Convergence changes everything. It is the flavour of the day and the term is bandied about liberally. However, it may be necessary to take a step back from convergence and examine the "why" behind the concept.
What is the end result causing all this action in the networking industry?
Where networks are concerned, convergence is a rabbit hole that runs to great depth. More than just the assimilation of voice, video and data network traffic, and the underlying infrastructure, convergence is also present at the device, application and management levels.
The reasons behind this phenomenon differ according to perspective.
For network operators, convergence represents a common-sense cost rationalisation, summed up by the question: Why use separate networks just because they carry different traffic? Different motor vehicles use the same roads, and different network traffic can travel on the same networks. So, putting any and all traffic on the same network delivers economies of scale in terms of roll-out and management.
Towards a service industry
Beneath convergence lies a more significant force - the networking industry is moving towards a service industry.
Andy Brauer, CTO
From the external point of view, the convergence of networks is a lot more exciting, as the users of network that benefit most from the trend.
Beneath convergence lies a more significant force - the fact that the networking industry is moving towards a service industry.
The focus of networking has never been service-oriented, as networks have been delivering what they can deliver and not necessarily what the consumer needs. Traditional telephone lines serve as a good example - they have given the customer voice communication, then limited data connectivity. The customer`s needs have changed significantly, to the point where their needs are not being met by the network.
Converged wireless networks are far more service-oriented. Better services, as well as far more of them, can be delivered, highlighting the ability to deliver what the consumer wants.
Converged telecommunications
Fixed to mobile convergence is a crucial strategic issue in the telecommunications industry. It describes the way to connect mobile phones to fixed line infrastructures. With the convergence between the mobile and fixed line networks, telecommunications operators can provide services to users irrespective of their location, access technology or terminal.
Looking at services, the convergence of networks is also a key underpinning factor for the move to, what is well described by IBM as the "on demand" environment. Here, services are delivered directly in accordance with the needs of the user with a very low administrative overhead.
All this begins with the availability of good bandwidth, or more accurately, a greater amount of bandwidth than has been available before. (While 1Mbps fixed line bandwidth has recently been announced locally, feeds of 20Mbps and more are not uncommon in Europe and other places.)
Managing service delivery
Managing the delivery of services on demand presents a new challenge for the network support systems, or the so-called operational support systems (OSS), which deliver functions such as application software hosting, database hosting, system administration, retail billing, billing fulfilment and inter-carrier billing.
The effects of convergence demand that these systems - now known as next generation OSS - transcend the traditional network environments to cope with the demands of the converged environment, in which the billing, support and management is far more complex for the carrier, and yet far simpler for the customer.
Convergence is here, it changes everything and its effects are sometimes profound.
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