The IP Convergence Forum, designed to prepare SA for the 2010 World Cup, has already attracted over 50 senior people from across the ICT industry on its various committees.
This is according to head of the forum, John Joslin, MD of FutureProof Consulting.
The forum is being established primarily to promote the advantages of next-generation networks (NGNs) and develop seamless interoperation across new IP networks by encouraging fixed and cellular operators to move to IP-based networks.
"Many of these individuals are CEOs, or they report to CEOs - and although none represent their organisations officially, the idea of a formal launch is to get such formal commitment from organisations," he says.
The forum committees feature people from fixed and mobile networks, vendors, cities and universities, as well as consultants and Internet experts.
Joslin expects the forum will be formally launched "within months", but cautions that much has to be done first. This includes canvassing the Independent Communications Authority of SA, further meetings with the Department of Communications, finalising objectives and getting members to canvas their companies to come on board.
Main aims
"We aim to narrow the digital divide," says Joslin, explaining that having many applications on more cost-effective networks will mean the unit cost of communication applications should come down.
"The global standards for both mobile cellular and fixed-line networks require the movement to IP transport," he says. "Future 3G releases will take the cellular networks from circuit switched to an IP core network and then an IP radio access network."
He explains that the International Telecommunications Union sets the standards for all fixed-line telcos. The NGN release one specifies that IP will be used in the fixed-line core and access networks - although they will still support the PSTN and ATM as access networks, and phase in IP, he adds.
"Telkom, the SNO [second national operator] and the cellular operators will follow these global standards - what is not known is the timing of the upgrade steps," he notes.
Perfect timing
Joslin believes the 2010 World Cup provides a perfect opportunity for SA to demonstrate its technical capabilities to the rest of the world.
"The event provides a useful target date to have reduced international cable connection costs, and begin feeding high-definition TV to SA via the SNO, Telkom or the cell operators, and also to IPTV operators around the world."
Joslin also hopes the Department of Communications will help the forum gain the approval of the SA Football Association to use the words 'World Cup` in its title.
It is in the interests of the public, business and the government to have seamless interoperation between networks, he says. He adds that one of the forum`s objectives will be to create a neutral platform for rational discussion on technical and commercial solutions.
Joslin advocates that, aside from keeping up with global standards, "going IP" will offer faster service creation, seamless integration with the corporate NGNs and more cost-effective applications.
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