. Possible applications in rural areas and the business case for rural areas have not yet been studied in any depth.
In summary, NGN deployment is progressing at the core stage and it is likely to take longer for adoption within the access network. The pace of migration will depend critically on plans of the major operators.
NGN Background :
(i) A Next Generation Network (NGN) is essentially an IP based network that enables any category of customers (residential, corporate or wholesale) to receive a wide range of services (voice, video, data etc.) over the same network. IP access is enabled across a wide range of broadband technologies, both wireless (3G, WiFi, WiMax etc.) and wireline (copper DSL, cable, fibre, power lines etc.). In NGN, the service layer is independent of the underlying network, thus a whole range of 3rd party service providers can offer services to customers and the customer is not bound to take all services from only the access provider.
Technical Glossary
ADSL :
Asymmetric Digital Subscriber Line. A digital technology that allows the use of a copper line to support high bandwidths in one direction and a lesser bandwidth in the other.
ATM :
Asynchronous Transfer Mode, a standard for cell- based high speed data communications.
Bottleneck :
The part of a network where the economics of building alternative networks are such that effective competition is unlikely to emerge.
Broadband :
A data connection defined as ‘always-on’, and capable of providing a download speed of a minimum of 256kbit/s.
Bundling :
Linking the purchase of one product or service to another, either by selling as a package, or through the use of discounts for joint purchasing.
Core network :
The centralised part of a network, characterised by a high level of traffic aggregation, high capacity links and a relatively small number of nodes.
CLI : Caller Line Identification
COS :
Class of Service e.g. Committed Access Rate (CAR), Waited Random Early Detection (WRED), Waited Fair Queuing (WFQ) in context of MPLS
DEL : Direct Exchange Line
DSL : Digital Subscriber Line.
E.164 :
E.164 is an ITU-T recommendation which defines the international public telecommunication numbering plan used in the PSTN and some other data networks. It also defines the format of telephone numbers.
ENUM
Electronic Numbering. A suite of protocols to unify the telephone system with the Internet by using E.164 addresses with DNS and IP addressing system.
ERNET : Education and Research Network
Ex ante : Before an event takes place.
Ex post : After an event takes place.
FCC :
Federal Communications Commission. The US regulatory body that regulates all inter-state and foreign communications by wire, radio and television. Intrastate communications are regulated by state public utilities commissions.
Asymmetric Digital Subscriber Line. A digital technology that allows the use of a copper line to support high bandwidths in one direction and a lesser bandwidth in the other.
ATM :
Asynchronous Transfer Mode, a standard for cell- based high speed data communications.
Bottleneck :
The part of a network where the economics of building alternative networks are such that effective competition is unlikely to emerge.
Broadband :
A data connection defined as ‘always-on’, and capable of providing a download speed of a minimum of 256kbit/s.
Bundling :
Linking the purchase of one product or service to another, either by selling as a package, or through the use of discounts for joint purchasing.
Core network :
The centralised part of a network, characterised by a high level of traffic aggregation, high capacity links and a relatively small number of nodes.
CLI : Caller Line Identification
COS :
Class of Service e.g. Committed Access Rate (CAR), Waited Random Early Detection (WRED), Waited Fair Queuing (WFQ) in context of MPLS
DEL : Direct Exchange Line
DSL : Digital Subscriber Line.
E.164 :
E.164 is an ITU-T recommendation which defines the international public telecommunication numbering plan used in the PSTN and some other data networks. It also defines the format of telephone numbers.
ENUM
Electronic Numbering. A suite of protocols to unify the telephone system with the Internet by using E.164 addresses with DNS and IP addressing system.
ERNET : Education and Research Network
Ex ante : Before an event takes place.
Ex post : After an event takes place.
FCC :
Federal Communications Commission. The US regulatory body that regulates all inter-state and foreign communications by wire, radio and television. Intrastate communications are regulated by state public utilities commissions.
NGN Overview
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.
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